Prince Huo's public unmasking of the other party's identity was utterly without mercy.
The middle-aged man was flush with humiliated anger. If Prince Huo had called out their identities earlier, he wouldn't have felt the slightest embarrassment — he might even have enjoyed it.
After all, back then he had held the upper hand, regarding Prince Huo as nothing more than prey. He would have been perfectly happy to savor the terror on his quarry's face.
But now, Qing Niu and Qing Hu had been taken out by the enemy in some baffling fashion, and the middle-aged man could barely believe what had happened. Were these people really from the Huichun Island Domain?
Since when had the Huichun Island Domain become so formidable?
The middle-aged man seethed with humiliated rage, his fury barely contained. He stared warily at Prince Huo, his gaze sweeping the surroundings as though searching for something.
Prince Huo could tell that the other party was gripped by fear as well.
Jiang Chen and the others had struck with extreme stealth, leaving the enemy completely unable to get their bearings. That kind of unseen blow was the most terrifying kind an opponent could face.
"Surname Han, your Tianzhao Island Domain may be accustomed to throwing its weight around within your own territory. But this is not Tianzhao Island Domain's turf." Prince Huo spoke with newfound confidence.
However, the middle-aged man had clearly come prepared. The fate of his two bodyguards had cast a shadow over his mind, true enough — but what he had come here for was the spirit vein mineral deposit. In the face of nothing more than the Huichun Island Domain, did they really think he would turn tail and run?
Fire blazed in his eyes as the middle-aged man fixed Prince Huo with a murderous stare. "You know full well of the Tianzhao Island Domain's illustrious reputation, yet you dare act so brazenly. It seems your Huichun Island Domain truly doesn't fear inviting trouble, does it?"
Prince Huo sneered, "The Huichun Island Domain doesn't go looking for trouble — but we don't shy away from it either. As for you, wasn't what happened to Qing Niu and Qing Hu enough to drum some sense into you?"
"Tsk tsk, Lord Han, is this fellow threatening us? Didn't you say the Huichun Island Domain was nothing — mere ants beneath our notice?"
The bewitchingly beautiful woman pressed herself against the middle-aged man's arm in a coy, wheedling manner.
The middle-aged man flicked his arm, shaking her off, and said coldly, "This is a matter for men. Women should keep out of it."
Seeing his anger, the beautiful woman swallowed the fury churning inside her and didn't dare push further.
Instead, she fixed Prince Huo with a venomous glare. "You from the Huichun Island Domain are all dead. The Tianzhao Island Domain is not something you can afford to offend!"
Prince Huo replied icily, "Chatterbox! A loose-lipped woman like this accomplishes nothing and only causes trouble. And yet you keep her at your side — that tells me everything I need to know about the so-called Tianzhao Island Domain. It's nothing impressive after all."
The middle-aged man's expression went utterly cold at these words.
His gaze turned glacial as he stared at Prince Huo. "You're trying to provoke me, aren't you?"
Prince Huo shrugged. "So what if I am?"
"Then congratulations — you've succeeded! But you've also succeeded in bringing catastrophe down on your Huichun Island Domain. Let me make this perfectly clear: before, I only intended to take the Ling Shi here. Now, I will crush your Huichun Island Domain, destroy everything you've built, and seize your territory!"
Prince Huo threw his head back and laughed. "What a grandiose claim. Someone who didn't know any better might mistake you for an elder from one of the Ten Great Sacred Grounds."
The middle-aged man swept his gaze through the void like a venomous serpent.
"Hmph! I may have underestimated your Huichun Island Domain, but do you really think killing two of my guards is enough to spare you from this disaster? Don't be naive! Before we set out, we investigated the Huichun Island Domain down to the last detail and know exactly how much you're worth. Be sensible and stop struggling. Otherwise, I swear your Huichun Island Domain will run red with blood and the dead will pile up like mountains!"
Prince Huo let out a cold laugh. "You've certainly perfected the art of empty threats. Surname Han — didn't you bother asking around before coming to this archipelago?"