The moment Jiang Chen stepped forward, his aura was noticeably different. The middle-aged surnamed Han from the Tianzhao Island Domain felt his heart clench, his eyes filling with wariness as he stared fixedly at Jiang Chen.
A sense of foreboding crept over the Han-surnamed man. He suddenly recalled that the fact Prince Huo of the Huichun Island Domain had been so brazenly confident must have meant he had something to rely on — and that something was most likely this young man standing before him.
Then, was this young man's background a powerful one? Anyone who dared call himself "Young Master" was almost certainly of considerable standing.
At this thought, the arrogance the Han-surnamed man had been wearing began to gradually fade.
"And who might you be?" the Han-surnamed man asked, eyeing Jiang Chen with guarded suspicion.
"What's the matter? Trying to figure out my identity so you can gauge whether or not you can afford to offend me?" Jiang Chen looked at the man with a cold sneer.
The Han-surnamed man saw that mocking expression on Jiang Chen's face, and fury began to simmer within him. For as long as he could remember, it had always been him putting on that kind of face for others. Since when had it become his turn — someone of the Tianzhao Island Domain — to endure such looks from others?
However, at the Han-surnamed man's side, an aged personal guard with a grave expression sent a voice transmission: "My Lord, this man's aura is extraordinary — his background is likely no small thing. The previous deaths of Qing Hu and Qing Ni probably had something to do with him."
Though rage burned in the Han-surnamed man's chest, he ultimately held it back.
Swallowing his anger, he said, "If I truly can't afford to offend you, I'll simply pack up and leave. The rule of the Ten Thousand Abyss Island is that the strong are sovereign."
"Pack up and leave?" Jiang Chen laughed in disbelief. "You make it sound so simple. You trespass on my territory, try to seize my foundation, and you think a casual 'pack up and leave' will let everything slide?"
"Then what do you want?" The Han-surnamed man felt he had already been more than reasonable. If the other side kept pushing, he truly would not be able to tolerate it any longer.
"What I want is none of your concern. Your best bet right now is to pray that you haven't yet laid a hand on this spirit vein. That you haven't dug out a single Ling Shi from this place. Otherwise — not a single one of you will leave here alive."
Jiang Chen's tone was thoroughly domineering, carrying a resoluteness that left no room for negotiation.
In an instant, the atmosphere at the scene turned oppressively heavy.
Prince Huo secretly felt a surge of satisfaction — now that was what you called commanding presence. The Tianzhao Island Domain? In the face of the Eternal Sacred Land, they were nothing but trash.
The Han-surnamed man was practically seething.
He had seen arrogant people before, but never anyone this arrogant. Not a single one of them would leave alive? With only this handful of people the other side had brought, they were supposed to prevent every last one of them from leaving?
That was far too extravagant a boast.
Jiang Chen paid no attention to the man's reaction. Instead, he simply clapped his hands.
"Brother Vermilion Bird, show them your divine power."
The moment Jiang Chen spoke, the Vermilion Bird divine beast understood at once. It let out a clear cry as its dharma body sprang forth from the void. Its wings spread wide, and the form instantly swelled — tenfold, a hundredfold in the blink of an eye.
With its wings fully extended, it blotted out the sky and sun, enveloping the entire expanse of the void within its dharma body. The whole firmament was set ablaze, burning a deep, brilliant red.
As the Vermilion Bird's divine might erupted, it was as though a lid had been placed upon the heavens. All of the void was sealed shut, and the people of the Tianzhao Island Domain were struck by an overwhelming sense of suffocation so intense they felt sick to their stomachs.
One by one, their blood and qi churned violently, nearly sending them toppling to the ground.
Even the strongest of the personal guards felt their very souls tremble as an inexplicable terror seized their hearts.
This terrifying sensation caused every face among the Tianzhao Island Domain contingent to drain of color.
The aged personal guard was struck with horror. He turned to the Han-surnamed man and cried, "My Lord — this is divine might! This is the power of a god!"