The city lord's mansion, a simple structure of ordinary bluestone, filled Nan Youyuan with disdain.
He glanced at his grandfather, who sat calmly and offered rough tea, and his disdain deepened.
"Grandpa, do we really have to wait for this City Lord? It's just a few sixth-tier Demon Kings, and they're flower demons at that. I could eat one in a single bite. Why don't we just seize this Flowery Wood Island ourselves?"
Nan Youyuan spoke loudly, unconcerned about any watching demons.
"Hmph, foolish! Have you forgotten that Flowery Wood Island was formerly Serpent Island? The Serpent King was a powerful late-stage seventh-tier Demon Lord, even stronger than I am. He's disappeared now. If we dare to attack Flowery Wood Island, we'll likely disappear too," Nan Yiqiang glared at his grandson and explained patiently.
"Grandpa, I think the Serpent King probably fled. Look, there isn't a single snake demon on this island. He must have led his clan away. Besides, our Southern Scale Seahorse clan now has over a dozen seventh-tier Demon Lords. We can definitely take this broken island!"
"Hmph, have you considered that the Serpent King's clan might have been wiped out?" Nan Yiqiang glared at his grandson again. This grandson was good in all aspects, his talent was heaven-defying, reaching seventh-tier Demon Lord after only 800 years of cultivation, making him a genius even in the outer regions of the Ten Thousand Demon Archipelago. It was just that with his high cultivation, he had become a bit arrogant.
"Grandpa, that's unlikely. The Serpent King was a late-stage seventh-tier Demon Lord, with a high chance of breaking through to the eighth-tier." Nan Youyuan refused to accept his grandfather's words.
"I also find it unlikely they were wiped out, but we can't act rashly in Flowery Wood City. After all, if they could drive away the Serpent clan, these flower and tree demons must have something special about them."
"Alright, alright, I get it. So troublesome."
"Silence! Someone is coming."
Before Nan Youyuan could complain further, Nan Yiqiang suddenly said softly, silencing his grandson. He had already sensed strong earth element spiritual energy fluctuations. This was the fluctuation at the end of an earth-遁 (earth escape) technique.
Indeed, in the next moment, Yang Hong, carrying Xiao Kui, emerged from the ground in the reception hall of the city lord's mansion.
"Are you the ones who want to build a human breeding farm in Flowery Wood City?" Yang Hong asked directly upon appearing. However, he had already controlled his emotions, and his tone was calm.
"This little friend's cultivation seems a bit low," Nan Yiqiang said meaningfully, without answering Yang Hong's question.
"Fourth-tier, a small demon. Answer my question." Yang Hong stated his cultivation level with neither subservience nor arrogance, then pressed on.
"Yes, it's us. Does little friend have an opinion on this proposal?" Nan Yiqiang narrowed his eyes, his expression showing suspicion based on Yang Hong's demeanor.
"I need to know your strength, which island you belong to, and whether it will affect my interests." Facing a seventh-tier Demon Lord, Yang Hong felt no pressure and continued to speak with composure.
"I am an external affairs elder of the Southern Scale Seahorse clan. We are more than 7 million li from Serpent Island, which is now Flowery Wood Island. I believe such a great distance should not affect little friend's interests." Nan Yiqiang spoke while intently watching Yang Hong, who, he felt, harbored a faint hostility towards him.
"The distance is indeed considerable. Then, what about your strength? How many Demon Lords and Demon Kings will you send? How can you guarantee that my Flowery Wood City won't be captured by you?" Yang Hong continued to press.
"Heh heh... So little friend is worried about this. You can rest assured. I plan to station 3 Demon Lords and 20 Demon Kings in Flowery Wood City. This strength is considerably weaker than the Serpent clan you drove away." Nan Yiqiang chuckled upon hearing Yang Hong's question. The experts he brought to Flowery Wood City were precisely 3 Demon Lords, 20 Demon Kings, and 300 great demons. Such strength, let alone in the outer sea regions, would make many islands in the outer perimeter of the Ten Thousand Demon Archipelago wary. This strength had evidently caused the island's owner to misunderstand.
Thinking this, Nan Yiqiang added, "Little friend, rest assured, our Southern Scale Seahorse clan is renowned throughout the outer sea regions of the Four Seas. We primarily engage in business and are considered the most skilled merchants among the Four Seas demons."
"Heh heh, how have I never heard of you?" Yang Hong retorted ungraciously upon hearing Nan Yiqiang's boast.
"Hmph, you ignorant little thing. Although we are only a branch of the Southern Scale Seahorse clan, we are a collateral line of the Dragon clan from South Myriad Demon Island. We carry true dragon bloodline within us," Nan Youyuan snorted disdainfully before Nan Yiqiang could speak.
"A collateral line of the Dragon clan?" Yang Hong exclaimed, unable to help himself. In the Ten Thousand Demon Sea, the four overt overlords – the Dragon clan, the Black Tortoise clan, the Golden-Winged Roc clan, and the Great Kun clan – their names were impossible to ignore. Among them, the Dragon clan was the undisputed number one overlord! If the Southern Scale Seahorse clan was truly a collateral line of the Dragon clan, then there would indeed be trouble. Far more trouble than offending the Golden Star Black Fish clan.
"Alas, alas. Our branch is from the Southern Scale Seahorse clan, but we are somewhat unfilial and can only do business in the outer sea," Nan Yiqiang said, feigning humility while actually showing off, seeing Yang Hong's expression change dramatically.
"So it's the Southern Scale Seahorse clan. I've long admired them. Come, let's sit and talk. Xiao Kui, go brew us a pot of our good tea." Yang Hong no longer dared to make a move directly. The other party's background was too formidable, and he had to be cautious. He even invited them into the small reception living room and asked Xiao Kui to brew tea. A brilliant smile appeared on his face, but his mind was already plotting how to extract information.
After Xiao Kui brewed a pot of second-grade spiritual tea, and the four of them had a round of tea and simple introductions, Yang Hong spoke. "Senior, please forgive me. Our island lord usually cultivates in seclusion, and while his offspring have decent cultivation after taking human form, their minds are not mature. Therefore, Flowery Wood City is actually managed by me. Please excuse me."
"Haha, that's very normal. Many islands in my clan are also managed by fourth-tier small demons. Those with higher cultivation are all in seclusion. I understand, I understand." Nan Yiqiang finally showed a look of relief, but then his tone shifted as he asked, "May I know the cultivation level of your island lord?"
"Alas, our island lord is only late-stage eighth-tier, and is currently cultivating diligently, hoping to break through to the ninth-tier Demon Emperor realm," Yang Hong began to spin a grand tale.
"Late-stage eighth-tier? Why doesn't the island lord enter the inner regions of the Ten Thousand Demon Archipelago?" Nan Yiqiang, quite surprised, blurted it out.
"Alas, there's no choice. The island lord is a tree spirit, and it's a bit inconvenient in the inner regions, so he had to come out," Yang Hong said with a grave and resentful expression, as if he had suffered some unexpressed grievance.
"I see. That's truly a pity. However, there are still opportunities to become an emperor in the outer sea," Nan Yiqiang's eyes flickered with a glint, which he quickly concealed. Yang Hong, who had been watching him intently, felt a stir and suddenly asked, "Senior Nan, since your clan is a collateral line of the Dragon clan, perhaps you could convey a message for our island lord to the adults of the Dragon clan. We are willing to submit."
"This... haha... heh heh... Although we are a collateral line of the Dragon clan, we dare not interfere with matters like accepting vassals," Nan Yiqiang said awkwardly, deflecting the topic with a laugh, seeing Yang Hong's expectant gaze.
Yang Hong did not press further. The two parties tacitly shifted the conversation to matters of leasing shops and venues. However, for the remainder of the time, Yang Hong deliberately adopted a humble posture, indirectly inquiring about the strength of the Southern Scale Seahorse clan.