Xuan Yue Island.
On the highest sea-viewing tower of the Island Lord's Mansion.
Ling Fan stood with his hands behind his back, facing the turbulent Xuan Yue Sea at night.
Xuan Sheng, the Island Lord of Xuan Yue Island, stood beside him, his expression grave.
Ling Fan turned his head and said to the Island Lord of Xuan Yue Island, "Island Lord Xuan, do you know what this so-called catastrophe that has plunged the entire Dong Lin Continent into turmoil is?"
Xuan Sheng shook his head slightly and said, "I don't know what this calamity is, which is why my heart feels like a stone is pressing down, and I don't know how to deal with it. Only the top three powers in the Dong Lin Domain would know this matter most clearly."
"I wish to hear the details."
Ling Fan said.
Xuan Sheng explained, "The top three powers in the Dong Lin Domain are the Dong Lin Dynasty, the Three Kings' Palace, and the Sky Dragon Academy. These three major powers are considered top-tier among the seven-star martial arts powers in the Dong Lin Domain and surrounding domains. Each of these three major powers has peerless experts at the quasi-saint level, and there are also quite a few peak Golden Core realm top Martial Lords, which is why they can dominate the Dong Lin Domain."
"Young Master Ling, you don't seem to be from the Dong Lin Domain, and you don't seem to be very clear about these powers."
Ling Fan did not deny it, merely nodded faintly.
Seeing this, Xuan Sheng explained in detail, "Among these three top seven-star powers, the Dong Lin Dynasty is subtly the strongest. They were the overlords of the Dong Lin Domain in the past, and there was once a sage who appeared. However, after this sage realm expert perished, the Dong Lin Dynasty had no successor, so the entire Dong Lin Sacred Dynasty disintegrated and was unable to control the entire Dong Lin Domain. Later, heroes emerged, and powerful forces like the Sky Dragon Academy and the Three Kings' Palace, which could challenge the Dong Lin Dynasty, appeared successively."
"Even so, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. The Dong Lin Dynasty inherited most of the Sacred Dynasty's strength, and its foundation is unfathomably deep. Moreover, the Dong Lin Dynasty has always been ambitious and wants to restore the glory of the past Sacred Dynasty. This time, it has actually given them an opportunity."
"As for the Sky Dragon Academy, this power is quite mysterious. Its experts are not often seen walking in the world, but everyone who emerges from the Sky Dragon Academy possesses unparalleled power. Once they appear in the world, they can enter the Dong Lin Martial Lord Ranking, so no one dares to provoke this mysterious and powerful force."
"Compared to the Sky Dragon Academy, the Three Kings' Palace, although not as mysterious, has a formidable overt strength. The Three Kings of the Three Kings' Palace are all super experts ranked high on the Martial Lord Ranking. Even the weakest, the Black King, Blackwater Martial Lord, possesses the formidable strength of the peak Golden Core realm and ranks twenty-first on the Martial Lord Ranking. The second-ranked Azure King is even stronger, no less than the Blackwater Martial Lord, with a brilliant record and a fearsome reputation that makes infants cry at night. He ranks tenth on the Martial Lord Ranking."
"As for the top-ranked King Wei of the Three Kings' Palace, no one has ever seen him make a move. It is said that all enemies who have seen him make a move are already dead. However, since he can suppress the Blackwater Martial Lord and the Azure King, his strength can only be stronger and not weaker. It is rumored throughout the Dong Lin Domain that he has already stepped into the quasi-saint level, but this rumor has never been verified. Although he has no overt achievements, he is ranked third on the Martial Lord Ranking, just after the current Dong Lin King of the Dong Lin Dynasty and the Dean of the Sky Dragon Academy."
"These people are all ambitious overlords. They will certainly not miss this great opportunity."
Xuan Sheng's expression was extremely solemn. He gazed at the surging sea surface for a long time, then couldn't help but sigh deeply, filled with worry for the future of Xuan Yue Island.
He said with a wry smile, "Not to mention these overlords, just looking at the present, there is still a difficult hurdle that I don't know how to overcome. The Giant Whale City's invasion this time is clearly well-prepared, and its overall strength is clearly superior to ours on Xuan Yue Island. If it weren't for Young Master Ling's actions in crippling their two Golden Core experts at the last moment, turning the tide, our Xuan Yue Island's morale would have suffered a devastating blow, and we would have dispersed internally before the Giant Whale City even attacked."
"Although we thwarted their scheme this time, the Giant Whale City will not give up just like that. The day of the Giant Whale City's large-scale attack is likely not far off."
"Alas."
Xuan Sheng sighed again and said, "Living in troubled times, low strength is the original sin. The weak are merely a piece of fat meat for the strong to supplement themselves. There is nowhere to find refuge in this vast world."
As he spoke, Xuan Sheng looked at Ling Fan, seeming to find it difficult to speak.
Ling Fan said, "Island Lord Xuan, what is it, please say it."
Xuan Sheng said, "I want to ask Young Master Ling to help our Xuan Yue Island. I have no ambitions; my only wish is to ensure the safety of the people of Xuan Yue Island. Since Young Master Ling was able to emerge safely from the Sun Moon Spiritual Pond, I know that Young Master Ling's strength is far more than just defeating a mid-stage Golden Core expert. With Young Master Ling's assistance, I am confident that Xuan Yue Island can overcome this crisis."
Before Young Master Ling could reply.
Xuan Sheng said with some shame, "I know you have just become a guest elder of Xuan Yue Island, and I am already involving you in such troubles. I am ashamed to even ask you, but please, Young Master Ling, for the sake of the countless innocent people of Xuan Yue Island, help us this once. As long as Young Master Ling agrees, Xuan Yue Island is willing to give all it has to repay your great kindness."
Ling Fan said, "Island Lord Xuan, you are too kind. Since I am a guest elder of Xuan Yue Island, I should do my part. As for other rewards, there is no need. My cultivation in the Sun Moon Spiritual Pond this time is enough."
Xuan Sheng was overjoyed, almost shedding tears of gratitude, and bowed deeply to Ling Fan, "Thank you, Young Master Ling, for your great kindness!"
With Ling Fan's reply, Xuan Sheng's confidence greatly increased.
He began to make meticulous arrangements. On one hand, he took out all the pills, spiritual weapons, spiritual herbs, and martial arts stored in the treasury, almost without reservation, to maximize the strength of the experts on Xuan Yue Island. On the other hand, he dispatched numerous scouts to monitor the movements of the Giant Whale City in real-time, while also gathering intelligence on the situation in the entire Dong Lin Domain.
Ling Fan was not idle either.
Although everyone on Xuan Yue Island was desperately trying to improve their strength, time was too tight, and the Giant Whale City would not give them such ample preparation time. It was unrealistic to significantly improve the overall strength of Xuan Yue Island in a short period.
Therefore, Ling Fan began to reinforce and improve the grand formation of Xuan Yue Island.
The grand formation of Xuan Yue Island covered an area of hundreds of miles, which was incomparable to the small formations of the Lan Family Fortress.
Even for Ling Fan, it took a full seven days to complete the array.
After completing this, Ling Fan showed some fatigue, having expended a great deal of mental effort.
However, this was instead slandered as idleness by Xuan Ye, Li Mo Bing, and others.
They said that he, as a guest elder of Xuan Yue Island, was not attending to his duties and was sightseeing at such a critical moment before the battle.
Ling Fan disdained to explain.
This silence instead emboldened Xuan Ye, Li Mo Bing, and the like, who attacked Ling Fan even more vigorously, smearing his name.
They claimed that it was because Ling Fan had prevented them from cultivating in the Sun Moon Spiritual Pond that their Xuan Yue Island's strength had fallen behind the Giant Whale City, thus leading to this crisis.
Under their instigation, other Xuan Yue Island experts and commoners who were unaware of the truth believed them, causing Ling Fan's reputation to be ruined overnight. From a hero who had defeated two Golden Core experts of the Giant Whale City and saved the honor of Xuan Yue Island, he became a sinner reviled by everyone.
"Damn it! What time is it, and this useless young island lord and that Li Mo Bing are still playing this game of internal strife? Don't they know that the life and death of their Xuan Yue Island depend on Boss Ling!"
Such trash is truly infuriating! And yet, we have to protect these trash. The more I think about it, the angrier I get! If I anger Master Mo, I'll directly advise Boss Ling to let them fend for themselves.
Toad was so angry that smoke was about to rise from his head.
In response, Xuan Na was busy apologizing to Wei Bin, Toad, and Ling Fan. It was only for her and Xuan Sheng's sake that Toad managed to restrain his anger.