...

Tai Island's Heavenly Perception operative, Kobayashi Hiroya, instantly realized.

They'd been tricked!!!

This so-called backup was nonsense.

It was a two-faced scheme.

If things went well with Wei Gao's mission, he would indeed serve as backup and an eyewitness.

But if things went poorly, like the current situation...

His arrival would become the first spark igniting Tai Island's catastrophe.

The very origin of Tai Island's impending disaster.

Kobayashi Hiroya slammed the brakes.

Panic set in...

Not only had Wei Gao's plan failed, but they'd been caught red-handed. Three Heavenly Perception operatives were beaten to death, and his own tracks had been discovered.

All the pieces combined...

Pointed to one conclusion - Great Han had torn through the international waters barrier.

They were invading!!!

Given the circumstances, could Wei Gao's defensive stronghold at East Kang Island possibly stop Great Han?!

This was Great Han's final checkpoint before entering international waters.

Beyond this point...

The Heavenly Perception War would begin.

Wouldn't he be the first Tai Island Heavenly Perception operative slaughtered by Great Han?!

Run!!!

He spun around and fled!!

Ran for his life!!

No matter how confident—no, arrogant—he was, he couldn't possibly face ten Great Han Heavenly Perception operatives alone!

"Baka!! Baka!! Baka!! Damn Wei Gao!! Damn Cui—"

Wait, hadn't Cui Zaimin already died? Beaten to death at that.

He changed curses: "Cui Zaimin, you screwed me over! May you rot in hell!!!"

Ten Heavenly Perception operatives instantly gave chase.

Lu Ding had no time for lengthy explanations.

He shot into the air and shouted to the Great Han operatives ahead: "Leaders!!"

"When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer!!!"

The implications were enormous.

The Great Han operatives, poised to attack Kobayashi Hiroya, exchanged glances.

They immediately grasped Lu Ding's meaning.

Just follow and observe...

If others wanted to blast both man and island together...

Well, Great Han had excellent learning capabilities—they'd take notes!!!

With the current chaos, and them breaking martial ethics first...

There'd be plenty of arguments afterward anyway.

Since things had reached this point...

And disputes were inevitable...

Might as well go all out!

Great Han held the moral high ground anyway!!

Only fools don't press their advantage!

"Smart kid, quick thinking! Come, let's go kill together!!!"

Guan Zhongsheng reached out, barely exerting any strength.

Yet Lu Ding's speed already matched theirs.

This flying speed stunned the ten Heavenly Perception operatives.

Remember...

Lu Ding had only just reached Earth Observation realm.

This was downright monstrous!!!

Guan Zhongsheng studied Lu Ding carefully: "Lit—"

He'd almost said "little punk"—force of habit with juniors. But Lu Ding's flying speed alone earned his respect.

So...

Too rude.

He rephrased: "Young man, us brothers here... our cultivation methods left some old injuries. Our brains might not work as fast as yours. Please help us think things through later."

Without Lu Ding's reminder, they'd never have considered "the fish suffering from the gate's fire."

Wow!

Such flattery.

These men came to help and rescue him. Lu Ding hurriedly replied: "Leaders work hard enough. This small service is my duty, no trouble at all."

"Hey!! Boss, I like this guy—he talks pretty!"

From the unskilled, sweet words seemed like bootlicking—empty flattery without substance.

But from the capable, they reflected emotional intelligence, vision, attitude, and courtesy—choosing comfortable interaction despite having alternatives.

Lu Ding's future achievements would be boundless, destined for the Second Circle's elite.

Thus his words sounded especially pleasing to these fellow operatives.

The speaker immediately clasped hands in salute, joking: "Human Rampage Guardian, Peng Chang, long admired Corpse-Shattering Taishui's fame."

Others introduced themselves in turn.

"Half-Yin Mountain, Xiao Duan..."

"One-Tenth Earth Immortal, Hu Xiang..."

"Saw-Buddha Incense, Lu Youhan..."

...

Finally.

Guan Zhongsheng smiled and saluted: "Living Stele King, Guan Zhongsheng, long admired Corpse-Shattering Taishui's fame."

Only then did Lu Ding realize what heavy hitters had come.

Though most names were unfamiliar...

Human Rampage Guardian and Living Stele King he vaguely recognized.

Human Rampage Guardian was originally a Qi Refiner practicing altar-flipping techniques. After war ravaged his hometown and slaughtered his family...

Despairing, he chose to join his kin in death.

Yet he survived—the villagers' collective resentment made him their final hope for vengeance. A thousand souls' fury concentrated within him.

Neither fully human nor demon—hence his title.

During Great Han's turbulent times, he slaughtered countless enemies.

As for Living Stele King...

Forced into banditry young, he only robbed the rich to aid the poor.

After stealing enemy supplies, he was supposedly exterminated—but survived.

Locals erected memorial steles worshipping him...

He relocated, continuing his bandit-enemy resistance.

"Exterminated" again.

Survived again.

More steles erected.

Changed names, moved again.

Once or twice might be luck—three times proved extraordinary.

Yet as a mere mortal, he repeated this eight times.

Ninth time, a bullet pierced his skull.

Finally dead—or so it seemed—until an old shaman found and revived him, teaching him true skills. When establishing his sect later...

Wow!!!

The commotion...

Apparently shook the entire region.

Living Stele King!!

Considering this, Lu Ding understood their "old injuries" remark.

The unnamed others...

Keeping company with such legends? No ordinary operators here.

This was clearly Great Han's Collection Team!

No wonder their earlier battle formation looked like that...

Lu Ding raised his hands high in respectful salute: "Leaders, I'm at a loss for words. Let's toast later—I'll drink rounds with each leader. 'Grassland eagles soar with wings spread, each wing bearing ten cups.'"

They came to aid, showed respect, with such legendary backgrounds.

No need for empty words—actions spoke louder.

His charming, humorous response perfectly suited these hunters, bandits, and defrocked monks—exactly their preferred banter.

"Hahahaha, we'll hold you to that!"

"We'll drink you under the table!"

"Then I'd better bring my own liquor!"

In mere moments, they'd gone from strangers to comrades.

Watching the fleeing Tai Island operative ahead, Lu Ding mused silently:

Run, run—straight toward Tai Island's main forces.

Then we can "burn the moat's fish" while I retrieve Scholar Stripe-Special.

Gaining possibly dual-wielding artillery magic.

He anticipated eagerly.

If Tai Island refused...

They'd take by force.

With Great Han's Collection Team backing him—why not act tough?

Lu Ding increasingly felt like a villain—blocking gates, demanding lives, bringing overpowering force. Destroying you—what's that to me?