......

Rear area, Tai Island.

Zhao Jian and Dou Tingyu, who had originally intended to join the pursuit, were stopped by Qiu Fu.

"With those elites already giving chase, our participation would merely be gilding the lily. Moreover, we have our own mission to accomplish."

Zhao Jian momentarily drew a blank: "What mission?"

Qiu Fu gazed toward distant East Kang Island: "Notify the main forces - Great Han is entering international waters!!!"

Below, the Tai Island battlefield.

The Heavenly Perception operatives shone brilliantly in combat.

Lu Ding's performance stood out remarkably.

Yet... they weren't the sole pillars of this battlefield.

Deputy Director Ji of Lingshun 749 returned to the main combat zone clutching a string of Wei Gao Earth Observation realm cultivators' heads, riding the wind back into battle.

His sweeping gaze assessed friendly forces, noting the surprisingly manageable casualty rate.

A smile cracked Deputy Director Ji's typically stern expression.

Exhaling deeply: "Excellent........"

This engagement had showcased Lingshun 749's valor, demonstrated their combat prowess, secured merit, all while maintaining acceptable losses...

Post-war, Lingshun 749's standing would undoubtedly be elevated.

Though one final task remained -

To thoroughly pave the way for Great Han's main forces to enter international waters.

Deputy Director Ji strode to the vanguard.

Raising the severed heads of Wei Gao Earth Observation realm Qi Refiners toward East Kang Island.

He bellowed the command to switch from defense to offense: "Clear the path! Seize the island! Welcome Great Han into international waters!!!!"

"Charge!!!"

"Scatter these ragtag forces!!!"

This marked Lingshun 749's final assault - after securing East Kang Island, they'd rotate out.

Previous skirmishes had been mere preliminaries.

Entering international waters -

Meant truly unleashing the grand battlefield.

Then Great Han's formidable 749 Bureau branches would deploy successively.

Lingshun... couldn't compare.

Without Lu Ding, Wang Qingge and their ilk -

This battle would've proved devastating for Lingshun 749.

Ironically, none of these exceptional fighters actually belonged to Lingshun.

Thus they'd reached their operational ceiling.

Continuing further -

Would incur unacceptable Lingshun casualties.

Neither Great Han nor Deputy Director Ji desired that outcome.

Contentment brings happiness - know your limits.

Bai Hemen and Wang Qingge carved through enemy ranks.

They too yearned to accompany Lu Ding, to witness international waters' grand spectacle.

But their current standing proved insufficient.

Lu Ding now moved among Heavenly Perception elites...

This realization -

Brought Bai Hemen a pang of powerlessness... he felt himself drifting inexorably behind Lu Ding's trajectory!

Now he could only watch Lu Ding's distant silhouette vanish beyond the horizon...

"I'll exert my utmost to catch up to you!"

Bai Hemen declared with ironclad determination.

......

Simultaneously -

High above the ocean -

Tai Island's Heavenly Perception operative Kobayashi Hiroya fled desperately, not daring to glance back.

Ten Great Han Heavenly Perception operatives - what nightmare was this?

Moreover!

If captured, as a Tai Island native whose ancestors participated in wars against Great Han...

Every conceivable disadvantage stacked against him.

The potential consequences terrified him beyond contemplation!!

Likely immediate execution followed by revival, repeated in endless cycles of torment.

Doomed.....

This dreadful thought -

Paralyzed him with self-inflicted terror.

All rationality evaporated.

Only one goal remained - reaching the Tai Island outpost where fellow Heavenly Perception allies might prevent his solitary confrontation against ten Great Han elites.

Lu Ding and the Great Han Heavenly Perception Ten pursued relentlessly.

Checking his phone -

Lu Ding studied the satellite map.

Their crimson marker rapidly approached the marked Tai Island stronghold.

He nearly laughed aloud!!!

Precisely as expected!!

Nations divide people, but human nature transcends borders.

Troublemakers always scurry home...

His grin became irrepressible.

Ahead, parting clouds revealed -

An island nearly ten times East Kang Island's size emerging from the sea.

This was one of Tai Island's major international waters bases -

Whaleguard Island.

The peculiar name blended myth and reality.

These waters housed a larger landmass - White Whale Island.

Aerial views revealed its striking cetacean resemblance.

Legend claimed it formed from a colossal white whale's carcass.

Whaleguard Island allegedly emerged later as its protector.

The creation method remained unknown - mere mythology.

As for historical truth......

Tai Island vessels had slaughtered countless whales here annually, once exceeding tens of thousands.

Both island names reflected their self-bestowed designations.

The bitter irony -

Now they'd established their stronghold here.

Lu Ding found dark amusement.

This was cosmic justice manifest.

Massacre repaid with massacre.

The thought provoked audible mirth as he advised his allies: "Let's be decisive later."

Mid-speech -

As Kobayashi Hiroya plunged toward Whaleguard Island -

His voice quaked across the seascape: "HEAVENLY! PERCEPTION! ATTACK!!!!"

The warning delivered -

He wheeled to confront the Great Han operatives: "What's your intention?!!"

Custom dictated preliminary negotiations -

Yet......

From the formation, Lu Ding surged forward without hesitation.

Instantaneous activation.

No wasted words - pre-formed hand seals summoned tempestuous winds and torrential rains as spiritual energy saturated the atmosphere, darkening skies with oppressive thunderheads.

The gathering storm heralded -

[Bloodstorm] finally meeting its ideal battleground.

Here -

No allies to restrain him!!!

Lu Ding's ferocious grin contrasted strangely with his transcendent bearing.

This paradoxical fusion rendered him Heaven's executioner.

As tension peaked -

Lu Ding's divine proclamation thundered: "Perish utterly!!!"

From the blackened heavens, the perfectly suited Sin Dragon manifested, collaborating to conjure the apocalyptic deluge!!

Kobayashi Hiroya assumed himself the primary target -

Until......

The soul-shaking sanguine gale and flesh-dissolving crimson rain descended.

The cataclysmic downpour drenched Whaleguard Island indiscriminately as howling winds whipped the blood rain across all surfaces.

Universal shock froze the scene.

Kobayashi Hiroya never imagined Lu Ding - Great Han's foremost genius - would disregard martial honor so completely!!!

Piercing shrieks erupted instantly.

"AHHHHHH!!!!"

"What's happening? Attack!! We're under attack!!!"

"My face... melting... my hands... save me......"

Beneath the bloodstorm, consciousness blurred.

Flesh sloughed like wet clay under the corrosive rain.

"Quick! Erect spiritual energy barriers!!!"

Those still functional shouted desperately.

But could ordinary defenses possibly withstand this specialized annihilation?