......

"As an Earth Observation cultivator, I didn't violate any rules by attacking them, right?"

"Impossible!! Whaleguard Island has formations capable of resisting Heavenly Perception operatives! To slaughter the island you'd have to break the formations first! How could a mere Earth Observation cultivator shatter those defenses? Unless they destroyed the formations themselves, how could someone at your level possibly attack?!"

"If they shattered the formations, then they're the murderers!!"

Kunisada Kazuma was nearly losing his mind, his basic reasoning completely crumbling.

His Heavenly Perception teammates could barely stand listening anymore. Back in Tai Island, they humored him because of his youth, talent, and luck. But this territory no longer belonged to Tai Island.

The accusations being thrown meant Whaleguard Island's sovereignty had changed hands. What was the point obsessing over who killed whom? Did he seriously think revenge was possible now?

Sigh...

They shook their heads silently. They used to believe Kunisada's mentality was controllable and beneficial for Tai Island—at least he was patriotic and passionate.

Stupid? Sure. But his fervor could influence others, somehow lowering collective intelligence. Now though... this was beyond redemption.

Since he insisted on knowing, Lu Ding's group would oblige.

Guan Zhongsheng said, "Close that video. Play the next one, and you'll have your answer."

Kunisada Kazuma snatched a phone from someone nearby. The footage showed bodycam clips—perfect angles capturing how effortlessly Lu Ding phased through the supposedly Heavenly Perception-proof barrier.

The vaunted defensive formation might as well have been tissue paper.

Everyone stared at Lu Ding in shock. With open conflict impossible now, all Lu Ding could do was bask in their gazes—crossing his arms, tilting his chin up.

Yeah, that was me. What of it? Try me.

Under their stares, the video continued: Lu Ding summoning steles as distractions, cutting down Heavenly Perception operatives, cleaving Whaleguard Island apart, slaughtering Tai Island Qi Refiners without restraint.

Suddenly, Kunisada paused the video.

On screen, an older Tai Island Qi Refiner looked on in horror as Lu Ding obliterated the man before him. Dark crimson Devouring Qi Death Beams shot from Lu Ding's eyes, indiscriminately slaughtering everyone until the elder exploded into gore.

Kunisada couldn't take it anymore.

Veins bulged from his neck as his aura erupted. That was his mentor—the man who guided him from weakness, his light in darkness, who taught him "with great power comes great responsibility"!

And Lu Ding killed him like swatting a fly—casual, careless, barely glancing his way.

"TEACHER!!!! LU DING!!!!!"

His battle cry ignited the surrounding Tai Island Heavenly Perception operatives' hostility. The video revealed an unprecedented threat—if Lu Ding kept growing...

He was only Earth Observation now. If he reached Heavenly Perception? He could upend the global Qi Refiner hierarchy. The third circle had never seen someone so monstrous—his age, talent, and combat prowess were generations ahead.

With Lu Ding around, how could other nations' geniuses compete?

Tears streaming, Kunisada stepped forward, Heavenly Perception aura surging. "Lu Ding! My teacher said great power means great responsibility! Those at humanity's peak must protect the weak!"

"And you! You use such power for indiscriminate slaughter! You're unworthy of it!"

Lu Ding remained unmoved, utterly unfazed. Only the insecure could be swayed by such naive rhetoric.

"You want to fight me?"

"Ask them first."

He pointed behind him.

The Great Han cleanup squad—ten Heavenly Perception operatives—stepped forward as one.

The Tai Island Heavenly Perception operatives tensed. "You only have ten! We have twenty-three!"

(That count included Wei Gao's forces plus operatives from Zhenla, Hetu, and other nations.)

Wei Gao's team blanched—why were they being dragged into this?

Before they could protest, Lu Ding cut in: "Misunderstanding. I meant them."

Figures materialized across the sky—dozens of auras pulsing. Their distinct features proclaimed their origins: the ancient eastern kingdom, Great Han!!

After all that bluster, Great Han's reinforcements had finally arrived.

The tables turned instantly.

Wei Gao's operatives immediately backpedaled: "Fuck it! Tai Island, are you blind or bad at math? Twenty-three? You're sixteen! Don't lump us in! We still haven't settled your spies infiltrating us!"

The Tai Island operatives darkened. Grabbing Kunisada's arm, one whispered urgently, "There'll be other chances. We can't win this now..."

Kunisada trembled, teeth gritted, staring at Lu Ding's smug figure.

"Lu Ding, I'll remember you. Pray you never face me on the battlefield. You have no idea what you've provoked!!"

Amusing.

Delightfully so.

No backup? You talk big. Backup arrives? You keep yapping?

Who raised you to threaten ME?

Black light—thick as the earth itself—coiled around Lu Ding like a noble Sin Dragon. Ancient mountain-like runes shimmered within, unleashing terrifying power.

Eyes glowing red, he teleported point-blank and struck—a palm strike carrying the weight of primordial peaks.

BOOM!!!!

The impact scattered black light, shockwaves rippling out as Kunisada's upper half disintegrated.

Unlike Kunisada, Lu Ding didn't waste words before acting. His style was simple: act first, talk after.

"What act are you putting on?!"

"Tell me, what fucking act?!"

"Threatening ME?! You think you're tough?! HUH?!"