Gu Xiao and Wu Qin both snorted, their gazes utterly cold, contempt lingering at the corners of their mouths.

"Our Gu family owes you what?" Gu Xiao didn't look at Shi Yan, his eyes fixed solely on Di Shan. "You come from the Abyss Battlefield. We have never met before this. I don't know what connection our Gu family has with your clan."

"We are allies of that Yang family," Di Shan stated flatly, clearly reluctant to exchange many words with Gu Xiao. He pointed to Shi Yan. "Let him discuss this with you."

"Him?" Gu Xiao appeared startled. "Can he represent you?"

"He can."

Gu Xiao and Wu Qin exchanged a look, a flicker of shock in their hearts. When they looked at Shi Yan again, their perspective had subtly shifted.

Shi Yan possessed only the cultivation of the Status Realm. To these two, he was merely a puppet, manipulated by Di Shan and the hidden lurker, someone who shouldn't possess genuine authority.

Initially, Gu Xiao and Wu Qin had never truly taken Shi Yan to heart. Even when Shi Yan displayed moments of extreme dominance, they assumed he was merely acting under Di Shan's command, not believing he truly held the power of decision.

However, Di Shan's words now made Gu Xiao and Wu Qin realize their initial judgment might have been flawed. Only then did they truly regard Shi Yan seriously, treating him as an equal in this discussion.

"Fine," Gu Xiao frowned, displeased. "You demand compensation? What do we owe you?"

"For joining forces against our Yang family, for invading the Galuo Sea Domain and acting wantonly within our Yang family's territory—that is where you erred," Shi Yan stood before Gu Xiao and Wu Qin, figures renowned across the Boundless Sea, showing no fear as he spoke with bold assurance. "Because of your foolishness, you invited the demonic invasion, causing our Galuo Sea Domain to fall, and plunging the Boundless Sea into jeopardy. All of this is your fault!"

"Hmph!"

Gu Xiao and Wu Qin both snorted, their displeasure deepening, yet they made no haste to offer an explanation.

Shi Yan sneered, paused in contemplation, then suddenly said, "It seems unless I present something tangible, you won't yield."

"Oh?" A flash of anger crossed Gu Xiao's eyes. "Tangible what?"

"The Gu family and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land must each surrender five islands. Islands near Cloudwind Island, belonging to your Gu family and the Heavenly Pool Holy Land, shall be placed under the banner of our Yang family. A total of ten islands, named Moon-Chilling Island, Wind-Star Island..." Shi Yan spoke slowly, meticulously listing the islands he had already investigated.

As he spoke, Gu Xiao and Wu Qin's faces grew increasingly grim, their suppressed anger manifesting as bone-chilling coldness in their eyes.

"Damn it! Those five islands were painstakingly developed by our Gu family! Every single island possesses a mineral vein or a spiritual medicine mountain! That brat is delusional, actually daring to threaten my great-grandfather!"

Within the four-story pavilion, Gu Linglong suddenly shot to her feet, burning with the desire to rush out and fight Shi Yan to the death.

Hua Meng swiftly grabbed her, his withered face etched with helplessness. "Young Miss, don't get agitated. Going out now would serve no purpose and would only distract the Family Head."

Gu Linglong struggled briefly, but unable to break free from Hua Meng’s grip, she angrily shouted, "Shi Yan, you bastard! At a time like this, with the demonic invasion upon us, you are clearly oblivious to the larger crisis! You will face retribution sooner or later."

Shi Yan let out a cold laugh, glanced toward Gu Linglong in the distance, and extended his left hand, making a subtle, phantom patting gesture in the air.

Gu Linglong’s body trembled slightly, a flicker of panicked fear crossing her beautiful eyes, her delicate face instantly flushing deep crimson.

Back in the Forgotten Land, whenever she acted like a small, fierce tiger, Shi Yan would administer a small lesson. Often, Shi Yan would use this exact gesture, landing his palm on Gu Linglong’s pert, jade-like buttocks, leaving heavy marks on her small behind.

Shi Yan’s phantom patting gesture instantly brought back memories of that humiliating past life for Gu Linglong. Overwhelmed by shame and anger, her spirit vanished completely.

Zhai Yanqing sighed inwardly, shaking her head gently. She murmured to Huang Nan beside her, "Those five islands are also rather precious resource hubs for our Heavenly Pool Holy Land. His demands are truly audacious..."

Huang Nan’s eyes brimmed with fury. "That brat is dreaming in daylight! The Holy Mother will never hand over those five islands to the Yang family!"

Li Yanqing nodded. "Indeed, impossible."

"Nothing is impossible," Cao Zhilan said, resting both hands on the window frame. Her graceful figure leaned slightly, her alluring curves subtly emphasized. Gazing at the self-possessed Shi Yan across the way, she spoke with a peculiar tone. "He is not one to make demands without substance. Since he has made a request, he surely has a contingency plan. Given the current situation, he might actually achieve his objective..."

"Impossible!"

Gu Linglong and Zhai Yanqing both exclaimed, and even He Qingman stood up, looking toward Cao Zhilan with bewildered surprise. "Little Sister Cao, why do you believe Shi Yan can succeed?"

"Listen for yourselves," Cao Zhilan smiled radiantly, blossoming like a hundred flowers, breathtakingly beautiful.

"By what right?" Gu Xiao’s sword intent soared, his expression outwardly calm, yet his ten fingers pulsed with erratic streams of sword light, like agitated thunder-serpents, projecting an overwhelming, piercing aura of soaring sword energy.

"By what right?" Shi Yan's face twisted slightly, feigning deep thought, before he grinned fiercely and declared, "If you refuse... then let's fight. At this juncture, you are struggling just to handle the demonic men. If you add our strength to the equation, I believe the Heavenly Pool Holy Land and the Gu family might cease to exist in the Boundless Sea."

At these words, a soul-shattering, spirit-extinguishing aura suddenly burst forth from Xue Longshan.

"A third Divine Realm martial artist!"

Wu Qin exclaimed in shock, finally unable to control her composure, jumping to her feet. Strange light flickered in her eyes as she peered towards the distant snow peak.

Behind the snow peak, near a prism-shaped ice rock, Kaba chuckled lowly, saying to Yu Rou and Zha Meng beside him, "Yitian Mo ordered me to reveal my aura and put some more pressure on them. Master has a wicked mind; making us hide our strength and reveal it incrementally is far more agonizing than showing our full power all at once."

Zha Meng’s expression was savage. "Those two really think too highly of themselves. If pushed too far, we'll just leave them both here."

"No need to rush," Yu Rou chuckled softly. "Here in the Boundless Sea, we are ultimately outsiders. If we immediately make enemies of all the human martial artists in the Boundless Sea, our future days will be difficult. Though our Master is young, he is not foolish; he knows how to ensure we gain the maximum benefit."

Kaba nodded sincerely. "Master’s spirit is indeed extraordinary. He is only at the Status Realm, yet he faces two Divine Realm experts without fear, even daring to issue threats. He truly possesses the bearing of a formidable warlord."

While the trio muttered quietly, Gu Xiao and Wu Qin could no longer remain seated.

"You actually have three Divine Realm experts!"

Gu Xiao took a deep, shaky breath, genuine unease finally setting in. "Three Divine Realm experts. With such power, few factions in the Boundless Sea could possibly resist them. However, if the human martial artists of the Boundless Sea unite, destroying you is not necessarily difficult!"

Gu Xiao gritted his teeth, his gaze ice-cold. "Do not force our hand!"

"People are forced into corners," Shi Yan retorted fearlessly, glaring just as coldly at Gu Xiao. "If you refuse, then wait for us to join forces with the demonic men and watch your two families be wiped out!"

"You dare ally with the demonic men?" Gu Xiao and Wu Qin’s expressions changed again.

"Oh?" Shi Yan feigned surprise. "You seem very shocked? Haven't you done such a thing before? Why is allying with the demonic men such a heinous act in your eyes? You didn't think this way when you allied with the demonic men to deal with our Yang family, did you?"

Gu Xiao and Wu Qin froze, rendered speechless.

"I don't want to waste words," Shi Yan snorted coldly. "You each hand over five islands, and we maintain calm; Gu Linglong, Zhai Yanqing, Hua Meng, and Huang Nan will all live. Otherwise, not only will those four perish, but your two families will be buried alongside them."

Having delivered his ultimatum, Shi Yan abruptly rose, ignoring Gu Xiao and Wu Qin, and walked directly toward Cao Zhilan's side, his back coldly facing the two. "You have one hour to consider."

Gu Xiao and Wu Qin’s moods were turbulent; they stood there, their gazes dark, their minds filled with heavy worries.

Shi Yan passed through the soul barrier established by Yitian Mo and suddenly noticed Yitian Mo emerge silently from the shadows, quietly nodding to Shi Yan, signaling that everything remained under control.

Shi Yan smiled, said nothing more, and slowly made his way to the floor where Cao Zhilan and the others were gathered. His gaze swept over the tightly gritting-toothed Gu Linglong, then paused on the complex expression of He Qingman. "If there are no surprises, you will all be able to leave today."

"You bastard!" Gu Linglong cursed. "You are taking advantage of the chaos to extort us!"

"Actions have consequences," Shi Yan’s face gradually darkened, his eyes turning coldly fierce. "If it weren't for the stupidity of your two families, our Yang family would still be in the Galuo Sea Domain, and the demonic men wouldn't have invaded yet. Since you have acted wrongly, you naturally must pay restitution."

"Shi Yan, I agree with his assessment," Cao Zhilan said, unexpectedly, a smile curving her lips as she chimed in. "Our Cao family was also on the wrong side. Yes, if you have similar demands for our Cao family, I can authorize the Cao family to surrender five similar islands."

Cao Zhilan leaned languidly against the window ledge, her figure exquisitely curvaceous, her bright eyes shining with sagacious intelligence, radiating a brilliance described as dazzlingly bright.

Pan Zhe, Hua Meng, and the others secretly swallowed. They wondered why this woman suddenly looked so radiant.

"You can make decisions for the Cao family?" Shi Yan was taken aback.

"Of course," Cao Zhilan smiled sweetly, her crimson lips slightly upturned, radiating infinite allure. "I can also make decisions for my own future matters, Shi Yan. If you were to marry me, I could have the Cao family offer twenty similar islands as dowry. How about it? Do you have that inclination? Hehe. I'll say this first: if you have any such thought, I will stand by my words. What do you say?"

When Cao Zhilan spoke these words, there was no trace of shyness; it was as if she were discussing a major alliance treaty, stating her position with utmost seriousness.

Shi Yan stood dumbfounded.

... (To be continued)