Yang Hong's expression was grim on the open ground.
These idiots, instead of considering how to fight, were actually suspecting him at this critical juncture?
It wasn't that he intentionally eavesdropped; it was merely that his divine sense was too potent,
and the protective array of Guangyou Island was designed to defend against threats from outside the barrier, offering little protection to humans within.
Yang Hong's divine sense was fully deployed, observing the battlefield, and naturally, he overheard their foolish discussions.
"Alright—Yang Hong is human, that much is certain. He's unlikely to be a spy for the demon race.
If the demon race were willing to sacrifice three seventh-tier demon lords just to send in a spy,
then I'd just accept my fate."
After a period of contemplation, Ni Zhennan ultimately decided to trust Yang Hong.
After all, the three seventh-tier demon cores Yang Hong had presented were irrefutable proof.
"Alas—Island Master, you are too soft-hearted. If you ask me, we should deal with internal threats first by killing that Yang Hong."
"Shut up—"
Ni Zhennan was startled by the suggestion to kill Yang Hong.
If Yang Hong possessed the strength to kill a late-stage seventh-tier demon lord, then eliminating them would be effortless.
"Island Master, since you're occupied, why don't I handle it?
That Yang Hong is merely at the Golden Core realm. I can—"
"Shut up!"
Ni Zhennan yelled, his face a mask of panic.
For he saw Yang Hong approaching with a murderous aura.
He covered a hundred zhang with each stride, approaching rapidly.
"Island Master, perhaps I should also help."
"Count me in."
Two more old fellows grumbled, seemingly unconcerned.
They hadn't even noticed Yang Hong's proximity.
"I heard you wanted to kill me?"
Yang Hong's calm and gentle voice boomed like thunder within the array control center.
"You—you, how did you get in?"
"Heh—I walked in."
Yang Hong's voice remained tranquil, but to the three Nascent Soul old fellows who had proposed killing him, it was utterly terrifying.
This was the core of Guangyou Island's array, not only was the path in a labyrinth, but it was also guarded by the array itself.
The mere fact that Yang Hong had overheard their plan to kill him was frightening enough.
"You—please leave. We need to defend against the demon attack."
One of them said, attempting to maintain composure.
As his words fell, a rumbling impact echoed throughout Guangyou Island.
One hundred colossal magical water dragons outside the protective array barrier were striking it.
"Not good!"
Ni Zhennan exclaimed, frantically forming hand seals and casting spells, preparing to shrink the defensive perimeter of the island's array.
If any Qi Refining realm cultivators hadn't returned by now, they could only blame themselves.
Yang Hong also paused his actions, turning his attention to the water dragons.
He saw that the water dragons had grown to three hundred zhang long and over ten zhang thick.
They soared diagonally into the sky for a thousand zhang before using the force of their descent, combined with magical power, to violently strike Guangyou Island's array barrier.
In just one wave of attacks, the azure array barrier was riddled with cracks.
Even as Ni Zhennan continuously contracted the array's range, these cracks could not be entirely mended.
A single volley of attacks had nearly crippled Guangyou Island's strongest defense.
The water dragons, having lost most of their power, merely slid along the array barrier and fell into the sea.
With the continuous infusion of magical power from the demon race behind them, they slowly began to reform.
"Impressive—truly impressive. This combined spell is remarkable."
Yang Hong was practically salivating. He needed to find a way to acquire this spell; it could significantly bolster the combat strength of his subordinates and demons.
However…
"Fellow Daoist Yang, could you lend me one of your seventh-tier demon cores to help me resist the demon attack?
Once we repel the demons, I will agree to whatever you desire, Fellow Daoist Yang."
Ni Zhennan pleaded with Yang Hong for help while struggling to maintain the array.
"Heh—certainly.
Beg me."
Yang Hong glanced at the sweating Ni Zhennan and said with ease,
then extended his divine sense into the array control core before him, a technique he had never seen before.
"Fellow Daoist Yang, I, Ni Zhennan, implore you.
Please, grant me a seventh-tier demon core. Just one early-stage seventh-tier demon core will suffice."
Ni Zhennan begged with tears threatening to fall.
At this moment, he no longer cared about his pride.
However, the other Nascent Soul old fellows glared at Yang Hong with evident anger.
"Yang Hong, are you even human? We are currently facing an attack from the demon race; this is a war of our species!"
"Yang Hong, you are an unfilial son!"
"Fellow Daoist Yang, this is not the time for opportunism. Please be magnanimous for the sake of humanity."
"Fellow Daoist Yang, this is a bit too much."
Hearing the constant barrage of criticism, Yang Hong's lips curved upward, and he said faintly, "Beg me?"
"Ugh—"
The eleven Nascent Soul old fellows were rendered speechless. They genuinely needed Yang Hong's help.
Yet, their pride prevented them from easily yielding.
"Fellow Daoist Yang, I beg you. I truly beg you.
The demon race's water dragons are rising again."
Ni Zhennan was on the verge of tears. While he deeply resented Yang Hong's manipulation, he was also infuriated by his pig-headed teammates.
They truly had no attitude of supplication.
This was practically suicidal.
"Pei Desheng, you all should also beg Fellow Daoist Yang."
Ni Zhennan finally began calling out the names of his old companions, urging them to beg Yang Hong.
"Fellow Daoist Yang, I, Pei Desheng, implore you. Please, for the sake of the 58.27 million humans on this island, extend your aid."
Pei Desheng, who had been silent, was the first to plead with Yang Hong.
"I am kneeling before you, Fellow Daoist Yang."
Pei Desheng, perhaps fearing his sincerity was insufficient, hesitated for a moment before resolutely kneeling.
"Fellow Daoist Pei—you—why go to such lengths?"
Just as Yang Hong was about to speak, an old man next to Pei Desheng reached out to help him up.
"Yang Hong—you've gone too far?
You, a mere Golden Core cultivator, dare to accept the kowtow of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Are you not afraid of shortening your lifespan?"
"Yang Hong, you will face retribution."
"Yang Hong…"
Yang Hong remained oblivious to the angry accusations.
He looked with pity at Ni Zhennan and Pei Desheng while his divine sense tracked the colossal water dragons swooping down again.
"Rumble—"
This time, the water dragons' impacts were not as synchronized. The rumbling collisions occurred one after another,
striking the array barrier so violently that it flickered erratically, and the cracks on its surface became even more pronounced.
"…"
The ten Nascent Soul old fellows who had been cursing Yang Hong finally fell silent.
They were finally afraid!
"Fellow Daoist Yang, I, Hu Yan Tiequn, implore you. Please extend your aid."
"Fellow Daoist Yang, I, Kong Daoshou, implore you. Please extend your aid."
"I, Zhong Rongqing, implore Fellow Daoist Yang…"
They finally cast aside their pride and, with clasped hands, begged Yang Hong for help.
"Very well—"
Yang Hong smiled, raising his right hand. In it was the late-stage seventh-tier demon core.
"Excellent! Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yang, for your assistance."
Everyone displayed smiles of relief, having narrowly escaped disaster.
One of the old fellows who had been clamoring to kill Yang Hong even reached out, intending to snatch the demon core.
"The demon core can be yours, but you must pay a price."
"What price?"
The hand stopped mid-air, and the individual looked at Yang Hong with confusion.
"It's very simple. I will send you to a safe place. You only need to not resist my divine sense."
Yang Hong said with a smile.
"A safe place? Is there such a place now?"
"Extremely safe. A hundred times safer than Guangyou Island."
Yang Hong's smile became even more sincere.
"Then hurry!"
The Nascent Soul old fellows, without a hint of suspicion, were even somewhat anxious.
"Heh—here we go."
Yang Hong's divine sense enveloped the ten Nascent Soul old fellows, excluding Ni Zhennan and Pei Desheng. He unleashed his divine sense with full power. Regardless of their willingness,
he directly captured them into his scale space.
It was indeed a safe place.
But they would never be able to leave the scale space in this lifetime.