"Surrender?" Kong Deming smirked.
"Surrender my ass!" A roar split the sky. "None here are cowards! Not one will kneel to Sun Moon and scrape by!"
Du Busi stomped the void—launching upward!
His fist tore through the atmosphere, unleashing a devastating strike.
Silver radiance flared behind Kong Deming—moonlight-like—erasing Du Busi's fist aura effortlessly. Kong Deming raised a hand, signaling his fleet to fire.
In that instant—
Countless cannon muzzles across the five fused battleships ignited with blinding light, illuminating the entire sea.
Suffocating destruction pressed down. Every living thing in the waters felt its heart stop.
Even Du Busi dared not throw another punch.
"Fire—"
"WAIT!"
A shout echoed across the heavens—cutting Kong Deming short.
A white-haired youth stepped forward through the void, halting before Xuan Zi's trio. Chen Junting—still so young, yet already a Soul Saint.
Kong Deming marveled at his talent—then sneered. "Chen boy, you—"
Chen Junting shook his head at Du Busi, then locked eyes with Kong Deming. Unflinching. Unwavering.
Next second—he spoke brazenly:
"I believe Silver Moon Majesty shouldn't attack us."
"Ridiculous!" Laughter erupted.
"Why shouldn't I? You raided our palace, stole imperial treasures, caused the late emperor's death, and scorned the new sovereign! Crimes beyond counting!"
Kong Deming's eyes turned glacial—killing intent surging. He seemed ready to strike Chen Junting down—prompting Du Busi's quartet to shield him instantly.
One elder even roared: "Kong Deming, you old cur! Don't spew lies—the old emperor's death was clearly—"
"SILENCE!"
A thunderous rebuke cut him off.
Kong Deming refused to let the truth spread—determined to pin the blame squarely on the Three Great Empires. His arm poised to slash down—ordering fire.
But then—
"I suspect Silver Moon Majesty wouldn't want to die here with all these Grade-9 soul engineers and legions as collateral," Chen Junting murmured—his words laced with eerie magnetism.
Kong Deming froze mid-motion.
He understood.
Chen Junting pressed on—each word colder than the last:
"If you're so certain we stole those artillery shells… you must know their quantity. Their grade. The explosive yield."
A bead of sweat traced Kong Deming's temple. The Three Great Empires' experts, startled, saw an opening.
Before Kong Deming could retort, Chen Junting continued: "If we truly looted Mingdu… with Sun Moon's wealth, the stockpile must be vast. I wonder—would detonating them erase Mingdu from the continent's map?"
Would it?
Absolutely.
As the saying goes:
Barefoot men fear not shoed men. The reckless fear only the desperate.
The tables had turned.
Now Kong Deming was the threatened one.
If they fired and accidentally triggered the shells? He might survive—but his Grade-9 soul engineers, legions, even this colossal warship… all would be annihilated.
"You're threatening me?!" Kong Deming's composure shattered.
Chen Junting nodded—openly, calmly.
"I am threatening you. If you attack, we die anyway—so why not take a few with us?"
Kong Deming's face twisted—trapped between action and inaction.
"Consider carefully, Senior," Chen Junting said—then turned, returning to the Titan Gryphon's back. Seeing Kong Deming hesitate, Du Busi's group followed suit.
Once settled—
"Kid, you've got guts!"
"HAHAHA—"
"But this isn't a long-term solution," Chen Junting cautioned—earning nods from the elders.
"Xiao Chen's right. Kong Deming won't idle here forever. Though he can't hold out long, this is still Sun Moon's waters—disastrous for us. And if Ye Xishui's group survived the tribulation… we're truly cornered."
"What else can we do?"
All eyes turned to Chen Junting.
He remained silent—only the runes on his palm flickering, bright then dim—as if waiting… summoning something. Until—flash!—black light erupted.
Di Tian's reverse scale returned to his hand.
Ye Xishui's group had survived the tribulation array!
"Just waiting for this," Chen Junting clenched his fist—Heavenly Tribulation energy surging. "Elders—I'll deploy the array again. While they're preoccupied, we blast through their barrier with a Grade-9 shell and break out!"
"But if Kong Deming attacks regardless—" Huang Jinxu (Heavenly Calamity Douluo) voiced doubt—only to be silenced by Du Busi's glare.
Yet Chen Junting stayed calm.
He'd anticipated this. If forced—they'd spam Invincible Barriers. And besides…
His gaze drifted subtly toward Wang Dong'er.
They had the ultimate weapon.
Certain existences were disasters—but in specific scenarios? Absolute insurance.
(He kept that thought to himself.)
The first half of his plan earned unanimous approval.
Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Next second—RUMBLE-RUMBLE!
Heavenly Tribulation Array—ACTIVATE!
Deceiving Heaven Array—ACTIVATE!
Kong Deming suddenly found storm clouds gathering overhead—covering dozens of miles, thunder rumbling. The Three Great Empires' group vanished without trace.
"FIRE!"
This time—he hesitated not.
Whether the first volley killed them or not—he would not let them escape. Even sacrificing Grade-9 soul engineers and legions was worth it. The benefits outweighed the costs.
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