Chapter 1035: Dead End

To handle a fighter of Broken Sword's caliber, Xu Yang didn't need to intervene directly. With just a few pointers from Xu Yang, Uzumaki Goro was able to completely overpower Broken Sword on his own.

Broken Sword was clearly beaten to the point of questioning his own capabilities. He had never imagined that even if he couldn't defeat Xu Yang, the undisputed leader of the Glory Squad, he would at least be able to fight him to a near draw, perhaps a 40-60 split.

Yet, the reality was that Xu Yang, the leader of the Glory Squad, had simply given some verbal instructions, temporarily imparting a cultivation technique to his subordinate, and that was enough to leave Broken Sword utterly defenseless.

Broken Sword had to admit that this battle had severely shaken his confidence. He even began to feel that his supposed dominance was an illusion and that his effectiveness in true life-and-death, high-level combat was extremely limited.

As expected, Broken Sword's face became incredibly pale, and for the first time, he considered retreating. It was clear he no longer intended to stubbornly oppose them. He understood that pitting his strength against both Xu Yang and Uzumaki Goro would only lead to his demise.

As the saying goes, "A wise person adapts to circumstances." Broken Sword, the third boss, understood that there was no need for him to risk his life fighting these supreme experts on this island. As long as he survived, there would be opportunities to rebuild. His core team remained under his control, and by preserving his life, he could still have the chance to rise again. If he were to foolishly provoke Xu Yang's Glory Squad, the consequences would be more than he could bear.

Indeed, the very next moment, as Uzumaki Goro raised his immensely powerful spiritual blade and brought it down towards Broken Sword's head, the palpable aura of death abruptly vanished. Uzumaki Goro clearly saw Broken Sword make a move he never could have anticipated: he suddenly dropped to his knees with a thud, clasped his hands together, and offered a gesture of devout surrender to Uzumaki Goro.

"No more fighting, no more fighting! Can't I just surrender?"

Uzumaki Goro and Xu Yang exchanged a bewildered glance. Then Xu Yang chuckled, taking large strides towards Broken Sword, his expression one of appreciation.

"You're quite pragmatic. To so decisively abandon all your dignity and honor, choosing to endure humiliation and survive by any means necessary – that actually impresses me."

Broken Sword smiled darkly: "A wise person adapts to circumstances. For experts of your strength, let alone me, even the Boss and the Second Boss, at their level, would be no match for you! Stubborn resistance would only lead to certain death. If you are willing to spare me, I will lead you to our island's headquarters right now and help you eliminate both the Boss and the Second Boss. What do you say?"

Without a doubt, such a proposition was enough to entice Xu Yang. He didn't want his teammates to face any more life-or-death situations. After several consecutive high-intensity battles, the members of his Glory Squad were likely exhausted. Such unrestrained exertion would be detrimental to their cultivation. For cultivators, over-exerting their bodies and talents is akin to suppressing their cultivation potential. Therefore, adequate rest is essential.

"I can agree to your terms of cooperation, but I have a question for you. Your teammates are all remarkably talented individuals. How do you plan to handle them? My Glory Squad members have already subdued them. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter."

While Xu Yang's question seemed innocuous on the surface, Uzumaki Goro, standing nearby, understood Xu Yang's true intent. Xu Yang intended to assess Broken Sword's character and decide his fate based on his response.

However, without a moment's hesitation, Broken Sword provided his answer. With a dark smile at Xu Yang, he said, "Those individuals are, of course, entirely at your discretion, Your Excellency! Kill them, torture them, do as you please! While they were nominally my comrades in this team, our relationship was merely one of employment. With your power, you must surely realize that mere survival in this boundless sea is incredibly difficult. Even the strongest individuals cannot go far by fighting alone. For centuries at sea, I needed various teams to help me achieve my goals and secure our collective right to exist. But now that I've incurred the wrath of top-tier experts like yourselves, and my right to survive is at risk, this employer-employee relationship naturally has no reason to continue. I hope Your Excellency can understand my reasoning."

Xu Yang chuckled and patted Broken Sword's shoulder again. "I understand completely. Perhaps for you, this is the most correct and sensible decision. I respect your choice."

Broken Sword didn't overthink it; he merely continued to grin obsequiously at Xu Yang, his fawning expression truly repulsive. Xu Yang, however, no longer paid attention to such trivialities. After standing up, he quickly gave Broken Sword a few instructions, and then Broken Sword began leading Uzumaki Goro deeper into the island's interior.

Xu Yang remained in place, releasing his immensely powerful spiritual energy fluctuations, which spread across the entire island battlefield. Soon, every member of the Glory Squad quickly converged under the guidance of Xu Yang's spiritual energy. Everyone re-convened at this central location. Xu Yang was quite satisfied to see that each member had secured valuable spoils from the battles.

After that, Xu Yang awakened each of Broken Sword's team members, informing them of their former leader's decision. As anticipated, these formidable individuals all appeared utterly disheartened. Black Face, missing two front teeth, began to grumble and babble once more. However, the indignation on his face was undeniably genuine. Every team member felt utterly disillusioned with their leader, Broken Sword.