The vast hall was silent.
A chill wind blew in from nowhere, cold enough to pierce to the bone. Even a thin layer of frost formed across the floor of the hall.
"Your Majesty overstates the matter."
Facing King of Qing's question, Zhong Xin remained composed as ever. Solemnly, he said, "Who will emerge victorious is still unknown. How can Your Majesty speak so lightly of survival and ruin?"
"...Hahaha."
The next moment, King of Qing suddenly laughed. "Beloved Minister Zhong worries too much. It was only a casual jest of mine. Let us speak of the front instead—which Foundation Establishment cultivators have died?"
Zhong Xin continued, "One was the Jiangbei Loose Cultivator. Beyond that, Fairy Yunhe, sect leader of the Cloud-Climbing Sect; Ancestor of Zhaoxia Clan; and Ancestor of Yuanchen Clan were all captured alive. Those who escaped back were all wounded, and they looked as though the Demon Sect had frightened the wits out of them. Given time, I fear Zhalong Pass will no longer be defensible."
Zhong Xin explained the entire chain of events in detail.
After King of Qing heard the whole story, his face immediately darkened with fury. "Incompetent wretches, forfeiting our rights and disgracing the kingdom! It seems I must leave the mountains myself!"
"Pass down the order—I shall lead the campaign in person!"
"With my strength, gathering the power of an entire kingdom before the army and False Holding the position of Great True Person, whatever devil comes before me will be no more than something fit to be decapitated with a single stroke!"
"Your Majesty must not act rashly."
Seeing this, Zhong Xin hurried forward. "Your Majesty's person is worth ten thousand pieces of gold; you are the foundation of the kingdom, unlike ordinary men. How can you personally venture into such