The hall fell deathly silent.
Everyone understood what buying time meant.
Against the main forces of seven great domains, buying time was no different from throwing their lives away.
"I'll go!"
A hoarse voice rang out.
It was Ancestor Xue Ku.
He licked his cracked lips, madness gleaming in his eyes.
"My life isn't worth much anyway. If I can take a few of them down with me, I'll call it a bargain."
"I'll go too." Fan Kong stepped forward, his expression calm.
"Lord Liu Yuan, take the others and leave. We'll cover your retreat."
"No."
Liu Yuan refused flatly.
"You're at the Hunyuan Infinite Peak. You're the core of our future strength. We can't lose you here."
His gaze passed over Fan Kong and Ancestor Xue Ku to the ordinary Hunyuan Infinite Realm cultivators behind them.
"Those who stay will almost certainly die."
Liu Yuan's voice echoed through the hall.
"But I can promise you this: everyone willing to stay and cover the retreat will see their Dao realms and descendants receive the greatest protection and compensation our senior can give."
"I also have talismans bestowed by our senior."
Liu Yuan waved his hand, and a dozen or so dark-gold jade talismans floated into the air.
"I don't need you to defeat them. I only need you to hold them back, whatever the cost."
They looked at the talismans radiating terrifying power, then at Liu Yuan's calm face.
The crowd fell silent for a moment.
At last, a cultivator at the Hunyuan Infinite Late Stage stepped forward.
"Lord Liu Yuan, count me in."
He bowed deeply to Liu Yuan.
"My Lanke Dao Realm's population has dwindled. I have little left to hold me here. If this old life of mine can serve our senior, it's worth it."
"Count me