He paused briefly, then announced, "This time, our Mystic Heaven Holy Land sent out a total of twenty-eight World Travelers. During that period, they explored seventeen Secret Realms, eradicated nine demon beast lairs, obtained eleven ancient inheritances, and found countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures..."
"However, the path of cultivation is strewn with thorns. Of those twenty-eight, eight fell, nine returned with severe injuries, and the rest all came back wounded..."
The Holy Master's voice carried a heavy solemnity, and the atmosphere in the square turned grave with it...
Twenty-eight people in total, with eight dead. The casualty rate exceeded one-tenth...
The number might not seem large, but every World Traveler was an elite the Holy Land had piled resources into. Losing so many at once was an undeniably heavy price...
"Those who died were all heroes of our Holy Land!"
"Their names shall be engraved upon the Heroic Spirit Stele and receive the incense offerings of later generations!"
"If they have Mortal families, then their families shall naturally receive compensation from the Holy Land..."
"As for the survivors, regardless of the size of their merits, returning from such perilous hardships is itself a blessing!"
"Today, rewards shall be given according to merit, as is customary..."
The Holy Master raised his hand, and a golden memorial scroll flew out from his sleeve, suspended itself in midair, and slowly unfurled.
Spiritual light flowed across it, revealing name after name and deed after deed...
"Dongfang Zhaixing slew the Ice Soul Demon Flood Dragon on the Northern Ice Plains, took its flood dragon core and tendons, and aided the sect in refining three batches of Mystic Ice Break-Evil Pills. He is recorded as having rendered one great merit, and is bestowed one bottle of Nine-Turn Mystic Spirit Pills, one high-grade spiritual artifact, and