Inside the Council Hall, everyone's expression was extremely solemn, and the atmosphere weighed on every heart like a great mountain.
The Three Sects Sages responsible for guarding Ten Thousand Mile City, the Palace Master of the Confucian Academy, Chen Qiang, as well as the elders of the Chen Clan and the elders of all the sects and schools.
They all sat in silence in the Council Hall, so tense that they did not even want to sit.
"Creak."
The door opened, and the old wood groaned against the doorframe as the sound slowly echoed through the Council Hall.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
Jiang Lin, Xue Bu Hui, and Chen Bei entered and bowed to the assembled seniors.
The old man in the courtyard nodded at the three of them, then sank back into his own thoughts.
"All right. Since everyone is here, let us begin the meeting proper."
The Palace Master of the Confucian Academy spoke, and everyone gathered their wits.
"There is only one matter today: the withdrawal from the Vast and Righteous World."
As his words fell, everyone in the courtyard grew extremely solemn.
Since the Two-Year Limit began, Ten Thousand Mile City had guarded the front for half a year.
Half a year. Ten Thousand Mile City had held out for half a year already. Compared with the expected two years, a year and a half still remained. And now, were they going to withdraw?
Yet when they heard the words "withdraw the troops," the old men present all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They had been utterly exhausted these past few months. Nearly everyone was worn to the bone, worrying every day that Ten Thousand Mile City might fall the very next day.
Most importantly, they could not see any hope of holding it.