The final words fell.
The entire place went deathly still.
Everyone lowered their heads.
Some people's eyes reddened.
Some clenched their fists, their knuckles turning white.
Two figures like load-bearing pillars.
One had guarded the grand array, calculating all the secrets of heaven.
One had held the Eastern Front, defending it for ten thousand ages.
And just like that, they were gone.
Not even bones had been left behind.
The wind swept the stench of blood across the square.
It was cold enough to bite into the bone.
"Go inside the hall first. We'll talk there."
The Ruthless Great Emperor spoke, breaking the silence.
His voice was still icy, only a little hoarser than usual.
Everyone nodded in silence.
Supporting the wounded, they filed into the main hall one after another.
The heavy palace doors were shut.
They cut off the roars and reek of blood outside.
But they could not cut off that crushing despair.
The light inside the hall was dim.
Everyone either stood or sat, the atmosphere so oppressive it almost made breathing impossible.
"What do we do now?"
Someone spoke in a low voice, a faint tremor in it.
"The grand array is broken, two Great Emperor-level seniors have died in battle, and we can't possibly hold back four Great Emperors."
"At worst, we fight them to the death!"
Someone growled with reddened eyes, "Xuanji Hall is our home. Even if we die, we die here!"
"Fight? With what?"
Someone immediately retorted.
"The enemy has four peak Great Emperors. On our side, even if we count everything, we only have two Great Emperors, and both are injured."
"If we keep fighting, it'll be a total wipeout. There won't even be anyone left to take revenge."
The sounds of argument gradually rose.
Some advocated fighting to the