Qian Xunyi raised his glass of fermented grape juice and addressed everyone seated before him. "A toast to Spirit Hall's victory in this expedition to Sea God Island."
Everyone present was a figure capable of making a name for themselves anywhere. They raised their glasses as well and joined the celebration.
After the drinks had gone around, Qian Xunyi said meaningfully, "Next, it is time for us to return in triumph."
"Your Holiness, by conquering Sea God Island, we will shake the entire Douluo Continent once word reaches the mainland," Red Star said.
Qian Xunyi shook his head. "You have misunderstood. My goal is not to return to the Douluo Continent as a victor. It is to withdraw a force back to the mainland as defeated remnants, so that the entire Douluo Continent learns one thing—"
"I am guilty. I have once again repeated my brother's mistakes!" Qian Xunyi said with a pained expression.
The entire victory banquet fell silent. No one present understood what he meant at first.
But Gui Mei was the first to catch on. Soon afterward, everyone else quickly came to the same realization.
"Yes. Sea God Island had deep foundations and came at us with overwhelming force. Spirit Hall was insufficiently prepared and suffered a crushing defeat—" Yue Guan said mournfully.
"In a single battle, Spirit Hall's prestige was swept away. We lost troops and commanders and exhausted decades of accumulated strength. It truly pains the heart," Dugu Bo said with an agonized expression.
"The Soul Masters of Sea God Island were all monsters. Several elders could not even last one exchange against Bo Saixi and were buried in the sea. It was truly terrifying," Huang Mian said, his mouth twisted as lingering fear filled his face.
The many elders also spoke up one after