"How terrible!"
"We fought for our kingdom! How did it come to this?"
"Little Seven, I brought you away from home, only to get you killed!"
At the foot of Mount Tai, the Qi Kingdom soldiers who had survived the Grand Formation wailed over the blood-soaked ground.
"Greetings, my lord! We have long heard of your great name!"
"Thank you for saving our lives, my lord. Otherwise, we would have become food for that Evil Fiend today!"
"Such a Divine Ability truly beggars belief!"
Atop Mount Tai, the oppressive atmosphere vanished as Chen Cuo opened his eyes.
No one spared Song Zifan another thought. Supporting themselves as best they could, they came forward to pay their respects, thanking Chen Cuo for saving them and showering him with praise.
They could not manage a fight, but they still had enough strength to come and greet him.
Neither the speakers nor Chen Cuo found their words awkward or fawning. Everything they said was true: he had saved them, and they had witnessed a contest of powers that, to their eyes, shook the ancients and dazzled the present!
A few, however, disdained joining the praise. Among them were Li Gui, who had stepped forward with his sword earlier, and his master, the Pine-Bamboo Poison King.
"They're all people who flock to power!" The Poison King was tall and heavily bearded, but his foundations had been injured. His face was pale, his speech came in fits and starts, and Li Gui was supporting him.
Ahead, the crowd pressed around Chen Cuo, leaving even Song Zifan forgotten.
Chen Cuo shook his head, rose, and signaled for them to make way.
Here and now, who would dare disobey him? He needed no words. At a glance, the crowd parted and opened a path.
Chen Cuo