Forward! Forward!

Previously, these people had hidden in the woods, undetected by drones or satellite cameras.

But when every person from Huaxia stepped onto the beach, the sight was no less staggering than the Nine Provinces Cauldron's earlier display of might!

One million.

It seemed like nothing more than a number.

But when that number became living, breathing people gathered together, it became something truly extraordinary!

The vast beach was now packed with people.

As far as the eye could see, a dense sea of heads stretched into the distance.

Compared with these million people from Huaxia,

even the hundred and ten thousand Haidong Awakened looked outnumbered and isolated.

Not one of the million people from Huaxia spoke.

A million pairs of eyes stared fixedly at Jin Dachang and the Haidong Awakened.

There was no cowardice, only fury.

Under that pressure, even Jin Dachang felt a chill down his back and instinctively wanted to retreat.

But he steadied himself for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"What does it matter how many people you have?"

"Do you think these ordinary people can stop me? Stop the Haidong Awakened?"

"Fools!"

Ignoring everyone else, Jin Dachang looked straight at Su Chen, murderous intent rising in his eyes.

"Your name is Su Chen, right?"

"First you insulted King Taejong, and now you've ambushed my Haidong fleet, killing tens of thousands of King Taejong's descendants!"

"Today, you're going to die!"

At that, Jin Dachang sneered again and swept his gaze over the people from Huaxia on the beach.

"However, King Taejong is merciful and generous, and you civilians from Huaxia were forced to come here."

"As long as you kneel, surrender, and submit to Haidong,"

"I can pardon you on King Taejong's behalf!"

In Jin Dachang's eyes, Su Chen had to die.

But killing all these ordinary people as well would certainly provoke public outrage.

If everyone in Huaxia rose up in resistance because of it, the losses would outweigh the gains.

Besides, ordinary people were still ordinary people.

Even with a million of them, they stood no chance against him and the Haidong Awakened.

Who in their right mind would willingly die alongside Su Chen?

But what Jin Dachang hadn't expected was that,

the moment he finished speaking, the sea of people behind Su Chen erupted in earth-shaking curses.

"What a load of fucking bullshit!"

"Who was forced? We all came willingly!"

"Surrender? Dream on!"

"You Haidong dogs! If you want to invade Huaxia, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"

"If I die here, I'll bring honor to my ancestors! What's there to fear?"

"Pardon us on King Taejong's behalf? Pah! Since when did we people of Huaxia need forgiveness from your bullshit ancestor?"

"If you want to fight, then fight! Why all the bullshit?"

Jin Dachang's brows knitted tightly, his face darkening like a storm cloud.

Half of these people from Huaxia were ordinary civilians, some without even a weapon.

Yet they still dared to act so arrogantly at a time like this.

Were the people of Huaxia truly unafraid of death?

Impossible!

Jin Dachang refused to believe that anyone in this world did not fear death.

Even if they weren't afraid now, he could kill until they were!

"You're asking for death! Then don't blame me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jin Dachang swept his right hand forward.

"Kill them!"

At his command, the Awakened of Haidong Country shuddered, awakening power instantly surging from their bodies.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Crush Huaxia!"

Amid the shouts, the Haidong Awakened charged toward Huaxia's ranks with savage expressions.

The combined awakening power of a hundred and ten thousand Awakened created a terrifying spectacle!

Viewed from above through satellite and drone cameras,

the Haidong Awakened resembled a red scythe about to reap a million lives!

At the sight, everyone watching in Huaxia felt a stab of pain and lowered their heads, unable to bear watching any longer.

The Nine Provinces Cauldron's earlier display of might had left everyone utterly stunned and given the people of Huaxia a glimmer of hope.

But they had never imagined that,

despite its immense power, the Nine Provinces Cauldron would attack only once before falling silent.

Now Haidong Country's army had landed. How could Su Chen and those ordinary people possibly hold them off?

At that moment, countless people across Huaxia broke down sobbing.

Among the million people on that beach were their fathers, husbands, and children.

Their loved ones now stood on Huaxia's front line, facing the blades of the Haidong Awakened!

On Huaxia's frontier,

soldiers returning from patrol were covered in mosquitoes and leeches.

But they had no time to deal with them and hurried straight back into the Border Defense Station.

Haidong's invasion weighed on the heart of every soldier in Huaxia.

If the order came, they would march onto the battlefield without the slightest hesitation.

But for now, they could only fulfill their duties and protect the soil of Huaxia beneath their feet.

Yet when they saw the murderous Haidong Awakened on the screen, and the million people from Huaxia prepared to meet death without flinching,

even these iron-willed border soldiers could not hold back their tears.

If they could, they would have climbed into the television and stood in front of Huaxia's civilians.

They would rather die themselves than watch helplessly as Haidong slaughtered the people of Huaxia.

Because they were Huaxia's soldiers!

This was their mission!

This was their duty!

The same scene

played out in every military camp and every outpost across Huaxia.

More than two million Huaxia soldiers were now gathered in front of televisions.

Every one of them had bloodshot eyes and bulging veins.

They were furious.

Why were Huaxia's civilians facing the enemy instead of them?

They could not understand.

Why had their superiors given such an order, sacrificing so many lives for nothing?

And it wasn't just them.

Even people in other countries were stunned speechless by the sight.

Unarmed civilians from Huaxia actually dared to stand against the Haidong Awakened.

And they would rather die than surrender!

How was this any different from suicide?

On the beach,

as the Haidong Awakened drew closer, everyone from Huaxia gritted their teeth and clenched their fists.

"Scared?"

Xia Hai looked at Xia Donglin beside him.

"Of course I am."

Xia Donglin puffed out his chest. "But I'm more afraid of being too ashamed to face my dad in the afterlife."

"That's the spirit!"

The fat on Xia Yang's face trembled as he raised a hand and patted Xia Donglin's shoulder.

"If you get there first, make sure you wait for me!"

Xia Donglin glanced at him and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

Facing the murderous Haidong Awakened, many people-not just those three-felt their legs weaken and their hearts tremble.

Jin Dachang's earlier assumption had been right.

No one in this world was unafraid of death, because that fear was human instinct.

But he had forgotten something.

Throughout Huaxia's history, countless forebears had willingly sacrificed themselves for their country and their people.

The spirit of those fallen heroes had long since been etched into the bones and blood of every person from Huaxia!

When their country was in peril!

When their people's very survival was at stake!

Even if they were afraid, they could not retreat a single step!

Even if they died, they had to charge bravely forward!

"Arise!"

"Arise!"

"Arise!"

No one knew who started it, but someone suddenly began singing at the top of their lungs.

"With our millions united as one!"

"Braving the enemy's gunfire!"

"Forward!"

The familiar melody struck straight into everyone's heart!

Unable to help themselves, everyone from Huaxia joined in, singing loudly with trembling voices.

"Braving the enemy's gunfire!"

"Forward!"

"Braving the enemy's gunfire!"

"Forward!"

"Forward!"

"Forward, forward!!!"

The stirring song drove away their fear and roused boundless courage.

A million voices joined together.

Like war drums shaking the heavens!

They filled heaven and earth!