The entire world was filled with the shouts of Dragon King Hall warriors, their morale soaring as dark clouds dispersed, revealing the bright moonlight.
Countless powerful figures from Fo Zhou, watching from the shadows, couldn't help but exclaim. The Dragon King Hall army before them consisted of ordinary martial artists, yet at this moment, they felt like an invincible, forward-marching divine force.
It was as if there was no enemy they couldn't conquer, no foe they dared not challenge.
At this instant, the only thought in the minds of these Fo Zhou powerhouses was that, given time, this army would undoubtedly become the renowned hundred-battle divine soldiers of the Nine Provinces!
What was even more significant was that this army, with its boundless potential, pledged allegiance to only one person: Li Xiaotian!
At this moment, many looked up at the figure in the sky, that young man of later generations, the overbearing, decisive, and disruptive Li Xiaotian who had caused such a stir in their Fo Zhou.
In their memories, Li Xiaotian was arrogant and presumptuous, oblivious to his own limitations, and a wanton killer.
But if he were truly such a person, would so many people follow him? Would tens of thousands of Dragon King Hall warriors pledge their lives to him?
"Amitabha!"
From the shadows, a high monk clasped his hands together, a look of apology on his face. They knew the entirety of the conflict between Li Xiaotian and the Blissful Buddhist Sect, they understood everything, yet they could not endorse him.
Because they were from Fo Zhou! And Li Xiaotian hailed from Yan Zhou. Their positions and Li Xiaotian's were different, thus they could never acknowledge him.
At this moment, Li Xiaotian slowly descended, appearing in the center of the camp. Instantly, tens of thousands of Dragon King Hall warriors knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, my King!"
Li Xiaotian nodded slightly, saying nothing, and walked directly towards the rear of the camp.
At the rear of the camp lay the ashes of their fallen brothers, which were to be taken back for burial.
The entire camp fell silent, all eyes following Li Xiaotian's movement. When they saw the direction he was heading, a wave of somber emotion spread through the camp.
They knew that their King had not forgotten their fallen brothers!
Some in the camp wept silently, while others smiled with tears in their eyes.
They had lost many brothers in this battle; those brothers would never return.
However, they had no regrets, no resentment, because their King had not forgotten them.
"Big Brother!!!"
"King! No!!"
Suddenly, countless cries of alarm erupted from the camp. Long Shiwu and the other generals rushed towards Li Xiaotian.
No one had anticipated that Li Xiaotian would bend his waist before rows of urns containing ashes and offer a deep bow.
At that moment, everyone's faces were filled with shock, followed by reddened eyes and hearts brimming with emotion.
They understood why Li Xiaotian was doing this, but he was their King! Their King was invincible, unyielding, a person whom no difficulty could make him bow his head!
Yet, at this moment, their King bent his waist to pay respects to his deceased comrades.
In this moment, the King made them feel his profound sense of loss and helplessness.
"Big Brother, there's no need for this! We have no regrets! Our brothers have no regrets! They would never wish to see you like this!!!"
Long Shiwu roared. He was perhaps the most familiar with Li Xiaotian present, and he sensed something different about Li Xiaotian today, something he couldn't quite fathom.
"King! Stand up! We fought to the death not to see you like this!!!"
Countless warriors shouted. Despite their emotions, they still did not want to see Li Xiaotian in such a state.
"All of you, stand down!"
Li Xiaotian let out a powerful roar, forcing back Long Shiwu and the others who were trying to support him.
Then, with his back to the rows of urns, facing Long Shiwu and the others, and the tens of thousands of warriors in the camp, he bent his waist once more.
"Big Brother, no!!!"
Long Shiwu and the others' faces contorted in shock. Everyone knelt on one knee again. They could understand their King paying respects to fallen brothers, but why now?
When had a king ever bowed to the weak?
"King! Stand up!!!"
Countless people shouted, tears streaming uncontrollably from their eyes.
Long Shiwu and the other generals desperately rushed towards Li Xiaotian, but Li Xiaotian's aura pushed them back, preventing them from reaching him.
"Brothers, I may have to leave you!"
Li Xiaotian said unhurriedly, his voice low, but it echoed in everyone's ears.
Boom!
At that moment, the entire camp fell into absolute silence. Everyone looked on with disbelief, as if the voice they had just heard was an illusion.
What did the King just say?
That he was leaving them?
This was impossible!
This couldn't be true!
"Big Brother, what did you say??"
Long Shiwu's voice trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"This isn't real! The King must be joking with us. My ears must be playing tricks on me."
Someone muttered, covering their ears with their hands.
"How can the King possibly leave us? We've fought countless battles in war zones, contended with ancient powers after the great cosmic changes, fought to the death against the demon race, and the King was always there! How can he possibly leave us?"
"That must have been an auditory hallucination. The King is just joking with us. No one should believe it; it's all an illusion."
Numerous voices arose from the camp.
"What I said is true. From today onwards, I will disband the Dragon King Hall."
Li Xiaotian spoke again. This statement struck the tens of thousands of warriors present like a bolt from the blue.
Everyone froze, their eyes wide, their expressions stunned.
Is it true?
"No!!! Big Brother, what are you doing?! Do you know what you're doing? Why are you disbanding the Dragon King Hall? Why?!"
Long Shiwu roared, his face flushed red.
"The Dragon King Hall will never disband! As long as the King exists, the Dragon King Hall exists!"
A commander shouted, tears of blood flowing from his eyes.
"We beg the King to retract his decree!"
At this moment, some wept, some raged, some stood in a daze.
Li Xiaotian's words undoubtedly shattered the faith in their hearts, extinguishing the ideals they had long held.
How could they accept this?
Since joining the Dragon King Hall, they had sworn to follow their King forever, to their death without regret!
But now? Their King was disbanding the Dragon King Hall! This was difficult for them to accept! And they did not want to accept it!
"We beg the King to retract his decree! The Dragon King Hall will never disband!"
Shouts echoed, everyone yelling with all their might. Even the wounded now disregarded their injuries, roaring and looking at Li Xiaotian with pleading eyes.
Most of the people in the Dragon King Hall were alone, without homes or family.
For them, the Dragon King Hall was their home, and the brothers of the Dragon King Hall were their family.
They only knew how to follow the King's footsteps, to fight, to strive, to forever protect the King's dignity, and to fight for the King!
But now their King was disbanding the Dragon King Hall, abandoning them. How could they accept this?
"All of you, shut up!"
Li Xiaotian bellowed. A terrifying, ferocious aura shot straight into the sky, instantly suppressing all the voices in the camp.
"All you do is cry! All you do is beg! Can you let me finish speaking? Do you know that if you continue to follow me, you will die at any moment? Following me means encountering more and more dangers, and your enemies will only grow stronger!"
Li Xiaotian shouted. If the world were still the same as before, why would he make such a decision? Why would he bear to let his brothers leave him?
But things were different now. He had grown too fast, and his enemies were too numerous and too powerful. It was conceivable that the enemies he would face in the future would only grow stronger one by one!
If he allowed his brothers to continue following him, he could ensure his own safety, but he had no confidence in protecting these brothers.
It wasn't that he was selfish, but that he was powerless!
He had offended too many ancient forces. With the completion of the world, Heavenly grade experts would awaken, and he couldn't even imagine what terrifying enemies he would face then.
But he understood that if he made any mistake, these brothers who followed him would face annihilation, and it was even possible for them to be completely wiped out.
He did not want to face such a result; he could not accept such an outcome.
"Big Brother, we are not afraid!!"
Long Shiwu roared, tears streaming down his face. He was not afraid, not even if death was certain.
"King! We are not afraid! Dragon King Hall, never retreat!!!"
Countless warriors roared. They were not afraid, had no fear, and had no regrets!
"I know! But I am afraid! I don't want you to die with me! It's not worth it!"
Li Xiaotian shouted. Did he not understand the thoughts of his brothers? He had brought these people up; he understood them, and he trusted them.
"Big Brother, it's worth it!!!"
Long Shiwu roared.
"You shut up! All of you shut up!!!"
Li Xiaotian suddenly roared, interrupting Long Shiwu, interrupting the clamor in the camp.
"I know you are reluctant, and I know you are never afraid. I know all of this!"
Li Xiaotian spoke with conviction, looking at everyone with sincere eyes, and continued.
"But I do not wish to see you continue to die because of me, I do not wish for you to be implicated by me before you have grown, and I do not wish for the end of my Dragon King Hall to be a fleeting moment!"
"My disbanding the Dragon King Hall today does not mean I no longer want you. It means I hope you will go and find your own paths!"