161: Chapter 161 Morale Deteriorates

After the bloody battle at Duanhun Cliff concluded, the collapse of the Flame Emperor Alliance spread uncontrollably, much like falling dominoes.

Of the sixty-thousand-strong army, more than half were lost at Duanhun Cliff, with fewer than thirty thousand retreating alive, and most of them were wounded.

Under the orders of Void Swallowing Flame, the pursuing forces of the Soul Clan Alliance stopped at the valley entrance, choosing not to finish them off—not out of mercy, but because it was not worth the effort.

In the eyes of the Hun Clan, the lives of those low-level cultivators were not even worth the waste of Dou Qi.

Wind Idle's left arm had been grazed by Elder Hun Tu's Gate of Dead Silence during the chaos; the meridians in his entire arm had withered, and it was only through Yao Chen personally applying needles that it was barely saved, though he would be unable to wield a sword for some time.

During the retreat, Valley Master Tang Zhen held the rear alone, fighting three Hun Clan Dou Sheng experts single-handedly; he suffered heavy injuries and was rescued by several personal guards who risked their lives to bring him back.

Of the three thousand elite Red Flame Army soldiers, fewer than eight hundred returned alive to Starfall Pavilion; the student guard of Jia Nan Academy lost more than half its members, and the mercenaries from the Black-Corner Region were reduced to less than one in ten.

The twenty-thousand-strong allied army of the Jia Ma Empire suffered the worst; they were originally a ragtag force cobbled together from various sides, fighting individually during the rout, and were cut through repeatedly by the strong experts of the Hun Clan, leaving fewer than five thousand who escaped the battlefield alive.

Even more fatal was the situation in the rear—the Jia Ma Empire had fallen, the Black-Corner Region had changed ownership, Jia Nan Academy had been sealed, and the entire Xiao Family had been captured.

These reports spread throughout the entire encampment less than a day after the remnants retreated to Starfall Pavilion.

Xiao Yan's father was captured, Xiao Yan's brothers were captured, Xiao Yan's first love was captured, and all of Xiao Yan's old acquaintances from the Jia Ma Empire and Jia Nan Academy, every single one of them, had been thrown into the dungeons of the Soul Realm.

Their alliance leader was in the Ancient Emperor Cave with no knowing when he would emerge, and the Hun Clan did not even need to make a move; these reports alone were enough to cause the morale of the Flame Emperor Alliance to collapse completely.

For the first few days after the remnants retreated to Starfall Pavilion, the sounds of arguing in the council hall did not cease from morning until night.

The mercenary leaders from the Black-Corner Region were the first to stir up trouble, claiming that they had joined the Flame Emperor Alliance to conquer the world with Xiao Yan, but now the alliance leader was nowhere to be seen, their homes had been taken, and staying here would mean there wouldn't even be anyone to collect their corpses.

Several mercenary leaders took the lead in demanding to take their men back to the Black-Corner Region, and it was only by Wind Idle blocking the doorway with his sword that the situation was barely suppressed.

Immediately after, the remnants of the Jia Ma Empire allied army also began to riot; these passionate men who had traveled thousands of miles from the Jia Ma Empire to provide support had lost more than half their numbers at Duanhun Cliff, and the survivors, having barely made it back alive, exploded with rage upon hearing the news that the Imperial Capital had fallen and their families had been captured.

Several generals rushed before Yao Chen and stated that their families were still in the Imperial Capital, and they had to return—even if it meant death, they wanted to die with their families.

Yao Chen sat in the main seat, listening to the arguments filling the hall, but he remained silent throughout.

He knew these people were not afraid of death; they just could not see any hope.

If Xiao Yan were here, it would only take one sentence or one look for this restlessness to be suppressed.

But Xiao Yan was not here.

Even if he shouted until his throat gave out, he could not replace the fire that Xiao Yan had ignited in the hearts of these people.

He slowly stood up and walked to the center of the council hall, and all the arguing ceased the instant he rose.

He looked around, and his aged, hoarse voice echoed through the great hall: "For those of you who wish to leave, this old man will not stop you."

"You have shed blood and risked your lives for the Flame Emperor Alliance, and this debt of gratitude is engraved in Yao Chen's heart."

"But this old man must remind you of one thing—Xiao Yan is not yet dead."

"He is currently in the Ancient Emperor Cave, striving to reach the Emperor Realm."

"When he emerges, no one on this continent will be able to stop him."

"By then, you will regret leaving today."

"For those willing to stay, this old life of mine can still hold on, and we shall wait for his return together."

"As for those who wish to leave—go; this old man will see you off on Xiao Yan's behalf."

After speaking, he bowed deeply to everyone present, his white hair falling over his forehead, obscuring his reddened eyes.

The council hall remained silent for a long time.

Eventually, a few leaders of small and medium-sized factions stood up, bowed to Yao Chen with cupped hands, and turned to leave in silence.

The mercenary leaders from the Black-Corner Region hesitated for a long time, but ultimately left with their remaining troops.

Several generals of the Jia Ma Empire allied army said with red eyes that they had to return to see their families, and Yao Chen nodded without stopping them.

One after another, several thousand more remnants left, and the surviving army, which was originally less than thirty thousand, was reduced by nearly half again.

The Starfall Pavilion encampment went from crowded to empty, and many campfires did not light up again in the night.

But more people chose to stay—the eight hundred Red Flame Army soldiers of Burning Flame Valley all remained, the student guard of Jia Nan Academy all remained, and the disciples of the Starfall Pavilion headquarters all remained.

Wind Idle, with his left arm in a sling, stood at the entrance of the council hall leaning on his sword with one hand; he spat at those who were leaving and said, "Get lost, and don't regret it when Xiao Yan returns."

Valley Master Tang Zhen lay on his bed, covered in bandages, his crimson beard scorched black; he muttered that he had never made a wrong bet in his life—he had bet on Xiao Yan last time and won, and this time, he was betting on Xiao Yan again.

Tang Huo'er stood guard by her father's bedside, her eyes red, yet she stubbornly refused to let her tears fall, saying that Xiao Yan would definitely return, and when he did, he would make the Hun Clan pay.

Yao Chen walked out of the council hall and stood on the stone steps in front of the main hall of Starfall Pavilion, gazing at the scattered, fading campfires down the mountain, the night wind blowing his white hair into disarray.

He suddenly remembered the first time he met Xiao Yan in Wutan City many years ago, when the youth was just a piece of trash with three stages of Dou Zhi Qi, kneeling before him to ask to become his disciple, saying he wanted to become stronger and wanted to seek justice for the Xiao Family.

When he accepted this disciple back then, he knew that this lad would surely achieve greatness in the future.

Now, that piece of trash was an Eight Star Dou Sheng, striving to reach the Emperor Realm that no one had been able to attain for ten thousand years.

He would not fall; he would definitely return.

Because he had made promises to his master, to his clansmen, and to everyone who had died for him at Duanhun Cliff.

Therefore, he would definitely return.

Yao Chen withdrew his gaze and turned to walk toward the Pill Hall.

Before Xiao Yan returned, this old body of his had to continue holding on.

Even if he only had one last breath left, he would hold this banner for Xiao Yan.