The Central Earth Army was silent.
Twenty-two Sages faced twenty-four Emperor Levels and Inferior Sages.
One hundred and ninety Divinity Transformation Realm experts faced over two hundred and eighty Giant Kings and Asura Kings.
An advantage that was supposed to crush suddenly turned into a disadvantage.
At this moment, they were no longer angry at the Phoenix Dynasty Great Sage, but rather felt an indescribable oppression.
Taicang State Great Wine Sacrifice took a deep breath, his voice deep and powerful:
"We are Central Earth’s last force. If we all die fighting, there will be no one left to protect the beings of Central Earth."
"Anyone who wants to retreat, go back to Central Earth."
"No one will blame you!"
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a stir within the Central Earth Army!
Many were shaken.
Fear of death is a living creature’s instinct, unrelated to virtue.
But, there were also those who were as steadfast as before.
An unnamed loose cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm, carrying a bundle of spirit tablets, slowly walked forward.
He was past his sixties, his eyes weathered but calm.
Facing tens of thousands of the Central Earth Army, facing the Sages, Giant Emperors, and Asura Emperors filling the sky, he remained unfazed, speaking in a hoarse voice:
"I’m not retreating."
"The entire forty-plus members of my Chen Family were all devoured by giants."
"Only my old bones survived by luck."
"I have no relatives left in the world, what meaning is there in returning to Central Earth?"
"My dying wish is to follow Starfire Venerable to the Heavenly Realm and kill giants."
"Even if I kill just one, it counts as avenging my clan!"
"So, I’m not leaving, I just want to kill giants."
Some recognized him.
It was the old master of the Chen Family from Big Bull Mountain in Hunyuan State, the Chen Family was a locally renowned Martial Path Family, with ancestors that once had a late-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse.
A month ago, Ancient Giants descended.
Hunyuan State couldn’t withstand the Ancient Giant assault, and the entire state was devastated by the rampage of Ancient Giants; many forces big and small were obliterated, human and beast alike consumed.
Only some families were saved by Jiang Fan leading reinforcements from Taicang State, Dan State, Divine Weapon State, and Great Wilderness State.
The Chen Family was unfortunate, they didn’t get to await Jiang Fan.
Their entire clan was eaten, even the children didn’t survive.
Only he, Ninth Layer of Core Formation, survived by chance.
But facing the bloody remnants of his clan, his heart was deadened, lacking the will to live alone.
Until news from Heavenly State arrived, Central Earth was advocating for a raid on the Heavenly Realm, he then rallied anew!
To qualify for the raid on the Heavenly Realm, he desperately cultivated.
With the support of various resources, he finally broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm not long ago.
And made it to the Heavenly Realm as desired.
Now asking him to retreat to Central Earth, how could he be willing?
Everyone was moved.
Who hadn’t suffered from the giants’ torment? Who hadn’t lost friends or family, fellow disciples?
Even an elderly man with a beard had the ambition to battle giants, what was there for them to fear?
"I won’t retreat either! My disciples are watching me from Central Earth; if I desert, I’ll be ridiculed for life!"
"I’m not retreating! I should’ve died in the last battle; it was those predecessors who sacrificed themselves, allowing me to survive. Now, I’ll follow their example and use this life to illuminate others!"
"Fight! A real man should shine while alive, and be wrapped in horsehide upon death!"
"Dying in battle at the Heavenly Realm, I would not regret even in death!"
The initially shaken army’s morale reached a boiling point, their war cries echoing heaven and earth.
Golden Scale Venerate couldn’t help but laugh heartily: "What are we afraid of?"
"Don’t forget, Starfire Venerable is still in Central Earth!"
"With his presence, why should we fear that Central Earth’s beings are left unprotected?"
Upon hearing this, the Central Earth Army was shaken again.
Almost forgotten, Jiang Fan remained in Central Earth!