Chapter 2667 - 2665: Swearing to Never Retreat

Chapter 2667: Chapter 2665: Swearing to Never Retreat

Everyone understood that with the Investiture of the Gods present, Li Jing and the others had no choice but to retreat.

After Taibai Venus left, the Four Heavenly Kings led a group of Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals into the council hall.

A group of soldiers stood outside the door, their eyes red, asking Li Jing inside, "Heavenly King, does the Jade Emperor want us to retreat?"

Li Jing nodded.

The Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals shouted, "I won’t retreat! My brothers all died on the battlefield, and I want to avenge them!"

"I won’t retreat either! If the Ancient Demon Clan is so brutal and enters the Immortal Realm, will our families have a chance to survive?"

"Whoever wants to retreat can retreat, but I won’t!"

"..."

The group of soldiers were no longer the exuberant youths they once were.

After a year of trials, their faces had taken on a resolute look, having shed blood on the battlefield.

Li Jing stood up, walked out the door, and looked at the soldiers with a stern face, saying, "Behind Mount Buzhou is our home. Our families and clans live there, enjoying peace. Even if it costs my life, I, Li Jing, will naturally protect them. But military orders are hard to defy; the Jade Emperor has given the order. If we do not comply, we will be rebels before the Heavenly Court, with no safe place for us in the Three Realms. Our family and clan members would be punished because of us. Whether to fight or withdraw is for everyone to decide for yourselves."

The soldiers all lowered their heads, each filled with a deep-seated frustration, not knowing how to express it.

Li Jing told everyone, "I, Li Jing, swear here that once we go back, I will earnestly advise the Jade Emperor to send troops here to support our resistance against the Ancient Demon Clan. If you trust me, Li Jing, then return with me to petition the Jade Emperor!"

The soldiers exchanged glances and finally lit up with a glimmer of hope.

"We will listen to the Heavenly King!"

"Alright, we’ll go back to petition the Jade Emperor!"

"..."

The soldiers all raised their arms and cheered, temporarily calming the chaos.

Li Jing closed the door and clasped his hands together in apology to Yang Jian and the others, saying, "I, Li Jing, apologize to everyone. Back then, you all saved us; this life of mine should belong to you. But if the Jade Emperor does not change his mind, persisting here is futile. I will first take you back to plead with the Jade Emperor about the pros and cons, and we must obtain the Jade Emperor’s consent to support us in fighting against the Ancient Demon Clan."

Yang Jian and Little Kirin exchanged looks, then walked up to pat Li Jing on the shoulder, saying, "Heavenly King Li, we trust you."

Li Jing nodded solemnly, clasped his hands again, and bid farewell to the soldiers.

Nezha sat leisurely on the Chaos Silk Ribbon to the side, saying, "I am not a god on the Investiture of the Gods, nor do I need to heed the Jade Emperor’s orders, so I’ll stay and accompany everyone."

"We brothers will fight side by side!"

Yang Jian and the five Little Kirin nodded resolutely.

Night fell, and since the Golden Crow Emperor was trapped by the formation, the second sun in the sky had descended.

On the city walls, border army soldiers blew a flute; the sound mournful, as if a woman were softly lamenting.

The border guards on the city walls and the soldiers of Liangshan Island all knew about the retreat of the Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.

The atmosphere was low, and one by one, they sat on the city wall cursing the Jade Emperor.

With morale unstable, someone said that with the retreat of the Heavenly Soldiers, what was the point of this ragtag army holding out?

Yang Jian and a group of leaders, including Little Kirin, walked on the city wall, listening to these conversations, each tightening their brows. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

They gathered all their soldiers and lined them up in long queues on the square below the city.

Yang Jian, his face like iron, looked at the border army below and asked, "Raise your hands if your original home was in the border wilderness cities."

Under the city, except for Liangshan Island’s demon army, all the soldiers raised their hands.

Yang Jian further asked, "Raise your hand if any of your family members died at the hands of the Ancient Demon Clan."

The hands of these soldiers were all held high, not a single one was down.

Yang Jian said, "Very well. I think everyone understands. We are here to resist the Ancient Demon Clan, not for the Jade Emperor’s reward, nor for the Heavenly Court’s bounty, but for our family members killed by the Ancient Demon Clan, for those homes occupied by the Ancient Demon Clan. I, Yang Jian, swear here to fight to the death against the Ancient Demon Clan. If any brother wishes to leave, you can raise your hand now and step back; I, Yang Jian, will not object."

The hands of the soldiers below lowered in an instant.

Yang Jian looked around and said, "Good, you are true men. Since no one withdraws, I, Yang Jian, declare here that even if we fight until the last soldier, we will never retreat and will fight the Ancient Demon Clan to the end!"

"Never retreat!"

"Fight to the end!"

"..."

The roar of the border army below the city walls was like thunder, as they all raised their arms and cheered, the sound echoing within and outside the city walls.

At Heaven’s Piercing Palatial Hall, after Li Jing retreated with his troops, he attended his first court session.

In the court hall, two giants were very conspicuous.

They stood at the front, one without a head, the other in a red robe with a phoenix crown, impressively heroic.

They were Xingtian and Jiufeng, who had been appointed Great Marshal of Heavenly Soldiers, commanding millions of demon soldiers to guard the courts of the Heavenly Court.

These demon soldiers had already donned the robes of the Heavenly Court, transforming one by one into Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals.

Li Jing looked at them, feeling that the Divine Sea was somewhat chaotic.

Xingtian, however, was straightforward, happy to see Li Jing, saying, "Heavenly King Li, from now on we will work together in the court. Our Witch Tribe once served as Heavenly Soldiers and Heavenly Generals and also served as soldiers for the Human Race’s Emperor Flame, so there’s no need to look at us with such eyes."

Li Jing took a deep breath and petitioned the Jade Emperor, "Your Majesty, the border is in urgent need, and only with military support can it be guarded. If Your Majesty fully supports the border soldiers, I assure you that within a year, I will drive the Ancient Demon Clan back to The Wastelands."

The Jade Emperor calmly said, "Heavenly King Li has just returned to the court; you must be tired from the journey. Let’s discuss this later. My Heavenly Court has newly acquired the Witch Tribe’s army as protectors; this is a cause for celebration. From now on, everyone should fulfill their duties and jointly defend the Heavenly Court. With the mighty power of the heavens, who dares not obey, the Heavenly Court will strike with thunderbolt’s might. I hope Heavenly King Li continues to serve diligently, and don’t be negligent."

Li Jing anxiously said, "Your Majesty, the Ancient Demon Clan is aggressively approaching; this matter cannot be delayed!"

The Jade Emperor’s expression turned cold, "Heavenly King Li, did you not hear me clearly? I do not wish to delay this matter but merely wait for an opportune moment. You seem fatigued; I hence assign Marshal Tianyou to temporarily take over your duties as joint leader of a 200,000-strong navy. You may resume your position once you have recovered."

Li Jing wanted to persuade further, but the Jade Emperor impatiently rose and left the court.

The court officials discussed among themselves, most showing an air of indifference.

Among them were mostly disciples from the Sect of Severance listed on the Investiture of the Gods, simply passing time by serving as Divine Spirits here.

If, someday, the Heavenly Court were to collapse.

They would regain their freedom and would feel delighted!

Some were dissatisfied with the Jade Emperor’s punishment; they might as well let the Jade Emperor be!

The group comforted Li Jing briefly and then left.

Xingtian also approached, joining in, patting Li Jing’s shoulder with a hearty laugh, "Heavenly King Li, don’t worry so much; those small-scale Ancient Demon Clan can’t stir up much trouble. Once we are firmly established in the Heavenly Court, we’ll help you eliminate the Ancient Demon Clan."

Li Jing left with a dark face, understanding in his heart that counting on these Witch Tribe to fight fiercely with the Ancient Demon Clan was like looking for skin with a tiger.