However, at least 70% of the crowd in the venue were familiar with Jin Botao's style. So, they didn't immediately object, merely waiting quietly for Jin Botao to continue. Even if some, like those from small financial groups or minor noble families, looked slightly disturbed and thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill, they held their tongues. After all, they were just students—powerless and even weaker than ordinary adult men. Even if they were to go first, could they truly protect themselves? Apparently, that was impossible.

However, regarding the reactions of these newcomers, the long-established figures of Quan State merely watched with cold detachment, feeling a bit disdainful. In the eyes of the older generation or those familiar with Jin Botao, these newcomers were nothing more than parvenus without any real foundation! Otherwise, as Martial Artists, or those possessing a family heritage, why would they lack even that basic understanding? It's simply child's play! Moreover, these established individuals, rooted in Quan State for decades, even had some of Jin Botao's old acquaintances within their families. Under such circumstances, they didn't believe Jin Botao would do something as extreme as abandoning Martial Artist families to protect mere ordinary people. If even they felt this way, it went without saying for Jin Botao; he would simply overlook insignificant matters. Sure enough, Jin Botao paid them no heed and continued speaking.

"However, students going first is just a principle. As long as we, the people of Quan State City, still stand, the students will always be protected behind us, and we won't need to consider retreating! Therefore, defending Quan State City is our top priority…"

In a few short moments, Jin Botao had abruptly changed his tone, turning the idea of students going first into a principle. Yet, even with this principle, the absolute top priority remained the safety of Quan State City. Otherwise, in the final analysis, if Quan State City truly fell, even if the students were allowed to evacuate first, they likely wouldn't escape the pursuit and encirclement of the beast groups. So, defending Quan State was what they truly needed to focus on. By the time an evacuation of Quan State became necessary, they would probably already be scorched earth on the battlefield; what more would there be to consider?

Of course, being an old fox, Jin Botao had observed the crowd's reactions. However, the ones Jin Botao truly paid attention to weren't the minor noble families, small financial groups, or some of the old-timers in Quan State City. Instead, it was Tian Qi, who had risen to his current standing solely because of that young man, Wang Zhan. He'd just heard, hadn't he? This fellow brought eight Grandmasters out of the Quan State Underground City? For this, Jin Botao really ought to make a grateful mental note regarding Wang Zhan. One should know that eight Grandmasters, regardless of their level or capabilities, were individuals who could hold their own anywhere. This was especially true at such a critical juncture; for the entirety of Quan State City, it was nothing short of receiving charcoal in snowy weather!

Additionally, Tian Qi's calmness and commanding presence also appealed to Jin Botao. This young man could maintain his composure, remaining steadfast regardless of others' reactions. Yet, when necessary, he didn't hesitate to act, like when he proactively introduced himself earlier. Such situations truly test a person's character and judgment. Of course, Jin Botao wouldn't deny that his perception of Tian Qi was heavily influenced by his views on Wang Zhan. After all, no matter how high Tian Qi flew, he was still just one of the rats from the underground. But Wang Zhan himself? He's definitely a top-tier talent in any of the Federation's Martial Arts Academies, not to mention he was already scouted by the Federation's top four. That alone was enough to prove Wang Zhan's strength! Furthermore, the young man was renowned as a young hero throughout the entire Federation. Now *that* was a true talent deserving of Jin Botao's increasing attention. Jin Botao could even envision that once Wang Zhan stood at the pinnacle of the Federation, would the currently weary, numb, and anxious Federation perhaps undergo some changes because of him? Wang Zhan, after all, was different from ordinary talents. Wang Zhan was Wang Zhan. In him, Jin Botao saw not only composure and a certain magnanimity, but also a genuine kindness towards the Federation. Ordinary talents and prodigies, however, could only be just that. Beyond some innate talent and intelligence, most of them were still on their journey, yet to realize that only with a strong Federation could they themselves become truly powerful!

His current priority, however, was to quickly organize the various forces, uniting them into a single front to defend the foremost lines of Quan State. So, Jin Botao, momentarily lost in thought, swiftly refocused and continued, "Now, according to the latest news from the city wall, lower-level General-level beasts have occasionally been sighted. They are leading large beast groups, continuously migrating towards Quan State City... For this, we need more strength, more Grandmasters, to stand on the primary defensive line of Quan State City! And to assist our armies in driving those beasts back to the filthy pits where they belong…"

Below, a number of Martial Artists or their spokespeople who understood the origin of the term 'filthy pit' grinned slightly. It was a rather cruel and bloodthirsty term! Why 'filthy pit'? Because of the Beast Clans, especially large ones. If an intelligent Beast King emerged within a Beast Clan group, things might be managed. But if they were all just simple-minded brutes, regardless of their size, their lairs would inevitably develop a thick, foul stench, like a salted fish pickled for ten or twenty years. While nature could eventually reclaim such a 'filthy pit,' once it reached a certain state, it became detrimental to the Beast Clan's reproduction. Therefore, they were forced to migrate anew! This was why the Federation, despite having the capability to strike down these repulsive creatures, often found itself helpless. Finding one such pit was manageable, but what about two, three, or even four, five, six, or seven?

Meanwhile, Tian Qi, who had been quietly listening to Jin Botao's speech, finally grasped the crux of the matter and understood the key point Jin Botao had made earlier. Jin Botao's goal had been achieved! He had leveraged the Martial Artists' fundamental ethos; on the surface, it seemed like he was imposing a strict rule, but in reality, it was more like fostering a consensus: students evacuate first. And now, the situation was becoming clearer—these people no longer found much fault with Jin Botao's proposal. After all, Jin Botao was the State Governor of Quan State City. Unless he intended to resign or the Federation itself ceased to exist, anyone who agreed to his terms today and later reneged, if discovered, would face the Federation's sanctions—a veritable sword of Damocles hanging over their heads! This was both intimidation and the strongest guarantee. Only then did Jin Botao shift the discussion back to the security of Quan State City. This was clearly his way of subconsciously telling everyone: those who didn't want the students to evacuate first could choose that path, but they must then exert every effort and unite to protect Quan State. Otherwise, regardless of whether the students evacuated first or not, once they lost their primary foundation, they would be nothing more than drifting duckweed in the eyes of the Federation, utterly insignificant!

At this moment, Tian Qi, unaware of the relationship between Wang Zhan and Jin Botao, had a sudden realization: How remarkably similar Jin Botao was to Wang Zhan! Even when they clearly stated their objectives, you had no choice but to comply. Consider not just the noble families present, but also the various large and small financial group factions. Even if they wished to contribute minimally while reaping benefits, was that truly possible? As leaders in their respective territories, almost like local emperors, they could carve out their own spheres of influence within their financial groups. But if they left Quan State, what would they become? They couldn't even hope for another chance to establish such a domain; otherwise, they wouldn't have been assigned here in the first place. Consequently, Tian Qi, having grasped these key dynamics, decided to continue laying low, avoiding the spotlight whenever possible. After all, while the paths in the Underground City were complex, the mud of the surface world was far more treacherous, making it easier to slip. Moreover, Tian Qi, who had once been outmaneuvered and practically sold by Wang Zhan, forced to be his subordinate, understood keenly: when it came to the sordid games of power, he was far inferior even to Wang Zhan, let alone these old foxes who had long grown accustomed to such machinations.

Fortunately, the last item on the agenda concerned the well-being of ordinary people in Quan State and the anxieties surrounding the lurking Beast Clans. When Jin Botao addressed this sensitive issue, he naturally resorted to his familiar tactics. However, his approach was not as forceful as before; instead, he sincerely requested that those present, while doing their utmost to defend the city and protect their own legacies, also give due consideration to the overall safety of Quan State City. This 'overall safety,' he emphasized, encompassed not just the physical city of Quan State or the assets of the noble families and financial groups, but the entirety of Quan State City itself.

In reality, when Jin Botao merely expressed his hope that the major families and financial group factions would allocate a small fraction of their lower-ranked Martial Artists to the task of clearing out beasts within Quan State City, it implied something significant. Even if he felt immense indignation and sorrow over the deaths of ordinary people, and even if this news, once spread, would tarnish his reputation as State Governor, he, Jin Botao, apparently could no longer afford to be overly concerned with such matters. The current situation was clearly not one that allowed for hesitation or indecisiveness; swift and resolute action was imperative.

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