This was their real goal.

However, there was one thing these old folks perhaps hadn't noticed at all. Deep down, they already knew Jin Botao had certainly become aware of something, enough to make him stake everything on one throw! Yet, they all unanimously, and in perfect harmony, preserved this last, largest secret of Quan State for Jin Botao without a second's hesitation.

After all, preserving such a secret might indeed lead to pulling the entire city's people toward making the ultimate sacrifice. However, if this news were to spread, there was no doubt that within an hour, the entirety of Quan State would be in complete upheaval and then disintegrate. For those predators lurking about, particularly the Beast Clan hailing from certain uncharted territories within the Human Race's domain, the earlier the collapse of the Human Race, the less they would naturally have to expend. Yet, the feast awaiting them would surely be even more abundant!

Thus, these old folks, some disfigured or with lost limbs, who had left the Federation to shelter their own parasitic descendants, now had to witness this helpless scene. But they quickly came to terms with it. Children will have their own futures!

Hence, they ultimately decided to leave everything behind, just like Jin Botao, who had single-mindedly forged ahead earlier. Afterwards, carrying such a pivotal secret yet still feigning nonchalance, they waved their hands and declared, "Set off!" "Let's go!" "HAHAHA!"

Some bid farewell; others were forthright. Some were calm and composed; others, exuberant. In short, at this moment, these old people, though they had never met, all unhesitatingly made the same choice when the time came: Set off! Move forward! Towards the city ramparts!

They had to reach Jin Botao as soon as possible and give him their full support, hoping to bring a new turning point to Quan State. Of course, if no such turn came, then let them transform once more into solitary warriors. They would stand before Jin Botao and witness their own useless families accompany the Federation to its grave! They finally realized that over the years, they had truly accomplished nothing and had only added to Quan State's troubles. So, they considered this a small, insignificant repayment to everyone in Quan State.

However, what they never anticipated was that just when they thought they were treading a solitary path, vehicles emerging from all corners of Quan State gradually converged. Then, amidst the panic of ordinary people on the roads and the wails of those who had lost loved ones, they saw those familiar faces—fleeting, yet etched into their memories.

Thus, along the way, these old men and women, all of them fierce-looking figures, were like children who had just run away from home and bumped into familiar playmates, constantly exclaiming in surprise.

"Ironhead, you're actually still alive!"

"HAHAHA, you old dog! You survived losing a leg, and I only fractured my collarbone. Why wouldn't I live?!"

"You are... Old Zhong? You're still alive too? Why haven't you shown your face all these years?!"

Some were immediately moved to tears. They hadn't all returned to Quan State in the same batch, but it now seemed that quite a few of those who had survived and made it back were present!

And the one called Old Zhong just laughed freely and said, "Come out for what? Half my mouth is gone. If I came out and scared the children, wouldn't that be this Old Man's sin? Better to stay in my room. If death comes, it comes!"

Along the way, scenes of long-awaited reunions unfolded one after another. Some wept openly, some seethed with past indignation, some were overjoyed, and others remained as calm as ever. It looked like a tableau of the mortal world. But upon closer inspection, one would immediately realize this was no mere gathering of worldly, indifferent people; they were clearly a company of warriors, traveling together, heading to the battlefield!

Among them, some, after hearing Old Zhong's words, even began to jest, "HAHAHA, that's a good reason! Fortunately, I haven't wasted these years either. At least by hiding in my house, I didn't frighten anyone. Otherwise, if Quan State had a few less Martial Artists because of me, wouldn't that be a great sin?!"

"HAHAHA, you all might not know this. I have a grandson who's a Principal at a school in Quan State. I heard from him that State Governor Jin has become even more capable. Some time ago, he actually managed to foster nearly a thousand young geniuses in Quan State!"

At once, everyone was shocked. Although the vehicles were still moving, they couldn't resist using voice transmission to ask each other, "Is this true? Quan State has produced over a thousand young geniuses?"

"Old fellow, you better not be lying! If you are, I won't let you off! Quick, quick, tell us in detail..."

In an instant, everyone's interest was piqued. Of course, if an ordinary person were subjected to voice transmissions from so many Grandmasters, they would likely be crippled, if not killed. Thankfully, this man was a Martial King. Although only at the first level, it was enough to give him considerable confidence when facing them. So, he nonchalantly dismissed the various voice transmissions in his ear, chuckled, and said, "You all didn't know about this, did you? I heard our State Governor suddenly found a source for inexpensive elixirs. As long as people are willing to work, and can work, every household can afford them..."

At once, this person recounted Jin Botao's great achievements in detail, instantly invigorating everyone. They all burst into laughter, thoroughly excited. "This is incredible, truly incredible! Who on earth is providing these elixirs? That person has some serious nerve to go up against the Federation's seven major Elixir Companies!"

"HEH HEH HEH, you're focusing on the wrong thing. Shouldn't we be admiring our State Governor? I never thought that old fox would dare to make such a deal; he was practically risking his head!"

They all knew very well that despite their own considerable status and power in Quan State, compared to the Elixir Companies—those behemoths that raked in fortunes daily—they were merely insignificant ants. They couldn't possibly contend with such power! One could imagine how formidable the mysterious faction challenging the Federation's seven major Elixir Companies must be. And State Governor Jin Botao, who was ostensibly just an ordinary Federation citizen, had managed to stealthily and audaciously connect with this line. The truth of it was self-evident. Jin Botao must have expended immense effort and taken enormous risks. He truly deserved a grand toast for this!

If not for the imminent crisis, they would have likely sought out Jin Botao to drink with him until they could drink no more. Furthermore, because of Jin Botao's actions, and the inevitable comparison with their own descendants, his presence naturally became even more prominent, and it made everyone respect him all the more. At least, before the crisis struck, Jin Botao hadn't tried to evade any problems. Instead, he faced difficulties head-on, earnestly teaching a profound lesson to many people of Quan State. Compared to Jin Botao, they fell far short.

Therefore, this was Quan State's fortune—to have such a shrewd "fox" like him. At the same time, it was also the Federation's fortune, lucky that among its myriad people, there were still those with the truest hearts.

Of course, at this moment, Jin Botao's deeds had indeed stirred ripples in the hearts of these solitary old veterans. But for figures of their generation, the current era still felt too distant from their own. Therefore, in the present Quan State—seemingly calm on the surface but seething with undercurrents—these old-timers were more concerned with the joys, sorrows, grievances, and feuds that directly affected them. After all, this was a right granted to them by the Federation, the dignity belonging to powerful Martial Artists. At the same time, it was the freedom they had spent nearly half their lives, often fighting with all their might, to win for themselves.

Thus, as one after another of these old figures—who should have long since vanished quietly from Quan State—reappeared and stood before everyone, the atmosphere, which had been heavy, solemn, and somewhat inexplicably tense, became noticeably livelier, especially among those who had shared extraordinary times and companionship.

Take, for instance, an old warrior who had lost an arm. At this moment, he could only stare incredulously at the man before him—a sexagenarian who still looked like the fresh-faced pretty boy he remembered from the dark years—and exclaimed in utter disbelief, "You brat, you're still alive?!"

Before him, the man who had aged from a young heartthrob into an old one laughed carefreely, his face bright and sunny, just as it had been years ago. "Of course! If a brat like you didn't die, how could an old bone like me possibly kick the bucket?!"

They still bantered and teased each other as soon as they met, seemingly oblivious to or unconcerned about their status as revered ancestors in the eyes of the younger generations.

However, soon, the one-armed man's eyes welled up with tears, his voice thick with mock resentment, "Damn you! If you weren't dead, why did you deceive my feelings for so many years? Do you know, all these years, I've even maintained a cenotaph for you! And here you are, alive and kicking!"

For these men who shared such deep bonds from the past, to once again see their old comrades was a feeling of pure, unadulterated joy and delight.

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