Hearing those three words, "See the Lord," a wild radiance burst forth from everyone's previously exhausted eyes!

"See the Lord!"

"See the Lord!"

"See the Lord!!!"

Thousands of people roared in unison, their voices soaring straight into the clouds and even drowning out the cheers of the tens of thousands of citizens around them!

As early as more than ten days ago, when the soul connection suddenly snapped, they had once plunged into an abyss of despair, thinking that the Lord who protected them had already fallen in this catastrophe.

Even though they won battle after battle later on, and even though they routed Sakura Country's forces completely, their moods had always remained heavy and depressed.

It was not until shortly before that they once again sensed that familiar aura and learned the news that the Lord was still alive, causing their near-dead hearts to beat anew.

Now, they could finally return to see that man with their own eyes!

The Evernight Guild's formation quickly detached itself from the main army.

Refusing the citizens' continued pleas to stay and their farewells, they marched with uniform steps, heading straight for the guild base deep within Donghai City.

Residents on the streets stepped aside one after another, looking at this army with awe.

Half an hour later, at the Evernight Guild headquarters base.

The heavy metal gates slowly closed behind them, completely cutting off the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Upon returning to the base, everyone's tightly strung nerves finally relaxed. This was their fortress, their Holy Land; only by returning here, to the place where the Lord was, could they truly find their backbone.

Under the swift command of Qin Ming and another high-ranking member, Jasmine.

Over three thousand members clad in battle armor stepped into the extremely spacious base hall.

There were no chaotic sounds; even their breathing was intentionally suppressed.

Thousands of people stood in neat, straight rows and columns. Every single person's gaze was fixed on the tightly closed office door on the third floor.

They were the most devout believers, waiting for the descent of their faith, waiting for the Lord's inspection.

Time ticked away second by second.

The hall was extremely quiet.

"Click."

Suddenly, the extremely faint sound of a door handle turning rang out in the silent hall.

The sound of the door handle turning echoed in the hall.

The door to the third-floor office opened.

A slender and straight figure slowly walked out from the shadows behind the door.

When that young man appeared at the corridor railing, the breathing of the thousands of people below completely stagnated.

Zhou Huai!

He was not sitting in a wheelchair!

Wearing an immaculate long black trench coat, his posture was as straight as a sword, his face slightly pale, and his eyes revealed the composure and majesty of one who controlled everything.

He gently rested his hand on the railing, his calm gaze sweeping across the dense formation below.

Afterwards, he turned around and slowly walked down the stairs, step by step.

"Da... da... da..."

The steady sound of footsteps echoed within the empty hall.

Everyone looked at this young Lord, watching him steadily walk down the stairs with his own legs, the expressions on their faces rapidly transforming from initial shock into uncontainable wild joy and excitement!

Just as Zhou Huai's feet stepped onto the hall floor and he completely appeared before everyone's eyes—

Within the formation, many veteran members who had once witnessed Zhou Huai sitting in a wheelchair and suffering from the torment of paralysis already had red rims around their eyes, filled with hot tears.

Not only was the Lord still alive, but... he stood up! He had recovered his mobility!

"Boom——!"

No one's command was needed.

Led by Qin Ming and Jasmine, nearly three thousand battle-hardened Classer inside the hall simultaneously dropped to one knee on the ground!

Their hard battle boots and knee guards slammed into the alloy floor, producing a soul-shaking roar!

"Subordinates..."

With reddened eye rims, Qin Ming shouted in a hoarse and trembling voice.

"Paying respects to the Lord!!!"

Thousands of people lowered their heads at the same time, their voices like raging thunder, deafening!

"Paying respects to the Lord!!!"

Only they themselves knew best that surge of excitement within their hearts. From Hell to heaven, from despair to Rebirth, the Lord's existence was the invincible soul of their Evernight Guild!

Zhou Huai stood quietly in place, not speaking immediately.

His gaze slowly swept across these subordinates kneeling on one knee, looking at their tattered armor, at the shocking and not-yet-fully-healed scars on their bodies, and at their spines that remained straight despite being extremely exhausted.

Emotions surged within his heart as well.

Having undergone the baptism of this tragic national war, he could clearly feel that his core team had completely transformed. They were no longer mere hired thugs, but an iron army that had truly been tempered through blood and fire and possessed an independent military soul!

"Everyone rise."

Zhou Huai finally spoke, his voice entering everyone's ears.

He raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to stand up.

"Whoosh——"

Thousands of people stood up in unison, their gazes still burning as they stared at him.

Zhou Huai strode to the very front of the formation and stopped in front of Qin Ming. Looking at Qin Ming's dust-covered yet resolute face, his very first sentence lacked any polite formalities or impassioned commendation.

He only asked softly:

"How many people sacrificed their lives?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the entire hall sank.

The wild joy brought by the triumphant return and reunion transformed into solemn sorrow.

Hearing this, Qin Ming's expression dimmed. He lowered his head and clenched his hands tightly.

A moment later, he raised his head, looked straight into Zhou Huai's eyes, and replied while suppressing his grief:

"Reporting to the Lord!"

"During this mobilization of Donghai City, our Evernight Guild turned out in full force, setting off with a total of three thousand five hundred and forty-two people!"

"Returning in triumph today..." Qin Ming's voice paused, and the tears in his eye rims finally couldn't help but slip down, "Returning: three thousand one hundred and fifteen people."

"A total of... four hundred and twenty-seven people sacrificed!"

This number echoed within the hall.

Four hundred and twenty-seven vibrant lives, four hundred and twenty-seven brothers who once drank together and bragged together, were forever left behind on the scorched earth of a foreign land.

Inside the hall, muffled sounds of suppressed sobbing faintly drifted over.

Zhou Huai closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.

When he opened his eyes, a biting chill was revealed deep within his pupils. He turned around, faced everyone, and raised his voice:

"These four hundred and twenty-seven people did not disgrace Eternal Night, nor did they disgrace Daxia."

"They are all heroes of our Daxia!"

"Engrave all of their names on the Evernight Guild Monument of Martyrs! Their families will be provided for by Eternal Night for the rest of their lives!"

Zhou Huai's gaze was like a torch as he swept across the entire scene: "Raise your heads! The blood of heroes will not flow in vain; this is only the beginning. In the future, you will still follow me to face enemies ten times, a hundred times more terrifying than today!"

"Tell me, are you afraid?!"

"Not afraid!!!"

The earth-shaking roar erupted within the Eternal Night base, lingering for a long time without subsiding.