Chapter 132 A Mighty Burn

With that, Fang Tianan shared his guess.

Yes, there really are people who can artificially create evolved beings, allowing ordinary people to embark on the evolutionary path without needing qualifications or resources!

It was hard to believe, but the fear on the man's face was completely genuine.

For a moment, the crew members present looked at each other in bewilderment and fell silent.

Some people's Adam's apples bobbed, wanting to say something but swallowing it back in frustration.

No one knows whether they will encounter members of the cult on the next leg of their journey.

If a mid-tier, second-tier fortress like the Guangtianlan can be bullied like this, what about them?

They didn't even dare to think about it.

Moreover, the Azure is still a newly formed Tier 2 fortress, and it will likely be trapped in a death struggle without any surprises. The truth of the matter makes everyone feel guilty from the bottom of their hearts.

Perhaps going back is the right thing to do?

After all, it's better to be frugal with resources than to suffer a terrible misfortune and have the whole ship sink.

Timidity and anxiety were quietly increasing and spreading rapidly, beginning to escalate from one person to another through whispers among neighbors.

"Do you think we'll run into these guys later? What if we do?"

"What can we do? We just have to deal with it. Those attacks were like a monster horde, not to mention what we did when we faced Black Dragon Bay."

"How about... we go back? As long as we're alive, we can always make a comeback, right?"

"Go back if you want, but I am determined to stand alongside the lord. I will die before the lord, and I will never give up."

……

An open public opinion environment never restricts anyone's opinions; the anxiety of survival brings out the most important human instinct for survival.

Gradually, the whispers that had started privately grew louder and louder, eventually coalescing into a powerful murmur.

Gradually, praise, criticism, accusations of cowardice, and praise of heroism all came to a head.

They may have different directions, but they all share one unexpected theme.

They would have absolutely no chance of survival against the cult.

Information that is crucial to one's life can never be blocked by any artificial means; it will only gradually emerge through speculation, leaks, and communication.

Moreover, He Feng did not prevent the crew of the Azure from knowing about this matter.

Seeing that the surrounding environment was shrouded in a gloomy and dejected atmosphere, He Feng couldn't help but frown slightly, and finally stood on a slightly raised ice mound.

He cleared his throat and spoke in a clear, resonant voice.

"Everyone, please calm down."

He Feng's voice was exceptionally loud, like lightning shattering the shadows, instantly silencing the muffled discussions.

He Feng stood tall in a prominent position, his eyes bright and piercing, his demeanor sharp and spirited.

"I know what you are afraid of? Your own safety and that of your family, the uncertainty of the future, and even... the cowardice of retreating before the battle."

The sharp words hit the nail on the head, direct and clear.

But this still couldn't dispel their inner fears.

"But... my lord, everyone is very scared. Your leadership is impeccable, but can you guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong?"

"That's right, sir. Everyone is just homesick and going home. With the status of a second-tier fortress, they can walk sideways when they return to the Sandy Sea."

Several people in the audience raised their hands and asked He Feng, some of them showing only a forced courage.

He Feng half-covered his eyes with his left hand, took a deep breath, and moved his lips and teeth.

"To be honest, I'm very disappointed today, not with you, but with myself," he said, pacing back and forth, his voice trembling.

"So my Azure has nurtured such a group of cowards who deserted in the face of battle. As the lord, I should not shirk my responsibility."

Everyone in the audience lowered their heads, remaining silent in the face of He Feng's sudden questioning.

With their heads drooping, the people who had just started to retreat seemed to have lost all their spirits and dared not utter another sound.

Do you know why I took such a big risk to lead you all to this dangerous place?

You might say it's to maintain my official position as lord, or it might be for the sake of everyone on the Azure.

But the truth is neither; it's neither!

He Feng glanced around and saw that most people had fallen silent, bowing their heads in a humble and defeated manner.

It was precisely because they agreed with He Feng's words that they dared not rashly conclude that "they should return to where they were supposed to be."

"Raise your heads." He Feng coldly stared at the crowd, who looked like children who had done something wrong. "Your heads are precious and should not be bowed down to anyone."

"Now, I command you to look at me! This is an order!"

He Feng forcibly straightened their dejected heads, and under his influence, the dejection in their eyes gradually faded away.

"In the end, I had no choice but to do this for the sake of the survival of the Azure."

You can call me autocratic, but if we really leave, without fighting for what we have, our children will only be able to squander our wealth in the cruel future and fall into an inescapable hell.

They are just drifting along in a dilapidated old fortress, losing the opportunity to pursue the future.

Even knowing the road ahead is fraught with difficulties, we still have the confidence and belief to fight for it. I hope you all think this through.

He Feng looked tired. He jumped down from the small hill, pushed through the crowd, walked to the elevator, and pulled the rope briefly.

There were no long-winded philosophical discussions; He Feng was simply stating the current situation and the foreseeable future.

His voice betrayed a weary exhaustion, a side effect of using the mourner for a short time, and he wanted to catch up on some sleep, especially now.

Then, accompanied by the sound of gears meshing, it slowly rose from the platform.

"I don't make any demands on you. I will seek your answers tomorrow. It's all up to you. I never force anyone."

He Feng yawned, his drowsiness gradually rising, and his eyes were almost closed.

"Of course, I'm well aware that the road ahead might be a pit of fire, if you're willing to mess around with me..."

As the platform reached mid-air, a deep male voice broke the gloomy silence.

"We, Fang Tianan, are willing to serve Lord, and will advance without hesitation and never retreat."

Fang Tianan glared with his bear-like eyes and roared loudly, bringing the people around him back to their senses, as if they had just woken up from a dream.

If an outsider who has nothing to do with them can act without any scruples, what about the crew members who live with the Azure every day?

If you're this terrified just from encountering enemies you've never even seen before, do you even deserve to survive on the Azure?

A strong sense of self-respect and a tempered spirit burned fiercely within them, igniting an unnamed fire in their chests.

The crew members off the field lit up their eyes and responded to the call.

"I'm willing to go through fire and water for my lord, and to shine brightly for the Azure!"