137: Chapter 137 Core Location

The Iron-winged Peng flew extremely fast; in less than an hour, the silhouette of Fengling City appeared in sight.

Qin Ce looked down, his pupils contracting slightly.

Compared to when he left, Fengling City had changed a lot.

The city walls that had been blown up during the beast tide were being repaired.

Countless workers and engineering Pet Beasts were busy on the city walls, fitting new alloy plates one by one, with welding sparks flickering in the morning light.

The crystal core turrets that had been eroded by the Ink Feather Mist had already been dismantled and replaced.

The brand-new turrets reflected dazzling light in the sun, their muzzles pointing west as if proclaiming the city's unyielding spirit.

The buildings that had collapsed during the battle were being cleared.

Bricks and stones from the ruins were being hauled away by the truckload, and new foundations were being excavated.

And the most eye-catching thing was the massive square in the center of the city.

Triumph Square.

At this moment, the square was already packed with people.

Qin Ce could see a tall reviewing stand erected in the center of the square, where officials of all levels and military generals of Fengling City were seated. Below the stand were neatly lined-up military formations—the City Defense Army, Garrison Army, militia, and Beast Tamer squads, row after row, column after column, looking solemn and disciplined.

Surrounding the military formations were tens of thousands of ordinary citizens.

They crowded outside the cordon, standing on tiptoe and peering toward the reviewing stand.

...

Soon, the Iron-winged Peng flew over the square and began its descent onto a dedicated platform not far away.

There was also a massive number of people on this platform, and the clamor was no less than that of the square.

As they got closer to the ground, the voices became clearer.

"It's coming, it's coming!"

"The Iron-winged Peng is back! Qin Ce should be on it!"

"Dispatching an Iron-winged Peng just to pick up one person, this is quite the grand reception!"

Qin Ce's breathing quickened slightly.

Mike patted his shoulder. "Nervous?"

Qin Ce shook his head, then nodded.

Mike laughed. "That's normal. The first time I went to the battlefield, my legs were like jelly. But you're much stronger than I was; you're someone who dared to toy with a Gold Rank fierce beast. Isn't this just a small scene?"

He paused and said seriously, "Kid, remember, everyone is watching you today. Not because of your birth or your background, but because of what you did. You saved this city. So, you deserve all of this."

Qin Ce took a deep breath and nodded.

The Iron-winged Peng landed slowly, its massive claws stepping firmly onto the designated area.

The hatch opened.

Sunlight poured in.

Qin Ce stood up and walked out of the hatch.

...

At that moment, the entire square fell silent for an instant.

Then came a clamor like a mountain landslide and a tsunami.

"He's out, he's out!"

"That's Qin Ce?!"

"So young! He looks like he's not even twenty yet!"

"He's quite handsome too!"

Qin Ce stood at the hatch, overlooking the square below.

The top brass of Fengling City sat on the reviewing stand.

City Lord Jiang Tianzong sat in the very center, dressed in military uniform, his presence as imposing as a mountain.

Beside him were several white-haired old generals and high-ranking civil officials in black formal wear.

Below the stand, the military formations were neat and solemn.

The soldiers stood with their chests out and heads held high, their eyes burning like torches.

Their uniforms were all brand new, having been redistributed just yesterday.

On both sides of the military formations were dense crowds of citizens.

They held banners and waved flags, their cheers rising and falling.

Qin Ce took a deep breath and walked down the gangway.

A military jeep was already waiting below.

An officer saluted him and opened the car door. "Comrade Qin Ce, please get in."

Qin Ce nodded and got into the car.

The jeep started slowly and drove toward the reviewing stand.

As the jeep passed, the military formations in the square saluted in unison.

The movement was perfectly synchronized, as if performed by a single person.

Countless hands were raised at once, and countless gazes focused on the car simultaneously.

Sitting in the car, Qin Ce looked through the window at the soldiers saluting him.

Among them were gray-haired veterans and young men with childish faces.

Some had bandages wrapped around them, and some walked with a limp, but their salutes were more standard than anyone's.

Because they knew that this young man was worthy of their salute.

The jeep drove through the military formations toward the very front of the reviewing stand.

When the citizens on both sides saw where the car was headed, the clamor grew even louder.

"He's driving to the very front!"

"That's the position for the one with the greatest merit!"

"Is he really going to stand at the very front?"

"Just a Bronze!!!"

The jeep stopped at the very front.

A ceremonial officer stepped forward, opened the car door, and extended a hand to Qin Ce. "Comrade Qin Ce, please follow me."

Qin Ce got out of the car and followed him toward the position at the very front of the reviewing stand.

That position was in the very center.

Directly below City Lord Jiang Tianzong.

At the point where the gazes of all generals, officials, soldiers, and citizens converged.

Qin Ce stood there.

At that moment, the entire venue erupted.

"That spot really was reserved for him."

"If I had the chance to stand in that spot, it would be worth dying for!"

"Is this the person who killed the Raven King that day?"

"So young... this is just too young!"

"I heard he's only eighteen!"

"Eighteen? When I was eighteen, I was still just idling away my time in school!"

"It's infuriating to compare oneself to others!"

In the military formations, the soldiers only let out a brief gasp of amazement before returning to their solemn state.

Military discipline did not allow them to whisper to one another.

But the surrounding citizens were not bound by such constraints.

Cheers, gasps of wonder, and discussions rose and fell.

"Good job, Qin Ce!"

"You are the hero of our Fengling City!"

"Qin Ce! I want to have your babies!"

In the crowd, a girl shouted at the top of her lungs, and the surrounding citizens burst into laughter.

Standing on the platform, the corner of Qin Ce's mouth twitched slightly.

Have babies?

He couldn't help but glance in that direction—only seeing a colorful crowd, with no idea who had shouted it.

He withdrew his gaze, his expression returning to normal, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red.

Right then.

"*Cough.*"

A light cough, not loud, yet it spread clearly across the entire square.

That cough carried an invisible pressure, causing everyone's clamor to instantly quiet down.

Qin Ce looked up at the reviewing stand.

City Lord Jiang Tianzong stood up.

He was currently wearing a deep blue military uniform, the three gold stars on his epaulettes shining in the sunlight.

He looked every bit the tough guy, his face marked by countless battle scars, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

His gaze swept across the venue, finally landing on Qin Ce.

In that gaze, there was scrutiny, appreciation, recognition, and an indescribable complexity of emotion.

...