527: Chapter 462: Post-War Rewards, Lin Zhou Promoted to Major General

On the thirtieth day after the Guixu Rift was completely closed, on the ramparts of Iron Wall Fortress, the Expeditionary Force's new acting Marshal, Qian Weiguo, stood before the Marshal's statue, holding a commendation signed by all members of the High Command.

Behind him were representatives sent from various War zones, members of the Cosmic Council, leaders of the ten thousand races of the New Universe, and twelve thousand soldiers of the Civilization Guardian Legion.

The contents of the commendation had spread throughout the New Universe three days ago—for his outstanding contributions during the Guixu War, Lin Zhou was awarded the title of "God of War Protecting the Nation," and his military rank was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General.

[ Lin Zhou · Military Rank Promotion ]

- Original Rank: Brigadier General

- New Rank: Major General

- Reason for Award: Led the Civilization Guardian Legion to resist the Guixu erosion, slew the Lord of Nothingness, and closed the Guixu Rift

- Title: God of War Protecting the Nation

Lin Zhou stood before the pedestal of the Marshal's statue, wearing the standard armor of the Civilization Guardian Legion, the single general's star on his shoulder strap shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

His godhead integrity was only forty percent, and the water level of the river of civilization was also only forty percent, but at this moment, his spine was held straight.

The gazes of thirty thousand people fell upon him; there was no tension, only calmness.

Qian Weiguo walked up to him and handed him the commendation.

"General Lin, from today on, you are the youngest Major General in the history of the Expeditionary Force."

Lin Zhou took the commendation and turned to face the twelve thousand soldiers below the ramparts.

"It is not I who am the youngest, but us."

He pointed to the soldiers. "Some of them are younger than me, some haven't even reached twenty years of age. Are they also Major Generals? No, they are just soldiers. But without them, I am nothing."

There was a moment of silence below. Then Wang Meng raised his battle axe and roared: "Civilization Guardian Legion — Long live!"

"Long live!" twelve thousand people roared in unison.

Qian Weiguo did not interrupt. He took a step back and ceded the podium to Lin Zhou.

Lin Zhou stood at the edge of the ramparts, looking at the expanse of cyan-gold Fire of Civilization.

The one hundred Firewood Swords on the ramparts were burning, the Marshal's mark on the Wall of Heroes was glowing, and in the direction of the New Universe, the Fire of Civilization of one hundred thousand towns was like a sea of stars in the night sky.

"Brothers, the Guixu Rift is closed. The Lord of Nothingness is dead. The Void Sect has been destroyed. The New Universe is safe. But this is not my achievement alone."

His gaze swept across those twelve thousand faces. "It is yours. It is that of the comrades who sacrificed themselves. It is the Marshal's. It is Teacher Elwin's. It is General Zhao Tiebi's. It is the hundred Sword Cultivators'. It is the two thousand fallen soldiers'."

"Their names are carved on the Heavenly Pillar. Their swords are thrust into the Wall of Heroes. Their fire burns in the river of civilization. They are gone, but their will remains."

He took a golden crystal from his bosom—the Marshal's godhead core.

"Before the Marshal died, he said, the Way of Civilization is passed down like a torch, do not fail it. Today, I give these words to you. Your fire may not be as bright as mine, but as long as it is burning, civilization will not perish."

He pressed the crystal onto the Wall of Heroes. The crystal merged into the wall, becoming one with the Marshal's mark.

The light of the Wall of Heroes suddenly surged, a cyan-gold beam of light shot straight into the sky, exploded in the Void Realm, and turned into countless specks of light, scattering to every corner of the New Universe. Each speck of light was a seed of the Fire of Civilization.

[ Fire of Civilization · Seed Sowing ]

- Quantity: Approximately one hundred thousand

- Destination: Various towns in the New Universe

- Effect: Fire of Civilization intensity in each town + 50%

The specks of light fell onto the squares of the one hundred thousand towns, merging with the existing flames. The flames surged, illuminating the entire night sky. Within those flames, countless phantoms appeared—not heroic spirits, but hope.

After the award ceremony ended, Lin Zhou walked down the ramparts alone. Su Yueyao was waiting for him at the city gate, moonlight swirling around her body, the silvery-white light exceptionally soft in the setting sun.

"Captain, can the Marshal hear what you just said?"

"Yes. His will has merged into the river of civilization; as long as the river does not dry up, he is still there."

Su Yueyao nodded. "What are you going to do next?"

"Return to the Seventh War Zone. The Guixu Rift is closed, but there are still remnants of Chaos Beasts on the edge of the Chaos Star Domain. The Civilization Guardian Legion's mission is not yet over."

"Your godhead integrity is only forty percent, and the river of civilization's water level is also only forty percent."

"It is enough. My fire can still burn."

The two walked side by side toward the teleportation array. Qin Qing, Wang Meng, Lei Zhan, and Iron Face were waiting by the array, and the Dragon Vein Golden Scale was coiled at the side of the array, its golden scales shimmering in the silvery-white light of the teleportation array.

"Captain, back to the Seventh War Zone?" Wang Meng asked.

"Back to the Seventh War Zone."

The teleportation array activated, and the silvery-white light enveloped them. The light dissipated; on the ramparts of Iron Wall Fortress, the fire of the Wall of Heroes was still burning. The Marshal's statue gazed toward the direction of the New Universe, the Fire of Civilization dancing at his feet. The Way of Civilization, passed down like a torch. Do not fail it.