267: Chapter 267 Awarding Ceremony

It was high noon.

The open-air plaza at the very center of Yumo City.

A bright red backdrop was erected behind the review stand, creating a solemn atmosphere that separated the stage from the crowd below into two distinct worlds.

A golden China Emblem hung high above, resembling a blazing sun forged through blood and fire.

After every major battle, a similar award ceremony was held, though the scale varied depending on the severity of the war.

Although this defense battle had been quite tragic and intense, compared to previous ones, it was considered average. Yet, the scale of this award ceremony was exceptionally grand.

"Is a new commander being named this time?"

"I don't think so?"

"Then that's strange. Why does the scale look so much like an appointment of a commander-in-chief?"

"..."

Every soldier present was puzzled.

The army of Snowfield Dragon City was divided into the regular army and the elite army.

The elite army consisted of the renowned Twelve Corps, each commanded by an expert at the Xiang Realm.

The regular army had the largest number of soldiers, with strength ranging from Tier 3 to Tier 6. They lacked individual banners and were simply numbered into sequential armies.

Although the regular armies also had generals leading them, most of these generals were at Tier 9. Occasionally, when a Tier 9 broke through to the Xiang Realm, they would step up to fill a vacancy as a new commander.

The soldiers weren't given much time to wonder.

Song He walked to the center of the review stand.

She was originally a member of the Spell-Inscribed Team, with a cultivation level at mid-Tier 8. Due to her striking looks and excellent professional competence, she was often called upon to host military district events.

Standing on stage in her military uniform, Song He exuded a sharp, heroic charm alongside her feminine grace.

She brought the microphone to her lips, her voice solemn:

"Today, we gather at this sacred ceremony not to listen to hymns of praise, nor to revel in past glory."

"We are here to witness—to witness loyalty, courage, and the heroic spirits who, in the darkest hour, turned their flesh and blood into ramparts and ignited beacons with their unyielding willpower."

"With extraordinary deeds, they defended our dignity and honor. With fearless sacrifice, they protected the land beneath our feet and the faith in our hearts..."

"Now, I declare that the award ceremony officially begins!"

Song He's voice grew increasingly impassioned, making the already solemn atmosphere feel even more grand.

Banners fluttered in the wind, and the soldiers wore stern, resolute expressions.

The formations were impeccably aligned, highlighting the army's outstanding discipline and strict adherence to orders.

Song He made a welcoming gesture: "Next, please welcome the first group of honorees. They performed exceptionally on the battlefield, slaying over a hundred enemies each, serving as an indispensable backbone. Their names are Qin Tan, Guan Qing, Liu Yue..."

It was a grand roll call. As name after name was read out, several figures stepped forward from the ranks.

Smiling, they walked toward the review stand that symbolized honor.

Whispers and discussions broke out within the ranks.

"Yo, your Yanwu Corps actually has 14 people this time, ranking first among the Twelve Corps! You guys really made a name for yourselves!"

"Haha, nothing more to say. We're just awesome!"

"Don't rush, don't rush. This is only the first batch. The ones coming later hold even higher weight."

"..."

These were all representative war heroes.

Staff soon came forward to pin badges of honor on them before they stepped off the stage amidst everyone's envy.

Song He returned to the center of the stage. Seeing the names on the roster, she revealed a strange smile: "Next is the second batch of war heroes. Fearless and brave, they were trapped in dire plights multiple times, yet persevered through sheer willpower and eradicated over two hundred enemies. They are Wang Xian, Feng Wenhao, Ma Chen..."

At first, everyone remained calm, treating it as a normal commendation, but as they kept listening, something felt off.

Someone exclaimed in surprise, "Why are almost all the people in the second batch from the Xue Family Army?"

This was a question shared by many. Although the strength of those named varied, nearly ninety percent of them belonged to the Xue Family Army.

Someone realized: "I know! It's the unit from the Xue Family Army that was trapped in the demon encirclement! They were virtually dead back then, but they managed to carve a path out by force."

"Oh, right! I still remember those gray eyes!"

"Holy crap, how brutal was their encirclement for every single one of them to slay so many demons!?"

"What do you think... facing a vast horde of demons, they probably lost count of how many they killed themselves."

"The main key was still Little General Shen's move at the end..."

Everyone discussed enthusiastically. Many of them had witnessed the plight of that Xue Family Army unit at the time, and some had even tried to lend a hand, though they were helpless to change the outcome.

Song He's clear voice sounded once more: "This next person is very special. He could not attend this ceremony alive, but his bravery deserves to be remembered by all."

"He is the regular soldier who killed the most enemies on this battlefield, totaling five hundred and fifty-six. His name is... Liu Hero!"

*Whoosh—*

As this news spread, a sudden silence fell over the crowd, many standing slack-jawed, unable to believe such an achievement.

"My god, are these real numbers?"

"It's an award ceremony, for fuck's sake! How could the numbers be fake!?"

"That fellow was way too ferocious!"

"What was the previous record for kills by a regular soldier?"

"It seems to be 547, a record set back when Marshal Gu was at Tier 7..."

"His score actually surpassed Marshal Gu!?"

Liu Hero was a warm and friendly person, so many people knew him and had a good sense of his strength. At this moment, they were utterly shocked.

However, thinking of the desperate situation he faced on the battlefield, they all understood.

"Looks like the ceremony isn't over yet. Who on earth could be ranked ahead of Liu Hero?"

"Naturally, it's that person..."

Before the man could finish speaking, the voice from the stage sounded again.

Song He raised her voice: "The one taking the stage next is the rank one on Shangjing University's prodigy ranking, the closed-door disciple of former Chief Marshal Xue, the junior brother of Marshal Gu Qinglin, and an active soldier of the Xue Family Army..."

"In the Land of Miracles, he fought several demon experts, slaying the Tier 9 demon Xuan Ze and the former King-level Demon Dragon Xuan Xiang, and assisted Mr. Jiang in seizing the Authority of Destiny..."

"During a secret mission, he outsmarted the enemy to obtain the flowing light lotus, saving countless soldiers' lives, killed Mingyue of the Royal Class with his sword, and forced back the Xiang Realm demon general Youyue with a roar..."

"On this battlefield, he rescued a ten-man squad and a hundred-man squad, eradicated countless demons below Tier 5, 4,457 Tier 6 demons, 1,438 Tier 7 demons, and 7 Tier 8 demons, accumulating magnificent military exploits..."

The crowd erupted into an uproar.

How could a regular soldier accomplish all this? Is it time for Xiang Realm experts to receive awards now?

Song He's voice hadn't finished; her tone gradually slowed down: "By decision of the higher-ups, Shen Xingchen is bestowed the title of Young Marshal. Upon entering the Xiang Realm, he will immediately succeed his senior brother Marshal Gu Qinglin and command the Xue Family Army!"