Bai Aotu, despite his top military merit, failed to elicit a single extra word from Zhang Boqian. In comparison, it was clear who stood above. The wisp of blue energy atop Zhao Judu’s head was unmistakably the legendary Zijiji Qing, indicating a purity of origin power that even surpassed Bai Aotu’s.
As everyone around congratulated Zhao Judu for gaining Zhang Boqian’s special attention, Zhao Xuanji responded with usual grace, not showing excessive joy. This made Bai Songnian’s smile seem rather forced.
After seeing two individuals in a row activate their qi in front of Zhang Boqian, the crowd realized this was no coincidence. It was likely a public examination by the King of Qingyang for these rising talents.
Those who received rewards naturally felt the might of the Celestial King when standing before Zhang Boqian. How they responded depended not only on their origin power cultivation but also on their innate talent. Innate talent referred to the properties of their origin power, its purity, and various innate abilities. Their level of cultivation and potential were all revealed under the pressure of the Celestial King, with no room for deception.
As Zhao Judu took his seat, everyone on the platform became more observant, paying attention to the subsequent awardees. Over a hundred people were selected, but only twenty could receive commendations directly from Zhang Boqian. It was said that some of these individuals did not come from noble families, and if they performed well, they would be worth courting.
Zhang Boqian glanced at the list, his expression unchanged, and slowly announced, “Third in military merit, Zhao clan’s Qian Ye, awarded a second-class military merit.”
A momentary silence followed, then uproar broke out. No one expected the third place to also be from the Zhao clan, especially Qian Ye, who was only a tenth-level war general.
Everyone knew that while Qian Ye had performed exceptionally in the bloodbath, his tenth-level origin power was a significant drawback. Such a low level, even in the limited Iron Curtain Bloodbath, could be considered a great fortune if he returned safely from the Beast’s Slumber. What kind of great deeds could he have accomplished?
Historically, in campaigns like the Iron Curtain Bloodbath and the exploration of the Beast’s Slumber, which emphasized individual combat, the minimum rank for a podium award was twelfth level.
Overcoming higher-ranked foes was not limitless; generally, bridging three levels was exceptional. As seen in the final battle at the Eternal Night Camp, Zhao Judu, a twelfth-level war general, holding off a seventeenth-level marquis for a prolonged period, was already legendary.
Moreover, in the heat of battle, there was no room for trickery. No matter how talented or skilled, insufficient origin power meant no endurance, and fewer opportunities to retreat against stronger foes. If it were just the bloodbath, Qian Ye’s appearance might be justified, but adding the Beast’s Slumber and the subsequent battles made it nearly impossible.
Yet, Qian Ye not only appeared but placed third.
An imperial second-class military merit required the slaying of a marquis, which was unattainable for a tenth-level Qian Ye. This meant, like Zhao Judu, he accumulated enough minor merits, but the grade of enemies he must have slain was lower. This implied an astonishing number!
Some mentally calculated and paled. Others speculated that Qian Ye might have gained something during the Beast’s Slumber, but obtaining ancient essence fragments or killing an avatar of the Heavenly Ghost seemed too incredible. Even attributing it all to luck, such luck was part of his strength.
Although not his first time before Zhang Boqian, Qian Ye’s heart still raced. The King of Qingyang’s gaze was deep and serene, unexpectedly calm, yet Qian Ye felt as though his secrets, both internal and external, were laid bare, a disconcerting sensation.
In a moment, Qian Ye, like Bai Aotu and Zhao Judu, felt the invisible pressure from Zhang Boqian. More pronounced than their first meeting, the pressure grew, making his bones creak, and his blood and qi surged, turning his face crimson, nearly spitting out blood.
At this critical moment, the dark side of his body within him was immobilized, as if intimidated by Zhang Boqian’s aura. The Dark Golden Blood and the Black Book remained dormant, even the Blood Core was inactive.
Amidst his shock, Qian Ye wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or concerned. Yet, this left him vulnerable to the Celestial King’s overwhelming pressure. In a moment of distraction, the vortex of origin power in his chest accelerated, shooting countless crystal particles into the stagnant tide of origin power.
Qian Ye felt a jolt, his origin power boiling, his face and body burning. Suddenly, his entire being burst into a crimson flame, with golden sparks flickering like stars.
“Morning Dawn Illumination!” someone exclaimed softly.
Bai Songnian’s expression changed, glancing at Zhao Xuanji, whose face remained as calm as an ancient well. For many, witnessing Morning Dawn Illumination for the first time was an eye-opening experience.
Qian Ye’s possession of Morning Dawn Illumination was no secret, and the Zhao clan favored him for it. Seeing it firsthand, however, truly confirmed his extraordinary potential.
With the top three in military merit set, the Zhao clan, though not at the top, occupied the second and third positions, with both Qian Ye and Zhao Judu displaying exceptional talent, even surpassing Bai Aotu. They clearly overshadowed the Bai clan in this round.
Zhang Boqian’s gaze lingered on Qian Ye longer than usual, then nodded, saying, “Not bad, but keep working hard. Remember, low origin power is never good.”
This encouragement, while not as profound as his words to Zhao Judu, was still notable compared to Bai Aotu. Many pondered, their gazes on Qian Ye different. Even a straightforward critique from Zhang Boqian marked Qian Ye as special, possibly a step closer to the divine general status.
A genius younger than Zhao Judu with divine general potential! Most importantly, according to information, Qian Ye was a member of the Zhao clan’s entourage without marrying into the clan, meaning as an outsider, he was not entirely bound to them.
The eyes of the elder nobles sparkled with hidden intent. Even if Qian Ye didn’t reach the divine general rank, he would still be a top-tier force for the clans.
Many began to plan how to win Qian Ye over, considering the costs and methods. The Zhao clan’s tradition of not marrying out their daughters to other clans, especially commoners, now seemed advantageous, leaving room for other clans to maneuver.
However, not all were supportive. Some cast down their eyes, hiding malicious intent. Zhao Xuanji sat undisturbed, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents around him.
Qian Ye accepted his military merit jade plaque, slightly smaller than a first-class merit, with silver engraving.
After him, seventeen others received their commendations, but Zhang Boqian only said, “Continue serving the empire.”
Soon, the twenty were all awarded.
Zhang Boqian surveyed the gathering, his voice resonant, “For a thousand years, the empire has fought countless battles. Today, the four continents are reclaimed inch by inch from the dark races. From the founding seven clans to the nine revival clans, to the current four, the path of the strong has never been certain. Today’s commendations are the foundation for tomorrow. May you use these awards to expand our borders and, in the future, be ennobled as marquises and kings!”
These words from Zhang Boqian stirred the hearts of the soldiers, and their shouts echoed like a mountain and sea, reverberating across the land of Eternal Night.
The Zhao clan once again impressed the empire, and all would say it was well-deserved. The Bai clan, in the public’s view, remained below the Zhao.
Strangely, Li Kuanglan’s name was absent from the list. Qian Ye guessed she preferred anonymity. Despite her arrogance, she wasn’t disliked, but why Zhao Judu and Song Zining avoided her remained a mystery. Qian Ye’s curiosity ended there, as he had no interest in the clans’ secrets.
Among the twenty, the Zhang clan had four, outnumbering the Zhao, solidifying their position as the leading clan.
This list reflected the strength of the major clans: Zhang and Zhao leading, Bai following closely, and Song visibly weakening, with only one representative, a non-direct descendant.
Song Zining, though he participated in strategic planning, lacked personal military achievements. Some who saw his leadership in battle felt regret, but his mastery of the Evolutionary Art offered another path to advancement.
Following the commendations, Zhang Boqian issued orders for the army to withdraw from Eternal Night within three days. The camp buzzed with activity, soldiers packing up, a scene of weapons and armor being stored away.
Qian Ye spent a day in his tent, contemplating the jade plaque, his brows knotted.
Song Zining had hinted that the war in the Beast’s Slumber was just a prelude to the greater War of Destiny, which would commence with the Battle of the Void Flying Land. Thus, Qian Ye felt no ease.
The War of Destiny, unlike small-scale battles, involved massive forces. Like this campaign, once the army moved, it was a unstoppable tide, where individuals were carried along until exhaustion. At Qian Ye’s level, battlefield dominance was premature, even for Zhao Judu.
In chaos, anything could happen, and even heroes could fall to unknown adversaries. Yet, for Qian Ye, this was the best time to accumulate military merit. Resolving, he called a few guards and headed to the central camp.
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