Midday.
South of the Bajiang Platform, a grand banquet was held on Purple Cloud Mountain, featuring imperial chefs and an endless array of delicacies. The guests were either first or second-rank officials of the current dynasty or great cultivators from the human world's mountains, with the lowest attendee being at the eleventh realm.
As the soon-to-be commander-in-chief of the human world, Lin Zhao did not make an appearance. He was never good at social interactions and could handle dealings with cultivators with ease, but conversing with court officials was beyond him.
Thus, apart from the imperial feast, Lin Zhao set up a pot in his command tent and brewed a large pot of fish soup. He had Yu Wanling serve a bowl to each of Lin Wanhua, Long Dongjun, Xiao Muhan, Chen Mengjun, Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, and the others. As for himself, he ate in the command tent with Zhu Zhi and Lin Zhujie.
The banquet was presided over by Zhao Shutong. As the eldest princess of the Great Shang Dynasty, she was more than capable of handling such matters with practiced ease. In a sense, Zhao Shutong considered herself Lin Zhao's "representative" in the secular world.
Therefore, whatever Lin Zhao did not wish to do, Zhao Shutong would do in his stead.
For a time, with every smile and glance, the eldest princess appeased all the court officials, nodding in agreement. Lin Wanhua, Xiao Muhan, Long Dongjun, and the others also nodded gently. It was indeed fortunate for the Great Shang Dynasty's court to have Zhao Shutong, an eleventh-realm sword cultivator and eldest princess. Without her, many things would not have progressed so smoothly.
...
In the afternoon, the sound of bugles echoed on Purple Cloud Mountain, lingering for a long time.
"Commander Lin."
Zhao Shutong entered the command tent and cupped her fists respectfully. "The Bajiang Conferment Ceremony is about to begin."
"Good."
Lin Zhao rose. Having been through it once, he was not flustered at all.
Outside.
Zhang Xicheng, the Lord of Purple Cloud Mountain, who managed the local mountains and waters, leaned on his Lord's Sword as he guarded the land for the conferment ceremony. Beside him stood a peerlessly beautiful woman in a pink long dress, the peach blossom demon Han Yurou. They watched from afar as Lin Zhao was conferred the title of marshal, their faces filled with smiles.
A group of great cultivators from the human world's mountains surrounded the Bajiang Platform, whispering amongst themselves with smiles on their faces.
Meanwhile, the officials of the Great Shang Dynasty stood on either side of the red carpet, their expressions respectful. Following the arrangements of the Minister of Rites, they stood in their designated positions, adhering strictly to dynastic etiquette and daring not to show the slightest disrespect. The Bajiang conferment ritual was quite elaborate and began step by step.
Zhao Shutong, holding the Son of Heaven's jade seal, changed into a stunning imperial palace gown. Coupled with her aura as a True Return realm sword immortal, she exuded an unparalleled grace. She walked ahead, holding the jade seal, and said softly with a smile, "Commander Lin, just follow my pace. Whatever the Assistant Minister of Rites says, follow suit."
"Alright."
Lin Zhao nodded.
With Zhao Shutong in front and Lin Zhao behind, they ascended a few steps. Officials from the Ministry of Rites presented a bowl of water and a handful of rice stalks. Before the Bajiang ceremony, they prayed for favorable weather and timely rain. The drums sounded, and all sorts of elaborate rituals were performed one by one.
After a long while, sweat beaded on Lin Zhao's forehead. He felt that this solemn Bajiang and marshal appointment ceremony was more cumbersome and unbearable than a hundred years ago, even more tiring than a major battle against the demon race.
Zhao Shutong seemed to sense Lin Zhao's mood behind her and smiled faintly, thinking, "It's alright, it will be over soon."
Lin Zhao responded mentally, "Mm, no problem."
Zhao Shutong immediately pursed her lips and smiled. A hundred years ago, when Lin Zhao was conferred marshal and took command of the army, Zhao Shutong had not yet been born and could not witness it. But now, witnessing it firsthand, she felt that this commander-in-chief of the human world was not only peerless in military strategy but also refined and humble, truly worthy of the title Lin Baiyi.
A few minutes later, led by Zhao Shutong, they finally reached the top of the Bajiang Platform. The view became extremely vast, giving them a sense of looking down upon the world.
Zhao Shutong placed her hand on the jade seal, receiving the mandate of heaven, and invoked the national destiny of the Great Shang Dynasty to confer the title of marshal upon Lin Zhao. As Zhao Shutong finished the conferment speech, strands of golden national destiny descended from the heavens, enveloping Lin Zhao.
"Congratulations, Commander Lin!"
Zhao Shutong's wish fulfilled, she narrowed her beautiful eyes and smiled. "From this day forth, Commander Lin is the marshal of our Great Shang Dynasty. Even the Human Emperor Zhao Jingheng must obey Commander Lin's commands!"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Lin Zhao nodded.
Zhao Shutong smiled with dimples, "Just call me Shutong, no need to be so formal."
"Oh..."
Lin Zhao was startled but did not truly call her by her given name, as it might seem presumptuous.
Below the Bajiang Platform, Lin Wanhua held her long sword, a smile on her lips. "I didn't have the chance to witness him being conferred marshal a hundred years ago. Now, this lingering regret is finally filled."
Long Dongjun chuckled. "I heard Lin Zhao drafted a strategy to deal with this catastrophe, and the great figures of the Four Great Ancestral Courts all agreed. This marshal title is truly well-deserved!"
Xiao Muhan nodded and smiled. "That's only natural!"
Not far away, Chen Mengjun held her long sword, with two eleventh-realm martial uncles from the Lingyan Sword Sect behind her. A smile curved her lips, but she remained silent. In her eyes, Lin Zhao, enveloped by the Great Shang's national destiny on the Bajiang Platform, was simply resplendent and perfect!
Just then, the Bajiang Platform trembled violently!
"What's wrong?!"
Lü Fengxian was stunned. As a Rebirth realm martial artist, he had no idea what had happened.
"There's something going on."
Chen Xi looked up. In her beautiful eyes, she saw the Great Shang's national destiny surrounding Lin Zhao scattering, like startled fish in a stream, no longer daring to approach Lin Zhao.
"What's happening?!"
Lin Wanhua frowned. "Lin Zhao can't gather the Great Shang's national destiny? That's impossible... He could do it a hundred years ago, so why not now?"
Long Dongjun, Xiao Muhan, Chen Mengjun, and the others were all baffled.
...
Just then, a humming sound echoed through the heavens and earth, as if some power was awakening.
"What's happening?"
Zhao Shutong was also astonished. Holding the Great Shang Human Emperor's jade seal and looking at Lin Zhao, she felt completely unnerved.
Lin Zhao was also bewildered. "What's wrong?"
After a few breaths, the heavens and earth were filled with the rumbling sounds of the Great Dao. Following that, golden dragons appeared at the end of the sky. Beneath the golden dragons were masses of golden dharma images, radiating a strong military aura, truly a scene of thousands of soldiers and horses with swords and steeds.
Golden dragons represented the luck of the martial path.
Thousands of soldiers and horses represented the military aura.
In the next moment, the golden dragons at the end of the sky all transformed into beams of golden light that poured down, enveloping Lin Zhao. The thousands of soldiers and horses, filled with military aura, also arrived on horseback, stepping through the sea of clouds in all directions. They dismounted a few miles away from the Bajiang Platform and knelt towards it.
"..."
Lin Wanhua narrowed her beautiful eyes and suddenly smiled. "Heaven and Earth Conferment!?"
"Precisely!"
Long Dongjun slapped his thigh and laughed heartily. "No wonder the Great Shang's national destiny retreated on its own. It turns out that Heaven and Earth are conferring the title of marshal upon Lin Zhao. Compared to Heaven and Earth's conferment, the Great Shang Dynasty's conferment naturally has to yield!"
"Hahahaha, wonderful!"
Lü Fengxian laughed. "To gain the recognition of Heaven and Earth, Commander Lin's position as the human world's commander is truly well-deserved!"
"And, there's the gathering of martial luck."
Xiao Muhan smiled. "Is Lin Zhao going to use the momentum of Heaven and Earth's conferment to break through to the Sea-Crossing realm?"
...
On the Bajiang Platform.
Strands of complex characters from Heaven and Earth's conferment appeared behind Lin Zhao, instantly transforming into torrents that flowed into his body, greatly strengthening his martial foundation. At the same time, the vast martial luck poured down from the heavens like a rushing river, all flowing into Lin Zhao's physical body.
The breakthrough of a ninth-realm Wandering realm martial artist was a magnificent spectacle. The aura of this breakthrough was already comparable to that of a Rebirth realm breakthrough!
In the next moment, dense martial luck directly expanded Lin Zhao's dantian. The true qi within his dantian flowed like a mighty river, inexhaustible. Upon receiving the Heaven and Earth conferment as marshal, his martial path had also broken through. At this point, his martial artist realm was rapidly catching up to his sword cultivator realm.
In his ears, two consecutive notification bells rang—
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on successfully entering the Martial Artist [Sea-Crossing Realm], with the following effects: Agility +100, Stamina +200, Resilience +100, Health Recovery +100%, Critical Hit Resistance +40%, Physical Damage Effectiveness +45%. When attacked, 45% of the damage taken will be converted into health. When attacking, there is a 25% chance to trigger true damage!
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on breaking through to the [Sea-Crossing Realm] and successfully awakening the seventh form of the Nirvana Fist—[Cloud-Turning Form]!
...
Double joy!
Heaven and Earth's conferment expanded Lin Zhao's current realm, forcefully creating a Sea-Crossing realm for him. Furthermore, because it occurred during the Heaven and Earth conferment, it felt as if "the heavens and earth lent their strength." This Sea-Crossing realm arrived with immense grandeur, and the martial luck gained far surpassed that of a normal Sea-Crossing realm breakthrough.
In addition, he comprehended the seventh form of the Farmer's Nine Punches, the Cloud-Turning Form.
Lin Zhao merely glanced at it and understood. The moment he mastered the Cloud-Turning Form, his entire fist intent became long and deep, adding a layer of soft strength to his previous fierceness. It was only after mastering the Cloud-Turning Form that the Farmer's Nine Punches became even more balanced between hardness and softness.
"Congratulations, Commander Lin!"
Zhao Shutong smiled faintly. "This Sea-Crossing realm has arrived at the perfect time!"
Lin Zhao was also filled with joy. "Yes, I didn't expect this either."
Zhao Shutong immediately handed the jade seal to the Assistant Minister of Rites beside her, knelt on one knee, and said solemnly, "Great Shang Dynasty, Zhao Shutong, greets Commander Lin!"
Lin Zhao was stunned.
The Assistant Minister of Rites, holding the jade seal, also hastily knelt. Instantly, the civil and military officials of the Great Shang Dynasty below the Bajiang Platform knelt in unison. As for the cultivators from the human world's mountains, led by Lin Wanhua, Xiao Muhan, and Long Dongjun, they remained standing proudly.
Lin Zhao was conferred marshal, and while congratulations were certainly in order, and they were genuinely happy for Lin Zhao, they would not kneel. Which cultivator from the human world's peaks was not proud? They would kneel to heaven, earth, parents, and masters, but not to others.
...
Only a praying mantis, unfamiliar with human customs, looked around and asked Zhu Zhi and Yu Wanling, "Should... should I kneel down?"
"Yes, yes," Yu Wanling said with a mischievous smile.
Lin Zhujie plopped to the ground. "Congratulations on breaking through, Mountain Lord!"