Chapter 924: Rewarding the Three Armies, Unifying the Northern Plains

"My Lord, in this battle, our army has achieved a great victory!"

At the same time, within the Black Demon Palace of Liu Dao Sect, the Military Sect's Sect Master Hei Hei Louxi, the Grand Sun Long Sword Supervisor Zhenjun Xu Fang Master Dinghai Zhenjun, the Hun Yuan Fa Tian Supervisor Master Tianyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun, along with several dozen Nascent Soul Zhenjuns who had distinguished themselves in battle, arrived via teleportation array and reported to the blue-robed youth seated upon the Liu Dao Throne, as if presenting tribute.

"My Lord, this is the Heavenly Demon God-Slaying Banner, a heavy treasure of the Western Desert Demon Race's Imperial Military. This victory was entirely thanks to your brilliance and martial might, the courage and guidance you granted us!"

The Military Sect's Sect Master Hei Hei Louxi personally held up a pitch-black banner, presenting it upward as tribute, and said obediently.

"Congratulations, Canghai Tianjun!"

"Congratulations, Dayan Jianzi!"

Several dozen Zhenjuns said in unison.

Apart from the Zhenjuns who had to remain stationed at the Northern Capital, all the remaining Zhenjuns had come.

Doing well is not as good as reporting well.

Many Zhenjuns were well versed in this principle, and would never miss such an occasion to divide the spoils, lest they regret it for the rest of their lives.

In fact, they were overthinking it; it would not have any impact.

"Bootlickers."

"What nonsense about brilliance and martial might."

Jiang Ding took the Heavenly Demon God-Slaying Banner and looked at this group of Zhenjuns, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This Heavenly Demon God-Slaying Banner was a fairly decent item, a Primordial Spirit treasure, worth over a trillion low-grade spirit stones at the very least, and it was entirely composed of fifth-tier currency, showing they had put thought into it.

"Dayan Jianzi!"

"In this battle, our army slew one hundred and thirty-seven demon race Demon Lords, and over two million Demon Kings and Demon Generals. Among them, the Grand Sun Long Sword Capital played the most crucial role, being the first to break the deadlock…"

The moment Hei Hei Louxi finished speaking, Zhenjun Xu Fang Master Dinghai Zhenjun could not wait to interject, not showing the slightest fear of an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Otherwise, Dayan Jianzi, please do not be deceived!"

"This battle was clearly our Hun Yuan Fa Tian Capital that contributed the most. We withstood the strongest demon race Imperial Guard and the quasi-fifth-tier Heavenly Demon God-Slaying Grand Formation, suffering over a hundred thousand casualties, the highest among all armies…"

Master Tianyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun argued his case forcefully, yielding not an inch.

"My Lord, the Master Tushan Maid Corps commanded from the center, held the four directions, and directed the overall situation. Regardless of what the other armies did, the Master Tushan Maid Corps should be considered the foremost merit; this is the distinction between superior and subordinate…"

Xunfeng Maid Hei Hei Louxi immediately spoke out in rebuttal.

"Nonsense, you all…"

The three sides each had their reasons, and instantly erupted into a babel of argument. The great hall became noisy, each side going head-to-head, yielding not an inch, the quarrel extremely fierce.

This was inevitable.

As a Supervisor, if one could not fight for benefits for oneself and one's subordinates, the resentment from the Zhenjuns and True Persons below could drown them, and future commands would become difficult to carry out.

If this happened repeatedly, they would inevitably have to step down in favor of the worthy.

"Enough,"

Jiang Ding shook

his head and said.

The noisy great hall instantly fell utterly silent, so quiet that a pin dropping could be heard, without a single stray sound.

All the Zhenjuns listened quietly, focusing their attention on the voice coming from the ninety-nine steps, not missing a single word.

"The standards must be clear."

"Battle merit refers to the achievements established on the battlefield. It has nothing to do with status, nothing to do with strength, nothing to do with casualties, nothing to do with numbers—only with results."

Jiang Ding stated clearly.

"Hun Yuan Fa Tian Capital, for withstanding the Imperial Guard demon army of the demon race Sovereign Ice Phoenix Demon Lord and the quasi-fifth-tier Heavenly Demon God-Slaying Grand Formation, shall be credited with the foremost merit."

"Dayan Jianzi is wise!"

Master Tianyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun rejoiced greatly and bowed deeply.

This battle merit was not some empty abstraction. According to bits of news he had gathered beforehand, battle merit could be exchanged for Soul Transformation and Tribulation Crossing secret arts, Soul Transformation and Tribulation Crossing pills, and even life-extending pills.

Of course, a single battle would likely not be enough, but it was still an extremely rare opportunity.

Battle merit concerned life and death!

"Dayan Jianzi is wise!"

"My Lord is wise!"

Hei Hei Louxi and Zhenjun Xu Fang Master Dinghai Zhenjun bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

Since Canghai Tianjun had personally spoken, the subordinates' resentment toward them naturally had nowhere to land; they could not possibly defy Canghai Tianjun over this.

Moreover, from the perspective of battle merit, Hun Yuan Fa Tian Capital had indeed earned the most achievements.

However, Zhenjun Xu Fang Master Dinghai Zhenjun was not overly envious.

Hun Yuan Fa Tian Capital might have more battle merit, but they also had more people!

Ten times the number of the Grand Sun Long Sword Capital and the Master Tushan Maid Corps, when such vast achievements were divided up, although still quite generous, in absolute terms it should not compare to theirs.

"Grand Sun Long Sword Capital, one capital broke through three Wang Zu Demon Lords, achieving a critical victory, credited with the second merit."

"Master Tushan Maid Corps, breached the Jin Chi Wang Zu demon army, credited with the third merit."

Jiang Ding stated one by one, establishing the battle merit standards for everyone.

The many Zhenjuns naturally bowed their heads in acknowledgment, without a single dissenting voice.

"This is the merit of the group."

"Individual merit is divided into two major parts: combat merit and command merit. Let the Zheng Sect handle it."

Jiang Ding continued: "Every individual's merit must be verifiable. How much merit for killing enemies, how much for supporting friendly forces, how much for healing friendly forces… and so on. This must be achieved. Every share of military merit must have concrete spell recordings and soul memory recordings, able to withstand close scrutiny and withstand others' doubts."

"Military merit will be made public for three months. Within those three months, anyone may raise objections, and the Zheng Sect must respond, without any negligence."

"Yes, My Lord!"

Zheng Sect's Sect Master Gong Gong Caiyu listened to the order with solemn respect.

"The cultivators who died in battle made tremendous contributions to the resurgence of the Human Race; their families must be properly compensated."

Jiang Ding continued.

"While ensuring material compensation and military merit awards, we must treat their families well, making it easier for them to enter sects at all levels to study."

"Cultivators of the Zheng Sect must seriously listen to the opinions of the families of the fallen, ask about their hardships in life, whether they have been bullied... and ensure all kinds of support measures are in place."

"Regarding the compensation for fallen cultivators, I place special importance on this. If anyone violates this, they shall be dealt with severely and strictly; those who deserve death shall be executed, and their military merit cannot be exempted."

Jiang Ding said sternly.

"Merit is merit, fault is fault."

"If there is merit, reward heavily; if there is fault, punish severely. These two coexist and cannot cancel each other out."

"Yes, Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun!"

Dozens of Master Dinghai Zhenjun responded with a thunderous roar.

"Haha!"

"No need to be so serious; this is a great victory, a time for celebration."

Jiang Ding smiled gently: "Return now. Once the military merit is tallied, go exchange it for the pills, heavenly treasures, and secret arts you desire, so your cultivation may advance further, taking another step on the Great Dao."

"I wish for your immortal paths to remain evergreen and undiminished."

"Thank you, Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun!"

Many Master Dinghai Zhenjun said joyfully.

Many were already imagining how to squander their military merit once obtained, and then greatly advance their cultivation.

"Sword Disciple, when shall we attack the Western Desert?"

As they were about to withdraw, Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun asked excitedly.

His sword intent had advanced a step further than before the battle; his desire to fight was rising, and he vaguely felt he was on the correct path to surpass his master, making him even more eager.

Attack the Western Desert?

Dozens of Master Dinghai Zhenjun held their breath.

They looked up anxiously, wishing they could each kick Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun to death with one foot.

"At least, it must be eighty years from now."

Jiang Ding pondered for a moment and said, "Our Human Race is strong because of our recovery ability; powerful ones are born faster. In eighty years, everyone will have digested their opportunities, their strength will rise another level, and those who should advance will advance."

"Golden Core cultivators and Foundation Establishment cultivators will continue to appear, and new Nascent Soul cultivators will be born; the legion's strength will recover and rise another level."

"Only then will it be the time to attack."

"Eighty years, huh."

Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun was somewhat disappointed.

"Master Canghai Canghai Tianjun is wise!"

Master Tianyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun and others ignored him and shouted loudly with high morale.

(End of this chapter)