King of Creation
Chapter 475 - 469: An Extraordinary Gift

Chapter 475: Chapter 469: An Extraordinary Gift

The calculation of military achievements within the army has a very complicated algorithm, which varies with position.

For a common soldier, beheading enemies of the Third Level is counted as a great achievement and warrants a promotion by one rank. However, for a Commander, even if he killed hundreds of ordinary soldiers, it might not even count as a minor achievement. This shows the strictness of the calculation of military achievements.

Even under such a strict system of calculation, Ye Zhen undeniably earned the greatest military achievement in the Eastern Expedition.

No one could question this, not even Gu Zhaoge, the Marshal of the Eastern Expedition Army.

For this reason, the second greatest military achievement of this Eastern Expedition still went to the Left Army, to its Vice Commander Zhou Zhen.

There was no helping it. The Left Army had taken the lead in breakthroughs and captured the most cities, granting them an innate advantage in terms of military achievements.

From Ye Zhen and Zhou Zhen downwards, almost every officer and soldier of the Left Army gained considerable military achievements. At the very least, they were eligible for a promotion by one rank. The family of those who died in the battle received even more substantial compensation due to the military achievements earned.

Take Liu Datong’s son, Liu Hu, for example. At the start of the battle, he was only a Captain commanding a few hundred men, but he fought bravely and had a bit of strategy, also inheriting his father Liu Datong’s caution.

With the subtle favoritism from Vice Commander Zhou Zhen during the war, even before the end of the conflict, Liu Hu had been promoted on the spot to Captain of two thousand five hundred men.

Now that the war had concluded, his accumulated military achievements could even promote him to Deputy General, a Deputy General commanding ten thousand troops.

What does the position of Deputy General mean in the Black Water Empire?

The overall forces of the Black Water Empire, including the various frontier armies, the Imperial Guards, and the county guards, amount to about two million in total.

Therefore, there are over two hundred individuals like the Ten Thousand Man Generals, or Deputy Generals, placing them firmly within the middle to upper ranks of the empire’s military hierarchy.

More importantly, due to Ye Zhen, Liu Hu got to know several officers from the Qiyun Sect. These individuals all held military ranks of at least a Marshal in command of thirty thousand men.

He also became a trusted confidante of Vice Commander Zhou Zhen, and his future prospects were limitless.

However, Ye Zhen’s help for Liu Hu ended there; the rest of the path was up to him to walk.

It’s worth mentioning that Chu River, the Commander of the Tiger Vanguard Army, was also valiant in battle. Unfortunately, his luck was rather poor. During the fierce battle at Yishan, he was hit by a Spirit-Breaking Crossbow Cannon and died instantly.

He became one of the highest-ranking officers to die in the Eastern Expedition Army.

Nevertheless, the military achievements Chu River had made were quite impressive, enough to bring honor to his family in death.

In mid-July, the cavalry units led by Ye Zhen, along with some officers who had made significant contributions, returned to the Imperial Capital of the Black Water Empire ahead of the others. At the same time, another cavalry contingent exceeding one hundred thousand men advanced eastward to reinforce the Yishan defensive line.

Three days later, a grand ceremony for presenting prisoners and rewarding military achievements began in Black Water King’s City. His Majesty the Emperor personally bestowed ranks and titles upon those with distinguished military service.

To everyone’s regret, Ye Zhen, who had earned the greatest merit in the Eastern Expedition as the Grand Marshal of the Left Army, was not present. It was his father, Ye Tiancheng, who accepted the military reward on behalf of Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen was promoted from the rank of Duke Wusan to the hereditary title of Duke Wus, while his father Ye Tiancheng was given the title of Marquis of Gold City. His mother Mi Jiangxue was granted the title of First-rank Lady. Even Ye Zhen’s barely over two-year-old brother was granted the title of a Dragon Cavalry Guard. Their fiefdom was expanded to include Gold City County, where they could establish a guard of a thousand men.

Of course, all these rewards were a result of Ye Zhen’s prior discussions.

Originally, as per the intention of the Empire, Ye Zhen could have received an exceptional grant. In the conquered lands of the Sword Origin Empire, Ye Zhen could select any area extending three thousand li as his fiefdom and be allowed to raise a private army of no more than twenty thousand men. He would have been promoted to a Military Department Traveling Minister, an attendant to the Royal Family, and so on.

All of these were refused by Ye Zhen, which eventually resulted in the official rewards.

To put it bluntly, even His Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t dare confer unwelcome titles on Ye Zhen.

Apart from the surprisingly modest rewards for Ye Zhen, the honors bestowed upon others were quite generous.

Duke of Ming, Zhou Zhen, retained his title, now made hereditary, adding just two words increased its worth by millions of gold. He also received a medium-sized county as his fiefdom.

In addition, he was granted the title of Military Department Traveling Minister, marking his rise to becoming a military magnate on par with Gu Zhaoge.

Even Liu Hu, the son of Chief of Ministry of Justice Liu Datong, aside from having his military rank promoted to Deputy General, was also granted the title of Viscount, officially elevating his status to nobility.

The deceased Grand Marshal Chu River of the Tiger Vanguard Army was posthumously granted a hereditary title of Marquis Shanyang, with his son being appointed to the Dragon Cavalry Guard and a reward of ten thousand gold.

....

Such rewards were countless.

The New Emperor Zhu Xuan, who had ascended to the throne a little over three years ago, was generous in bestowing honors. The wartime spoils brought by this battle were more than enough for his lavish distribution of awards.

While the New Emperor Zhu Xuan was busily conferring titles within the Royal City, Ye Zhen was holding another discussion with the Qiyun Sect Leader Guo Qijing.

"To build a new Martial Arts Dao Field in Gold City County, Ye Zhen, is this the reason why you declined so many rewards?" Sect Leader Guo Qijing frowned slightly, "Actually, even if you had accepted those honors from the Empire, what of it? With the presence of the Sect, who would dare to harm the Ye Family?"

"Sect Leader, I understand what you mean! However, our Ye Family’s foundation is still too weak. If we rise to a high position too suddenly, I’m afraid it might bring disaster. A fiefdom of three thousand li, if one were to act even more haughtily, would almost be equivalent to a state within a state!"

"A state within a state, so what? With you there, with the Sect there...."

"Sect Leader, that’s exactly what I’m worried about! You know my martial arts growth experience. I’ve grown through constant trials and practice. This kind of growth experience means I am destined not to stay in one place forever!

Perhaps not too far in the future, I will leave Black Dragon Domain to temper my martial arts in other outer domains. Once I leave...."

Hearing Ye Zhen speak like this, Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s expression suddenly turned somewhat melancholic. He had long anticipated this possibility, but now that Ye Zhen said it himself, there was an inexplicable feeling of loss.

He had intended, at the right time, to persuade Ye Zhen to take over the position of Qiyun Sect Leader. But now....

"Alright then, I agree to this matter! Gold City County Town will establish a Dao Field, and furthermore, there will be a Soul Sea Realm powerhouse stationed long-term at the Gold City Dojo!"

"Hmm, thank you, Sect Leader!"

With Sect Leader Guo Qijing’s promise, Ye Zhen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Because of Ye Zhen’s single-minded focus on martial arts, he had spent little time fulfilling filial duties to his parents. What Ye Zhen could do now, was to ensure his parents were healthy and safe, to live long and prosper!

"By the way, three days from now is the day when Master of Lishui Sect, Chu Taiping, has invited fellow practitioners from all over to celebrate his breakthrough in Vein Forging. I will still need to be stationed near Yishan, so at that time, you and Elder Zhong will represent me," Sect Leader said, indicating that Ye Zhen’s status was sufficient for the occasion.

"I shall heed the teachings of the Sect Leader!"

....

In Black Dragon Domain, a martial artist’s Vein Forging is definitely a matter of great joy, whether for the individual, their family, their Sect, or even the Empire they belong to. It is a grand occasion, one that demands elaborate celebrations.

Besides the celebration itself, there’s also the intent to declare the news to the world.

Two months ago at midnight, Master of Lishui Sect, Chu Taiping, after ten years of hard work, finally achieved success in Vein Forging, advancing to the ranks of Vein Forging Realm strong practitioners. Right then, hero-invitation letters were sent far and wide, but the actual day of congratulations was still three days away.

As the day to congratulate Chu Taiping drew near, the skies within Black Water Kingdom became increasingly lively, with streaks of light flashing rapidly by, a sign of Soul Sea Realm martial artists flying past.

Ye Zhen and Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing, as representatives of Qiyun Sect, naturally had to arrive early.

Unsurprisingly, the one to greet the martial artists from their own nation outside the Lishui Sect was Chu Taiping’s son, the Junior Sect Leader of Lishui Sect, Chu Jun.

However, Chu Jun looked somewhat unnatural upon seeing Ye Zhen.

Back when Ye Zhen’s cultivation was still hovering in the True Essence Realm, Chu Jun was already at the Spirit Transformation Realm Fifth Stage. Now, Ye Zhen’s cultivation had reached the Spirit Transformation Realm Fourth Stage, and he had made a name for himself throughout Black Dragon Domain, one that struck awe in all the top experts, even sitting on an equal footing with Sect Leaders of the major Sects.

Chu Jun didn’t know other details, but in today’s seating arrangement, Master Chu Taiping, which was Chu Jun’s father, had specifically instructed that Ye Zhen’s seat be arranged among those Sect Leaders who came to give their congratulations, and furthermore, he was to take the seat of honor.

Unless the Sect Leaders of Phantom Divine Sect or Qingluo Sect personally came, Ye Zhen’s seating arrangement might be moved back.

In an instant, Ye Zhen had established such a prominent reputation, but Chu Jun was still marking time. His cultivation barely reached the peak of Spirit Transformation Realm Fifth Stage, and as for his renown, he feared that once he stepped out of Black Water Kingdom, nobody would recognize him.

"Elder Zhong, Elder Ye, please come this way!"

Despite his displeasure, Chu Jun still had to come up to greet Ye Zhen and Zhongli Jing.

There was no way around it. Even though Ye Zhen’s cultivation was only at the Spirit Transformation Realm Fourth Stage, Qiyun Sect Leader Guo Qijing had already announced to the world that Ye Zhen had been promoted to Elder of their Sect.

So, by courtesy, Chu Jun had to show respect to Ye Zhen!

As Ye Zhen had expected, while Chu Taiping’s breakthrough to Vein Forging Realm was indeed a huge celebration, the representatives from the major Sects, especially top-tier ones like Phantom Divine Sect and Qingluo Sect, were mostly representatives sent by the Sect Leaders, with few Sect Leaders attending personally.

Of course, that’s a different story for second-tier, or even third-tier Sects.

The celebration process was the usual routine.

Light but significant gifts were given, auspicious words spoken, and then Chu Taiping would show off a newly-mastered Divine Power Martial Skill. However, these were not the main event.

The most important part was to spread the news of Chu Taiping becoming a Vein Forging Realm strong practitioner throughout Black Dragon Domain. This was the wish of Lishui Sect, as well as the will of the Black Water Empire.

Having a Vein Forging Realm practitioner symbolizes the strong power of both Lishui Sect and Black Water Empire.

After Ye Zhen presented the first congratulatory gift on behalf of Qiyun Sect, he returned to his seat, calmly closed his eyes to rest, and listened as others offered their gifts and congratulations to Chu Taiping. It was quite boring, making Ye Zhen feel drowsy.

"The lone survivor of the Meng Clan, Meng Xiaoyue, specially comes to congratulate Sect Leader Chu on his ascension to Vein Forging, wishing Sect Leader Chu an unbounded path in martial arts. Presenting a letter of challenge, a Life and Death Contract, and a coffin!"

Hearing this extraordinary congratulatory gift, Ye Zhen, who had been nodding off, snapped to attention, straightening his body and opening his eyes! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian [qidian.com] to vote for recommended tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)