Celebration Banquet!

Ding Hao was lost in thought for a long time, feeling the Barbarian God Blood Refining Scripture in his mind.

The Barbarian God Ancient Jade had not moved since displaying the number nine.

"What does this number nine represent?"

"Is it nine inheritances? Or the ninth sequence? Or is it something that can only be unlocked with ninety percent of the Primordial Barbarian God Bloodline?"

Ding Hao pondered for a moment, feeling that each guess had some merit, but he wasn't sure which one was correct.

Unable to find an answer, he could only put away the Barbarian God Ancient Jade for now. However, he knew this was definitely a significant opportunity!

He decisively made up his mind to first use the [Barbarian God Blood Refining Scripture] obtained from the Barbarian God Ancient Jade to refine his Primordial Barbarian God Bloodline to ninety percent.

Even if he guessed wrong, at least his strength would greatly increase!

Finally.

Ding Hao opened his status panel again, and it had been completely updated.

[Host] Ding Hao
[Realm] True Martial Fifth Level
[Vitality] 99999
[Spirit] 2360
[Comprehension] 5500
[Luck] 0
[Talent Bloodline] Primordial Barbarian God Bloodline (New* Ten Percent Increase) Endless Vitality...
[Cultivation Martial Arts] Heavenly Tyrant Body Art (Second Layer) Barbarian God Blood Refining Scripture (New) One Qi Art (Perfection) Three Talents Saber Art (Great Accomplishment) Immovable Mountain Seal (Initiate) Eight Dragon Steps (Initiate)...
[Martial Dao True Meaning] Strength True Meaning (Ten Percent) Blade True Meaning (Ten Percent) Fire True Meaning (Nine Percent) Wind True Meaning (Six Percent) Lightning True Meaning (Three Percent)...
[Owned Items] Mysterious Iron Blade, Golden Silk Soft Armor, Mysterious Treasure Map (One Corner) Barbarian God Ancient Jade...

"Not bad!"

"Very good!"

Looking at the transformed panel data, Ding Hao felt very excited.

Of course, it wasn't just because he had become stronger, but also because he had gathered the Four Great Military Arts, which would allow him to shed his death row inmate status!

The next day.

After settling all matters, Luo Shenhuang announced the opening of a celebration banquet, which would be held in the original Royal Court Palace of the Northern Barbarian Royal Court.

From the high-ranking generals like Zhang Dalong and Ding Yishan, to the mid-ranking squad leaders, platoon leaders, and centurions, and down to the soldiers and death row inmates, all could participate!

Ding Hao was also invited by Luo Shenhuang's personal guards as soon as possible!

Naturally, the first order of business at the celebration banquet was to celebrate achievements, and Ding Hao was the first to be called out!

Luo Shenhuang personally poured wine to celebrate Ding Hao's achievements. "Ding Hao, in this campaign to pacify the Royal Court and eliminate the Northern Barbarians, you not only killed many barbarian generals and cleaved the Commander of Northern Barbarians, but you also assisted this Army Lord in killing the King of Northern Barbarians. Among the entire army, you are the one with the greatest merit!"

"Come, this cup of wine, this Army Lord and all the soldiers toast you together!"

As she finished speaking, Luo Shenhuang raised her wine cup and tilted her jade neck to drink it all. A large number of soldiers around them also stood up to toast.

"Thank you!"

Ding Hao naturally wouldn't be impolite and immediately emptied the wine in his bowl.

Afterward, Luo Shenhuang pointed out other meritorious individuals one by one, and finally announced that all the soldiers could eat and drink as they pleased!

When the celebration banquet entered the free-for-all phase, a large number of soldiers immediately picked up their wine bowls and came to toast Ding Hao one by one.

Among them were high-ranking generals like Ding Yishan, many mid-ranking officers like centurions and platoon leaders, and even ordinary soldiers.

In this regard, Ding Hao treated them all equally. He drank with everyone who came to toast him, and he didn't slight even the death row inmates from the death row camp.

For a time, the area where Ding Hao was located became the most eye-catching spot in the entire celebration banquet, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

And compared to Ding Hao.

The wine table where Zhang Dalong was located not far away appeared desolate and deserted.

"Damn it!"

This made Zhang Dalong clench his fists and smash the wine table fiercely.

You must know that.

Once upon a time, as the Divine Phoenix Army's top fierce general, he was always the one with the greatest merit at every celebration banquet, surrounded by many soldiers.

But now, all his glory had clearly been snatched away by Ding Hao!

"Ding Hao!!"

Zhang Dalong's eyes blazed with fire, wishing he could go forward and hack Ding Hao to death, but he knew that this was already impossible!

After all, Ding Hao was not only highly regarded by Luo Shenhuang but had also accumulated the Four Great Military Arts. Once his innocence was restored, he would definitely be directly promoted to a high-ranking general by Luo Shenhuang.

If he, Zhang Dalong, dared to kill him, it would be a capital offense!

Just as Zhang Dalong was feeling dejected, a confidant ran up to him.

He quietly handed a secret letter into Zhang Dalong's hand and said, "General, you previously sent people back to the Imperial City to investigate Ding Hao's background, his identity, and why he was imprisoned as a death row inmate. Everything has been found and is in this secret letter!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Dalong raised an eyebrow.

He immediately got up and went to a secluded spot, tearing open the secret letter to read it.

As he read, his eyes gradually lit up.

"So Ding Hao is that unlucky Top Scholar who offended Empress Xia Weiyang!"

"If that's the case, then it's easy. Our Empress is no pushover!"

"Go, bring me paper and brush. I need to write a secret letter to the Empress..."

On the other side, at the Celebration Banquet.

Ding Hao was unaware that Zhang Dalong was plotting against him in secret and was busy socializing.

After drinking several hundred cups of wine, the number of people toasting him finally decreased. Fortunately, with his increased strength, he could now drink without getting drunk!

"Ding Hao!"

Finally, when Ding Hao was alone, Luo Shenhuang walked over.

It was evident that today was one of Luo Shenhuang's rare days off from her armor. She had changed into a white dress, and as the breeze blew, her clothes fluttered, making her look like a Nine Heavens Profound Maiden who had accidentally fallen to the mortal realm!

Exquisitely beautiful and captivating!

"Army Lord Luo!"

In a public setting with many eyes around, Ding Hao dared not linger too long gazing at Luo Shenhuang's face. He quickly and respectfully saluted her.

Unexpectedly, Luo Shenhuang smiled enchantingly, her beauty captivating. "At today's banquet, you don't need to call me Army Lord Luo. Call me Divine Phoenix!"

"Divine Phoenix... Army Lord!"

Ding Hao's mouth moved, but he ultimately didn't dare to take advantage of the situation.

After all, he had suffered too many setbacks like this from Xia Weiyang!

Luo Shenhuang smiled and shook her head, casually picking up a pot of wine from the table. "It's too noisy here. Shall we go for a walk together?"

"Okay!"

Ding Hao nodded and immediately followed Luo Shenhuang out of the Royal Court Hall.

The Royal Court Palace was not much different from the Great Zhou Imperial Palace; it also had an imperial garden!

The two walked side-by-side in the imperial garden, eventually stopping at a pavilion.

"Ding Hao, I have already finished writing the battle report, and it will be sent out tonight."

"I have specifically mentioned your feat of gathering the Four Great Military Arts in it!"

"If nothing unexpected happens this time, your name will be cleared!"

Luo Shenhuang spoke as she poured two cups of wine for them.

"Mmm!"

"Thank you for your favor, Army Lord. I'll toast you with this cup!"

Ding Hao picked up a cup of wine and, tilting his head back, drank it down on the spot!

After all, he had worked for over a month to gather the Four Great Military Arts and escape his death row status. Now, he was finally about to achieve his wish!

Luo Shenhuang smiled and nodded, also finishing her cup of wine!

Afterward, she asked, "Ding Hao, once your death row status is cleared, you will be a free man. Do you have any plans?"

"Plans? Not yet!"

Ding Hao shook his head.

After this Northern Expedition war concluded, he truly had no specific plans.

If he had to say anything, it would be to chop off Zhang Dalong's head and make that bitch Empress Xia Weiyang kneel and sing a song of submission!

Hearing this.

Luo Shenhuang's expression subtly became solemn, and her tone deepened slightly.

"Ding Hao, if you don't have any plans, I wish to promote you to be the new Army Lord of the Divine Phoenix Army. Are you... willing to accept the command?"