Celebration Banquet!

Feeling the Barbarian God Blood Refining Scripture in his mind, Ding Hao remained lost in thought for a long while.

After the number nine surfaced on the Barbarian God Ancient Jade, there were no further changes.

"What does this number nine represent?"

"Nine inheritances? Or sequence number nine? Or perhaps something can only be opened once the Primordial Barbarian God Bloodline reaches ninety percent?"

Ding Hao pondered in silence for a moment. Every guess seemed somewhat reasonable, yet he could not be sure which one was right.

Unable to make sense of it, he could only put away the Barbarian God Ancient Jade for the time being. Still, he knew this was absolutely an opportunity not to be underestimated!

He decisively resolved 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 his guess was wrong, it would at least greatly increase his strength!

In the end.

Ding Hao opened his status panel again and found that it had already been completely renewed.

Host: Ding Hao

Realm: True Martial Fifth Level

Vitality: 99999

Spirit: 2360

Comprehension: 5500

Luck: 0

Talent Bloodline: Primordial Barbarian God Bloodline (New* 16%)... Everlasting...

Cultivation Arts and Martial Skills: Heavenly Tyrant Body Art (Second Layer), Barbarian God Blood Refining Scripture (New), One Qi Art (Perfect), Three Talents Blade Technique (Major Mastery), Immovable Mountain Seal (Beginner), Eight Dragon Steps (Beginner)...

Martial Dao True Meaning: Strength True Meaning (100%), Blade True Meaning (100%), Fire True Meaning (90%), Wind True Meaning (60%), Lightning True Meaning (30%)...

Possessions: 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 immensely excited.

Of course, it was not merely because he had grown stronger. It was also because he had gathered the four great military merits and could finally cast off his death-row prisoner status!

The next day.

Once all matters had been settled, Luo Shenhuang announced the opening of the Celebration Banquet, to be held in the former Northern Barbarian Royal Court Palace.

From Zhang Dalong, Ding Yishan, and the other Divine Phoenix Army commanders, to Squad Leaders, Platoon Leaders, and Centurions, all the way down to ordinary soldiers and death-row prisoners, everyone could attend!

Ding Hao was also invited over at once by Luo Shenhuang's personal guard!

Naturally, the first purpose of a Celebration Banquet was to celebrate merit. And when it came to celebrating merit, Ding Hao was the first to be called forth!

Luo Shenhuang personally poured the wine for Ding Hao. "Ding Hao, in this campaign against the Royal Court and the Northern Barbarians, you not only slew many barbarian generals and cleaved the Commander of Northern Barbarians apart with a single blow, but also helped this Army Lord kill the King of Northern Barbarians. Among the entire army, you deserve the—greatest merit!"

"Come, this cup of wine shall be raised to you by this Army Lord and all the officers and soldiers!"

As she finished, Luo Shenhuang raised her wine cup, lifted her jade-like neck, and drained it in one swallow. The many soldiers around them also rose one after another to offer a toast.

"Thank you!"

Ding Hao naturally would not be discourteous. He immediately emptied the wine in his bowl.

Afterward, Luo Shenhuang named the other meritorious individuals one by one before finally declaring that all officers and soldiers could eat and drink as they pleased!

Once the Celebration Banquet entered its free-drinking stage, large numbers of soldiers immediately lifted their wine bowls and came over one after another to toast Ding Hao.

Among them were senior commanders such as Ding Yishan, numerous mid-ranking officers such as Thousand Commanders and Centurions, as well as ordinary soldiers.

Ding Hao treated them all equally. Whoever came to toast him, he drank with them all. Even toward the death-row prisoners from the Death Row Camp, he showed no neglect.

For a time, Ding Hao's table became the most eye-catching place in the entire Celebration Banquet. People came and went in an unending stream.

Compared to Ding Hao, however.

The table where Zhang Dalong sat not far away seemed utterly deserted.

"Damn it!"

This made Zhang Dalong clench his fist and smash it fiercely onto the table.

One had to know.

Once upon a time, as the Divine Phoenix Army's number one fierce general, at every Celebration Banquet, was he not the one who claimed the greatest merit and was surrounded by countless soldiers?

Yet now, all his glory had clearly been stolen away by Ding Hao!

"Ding Hao!!"

Zhang Dalong's eyes spewed fire. He wished he could rush over and cut Ding Hao down on the spot, but he knew that was already impossible!

After all, Ding Hao was not only deeply valued by Luo Shenhuang, but had also gathered the four great military merits. Once his name was cleared, Luo Shenhuang would certainly promote him directly into the ranks of senior commanders.

If Zhang Dalong dared murder a commander, it would be a crime worthy of beheading!

Just as Zhang Dalong was brooding in frustration, one of his trusted men hurried over.

The man secretly handed a sealed letter into Zhang Dalong's hand and said, "General, the investigation you ordered in the imperial capital into Ding Hao's background—his identity, why he became a death-row prisoner, and everything else—has all been completed. It is all inside this secret letter!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Dalong raised a brow.

He immediately rose and went somewhere deserted, then tore open the secret letter and read it.

The moment he did, his eyes gradually lit up.

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

"In that case, this will be easy. Our Empress is no kind soul!"

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

Elsewhere, at the Celebration Banquet.

Ding Hao had no idea Zhang Dalong was plotting against him in secret and continued socializing.

Only after he had drunk no fewer than several hundred cups did the number of people coming to toast him finally diminish. Fortunately, as his strength increased, he was now capable of remaining standing after a thousand cups!

"Ding Hao!"

At last, when no one was around Ding Hao, Luo Shenhuang walked over.

Clearly, today was once again one of Luo Shenhuang's rare days without armor. She had changed into flowing white robes, which fluttered in the breeze. She looked like a Nine Heavens Profound Maiden who had accidentally fallen into the mortal world!

Breathtakingly beautiful and moving!

"Army Lord Luo!"

In a public setting with so many watchful eyes, Ding Hao did not dare linger over Luo Shenhuang's beauty. He hurriedly bowed to her with the utmost respect.

Who would have thought that Luo Shenhuang would smile sweetly, enough to stir the soul? "At today's banquet, there is no need to call me Army Lord Luo. Just call me Shenhuang!"

"Shenhuang... Army Lord!"

Ding Hao opened his mouth, but in the end, he did not dare climb up the pole when given the chance.

After all, he had suffered far too many losses of this sort at Xia Weiyang's hands!

Luo Shenhuang shook her head with a smile and casually picked up a jug of wine from the table. "It's too noisy here. Shall we go for a walk together?"

"Alright!"

Ding Hao nodded and immediately followed Luo Shenhuang out of the Royal Court's main 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 through the imperial garden before eventually stopping at a pavilion.

"Ding Hao, I have already finished drafting the battle report. It can be sent out tonight."

"Regarding your gathering of the four great military merits, I have placed special emphasis on it!"

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

As Luo Shenhuang spoke, she poured each of them a cup of wine.

"Mm!"

"Thank you for your favor, Army Lord. This cup is for you!"

Ding Hao lifted a cup of wine, tipped back his head, and drained it on the spot!

After all, he had worked for more than a month to gather the four great military merits and escape his death-row prisoner status. Now, his wish was finally about to come true!

Luo Shenhuang smiled and nodded, then also drained the wine in her cup!

Afterward, she asked, "Ding Hao, once you cast off your death-row prisoner status, you will be a free man. What plans do you have?"

"Plans? Not for now!"

Ding Hao shook his head.

With this Northern Expedition war over, he truly had no concrete plans yet!

If he had to name one, it would be to chop off Zhang Dalong's head and make that bitch Empress Xia Weiyang kneel on the ground and sing conquest!

At those words.

Luo Shenhuang's expression quietly turned grave, and her tone sank several degrees.

"Ding Hao, if you have no particular plans, I wish to promote you as the Divine Phoenix Army's new Army Lord. Are you... willing to accept this command?"