Watching Su Qingxue get swallowed up by the researchers.
Lin Yuan decisively turned around.
The looks in those old scholars' eyes were too frightening, like starving wolves spotting fresh meat.
Lin Yuan did not dare meddle in this matter.
After escaping the hall.
Lin Yuan wandered around the Martial Arts Research Institute.
This was a core facility newly established by Dragon Country.
Cold metal walls and extremely stringent access controls were everywhere.
The patrolling personnel moving about were fully armed.
Even an inconspicuous surveillance camera in the corner emitted the faint glow of infrared scanning.
"The security level really is high."
Lin Yuan secretly clicked his tongue.
His sharp five senses could detect the heavy firepower concealed in the shadows.
Even a fly that entered would be instantly blasted full of holes.
In the blink of an eye.
Three days passed.
The talented martial artists and top scientists recruited from all across the country arrived in the Imperial Capital one after another.
The Martial Arts Research Institute's massive Underground Base fully began operating.
Assembly Hall Number Three.
Several hundred martial artists and researchers stood straight in place.
Ye Qingshan, Chu Tiankuo, Xiao Zhan, Song Qingyin...
Yet these martial arts prodigies all fixed their gazes on the figure standing at the front.
That was Lin Yuan.
He merely stood there casually, yet he was like an insurmountable mountain pressing down upon everyone's hearts.
Ye Qingshan lightly clenched his fists.
He had always considered himself exceptionally gifted.
But after watching the Shu Capital War Zone livestream, the pride he had once taken in had been shattered to pieces.
A Third-Tier Martial Artist!
He had single-handedly torn through the Fifteen-Hundred-Thousand Beast Tide!
"Lin Yuan!"
"I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"
Ye Qingshan silently swore to himself.
Lin Yuan's strength instead stirred up his fighting spirit.
Not far away, Song Qingyin's beautiful eyes also gleamed with a strange light.
She had always admired the strong.
In this mad era of Spiritual Energy Revival.
Only true powerhouses could control their own fates.
And Lin Yuan was undoubtedly the strongest person on Blue Star at present.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Just then.
A series of steady footsteps came from outside the hall.
The somewhat disorderly sounds of breathing instantly became uniform.
The doors opened.
An elderly man with a head full of silver hair walked in.
Elder Zhan!
The supreme general who commanded the three armed forces!
Everyone present saluted in unison.
Their movements were precise, and their voices boomed like thunder.
Elder Zhan stepped onto the podium and swept his gaze across the hall.
His weathered eyes held endless authority and expectation.
"Comrades."
Elder Zhan's voice spread through every corner of the hall through the microphone.
"I won't waste words."
"I gathered everyone here today mainly to announce three matters."
The entire hall was silent.
Everyone pricked up their ears.
Elder Zhan raised one finger.
"First."
"The Dragon Country Martial Arts Research Institute is officially established today!"
"I will personally serve as the institute's highest-ranking officer!"
The moment those words were spoken.
A storm of shock erupted in everyone's hearts below the stage.
Elder Zhan would personally take command?
This meant that the Martial Arts Research Institute had directly become Dragon Country's highest-level core institution!
No department would be able to interfere with its operations.
"The second matter."
"In recognition of your brave efforts in the previous seven Beast Tides to defend your homes and country."
"The nation will not forget your contributions!"
Elder Zhan raised a second finger.
His tone suddenly grew heavier.
A military officer beside him immediately stepped forward and unfolded a Red-Header Document.
"Major Ye Qingshan!"
"In the Changbai Mountain War Zone, you killed one Second-Tier Ferocious Beast and several hundred First-Tier Ferocious Beasts!"
"With the Supreme Headquarters' approval, you are promoted to lieutenant colonel!"
"Thank you, sir!"
Ye Qingshan took a sharp step forward.
He stood tall and gave a standard military salute.
Immediately afterward.
Names were called out one after another.
"Major Chu Tiankuo... promoted to lieutenant colonel!"
"Major Xiao Zhan... promoted to lieutenant colonel!"
"Major Song Qingyin... promoted to lieutenant colonel!"
The eyes of every prodigy whose name was called burned with fervor.
A promotion in rank represented a greater allocation of resources.
In this new era, resources meant strength!
Soon.
The officer turned to the final page of the document.
His voice involuntarily rose several octaves.
"Colonel Su Qingxue!"
"In the Taihang Mountains War Zone, you killed three Second-Tier Ferocious Beasts and over a thousand First-Tier Ferocious Beasts!"
"By unanimous resolution of the Supreme Headquarters."
"You are exceptionally promoted to major general!"
"And concurrently appointed chief adviser of the Dragon Country Martial Arts Research Institute!"
Boom!
A small commotion rippled through the crowd.
A major general!
Su Qingxue was only in her twenties!
In peacetime, earning general's stars at that age would have been nothing but a fool's dream.
But this was the eve of the apocalypse.
Military merit was everything!
Su Qingxue calmly stepped forward.
She had seen death often enough in her previous life. A major general's rank was not enough to make her lose composure.
Still.
She knew very well that this adviser title meant Dragon Country had completely accepted her identity as a reborn person and regarded her experience as a national treasure.
The officer took a deep breath.
His gaze turned to the young man standing at the very front.
"Colonel Lin Yuan!"
"In the Shu Capital War Zone, you killed one Peak Second-Order Stage Ferocious Beast!"
"You killed dozens of Second-Tier Ferocious Beasts and more than ten thousand First-Tier Ferocious Beasts!"
"With your own strength, you crushed the Fifteen-Hundred-Thousand Beast Tide!"
By the time the officer reached this point, his voice trembled uncontrollably.
This record was too terrifying.
It was simply like listening to a myth.
"By order of the Supreme Headquarters!"
"Lin Yuan is exceptionally promoted to major general of Dragon Country!"
"At the same time..."
"Lin Yuan is appointed commander-in-chief of the Martial Arts Research Institute Special Operations Team!"
The hall fell into deathly silence.
A pin could have been heard dropping.
Being made a major general was one thing.
After all, Su Qingxue had also been promoted to major general.
But commander-in-chief of the Martial Arts Research Institute Special Operations Team?
Did that not mean every martial artist in the Martial Arts Research Institute would have to obey Lin Yuan's commands?
What towering authority that was!
The looks all the talented martial artists gave Lin Yuan completely changed.
If they had previously revered his strength.
Then now, Lin Yuan had become their direct highest-ranking officer!
Ye Qingshan gave a bitter smile.
He had just foolishly dreamed of catching up to Lin Yuan.
Now it seemed he could barely even see the other man's taillights.
Lin Yuan walked forward with a calm expression.
"Lin Yuan."
"The burden is heavy. Can you bear it?"
Holding a pair of general's star epaulets, Elder Zhan walked up to Lin Yuan.
He personally fastened the epaulets onto Lin Yuan, then heavily patted his shoulder.
"Rest assured, sir."
"As long as I, Lin Yuan, still draw breath, Dragon Country will not fall."
Lin Yuan met Elder Zhan's eyes directly.
Those were not arrogant words.
They were the confidence granted to him by the Heaven Rewards Diligence System!
As long as he was given time, not to mention the Second-Tier and Third-Tier Ferocious Beasts before him.
Even the Eighth-Tier Ferocious Beast that had destroyed Blue Star in his previous life would still be skewered to death with a single spear.
Elder Zhan nodded in satisfaction.
He returned to the microphone and raised a third finger.
"The final matter."
The atmosphere in the hall instantly became grave to the extreme.
"Just three hours ago."
"After an emergency discussion, the nation's top leadership made a decision."
"Starting today, Dragon Country will fully open access to the Basic Breathing Technique."
"Extend it to all 1.4 billion people!"
As his words fell.
It was as though a nuclear bomb had detonated in everyone's minds.
Universal Martial Arts Practice!
Dragon Country was about to usher in a true new era!
"Spiritual energy is fully reviving."
"The Ferocious Beasts are evolving at a speed beyond imagination."
"The military alone cannot defend these vast lands."
"You are the first generation of martial artists, the sharp blades of Dragon Country."
"I hope you will cultivate diligently and always maintain your lead."
"If the chaos of a troubled age truly descends one day."
"You will be the pillars that suppress all unrest!"
Elder Zhan's voice rang out with force.
All the martial artists boiled with passion and roared in unison.
"Swear to defend Dragon Country to the death!"
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