A cold snort, like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploded without warning deep within everyone's soul.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an immense power, instantly silencing all the noise and distractions in the square.
Immediately afterwards, under the gaze of countless horrified eyes, the space above the platform was brutally torn apart by an invisible giant hand.
A crack appeared out of nowhere, and a long, powerful hand covered in streamlined silver arm armor emerged from it with lightning speed.
With a swift movement, he grabbed both the silk scroll and the official seal in his hand.
Just then, the clear sky was instantly covered by dark, heavy clouds.
Above the sky, the thick clouds churned violently as if stirred by an invisible giant hand.
The stirring sound of war drums grew louder and louder as they approached from afar, each beat striking the hearts of the crowd and causing their blood to surge.
Lin Yu looked up at the sky in surprise.
He never harbored any greed; what rank is considered high enough?
As long as one holds a celestial position, one can achieve immortality through cultivation.
But the commotion at this moment was indeed somewhat unexpected.
The onlookers also looked up in surprise.
Within the churning clouds, a neat and solemn troop of celestial soldiers, gleaming in armor and armed with spears, had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.
Their formation was imposing and filled with murderous intent. Although they did not shout, the tangible aura of their military formation made the cultivators in the plaza below feel breathless and their Primordial Spirit tremble.
At the very front of the army formation, a figure stood out prominently.
He wore a bright silver chainmail, covered with a pale yellow floral robe, a three-peaked phoenix hat, and gold-embroidered boots. His face was handsome and imposing, with a vertical line between his eyebrows that appeared and disappeared intermittently, and his divine light was restrained.
Even disregarding the three-pointed, double-edged sword in his hand, his imposing and domineering demeanor already revealed his identity.
At his feet stood a magnificent greyhound, its eyes gleaming like lightning, exuding a primal aura, its head held high, baring its teeth and growling at those below.
It was none other than the Perfected Lord of Pure Source and Wondrous Way, the Manifesting Sage Benevolent King, Erlang, the Illustrious Sage and True Lord, who obeyed orders but not decrees and whose might shook the Three Realms.
Yang Jian!
The True Lord's gaze was cold as he swept over the brocade letter and official seal in his hand, his eyes filled with disdain.
Without the slightest hesitation, he tossed the imperial edict upwards, back to where it came from.
This action was clearly seen by the crowd below; the yellow Heavenly Court edict was casually discarded by him.
This action was not merely a simple act of disobeying the imperial decree, but a blatant and open trampling of the Heavenly Court's authority.
His cold gaze fell upon Lin Yu, who looked on in surprise.
"The Heavenly Court is unjust, but justice will prevail."
Yang Jian's voice, clear and majestic, resounded throughout the surrounding area like the clinking of gold and jade. "Since you regard the merit of saving the world as nothing, then you might as well not have this celestial position and divine status!"
He paused, a sharp glint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and continued, "Indeed, merit must be rewarded, and demerit must be punished."
"Your merits are witnessed by Heaven and Earth. Since the Heavenly Court is stingy and refuses to grant you the position you deserve, then today, I will bestow rewards upon you on Heaven's behalf!"
After speaking, Yang Jian pointed his right hand, fingers forming a sword shape, and pointed it at Lin Yu was shrouded in golden light below.
"Imperial Edict!"
A single command is given, and the law follows!
In an instant, the nature of the golden light enveloping Lin Yu changed drastically, transforming into a dazzling coronation golden light.
Lin Yu's brand-new purple Heavenly Master's robe rippled in the golden light.
The purple faded, replaced by a bright silver sheen.
A bright silver chainmail, similar in style to Yang Jian's, quickly covered Lin Yu's entire body.
The armor plates were finely detailed, flowing with a faint runic glow; the shoulder guards, arm guards, and skirt armor were all complete, making it look imposing.
The Phoebe crown on his head was transformed into a simpler and more imposing silver crown for binding his hair.
At the same time, Lin Yu felt a weight in his hand. Looking down, he saw golden light gathering, and a three-pointed, double-edged sword with a cold, sharp light and an ancient, grand design was in his grasp.
The blade was adorned with coiled dragon patterns, and its edge exuded a sharp aura capable of destroying evil spirits. Although it was not as powerful as the divine weapon that Yang Jian had wielded for many years, it was still extraordinary.
Furthermore, a black array flag, over ten feet tall, appeared out of thin air behind Lin Yu, moving and fluttering without wind.
The flag depicted a chaotic starry sky, with a general's star faintly twinkling in the center, echoing the silver armor he wore.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Yu transformed from a promising Heavenly Master preparing to be bestowed the title of Celestial Master into a majestic general clad in silver armor and helmet, wielding a divine weapon and carrying a banner on his back.
The audience gasped in shock at Lin Yu's appearance.
His heroic bearing and extraordinary demeanor even bear a slight resemblance to Yang Jian, who is said to be from the clouds!
"Now that you have entered my Guanjiangkou, you shall assume a military post under my command."
Yang Jian's voice rang out again, carrying the solemnity of a formal investiture. "I hereby appoint you as General of Manifest Martial Prowess of Guanjiangkou, temporarily commanding three thousand Grass-Head Gods, awaiting your orders, guarding this region, and sweeping away evil!"
As Yang Jian finished his investiture ceremony, strange phenomena reappeared in the sky.
The golden light enveloping Lin Yu suddenly expanded, transforming into a bridge of light that connected heaven and earth, directly guiding Lin Yu, who had completed his transformation, from the ground plaza to the front of the cloud army formation, landing precisely half a step behind Yang Jian.
Lin Yu stood on auspicious clouds, clad in silver armor, wielding a three-pointed, double-edged sword, with a general's flag fluttering behind him.
The little fox on his shoulder and the boy remained firmly in place, unaffected.
When Lin Yu's figure solidified completely before the cloud army formation, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yang Jian...
Below, countless pairs of eyes were filled with utter shock.
Above them stood three thousand Grass-Head Gods, their armor gleaming and their murderous aura soaring to the heavens!
The three thousand Grass-Head Gods moved in perfect unison, slamming their weapons into the ground with a deep, unified boom.
Immediately afterwards, they all knelt on one knee, facing the newly appointed General of Manifest Martial Prowess, Lin Yu, their heads bowed, and with all their might, they let out a roar like a thunderclap:
"Greetings, General!!!"
"Greetings, General!!!"
"Greetings, General!"
Three shouts rang out in unison, each one louder than the last.
The sound waves were like a real shockwave, shaking the sky and scattering the remaining clouds!
That overwhelming military might, soaring killing intent, and unwavering will, along with the shout, soared to the heavens and echoed between heaven and earth.
At this moment, all the demons and monsters lurking in the world, those with even a slightly stronger spiritual sense, felt their minds shake violently and their livers and gallbladders chilled to the bone, as if they were being pointed at by an invisible sword of heavenly might. They all cowered and hid, not daring to show their faces.
Even the highly skilled patriarchs and Heavenly Master on Maoshan Square below felt breathless and their Primordial Spirit swayed in the face of this pure and powerful military might, their hearts filled with indescribable awe.
"Senior, senior brother, did you see it? Did you see it...!" Four Eyes was at a loss for words, almost unable to catch his breath due to anxiety.
"Calm down, calm down," Yixiu helped the agitated Four Eyes calm down.
"I see, the child has become successful."
No matter how calm and collected Uncle Nine was, he couldn't help but shed tears in the face of this situation.