The shouts of the three thousand Grass-Head Gods mountain, and the roar of the sea gradually subsided, and the military might reached its peak.
Yang Jian, high above the clouds, did not keep his gaze fixed on the newly appointed General of Manifest Martial Prowess.
His divine eyes, which seemed to be able to see through the three realms and six paths, turned slightly and swept over the Heavenly Master in Maoshan Square below, whose breath was obviously unstable, whose face was ashen, and who was already swaying on the verge of collapse after presiding over the ceremony.
The Grand Heavenly Master just now sacrificed his life to prove Lin Yu's loyalty, burning his own essence.
Seeing that things had come to this point, his mind was in turmoil, and his foundation was unstable. A mouthful of blood welled up in his throat, but he forced it back down, and his face turned ashen.
Yang Jian was no ordinary man; he saw through their true intentions at a glance.
He frowned almost imperceptibly, as if a trace of pity arose in his eyes for the old cultivator who had saved the world but met such an end.
Although he harbored many grievances against the Heavenly Court and acted eccentrically, he had no ill feelings towards these righteous cultivators who upheld the orthodox tradition and protected the human world; in fact, he admired their integrity.
Thinking of this, Yang Jian no longer hesitated.
He didn't speak, but simply flicked his finger lightly towards the spot where the Grand Heavenly Master was below.
A tiny, pale golden light, imbued with vibrant life and supreme Daoist essence, flew from his fingertip, silent and swift as a streak of light, instantly traversing space and disappearing into the Grand Heavenly Master's brow.
The Grand Heavenly Master's body trembled violently!
He felt a gentle yet immense power surge into his body, like rain after a long drought, instantly nourishing his parched form.
It stabilized the teetering flame of the Primordial Spirit.
In just a breath or two, the ashen look on the Grand Heavenly Master's face vanished, replaced by a healthy rosy glow, and his listless aura quickly returned.
It's even more refined than during its previous heyday.
He looked up in astonishment at the silver-armored figure in the clouds, his eyes filled with disbelief, gratitude, and complex emotions.
After Yang Jian finished doing all this, he stopped looking down, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.
He turned to Lin Yu, who had already adapted to his new identity and was feeling the power of the silver-armored divine weapon, and his voice regained its previous calmness and authority.
"Now that this matter is settled, you will come back with me to cultivate. Do not disgrace the prestige of General of Manifest Martial Prowess."
Lin Yu also witnessed Yang Jian saving the Grand Heavenly Master with a flick of his finger, and his gratitude towards the True Lord grew even stronger.
He clasped his hands and bowed. "This humble general obeys!"
The True Lord did not say much, but stood there waiting.
Lin Yu understood instantly and gave the order, "Return!"
"Yes!" The three thousand Grass-Head Gods responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
The army marched out once more, amidst rolling dark clouds and the thunderous sound of war drums.
Yang Jian led the way, followed closely by Lin Yu. Their silver armor gleamed in the sun, their banners fluttering, and surrounded by three thousand elite warriors, they marched in a grand procession towards the mouth of the Guanjiangkou.
All that remained was the fading oppressive aura and a legend destined to be recorded in history.
Below, Maoshan Square.
The Grand Heavenly Master felt an unprecedented sense of comfort and stability within his body, and even benefited from the misfortune, as his Dao foundation became more condensed and profound than before.
He gazed at the direction of the now-vanished silver-armored army on the horizon, his heart filled with countless emotions.
He glanced at his fellow disciples around him, who were equally shocked and had different thoughts, and at the countless people below the stage who were still in a state of great shock.
Although today's events have been settled, with Lin Yu taken away by True Lord Erlang, the ordination ceremony is not officially completed.
At the very least, Maoshan and the righteous people of the world who witnessed the ceremony need a formal explanation and a conclusion that can appease their hearts.
Taking a deep breath, the Grand Heavenly Master perfectly merged the newly acquired vitality from the True Lord within his body with his own century of cultivation, and the Daoist aura around him once again became harmonious and majestic.
He stepped forward, his previously somewhat hunched body straightening ramrod straight. His voice, infused with pure magical power, clearly resonated throughout the entire plaza, silencing all whispers and excited gazes.
"Quiet!"
The two words acted like a stabilizing force, quickly silencing the noisy square.
The Grand Heavenly Master's gaze slowly swept across the entire hall, his face solemn, and he spoke in a loud voice:
"Lin Yu, a disciple of Highest Clarity, possesses unwavering Daoist resolve and immeasurable merit. During the cataclysmic calamity, he averted the collapse of the heavens, saved the common people, and established unparalleled achievements."
"Today, the Emperor has received his divine mandate. The Perfected Lord of Pure Source and Wondrous Way, the Manifest Benevolent and Erlang, the Illustrious Sage and True Lord, with their discerning eyes, recognize his merits and personally bestow upon him an imperial decree, appointing Lin Yu as the General of Manifest Martial Prowess of Guanjiangkou, leading three thousand Grass-Head Gods to guard this region and sweep away evil spirits."
Therefore--!
The Grand Heavenly Master raised his voice, speaking each word with unwavering resolve:
"Lin Yu, the 49th generation disciple of Maoshan, has completed the ordination ceremony, fulfilling his merits and receiving his divine duty!"
"From this day forward, Lin Yu's name shall be recorded in the register of immortals of Maoshan, and he shall enjoy the incense offerings of Maoshan for ten thousand generations. His merits and virtues shall be remembered forever!"
The Grand Heavenly Master's words cleverly incorporated True Lord Erlang's imperial decree into the scope of his divine duty, and emphasized that this was an opportunity brought about by Lin Yu's own merits.
This indirectly acknowledged the legitimacy of the True Lord's decree, providing everyone with an acceptable way out.
As the Grand Heavenly Master's resounding declaration fell, a brief silence was followed by an unprecedented uproar in the square.
"General of Manifest Martial Prowess, at the Guanjiangkou! Heavens, it really is that True Lord!"
"Did I hear that right? Erlang, the Illustrious Sage and True Lord, personally descended to the Lower Realm to bestow titles and rewards?!"
The sounds of discussion, exclamations of surprise, and envious glances mingled together.
"No wonder the Heavenly Court bestowed such a title... it turns out there really is a higher level of appreciation!"
"Personally instructed by the True Lord... how many people throughout history have received such treatment?"
The previous oppression caused by the Heavenly Court's reward has now been replaced by the shock and excitement brought about by this more legendary turn of events.
Despite lingering doubts and questions, the formidable reputation of True Lord Erlang and the awe-inspiring presence of his personal arrival were enough to overshadow everything else.
Meanwhile, at the Guanjiangkou, at the True Lord Erlang Temple.
Auspicious clouds swirled around, and an ethereal atmosphere filled the air.
This is not a temple in the ordinary sense, but a mysterious space independent of heaven and earth, with magnificent mountains and rivers, and spiritual and immortal energy so rich that it has become tangible, and spiritual liquid flows in the streams.
Lin Yu, clad in silver armor, stood solemnly outside an ancient stone pavilion.
This wasn't his first time here. Several years ago, when he first invited the gods, he was captured by the True Lord.
The same is true now.
However, this time he saw things much more clearly; every blade of grass and every tree was clearly visible to Lin Yu.
Yang Jian changed into simple casual clothes, stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion, gazing at the sea of clouds in the distance, Sky-Howling Hound, lay quietly at his feet.
"Your foundation is fairly solid, and your knowledge is diverse, but it lacks a systematic approach." Yang Jian did not turn around; his voice came calmly.
"Your merit in saving the world, bestowed by Heaven and Earth, is both your blessing and your burden."
"Merit can help you turn misfortune into good fortune and comprehend the Heavenly Dao, but it can also become a shackle on your further breakthrough, making you too reliant on external things and neglecting your own self-cultivation."
Lin Yu listened respectfully. "Please enlighten me, True Lord."
Yang Jian turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over Lin Yu: "General of Manifest Martial Prowess is not a nominal position."
"With your current cultivation level, you are more than capable of dealing with evil spirits in the mortal realm, but if you want to command the Grass-Head Gods... you are still far from sufficient."
He paused, then continued, "From this day forward, you will cultivate here."
"I will teach you the basic methods of the Eight-Nine Profound Art to temper your physical body Primordial Spirit."
"I will teach you some methods of using the Heavenly Eye to help you see through illusions. I will also teach you military formations and the art of using divine power, which you will need to comprehend on your own."
"Only when you can withstand a hundred moves from the combined forces of the Six Sages of Mount Mei without being defeated can you be considered to have the initial qualifications to truly exercise the authority of General of Manifest Martial Prowess."