Inside the grand auditorium, crystal chandeliers illuminated the entire space as bright as day, with beams of light filtering through the carved dome, weaving intricate patterns of light on the carpet.The stage backdrop featured the black and gold of the Imperial Army flag, with the eleven gilded characters “Demon Suppression Abyss Battle Commendation and Award Ceremony” standing out prominently.The hall was packed, a solemn sea of black military dress uniforms interwoven with the gleaming silver of epaulets and ranks.The officers wore crisp, well-tailored uniforms with subtle patterns corresponding to their battle groups embroidered on their collars; their black sword scabbards had a matte finish, and their sword tassels hung motionless.Everyone sat in order according to their unit, all of them leaders of the battle groups stationed on the first layer of the Demon Suppression Abyss; some knew each other, but many were strangers to those beside them.Qin Tian sat in the front row, to the left, his black uniform fitting his figure snugly, the Crimson Gold Battle Group insignia embroidered on his cuffs, and the golden star of his Senior Colonel rank on his epaulet shining brightly under the lights; among the group leaders, who were at least Lieutenant Colonels, his rank was not the highest, but his seating position made him the focus of many gazes.As the electronic clock on the wall just passed three in the afternoon, Oriental Mountain, in a black marshal's uniform, walked onto the stage with steady steps, each one seemingly treading on everyone's heartstrings, making the already silent auditorium even more solemn.He scanned the audience, as if making eye contact with every soldier, and his voice, without unnecessary pleasantries, resonated throughout the hall with a power that pierced the heart:“The Demon Suppression Abyss campaign, lasting several months, saw all battle groups bravely fighting the enemy, building a barrier with their flesh and blood, and ultimately successfully sealing seven spatial passages, keeping the Demons at bay.”The image on the background screen suddenly changed, and a series of numbers appeared—a scrolling list of fallen soldiers' names, the number of Demon Sources destroyed, the total number of Demons killed—each number heavy and searing; many in the audience straightened their backs, some brushed their hands over their uniform lapels, their eyes flashing with remembrance and resolve.“Victory in war is never achieved by one person, but by the charge and perseverance of countless soldiers.” Oriental Mountain's tone softened slightly but became more solemn, “But we must not forget those heroes who stepped forward at critical moments and broke the deadlock with their own strength; we must not fail those meritorious individuals who won a turning point for the campaign with their courage and wisdom.”He raised his hand to signal, and two soldiers in black ceremonial uniforms walked onto the stage, carrying trays covered with red silk; on the trays were neatly arranged various medals—there was the “Iron Blood Medal,” symbolizing courage and steadfastness, with crossed swords and shields engraved on its silver surface, its edges gleaming with a cold metallic luster;There was the “Deep Blue Medal,” recognizing strategy, with lapis lazuli inlays as precise as star trajectories, reflecting a deep, ethereal glow under the lights;In addition, there were also the zijinghua medal, the Benevolent Heart Medal, and so on.And the central one was the “Imperial Radiance Medal,” established for those who had achieved outstanding merit—the main body of the medal was forged from rare crimson gold, with a pigeon's egg-sized orange-red fire opal set in the center, surrounded by twelve gilded wing patterns, the ends of which were adorned with tiny diamonds; even in the soft light, it radiated dazzling brilliance, even reflecting a golden glow onto the red silk on the tray's edge, instantly recognizable as the Empire's highest honor.“The theme of today's ceremony is but one—"Oriental Mountain's voice suddenly rose, his gaze sharp, his hand resting on the lapel of his uniform, as if touching the honor about to be bestowed: “To award heroes! To bestow upon those warriors who fought valiantly in the Demon Suppression Abyss, guarding the Empire's peace, the glory that belongs to them!”As his words fell, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall, the hems of black uniforms swaying gently with everyone's rising movements, forming an impassioned rhythm.Oriental Mountain's gaze fell on the roster of merits in his hand, his fingertips tracing the paper; each name he read carried a weighty significance: “First War Zone, White Tiger Battle Group Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Lie!”On the left side of the audience, a burly Lieutenant Colonel suddenly stood up, his black uniform making his shoulders and back appear even broader. As he strode onto the stage, the sound of his military boots on the carpet was exceptionally clear, his face bearing the steely resolve forged in battle.“During the defensive battle on the outskirts of the Rotten Swamp, Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Lie led the White Tiger Battle Group in a three-day stand, facing Demon charges ten times their number, personally leading the charge to slay seven Rank 6 Demon commanders; even severely wounded, he continued to command until reinforcements arrived.”Oriental Mountain's voice was solemn as he reached for the “Iron Blood Medal” from the tray, his fingertips touching the coldness of the silver medal, “Such bravery deserves the ‘Iron Blood Medal’ to honor his spirit!”Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Lie straightened his back and saluted; the moment the medal was pinned to the left breast of his uniform, the silver sword and shield emblem reflected the golden star of his epaulet, and a ripple of applause, a tribute to the fearless, spread through the audience.After Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Lie returned to his seat, Oriental Mountain continued to read: “Third War Zone, Vermillion Bird Battle Group Commander, Lin Zhou!”A lean-faced officer stood up, walking onto the stage with steady steps, a stark contrast to Lieutenant Colonel Zhao Lie's fierce demeanor, carrying the composure characteristic of a strategist.“During the operations in the Demonic Mist Zone, you saw through the Demons' ‘feint attack’ deception, reverse-engineered the distribution of Demon Caves, and devised an ambush strategy, annihilating a Demon Cave with minimal casualties. Afterwards, you instigated infighting among the Demons, ultimately successfully destroying a Demon Source.” Oriental Mountain picked up the “Deep Blue Medal,” the lapis lazuli glowing faintly under the lights, “Such strategic brilliance deserves the ‘Deep Blue Medal’ to showcase his ability!”Lin Zhou raised his hand to receive the medal, his fingertips gently tracing the star-track patterns; as he bowed in thanks, the applause from the audience held a touch more admiration for his wisdom.Next, several more officers successively came onto the stage—there was a commander who led a surprise attack on a Demon Source, tearing open the defenses with fierce courage, receiving the “Fierce Tiger Medal” and a company commander who calmly directed his unit in a Demon trap, leading his entire company to break through, receiving the zijinghua medal.There was also a military doctor responsible for battlefield medical care, treating the wounded despite the risk of demonic energy infection, who received the “Benevolent Heart Medal.”The medals on the tray gradually diminished, their silver and lapis lazuli gleam successively carried away, until finally, only the central “Imperial Radiance Medal” remained, its crimson gold and orange-red gemstone growing ever more dazzling under the lights, like a small sun suspended in mid-air.The atmosphere in the audience subtly shifted.Many commanders quietly adjusted their sitting postures, their previously tense backs relaxing slightly; as their gazes swept over the “Imperial Radiance Medal,” they showed a hint of relief—they knew their own merits, though contributing, were far from the level of “outstanding merit,” and their earlier expectations gradually settled into anticipation for the recipient.But a few still sat with straight spines, their eyes fixed on the center of the stage.The commander of the Lionheart Battle Group, seated to Qin Tian's right, unconsciously rubbed the lion-patterned dark embroidery on his uniform cuff; he had led his team to conquer two Demon Sources in the later stages of the campaign and believed his military achievements were outstanding.The commander of the Sirius Battle Group, diagonally behind, raised an eyebrow slightly; he had led his team to intercept the Demon main force and fought a Rank 7 Demon in the final sealing battle, allowing the sealing team to successfully complete the seal, secretly thinking he might be qualified to compete.Their breathing was lighter than before, their eyes filled with expectation, as if confronting the “Imperial Radiance Medal” across the distance, waiting for Oriental Mountain to call out their name.Qin Tian remained in his seat, his gaze on the “Imperial Radiance Medal,” his fingertips lightly tapping his knee, without much eagerness in his heart, only a calm before the dust settled.Oriental Mountain closed the roster of merits, his gaze sweeping the audience once more, his previously calm tone now carrying a touch more solemnity: “Next, we will present the highest honor of this campaign—the ‘Imperial Radiance Medal.’ ”These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake; the audience instantly fell silent, everyone's gaze converging on the crimson gold medal, even their breathing seemingly suspended.Oriental Mountain's gaze slowly swept across the entire hall, finally settling on Qin Tian in the front row; the roster of merits in his hand gently closed with a crisp click, yet it felt like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, carrying a power that penetrated the auditorium, echoing through every inch of space:“Sixth War Zone, Crimson Gold Battle Group Commander, Qin Tian!”These few words instantly stirred a silent ripple in the audience—some suddenly looked up, their eyes filled with shock; some's mouths curved upwards, not surprised by the choice; while those battle group commanders who had held expectations earlier now had stiff expressions, their gazes scanning around, seemingly searching for this Commander Qin Tian.Snap. Qin Tian slowly rose, his black uniform conforming to his tall figure, the Crimson Gold Battle Group insignia on his cuffs glowing faintly under the lights.He strode towards the stage, his military boots treading on the dark carpet, each step steady and powerful, without the slightest hint of panic, as if he had long anticipated this moment, yet still carrying reverence for the honor.Oriental Mountain raised his hand, picking up the “Imperial Radiance Medal” from the tray—the crimson gold forged medal radiated dazzling light under the stage lights, the pigeon's egg-sized orange-red fire opal gleamed like a burning star, twelve gilded wing patterns encircled it, tiny diamonds adorning the ends of the wings, as if even the air was dyed with a golden glow.He held the medal, his gaze solemn, his voice filled with respect for the meritorious warrior:“During the Demon Suppression Abyss campaign, Qin Tian led the Crimson Gold Battle Group to destroy eight demonic rifts and one Demon Source; with strategic brilliance, he instigated two Rank 7 Demon Kings to fight each other, ultimately beheading both; in the final sealing battle phase, Qin Tian, using his spatial abilities, completed the cross-domain teleportation of millions of troops within one hour, effectively intercepting the Demon invasion of Imperial territory; subsequently, when the sealing team failed, Qin Tian forcibly sealed the spatial passage with his personal treasure, and after the seal was completed, he reactivated the teleportation, safely withdrawing millions of troops.”The moment his words fell, the grand auditorium plunged into a brief silence, even breathing seemed to solidify.The next second, shock swept through the hall like a tide—those officers who had quietly questioned Qin Tian earlier now had their pupils constricted, instinctively straightening their backs.The commander of the Lionheart Battle Group's fingers, which had been rubbing the lion pattern on his cuff, suddenly stopped, his initial reluctance replaced by utter astonishment; the commander of the Sirius Battle Group even slightly opened his mouth, his gaze towards Qin Tian now completely devoid of any competitive thought, leaving only incredible awe.No one had expected that this young Senior Colonel's military achievements would be so profound—destroying eight rifts and one Demon Source was already a feat difficult for ordinary battle groups to achieve; to make two Rank 7 Demon Kings fight and kill each other, this strategic brilliance alone was enough to earn the Deep Blue Medal; not to mention teleporting millions of troops across the Demon Abyss, sealing the passage with his own treasure, and ensuring the safe withdrawal of the entire army.Any one of these achievements would be enough for a high-level medal; now, all of them rested on Qin Tian, leaving no room for refutation.Those who had harbored resentment earlier now felt their cheeks burning; when actual military achievements were laid bare before them, they immediately saw that behind this glory lay courage, wisdom, and responsibility far beyond ordinary people.The murmurs in the audience quietly turned into hushed exclamations of awe; everyone instinctively nodded, their gazes towards Qin Tian now completely devoid of doubt and dissatisfaction, leaving only profound admiration and heartfelt reverence—as if before them was not a young officer, but a towering mountain built of military achievements, inspiring awe and a willingness to look up.“Such outstanding merit, by resolution of the highest military council of the Qingmu Star Region, is hereby specially awarded the ‘Imperial Radiance Medal’ to Qin Tian, to commend his illustrious military achievements and to express the Empire's respect for a hero!”As his words fell, Oriental Mountain solemnly pinned the “Imperial Radiance Medal” to the left breast of Qin Tian's black uniform—the crimson gold medal and the golden star of his Senior Colonel epaulet shone brilliantly, instantly becoming the most dazzling presence in the entire hall.Qin Tian straightened his back, his right hand swiftly rising to his brow, performing a military salute that was standard to perfection. *Clap, clap, clap!* The applause from the audience erupted like thunder, more fervent than any before, forming a wave of tribute.The applause lasted for a long time, not ceasing even when Qin Tian lowered his arm and turned to acknowledge the audience; those gazes that had once held doubt were now transformed into fervent respect.Before the applause died down, Oriental Mountain raised his hand, gesturing for quiet; the commotion in the auditorium gradually subsided, and everyone's gaze once again focused on the center of the stage. He looked at Qin Tian, his eyes holding a hint of expectation, his voice still maintaining the solemnity and authority characteristic of the military command:“Furthermore, after deliberation by the highest military operational council, and in consideration of Qin Tian's outstanding contributions in the Demon Suppression Abyss campaign, in accordance with Article 7 of the ‘Imperial Military Rank Promotion Regulations,’ regarding ‘Exceptional Promotion for Special Military Merit,’ it is hereby officially announced: Qin Tian is promoted from the rank of Imperial Senior Colonel to the rank of Imperial Major General, with the appointment effective immediately!”“Boom—!”These words exploded like thunder, instantly causing a stir in the audience.Many officers suddenly straightened up from their seats, their faces filled with shock—the leap from field officer to general was already a significant milestone in a military career, but Qin Tian had bypassed Senior Colonel, directly promoting to Major General, which was extremely rare in the history of the Imperial military command.After a brief commotion, applause once again erupted in the auditorium, this time even more fervent and louder than before.No one questioned the rationality of this exceptional promotion; Qin Tian's military achievements were evident. He alone protected millions of Spiritual Energy User warriors and prevented billions of Demons from surging out of the spatial passages. Without him, the fourth spatial passage, which should not have appeared, would not know when it could be sealed, and who knows how many more warriors would have sacrificed their lives.This leap from Senior Colonel to Major General, placed on Qin Tian, not only did not seem abrupt but rather «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» made people feel it was “well-deserved.”“Major General.”Qin Tian's eyes flickered with a touch of emotion; in his previous life, a Major General would have been an unattainable figure to him, a presence he would only see in the news.And now, in just two short years, he had risen from a cannon fodder clone soldier to an Imperial Major General; the hardships, trials, and several tightrope walks of danger behind this glory were known only to him.“Major General Qin Tian.”Oriental Mountain's voice pulled him back from his thoughts; the Marshal himself took the Major General's epaulet from the ceremonial soldier—on the black epaulet base, intricately intertwined golden branch and leaf patterns were exquisitely three-dimensional, the edges of the leaves having a matte texture, and in the very center, a full golden star was set, exuding both cold authority and majesty under the lights.Oriental Mountain stepped forward, his movements steady and meticulous, unbuttoning Qin Tian's original Senior Colonel epaulet; the old epaulet was gently removed, and the new Major General epaulet fit snugly on the shoulder of his uniform, the golden branches and leaves encircling the golden star, complementing the crimson gold luster of Qin Tian's “Imperial Radiance Medal” on his chest, instantly adding a calm aura of a general officer to his entire attire.Qin Tian straightened his back, and the moment the epaulet change was completed, his right hand swiftly rose to his brow, performing a military salute that was standard to perfection.“*Clap!*” The applause from the audience erupted like thunder the moment the military salute concluded, sweeping through the entire grand auditorium.The applause continued for a long time, not ceasing.Qin Tian lowered his arm, looking straight ahead, his eyes filled with determination.The Imperial Radiance Medal and the Major General rank were not only an acknowledgment of his past military achievements but also a weighty responsibility—from now on, what he had to protect was the lives of more warriors, the territory of the Empire, and the peace of billions of citizens.

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