125: Reward according to merit

Lu Ming retracted his gaze and didn't think much of it. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. If he could, he would rather gallop his horse to the Demon Suppression Division than endure this torment.

However, this was clearly not something he could control.

Amidst the cheers of the Silver Feather City populace, the mighty procession finally arrived before the Demon Suppression Division.

The team escorting the Hundred Weapons Sect Disciples departed through a side gate. The Demon Suppression Division was equipped with independent dungeons and personnel, so temporarily holding nearly two thousand captives was not a difficult task. The dungeons were already prepared; it was just a matter of preparing more food.

With more than half the personnel gone, everyone dismounted but did not disperse.

Along the way, Wu Mingjian had already given instructions: upon returning to the Demon Suppression Division, merits would be rewarded. Collective achievements did not need to be announced in such a setting; only those who had made outstanding contributions during the Hundred Weapons Sect operation would be on the merit list.

Although everyone had fought fiercely against the enemy on Qingfeng Mountain and then returned without stopping, they were extremely tired. However, the excitement of the impending rewards took precedence.

Upon hearing the news that the team sent to Qingfeng Mountain had returned victorious, everyone who was busy within the Demon Suppression Division gathered. As the group entered the Merit Hall of the Demon Suppression Division, many figures stood outside the door, almost blocking the entrance.

Although they had not participated in the attack on the Hundred Weapons Sect, they all understood the dangers involved. Even an Extremity Realm martial artist would find it difficult to protect himself. Those who could earn merits were the brave and daring individuals who were also lucky.

"Then let's begin!" Wu Mingjian sat grandly on the main seat. The previous heroic expression on his face was gone, replaced by a solemn gaze directed at everyone.

Looking at the Merit Hall, its decoration was different from other buildings in the Demon Suppression Division. The space inside was very open, with no other decorations apart from eight red-lacquered giant pillars that served as support.

Upon closer inspection of the red-lacquered giant pillars, one could see countless densely carved words. These were the names of all those who had achieved significant merits since the establishment of the Yun Province Demon Suppression Division.

Being engraved on them proved that the owner of that name had once shed blood, or even sacrificed their life, for the Demon Suppression Division.

After statistics were compiled for this operation against the Hundred Weapons Sect, only a little over thirty people were ultimately able to come to this Merit Hall. From thousands of people, these were selected, which was enough to prove the value of their achievements.

On both sides of the Merit Hall, several people from the internal treasury, holding wooden trays, stood respectfully. On the trays were various rewards, many of which were rare spiritual items.

"Wang Youcai, with an Initial Realm Perfection Cultivation, you slayed three Initial Realm Martial Artists and assisted in defeating the enemy. You are awarded one Minor Merit, one hundred taels of gold, one Profound Rank Medium Grade martial art manual, and three bottles of Spirit Pills for Cultivation!"

Beside Wu Mingjian, a man in black armor, holding the merit list, announced loudly.

Among the group, a young man with a bandaged shoulder walked forward joyfully. Although every step he took caused a tearing pain from his wound, he felt that it was all worth it after hearing the rewards.

The gains from this attack on the Hundred Weapons Sect were considerable, so Wu Mingjian was not stingy at all, almost distributing the majority of the spoils as rewards.

As each announcement was made, exclamations occasionally erupted outside the Merit Hall. Everyone looked with envy at those who received rewards for their merits, wishing they could take their place.

After all, anyone with ambition knew what it meant to enter the Merit Hall to receive awards. It wasn't just about these superficial rewards; the dedicated scribe also archived their merits, which would undoubtedly be of great help for future promotions.

For large-scale operations initiated by the Demon Suppression Division, rewards were systematically structured, generally divided into four levels.

Minor Merit, Medium Merit, Major Merit, and First Merit, with the rewards progressively increasing. Generally speaking, the Demon Suppression Division was never stingy with rewards, as everyone knew these were things earned by risking their lives. If the rewards were too little, in the next operation, the subordinates might develop some unnecessary thoughts, or even worse, avoid battle.

"Xing Zhentian, with Perfected Extreme Realm Cultivation, you slayed one Extremity Realm martial artist and severely injured another. You led your subordinates to break through the western path, killing and capturing hundreds of people. You are awarded one Medium Merit, one Profound Rank Extremity Grade martial art manual, ten bottles of Spirit Pills, and two thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ginsengs."

When Xing Zhentian's name was announced, he, with his absolute hard power, ranked first among the many Commanders. After receiving his rewards, his gaze fell upon Lu Ming.

Not just him, but everyone else also knew who the true protagonist of today was.

The Merit Hall was silent, but upon hearing that Xing Zhentian had only received a Medium Merit, a clamor arose, and everyone discussed animatedly.

"Commander Xing only received a Medium Merit? Logically speaking, in such a large operation, someone should have received a Major Merit!"

"Something seems off. It looks like the announcements aren't finished yet. Could someone have received an even greater merit?"

"That's not right! All the Commanders who participated in the Hundred Weapons Sect Cultivation Technique operation have already been rewarded. Lord Wu can't reward himself, can he?"

Just as everyone was wondering, the black-armored man began to announce loudly again.

And this time, his voice was noticeably much louder than before. With his profound True Qi, not only could it be heard outside the Merit Hall, but even further away.

"Lu Ming, with Perfected Extreme Realm Cultivation, you slayed two Extremity Realm martial artists, and at the peak of Qingfeng Mountain, you annihilated the Hundred Weapons Sect Leader Zhao Jiuzhou. You are awarded one Major Merit, ten Spirit Orbs, ten bottles of Spirit Pills, one Earth Rank Cultivation Technique, and the position of Commander, effective immediately."

As this voice echoed through the Merit Hall, although everyone had somewhat anticipated it, they still couldn't help but show expressions of emotion. They all knew very well what this meant; to say it was a meteoric rise would not be an exaggeration.

However, they also knew that Lu Ming indeed possessed this strength. At the very least, they didn't have the courage to stop the severely injured Hundred Weapons Sect Leader.

When the voice fell, the Merit Hall, both inside and out, was silent. At the main entrance, everyone, upon hearing the announcement, stared blankly. They looked at the figure standing before them, that terrifyingly young face making everyone feel a little dazed.

"That guy actually killed Zhao Jiuzhou!" A suppressed gasp rang out, as if awakening the silent crowd, and gasps of cold air followed one after another.

What those three characters, Zhao Jiuzhou, truly meant, those serving in the Demon Suppression Division were all extremely clear.

That was the current Sect Leader of the Hundred Weapons Sect, one of the few Dao Realm powerhouses in Yun Province. For the other party to kill Zhao Jiuzhou with Limit Realm Cultivation was simply inconceivable!