427: Chapter 362: Conferment Ceremony, the Youngest Colonel in History

Dawn at the Iron Wall Fortress brought no sunlight.

The sky at the edge of the Chaos Star Domain was forever a pale gray, and the glimmer of Chaos energy flickered in the Void Realm like dying fireflies. On the fortress walls, patrolling soldiers were wrapped in heavy runic armor to resist the erosion of Chaos energy. Their faces were etched with exhaustion, but their eyes remained sharp—here, laxity meant death.

Lin Zhou stood by the window of the command tower, staring at the Chaos rift that traversed the Void Realm in the distance, remaining silent for a long time.

It had been three days.

He had been at the Iron Wall Fortress for three days and had yet to officially take office. The military's commissioning ceremony was set for this morning at the Seventh War Zone Headquarters—a giant fortress suspended in the Void Realm. The Marshal would personally preside over it, and representatives from all major legions would be in attendance.

“Captain, it's time to go.” Qin Qing pushed the door open and entered, holding a brand-new Colonel's uniform in her hands.

The uniform was deep blue, with three gold stars embroidered on the epaulettes—Colonel. At the chest, a space was reserved where the Legion Commander's badge would be pinned.

Lin Zhou turned around, looked at the uniform, and fell silent for a moment.

“Qin Qing, do you think I'm worthy of this Rank?”

Qin Qing was stunned for a moment, then she smiled.

“Captain, you are twenty-two years old, the champion of the All-Universe Academy Championship, the MVP, and the pioneer of the Way of Civilization. If you aren't worthy, who is?”

“I'm not talking about strength.” Lin Zhou shook his head. “I'm talking about responsibility.”

He walked to the window and pointed at the Chaos rift in the distance.

“There, Chaos Beasts rush out every day, and soldiers die every day. The Iron Wall Fortress has a full complement of five thousand men, but now only one thousand two hundred remain. Three thousand eight hundred people died there.”

“And I am about to become their Legion Commander.”

“Can I lead them back alive?”

Qin Qing fell silent.

She knew that Lin Zhou wasn't asking her, but himself.

“Captain, you weren't like this before.”

“Before?”

“Before, you never doubted yourself. No matter how strong the opponent was, you would say ‘we can win.’ Now, you've started to doubt.”

Lin Zhou was taken aback.

“Maybe it's because before, what was lost was just a match, but now, what's lost is life.”

“Then don't lose.” Qin Qing walked up to him and handed him the uniform. “Captain, isn't your Way of Civilization meant to let more people live?”

Lin Zhou looked into her eyes, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly nodded.

“You're right.”

He took the uniform and changed into it.

The uniform fit perfectly, as if it were tailor-made for him. A faint runic glow flowed over the deep blue fabric, capable of resisting attacks below Mid-Tier Divine Power. The three gold stars on the epaulettes shone brightly in the pale gray light.

Qin Qing took a step back and looked at him, a flash of admiration in her eyes.

“Captain, you look very good in military uniform.”

Lin Zhou did not answer, but simply pinned the Legion Commander's badge of the Civilization Guardian Legion to his chest.

The badge was dark gold, engraved with the river of civilization surrounding the Hundred Schools Temple.

[Civilization Guardian Legion · Badge]

- Designer: Lin Zhou

- Pattern: river of civilization (pale gold) surrounding the Hundred Schools Temple (iridescent)

- Meaning: The Way of Civilization flows long and far; the Hundred Schools of Thought encompass all things

- Material: Astral Alloy + tempered by the Fire of Civilization

- Properties: Wearer's all attributes +5%, damage to Chaos alignment +10%

“Let's go.” Lin Zhou turned and walked out of the office.

Wang Meng was already waiting outside; he had also changed into his military uniform, with the Rank of Major on his epaulettes—Vanguard Commander.

“Captain, you look really sharp today,” Wang Meng said with a grin.

“Let's go, don't keep the Marshal waiting.”

The three of them boarded a shuttle and headed toward the Seventh War Zone Headquarters.

Seventh War Zone Headquarters, Commissioning Hall.

A hundred officers were gathered, with representatives from various legions standing in Formation. They wore military uniforms of different colors, with Ranks ranging from Major to Lieutenant General. In the front row were seven Legion Commanders, each of whom was a being of high-tier divine power or higher.

In the center of the hall was a high platform. On the platform, General Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, a giant star map behind him marking every fortress and every defensive line of the Seventh War Zone.

As Lin Zhou entered the hall, everyone's eyes turned toward him.

There was curiosity, scrutiny, expectation, and also disdain—a twenty-two-year-old Colonel, on what grounds?

Lin Zhou remained unfazed, walked to the front of the platform, stood at attention, and saluted.

“Reporting to the Marshal, Lin Zhou reporting for duty.”

The Marshal looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

“Good.”

He turned and faced the crowd.

“Everyone, today we are holding a commissioning ceremony here. The recipient—Lin Zhou, a graduate of Xinghai University, champion of the All-Universe Academy Championship, and pioneer of the Way of Civilization.”

“With the approval of the Expeditionary Force Command, Lin Zhou is hereby granted the Rank of Colonel and appointed as the Legion Commander of the Civilization Guardian Legion.”

“Now, let the commissioning begin.”

Lin Zhou stepped onto the platform and knelt on one knee.

The Marshal took a ceremonial longsword from the tray beside him and lightly tapped it on Lin Zhou's shoulder.

“Lin Zhou, are you willing to fight for the Human Race, to fight for civilization, until your last breath?”

“I am.”

“Are you willing to protect everything of the Human Race, including life, dignity, faith, and civilization?”

“I am.”

“Are you willing to charge at the front on the battlefield, retreat at the rear, and never abandon a single comrade?”

“I am.”

The Marshal withdrew the longsword, took the Colonel's epaulettes from the tray, and personally pinned them on Lin Zhou.

“From this day forward, you are a Colonel Legion Commander of the Human Expeditionary Force.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lin Zhou stood up, turned, and faced the crowd.

Applause rang out from below the platform.

Some clapped, some remained silent, and some whispered among themselves.

A twenty-two-year-old Colonel was too young. The youngest officers present were at least thirty. The position they had spent decades to reach, this young man had achieved in only four years.

But no one dared to question it.

Because his achievements were right there for all to see.

After the commissioning ceremony, the Marshal called Lin Zhou alone into his office.

“Sit.” The Marshal pointed to the chair opposite him.

Lin Zhou sat down.

The Marshal looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke: “Lin Zhou, do you know why I placed you at the Iron Wall Fortress?”

“Because it is the most dangerous place, and the best place to test the Way of Civilization.”

“Not entirely.” The Marshal shook his head. “Because the previous Legion Commander of the Iron Wall Fortress was my son.”

Lin Zhou was stunned.

“Your son?”

“Yes.” The Marshal nodded, a flash of sorrow in his eyes. “His name was Former Vice Commander Zhao Tiebi, and the Iron Wall Fortress was named after him. Three years ago, he led his army deep into the Chaos Star Domain, encountered a Chaos Beast King, and his entire army was wiped out. His divinity was devoured by the Chaos Beast King, and not even his body was left behind.”

“Since then, the Iron Wall Fortress has become a 'cursed' fortress. No one is willing to serve there, and those who go don't stay long. In three years, it has gone through seven Legion Commanders—they either died in battle or applied for a transfer.”

He looked at Lin Zhou: “You are the eighth.”

Lin Zhou fell silent.

“Are you afraid?” the Marshal asked.

“No.” Lin Zhou shook his head. “But I feel the pressure.”

“Pressure is a good thing.” The Marshal nodded. “With pressure comes growth.”

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the starry sky outside.

“Lin Zhou, I don't expect you to eliminate all threats in the Chaos Star Domain. I only hope that you can hold the Iron Wall Fortress and ensure it never falls again.”

“I will.”

“Good.” The Marshal turned around and took a document from his drawer. “This is your legion's organization and supply quota.”

Lin Zhou took the document.

[Civilization Guardian Legion · Organization]

- Legion Commander: Lin Zhou (Colonel)

- Deputy Legion Commander: TBD

- Vanguard Commander: Wang Meng (Major)

- Judge Advocate: Qin Qing (Major)

- Authorized Strength: 5,000 men (Current: 1,200 men)

- Supply Quota: Basic (Self-supplementation required)

- Station: Iron Wall Fortress

“The authorized strength is five thousand, but currently there are only one thousand two hundred,” the Marshal said. “The remaining three thousand eight hundred people need to be recruited by you.”

“Where do I recruit from?”

“From the entire army, from the civilians, from anywhere,” the Marshal said. “As long as they are willing to follow you and willing to guard the Iron Wall Fortress, you can recruit them.”

“Understood.”

“Also,” the Marshal added, “your legion can have its own badge, flag, and slogan. The military will not interfere.”

“Thank you, Marshal.”

“No need for thanks.” The Marshal waved his hand. “Go, your legion is waiting for you.”

Lin Zhou stood up, saluted, and turned to leave.

Exiting the office, Qin Qing and Wang Meng were waiting outside the door.

“Captain, how was it?” Wang Meng asked eagerly.

“The authorized strength is five thousand, but we only have twelve hundred now. The rest, we need to recruit ourselves.”

“Where from?”

“From the entire army, from the civilians, from anywhere.”

Qin Qing frowned: “Recruit from civilians? Can ordinary people who haven't received military training go to the battlefield?”

“They can.” Lin Zhou nodded. “The Way of Civilization doesn't require them to be exceptionally strong. It only requires them to be willing to protect.”

He looked into the distance, where there was a barracks housing soldiers drawn from various legions—those were the basic forces assigned to the Civilization Guardian Legion by the military.

“Come, let's go meet our soldiers.”

Iron Wall Fortress, Drill Grounds.

Twelve hundred soldiers stood in Formation, waiting for their new Legion Commander.

Their faces showed expectation, doubt, and numbness.

They had gone through seven Legion Commanders in three years, each of whom had vowed to lead them to victory, only to either die in battle or flee. They no longer believed in any 'new official.'

Lin Zhou stepped onto the reviewing stand, looked at those tired, weathered faces below, and fell silent for a moment.

Then, he spoke.

“My name is Lin Zhou, twenty-two years old, champion of the All-Universe Academy Championship, and the pioneer of the Way of Civilization. From today on, I am your Legion Commander.”

Below the stand, it was dead silent.

“I know you don't believe in me. Seven Legion Commanders in three years, and every one of them has disappointed you. You are tired, weary, and you don't want to believe in anyone anymore.”

“But I still have to say—I will lead you back alive.”

Someone sneered.

“On what grounds?” an old soldier shouted. “Because you're twenty-two? Because you won a championship? This isn't a tournament arena, it's a battlefield! Have you ever killed a Chaos Beast? Have you ever seen a comrade die in your arms?”

Lin Zhou looked at the old soldier, not angry, but simply saying calmly: “I have never killed a Chaos Beast, and I have never seen a comrade die in my arms. But, I stayed in the Chaos Star Domain for ten years.”

Below the stand, an uproar broke out.

“Chaos Star Domain? Ten years? How is that possible?”

“He's lying, right?”

“The time flow inside the Chaos Star Domain is different from the outside world; ten years inside is one year outside,” Lin Zhou continued. “There, I found the ruins of the previous Universe, the Legacy of The Transcendent, and the source of the Fire of Civilization.”

He raised his hand, and a wisp of transparent flame emerged in his palm.

The flame was not large, but it was warm and steady.

“This is the Fire of Civilization. The Transcendent of the previous Universe used it to ignite civilization. Today, I use it to ignite you.”

The flame left his palm and drifted toward the crowd below.

The flame floated past every soldier, its warm light shining on their faces.

Some people wept.

Not out of sadness, but—moved.

They felt it, the conviction contained within that flame—civilization never dies, the torch is passed on.

“From today on, you are no longer a ragtag group of soldiers. You are members of the Civilization Guardian Legion.”

“Your mission is not to go to your deaths, but to—live.”

“Live, and hold the Iron Wall Fortress.”

“Live, and pass on the Fire of Civilization.”

Below the stand, the old soldier who had sneered was the first to raise his hand.

“Legion Commander, I'm with you!”

Following him, a second, a third, a fourth...

Twelve hundred hands were raised simultaneously.

Lin Zhou looked at them, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

“Good. From today on, we are family.”

Three days after the commissioning ceremony, the Civilization Guardian Legion began intense preparations for war.

Lin Zhou divided the twelve hundred soldiers into three parts—the Vanguard Battalion (commanded by Wang Meng), the Law Enforcement Team (commanded by Qin Qing), and the Logistics Group (temporarily held concurrently by Lin Zhou). Every day, from dawn until late at night, they engaged in training, drills, and tactical simulations.

[Civilization Guardian Legion · Training Data]

- Average Soldier Rank: LV150 (Faint Divinity)

- Average Combat Power: Can individually confront a LV200 Chaos Beast

- Team Coordination: 65% (Continuously improving)

- Way of Civilization Acceptance: 80% (Some soldiers have begun studying the Hundred Schools of Thought)

Lin Zhou also recruited a group of graduates from Xinghai University to join the legion. Most of them were members of the Hundred Schools Society and had a deep understanding of the Way of Civilization. Their addition greatly increased the 'civilization concentration' of the legion.

[New Recruits · Data]

- Number: 300 people

- Average Rank: LV200 (Initial Stage of Lesser Divinity)

- Specialties: Civilization Research, Formation Deployment, Mechanical Control, Medical Treatment

- Source: Xinghai University Hundred Schools Society

One month later.

The Civilization Guardian Legion reached its full strength of five thousand men.

Five thousand people, coming from different Star Domains, different races, and different divine realms.

But they had one common goal—to hold the Iron Wall Fortress.

Lin Zhou stood by the window of the command tower, looking at the soldiers drilling on the grounds, a warm current rising in his heart.

“Captain, what are you thinking about?” Qin Qing walked over.

“Thinking about whether five thousand people is enough.”

“It's not enough.” Qin Qing shook her head. “But we will slowly grow stronger.”

“Maybe.”

Lin Zhou looked toward the Chaos rift in the distance.

In the rift, the Chaos energy was surging even more violently.

His intuition told him that a great war was coming.

“Pass down the order: the entire army is to enter first-level combat readiness.”

“Yes, sir!”

Qin Qing turned and left.

Lin Zhou watched her back, fell silent for a moment, and then looked at the legion badge on his chest.

The river of civilization, surrounding the Hundred Schools Temple.

“The Way of Civilization starts here.”