496: Chapter 431: Outstanding Contribution, Promoted to Colonel Exceptionally

On the third day after Lin Zhou returned to the fortress from the deepest part of the Return to Ruins, the commendation order from High Command arrived.

It was not sent via a communication link, but rather delivered in person by Special Envoy Iron Face, who brought a dark gold medal and a commendation document stamped with the seal of High Command.

When Iron Face walked into the command center, Lin Zhou was planning the next phase of purification routes in front of the Star Map.

He looked up and saw the medal in Iron Face's hand—one he had never seen before. Its shape resembled a burning flame, with two ancient seal characters engraved in the center: "Civilization."

[Civilization Star Medal · Data]

- Grantee: Lin Zhou

- Reason: Penetrated the deepest part of the Return to Ruins, purified the anchor point of the Lord of Nothingness, delayed the awakening of the Lord of Nothingness, and annihilated the Void Apostles.

- Rank: Highest honor of the Expeditionary Force (Awarded for the first time).

- Medal Effect: Wearer's Civilization Affinity +50%, river of civilization level +5%.

"High Command specially approved this. This is the first time the 'Civilization Star' medal has been awarded since the founding of the Expeditionary Force." Iron Face pinned the medal onto Lin Zhou's chest. "At the same time, your military Rank has been promoted from Brigadier General to Major General. You were previously the acting commander, but now you are officially appointed as the commander of the Seventh War Zone."

[Lin Zhou · Military Rank Promotion]

- Original Rank: Brigadier General

- New Rank: Major General

- Position: Acting Commander of Seventh War Zone → Commander of Seventh War Zone

- Effective Date: Today

Lin Zhou looked at the second star newly added to his epaulets and was silent for a moment. "Wasn't it an exceptional promotion to Colonel? Why is it directly Major General?"

The corners of Iron Face's mouth curled up slightly. "The merit you achieved is enough for three promotions. High Command originally wanted to give you Lieutenant General, but considering your age and seniority, they lowered it to Major General. However, your benefits will be calculated as those of a Lieutenant General."

Lin Zhou did not decline. He took the commendation document and opened it. In addition to the Rank promotion and the medal, there was a long list of resource allocations—one million units of essence of order, one hundred Origin Stones of Space, and three thousand elite soldiers transferred from various war zones of the Expeditionary Force.

[Resource Allocation · Data]

- essence of order: 1 million units

- Origin Stones of Space: 100

- Transferred Soldiers: 3,000 (average Divine Power Rank LV500)

- Purpose: Expansion of the Civilization Guardian Legion, promotion of seed of civilization

"Three thousand people..." Lin Zhou mused.

"High Command hopes your Civilization Guardian Legion can expand to twenty thousand people within a year," Iron Face said. "Three years from now, the Lord of Nothingness will awaken, and we will need more Civilization Walkers."

"Twenty thousand is not enough."

"Then thirty thousand. If resources are not enough, apply for more."

Lin Zhou nodded. He put away the commendation document, walked out of the command center, and stood on the city wall. Qin Qing, Wang Meng, Su Yueyao, Chen Xuan, and Li Mo were already waiting for him.

"Brothers, High Command has given us one million units of essence of order, one hundred Origin Stones of Space, and three thousand elite soldiers." Lin Zhou looked at them. "Within a year, the Civilization Guardian Legion must expand to twenty thousand people. At the same time, the Fire of Civilization must cover every town in the New Universe."

"Twenty thousand..." Wang Meng grinned. "Captain, can we manage the training?"

"That is why I need you all to lead it." Lin Zhou looked at Qin Qing. "Qin Qing, you are responsible for the Legalist training of the new recruits. Holding Names Responsible for Reality and existential anchoring must be learned by everyone."

"Understood."

"Wang Meng, you are responsible for the School of Military tactical training. The new recruits come from different war zones, and their combat styles are different. You need to twist them into a single rope."

"Understood."

"Chen Xuan, you are responsible for the School of Names and School of Diplomacy training. Some of the new recruits may have doubts about the Way of Civilization; you need to persuade them."

"Understood."

"Li Mo, you are responsible for the technology. The reproduction of the seed of civilization needs to be accelerated, and the Justice Spark also needs improvement. Additionally, the space teleportation arrays must cover every town in the New Universe."

"Understood."

Lin Zhou looked at Su Yueyao. "Yue Yao, you are responsible for the coordination of the various races in the New Universe. The promotion of the seed of civilization requires the cooperation of all races."

Su Yueyao nodded. "Alright."

In the following days, the Civilization Guardian Legion entered a period of rapid expansion. Three thousand new recruits arrived one after another from various war zones, and combined with the original five thousand, the total troop strength reached eight thousand. Every day on the training grounds, new recruits practiced Holding Names Responsible for Reality, reciting their own names and the names of their comrades. The seed of civilization reproduced within the fortress, growing from ten thousand to fifty thousand.

[Civilization Guardian Legion · Expansion Progress (Three Months Later)]

- Total Troop Strength: 8,000 → 12,000

- Average Divine Power Rank of New Recruits: LV500 → LV550

- Proficiency in Holding Names Responsible for Reality: Average C Grade

- Quantity of seed of civilization: 10,000 → 50,000

Under the infusion of essence of order, the daily output of the civilization furnace increased from 25 million Divine Power to 30 million. Every purified corrupted ruin provided a steady stream of fuel for the furnace.

[civilization furnace · Daily Output (Three Months Later)]

- Current Daily Output: 30 million Divine Power

- essence of order Reserve: 1.2 million units

- Purified Ruins: 380

- Remaining Ruins: 20

The task of purifying the ruins was nearing its end. The last twenty sites were each remnants of Divine Kingdoms at the Mid-Tier Divine Power level, with extremely high levels of contamination, but Lin Zhou did not intend to go personally. He sent Wang Meng and Qin Qing to lead the teams, allowing the new recruits to gain experience in actual combat.

"Captain, you aren't going?" Wang Meng asked.

"You go. I trust you all."

Wang Meng grinned. "Alright!"

Qin Qing led the team and set off. All twenty ruins were purified within two months. The new recruits grew rapidly in actual combat, and their proficiency in the Fire of Civilization improved from C Grade to B Grade.

[Civilization Guardian Legion · Status (Five Months Later)]

- Total Troop Strength: 12,000

- Average Divine Power Rank: LV550

- Proficiency in Holding Names Responsible for Reality: Average B Grade

- Quantity of seed of civilization: 50,000 → 100,000

The one hundred thousand towns of the New Universe finally achieved full coverage of the seed of civilization. In the square of every town, a cyan-gold flame burned. One hundred thousand flames looked like a sea of stars in the night sky.

[New Universe · Fire of Civilization Coverage (Five Months Later)]

- Towns: Approximately 100,000, 100% coverage

- Quantity of sparks: At least one per town

- Fear Aura Offset Rate: 98% → 99%

The pulse from the depths of the Return to Ruins still occurred every seven days, but when it reached the New Universe, it was met with the resistance of one hundred thousand flames. The intensity of the pulse was decaying; although the countdown to the awakening of the Lord of Nothingness had been delayed by three years, its power was weakening.

One day, as Lin Zhou was studying the anchor point data of the Lord of Nothingness in his barracks, Su Yueyao pushed the door open and entered.

"Captain, the various races of the New Universe have elected you as the 'Co-Lord of Civilization'."

Lin Zhou was stunned for a moment. "What?"

"You purified the Return to Ruins, delayed the awakening of the Lord of Nothingness, and saved the New Universe. The various races feel that a unified leader is needed to coordinate the decisive battle three years from now. You are the only candidate."

"I do not need a title."

"The title is not for you; it is for them." Su Yueyao placed a token, jointly forged by representatives of all races, on the table. "With this, you can mobilize all resources of the New Universe. The decisive battle three years from now will require the power of the entire Universe."

Lin Zhou looked at the token, was silent for a moment, and then picked it up. "Alright."

[Co-Lord of Civilization · Authority]

- Source: Elected by all races of the New Universe

- Authority: Can mobilize all military, resources, and manpower of the New Universe

- Term: Until the decisive battle against the Lord of Nothingness ends

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside the window, on the fortress walls, soldiers were training. In the starry sky of the New Universe, one hundred thousand flames were burning.

"Three years from now, we will win."

Su Yueyao walked to his side and held his hand. "Mm."

Lin Zhou looked at the starry sky, the Fire of Civilization burning in his pupils.