The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 262 Bestowing Armor
Wang E naturally had no idea that Ding Lin's previous actions were out of desperation due to his lack of funds. After thinking about it, he could only attribute it to Ding Lin's sudden enlightenment.

Tianpeng Temple, Tianpeng's official residence.

Ding Lin pondered quietly the intention behind Tianpeng's arrangement of this position. It seemed to be an important appointment, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't; it was merely a sinecure. Tianpeng himself was a peak Golden Immortal expert; why would his residence need a mere Celestial Immortal to guard it? At most, it was just for show.

Perhaps there's another layer of meaning.

Ding Lin was parachuted in from above, and Tianpeng didn't know him very well. Placing him in his own residence would make it easier to observe him.

If it can be used, then use it.

If they were carrying some other ulterior motive, keeping it under my nose wouldn't cause any trouble.

Ding Lin guessed that the latter reason might be the main one, but in any case, if your boss is still willing to give you a chance and evaluate you, then things haven't gotten to the worst yet.

Outside the hall, the fluctuations of the restriction vanished in an instant, indicating that Wang E had already left the camp. Thus, those remaining inside the hall were all their own people, and there was no need for further restraint.

At least that's what Wang Yu thought.

"marshal!"

Wang Yu suddenly knelt on one knee and paid his respects with great ceremony. His personal guards and the silver-armored captain behind him also followed suit, and everyone in the hall lowered their heads in unison.

"Wang Yu, the Emperor Wenchang has recommended you, and the Great Heavenly Venerable has bestowed his seal upon you. What are your opinions?" Tianpeng asked, his voice neither hurried nor slow.
"This humble general dares not," Wang Yu knew all too well that things were beyond saving, but he was still unwilling to give up. He turned to Ding Lin and said, "It is only the matter of guarding the Marshal's Mansion that this humble general feels is inappropriate. Our men have risked their lives with the Marshal, and now that the Marshal needs someone by his side, instead of choosing from so many men, we are using a newcomer, Jin Lin, the deputy general. This humble general thinks that this will probably discourage our men."

"Oh, then what do you, General Wang, think we should do?"

Tianpeng said, his tone seemingly unchanged, yet it conveyed immense pressure.

“Deputy General Jin, if you want to protect the Commander’s Mansion, you must first prove yourself. Now that you’re in the army, martial arts should be the deciding factor. A contest of skills is the proper way. I won’t bully you, and I won’t personally intervene. It’s this Silver Ring Commander behind me. If you can defeat him, today’s matter will be over!” Wang Yu said. The commander behind him remained silent, his gaze towards Ding Lin full of provocation.
Tianpeng remained silent, turning his scrutinizing gaze to Ding Lin.

"Marshal," Ding Lin bowed to Tianpeng, ignoring Wang Yu, "I wonder where I should collect my golden armor, and when those fifty personal guards will be assigned. I can only take up my post after I change my armor and take command."

Seeing that Ding Lin ignored him, Wang Yu's eyes flashed with anger. "Marshal," he began to say something, but was interrupted by Tianpeng raising his hand.

Tianpeng waved his hand again, and a burst of spiritual light shone in his palm. He unleashed a burst of magical power towards Ding Lin. Ding Lin's eyes flickered, but he did not dodge. The next moment, a set of golden armor appeared from his feet up, covering his crimson robe. At his waist, spiritual light flashed, and a jade seal hung on a silk sash.

“Those fifty men… Silver Ring,” Tianpeng looked at the captain, “will be drawn from your command. I remember you have always disliked Xin Jia, so take fifty men from his hundred-man squad and assign them to Vice General Jin. Xin Jia will also be transferred over to serve as the captain of the personal guard.”

"Thank you, Marshal!" Ding Lin bowed.

"Marshal!" Yin Huan looked unwilling, but when he raised his head and met Tian Peng's eyes, his courage deflated again. He gritted his teeth, "This humble general... obeys!"

With another wave of his hand, Tianpeng produced a jet-black military token in Ding Lin's palm.

"Vice General Jin, go and muster the troops now. Take up your post today," Tianpeng said. "Your subordinate obeys!" Ding Lin saluted, took a few steps back, and turned to walk out of the hall.

"Coward, you don't even have the courage to fight me!" A deep voice rang out, squeezed out from between his teeth, full of sarcasm. It was Silver Ring; he finally couldn't hold back his anger.

Ding Lin remained calm, not even glancing at Yin Huan, and walked past him out of the main hall.

"Marshal, please forgive him. Yin Huan was just in a fit of anger and that's why he talked nonsense!" Wang Yu pleaded.

"Nonsense? Pshaw!" Tianpeng repeated lightly, then suddenly sneered, his voice turning cold. "Indeed, it's nonsense. It's all because of this deputy general position. I never knew that in my Heavenly River Navy, duties could be privately bestowed upon each other. You really have a lot of nerve! What, you were so useless back then, failing to cultivate into celestial immortals, and now you want to steal someone else's peaches, with such a self-righteous attitude? Truly shameless!"

Wang Yu dared not utter a sound.

"Yinhuan has offended her superior and spoken disrespectfully. She is hereby demoted to centurion and given three hundred lashes as a warning to the entire army!" Tianpeng waved his hand, and two heavenly soldiers came over and took Yinhuan away.

"Disperse!" Tianpeng said. He paced a few steps, sat back in the main seat, and closed his eyes.

Wang Yu wanted to plead for him again, but seeing Tianpeng's appearance, he opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He stood up, gritted his teeth, flung his hand away, and left the main hall.

In the hall, only Tianpeng remained. He opened his eyes, but there was no trace of anger in them. He had been a marshal for countless years, and his skills in managing subordinates were naturally already superb. Although he loved his soldiers like his own children, he would not tolerate his subordinates' arrogance based on their achievements. As for his methods, they were nothing more than rewards and punishments, division and disintegration, and winning over and suppressing them.

In this world where great power belongs to itself.

In fact, as long as one's magical power level remains superior, the authority of the superior can be maintained.

However, Tianpeng has not made any progress for a long time.

……

Ding Lin, clad in golden armor, used his military tally to summon fifty men from the camp. Guided by Xin Jia, he headed towards the Tianpeng Temple. As he passed the plaza in front of the main hall, the dull thud of military batons striking down echoed. Yin Huan gritted her teeth, remaining silent. Seeing Ding Lin pass by, the surrounding heavenly soldiers glared at him angrily.

Beside him, Xin Jia seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Ding Lin remained indifferent and noncommittal. He felt that the fight was completely unnecessary. It was originally his property, and only a fool would be willing to fight over it after being provoked by a few words.

As for engaging in verbal sparring, there's even less need for that. Just as Wang Yu and Yin Huan can't do anything to Ding Lin right now, Ding Lin can't do anything to them either. Both sides can only remember each other and wait for an opportunity to use their own methods.

Sometimes becoming enemies is that simple; in a struggle for interests, no reason is needed at all.

While Tianpeng appeared to be fair and protected Ding Lin, he was actually exacerbating the conflict.

(End of this chapter)