Cosmic Demon

Chapter 297 Flag and Sword, Heart of the Corrupted Sea!
Qin Shi gazed at the Great Star Sea Medal lying quietly in the box.

The eight-pointed star, crafted from deep-space metal, exudes a cold, eerie glow.

At the very center is a massive black dragon coiled around the columnar monument, its lines powerful, majestic, and noble.

The base of the monument is inscribed with four ancient Eastern Xia characters: "Civilization Endures Forever".

This is the Great Star Sea Medal that can only be awarded to "model soldiers" who have made a first-class merit and received the honor of first-class combat hero.

According to statistics, in every millennium since the founding of the new Eastern Xia, the number of these Great Star Sea Medals issued has never exceeded 100,000.

Considering the number of personnel in each major battle group, and the continuous recruitment of soldiers for the Great Expedition.

One hundred thousand Great Star Sea Medals are extremely rare when placed on a time scale of a thousand years and a spatial scale of the vast Milky Way.

You should know how many veterans served their entire lives and wore three gold buttons on their collars.

Even if you burn your life out, it's hard to even touch the edge of the Great Star Sea Medal.

First of all, the evaluation criteria for a first-class combat hero are very high, requiring "outstanding achievements, significant contributions and influence".

Among them, "outstanding achievements" must far exceed the general meaning of excellence and reach the level of "extraordinary excellence".

For example, in high-intensity warfare, proper command can annihilate or severely damage a large number of enemy troops, or destroy key targets independently, and capture high-value strategic objects, etc.

Furthermore, it involves striving to successfully complete strategic or tactical missions under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions.

Moreover, the evaluation and approval process for first-class combat heroes is very strict, requiring applications to be submitted at each level, with checks conducted at the brigade, regiment, and division levels.

Finally, approval is required from a unit at the level of a major war zone. If the impact is particularly significant, it may even need to be reported to the highest military command in the capital.

"Lieutenant Qin, in this millennium of Hengzhou Rising Stars, you are the twenty-sixth soldier to receive the Great Star Sea Medal."

Feng Wuyang took out the eight-pointed star medal from the box, stepped forward, and pressed it against Qin Shi's chest.

The cold metal was pressed against the heart through the fabric of the military uniform.

"If you were to consider your actual age, you would be the only 'combat hero' in Dongxia to receive this honor while still a minor."

Feng Wuyang had sharp eyes, but he spoke in a very low voice, so that only he and Qin Shi could hear him.

"Strive for progress in the East and keep the flame of civilization burning brightly."

Qin Shi lowered his head to answer. The moment he came into contact with the Great Star Sea Medal, a faint but clear sense of resonance came through him.

A certain will seemed to be imposed upon him, causing the traces of the Blood River Typhon's characteristics remaining on his body to suddenly contract inward, as if branded with a hot iron.

"The Order of the Great Star Sea contains a 'spark of civilization,' which is its most precious value besides honor."

Feng Wuyang said softly.

"Countless millennia ago, the universe was in chaos, and the Milky Way was dark. Only the flame of civilization could dispel the cold winter and ignite hope."

Qin Shi raised his right arm, his five fingers together, his fingertips touching his temple, and gave Feng Wuyang a perfect military salute.

He then turned and faced downwards, giving a solemn salute to the White Poplar Fortress and the Total War Zone broadcasting the live stream.

"You should thank me, boss."

Long Qiuyuan reminded him through his earpiece.

Qin Shi nodded subtly, his military boots taking a step forward, his steady voice carried through every corner of the Poplar Fortress City via loudspeaker.

There wasn't much excitement, only a steadfastness as firm as a rock:
"Comrades, comrades."

"As the Governor said, this Order of the Great Stars is not for my own merit alone. It does not represent my personal honor or strength."

Its brilliance represents the glory forged with the blood and flesh of warriors who fought on the front lines and whose bones lie buried in the scorched earth; it is also the enduring splendor of the nine-thousand-year-old civilization of Dongxia.

Qin Shi's voice was not loud, but it carried immense power.

His mental fluctuations spread out like a vast net, and his spiritual power extended outwards like invisible threads.

The fervent emotions of Baiyang Wall City are like bundles of firewood, being added to the "Void Meditation Method".

The will united by the masses acted as a catalyst, silently elevating Qin Shi's spiritual level and bringing the perfected holy embryo closer to perfection.

"The new star of Hengzhou beneath our feet was once a wasteland shrouded in chaos. It was our ancestors who, with their hands, with their wisdom, and with their indomitable spirit, reclaimed it inch by inch from the claws of corruption and the remnants of the void."

My ancestors were like that, and I believe yours were too. Reclaiming wasteland for their homes, forging swords into plowshares—this is the spirit etched into the very bones and blood of the Dongxia people!

Qin Shi paused slightly, his gaze sharpening and growing brighter, as if piercing the heavens.

He clenched his right fist and gently pounded it on the chest of the man wearing the Order of the Great Star.

"This medal is both an inspiration and a responsibility. It constantly reminds me, and tells everyone here: our journey is forever to the stars and the sea! Our mission is forever to ignite the flame of civilization in Dongxia, to let it illuminate the Milky Way and expand our territory!"

"to this end--"

"We, the younger generation, must forge ahead without hesitation."
! ”

……

……

In the Eastern Front Command, a huge circular tactical screen was divided into dozens of sections.

The largest one is currently broadcasting a live stream of the awarding ceremony at the Poplar Fortress.

When Feng Wuyang pressed the Great Star Sea Medal to Qin Shi's chest, the eight-pointed star lit up, and the operations room fell silent.

"Which one is this from Hengzhou Rising Star?"

Someone in the staff asked the question.

"The twenty-sixth rising star that Hengzhou has been able to produce in the past nine millennia of Dongxia."

The confidential secretary at the back gave the answer.

Throughout the entire thousand-year history, among the countless outstanding talents emerging in Hengzhou, only twenty-six people have received this honor.

"How old is he? Could it be that Hengzhou is going to produce a military commander?"

The staff members were relaxed and laughed heartily.

"It's a pity the western front got the spoils. If it were the eastern front, we would have used Lieutenant Qin as the spearhead and charged straight into the Corruption Sea!"

One analyst remarked with regret.

For an entire battlefront, powerful human beings capable of confronting the fourth level of calamity are an indispensable core element.

They are related to important tasks such as tactical deployment and battle situation allocation.

"The eastern front is farther from the Corruption Sea, and in terms of the pressure of frontal combat, the western front will only be heavier."

The supreme commander, his hair now gray, spoke in a deep voice:

"Hopefully, Lieutenant Qin's arrival can reduce casualties on the western front."

……

……

Tai'an Metropolitan Area.

The Nanhuang Martial Arts Hall is located on Jiuchang Street.

"...We, the generation, must forge ahead without hesitation!"

Ren You clenched his fist heavily and said excitedly:
"Junior Brother is right!"

Zhou Ning, who was suffering terribly from the training, was panting heavily as he watched the broadcast on television.

"Old Qin is so cool! I haven't even been on the battlefield yet, and he's already a first-class combat hero!"

Zhou Ning's performance in all aspects was relatively average. Even with the rapid improvement in his vitality development, he still did not meet the requirements for the previous batches of recruits.

"I have to work hard too! At least I can brag to people that Lao Qin and I are classmates, so they won't suspect me of bragging!"

Zhou Ning gritted his teeth, stood up, and said to Ren You:

"Teacher Ren, please push me hard!" Ren You nodded. By the time the teacher returned, Junior Brother Qin might have already reached a certain level.

That is the true successor of the Nanhuang Martial Arts Academy.

"When will the teacher be able to return to Hengzhou New Star?"

Ren You increased his training intensity while gazing at the empty Nanhuang Dojo.

Senior Sister Yu and Senior Sister Jian were not there, and Junior Brother Qin also went to the front line.

It's so much quieter now.

……

……

The central city, that little red building.

Yinghuang sat in the luxurious private lounge, the amber liquid in her crystal glass swirling.

"The Great Star Sea Medal. Now it's the turn of the four national powers to be humiliated. One is a lieutenant who directly repelled a fourth-level disaster family member, and the other is a rising star who may enter the third stage before adulthood."

Ultimately, it didn't belong to any of the four major national universities. Tsk tsk, what a failure.

Yinghuang's words resonated with the steward; the four great nations were undoubtedly the shining pearls of the Eastern Xia civilization.

But when faced with the achievements Qin Shi personally made, even the most brilliant pearl would appear dim.

After all, the Order of the Great Star shines brightly in the Milky Way, and no outstanding achievement can compare to the brilliance of that eight-pointed star.

Therefore, such a situation will soon arise.

The more dazzling Qin Shi becomes, the less face the four major national defense systems can maintain.

"Thanks to the young master's keen insight, he discovered the great potential of this successor of the Southern Huang Martial Arts Academy early on."

Otherwise, the Ying family would needlessly incur the wrath of such scorching sun, inevitably causing trouble.

The butler bowed and said.

"You think the Ying family and the Qin dynasty have made peace?"

Ying Huang leaned back on the sofa. This small red building, which originally belonged to Ying Lin, had been extensively renovated by him, changing its magnificent and opulent style.

"Qin Shi clearly intends to follow He Lan Chan's path, and the Ying family will not tolerate him."

To be precise, none of the people in the capital wanted to see a second He Lanchan appear.

The butler fell silent. Ultimately, the reason why the capital didn't like He Lanchan was quite simple.

He looks so much like his teacher.

Aside from the veterans of the Fourth Battle Group and Qin Shuai's confidants, probably no one would miss that deputy commander.

"However, the successor of the Southern Huang Martial Arts Academy may not necessarily have to choose that path. He Lanchan and that person have a teacher-student relationship, but Qin Shi has never met He Lanchan, let alone that person."

The butler, thinking the best of both worlds, said softly:

"The legend of the new generation of Dongxia and the unstable factors affecting the overall situation."

Anyone with eyes can see which option to choose.

Yinghuang remained noncommittal and set down the crystal glass:

“Weeds that grow from barren soil often do not like to choose the easier path.”

……

……

The investiture ceremony is over.

Qin Shi was invited to the meeting room, where the heavy wooden door shut out the noise from the outside world.

The room was small and simply furnished, with only two metal chairs and a tactical table.

Feng Wuyang did not sit down; he stood in front of the tactical table with his back to Qin Shi.

The governor, a rising star in Hengzhou, traced his finger across the holographic map.

As the fingertip moved, it finally locked onto an area covered by a scarlet mark—that area writhed slowly like a living thing, exuding an ominous and unsettling aura.

"Do you know where this is?"

Feng Wuyang asked in a deep voice.

"The Sea of ​​Decay. It is said to be the resting place of the Lord of Gluttony, and the destination that every great expansion movement hopes to reach."

Feng Wuyang turned around, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, piercing through the air and landing on Qin Shi.

“Indeed. The Sea of ​​Decay has given birth to countless clans and tribes, and at its very center lies the spiritual body of the Lord of Gluttony—the physical form of this star god is with Hengzhou, and is unimaginably vast.”

Qin Shi's gaze also fell on the holographic map, and he then discovered that the two battlefields on the eastern and western fronts were actually forming a pincer movement, intending to force the clansmen into the Sea of ​​Decay.

"As the highest being in the universe, the Lord of Gluttony's spiritual projection forms a 'nest' with an extremely high concentration of pollution—that is, the Sea of ​​Decay."

If the great expansion could reach the Sea of ​​Corruption, or even eradicate it, Hengzhou could be liberated from its layers of blockade.

Feng Wuyang calmly recounted how he had repeatedly deduced the answer through the Second Universe, trying to find the correct answer.

"But the Sea of ​​Decay cannot be breached; there is no way to enter it."

Qin Shi had already asked Long Qiuyuan to collect information about the "Corrupted Sea" and had a general understanding of it.

The Sea of ​​Decay is a spiritual projection of the Lord of Gluttony; no physical entity is allowed to enter, let alone dive into its core.

“That’s right. The Sea of ​​Decay is the strongest line of defense for the Familiar races, because no matter what victory the human side achieves, they will eventually stop there and choose to retreat.”

Feng Wuyang sighed with deep regret. These calm words contained immense sacrifices, representing the repeated failures of large-scale expansions that came at a terrible cost.

Qin Shi frowned slightly. He realized that the governor he was meeting for the first time seemed to be a "hard-blooded hawk".
Sweep away the sea of ​​corruption and eradicate future troubles.

This was an achievement that every governor in Hengzhou's history had wanted to accomplish, but it was never put into practice.

"I hope that all the 'defeats' Hengzhou has suffered in the past will come to an end in this war."

Feng Wuyang's lips twitched upwards very slightly.

"Lieutenant Qin, you are now a banner; the morale of the troops on both the eastern and western fronts is focused on you."

Qin Shi stood upright with a calm expression, the eight-pointed star medal on his chest shining brightly.

"I hope that when the time comes, you will become the banner leading Hengzhou, so that all the soldiers will look at your back and launch a fearless charge."

Feng Wuyang raised his hand and gently placed it on Qin Shi's shoulder.

It was only at this moment that the latter realized that the governor had not come to confer the medal "in person," but rather that it was a spiritual entity in human form.

"You may not know this, but I used to practice martial arts, and later switched to spiritual energy."

Feng Wuyang smiled slightly.

From the martial arts path to the psionic path?

Qin Shi was somewhat surprised, because the governor in front of him had traveled an infinite distance in his spiritual form to reach the White Poplar Fortress City.

This incredible spiritual level is extremely close to a divine manifestation.

Just how extraordinary is this governor, that he was able to perfectly switch from the martial arts path to the psionic path and reach the pinnacle?
"My life's work has been all about this battle."

Feng Wuyang withdrew his hand and gave Qin Shi a deep look, the meaning of which was complex, containing expectation, determination, and a hint of scrutiny that was not easily detected.

"If possible, you don't need to rush to erase Typhon of Blood River's mark. It is the Lord of Gluttony's most beloved offspring, and can enter and leave the Sea of ​​Decay."

It leaves its mark on you, but conversely, it's also the coordinates to the Sea of ​​Decay.

(End of this chapter)