Swallowing the Stars: Analyzing All Things

Temporary military base, training room.

Lin Yan sat cross-legged on the ground, with a light screen floating in front of him, displaying the appointment letter awaiting signature.

His finger hovered over the confirmation button, but his mind was racing with thoughts.

Accumulate enough military merits...

According to his original plan, he would naturally choose to remain free as soon as possible. With the current rate of energy accumulation at the World Lord level, he only needs to find a place to hide for thousands of years...

but.

Can he refuse?

According to the procedures of the military system, he was entitled to refuse the temporary appointment signed by the Immortal Military Lord.

A soldier can choose not to accept the promotion, choose to continue being his squad leader, or choose to apply for retirement after completing his military merit quota. There are no procedural problems with this.

But the battlefield outside the region is not just about procedures.

"I accept the appointment!"

Lin Yan pressed the confirmation button.

Of course, to accept this appointment, one must demonstrate the strength of a realm master in their watch. Most devices equipped with a connection to the virtual universe network are also equipped with a "body check" device.

By detecting the wearer's energy fluctuations, vital signs, and other data, their strength is comprehensively assessed. However, this device is not technologically advanced and its accuracy is not very high, and it may occasionally deviate from its intended purpose.

However, on the battlefields beyond the domain, no one would be foolish enough to deliberately exaggerate their strength. If a domain lord is mistaken for a realm lord and thus sent to perform a realm lord-level mission, there is only one outcome—

dead!

No one would joke about their own life.

"laugh--"

Lin Yan raised his right hand, aligning his palm with the watch's detection area. With a thought, the power of the world surged from within him, and a pale blue light condensed into a soft sphere in his palm.

He pushed the power of the world toward the watch, and the energy, like invisible tentacles, enveloped the entire watch.

"Beep~"

The watch emitted a crisp notification sound: "Detection complete, Realm Lord Level 1, confirmed."

"The appointment is effective."

The text on the screen changed from red to green, and the appointment of "Acting Commander" was officially entered into the military system's database. Lin Yan's authority and position information were updated in that instant.

"The position of commander-in-chief?"

He turned off the light screen, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Let's do it then."

……

The next day.

Temporary military base, central square.

Dark red sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds, enveloping the entire square in a crimson halo.

In the square, the captains of a hundred squads had lined up, dressed in various armors, their eyes all focused on the figure on the high platform in front of the square.

"Everyone..."

Lin Yan's gaze swept over everyone. Among these domain lord-level captains, many recognized him and were looking at him with mixed feelings.

"I am Lin Yan. From today onwards, I will temporarily assume the role of commander of the First Command District."

"The rules remain unchanged," Lin Yan continued, his voice steady and powerful. "Kill the enemy when it's time to kill, retreat when it's time to retreat. I have only one requirement—obey orders."

Obey orders.

These four words are more important than any oath on the battlefield outside the territory. Lin Yan does not need these people to be loyal to him, nor does he need them to be grateful to him. He only needs them to obey his command on the battlefield.

"Yes, Commander!"

Everyone started to speak.

Lin Yan nodded, then turned and left.

This was just a procedural handover ceremony within the military system; he was merely going through the motions.

……

News of Lin Yan's appointment spread rapidly within the 57th Army.

From the commander to the captain, and from the captain to the members, the entire legion knew about it in less than half an hour.

Youyuan's meditation room.

He sat cross-legged, the screen in front of him still displaying the appointment notice, the words "Lin Yan" highlighted in bold red, glaringly obvious on the white screen.

His fingers tightened slightly.

Realm Lord!!!

The young man who had served as a squad leader under him for over twenty years, the domain lord he had been secretly coveting and waiting for an opportunity to strike, had now become a realm lord just like him.

"How could that be?"

Youyuan's heart was filled with complex emotions.

Shock, jealousy, resentment, and a hint of fear he himself was unwilling to admit, he recalled Lin Yan's resume.

Hundreds of years ago, he was just a third-tier warrior at the cosmic level. In a short period of time, he rose to the ninth tier of the domain lord. Now, right under his nose, he has become a realm lord in just over twenty years.

This speed of breakthrough...

Even among realm lords, this is considered astonishing.

"Such a person must have a secret, and a big secret and a great opportunity."

You Yuan roared with rage.

A glint of greed flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed those thoughts.

On battlefields outside the region.

He could still find opportunities to deal with a domain lord silently in some complex battlefields.

An "accident" on the battlefield, a "mistake" during a mission, or a "coincidence" in the hands of the enemy can always provide a suitable opportunity for a domain lord to disappear silently.

It's simply impossible to deal with a realm lord.

Even in the most chaotic battlefield, causing a Realm Lord to die "accidentally" is simply not something a Realm Lord can do; it would require at least a powerful figure like an Immortal Military Lord.

Moreover, Lin Yan is currently the acting commander, appointed personally by Commander Xuan Yi.

It was highly valued by the military leader.

Who dares to make a move?

You Yuan took a deep breath, turned off the light screen, closed his eyes, and suppressed all his covetousness, greed, and resentment in his heart.

Even if Lin Yan had a huge secret, he could only keep it to himself and let it fester inside. Even if he wanted to take action, he absolutely could not do so on the battlefield outside the domain.

The military system's surveillance is ubiquitous; anyone who attacks a teammate or ally is considered a traitor, and will face a punishment far worse than death.

"Fine."

He muttered to himself, his voice tinged with bitterness.

Aside from the resentment of the Lord of Youyuan Realm, the reactions of the other realm lords and commanders were mixed, with some delighted, some indifferent, and some disgusted...

But in any case.

The appointment of Xuan Yi as the military commander has been issued, and the certification within the military system has been passed; no one can change this fact.

……

Inside the meditation room.

Lin Pan sat cross-legged in meditation, his consciousness sinking into his body, examining every change in his body.

Realm Lord level.

From the ninth level of Domain Lord to the first level of World Lord, his physical attributes underwent another leap. This was not a simple increase in strength, but an evolutionary leap in the level of life.

Just as an insect emerges from its cocoon to become a butterfly, or a seed grows into a towering tree, their essence is completely different.

The physical strength of a first-level Realm Lord is about ten times stronger than that of a ninth-level Domain Lord, and the difference between the first-level Realm Lord and the peak of the ninth level is dozens of times greater.

In other words, the difference in physical strength between a ninth-level Domain Lord and a ninth-level World Lord is hundreds of times greater.

Hundreds of times.

A ninth-level Realm Lord can crush a ninth-level Domain Lord as easily as crushing an ant. This is the difference in life levels, an insurmountable chasm.

……