Chapter 863: Difference in Military Rank

Winds Rise Across the Nine Provinces

Lu Ye couldn't recall the exact amount of battle contributions he had earned, but he had a clear idea of the approximate total. He hadn't encountered battle contributions at all during his time in the Spirit Stream Battlefield. It wasn't until he entered the Cloud River Battlefield, specifically within the Myriad Beast Domain's secret realm, that he first encountered them.

However, the battle contributions he gained in the Myriad Beast Domain's secret realm weren't extensive, only around 30,000. This was mainly because too many people participated in the final battle, and the benefits were distributed among them.

Later, during his trip to Xianyuan City, he acquired 300,000 battle contributions, all of which he exchanged for Soul Water. His journey to the Dragon Ascent Realm earned him 280,000 battle contributions. Most recently, on the Peerless Continent, he earned 180,000 battle contributions.

All these sums combined meant that he had accumulated approximately 800,000 battle contributions to date. For any cultivator in the Cloud River Realm, or even the True Lake Realm, this was a significant and undeniable amount!

For example, Leshan had only acquired a little over 300,000 battle contributions so far. Compared to Lu Ye, the difference was more than twofold. The amount of battle contributions directly determined a cultivator's military rank and standing within the Bingzhou Guard. Given Lu Ye's current accumulation, his initial military rank had astonishingly reached that of a Captain Guard. This was unprecedented!

It was important to note that Leshan was currently only a Fruit Guard, while Captain Guard was a higher rank. On the front lines, in an emergency, if Lu Ye exercised his authority, Leshan would have to obey his orders, even if his cultivation level was higher than Lu Ye's, without resistance. Of course, while that was the case, if there wasn't a direct command relationship between them, Leshan could also refuse the order and submit the matter for arbitration to the Judicial Department.

The Recruitment Department had the authority to determine the initial military rank of new guards, but since its establishment, probably no new guard had ever received such a high initial rank! Normally, a ninth-level Cloud River Realm cultivator like Lu Ye would join the Bingzhou Guard at the rank of Corporal or Squad Leader. Only a very few might reach the Fruit Guard level. How could someone like Lu Ye immediately start as a Captain Guard? Moreover, observing the richness of the color on the battle contribution disk, it showed signs of transitioning to the next level. Above Captain Guard was the rank of Commander Guard! This was a level typically attained only by seasoned True Lake Realm cultivators.

It could be said that the current situation was beyond their scope of handling. Leshan rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He never imagined such an extraordinary event would unfold right before his eyes.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Lu Yiye, please wait a moment." As he spoke, he raised his hand and tapped his battlefield mark, sending out a message. Clearly, he was calling for someone.

While waiting, Leshan asked curiously, "What did you do? How do you have such a vast amount of battle contributions?" Logically, cultivators at the Cloud River Realm level shouldn't be able to gain such immense rewards in the secret realms they experience.

"Just a few fortuitous encounters," Lu Ye replied casually. The secret realms he had experienced were not something others could replicate. Such gains were not only due to serendipity but also earned by risking his life. Not to mention the final battle against the Golden Corpse King on the Peerless Continent, even in the Dragon Ascent Realm, if he hadn't received the gift of the Dragon Ascent Realm's fragmented origin, his life force would have long dissipated. As for Xianyuan City... that was something no one else could access.

"Senior Brother Leshan, could you please explain the differences in military ranks?" Lu Ye asked. When he was in the Azure Blood Sect, Shui Yuan had told him much about the Xianyuan Guard, but she hadn't elaborated much on military ranks, probably thinking Lu Ye would quickly understand once he arrived.

Thus, Lu Ye was unaware that this place could track a cultivator's past battle contributions and use them to determine their initial rank. There was certainly nothing he couldn't say about it, so Leshan began, "Since the Bingzhou Guard operates like a military force, there are naturally different levels of hierarchy. Military ranks are divided into nine tiers from lowest to highest: Soldier, Corporal, Squad Leader, Fruit Guard, Captain Guard, Commander Guard, Protector General, Camp Commander, and Chief Commander. The twelve major passes on the front line of the Bingzhou Guard each have a Chief Commander. These twelve Chief Commanders are all peak Divine Sea Realm cultivators. As Chief Commanders and masters of their respective passes, they are stationed permanently outside, protecting the safety of our Bingzhou.

"The determination of a new Bingzhou Guard's initial military rank primarily considers two factors: first, the amount of battle contributions accumulated in the past, and second, the cultivation level. It mainly depends on battle contributions; whatever rank the color displayed on the battle contribution disk corresponds to, that's the rank you'll receive. Of course, there are times when human intervention occurs. For instance, if a True Lake Realm cultivator newly joins the Bingzhou Guard, even if they haven't earned any battle contributions before, their rank would be at least that of a Squad Leader. This is because their cultivation level is already high; it would be absurd to make a True Lake Realm cultivator start as a common soldier."

Lu Ye suddenly understood: "So, the rank determined by battle contributions cannot be changed, but if one's cultivation is sufficiently high, they can be promoted at the discretion of the authorities."

"Precisely," Leshan said with an expression that suggested Lu Ye was a teachable young man. "Such discretionary promotions are not handled by my Recruitment Department; that's the Internal Affairs Department's responsibility."

Lu Ye nodded: "What about my situation then?"

Leshan spread his hands: "We've never encountered this before. Your initial rank is too high for us to handle here. I've already messaged Elder Shi; he'll likely take you to the Internal Affairs Department soon. Only they can promote ranks above Fruit Guard. Remember, in the future, any rank promotions will also be handled by the Internal Affairs Department."

"I understand," Lu Ye nodded.

As they were speaking, a short, red-nosed old man suddenly appeared, sweeping his gaze over Lu Ye. "Is this the kid?"

Leshan and the others quickly bowed: "Elder Shi!"

Lu Ye also bowed, saying, "Lu Ye of the Azure Blood Sect greets you, Senior."

Although the red-nosed old man was short, for Leshan and the others to show such respect, he was undoubtedly a Divine Sea Realm cultivator.

"Azure Blood Sect..." Elder Shi stroked his chin, chuckling, "It always produces such monstrous talents. How curious and strange. Come with me." With that, he turned and departed. Lu Ye quickly followed.

Upon leaving the Recruitment Department hall, Elder Shi immediately soared into the sky. Not only that, but he also enveloped Lu Ye with his spiritual power. In an instant, Lu Ye experienced what true lightning speed felt like. Even with the dual spiritual patterns of "Flying Wings" and "Wind Travel" activated, his full-speed flight was less than a tenth of the old man's casual flight.

In just about a dozen breaths, Elder Shi brought him to another grand hall. This was the Internal Affairs Department in Haotian City, the place Leshan had just mentioned for rank promotions.

The Internal Affairs Department was undoubtedly much livelier than the Recruitment Department. The hall was bustling with Bingzhou Guards, all qualified, coming to get their ranks promoted. The spacious hall had a simple layout. Cultivators sat behind numerous desks, each with a battle contribution disk. Bingzhou Guards seeking promotion approached in order, presented their Guard Tokens, placed their battlefield marks on the battle contribution disk, and the Internal Affairs Department staff would observe the color to determine the rank and update the Guard Token's information. The efficiency was quite high.

Elder Shi clearly had no intention of waiting in line. He entered the hall and walked directly towards a small side room, pushing the door open. Inside, a woman was waiting. Her gaze swept over them. "Is this him?"

Elder Shi nodded, "This is the kid. You handle it." With that, he sat down, flipped his hand, pulled out a pipe, and began puffing away, exhaling clouds of smoke.

The woman shot him a glare, then turned to Lu Ye and said, "Come here and let me see your battle contributions."

Lu Ye stepped forward and placed his hand on a battle contribution disk. The same scene as in the Recruitment Department occurred. The color on the battle contribution disk continuously changed, from white to cyan, then to blue, then green, finally settling on a rich yellow.

Although Elder Shi already knew the outcome, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Killing so many at such a young age, these young people nowadays are truly extraordinary!"

The woman said, "The battle contributions are fine, but the cultivation level is a bit low." No Cloud River Realm cultivator had ever caused the battle contribution disk to change like this.

"What does the Internal Affairs Department intend to do?" Elder Shi asked.

"We'll proceed according to the rules, what else can we do?" the woman smiled.

Elder Shi nodded slightly.

As she spoke, the woman took out a Guard Token. Her divine sense and spiritual power surged together as she worked on it. Then, she handed it to Lu Ye, saying, "This is your Guard Token, a symbol of your identity. Keep it safe and close to you; do not lose it."

"Yes," Lu Ye replied, taking it.

Every member of the Bingzhou Guard had a Guard Token. Although the battlefield mark could record various information about a cultivator, if a cultivator died in battle, the battlefield mark would dissipate. With a Guard Token, it was different. Sometimes, at the very least, the identity of a fallen combatant could be confirmed through it. At the same time, the Guard Token also had communication capabilities, making it convenient for the Bingzhou Guard to mobilize personnel. The battlefield mark lacked this convenience; communication between battlefield marks required both cultivators to add each other's mark imprints.

"Why are you still standing there foolishly?" Elder Shi asked, seeing that Lu Ye hadn't left.

"Where should I go?"

"Go wherever you wish, as long as you don't leave Haotian City," Elder Shi waved his hand. "When the time comes, someone will inform you where you need to go."

Lu Ye understood and quickly withdrew.

Chapter 860: Time of the Annual Street

After he left, the woman sighed, "After all these years, they're still fixated on the Azure Blood Sect. It's a bit much." She had clearly heard some things.

Elder Shi said, "What can be done? That old geezer Tang Yifeng dislikes worldly affairs and doesn't come to Haotian City to oversee things. His disciples deserve to be bullied."

"So he's really going to Skygate Pass..." the woman said, a hint of worry in her voice.

"Why are you bothering yourself with this?" Elder Shi took a drag from his pipe. "If Qian Wudang could speak up to get this kid released, didn't you wonder why?"

The woman's expression shifted: "Elder, are you implying..."

"Hmph, you know the relationship between Qian Wudang and Fan Xiangyi, don't you? And Fan Xiangyi is incredibly close with that little girl from the Azure Blood Sect. When a disciple from the Azure Blood Sect arrives here, how could they not look after them a bit? Throwing this kid into the prison earlier was their trick, likely intending to wait for those people to leave before arranging the kid's placement. Unfortunately, he was still targeted. Although we don't know what they're trying to do now, it probably won't be so easy for that crazy old woman to take him to Skygate Pass."

"I see!" the woman suddenly realized. "You truly have foresight, Elder."