A single sweep of the battlefield had yielded Biluo Pass's grand plan for the next hundred years.
Orders from the four army commanders cascaded downward, and hordes of personnel immediately surged out of the Pass to join the sweeping operation.
Only once the battlefield had been thoroughly cleaned would Yang Kai be able to open the entrances to those Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens, allowing clansmen well-versed in the Dao of Formations to set up their arrays.
The battlefield was vast — clearing it thoroughly would take at least two or three months. During that time, there was nothing for Yang Kai to do. Only once the cleanup was finished would he have his hands full.
So he followed Feng Ying back to Biluo Pass.
It was only now that Biluo Pass formally registered him, officially making him a member of the Pass's human army. There was no helping it — when Yang Kai had first arrived, the Pass had been in the throes of battle, and no one had the leisure to process his registration. After the battle ended, Yang Kai had sequestered himself to attempt his breakthrough to the Seventh Order, and had then been punished with battlefield cleanup. Only now did he finally have the time.
Receiving his identity medallion — a small token that somehow felt incredibly heavy in his hands. Throughout history, every human warrior had possessed one such medallion, yet how many had perished, their existence known only through a glimpse in the records?
He had witnessed firsthand the ferocity of battle, understood how difficult it was for humanity to survive on the Ink Battlefield, and the more he understood, the deeper his hatred for the Ink Clan grew.
Just as his thoughts churned, the Seventh Order Open Heaven cultivator who had processed his registration smiled and handed over a jade slip. "Yang Kai, there is also a commission jointly signed by all four army commanders. Please accept it."
"A commission?" Yang Kai took it with a puzzled look and probed it with his divine sense, his eyes widening in surprise.
The contents were simple: in recognition of his outstanding performance and great contributions during the recent battle, he was to be promoted to squad leader as a commendation.
The jade slip bore the energy imprints of all four army commanders — it couldn't be forged, and no one would dare try.
So he was a squad leader now? Yang Kai felt a bit dazed.
But he'd just been punished with battlefield cleanup, and now they were giving him a reward? What was this — a slap on the wrist followed by a pat on the back?
"Sister Feng has one as well," the Seventh Order Open Heaven said, handing another jade slip to Feng Ying.
Feng Ying accepted it curiously and nodded slightly after examining it.
Yang Kai wanted to ask what was in Feng Ying's slip, but considering it might contain private information, he held his tongue. To his surprise, Feng Ying turned to look at him and said, "From now on, I'm your deputy squad leader."
Yang Kai stared at her blankly.
Feng Ying calmly tucked the jade slip away and reiterated, "You didn't mishear. From now on, I'm your second-in-command."
Yang Kai asked in disbelief, "But weren't you a garrison commander, Senior?"
A garrison commander held a rank above a squad leader. Feng Ying had performed equally well during the battle — yet instead of a reward, she'd been demoted from garrison commander to deputy squad leader. What were the army commanders thinking?
But after a moment's thought, Yang Kai understood.
The four commanders' arrangement served two purposes: first, to have Feng Ying protect him; second, to keep an eye on him. After all, last time he had defied military orders and risked his life by rushing onto the battlefield, giving all four commanders a terrible fright. Who knew whether Yang Kai might pull something like that again? Better to place Feng Ying at his side for now.
Among Seventh Order Open Heaven cultivators, Feng Ying was among the very top tier. Even if real danger arose in the future, she could protect him without issue.
This was getting awkward...
Yang Kai couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty. "Senior, I'll go speak with the four army commanders and ask them to rescind the order."
Feng Ying shook her head. "No need. My garrison will have someone to take over. Besides, a commission jointly signed by all four commanders isn't something that can simply be changed on a whim. As for you — you really do need someone watching over you."
She made no attempt to conceal her role as his watchdog, and Yang Kai's face flushed red at her words.
Feng Ying then frowned. "Though this commission is a bit strange."
"It's fake?" Yang Kai perked up. He couldn't care less about some squad leader position, but having someone constantly watching him didn't sit well at all.
Feng Ying shot him an exasperated glare. "Of course it's not fake. What I mean is, the commanders appointed us as squad leader and deputy squad leader, but neither document specifies which army, which garrison, or which division we belong to."
Only after she pointed this out did Yang Kai realize the issue. The commission had indeed only stated his promotion to squad leader, without indicating his unit assignment.
He hadn't been on the Ink Battlefield for long, but Feng Ying had fought here for thousands of years. She knew perfectly well what a commission should contain, and yet both of theirs were conspicuously missing crucial details. That was odd.
"I'll ask about it when I have the chance," Feng Ying said. "Come on — let me take you to the Merit Hall and the War Preparedness Hall. You've just advanced to the Seventh Order; take this free time to properly consolidate your cultivation and realm."