The Name of Eternals

Chapter 225: Bestowing the Title of Divine General

"But these exchanges are quite expensive. Ten thousand merit points can exchange for the chance of reversal, yet the Wang family has accumulated not even ten thousand so far!"

"Destroying ten Nether City-level Rivers of Demise would accumulate ten thousand merit points."

"And if it's Yin Sha-level Rivers of Demise, it would take a hundred!"

Emperor Yu's eyes flickered. Although the exchanges were expensive, there was no doubt that the appearance of the Merit Treasury would lead to a resurgence of the Dayu Divine Dynasty in a few hundred years.

With a hundred merit points, ordinary people could be elevated to the ranks of geniuses with items like Sword Heart or Blade Heart.

Although these basic hearts couldn't compare to the disciples of top sects, with enough quantity and competition, some of these would surely rise to the ranks of top-tier talents.

And with more top-tier talents, there might emerge a few prodigies comparable to that child.

Emperor Yu thought of Li Hao, his eyes flickering, wondering about his current state. With the chance of reversal given by that blood jade, at least one life was spared.

"Once Zhendong accumulates ten thousand merit points, he may be able to see the treasures at the hundred-thousand-point level."

"That person, Chong Er, can surely see them now."

Emperor Yu's accumulated merit was over a thousand points, allowing him to see items up to around ten thousand points. Currently, most people on the merit rankings also had a few thousand points, meaning that soon, the treasures within ten thousand points would be cataloged and listed by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

But the treasures at the hundred-thousand-point level would require Wang Zhendong to break through ten thousand merit points to be revealed.

He was curious and wondered what kind of treasures they would be, and if there would be anything that would tempt him.

Additionally, the Rivers of Demise invasions, previously left unchecked and reliant on the Wang family to mobilize the world's martial artists with minimal rewards and the warriors' inherent righteousness, would now attract countless warriors driven by immense benefits.

Previously neglected Rivers of Demise would now become highly sought after.

Thus, the Wang family might be freed from the burden of the Rivers of Demise and return to their original position in the Divine General's Mansion.

Only the original River of Demise officers would remain to manage it, while others would be recruited anew.

As countless warriors tackled the Rivers of Demise, the number of demon slayings would decrease, allowing the Wang family to fill that gap and reduce pressure across the provinces.

However, this would require a reallocation of military power, potentially sparking new unrest.

Emperor Yu's thoughts turned. A single Merit Treasury would rewrite the current decline of the Dayu Divine Dynasty.

Overall, it was a great blessing. He could already foresee the complete eradication of the Rivers of Demise within the realm in a few hundred years, an influx of talent, and an increase in both mid-tier and top-tier geniuses! While Emperor Yu pondered, the civil and military officials in the court were also discussing the shock of the Merit Treasury.

They, too, considered the resulting issues and opportunities.

"Congratulations to His Majesty! The national fortune of our Dayu Divine Dynasty will prosper again!"

Quick-thinking ministers were the first to congratulate.

The others followed suit, raising their voices in celebration.

Emperor Yu's thoughts returned, and he smiled, saying, "My loyal ministers, do you know who this Chong Er is?"

The entire court exchanged looks, all equally puzzled.

A minister from the Wang family, a branch descendant from centuries ago, stepped forward respectfully:

"Your Majesty, this name is peculiar and may just be a pseudonym. I see that his merit points are one hundred thousand and one. It's highly likely he cleared a Nether City-level River of Demise in one go."

Another chimed in, "Indeed, no one has ever cleared a Nether City-level River of Demise in the past few centuries in our Dayu Divine Dynasty."

"The last time was when an ancestor of the Wang family cleared an Underworld-level River of Demise, earning ten thousand merit points."

"Clearing an Underworld-level River of Demise is already extremely difficult. Who knows how hard it would be to clear a Nether City-level one!"

"This person is probably not from the Wang family; otherwise, they would have used their surname."

"And likely not from other Divine General's Mansions. Possibly a wandering strongman."

The court speculated, discussing animatedly.

People from the Divine General's Mansion would typically use their surnames, a mark of supreme honor and respect for their ancestors.

Emperor Yu's eyes flickered, thinking of a certain figure, but without news from that side, he couldn't be sure.

"Announce my decree: proclaim it to the world, summon this Chong Er for an audience, and if he has no blemishes, confer upon him the title of Divine General and rank him as a first-class duke!"

Emperor Yu's voice was stern.

The court was stunned. Bestow the title of Divine General?

Since the founding of the Dayu Divine Dynasty, only the founding emperor had bestowed the title of Divine General. No new Divine Generals had been conferred since.

Even the Li family, who had recently saved Liangzhou, and the young general Li Hao, who single-handedly saved Liangzhou, were still under discussion for a second or third-class duke! Yet now, this unknown Chong Er was to be conferred the title of Divine General and granted the rank of first-class duke! This was the pinnacle of a subject's power!

One step below the emperor, but above millions! His status would rival the ancestors of the five Divine General's Mansions!

Years ago, Li Junye saved Cangzhou single-handedly and was granted the title of general and first-class marquis.

Because he had been a mere colonel, the leap to marquis was the limit under the reward system of the Dayu Divine Dynasty.

A meteoric rise! Had he been a minor general, he would have been made a duke directly!

Li Tiangang, who had guarded Yanbei for over a decade, had recently been promoted from second-class marquis to third-class duke!

Li Hao's heroics in Liangzhou, saving millions and slaying seven demon kings, had him under consideration for second-class duke, sparking debates.

This current conferment was unprecedented!

The officials marveled at Emperor Yu's decisiveness and generosity, realizing this was indeed a momentous occasion, affecting not just one province but the entire national destiny!

Thus, with Emperor Yu's decree, the court quickly fell into another round of congratulations, with no opposition.

"Find Chong Er and have him claim his reward!"

Emperor Yu ordered.

...

...

The appearance of the Merit Treasury and the imperial edict from the capital shook the entire nation.

Countless people were asking who Chong Er was.

Taverns, teahouses, street vendors, and brothels buzzed with discussion.

Even within some military families, after moments of intimacy, the first topic of conversation was guessing the identity of Chong Er.

Every sword saint, blade saint, and powerful figure was speculated upon.

For centuries, the Dayu Divine Dynasty had not established a new Divine General. The five Divine General's Mansions were like five peaks, stabilizing the nineteen provinces of the dynasty. Except for the declining Wang family, the other mansions shone like brilliant suns, known to all.

Now, many believed the sixth Divine General's Mansion was on the horizon.

The Wang family.

As soon as the Merit Treasury opened, the Wang family was ablaze with golden light.

The entire Wang family was in an uproar.

"Chong Er?"

In a courtyard, a woman in silk and satin was practicing swordsmanship when the golden light from her palm interrupted her. Seeing the message, she was stunned.

Moments later, after investigating the Merit Treasury, she was in shock.

As a member of the Wang family, she understood the significance.

The Dayu Divine Dynasty was poised for change, and the Wang family might experience a revolution! She then checked the merit rankings and recalled that a year ago, Chong Er had destroyed an Underworld-level River of Demise as a grandmaster.

Now, he had cleared a Nether City-level River of Demise? Ten thousand merit points in one go, only possible by clearing a Nether City-level River of Demise.

Clearly, Chong Er was not a grandmaster but a Four Pillars Realm warrior! Or even a Tai Ping Dao Realm expert! "Could it be the Buddha? No, the Buddha wouldn't hide behind a pseudonym... It must be someone else."

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, wondering who this Chong Er was.

"With the Merit Treasury open, our Wang family no longer needs to make sacrifices. With our knowledge and control over the Rivers of Demise, we will become a sought-after destination..."

Her quick mind soon saw the numerous changes, her eyes brightening.

"Chong Er is an unintentional benefactor of the Wang family..."

...

...

Days later, in the main hall of the Black and White Palace in Tan Palace.

The imperial edict from the capital reached Qingzhou. When it arrived, Song Yufeng was dumbfounded.

He was aware of the Merit Treasury, causing a stir everywhere, with many Tan Palace disciples eager to challenge the Rivers of Demise.

But clearing the Rivers of Demise wasn't easy, and accumulating merit points was even harder. A hundred points for a Sword Heart required destroying an Underworld-level River of Demise!

Even grandmasters couldn't easily destroy an Underworld River of Demise unless they got lucky.

Destroying the lowest Remnant-level River of Demise required a hundred times!

And finding a hundred Remnant-level Rivers of Demise was nearly impossible! So, a hundred merit points were hard to come by.

Grandmasters or Three Indestructibles capable of destroying Underworld Rivers of Demise would already have a heart for their martial path. A heart is essential for a grandmaster's breakthrough.

Without this passion, how could one become a grandmaster and open the gate to the heavens?

Not to mention other rewards. He heard about something called the Extreme Convergence Realm, which was unheard of.

But those high-reward items required a lot of merit points. Even for him, it would take great effort.

He wasn't confident about destroying a Nether City-level River of Demise.

For Four Pillars Realm experts, entering a Nether City-level River of Demise was extremely dangerous, yielding only a thousand merit points per destruction.

Ten times for a reversal!

He wasn't sure he could enter a Nether City-level River of Demise ten times and come out alive.

Unless he destroyed lower-level Rivers of Demise, or cleared them.

But this would mean fewer lower-level Rivers of Demise, making them harder to find.

Song Yufeng could guess that soon the capital or the Wang family would issue regulations.

In the future, entering Rivers of Demise might require queuing or restrictions.

Rivers of Demise disappear temporarily after destruction, sometimes for decades or years.

Thus, the previously troublesome Rivers of Demise had become a precious resource! Clearing them maximizes benefits, but clearing is difficult, unrelated to strength but to other factors.

Even Four Pillars Realm experts might struggle with Remnant-level Rivers of Demise without the right approach! Powerful individuals seeking quick merit points might opt for the smaller but faster destruction method, making Rivers of Demise disappear.

But this yields smaller rewards, wasting resources. When the realm is free of Rivers of Demise, the Merit Treasury will be just an empty treasure trove.

However, in the long term, the Rivers of Demise problem would be resolved.

The River of Demise Office, unable to attract volunteers with rewards, had become a profitable endeavor.

While most items in the treasury were unattainable, it still benefited the Dayu Divine Dynasty overall, enhancing national strength.

Once filled with soldiers' lives, the Rivers of Demise had become nourishment.

No wonder the emperor immediately conferred a Divine General. This was the first time in centuries! "That boy is to be conferred a Divine General..."

Song Yufeng thought of Li Hao. Others might not know, but Tan Palace elders, including him and his granddaughter, knew who Chong Er was.

Li Hao had verified that Chong Er was indeed him after clearing Fengshan River of Demise.

After Li Hao went to Liangzhou, with Song Qiumo also assisting, Song Yufeng kept an eye on Liangzhou. Li Hao's feats in the recent battle had spread to Qingzhou.

Recently, Qingzhou streets and alleys buzzed about the peerless young man who had fought his father a year ago.

Now, many praised him, even rebutting those who called him unfilial.

Regardless of filial piety, saving millions in Liangzhou showed a compassionate heart.

This alone would immortalize his name. Statues of the boy, though a teenager, already had the makings of an eternal hero in martial temples.

"That guy was trapped in Dragon City River of Demise. He must have cleared it."

Song Yufeng thought, relieved.

"This boy cleared two Rivers of Demise, both times. Does he have a special clearing technique?"

He mused. The last time he saw Li Hao was outside the Divine General's Mansion.

That day, amid a snowstorm, the boy had left the resplendent mansion alone.

Who would have thought that in less than two years, he would be conferred a Divine General?

If those in the Divine General's Mansion knew Chong Er was Li Hao, what would they think?

Song Yufeng's eyes glinted, summoning the elders and his granddaughter.

Seeing their shock and excitement, he knew they had figured it out.

They were witnessing the rise of a Divine General!

"Since you all know, there's no need for me to say more. Keep your mouths shut. Do not spread this."

Song Yufeng said.

Song Yueyao's excitement calmed a bit, puzzled, "Why?"

"No reason. Let the boy claim his reward. It's not for us to announce."

Song Yufeng said calmly, "Don't do anything unnecessary. He's still in danger in Liangzhou. If the demons know he's Chong Er, they'll go mad trying to kill him!"

"Keeping it secret helps him."

Everyone understood Li Hao's difficult situation.

With such glory, he'd be a thorn in the demons' side.

"Don't worry, the reward is here. He'll hear the decree once he's out and claim it."

Song Yufeng chuckled, "Soon, we'll attend his conferment ceremony. None of you have seen one, right? It's not to be missed..."

"Palace Lord, have you seen one?"

Shen Yunqing asked curiously.

"No." Song Yufeng smiled, "But I've heard about it."

"..."

Everyone was speechless.

...

Outside Liangzhou, in a secret location.

Several birds flew by, carrying news.

"An imperial decree? Conferment of Divine General?"

In a dark, secret place, a group of demon figures gathered. Despite restraining their aura, their presence was terrifying.

"Damn it! Who is this Chong Er? I'll tear him apart if I find him!"

"It might not be a bad thing. This gathering is at the Black Mountain Wild God's behest."

A burly man with a hairy chest said sinisterly, "The Merit Treasury is good for us too, but we must first conquer Dayu!"

"In a decade or so, the Dayu Divine Dynasty will use the Merit Treasury to gradually strengthen. The longer it takes, the more they'll improve. Once Rivers of Demise no longer limit them, the Wang family will be free."

"Black Mountain Wild God wants us to act now!"

The others' eyes narrowed.

After centuries of preparation, was it finally time?

"Damn it! The Liangzhou loss disrupted our plans. Without it as a base and failing to eliminate the Li family, we'll lose more!"

"We have no choice but to fight."

"Centuries of attacks on the Li family's domain have worn them down. It's time to erase the Li name from existence!"

"Conferring a new Divine General? Let's bury the old ones first!"

The others agreed. After centuries of targeting the Li family's domain and dispersing some forces to other families, the hatred had only grown fiercer.

"First, crush the Li family in Qingzhou. Liangzhou failed, so Qingzhou is next!"

"Wait for the Candlefire God to return?"

"Dragon City River of Demise is surrounded. Emperor Yu even released his mad brother, the sword maniac. If he comes to help, it'll be a tough fight."