Slaughter was not entirely absent; there are always those who hold fast to their convictions and fight to the very end.
Wei Huan respected such people, but he did not show mercy because of it. Since he had chosen to strike, he would not return empty-handed. If he didn't beat Aosam into submission now, they would only continue to drag their feet in the future. Rather than raising a pack of ungrateful wolves, it was better to first weed out the warmongers within the pack. For those warriors who died defending their faith, they had effectively "sought and attained virtue."
Wei Huan stepped out from behind the massed ranks of his undead army and stood before the High Patriarch of Aosam. On the plaza in front of the Starlight Building, fresh blood stained the ground, but as the undead marched past, the corpses were no longer visible. Damaged walls bore clear witness to the fierce firefight that had occurred, but the outcome was now decided.
The High Patriarch looked up at Wei Huan, who remained atop the Dot Mom Beast's shell, gazing down at him. A surge of stifled blood rushed to the Patriarch's lips, and in that short span of time, streaks of white hair had sprouted at his temples. He had lost. Aosam had lost. From this day forward, Blue Star would have only one voice, and it would come from Daxia.
Ultimately, he swallowed his pride, forced a smile onto his face, and prepared to welcome the most powerful and noble man on Blue Star.
---
"General Wei went to Aosam for General Yake, right?"
"Yes. I heard Aosam had been controlling General Yake' beacon and using it to blackmail General Wei. Finally, he doesn't have to endure it anymore. In this era, whoever has the bigger fist makes the rules."
"Is this appropriate? A regime built on brute force isn't stable. Wei Huan is bullying the weak; he killed Aosam civilians."
"Bah! I'm a local from Peanut City. General Wei didn't hurt us; he protected us during the fight. I'm head over heels for that Shura Horse that carried me out of the battlefield in a princess carry!"
"Exactly. In this war in Aosam, only Challengers died, and only a small group of stubborn ones. I am Aosamian; my grandfather fought in the War of Independence, but this time I stand with General Wei. I see his mercy and resolve. I hate those bloodsucking politicians who enjoy the hope Wei Huan brings while only thinking of their own gain. I'm glad he won."
"Aosam needs a reboot. The former 'Land of the Free' became corrupt and paranoid. A nation controlled by financial magnates should have been dismantled long ago."
"Support General Wei in unifying Blue Star!!"
When this cry first appeared, few realized what the next step for Blue Star would be. Many still clung to the old rules, assuming the future would involve multiple nations advancing together. Until someone, on this grand occasion, pierced the final veil.
Unification of Blue Star?
It was like a series of thunderclaps hitting everyone's head. Some accepted it immediately; others resisted to the point of wanting to die. But it must be said that an option once deemed unthinkable was now abruptly before everyone's eyes.
Wei Huan's appointment as Commander-in-Chief of the Blue Star Pioneer Alliance was the precursor to unification. Under the immense pressure of the Dark Beast race and the hope Wei Huan provided, this role was deeply popular. Most believed the front-line forces needed to be tightly knit to strike with the heaviest "fist."
But going any further involved terrifying complexities: religious beliefs, lifestyle habits, and countless historical issues. While some shouted "Unify!", others screamed "Stop! Do you know what you're saying?" Many fell into a silence that would lead to long periods of reflection.
Just as the live-stream debate was escalating into a full-blown internet war, the long-stagnant broadcast suddenly switched to the site of the commissioning ceremony.
---
The scene was as before: a magnificent grand hall, solemn and stately, packed with thousands of guests. In the front rows sat the generals of the Challenge Legions, whose power and prestige had reached their zenith in this era of universal martial arts. Generals from various countries, who would soon join the Blue Star Alliance, had been waiting a long time. None dared complain about Wei Huan's late arrival. These veterans knew better than anyone how terrifying he was.
Of course, in the minds of these generals, Wei Huan's detour to Aosam to kill Old Hodgson and occupy the Starlight Building was seen as a final show of force before his ascension.
Aosam's generals felt this most keenly. When Five-Star General Josh Meyer first heard Wei Huan had struck Aosam, his instinct was to storm out in protest. But news followed quickly: Old Hodgson died instantly, his heirs were already fighting over the remains, and the civilians had suffered almost zero casualties. Wei Huan's undead had protected the locals, while the commanders who ordered fighting in the streets and launched missiles at their own city were the true villains.
Finally, the Aosam leadership had capitulated in less than thirty minutes. Meyer, sitting on pins and needles, sighed deeply and adjusted his posture as the cameras focused on his face.
The broadcast switched to the outdoors—the Daxia Plaza, the majestic State Gate, and the national flag fluttering high. Then, viewers noticed a small black dot above the flag.
The dot grew clearer until it revealed its form: the Dot Mom Beast Queen!
She was a superstar on Blue Star now. When her 3,000-meter-long frame made its debut, the public went wild. She was powerful, yet moved with the grace of a jellyfish. As she approached, she was preceded by Ghost Crows with ten-meter wingspans wreathed in black flames. Then, a white-armored wolf and a truck-sized black bear leaped down, standing like mighty sentinels on the plaza.
The Queen landed lightly, leaning forward to create a bridge with her body. Three figures stood on her back.
In the center was Wei Huan. He wore a custom-tailored General's uniform, his military cap pulled low over sharp, cold eyes that seemed ready to cut through any thorns in humanity's path. Beside him was his partner, Mu Zhong. Despite Wei Huan's overwhelming presence, Mu Zhong radiated his own brilliance.
On the other side stood a third man—blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and elegant.
"General Yake!!"
The hero of Aosam had been rescued. Aosamian citizens wept with joy; their humble hero had returned.
The three appeared together, backed by tens of thousands of undead. Wei Huan had summoned the army upon entering Daxia airspace. It was deliberate. He was never one for low-profile development; his motto was "Hide your edge when weak, strike awe when strong." If showing his power could deter ill intent and prevent unnecessary battle, he would do it. When it is time to draw the sword, one must draw it.
The undead fleet hovered silently in the air like the world's most disciplined legion. The sheer weight of their power was palpable even through the screen.
Inside the hall, Josh Meyer saw Yake standing with Wei Huan and Mu Zhong. His anger and hatred suddenly evaporated. Seeing the young man who rose from the common people, loved by the masses but suppressed by the powerful, he realized this was the best outcome. Aosam wouldn't decline; it would simply be led by a younger, stronger generation.
"Join them if you can't beat them." It was a simple truth. Across the room, other commanders realized the same. The era of Wei Huan had arrived. From that moment, the rosters for the Sequence 6 world began to change; across all nations, old bureaucrats were replaced by talented, principled young people. They understood Wei Huan's preferences: he cared only for strength and character.
---
Wei Huan stepped onto the red carpet, followed by Mu Zhong and Yake. All three had empty shoulder boards, waiting for their new ranks.
As they walked past the guards, shouts of "Salute!" echoed through the hall. They reached the stage where Old General Dong Chujian waited, his face beaming despite his usual sorrowful expression.
Wei Huan stepped up alone. The old man carefully pinned the General's epaulets to his shoulders and hung ten medals—including Outstanding Contribution to Humanity and Battle Hero—on his chest. As Wei Huan turned, the starlight of his medals lit up the room. The supreme leader of Blue Star had arrived.
This day, the whole of Blue Star celebrated!!
Following Wei Huan, Mu Zhong and Yake received their honors. Both were commissioned as Lieutenant Generals and Deputy Commanders of the Blue Star Alliance. Yake' medals were uniquely significant—the Aosam generals, led by Meyer, unpinned medals from their own chests to give to him, symbolizing their support.
Next came the core crew: Xu Qingqiang, Captain Xue, and others were commissioned as Colonels. This included Liu Chengzhi. The army cook and chef, through his divine culinary skills and contributions to the vehicle, was now a Colonel. He stared at his medals with a silly grin while his grandmother wept with pride in the audience.
After the formal ceremony, the celebrations began. Some viewers wondered why Wei Huan didn't give a speech. The truth was simple: he was impatient with red tape and hadn't prepared one. Since no one could force him, the organizers simply moved to the next segment.
He sat in the front row, chatting quietly with Mu Zhong while enjoying the performances. Leaders of various legions came to pay their respects. This time, Wei Huan didn't slack; he met every one of them. These people would be the backbone of the future Pioneer Army. No matter how troublesome the social process was, if it was useful for the future, he would do it with total focus.