The Black-armored Soldiers of the 99th Army clenched their fists tightly, so excited they were almost fainting.
They had never really considered advancing in rank.
After all, General Ning wasn’t in the castle, and Sikong Jing wasn’t part of the Long Night Black Burning Army; they even had some worries when he returned that Sikong Jing might be punished for this matter.
But no one expected that he would leap so many levels and be promoted to the 66th Legion.
The entire scene was left with Pan Zha and a few hundred prisoners with faces full of confusion—wasn’t this a bit too incredible?
"Finally, the 96th Legion’s fifty thousand soldiers will go under General Ning’s command, with the official appointment in half a month," Cao Yi read, and then he walked straight to Sikong Jing, handing him the Beigong Xianfeng’s commission and a token.
It was, of course, the General Token of the 66th Army.
Immediately afterward, Cao Yi instructed, "The 66th Army can have two hundred thousand Black-armored Soldiers."
"The Beigong Commander gives you half a month to arrange and handle the aftermath for the 99th Army; you can decide whether to take the soldiers from both the 99th and the 96th Army."
"You can choose to take them or to leave them."
"Decide within ten days and report back to me; afterwards, I will arrange for the soldiers of the 66th Army to be replenished up to two hundred thousand."
Having finished speaking, Cao Yi looked deeply at Sikong Jing.
Then he reminded him in a low voice, "When taking office, Ning Jingjing must be present."
Without saying anything more, Cao Yi turned and left, without making any further arrangements or appointments for Sikong Jing.
Just as Cao Yi was preparing to mount his horse and leave, Pan Zha couldn’t hold back and shouted, "Vice Commander Cao, I have a question; Ning Jingjing isn’t in the city at all, and she has nothing to do with this battle—how can you promote her to the 66th Army?"
Pan Zha was extremely resentful and nearly driven mad by jealousy.
If he hadn’t betrayed Ning Jingjing before, he could have followed her to the 66th Army now.
Thinking about this, he was filled with regret and went crazy.
Now Pan Zha not only hated Sikong Jing but also despised everyone in the 99th Army.
So even in death, he didn’t want to let them off easy, revealing in a frenzy that Ning Jingjing was not in the city.
Hearing this, Cao Yi suddenly turned back, staring coldly at Pan Zha, then, without a word, he mounted his horse and soared into the sky!
And Pan Zha’s question also made the soldiers of the entire 99th Army quiet down; they, too, were puzzled as to why the Beigong Commander would promote her in rank even though he clearly knew that General Ning had not participated in the battle?
Sikong Jing had said that General Ning was in command at the 99th Castle, but the Beigong Commander was no fool and surely wouldn’t believe it.
At this, Elder Wei’s old face was full of confusion as he looked toward Sikong Jing and asked, "What does the Commander mean by this?"
Sikong Jing’s brow furrowed as well; he had thought that the Beigong Xianfeng might promote Ning Jingjing, but not so drastically, and there was no command for him, which was very strange.
Suddenly, inspiration struck Sikong Jing, and he said indifferently, "The Beigong Commander wants to test me."
Elder Wei and the others blinked, a test for you?
Why test you? You are still not a member of the Black Burning Army, and the General of the 66th Army will still only be General Ning.
Sikong Jing shook his head without explaining, for some things sound like bragging when spoken aloud.
Suddenly, he turned to Pan Zha saying, "Now please take Lan Zhuanghe and Pan Zha with me to the 99th Town, where there are still some who want me and my family to get out."
Then suddenly, Sikong Jing added, "Another order for the 96th Legion, take Yan Ruyu and Yuwen Guan into custody, and wait for my decision."
Although Sikong Jing didn’t yet know that Yan Ruyu was the Blower who had swayed Pan Zha this time.
But he would certainly not let this woman go.
Just as Sikong Jing led 30,000 99th Soldiers towards the 99th Town, Cao Yi returned to the Central Castle.
He met with the Beigong Xianfeng and asked, "Commander, I don’t understand."
What he didn’t understand, of course, like Elder Wei and others, was why promote Ning Jingjing, knowing that this battle had nothing to do with her?
And to promote her all the way to the 66th Legion—that was too great a leap and would provoke the dissatisfaction of numerous generals.
"Because I don’t know how to deal with a battlefield genius with only a Spirit Martial Root, I can only test her with methods, and I really want to know to what extent she can perform."
"The 66th Legion—if Ning Jingjing can’t handle it, then we’ll have to look to him."
"Can Sikong Jing still give me a surprise? Can he make me determined enough to offer him an even higher position?"
Beigong Xianfeng took a gentle sip of tea, his aged eyes filled with anticipation.
Cao Yi was stunned. He finally understood Beigong Xianfeng’s reasoning, but could a nobody from the Canglong Domain with a Spirit Martial Root truly take command of the 66th Legion and conquer the dissenters of the Long Night Black Burning Army?
He held severe doubts...
The elite troops numbered 200,000, and it was no longer simply a minor skirmish.
When 30,000 Black-armored Soldiers rushed in, families also ran out one after another, followed by a few elders and an old woman leading the charge, along with a few ruffians adding fuel to the fire, painting Sikong Jing as an utterly despicable figure.
However, at that moment, a few Black-armored Soldiers charged out, shouting, "Stop talking, all of you shut up!"
These Black-armored Soldiers were family members of the elders, old woman, and the ruffians. Dammit, didn’t they know how formidable Brother Sikong was? And now, there were orders from the commander to slay Pan Zha and Lan Zhuanghe!
To still be shouting , it was terribly embarrassing.
Being family to the elders and ruffians, these Black-armored Soldiers really wanted to dig a hole and bury themselves and their shame.
At this time, Sikong Jing stepped forward, tossing down Lan Zhuanghe and Pan Zha where Elder Wei proclaimed the personal orders of the Commander, and then two Deputy Generals personally executed the two men.
After a series of actions, the whole 99th Town became as silent as a realm of ghosts.
Then Elder Wei announced that everyone should settle their family affairs within half a month, after which they would leave the 99th Town to enter the 66th Town!
All at once, the entire town was in an uproar, and all the families were stupefied.
"Let each soldier go home and have a meal to celebrate with his family," he said.
"And there’s no need to worry. I believe General Ning will definitely lead everyone to the 66th Legion."
As Sikong Jing observed the situation across the town, he no longer agonized over it and turned to head home with Su Yuexi and Mei Xiaofang.
However, just as they turned around, several terrifying screams rang out.
A few young ruffians were directly crippled on the spot.
The ones who crippled them were Black-armored Soldiers, fathers or brothers of the ruffians, who had previously dared to heed Lady Pan’s instigation to harass Brother Sikong’s wife. Not killing them was already being lenient.
In the end, these Black-armored Soldiers naturally had to apologize to Sikong Jing.
This was just a minor episode in the 99th Town, followed by the sounds of celebration echoing throughout the town.
As for Sikong Jing and his family, all the families of the soldiers underwent a hundred and eighty-degree change in attitude. Many people brought gifts, and the house inside and out was full of people, all filled with laughter...
Soon after, 50,000 Black-armored Soldiers from the 96th Legion suddenly arrived, seeking an audience with Sikong Jing.