The entire hall fell silent at those words as everyone looked surprised.
Is there really such a thing? Who is this person who’s worthy of the garrison commander's personal appearance to present an award?
Whoever received such attention from the garrison would certainly gain significant prestige within the base city.
"Please welcome Li Xiaofei from Red Flag High School," Ding Longao slowly announced.
It was as if a bomb had been dropped in the hall. The atmosphere exploded instantly. This time, the clamor was impossible to suppress. People made all sorts of confused sounds, merging into a unified cacophony that expressed everyone's shock.
It’s Li Xiaofei again.
This guy had just been awarded by the city leader moments ago. Now, he’s being called up by the garrison commander for another award.
Xiong Zhigang and his companions were utterly dumbfounded. It felt like they had been struck by lightning. Even Tan Qingying was stunned.
Li Xiaofei slowly stood up under countless eyes and walked towards the main stage, step by step. The situation had gone beyond what he had expected. His decision to go to the city wall last night and support the army had been a spur-of-the-moment idea, primarily driven by curiosity and a desire to see the battlefield firsthand. He hadn't anticipated receiving such a significant reward.
He had already been pleasantly surprised when the young officer Wu Junzhuang brought a large amount of equipment and resources to the slum in the morning. Now, he was in the spotlight once again.
At the same time, a big question arose in his mind.
I was brought to the banquet by Little Ying, and was not officially invited. Why were both the government and the military certain that I would be here and ready to present me with an award?
It didn't seem entirely logical. But he didn't have time to ponder it further. When he walked onto the stage, Li Xiaofei saluted Ding Longao. The small gesture pleased Ding Longao, as a military man.
"I'm sure many of you are aware that a beast tide erupted last night, and there was fierce fighting on the city wall." Ding Longao's gaze swept over the shocked faces in the audience as he spoke firmly. "What you may not know is that this beast tide was not a random occurrence. It was orchestrated by a Grade Five star beast, the Yinji Moon Fox. The military faced immense pressure during the battle, but thanks to the intervention of the Goddess, Ye Liuying, who repelled the Yinji Moon Fox and scattered the beast tide, we were able to manage."
As soon as these words fell, the hall erupted in even louder gasps. The news had a profound impact on everyone present, including the top-tier figures.
Beast tide and a Grade Five star beast. The combination of these terms was enough to make the five major families turn pale. That was a force capable of destroying an entire base city. Fortunately, Liuhe Base City had a stunning martial arts genius, Ye Liuying. As long as the Goddess was around, the base city was temporarily safe.
"Throughout the entire battle, only the Cloudy Sky Gang, led by Li Xiaofei, adhered to the Great Xia Association's code and went to the city wall to assist in its defense," Ding Longao announced.
"The Cloudy Sky Gang performed exceptionally well during the battle, killing over a thousand star beasts. Li Xiaofei's performance was particularly outstanding as he assisted the Goddess in battle, making significant contributions. Therefore, the garrison command has decided to award Li Xiaofei the third-class Qinling Badge as encouragement."
Ding Longao's starforce qi infused voice echoed through the vast hall, silencing all discussions. In fact, even without Ding Longao's use of starforce, the hall would have suddenly fallen silent.
The Qinling Badge! It was the Great Xia Republic's symbol of military merit. Just as the Kunlun Badge was the highest level of government honor, the Qinling Badge was the symbol of military honor.
Very few people in the history of Liuhe Base City had managed to obtain both. Yet Li Xiaofei had done it in less than two months. Moreover, he was so young. These factors combined made many people suddenly suspect that Li Xiaofei might be an illegitimate child of some big shot. Caught up in speculation, many people missed Ding Longao's mention of Li Xiaofei assisting the Goddess Ye Liuying in battle.
The shock of the Qinling Badge was too overwhelming. Even Li Xiaofei himself was stunned.
He had learned from his teachers about the importance and significance of the Qinling Badge in his cultural studies at school. If receiving the third-class Kunlun Badge for donating six million cubic meters of pure water seemed reasonable, then getting a third-class Qinling Badge for helping defend the city wall the previous night was somewhat unbelievable.
Although he had killed many Mole Crows and defended the entrance to the supply elevator, these were just ordinary star beasts and a standard defense point. How could that warrant a Qinling Badge?
Li Xiaofei realized that there must be some hidden reasons behind this. Regardless, receiving a military merit badge was an enormous honor. The Qinling Badge not only symbolized glory but also granted the holder certain privileges.
For example, the holder would be protected by the military. In times of danger, they could seek assistance from the military. When enlisting, the holder could start as a squad leader, and as long as they did not make mistakes, their promotion and evaluation would be much faster than that of ordinary soldiers.
Even their family members would receive preferential treatment from the military, including monthly survival supplies. In the event of a major disaster, the military would prioritize the evacuation and protection of Qinling Badge holders and their families. In short, the badge established a strong relationship with the military.
The rousing military award music played, filling the hall with energy. However, the expected elegant hostess did not appear. Instead, a young woman dressed in casual attire emerged from backstage. She walked unhurriedly, holding the award tray in one hand, and approached Ding Longao and Li Xiaofei with a relaxed demeanor. Her leisurely, casual manner made her seem more like a girl strolling down the street rather than an award presenter.
The audience was taken aback.
However, this casually dressed woman was strikingly beautiful. She looked like an ethereal being from myth and legend as she radiated a transcendent aura. It was like she had walked out of a divine painting; everyone felt that even looking at her for too long would be a desecration.
Ding Longao was momentarily surprised to see the woman. But he quickly regained his composure and said, "Indeed, it is more fitting for you to present the award."
The woman did not speak. She handed the certificate to Li Xiaofei rather casually, then gracefully lifted her pale hand to adjust the front of his clothes, preparing to pin the badge on him.
Li Xiaofei found it a bit strange. A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted towards him. It wasn't the scent of cosmetics, but a natural body fragrance. The woman before him was unrealistically beautiful. Yet, Li Xiaofei felt a vague sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before.
The Qinling Badge was quickly pinned to his chest. The woman then smoothed out the wrinkles on Li Xiaofei's clothes. The gesture was somewhat intimate, but her presence was so commanding that Li Xiaofei remained still, allowing her to adjust his attire.
"Your outfit is quite nice," she said in a cool, clear voice. "I like it."
At that moment, Li Xiaofei's mind buzzed as he instantly realized who she was.