"Salute the Commander!"
Standing upright with impeccable posture, Regiment Commander Wang Lin of the modernized standard army gave a crisp military shout in front of Huo Yuhao.
"Com—man—der—sir!"
The thunderous voices of the soldiers echoed through the valley, rolling over the hills and reverberating long after the final note had dropped.
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but feel stirred by the overwhelming momentum and passionate spirit of the soldiers. He glanced around the area, slightly speechless.
'Didn't I tell them not to treat me like this…'
The title "Commander," which had now taken hold among the ranks, had come from an offhand comment Huo Yuhao made while chatting with Wang Lin. He'd joked that he wasn't a regiment commander but had the authority to oversee the entire army—like a true "Commander." Who would have thought Wang Lin would take that seriously and spread the title throughout the troops?
Once the echoes of the unified greeting faded, Wang Lin straightened again and said with unwavering respect:
"The new First Army of the Sun Moon Empire's land forces is assembled. Commander, please conduct your review!"
The name "First Army" was also chosen by Huo Yuhao himself. A unit with such an exceptional purpose and structure naturally deserved such a title of honor. Though it currently only had one thousand troops—far from the size of a true army—Huo Yuhao had every confidence that this force would grow rapidly. After all, it was made up of ordinary people, and there was no shortage of them.
Seeing the soldiers in their clean, neatly pressed camouflage uniforms standing with precision, Huo Yuhao felt he couldn't brush it off with casual words. He composed himself, grateful that he was wearing his formal Mingde Hall uniform.
"Very well. Let's begin. I want to inspect the results of your training."
And so, under Huo Yuhao's watchful eye, the First Army carried out a full-scale demonstration, akin to a military parade.
Even just observing their energetic demeanor, Huo Yuhao could tell the months of hard training hadn't gone to waste. In fact, it felt like he had been transported back to his past life—watching the disciplined troops that had often appeared on television screens.
But what surprised Huo Yuhao even more was their actual combat proficiency. Each squad had not only mastered their new combat soul tools and tactical assignments, but they could now coordinate with one another in complex formations: one-to-one, two-to-two, three-to-three. This thousand-man force could function as lone wolves or as a coordinated pack, moving like a singular organism.
It was no exaggeration to say they were battle-ready—a force with formidable combat strength.
The reason the First Army had progressed so quickly was due to the sheer determination of its soldiers. These men and women had once been dismissed as cannon fodder, disrespected and disposable in the eyes of soul masters and soul engineers. But if they could learn to use powerful gear and strike down those who once looked down on them—who wouldn't train like mad?
And with Douluo Continent's naturally strong physique among its general population, this army now rivaled the combat effectiveness of modern Earth's military forces.
Pleased with the results, Huo Yuhao gave the order for a seven-day rest and reorganization period. The announcement was met with cheers from the exhausted troops—though some voiced regret at having to step away from their beloved weapons.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao smiled and explained:
"My soldiers, the Sun Moon Empire is in a time of great unrest. The political struggles within the royal family are constantly shifting. To put it bluntly—civil war could break out at any moment."
At those words, the entire valley fell silent. The soldiers straightened, holding their breath as they waited for his next directive. Civil war… What would that mean?
"It means," Huo Yuhao continued, his voice steady and powerful, "that our First Army will soon have the opportunity to prove ourselves on the battlefield. It's time to show the Emperor—and the world—that ordinary people are not worthless. On the field of battle, you too can be a mighty army, undefeated and indomitable!"
His voice boomed like thunder, and moments later, the soldiers erupted with passionate cheers, roaring as if they were already marching into war.
Once, they had been reluctant, timid soldiers afraid of combat. Now, they were trained professionals, yearning to annihilate the enemy in righteous fury.
And all of it was thanks to the rise of soul tool technology. With power came courage—and purpose.
After a brief motivational speech, Huo Yuhao had set the tone. The First Army would now remain on standby, ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
But there was one more thing to take care of.
Pulling Wang Lin aside, Huo Yuhao lowered his voice and said:
"Commander Wang, while our First Army's strength is now enough to rival conventional soul engineer regiments, we still lack the means to face truly top-tier experts—those above the Soul Sage level."
Wang Lin let out a sigh. He knew it was true. He himself wasn't especially powerful, and if they were ever attacked by a Soul Douluo, the results could be catastrophic.
"That's why," Huo Yuhao said with a meaningful glance, "I've arranged for a top-tier powerhouse to be assigned to your unit as a military escort. You can give him orders as needed—he's… unique. A little simple-minded, perhaps, but more than reliable. Work with him to ensure the safety of our forces when facing high-level threats."
Wang Lin looked at Huo Yuhao, eyes wide with astonishment. He didn't ask any further questions—he simply nodded solemnly. But the curiosity burned within him. Just how powerful was this supposed escort?
Huo Yuhao smiled faintly and answered the unspoken question.
"Titled Douluo."
Wang Lin nearly choked on his own spit. He coughed violently, caught off-guard by the response.
A Titled Douluo!?
Honestly, even if Huo Yuhao had said he was sending a Soul Sage or Soul Douluo, Wang Lin would have been shocked—but a Titled Douluo?
That level of power was virtually sacred in the Sun Moon Empire. Very few soul masters ever achieved such a height. Only the most elite national-level forces, like the Empire's "Hand of the Nation" soul engineer battalion, could boast such a guardian.
In the Douluo Federation, Titled Douluo were assigned only to the most elite soul master legions—true trump cards of war.
Although such individuals were rarely used directly in combat due to their overwhelming destructive power—deploying one could lead to horrific slaughter—having a Titled Douluo present was the ultimate deterrent.
For Wang Lin, it was almost unthinkable that someone like that would be following their First Army into battle.
And yet… here they were.
(End of Chapter)
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