Chapter 219
Chapter 219: Eating Another’s Food Leaves One Obliged
Li Mu opened the resignation letter.
Its contents were written with great sincerity.
The general meaning was that Hong Liangpeng felt his leadership ability was insufficient.
For years, he had caused every indicator of the Wanren Military District to decline.
He was no longer suited to continue serving as the Commander-in-Chief of the Wanren Military District.
He requested to resign and return to the Patrol Department of the Bloodsea Military District.
Clearly, Hong Liangpeng had come from the Patrol Department of the Bloodsea Military District.
From the words in the letter, it was not difficult for Li Mu to sense Hong Liangpeng’s thoughts.
He also seemed to understand the source of Hong Liangpeng’s timid, conflict-avoidant personality.
All of it was because he was Profound Rank Ninth Grade!
As a martial artist, no one did not want to break through to the Earth Rank.
Back then, Hong Liangpeng had relied on extraordinary strength to establish illustrious military merit as a Junior Dragon General!
He had been promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Wanren Military District.
Perhaps at that time, Hong Liangpeng himself had not clearly thought through what he wanted.
Was it the authority of a commander-in-chief?
Or the advancement of an Earth Rank martial artist?
Before breaking through to the Earth Rank, he had not dared to casually cause trouble.
It was like someone who had won the lottery. Before cashing in the prize money, there was no need for him to enter the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race.
At the end of the letter, he had even mentioned Li Mu.
He said that Li Mu was exceptionally capable and suited to be entrusted with an important responsibility.
Pfft.
A wisp of Samadhi True Fire emerged from Li Mu’s fingertip.
It ignited the damp resignation letter.
“You are still the Commander-in-Chief of the Wanren Military District.”
“Rest well...”
There were only military posts assigned to the wrong places.
There were no military ranks promoted by mistake.
Hong Liangpeng had not failed the prestige of a Junior Dragon General.
As Li Mu’s footsteps receded into the distance, a gust of wind blew past.
The blood-red ground was gradually covered by falling leaves, leaving no trace behind...
When Li Mu returned to Linyuan City, the meeting in Linyuan City had already come to an end.
The soldiers of the Three Great Military Districts had also begun resting and reorganizing.
This time, twenty-two thousand people had been trapped in the Wanren Military District.
Seventeen thousand had returned.
More than five thousand had died!
It could only be called a disastrous loss!
And even that was thanks to Hong Liangpeng, who had held back more than a dozen Profound Ranks, including one Profound Rank Ninth Grade.
If that Profound Rank Ninth Grade had joined the slaughter, whether even ten thousand people could have returned would have been hard to say.
However, the first thing Li Mu did after returning was not reward the three armies.
That was the duty of the Military District’s commander-in-chief, deputy commander-in-chief, and the others.
Li Mu found the Minister of Publicity.
He told him to send another citywide message.
All independent martial artists and family-clan martial artists who had participated in this reinforcement operation were to go to the central plaza of the fortress to receive their rewards.
The Minister of Publicity did not even quite understand Li Mu’s intentions.
If Li Mu wanted to reward all the Profound Rank experts who had come to reinforce them, he could simply contact them directly.
After all, when they had come to assist, Li Mu had specifically asked Deputy Commander-in-Chief An to record everyone’s information and contact details.
Moreover, many Profound Rank experts were still waiting on standby in the fortress.
Only a small portion had gone to handle matters at home, and they would return soon.
However, he had no right to ask Li Mu to explain himself.
Once the message was sent, all the Profound Rank experts standing by in the central hall were the first to arrive at the plaza.
At that moment, countless experts had gathered in the plaza, from the military, the family clans, and the civilian world.
Aside from the two Earth Rank experts...
Eighty percent of Linyuan City’s highest combat power had gathered here.
Li Mu stood at the very front.
He called out in a clear, ringing voice, “The world has changed drastically, and Stage Three has descended!”
“At this moment of life and death!”
“Humanity must unite.”
“The Abyss-Suppression Army is Humanity’s city wall!”
“And you!”
“You experts who fought shoulder to shoulder with the Abyss-Suppression Army at the critical moment!”
“You are the city wall of the Abyss-Suppression Army!”
Li Mu’s voice was deep and stirring.
With the help of Profound Might, it echoed above the entire plaza.
Even these Profound Rank experts, who had usually heard every kind of flattery, could not help but feel their hearts burn with emotion.
Because they could feel Li Mu’s sincerity.
There were many people, especially some who held high positions, who would do everything they could to deny that they owed someone a favor, even when they did.
Because admitting that someone else was capable was the same as admitting they were not.
But Li Mu was just this open and straightforward.
Chu Ying, An Xing, and the others exchanged glances, their eyes filled with undisguised amazement and admiration for Li Mu.
This kid’s combat strength was extraordinary, but he had also mastered the art of speech.
One sentence: “The Abyss-Suppression Army is Humanity’s city wall.”
Then another: “You are the city wall of the Abyss-Suppression Army.”
It did not diminish the prestige of the Abyss-Suppression Army, yet it elevated these Profound Rank experts at the same time.
“So today, to thank you all for your selfless support...”
“I have several hundred pills here.”
“I can proudly say this.”
“Their effects are extraordinary!”
“These are rewards the Abyss-Suppression Army has kept at the bottom of its chest!”
“There are three kinds of effects in total. Qi-Gathering Pills increase cultivation. Body-Solidifying Pills temper the body. Spirit Blossom Pills strengthen the Dantian Sea and meridians!”
“You may each choose any two of the three types according to your needs!”
“To verify their effects...”
“Everyone may consume them on the spot.”
As Li Mu spoke, he opened several boxes on the table in front of him. They were all filled with pills.
Li Mu’s low-grade pills did not require Sweet Dew at all.
However, Li Mu’s Blessing Field produced Sweet Dew every three days, so Li Mu had used all of it on the spiritual herb seeds for high-grade pills.
As for the low-grade pills, Li Mu either made them into Spiritual Liquid or gave them to Song Chuhe.
Li Mu had not consumed too many high-grade pills at all.
Aside from eating them like meals in his daily life...
He now had more than two thousand High-Grade Qi-Gathering Pills alone!
Furthermore, the spiritual herbs enhanced by Sweet Dew were far superior in age compared to the quality of the previous ones, and their effects had greatly improved.
Combined, he also had nearly three thousand High-Grade Body-Fortifying Pills and Spirit Blossom Pills.
At this moment, taking out just over two hundred of each type was truly nothing more than a drizzle.
“Also!”
“Starting today, all Profound Rank experts who have supported my Abyss-Suppression Army, as well as their families!”
“Will all enjoy free medical services from the Abyss-Suppression Army!”
The moment Li Mu said this, the eyes of all the Profound Rank martial artists lit up.
To be honest, they did not really understand how good the pills were.
In their eyes, this condition Li Mu had just announced was even more attractive than the pills.
Martial artists were injured more frequently than anyone.
Even being a Profound Rank martial artist did not mean they all possessed recovery-type cultivation arts.
Once they were injured, not only would they have to spend money, they would certainly suffer.
If they were infected by some unknown monster poison, they might not be cured even after visiting every medical clinic.
But the Abyss-Suppression Army undoubtedly possessed the most advanced medical standards.
As for An Xing and the other officers of the Abyss-Suppression Army...
Their eyes shone even brighter!
Brilliant!
Truly brilliant!
With just a few pills and free medical care, Li Mu had firmly bound these experts, who already held goodwill toward the Abyss-Suppression Army, to the army itself.
At critical moments, these people would absolutely become part of the Abyss-Suppression Army in truth.
This move was extremely simple.
It was called eating another’s food leaves one obliged.
But when Li Mu used it, it was just this effective. The timing was perfect, and the reason was completely justified!
They truly had no choice but to admire him.
“All right. Everyone, please come forward to receive your rewards.”
Each of these Profound Rank experts was normally a renowned figure in their own domain.
Some even held official positions.
Yet now, they were lining up to receive rewards from Li Mu.
Li Mu warmly shook hands with each of them, then handed the pills to them with both hands.
Those who had received their pills gathered together and chatted.
The atmosphere quickly grew lively.
“Tiger Marquis Li is truly too courteous. You and I are both Law Enforcement Captains, so we are already half members of the Abyss-Suppression Army. I did not expect there would be rewards for us too.”
“This is exactly what makes Tiger Marquis Li so generous!”
“That is right. We are already Profound Ranks, so the effects of these pills will definitely be minimal. But Tiger Marquis Li’s sincerity is worth ten thousand gold.”
“Then we should not refuse Tiger Marquis Li’s kindness. Tiger Marquis Li told us to test them on the spot, so why not try them right here?”
“Haha, I have never really cultivated together with others before. This is quite interesting. Let’s try!”
As they spoke, one group had already gathered together and sat cross-legged.
In any case, this place was filled with experts. Every one of them was a Protective Vigil!
If one were to talk about cultivating safely, there was nowhere safer than here.
To be honest, everyone truly did not hold much hope for the pills.
Pills usable by Profound Ranks were already extremely precious.
They had seen every kind of exquisite and luxurious packaging used for each and every pill.
But Li Mu had taken out several hundred pills as casually as if they were candy!
How good could their effects be?
However, after these people sat cross-legged...
Two pills entered their stomachs at the same time.
After only a moment, one expert’s eyes suddenly widened, and his gaze became as clear as a college student’s...