We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 419 Fame Spreads Across the Seven Seas! The Medal Conferment Ceremony!
a few days later.

News of the victory of the Far North Expeditionary Force has spread to every corner of the Seven Seas World.

Countless people cheered and shed tears for it.

The cataclysmic disaster that had previously terrified and unsettled countless civilians has finally vanished at this moment.

The members of the Far North Expeditionary Force come from all over the Seven Seas World.

Therefore, when they returned, many details and rumors about this battle spread throughout every sea area.

Among them, the stories of the ten members of the infiltration team, as well as the legendary figures such as Lord of Cinder, Heller, and Musa in the final battle, are the most widely circulated.

All of a sudden.

These heroes who saved the world became famous, their fame spreading throughout the seven seas.

Among them, the name of Captain Shane of the Black Swan shines like a brilliant star in every corner of the Seven Seas World.

He not only played a key role in the infiltration operation.

Furthermore, in the final battle, he fought alongside many powerful figures and personally killed the [Great Sin Apostle], successfully preventing the cataclysmic disaster from descending.

It can be said.

The current Xia En is a living legend in the Seven Seas World!
As Shane's fame spread throughout the Seven Seas, some of his past deeds, including his place of origin, Duke Island, were unearthed by busybodies in the Seven Seas.

Only then did people realize with surprise.

From the time Xia En became a Secret Pathfinder and began to make a name for himself to now participating in this far northern expedition, it has been less than two years in total!

What an amazing talent!
As Shane's fame soared, Duke Island became a hot topic in the Seven Seas World.

This once obscure island has now attracted the attention of countless adventurers, merchants, and scholars because of Shane.

They flocked to this land, attempting to uncover the secrets of Shane's rise to power.

In the Storm Tavern on Duke Island.

These days, business at this little tavern is booming, several times more so than ever before.

The tavern owner, Bess, was beaming with joy.

The number of gold dragon coins she has earned in the past few days is more than she has earned in the past few decades!

But even so.

Bisi did not bring up her past relationship with Xia En, nor did she use it as a gimmick to attract customers.

Only occasionally would a customer overhear the proprietress softly sighing.

"I never imagined that little guy would grow up to be this big..."

"Ha... Back then, I actually had a chance to trick him into bed!"

As for the former crew members of the Black Swan...

Now that things have come to this, it's unrealistic to say I have no regrets.

But on the other hand.

Xia En's current level is far beyond their reach.

Even the veteran crew members like Renate could no longer look up at Shane's back.

In this situation, they actually felt relieved.

Some crew members even felt that having had such an experience with Shane was something to be proud of.

……

……

Compared to trivial matters like fame and prestige.

What surprised and shocked the civilians on the Seven Seas even more was...

After the death of the Great Sin Apostle, the secret power of the entire Seven Seas World seems to have become even more concentrated!

Almost all those who followed the secret path could feel that their strength and rank had improved considerably.

Even some ordinary people who did not have the aptitude to become Secret Path users embarked on the Secret Path and became extraordinary individuals under the influence of the world's transformation!
Many of those high-level secret cultivators who were already quite powerful have broken through to higher ranks.

This breakthrough was particularly evident among those who returned from the Far North Expeditionary Force.

This is because they have endured the harsh trials of the far north, facing numerous dangers and challenges.

Their will and strength had already been tempered on the brink of life and death.

Therefore, when the world's mystical power became even more concentrated, their breakthroughs appeared exceptionally rapid and remarkable.

Several legendary powerhouses emerged.

This can be described as the biggest breakthrough wave of Secret Pathfinders in history!

If I had to put it in a way, it's somewhat like the "revival of spiritual energy" in some novels.

The Far North Expeditionary Force was among the first to benefit from this.

This change is not just an improvement in individual strength, but a complete reshuffling of the power system in the entire Seven Seas World.

at the same time.

Another major event that shook the Seven Seas.

It is a fusion of the Seven Seas World and several Secret Realms.

Some captains discovered that unfamiliar islands had suddenly appeared in what was once a familiar sea area.

It appears that creatures not belonging to the Seven Seas World live there.

Some have discovered that a jet-black seawater is emerging from the depths of the [Sea of ​​Annihilation], forming a completely new and unknown sea area.

A bizarre and terrifying monster roamed that sea.

Some people discovered that a huge whirlpool suddenly appeared in the originally calm sea, and the whirlpool seemed to connect to another world.

Many people even heard ancient roars echoing from the sky.

According to some esoteric practitioners.

That was the roar of the ancient dragon!

This means that the "Secret Realm" called "Dragon's Nest" is constantly getting closer to the "Seven Seas World".

The various factions in the Seven Seas World began to move swiftly, attempting to explore these newly emerged Secret Realms and sea areas.

Merchants sensed a business opportunity, while adventurers saw new adventures to be had.

Scholars are busy studying the reasons and effects behind these changes.

Everyone realized that the Seven Seas World had entered a brand new era!

……

……

Just as such a major change was taking place in the Seven Seas World.

On [Liuli Island].

A long-awaited medal-awarding ceremony is about to take place.

This medal-awarding ceremony was both to reward the survivors of the Far North Expeditionary Force and to commemorate those who died in the great war.

The port of [Liuli Island] is now crowded with ships from all over the Seven Seas.

Flags fluttered and the crowd roared.

It was as if the eyes of the entire world were focused on this island.

The island's streets were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the air was filled with a festive atmosphere.

But amidst the liveliness, one can still sense a touch of solemnity and reverence.

The award ceremony was held in the central square of [Liuli Island].

Tall stone pillars stand around the square, engraved with ancient legends and heroic deeds of the Seven Seas World.

In the center of the square, a huge stone monument stands majestically.

The stone tablet is engraved with the names of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the Far North Expedition.

In front of the stone tablet, rows of neatly arranged seats await the heroes who are about to receive their honors.

clang--

As the bells rang, the crowd in the square gradually quieted down.

Representatives from various factions in the Seven Seas World, along with numerous captains, gathered here to witness this historic moment.

The first to take the stage was General Moritz, the commander-in-chief of the Far North Expeditionary Force.

His voice was deep and powerful as he slowly recounted the hardships and sacrifices of the expedition, and the stories of the warriors who fought to the last moment in the far north.

His words were filled with respect and mourning, and the atmosphere at the scene was solemn. After recounting the deeds of the Far North Expeditionary Force, Moritz announced...

"The medal awarding ceremony...officially begins!"

The first to step onto the stage were the legendary powerhouses who would participate in the final battle.

Without the support of these powerful figures, the Far North Expeditionary Force might have already suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the filthy creatures.

They also played a restraining role in the battle against the [Great Sin Apostles].

Musa, Thunder Overlord, Star Elder, and others took the stage together after the ordinary legends.

Below the stage, Musa looked at the stone tablet not far away, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Mr. Heller of the Deep Sect, although he has always been his old rival, has also brought considerable trouble to the Radiant Sect.

But the thought of never seeing his old rival again filled Musa with a sense of melancholy.

But that's it.

A hand reached out from the shadows behind Musa and patted him on the shoulder.

"Hey, old man!"

Immediately afterwards, Mr. Heller appeared.

He asked with a mocking expression, "You don't think I'm dead, and you're feeling sad about it, do you?"

"No way, right?"

Musa was startled by the sudden sound.

He turned around and saw Mr. Heller's face with a mocking smile, and was immediately at a loss for words.

"You guy..."

Musa shook his head, but a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

"I really thought you died in the far north."

Mr. Heller shrugged and said casually, "Oh dear, I'm not that easy to die."

"Besides, if he were to die like this, wouldn't that mean you, old man, would have one less opponent? That won't do!"

But soon, Musa noticed that Mr. Heller's aura was abnormally weak, less than one percent of its original strength.

He immediately frowned and asked.

"Your rank..."

Heller waved his hand dismissively.

"That battle cost me ninety percent of my clones. How could I possibly survive without paying a price?"

"However, it's already very lucky to have survived."

As he spoke, Heller looked at the densely packed names on the stone tablet.

Behind each of those names is a soldier who sacrificed his life for this battle.

Compared to these people, Heller, who survived, was indeed considered lucky.

Heller patted Musa on the shoulder: "Come on, old man, it'll be our turn soon."

"But don't steal my thunder later."

Musa snorted: "It's not certain who will steal whose thunder yet."

The two smiled at each other and then walked side by side to the front of the stage.

When the crowd in the square saw these two legendary figures take the stage together, they burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers.

The prominent figures of the [Deepest Sect] and the [Radiant Sect] stood side by side, a sight that might not occur even once in a century.

After that, the three who had infiltrated the [Great Yan] operation took the stage.

Benny, William, and Lattywen.

After this period of recuperation, Benny's aura has clearly broken through the legendary level, and his strength has improved once again.

Latiwen's aura has become increasingly sacred and pure, giving her a translucent quality.

William's injuries have fully healed, and he is full of energy and vitality.

Currently, all three of them have become rising stars in their respective factions and are highly valued.

However, after the three were awarded special medals, the people in the audience quickly realized something.

What about the other survivors of the infiltration operation?

especially……

Where is Captain Shane?
Just as a slight commotion arose from the audience.

Moritz began, “Originally, this most precious medal should have been awarded to the hero who performed the most outstandingly in the far north expedition—Captain Shane.”

"However, it is regrettable that Captain Shane has a more important mission to attend to and therefore cannot be present."

"He told me that this honor belongs to all those who fought for the Seven Seas World."

"It belongs to those comrades who have left, and it also belongs to everyone who is still protecting this sea area!"

Moritz's words were brief, yet powerful.

The applause from the audience surged like a tide and lasted for a long time.

At the end of the awarding ceremony, Moritz added.

"In this expedition, there is another contributor who cannot be ignored, and that is... the King of Cinder and his [Great Yan Kingdom]!"

"Without them, we would not have been able to win this battle at all."

"Moreover, in fact, they saved the world once, thousands of years ago..."

Before long, Moritz recounted the past of the King of Cinder and the Great Yan Kingdom, and how they saved the world.

This story was once buried in the dust of history, unknown to anyone.

But this time.

Moritz did not forget it, and even made it public on the Seven Seas.

From now on, people will remember that there once existed a country called the Great Yan Kingdom.

It was that country that, at its own cost, protected this world!

……

……

Just as the awarding ceremony was being held in a lively atmosphere on [Liuli Island].

Someone who is cared for, wondered about, and admired by many lies peacefully on a deck chair on the Black Swan.

The warm sunshine shone down, and a gentle sea breeze blew by.

Xia En squinted slightly, enjoying the peace, tranquility, and beauty of the moment.

The reason he didn't attend the award ceremony is quite simple.

That is……

tired!

After such a protracted and extremely difficult battle.

Xia En was already exhausted, both physically and mentally.

In addition, the residual internal injuries have not yet healed, and going to [Liuli Island] may attract unnecessary attention from others.

Xia En simply did not participate in the ceremony.

After fighting for so long, can't he at least enjoy himself?

However, the "Light of the North" medal awarded this time had already been delivered to Xia En.

The medal is a deep silver-gray color with a ring of fine runes inlaid around the edge.

The patterns of the runes shimmered faintly in the light, flowing as if they were alive.

Besides the honor symbolized by the "Light of the North," holding it in a transaction with the Federation will grant you extremely favorable treatment.

This could even be used to mobilize an entire medium-sized navy.

Moreover, the Seven Seas Federation also granted Major General Shaen the military rank as promised.

If he is willing to serve in the Federation Navy, he could become the youngest general in the Federation at any time!
This honor is even more extravagant than that of Colonel Gold.

However, Shane refused the request.

He had more important things to do than become a naval admiral.

(End of this chapter)