"Since the General holds this humble one in such high regard, why not officially promote me at once?"
A voice both cute and subtly authoritative rang out, reaching every ear present.
Following the sound, the crowd turned to see a pink-haired, petite figure... No, it was Lady Fu Xuan, the current General of the Luofu, her wisdom and beauty radiating before them.
Fu Xuan stood with her arms crossed, her expression composed, yet the anticipation in her eyes nearly filled the entire Seat of Divine Foresight.
"Ha ha ha, Lady Fu," Jing Yuan chuckled, deliberately avoiding her question and returning with one of his own. "Aren't you currently advising the Luofu on strategy? What brings you here?"
"Hmph." Realizing Jing Yuan was deliberately evading her question, Fu Xuan let out a cold huff, but she still answered his inquiry:
"The hour approaches for the Soul-Soothing Ceremony. I've come to inform you."
"I see," Jing Yuan nodded, deliberately emphasizing the title "General." "Indeed, a matter worthy of the General's personal attention."
As expected, upon hearing those four words she had longed to hear, the corners of Fu Xuan's lips instantly curled upward, and the smile continued to widen uncontrollably, with no hint of restraint.
"Ahem... Since... Since that's the case, this humble one will wait for you outside."
Realizing she was struggling to contain her elation, Fu Xuan forced herself to maintain composure, coughed a few times, and uttered these words. To avoid revealing her unseemly excitement, she turned and left without hesitation.
"Hahaha, Lady Fu is truly an intriguing talent," Jing Yuan chuckled, watching her retreating figure. It was unclear whether he was praising her or subtly mocking her.
"This Master Diviner... No, this Acting General... Sometimes, she just seems so silly..." The moment Jing Yuan finished speaking, March 7th blurted out a mutter, seemingly having inadvertently voiced her inner thoughts again.
The moment March 7th uttered these words, all eyes turned to her.
"Ugh! You all... you didn't hear anything, right...?"
Feeling their gazes, March 7th instantly realized she had blurted out her inner thoughts again.
"I... I'm sorry, General Jing Yuan. I didn't mean to disparage General Fu Xuan at all..."
Recalling what her beloved Sister Lumina had warned her—Never provoke a Luofu General on Luofu territory—March 7th quickly lowered her head and apologized.
March 7th, March 7th, you're such an idiot... Why do you always blurt out what you're thinking...?
Simultaneously, she cursed herself inwardly, utterly baffled by why her internal thoughts always slipped out...
"Ha ha ha, Miss March, no need to apologize." Watching March 7th bow apologetically and hearing her words, Jing Yuan waved his hand, indicating he hadn't taken any offense.
"Miss March, you're not wrong. Lady Fu Xuan is indeed not yet fully qualified to hold the position of General."
Far from taking offense, Jing Yuan actually agreed with March 7th's assessment.
Fu Xuan was far too impulsive, rushing into action without sufficient thought or preparation.
Impulsive was just a polite way of saying foolish. To put it bluntly, she was reckless.
Jing Yuan acknowledged Fu Xuan's capabilities, but he had reservations about her judgment.
If Fu Xuan ever had a sudden breakthrough in wisdom, Jing Yuan would gladly entrust her with the General's mantle...
Jing Yuan shook his head, dismissing the thought. Given her current temperament, the only way for her to suddenly gain insight seemed to be by sleeping with a higher pillow.
"Everyone, the Soul-Soothing Ceremony is about to begin. As the General of the Luofu, I must attend. I trust you all will..."
Jing Yuan turned his gaze to the group and asked, "Are you all familiar with the Soul-Soothing Ceremony?"
Then, as if afraid they might not know what this so-called "Soul-Soothing Ceremony" was, he kindly explained, "The Soul-Soothing Ceremony is a ritual held after a war to bid farewell to the departed spirits of the Cloud Knights..."
"Although Miss Lumina secretly protected the Luofu during the Lord Ravager's invasion, ensuring no civilians lost their lives, the Cloud Knights who fought on the front lines still suffered heavy losses..."
"The Luofu will never fail to honor those Cloud Knights who sacrificed their lives for our sake."
"To ensure their peaceful departure and to inform them that the Luofu has successfully weathered this crisis, the Soul-Soothing Ceremony was established."
"We Cloud Knights are like the clouds that veil the sky, guarding the Xianzhou! It is for this reason that every Cloud Knight deserves our utmost respect."
Jing Yuan's voice carried profound solemnity, reflecting his deep reverence for each and every Cloud Knight, as he himself had stated.
Though the Cloud Knights served the people of the Luofu, they enjoyed numerous benefits.
These benefits weren't granted arbitrarily; they were earned by each Cloud Knight with their very lives...
The Luofu's peaceful sea of lights was also a testament to the tireless efforts of every Cloud Knight...
"General Jing Yuan, what are you saying? Everyone who fights in war deserves to be called a hero."
"How could we possibly miss a ceremony honoring these heroes?"
Hearing Jing Yuan's words, Lumina rose to her feet and countered with a question.
Lumina had witnessed countless heroes, and her respect for them ran deep...
Because... only those who truly understand the brutality of war can appreciate their sacrifices...
And by coincidence, Lumina had seen many wars—from small-scale tribal clashes to wars between nations, planets, and even entire galaxies...
(P.S.: The Cosmic Swarm Disaster was a cosmos-level war that occurred roughly 800 Amber Eras ago, so the protagonist never experienced it and could never have.)