Chapter 700: Eve of Departure

A month later, the ninth prince stood atop a dais, holding up a jade seal with both hands.

As the proof of kingship linked with the will of the world, it descended on the dais, and a pillar of light from the heavens enveloped the ninth prince.

The ninth prince floated in mid-air. Wisps of formless energy cradled him as the jade seal radiated with light. A multicolored heart appeared in the air, releasing dazzling rays of rainbow light with every thump. It slowly descended into the ninth prince's chest, trailing rainbow skeins of light.

This was the heart of the world, which granted its bearer the authority and might of the king of the realm.

The three remaining princes stood quietly beneath the stage, not trying to prevent the ceremony.

Their eyes were ringed with a rainbow gleam; with Zhang Lie's mistmeld clam soulshard at work, they had lost all interest in becoming king.

After consuming large quantities of the alcohol tribe's alcohol, the ninth prince's body was able to merge completely with the heart of the world, unlike the eighth prince.

As the ninth prince inclined his head and roared into the air, the entire world shook. The skies were dyed a vibrant gold. The golden radiance heralded, to all the lifeforms of the world, that a new king of the realm had been born.

The ninth prince felt as though his body were full of energy, as though he could easily control the entire world. He fell to the stage and appeared before Zhang Lie, whereupon he bowed deeply. "Master."

The ninth prince knew very well that his accomplishments were all thanks to Zhang Lie. Without Zhang Lie's presence, he would have died to the pack of superior-grade lifeforms chasing after him.

Without Zhang Lie's presence, he wouldn't even have managed to return to the capital safely.

Without Zhang Lie's presence, he wouldn't have managed such impressive feats during the royal hunt.

Without Zhang Lie's presence, he would have remained the powerless ninth prince.

Without Zhang Lie's presence, he wouldn't have acquired the king of the realm's jade seal.

Without Zhang Lie's presence, he couldn't have become the king of the realm, no matter what.

As a result, even after becoming the king of the realm, he remained wholly respectful of Zhang Lie—no, more so.

Zhang Lie had finally fulfilled his promise to the ninth prince. He nodded in satisfaction. "Very good. You might be the new king of the realm, but you were ultimately aided by external factors. Remember that your strength is all you can count on for certain, so don't fall behind on your cultivation. Otherwise, you won't be able to maintain your position stably."

Subsequently, the ninth prince convened his first session of court.

He sat on the throne where his father used to sit as he watched the hundred officials of court kneel and bow to him.

Zhang Lie glanced at the ninth prince, smiling at him as though the ninth prince were his son.

Upon seeing Zhang Lie's smile, the ninth prince's first commandment was, "Grant my master a seat!"

Very quickly, the guards rushed over with an ornate seat, which was placed before any of the officials. Zhang Lie sat down with a smile.

The ninth prince—no, now the king of the realm—proclaimed, "From today onwards, my master need bow to no person, not even me!"

The ninth prince didn't grow infatuated with his newfound power. It was precisely because he had become the king of the realm that he was now aware of Zhang Lie's limitless strength, which was able to upend the entire world.

As for Zhang Lie, the reason he had favored the ninth prince was largely because he understood the ninth prince's character. Otherwise, he would hardly have spent so much effort on him.

One of the more senior officials, envious of Zhang Lie's treatment, advised, "Your majesty, this sort of thing..."

Even he, an elder who had served two kings of the realm from almost the very beginning, hadn't received such preferential treatment—but now Zhang Lie, a newcomer to court, didn't have to show anyone else respect?

The king of the realm replied, "Were it not for my master's assistance, our world would have fallen to the Jinghun. If not for the fact that my master has expressed a desire to leave, I would even go as far as to instate him as premier to the court. Anyone who raises an objection shall be sentenced to death! Furthermore, I grant my master the title of duke, the Duke Yongheng!"

The officials were all astounded. The previous king of the realm had never conferred the status of nobility to anyone, let alone as high-ranking a position as duke. The king had ruled alone for what seemed like an eternity.

In principle, dukes had to answer to the king of the realm, but in practice, their dukedoms would be like independent countries.

As a duke, Zhang Lie wouldn't need to obey the king of the realm's commands, and he would be able to collect his own taxes, field his own troops, and even raise a standing army. In other words, he would have a personal kingdom of his own.

The previous king of the realm hadn't abolished the notion of nobility, but the fact that the king of the realm had refused to use that power over the course of his long tenure spoke to his dissatisfaction with it.

The court officials were all in a hubbub because of the king's latest pronouncement, but before they could refute the king's judgment, a wave of rainbow fog passed over them all.

The king of the realm waved a hand and dispelled the protection of the realm from court. As a result, the officials were struck by the full force of the fog. They knelt as one and shouted earnestly, "The king is wise! Long live the king!"

After becoming the king of the realm, the ninth prince learned that his power could, to some extent, suppress the ridiculous power of hypnotism that his master possessed.

He also learned that Zhang Lie had never used that hypnotism on him, leaving him relieved and even more respectful of Zhang Lie. "Master, if you don't mind, I'll grant you the land that I received from the previous king."

The land was in the process of being developed when the incident with the eighth prince and the Jinghun happened, and it was quite a pity.

"Thank you, your majesty," Zhang Lie replied.

The ninth prince continued, "Master, how do you plan to deal with the Jinghun?"

"They have quite useful abilities, so I think I'll leave them with me."

The king of the realm sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't know what they've done with the primordial starflower. I apologize, Master, but I can't fulfill the promise I made to you initially. As compensation, please, take anything you want from the imperial treasury."

"Very well."

"What will you do next, Master? Do you have any plans for the future?"

Zhang Lie asked, "Are there any more disaster-grade lifeforms around here? The fifth-level beasts you speak of."

The king of the realm leaned back in contemplation as he accessed his powers. After a few moments, he smiled. "None that have fully formed, but there are two that are about to evolve."

"Oh? Not bad. I'll wait for them to evolve into disaster-grade lifeforms before killing them. I intend to use this world as a base while I conquer other worlds to find disaster-grade lifeforms within."

"Do you need any support? Some troops, perhaps?"

Zhang Lie shook his head. "There's no need. You just became the king of the realm, and it won't look good if you start dispatching troops to conquer other worlds. There's no need to worry about my business. Restore the capital and stabilize your position first."

"Yes, Master!"

Zhang Lie turned and called out, "Jian Nong, while I'm not around, you'll guard him for me!"

In principle, after becoming the king of the realm, the ninth prince should have been the strongest existence in this world apart from Zhang Lie, and even if he somehow encountered an opponent he couldn't face, he would be able to escape using the authority innate to his position.

However, Zhang Lie knew that there were no absolutes in the universe. The king of the realm wasn't impossible to kill; the death of the old king was a cautionary tale.

This period, during which the king of the realm was still acclimating to his skills and authority, would be when he was the weakest. Furthermore, the king had obtained his strength from Zhang Lie's alcohol, rather than from proper training, and it would take him time to consolidate that power.

Jian Nong wasn't all that strong, but he would do in a pinch. With him around, it was unlikely that the new king would suddenly fall.

Jian Nong didn't dare refuse Zhang Lie's command. He immediately nodded. "Yes, sir!"

1. 永恒, lit. eternal