Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Whoosh!
Countless messenger birds took flight from the capital, and news of this unprecedented shift in the Great Tang soon spread to all the surrounding countries.
“Haaah…”
Within Ü-Tsang’s royal palace, after learning of the Sage Emperor’s death, Dalon Trinling clutched the letter, raised his head, and let out a long sigh.
The Sage Emperor’s death was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise for the other countries, and the deaths of Wang Jiuling and Yao Chong were also an unexpected bonus, but Dalon Trinling had no joy on his face, only an indescribable melancholy.
The Sage Emperor and the two ministers of the Tang Empire had been their enemies, but they were also exceptional talents, heroes. Ü-Tsang had fought with these people, but it also created a grand era alongside them.
Heroes were also worthy of respect!
“Pass on my order! Dispatch a large delegation to the Tang capital to pay respects to the Sage Emperor. During the mourning period, Ü-Tsang will engage in no conflict with the Great Tang!” Dalon Trinling sternly said.
“Yes!”
All of the Great Tang was in a somber mood, everyone in mourning.
Within Taihe Palace, Eunuch Gao read out the Sage Emperor’s final decree.
“Acceding to the will of the heavens, the Emperor declares:
“The Fifth Son is currently Crown Prince, and We have observed him. Crown Prince Li Heng possesses a loyal and honest character, extraordinary intelligence, and a compassionate heart. He is the ideal candidate for this country’s divine throne!
“We entrust our throne to him, hoping that he is a wise sovereign beloved by all who does not disappoint our hopes, does not disappoint the expectations of the people. Thus is the Emperor’s will!”
“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”
“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”
“May the Emperor live ten thousand years!”
All of the officials in Taihe Palace prostrated.
Eunuch Gao, whose black hair had gone white and who had seemingly aged ten-some years, nodded after reading the decree.
“Through discussion with the Bureau of Rites, after seven days of mourning and the interment of the Sage Emperor’s coffin in the mausoleum, the coronation of Crown Prince Li Heng will be held!”
Thus it was decided. With the Sage Emperor’s decree, Crown Prince Li Heng officially became the true Emperor of the Great Tang!
The Bureau of Rites handled the Sage Emperor’s funeral, holding it on the largest scale possible. With Li Heng’s approval and the agreement of the officials in Taihe Palace, Duke Jiu and Yao Chong were buried together with the Sage Emperor in his tomb, flanking his coffin.
One sovereign and two officials had created a friendship between sovereign and subjects that all of the world respected!
Everything proceeded smoothly, and several days later, during a grandiose ceremony with countless people in attendance, the coffins of the Sage Emperor, Duke Jiu, and Yao Chong were interred within the imperial mausoleum.
Boom!
Deep within the imperial mausoleum, a massive steel gate weighing more than one hundred thousand jin slammed down, thus bringing an end to an era!
Several days later, the white-haired and elderly Eunuch Gao paid a visit to Wang Chong’s estate.
Gao Lishi looked at Wang Chong and said, “These are things His Majesty left for you.”
As he spoke, he placed a golden copper box, about a foot long, on Wang Chong’s desk.
The box was locked and had clearly not been opened before.
“This is the key. His Majesty advised that you should personally open this box once everything was over. No one, not even me, has ever touched the item in this box.”
Gao Lishi placed a brass key next to the box.
After doing all this, Gao Lishi turned around to leave.
“Eunuch Gao!”
Seeing Gao Lishi’s melancholy and sorrowful back, Wang Chong couldn’t help but call out to him.
After some hesitation, he asked, “Where does Sir Eunuch plan on going?”
The Sage Emperor was dead, the Prince that Gao Lishi had watched grow up. That era was now over. Everything was over.
Wang Chong had heard that Gao Lishi had already submitted his resignation and was ready to retire to his hometown.
But everyone knew that Gao Lishi had grown up in the palace. Retiring to his hometown was just an excuse.
“I am old now, and His Majesty is no longer here. I have already arranged a place for myself. But be at ease. This world still has things that will keep me around, and I will be silently watching to see this world turn into what His Majesty hoped it would be.”
Gao Lishi quickly departed.
Wang Chong stood in a daze.
After a long while, Wang Chong finally turned around and looked at the box of golden copper that Gao Lishi had placed on the table.
Wang Chong walked over, but he was hesitant to open the box.
He reached out with a hand and gently stroked the box. The icy sensation once more filled his heart with deep sorrow.
Scenes from the past flitted through his mind as if they had all happened yesterday, stirring up memories of the Sage Emperor’s guidance, trust, and support for him.
This man showered him with favor and had been the man he had most respected and admired. But in the final moment, he could only watch as this supreme sovereign slowly faded away.
Helplessness and grief pierced into his heart like a thousand arrows.
“Your Majesty!”
Wang Chong muttered as he slowly closed his eyes. His fingers had unconsciously clenched, the nails digging so deeply into his flesh that they drew blood, which dripped onto the ground.
If only he had been strong enough!
If only he had been able to save the Sage Emperor!
Alas, he was powerless. Just like in his last life, he could watch, but not interfere.
This helpless sensation left his heart wracked with pain!
Buzz!
Wang Chong silently closed his eyes, biting down on his lip so hard that he drew blood. Suddenly!
“Detecting intense emotional ripples! User is experiencing strong obsession and desire!
“Special Event! Power of Destiny resonating!
“Stand by…
“…Ability ‘Vitalizing Ember’ has been discovered. If evolved with the power of the Stone of Destiny, user has a chance of producing a method of preserving Destiny Body 9. Does user wish to attempt?”
Wang Chong was stunned by these words. The Stone of Destiny had responded to his thoughts—something that Wang Chong had never imagined.
But what left him most shocked and agitated was what the Stone of Destiny had revealed.
There was a chance of saving the Sage Emperor!
“Agree!” Wang Chong replied almost immediately.
“Analyzing Vitalizing Ember.”
Upon receiving confirmation, the Stone of Destiny spoke once more.
“Analysis complete. User has a 0.03% chance of evolving ‘Vitalizing Ember’ into ‘Soul Fire’! This process requires 100,000 points of Destiny Energy. Given the extremely high chance of failure, does user still wish to attempt?”
One hundred thousand points of Destiny Energy!
An extremely high chance of failure!
This meant that if Wang Chong tried ten thousand times, consuming one billion points of Destiny Energy, he might only succeed three times.
This low rate of success told Wang Chong that this sort of thing would normally be impossible. But at this point, Wang Chong didn’t care.
“Agree! Evolve to ‘Soul Fire’!” Wang Chong immediately said.
The Stone of Destiny’s emotionless voice swiftly rang out in Wang Chong’s mind. “Exchange successful! User has consumed 100,000 points of Destiny Energy. Stone of Destiny analyzing, evolving ‘Vitalizing Ember’…”
Wang Chong said nothing, only silently waited and hoped.
As expected, the first attempt failed.
“Notice: analysis failed!
“Warning! Evolution of Vitalizing Ember has an extremely high chance of failure. It is advised that user ceases attempts!” the Stone of Destiny called out.
But Wang Chong had no hesitation.
“Continue!”
Just a few seconds later, the Stone of Destiny called out, “Evolution failed! Warning! User is advised to give up!”
But Wang Chong seemed to not hear.
“Continue!”
“Continue!”
“Continue!”
His expression cold and aloof, Wang Chong repeated himself again and again.
His Destiny Energy dwindled with astonishing speed. In just a few moments, Wang Chong attempted twenty-some times, consuming two million points of Destiny Energy.
And this senseless expenditure continued.
“Warning! User has expended 3,000,000 points of Destiny Energy. Does user wish to continue?
“Warning! Chance of failure is too high! User is advised to give up!” the Stone of Destiny said.
“Continue!” Wang Chong unflinchingly declared.
“Warning! Evolution failed!”
“Warning! Evolution failed!”
“Warning! Evolution failed!”
The failures continued, and as he attempted and failed again and again, Wang Chong forgot about the passage of time.
In the silence of the hall, the seconds seemed to drag on for eternity.
Just when Wang Chong thought that this failure would continue until the very end…
Buzz!
A different notification rang out in Wang Chong’s mind—one that he felt like he had been awaiting for an eternity.
“Congratulations to user! Successful evolution into ‘Soul Fire’!”
This voice was like heavenly music to Wang Chong’s ears.
Wang Chong came back to his senses, color returning to his world.
“Soul Fire!
“This special skill can only be successfully used on targets that have died within seven days!
“Notice! The laws of life and death are not within the bounds of destiny. With user’s current abilities, user cannot bring back the dead, only preserve and nourish the soul until the time is right and it can be reborn!”
The information regarding the Soul Fire ability appeared in Wang Chong’s mind.
Seven days!
Wang Chong was stunned by this news.
He didn’t have much time left!
“Activate Soul Fire! Collect the target soul!” Wang Chong immediately said.
The Stone of Destiny’s voice spoke once more. “Notice! The souls of ordinary people will completely disperse within two days. The souls of strong-willed martial artists can at most persist for seven days. Past seven days, the soul will have completely dispersed, and not even Soul Fire can change this.
“A prerequisite of Soul Fire is that there must still be some remnants of the target soul.
“In addition, using Soul Fire will require 800,000 points of Destiny Energy. Does user wish to continue?”