Chapter 1206: Inheritance and Succession
"Next, we need to decide who should meld all the proofs of kingship together," the draconian sage suggested.
This was no innocuous question—the king who did so would become the ruler of the third realm.
Everyone turned to Zhang Lie.
Zhang Lie suggested, "Let's have Qianlin be the new ruler of the third realm."
No one questioned his decision, none but Li Qianlin herself.
"I refuse."
Sun Mengmeng gaped. "You'd rule over the entirety of the third realm!"
Li Qianlin shook his head. "I can't do it."
Zhang Lie urged, "With your skills, you'd be more than capable. However, if you don't want to, I won't force you."
Li Qianlin apologized. "I'm sorry, but I don't wish to take on such a responsibility."
Zhang Lie took a deep breath and nodded. "In that case, Zhu, would you be willing to serve as the new ruler?"
Just like Li Qianlin, Zhu had a guaranteed spot in Zhang Lie's dragonwhale soulshard if the collapse of the third realm was set in stone. Fortunately, Jun Jiuxiao and Ye Xianchen had returned before that backup plan needed to be set in motion.
Zhu was shocked by the offer, as was the draconian sage. He had expected the new ruler of the realm to be chosen from among the new superior kings.
Li Qianlin was the daughter of the Zongming king and in a relationship with Zhang Lie, so she seemed like a reasonable choice. Zhu had a longstanding relationship with Zhang Lie as well, but she had no connection to the third realm. The draconian sage couldn't understand such a decision, but there was no time to ask—the third realm was in crisis, and every second counted.
He trusted that Zhang Lie had a plan in mind.
Zhang Lie was invested in making this unified realm a better place, and he wouldn't be appointing Zhu without a solid reason for doing so.
Zhang Lie asked again, "Zhu, would you be willing to shoulder the responsibility for the third realm?"
Zhu thought for a moment before replying, "Although I'm not sure what this job will entail, since it's a task from you, Zhang Lie, I'll handle it to the best of my ability."
Her smile was as pure as the ocean. Although she had since grown up, when she was with Zhang Lie,she still seemed like the little girl he had saved.
The tremors shaking the realm grew more and more intense. The draconian sage said, "I'll transfer the position of king of the realm to you immediately. You have to quickly familiarize yourself with the nature of the authority and then meld all the proofs of kingship together."
The draconian sage was worried that an outsider like Zhu would take too long to adapt.
"I've explained everything in detail on the proof of kingship. You simply have to activate the records left behind by the previous king and follow the instructions on it."
The dragon's scale that was the draconians' proof of kingship glowed with light. A pillar of light emerged from the proof and merged with the will of the world, transforming into a multicolored dragon that flew out of the draconian sage's body.
The draconic antlers on the draconian sage's head shattered as he seemed to visibly deflate in strength. The dragon circled the sky above the palace once. Zhu stepped forward, and the dragon swooped down.
As a void storm shook the draconian world, all the hunters of the Milky Way and the aliens of the third realm
felt the change to the draconian world. As the draconians witnessed the multicolored dragon in the sky, they knelt on the ground.
The dragon folded itself into Zhu's body through her forehead. A multicolored scale appeared in the center of her forehead, brimming with rainbow light that swallowed up Zhu's body. The river of light enveloped her, making her feel warm and cozy all over, as though she were taking a bath in superior world's energy. Her skin, blood, and flesh were simultaneously enhanced, and her dusky blue hair floated like the sea.
Scales appeared over her body as two multicolored horns grew out of her head. Her aura rapidly grew stronger. She was originally at around the level of a disaster-grade lifeform, but after accepting the draconian sage's position, she was swiftly approaching the level of a large king, and soon that of a superior king.
Zhu's body floated in mid-air. Natural law hovered around her as the draconian scale blossomed with light.
A multicolored, thumping heart appeared in the air.
This was the heart of the world, whose heartbeats echoed throughout the land and could be heard by all within.
Upon witnessing this sight, the draconians and other inhabitants of the draconian world all understood the choice that the draconian sage had made in this critical moment.
Rainbow threads connected to Zhu as her heart itself turned multicolored. The light formed an elegant crown over her head, a sea-blue crown with draconic motifs. Behind her, dragons, mammoths, beastmen, and the other races of the draconian world were carved into a huge throne, on which she sat. Her petite body seemed at odds with the magnificent throne.
The power and authority of a king of the realm shot into her body.
A pair of dragon's wings manifested into being behind Zhu's back. She seemed to have become a half-human, half-dragon hybrid, with an aura as mighty and expansive as the very sea.
The draconian sage was very pleased with his new successor, who seemed to be uncommonly compatible with the proof of kingship of the draconian world. It seemed as though she would quickly acclimate to her newfound abilities.
After losing his authority as a superior king, the draconian sage grew incredibly weak.
He seemed to have aged a few decades in a matter of minutes, and his face grew wrinkled. It felt as though a gust of wind would blow him over. Zhou Ying immediately stepped forward and infused the draconian sage with vitality and natural energy, improving his current condition.
The draconian sage moved to Zhang Lie's side. "Why did you choose Zhu?" he asked curiously.
Zhang Lie replied, "It would be better for none of the three current superior kings to rule the unified world."
The draconian sage asked, "In what sense?"
Zhang Lie explained, "The current system of kings of the realm isn't particularly suited to the unified world. At present, there are four superpowers in the third realm: the three superior kings, and the hunters of the Milky Way.
The hunters of the Milky Way, having banded together, represented a force that couldn't be neglected.
"Who among the four forces should control the new world? Choosing any one among them would arouse the displeasure of the others. To balance the forces in equilibrium, then, requires a brand-new system."
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