Doomsday Roulette

Even though Ye Zhongming had already visited the Royal City once, he was still stunned by it upon seeing it again.

Perhaps the posthumous children were backward; for so many years, they had clung to outdated systems. Perhaps their ruling class was complacent, only wanting to maintain the status quo. Perhaps, faced with the attacks from the Temple of Dawn, the people living in this city were still lost in a haze of life, intoxicated by wealth and pleasure.

Yet this city, which had taken countless years to build, displayed the time-honored sedimentation and alternative greatness of the posthumous children, or rather, a civilization.

Ye Zhongming suddenly had a thought: if he did not come, or even if he came, could he still change the fate of the posthumous children? Would this Royal City end up like those dynasties on Earth during their last days, becoming a place that was only recorded in history books, evoking varied evaluations from future generations, stained with blood and tragedy, and filled with regret and nostalgia?

“Zhongming, wait here for a moment. I’ll go back and discuss this with them. Don’t worry; although I can’t guarantee anything, there is a great deal of hope. Just be patient,” King Hongxiang said.

King Hongxiang knew that letting Ye Zhongming enter the Royal City was unlikely. Although cooperation was possible, both sides had to remain cautious. Staying stationed outside the city was the best choice.

At that moment, he sincerely hoped for cooperation. He had seen the fighting capability of Ye Zhongming and his subordinates. If the posthumous children and the Temple of Dawn represented two forms of civilization, then Ye Zhongming and his world also represented another two forms of civilization.

In this battle concerning the survival of their race, King Hongxiang had already recognized that Ye Zhongming was the hope of the posthumous children.

As he watched King Hongxiang leave, Ye Zhongming could only wait during the equipment-making process.

The gates of the Royal City had already noticed the team entering the mountain, and many guards had surged at the city gate, standing in serious and tense readiness.

Indeed, there were quite a few people.

King Hongxiang quickly walked toward the council hall of the Royal City. He had already sent people to inform the other kings within the city to gather there.

Upon entering the room, he saw that many people had already gathered early. King Hongxiang’s gaze swept over them, and his expression darkened.

Among the seven kings, aside from Hongxiang, there were six others, but only four were present here.

“Where are King Heibi and King Simu?”

Using his authority, King Hongxiang convened this improvised joint meeting. In his mind, this matter concerned the life and death of the posthumous children, and everyone should take it seriously because outside, the Temple of Dawn had already arrived at their doorstep.

However, adding himself, there were only five kings present. According to the posthumous children’s royal rules, major decisions required the agreement of most kings. To cooperate with Ye Zhongming, four kings needed to agree. Those kings who were absent were counted as dissenting votes.

In other words, before discussions even began, there were already two opposing votes! If two more of the four present disagreed, cooperation would be impossible.

The seven kings of the posthumous children had, during Ye Zhongming’s last visit, three at level eight and four at level seven.

Kings Heibi, Huyan, and Ling Kun were of level eight, while Niao, Hongxiang, Kan Zishan, and Yue Hong were of level seven.

Now, with King Hongxiang having just broken through, it became four of each level.

“They encountered the Temple's army and returned to manage the situation,” Huyan said, glancing at King Hongxiang with indifference.

This statement itself was not problematic; it sounded like what these kings should be doing.

However, King Hongxiang’s face darkened, and the other kings remained numb, though they already knew the news.