Published: February 10, 2025
Ye Zhongming was slightly taken aback, but he wasn't too surprised inside.
Previously, King Hongxiang and King Niao had mentioned this matter to him, although it was not very formal and had a joking tone to it. Ye Zhongming didn't take it seriously; after all, in his view, the king zun of the posthumous children was not an unattainable position, just a title. So he brushed it off with a smile.
However, it seemed that these posthumous children were serious this time. The earlier conversations with the two kings were not jokes but were rather a test and a hint to prepare him mentally.
Ye Zhongming truly had no interest, but he knew he had to accept.
This was a legitimate identity granted by the posthumous children, allowing him to participate as a commander in the upcoming great battle.
Of course, there was an even more important point: the posthumous children wanted to push Ye Zhongming to a higher position, one that belonged to their own, so that he and his subordinates could wholeheartedly help defend the Royal City.
This was essentially a strategy to show the posthumous children’s attitude. They wanted to convey to Ye Zhongming, “Brother, we know you genuinely want to help us, but when the time comes, you must give your all as if you were helping yourself; otherwise, the situation will not favor you.”
Ye Zhongming understood, so he was not prepared to refuse.
"If you agree, we will proceed with the coronation ceremony immediately," said the Guardian of the Sacred Pool.
The change in the Guardian's attitude from hostility to indifference after interacting with the Pool's inhabitants, and now to normalcy, reflected Ye Zhongming's increasingly significant role among the posthumous children. As long as this old man wasn’t foolish, he would realize that the confidence in defending the Royal City came not only from the so-called fact that the Royal City had never fallen but also from the support of this man.
This man named Ye Zhongming represented not just himself, nor merely Cloud Summit Villa; to some extent, he represented another world.
Ye Zhongming nodded. Since he knew in his heart that he had to do this, it was better to be straightforward about it.
Thus, the kings and the Guardian of the Sacred Pool began to busily prepare, and soon, in the largest building of the Royal City, known as the almighty god temple, a coronation ceremony took place.
This ceremony even left an impression on the otherwise unconcerned Ye Zhongming.
To say that the almighty god temple was festooned with lights and decorations might be an exaggeration, but it was indeed freshly adorned. From the main entrance of the palace to the hundreds of steps leading down, pure white animal skins were laid down. Although lacking soft fur, they were as delicate as silk and as pure as freshly fallen snow, making one reluctant to step on them.
Draped in a specially woven ceremonial robe, Ye Zhongming stepped onto the white carpet, arriving at the main door of the almighty god temple. There, a total of ninety-eight pairs of horn players stood on either side, and upon his appearance, they immediately played their horns. The deep and penetrating sound echoed throughout the Royal City and even reached outside.
Amidst the solemn sound of the horns, Ye Zhongming entered the temple, where he saw the kings, the Guardian of the Sacred Pool, and six of the most esteemed elders among the posthumous children standing beneath a high platform upon which a massive crystal ball was placed.
According to the procedure, a representative from the kings was required to announce some necessary obligations and responsibilities for Ye Zhongming, making sure he understood his duties as foreign king zun. Ye Zhongming listened quietly.
Finally, he was to swear an oath to the Law Pearl, which was said to be a relic left by the almighty god among the posthumous children. This required him to walk up to the high platform and kneel before the pearl.
Ye Zhongming agreed; kneeling before a deity believed by the posthumous children was not a big deal.