Published: March 7, 2025
CHAPTER TITLE: The First Beauty, Peak Power, National Wealth, I Urge You to Stay
A eunuch quietly approached, gently parted the flowing silk, and after Chu Yang entered, he softly lowered it back down and quietly left. Throughout the process, not a single sound was made.
Upon entering, Chu Yang was taken aback.
Directly across from him was a soft chair, on which a person was leaning at an angle. To call this person human was already a stretch; it would be more accurate to say they were merely a skeleton.
This person, aside from the bones, weighed no more than half a pound! It was as if an entirely wrinkled layer of human skin was just stuck onto a skeleton.
There was no trace of color on his face; the only glimmer came from a pair of murky eyes that still flickered with the light of life. Only when he opened his eyes did one realize that this was, indeed, a living person.
A dark, eerie aura belonging to the dead faintly emanated from this still-living individual.
He was dressed in a bright yellow robe, a color of high status, but it couldn’t conceal the air of decline surrounding him.
At this moment, his eyes were straining to look at Chu Yang.
Chu Yang could hardly imagine how someone whose body was in such a state could even sit up! Although he was merely reclined.
“You... are Chu Yang?” The person spoke in an extremely low voice, barely audible. The only fortunate thing was that, though his enunciation was muddled, one could still make sense of it.
Tie Butian stood behind him, placing a hand on this person’s shoulder, tears welling up in his eyes, seemingly on the verge of spilling over.
This person was none other than Tie Shicheng, the ruler of Iron Cloud Nation! Tie Butian’s biological father.
He had already been trapped in a state of prolonged coma and brief awakenings, each coma lasting more than ten hours, but when he woke, it never lasted more than a quarter of an hour. The most tragic part was that every time he awoke, his mind remained absolutely clear!
For someone whose body was in such a condition, this was the greatest torment! It would be easier to be completely muddled than to endure this! Yet, upon hearing that Du Shiqing had gone missing, this monarch immediately insisted that Tie Butian give him dragon soul incense!
Dragon soul incense, also known as revival incense, could allow a dying person to enter a state of extreme excitement for a brief period! It supported a dying individual, enabling them to say what they wanted to say and do what they wanted to do!
But this period of time was very short; once it passed, the fire of their spirit would extinguish completely! The person would die entirely!
“Yes.” Chu Yang replied softly. He truly didn’t dare to speak loudly; the sight of this monarch made one feel as if any disturbance in the air would cause him to collapse.
“Hmm, no need for formalities.” Tie Shicheng’s eyes flickered slightly: “Come closer, let me see you. Standing so far away, I can’t see you clearly.”
Chu Yang complied, stepping forward a few paces.
He had only been five or six steps away from Tie Shicheng earlier, yet he couldn’t see clearly... It seemed the monarch's vision had nearly faded.
“Not bad, indeed a talented individual.” Tie Shicheng smiled faintly. It was better when he wasn’t smiling; this smile only made him look terrifying, as if a fierce ghost had emerged.
“Your majesty, you flatter me.”
“Bu Tian often speaks of you in front of me, hehe, he thinks I don’t hear. In fact, I have heard everything.” There was a hint of pride in Tie Shicheng’s smile as he sighed: “Today is the most relaxed day I’ve felt in ten years.”
Behind him, Tie Butian’s face visibly flushed, then turned pale again.
“I know everything you have done during this time.” Tie Shicheng’s eyes gradually brightened, slowly becoming sharp, as a kingly aura began to emanate from his body and soul.
This was the result of the dragon soul incense gradually taking effect within him.
“You have done well!” Tie Shicheng's sharp gaze scrutinized Chu Yang, slowly saying: “I have repeatedly told Bu Tian that as a king, one must be ruthless! When it is time to kill, even if it's one’s own father or children, one must kill! Nothing is beyond sacrifice; this is the path of the king! The path of the king is inevitably lonely and full of hardships! But he has always been somewhat indecisive about this.”