Chapter 236: The Deceased Founding Emperor

Chapter 236: The Deceased Founding Emperor

October 16, 2024

"Since advancing to the Second Tier Wizard, you must feel the limitations of the Starlight Continent's environment even more acutely, right?"

Lize paused, then shifted to another topic.

"Indeed," Su Nan sighed.

After advancing to the Second Tier, Su Nan realized that the energy scarcity had a more severe impact on his spiritual refinement than he had anticipated. Initially, he thought he could at least reach the Second Tier Crystallization before the planar barrier was fully repaired. However, it now seemed that unless the number of wizards in the Star Alliance surged, providing more tools for collecting elemental dust, it would be difficult.

Additionally, there was the issue of environmental adaptation. Even within the wizard tower, he felt a slight discomfort. Clearly, as his life essence evolved, his soul and body required a higher concentration of energy particles.

If he continued to advance, once he became a True Spirit Wizard, he would likely find it impossible to adapt even if the energy particle concentration on the Starlight Continent returned to normal. Perhaps this was why True Spirit Wizards were so enthusiastic about constructing floating cities and demi-planes—they needed an environment with a higher concentration of energy particles.

After a brief conversation, Su Nan brought up the main topic.

"Do you have the knowledge of the Alchemical Body process?"

"You want to imprint the Alchemical Mark?" Lize looked at Su Nan with surprise, then nodded in understanding.

"Now that you're a Second Tier Wizard, your mental strength certainly meets the Alchemical Body's standards. Strengthening your body isn't difficult for you, so you could try the transformation."

"However, the materials needed for the transformation are mostly very precious, and it's likely you won't find them all on the Starlight Continent."

Su Nan waved his hand. "It's fine. Just give me the process knowledge, and I'll handle the materials."

If the Alchemical Body could be synthesized using the magic cube, then the materials wouldn't be a problem. If not, he could research alternatives.

Seeing Su Nan's determination, Lize didn't press further. Past experiences had taught her not to doubt Su Nan's words. Problems that seemed insurmountable to her often found solutions in his hands. Questioning him now would likely lead to embarrassment later.

"The knowledge of the Alchemical Body and Alchemical Mark processes is extensive. I'll copy it down and give it to you."

At this point, Lize remembered something.

"Almost forgot to tell you, the royal family has sent a message. They hope you can visit Emperor Koy when you come out of seclusion."

Su Nan was taken aback and frowned. If Koy wanted to see him, he could have come directly or sent a message. Why use the royal family's name?

He looked at Lize, who understood his concern and replied solemnly, "Two months ago, Emperor Koy fell seriously ill and has been bedridden ever since."

Time is the most ruthless and terrifying weapon. Even a powerful True Spirit Wizard cannot resist the passage of time and will eventually face the end of their life. How much more so for a mere Blood Knight?

As a Blood Knight with the blood of a dragon, Koy inherited some of the dragon's longevity. As the ruler of the empire, he had consumed countless life-extending elixirs, including the incredibly rare Dawn Potion. This extended his lifespan beyond that of many Third Tier Wizard Apprentices.

However, even with these advantages, his body began to decline after reaching 200 years of age. In the following years, his health deteriorated, and he was plagued by illness.

Two months ago, he fell gravely ill and has been bedridden ever since. This news caused widespread unease throughout the Starlight Empire. Fortunately, the Star Alliance's presence and the first prince, Abbott, who had been designated as the heir and taken over the regency, prevented any unrest.

When Su Nan entered the palace, all the influential members of the royal family, including Prince Abbott and Hailin, gathered in the emperor's chambers.

While a few core members like Prince Abbott waited inside the chambers, the rest waited in the courtyard. However, while they eagerly anticipated the opportunity to meet the powerful figure who controlled the highest authority on the Starlight Continent—someone even more revered than the emperor—Su Nan had already silently appeared in the chambers.

As a second-level wizard apprentice, Hailin immediately sensed something amiss. Turning his head, he noticed an additional figure standing beside him.

Startled, he instinctively reached for his wand, but quickly recognized the face and halted his movement, bowing respectfully.

"Great Uncle!"

The others, hearing the voice, turned around and saw Su Nan. Their faces lit up with surprise, and they hurriedly approached to pay their respects.

Su Nan calmly waved his hand, silencing the commotion, and stepped forward. In a flash, he stood beside the bed.

On the grand, luxurious bed, Kei lay motionless, his eyes closed, and his face bore a visible pallor of illness.

Compared to their last meeting, Kei looked even more aged and haggard.

In truth, Su Nan and Kei had met less and less over the years. Both were rulers burdened with responsibilities.

Especially in the past two decades, Su Nan had been busy advancing to the second level of wizardry, and he and Kei often went years without seeing each other.

Seeing Kei now, with his white hair and deeply wrinkled face, Su Nan felt a moment of disorientation.

The scene of the two brothers working together to defend Blackstone City against Baron Owen seemed like it happened yesterday.

Time truly flew by.

The others around him remained silent, standing still to avoid disturbing Su Nan.

Looking at Su Nan, who had remained youthful for decades, like a man in his twenties, and then at the bedridden emperor, everyone felt a strange sense of absurdity.

It was hard to imagine that these two men were only three years apart in age.

Was this the power of a wizard?

"Cough, cough, cough."

A sudden fit of coughing broke the silence in the bedroom.

Kei awoke, his eyes opening to see Su Nan standing by the bed. His eyes instantly brightened.

"Su Nan, you... cough, cough, when did you arrive?"

"Not long ago."

Su Nan stepped forward, helping Kei sit up while channeling the most healing plant energy particles into his body.

As the plant energy particles took effect, Kei's complexion improved, and he stopped coughing.

But Su Nan knew this was only a temporary fix. Kei wasn't injured; he was nearing the end of his natural lifespan. Even as a second-level wizard, he couldn't stave off death for someone whose time was almost up.

Unless, of course, the person was a wizard apprentice, in which case there might still be a slim chance.

"You all go down now."

Kei's gaze swept over the crowd in the bedroom, and he waved them away. Even in his final days, no one dared to disobey the emperor. They bowed and retreated, leaving the bedroom quiet and empty, with only Su Nan and Kei remaining.

"I can feel it. My life is drawing to a close," Kei sighed.

Su Nan stared at him, offering no words of comfort. He knew Kei didn't need them.

Indeed, Kei soon smiled and said, "When Father was on his deathbed, he tasked us brothers with reviving the Anest family. We did it, and we did it well. Now, the entire Starlight Continent belongs to our family."

"The Anest family is the undisputed first family, with glory spanning the world."

Pride shone on Kei's face as he looked at Su Nan with bright eyes.

"But I know all of this is your doing. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to revive the family, let alone survive in Blackstone City."

Su Nan remained calm. "I am also a part of the Anest family."

Kei shook his head, smiling. "The long lifespan of wizards means family ties are often weak. Unless it's a wizard family like the Russell family, after I'm gone, the royal descendants will only grow more distant from you."

"Of course, I'm not complaining. This is unavoidable, even among commoner brothers, let alone wizards."

"But I have one request. I hope you will take care of the royal family in the future, and help produce more wizard apprentices within the royal line."

After unifying the continent, Kei's only remaining wish was to cultivate more wizard apprentices within the royal family, ensuring the Anest family's continued prosperity.

Su Nan understood this. Seeing his brother's earnest gaze, he nodded solemnly.

"I promise you. The Anest family will always be the imperial royal family and will become a powerful wizard family."

With Su Nan's promise, Kei's face, lined with wrinkles, broke into a relieved smile.

"Then I will have no regrets."

“Having lived for two hundred years, longer than many wizard apprentices, and having a large family to carry on the Yanest family name, I have nothing to be unsatisfied about.”

Seeming to breathe a sigh of relief, exhaustion swept over him again, and Kai’s eyelids grew heavy.

“I’m a bit tired. I’ll take another nap.”

“Mm-hm.”

Su Nan helped Kai lie back down, watching as he slowly closed his eyes.

Under Su Nan’s mental perception, the life force within Kai flickered like a flame running out of fuel, gradually weakening until it finally extinguished.

Standing silently by the bed for a moment, Su Nan turned and left the bedroom.

In the courtyard, everyone waited quietly with varied expressions.

Only when they saw Su Nan push the door open did a ripple of unease spread, but it quickly subsided.

“Lord Great-Uncle.”

Hailin was the first to step forward, hesitating to speak.

Su Nan glanced at him and shook his head slightly.

Seeing this, everyone’s faces paled, understanding what had happened.

By the time they came to their senses, Su Nan had already vanished.

Unable to contain themselves any longer, they rushed into the bedroom.

Soon, cries of grief echoed from within.

In the year 1422 of the Starlight Calendar, during the Month of Autumn’s Veil (October).

Kai Yanest, the founding emperor of the Starlight Empire, passed away, and the nation mourned.

In the same month, during the Month of Frost’s Descent (November), the first snow fell, marking the beginning of the grandest imperial funeral in Starlight Continent’s history.

The funeral, including the wake, ceremony, procession, and burial, lasted a full two months, until the new year arrived.

In the year 1423 of the Starlight Calendar, during the Month of Winter’s Harp (January).

The eldest prince, Yabei Yanest, ascended the throne, becoming the second emperor of the Starlight Empire.

In the same month, the grandest coronation ceremony in the history of the Starlight Continent was held in the capital, Flashing City.

The ceremony was attended by over ten thousand major nobles and thousands of wizard apprentices.

These were the select few who had the privilege to attend; otherwise, the number would have been even greater.

The ceremony took place in the palace square.

Among the seats reserved for the wizard apprentices, Xeman looked at the new emperor, who wore a crown and was draped in rich garments, sitting on a golden throne inlaid with gemstones. A trace of emotion passed over his face.

Sitting beside him, Athil noticed Xeman’s expression and whispered, “What’s wrong, looking so contemplative?”

“Nothing,” Xeman shook his head. “I just keep feeling how short life truly is. If we can’t break through the final barrier, our days will soon come to an end.”

“Then break through,” Cole said without hesitation.

As key representatives of Su Nan, the three of them were seated together in the front row.

Hearing Cole’s words, Xeman smiled but said nothing.

He was currently constructing the model of his innate talent crystal and had reached the step of infusing it with mental energy.

Even so, he couldn’t guarantee that he would successfully cross the final step to become a full-fledged wizard.

Most third-level wizard apprentices could sense the end of their lives approaching.

Xeman could feel that he had at most ten years, not more than twenty, left.

If he couldn’t complete the final step before then, he would end up as a handful of dust.

Even with a resilient will, Xeman occasionally felt a sense of dread about this.

In this situation, he envied Cole’s unwavering determination.

His thoughts swirling, Xeman quickly regained his spirit and said with a smile, “After this ceremony, I’ll go into seclusion and won’t come out until I break through the final barrier.”

“I will too,” Cole’s eyes gleamed. “Whether I can break through or not depends on this final period.”

“Do you have enough contribution points to exchange for the use of a training room for ten to twenty years?”

“More than enough.”

Watching Xeman and Cole converse, Athil’s eyes flashed with a hint of confusion.

Xeman and Cole at least had a chance of breaking through, but she had none.

Since becoming her master’s disciple, her progress had always lagged behind Xeman and Cole.

Now, while Xeman and Cole were focused on infusing their mental energy, she had only just begun constructing her innate talent crystal model.

In this situation, the prospect of advancing to wizard seemed incredibly distant.

Even Lord Starfall had said that for her to advance to wizard through normal means was almost impossible.

Athil was unwilling to give up, but she didn’t know what path her future held.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end