He once viewed all living beings in the Monster World as NPCs. The Seven ancient thrones of the Spirit Breath Clan, in his original plan, were old-era obstacles that needed to have their power gradually taken back, and in the end, to be removed.
During this process, he calculated their value and weighed their threat.
But in a year and a half, as he ruled over eight million lives and came into deep contact with these Seven thrones,
he discovered they were nothing like cold data, but each had their own pride, stubbornness, and even affection for their clan.
They would quarrel in council meetings, haggle over the interests of their respective bloodlines, yet whenever the clan faced a true crisis, they would stand up without hesitation.
After being in contact for so long, he had long forgotten his original positioning of the Seven Kings as NPCs, and came to regard them as vivid lives each guarding their own convictions.
During this period, the Seven Kings trusted this "outsider" and entrusted him with the clan's future.
They even tacitly approved many of his radical reforms before he had fully taken control of the situation.
This trust now weighed heavily on his heart.
Their sacrifice looked as if it were meant to intimidate the Gogong Clan, but its core purpose was actually for the future of the Spirit Breath Clan.
They chose the most heroic way to clear away the obstacles to unification for him.
At the same time, they placed this heavy responsibility and unconditional trust entirely upon his shoulders.
The Little Mage slowly closed his eyes, and scattered scenes flashed through his mind—disputes, cooperation, and the planning of the Spirit Breath Clan's future with the Seven thrones.
When he opened his eyes again, the complicated emotions were deeply suppressed.
The grief belonged to the Spirit Breath citizens, and as the sole leader from this point on… he had no time to wallow in sorrow.
He turned away from the edge of the tower, his crimson figure merging into the shadows.
With the fall of the Seven Kings, the path of the Spirit Breath Clan's rise from here on would be walked by him alone.
...
That night.
The Spirit Breath council hall.
The heavy atmosphere had not dissipated with the daytime funeral; instead, it had become even more stagnant.
All of the Spirit Breath Clan's War Sacrifices were at this moment standing in silent solemnity on both sides of the hall.
In the center of the hall, the seats that had belonged to the eight great thrones now lay empty.
Only a single figure sat upright on the main seat.
It was the Little Mage clad in crimson garments, also the Commander in the eyes of the Spirit Breath citizens: the Blood King.
His expression was calm, his gaze lowered, no ripples of emotion in his eyes.
The leading War Chief Priest took a deep breath, stepped forward, and held in his hands an ancient scroll condensed from Energy.
His voice rang clearly in the hall where even a pin drop could be heard:
"Proclaim the final edict of the Seven thrones!"
All the War Sacrifices snapped their heads up, their gazes focused on the scroll.
The War Chief Priest slowly unfurled the scroll, upon which surfaced the consciousness imprints jointly left by the Seven thrones.
"We seven, resolve to take our old bodies as fuel, to clear away the thorns on the clan's path ahead, burning out our last radiance."
"From this moment on, the eight bloodlines of Spirit Breath stand side by side, and the old system is ended."
"All authority, all faith… shall all return to the Blood King."
The War Chief Priest's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness:
"We elevate the Blood King as the sole supreme sovereign of the Spirit Breath Clan, to rule over the Spirit Breath citizens, to hold Life and death in his grasp, and to judge rise and fall."
"His honorific title shall be…." The War Chief Priest paused for a brief instant, then, using every ounce of his strength, roared out the Blood King's new honorific:
"Blood Emperor!"
The shout exploded in the hall, battering the hearts of every War Sacrifice.
This was a supreme title that had never before appeared in the history of the Spirit Breath Clan.
It meant that there would no longer be an Eight Kings Council; the title of Blood Emperor symbolized power that stood above all else.
This was the new-era helmsman chosen by the Seven Kings with their final will for the Spirit Breath Clan.
After a brief Deathly Silence.
All the War Sacrifices, regardless of which bloodline they had belonged to before, now dropped to one knee, their right fists striking heavily against their left chests, letting out a uniform, dull boom.
They lowered their heads and, with the most sonorous and forceful voices, offered unquestionable loyalty and oath to that crimson figure upon the throne:
"We are willing, for His Majesty the Blood Emperor, to slay all enemies."
"May the Spirit Breath Clan, under your Guidance, have its glory endure forever."
Their voices surged like a tide, roaring and rolling, as if to wash away the grief in their hearts and inject a new surge of Strength.
The Little Mage slowly lifted his head.
His gaze swept over the War Sacrifices kneeling below, over this empty hall, and in the end seemed to pierce through the walls to see those seven figures who had already dispersed.
He did not speak.
The intent the Seven Kings wished to express was already perfectly clear.
The new era of the Spirit Breath Clan under his helm was formally opened on this night.
The old chapter had sunk into the Heroic Spirit Pool along with the Seven Kings, and the new epic would be written by his hand alone.
...
One day later.
A War Sacrifice appeared outside the Royal Court, respectfully holding with both hands a Memory Stone faintly wreathed in Soul Power fluctuations.
"Your Majesty the Blood Emperor, while clearing the Soul King's relics, we found an Information Stone that His Majesty the Soul King left for you."
The Little Mage was taken aback in his heart; then, in silence, he received the cold stone and waved for the War Sacrifice to withdraw.
Lowering his head to gaze at the pale-blue Memory Stone, he injected a wisp of Qi Blood Energy into the imprint.
At once a Spiritual Ripple spread out, and the Soul King's familiar voice rang directly in his mind.
"Blood King, by the time you hear this message, it's likely that we seven old fellows have already carried out the final plan, clearing away the last internal obstacles of the clan for you, and also winning you time to respond to the external crisis."
"To be frank, I, and the other old fellows as well, have always harbored a great doubt in our hearts… Are you truly the Blood King we are familiar with? Although you possess the Blood King's memories, your way of thinking, and even the abilities you command and the special channels through which you can exchange for resources—these are all things beyond the reach of the Blood King as we knew him."
Chapter 1583: 404: Coronation as Emperor, Blood for Blood_2
6 min read