King of Titans and Dragons
Chapter 1078 - 1078 1065 Plotting Against the Country

Chapter 1078: Chapter 1065: Plotting Against the Country Chapter 1078: Chapter 1065: Plotting Against the Country The completely sealed black iron gate turned red under the terrifyingly high temperatures, gradually transforming into a golden-red color as it began to melt, eventually becoming a puddle of molten iron.

Having opened the gate to the outside world in the simplest of ways, Muria, accompanied by his three nominal teachers, stepped out to see the guards surrounding the palace as if facing a formidable enemy.

“Stand down, all of you,” commanded Ferdinand, his face beaming with joy as he hurried over with his personal guard. When he saw Muria and the three distinctly different beings behind him, the smile on his face grew even broader.

Soon, Ferdinand, along with Muria and the three teachers summoned for him, arrived in the Administrative Hall he used to discuss the affairs of state. The decision he was about to make would determine the fate of the country.

“You’ve appeared half the time earlier than I expected. I was hoping to hold on for another five years, but now it seems I won’t have to endure that long.”

Ferdinand looked at his still youthful-looking offspring and smiled with relief.

“Ferdinand, you’ve been the king at a great cost, far too heavy a burden,” the elder who had returned with Muria said with a shake of his head, his eyes full of pity.

“There’s no helping it, someone has to bear this responsibility. If my brothers and sisters can’t do it, then it falls to me,” Ferdinand replied, a carefree smile on his face as he let down the mask of being a king in front of these old friends.

“How much longer can you live?”

Muria frowned as he looked at Ferdinand. He sensed that Ferdinand’s presence was even stronger than it had been five years earlier when he had left, but contradictorily, Ferdinand’s life force had weakened even further, like a flickering candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

This situation was undoubtedly abnormal; normally, a stronger power would raise one’s level of life, enhancing the life source and enabling a longer life.

However, in Ferdinand’s case, increasing power was also compressing his life source, making him weaker. And the underlying reason was that he could not fully control the power within his body.

A small horse pulling a heavy cart was the root cause of Ferdinand’s imminent demise. He could not master the power passed down through generations, and the unruly power of Yama, if not perfectly controlled, would become a death warrant.

“That depends on when you’d like to take the throne, but even so, I can hold on for at most another five years,” Ferdinand replied calmly to Muria’s question.

“Is it because of the power in your chest? I can extract that power from your body, and that way, you could live a little longer.”

Muria felt the power within Ferdinand’s body, which was exceptionally active, and as a consequence, Ferdinand’s vitality was fading day by day.

“It seems you’ve made much progress over the years if you can even sense the power inside my body,” Ferdinand said as he opened his clothing to reveal his chest. Embedded in the center of his sturdy chest was a golden-red crystal core, emanating a captivating power.

“This is the power crystal left by the founding monarch of the Gai Nation, a formidable being who had achieved the Seventh Awakening. This crystal core is the inheritance of the Gai kings. Whoever holds this crystal core is the king of the Gai Nation.

The initial purpose of our ancestor leaving this crystal core was to ensure that each king had enough power to govern the country, but as it was passed down through generations, the power it contained grew increasingly strong.

This made the power of each successive king stronger than that of their predecessor but also placed a greater burden on each king.”

Pointing to the crystal core in his chest, Ferdinand explained its origin in detail to Muria, “That’s why each Gai king’s lifespan is shorter than that of their predecessor.”

“That’s not necessarily the case. The stronger the individual, the more power they can bear, and thus they can live even longer. Once they become strong enough, they won’t have to worry about these pressures anymore.”

The elder disagreed with Ferdinand, then turned to look at Muria, his eyes filled with profound meaning. According to his judgment, Muria was capable of perfectly bearing the power of the power crystal.

“Exactly, and that is why, if one can become powerful enough, there’s no need to worry that it will sap and suppress one’s vitality,” Ferdinand said, his eyes filled with gratification as he gazed at Muria, “That’s why I chose you. The moment I saw the talent you displayed, I wanted to choose you as my successor.”

“Arnold, can you tell me in person how many Awakenings you’ve accomplished now?”

“Six!” Muria looked into Ferdinand’s expectant face and slowly replied.

“Hahaha!” Hearing Muria’s answer, Ferdinand laughed heartily with satisfaction. In his estimation, if Muria had achieved five Awakenings, it would have been enough, but now Muria had exceeded his expectations.

“Since that’s the case, I will pass the throne to you. Are you willing to accept this responsibility?” After laughing, Ferdinand looked solemnly at the short, black-haired child standing in front of him.

“I am willing.”

“You must think carefully. Taking over my current position, you gain immense power and authority, but you also shoulder the fate of millions of citizens and pay a great price,” Ferdinand warned Muria.

“I have already thought this through. Didn’t you bring these three teachers to me for this very moment?”

Muria exhibited a composure that greatly belied his age, “Moreover, I am stronger than you imagine. I can take on the power of the king without succumbing to premature decline. I am the best choice for the king.”

“If that’s the case, prepare yourself. In thirty days, I will pass the throne to you.”

“Wait, isn’t thirty days too hasty?” Yunnu, who had been listening by the side, furrowed her brows upon hearing Ferdinand’s words. She was also aware of the power characteristics of the Gai Royal Family, and that the coronation of a new king also signified the death of the previous one.

“No rush; I have waited long enough for this day. I am very tired and want to rest!” Ferdinand said with a smile.

“But…”

“No more words are needed. You are not Ferdinand; you cannot understand his feelings right now. If possible, who wouldn’t want to live longer?” The elder shook his head, stopping Yunnu from further urging Ferdinand.

“The fact that you have returned with my son means you have already made a decision. Given that, I need not worry too much. I would like to speak with my son now; may I trouble you to step out for a moment?” Ferdinand asked as he looked at his three friends he met in his youth.

After the three powerful individuals, who returned with Muria for various reasons, left the room, Ferdinand turned to Muria,

“You always outperform my expectations; you really are excellent, so excellent it’s almost hard to believe you’re my son.” Hearing this, Muria maintained his steady composure without any change.

“But this is also good. This way, your brother won’t have to bear the heavy responsibilities of the king.”

Muria remained silent, quietly observing as Ferdinand continued to pour out his thoughts, realizing that Ferdinand had already prepared for his departure from this world and was now entrusting the last matters to him.

“You came back sooner than I expected, so my plans have not yet come to fruition. Had you returned in five years, perhaps I could have handed over a Gai Nation with vaster lands and more subjects.”

After rambling to Muria for a while and getting no response, Ferdinand began to formally entrust the matters after him,

“Now, after your succession, you will be the one to reap the fruits of the groundwork I’ve laid for thirty years.”

“What groundwork have you laid?” Muria asked curiously. There was no doubt that Ferdinand was a capable king, given that not just any king could maintain their nation’s prosperity while frequently engaging in external wars.

“The most powerful country on the Ymir Plain, our suzerain Yas Country, lost its king two years ago, and no new king has been chosen to date.”

“So, you’re involved in this?” Muria cooperated by showing surprise and curiosity on his face.

“I guess you could say that!” Ferdinand laughed heartily, but his pride was unmistakable.

“The previous Yas king had twelve offspring, but seven of them are outstanding, each an excellent candidate for the throne.”

“So now, Ymir Plain has been thrown into chaos because of these seven excellent candidates for the throne,” Muria affirmed through his inquiry.

One suitable heir to the throne is enough; more than two is a calamity. Given the situation in Yas Country, these seven heirs must be fairly matched in terms of their abilities and influence, so the conflict has dragged on until now. As the mightiest country on the prairie, its unrest would inevitably lead all the nations of the plain into turmoil.

“Exactly.” Seeing his son’s response, Ferdinand’s smile gradually began to fade.

“When I was young, I had the opportunity to study in Yas Country. By a stroke of fate, I happened to meet these princes and got along well with them, forming good personal relationships. So, I gave them some gifts here and there, and I maintained some interactions with them after I ascended the throne.”

“You’re being quite secretive.” Muria tugged at the corner of his mouth, understanding what his father had done. The turmoil in Yas Country was undoubtedly linked to him.