Who had any objections?
Who dared to object?
Everyone revealed bitter smiles and chose to submit. They knelt before Ilya and respectfully said, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
"Huh?"
Ilya was startled. It was his first time seeing such a large group of people. His face flushed red, and he grew incredibly nervous, somewhat at a loss.
Zhang Yunlong leaned close to Ilya's ear and softly reminded him, "Your Majesty, these are Balak's subjects pledging their loyalty to you. You should now say, 'Rise'…"
"Oh, p-please rise!"
Ilya mustered his courage and raised his hand toward the kneeling crowd. However, his voice still trembled.
As an ordinary person who had lived at the bottom of the kingdom for over a dozen years, Ilya still couldn't adapt to suddenly ascending the throne and receiving the worship of tens of thousands of people.
This was all thanks to Fang Xuan. If not for him, he wouldn't have ascended the throne and might have been killed by the queen.
Thinking this, Ilya raised his delicate face, more beautiful than a woman's, his limpid eyes gleaming as he looked at Fang Xuan affectionately.
"Don't look at me like that! This young master isn't interested in men!"
The corner of Fang Xuan's mouth twitched. Just moments ago, he had killed hundreds of people without blinking an eye. Yet, Ilya's glance made his scalp tingle and a chill rise in his heart.
Damn… this is a man!
He rolled his eyes and couldn't help but mock himself.
… …
Fang Xuan's powerful strength and ruthless methods quickly swept away the queen's henchmen. As the last of the royal bloodline, Ilya had the support of everyone and naturally became the new ruler of the Balak Kingdom.
The Balak Kingdom ushered in a new era of rule.
After Ilya ascended the throne, he gave Fang Xuan the title of Duke and gave him the most fertile land in the Balak Kingdom as thanks for helping her.
However, Fang Xuan unexpectedly rejected Ilya's titles with great pain. He still had many things to accomplish and couldn't remain in the Balak Kingdom as a noble, enjoying endless wealth and glory.
Having successfully obtained the Kunpeng Martial Spirit, Fang Xuan had no reason to stay. After helping Ilya stabilize the kingdom, he immediately bid him farewell and left the Balak Kingdom overnight.
Their next destination was… Heaven Dou!
During this time, Fang Xuan spent a great deal of time refining his sword and quickly upgraded his newly acquired Kunpeng Martial Spirit from elementary to ultimate level, unlocking the skill "Kunpeng Extreme Speed"!
At the same time, he purchased a hundred-thousand-year wind-type Spirit Ring from the system store and attached it to the Spirit, further enhancing its speed!
After perfecting the Kunpeng Martial Spirit, Fang Xuan couldn't wait to test its power.
"Kunpeng Extreme Speed!"
Eight scarlet Spirit Rings revolved around Fang Xuan's body, and a massive illusory image of Kunpeng appeared above him. His body suddenly became light, as if he had transformed into a gust of wind, moving freely through the sky. In the blink of an eye, he traversed tens of thousands of meters and disappeared into the distant horizon!
With the help of Kunpeng Extreme Speed, Fang Xuan greatly increased his speed. It only took him a day to reach Heaven Dou City!
The majestic Imperial City was grand and imposing, with an endless stream of carriages and horses. Pedestrians crowded the streets, and the scene was prosperous.
After several years away, Heaven Dou City remained as awe-inspiring as ever. Yet, things had changed. Fang Xuan didn't approach the city gate. Instead, he stood in the distance and quietly observed the place where his journey had begun on the Douluo Continent.
For a moment, all kinds of emotions surged within him.
"That is…"
Fang Xuan's eyes narrowed as he noticed a red wanted poster on the city wall. The Heaven Dou Empire had issued it, and the person wanted was Fang Xuan.
The genius once revered by the Heaven Dou Empire was now a wanted criminal.
How fickle the world could be!
"Heh, I should settle the score with Xue Ye!"
Fang Xuan's heart grew cold.
At that moment, a purple-haired girl stepped out of Heaven Dou City. Her skin was snow-white, and her features were exquisite. A sense of nobility and pride was etched between her brows. It was Dugu Yan!
Compared to a few years ago, Dugu Yan had matured, becoming even more alluring. Her figure had become even more striking than when she was a student—voluptuous and graceful. Her colorful dress accentuated her spirit-stirring curves, attracting the gazes of many around her.
"Dugu Yan!"
Fang Xuan was slightly surprised. Seeing an old friend, especially a former teammate from his team, warmed his heart. Curious about what Dugu Yan was doing outside the city, he quietly followed her.
They hadn't seen each other in three to four years, and Dugu Yan's spirit power had grown significantly. She was already a Rank 55 Spirit King. Compared to her abilities during the Spirit Master Tournament, she had increased by more than ten ranks. While not as extraordinary as Fang Xuan, she was still considered one of the best among her peers.
With Fang Xuan's current strength, tailing Dugu Yan without being noticed was easy. He followed her to an ancient forest, careful not to alert her.
Ancient trees stood tall, and strange rocks jutted out from the ground. A thick miasma filled the air, blocking visibility. In the depths of the forest, faint roars of beasts echoed.
Sunset Forest!
After trailing Dugu Yan to the Sunset Forest, he quickly understood that she was heading to see Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo's herb garden lay deep within the forest, where he had lived in seclusion for years.
Thinking about Dugu Bo, Fang Xuan felt a pang of guilt. Back then, after escaping from the Abyss of Desire and losing all his spirit power, Dugu Bo had been ordered by Xue Ye to hunt him down.
In the end, Dugu Bo chose to cripple his own spirit power to save him. Fang Xuan had kept that favor in his heart ever since.
No matter what, he owed Dugu Bo an great debt. However, one thing he despised owing anyone favors.
He resolved that once he became a god, he would help Dugu Bo regain his strength as a Titled Douluo.
Fang Xuan followed Dugu Yan silently. Soon, they reached the center of the Sunset Forest, where a lush herb garden spread out before them, filled with various plants that thrived under the verdant canopy.
The Icefire Yin Yang Well still sat quietly by the mountain stream. The Immortal herbs Fang Xuan had once plucked had regrown and were glowing with vitality.
Not far from the Icefire Yin Yang Well, a white-haired elder, sat by the shore. His eye sockets were sunken, and his teeth were missing. His entire body was frail and decayed, and he was clearly nearing the end of his life.
Who else could this white-haired elder be but Dugu Bo?
In just two years, Dugu Bo had aged beyond recognition. His dark green hair had turned white, and his face was wrinkled. Even his teeth were almost all gone. He looked extremely haggard!
For a spirit master, losing their powerful spirit power was like losing the source of their life, leaving them vulnerable. For an older Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo, losing his spirit power weakened his body and accelerated his aging, rapidly draining his life force.
Fang Xuan felt sad as he observed Dugu Bo's frail condition.
Dugu Yan had brought plenty of delicious food to share with her grandfather. As they ate, they admired the Icefire Yin Yang Well scenery and chatted happily, enjoying a peaceful moment together.
But suddenly, a murderous sneer shattered the tranquility.
"Haha! Dugu Bo, I've finally found you!"