Chapter 411 | Demonic Beings? Obviously Auspicious Omens!

The Endless Sea of the Eastern Region was the place his father had guarded for a thousand years.

It was also the place where he intended to spend the rest of his life guarding.

But now... he hadn't had the chance to tell his father.

He hadn't had the chance to show his father the weapon he had newly forged.

He hadn't had the chance...

Cang Che's throat bobbed.

He swallowed those rising emotions back down, along with that word "Father" which could never be uttered again.

Chen Zhou looked at them silently.

The entire hall filled with the Sea Race stood with lowered heads.

No one spoke; no one moved.

After a long time.

Cangming raised his head.

His eyes were bloodshot and tear stains hadn't dried, yet he had already forcibly restrained his emotions that were like a burst dam.

He also knelt down, his back straight, just as his departed father often did.

"Lord Dragon Ancestor."

His voice still carried a hoarseness, but he tried his best to keep it steady.

"This subject... begs for your instructions."

"My father has departed; the Eastern Region cannot be without a ruler for a single day."

"What should I do?"

Chen Zhou looked at him and suddenly asked.

"Cangming."

Cangming lowered his head: "This subject is here."

"What do you think makes a ruler?"

Cangming was stunned and thought for a long time.

"...Inheriting the legacy of one's ancestors."

"Protecting the people of one's land, guarding every inch of territory, and shouldering a ten-thousand-jin responsibility."

"To die without regrets."

He spoke very softly, but very steadily.

Chen Zhou nodded.

"That was your father's path."

Cangming looked up.

Chen Zhou looked at him and continued.

"Cang Yu guarded the Eastern Region for three thousand years."

"Guarding until his bloodline was exhausted, until his life force flickered out."

"He guarded it very well."

"But that was his path; your path is for you to walk yourself."

"You do not need to become him."

Cangming's pupils shrank slightly.

Chen Zhou's voice was very calm, "You can become yourself."

"Whether you choose to maintain his legacy or expand it."

"Whether you are benevolent or rule with an iron fist."

"You only need to be worthy of the sea generals who follow you and the millions of people in the Eastern Region who trust you, and you will be a qualified new king."

Cangming remained silent for a long time.

He knelt there with his head lowered, unknown what he was thinking.

After a long while, he finally raised his head.

"This subject understands."

Chen Zhou nodded. "That is good."

Chen Zhou paused, then added: "As for grief, there is no need for too much of it."

Cangming was stunned.

Chen Zhou said: "You will see each other again soon."

Cangming: "...?"

Cang Che: "...??"

The entire hall of the Sea Race: "...???"

Cangming opened his mouth, momentarily not knowing how to react.

He had just been building up his psychological state, preparing to turn grief into strength, inherit his father's legacy, and usher in a new era for the Eastern Region.

And then the Lord Dragon Ancestor says "You will see each other again soon"?

See him?

How?

Where?

See him in the afterlife?

Cangming froze in place, his mind unable to process it.

Chen Zhou saw his hesitant appearance—wanting to ask but not daring to—smiled, and said.

"This deity said he departed."

"I didn't say he wasn't coming back."

Cangming: "..."

Cang Che: "..."

The Sea Race: "..."

The jade ruyi in the Old Turtle Prime Minister's hand fell to the ground with a "clack."

He tremblingly picked it up, a look on his face as if he had seen a ghost.

"Lord... Lord Dragon Ancestor..."

He asked cautiously: "His Majesty's soul... is still here?"

Chen Zhou glanced at him.

The Old Turtle Prime Minister immediately shut his mouth.

But an unbelievable ecstasy had already ignited in those eyes.

Cangming choked up, weeping with joy as he kowtowed heavily.

"This subject thanks the Dragon Ancestor."

Cang Che stood to the side, watching his elder brother's loss of composure, his mouth twitching.

He also wanted to thank the Dragon Ancestor.

He also wanted to cry.

But he had just desperately swallowed his tears; if he cried now, wouldn't he lose a lot of face?

Cang Che hesitated for three breaths.

Then he made a decision.

What did face matter.

He knelt and crawled to his brother's side, knocking his forehead against the ground even louder than Cangming.

"This subject also thanks the Dragon Ancestor!"

"Just now... I didn't even dare to cry!"

Chen Zhou looked down at him.

Cang Che immediately buried his head lower, pretending he hadn't just said those words.

Chen Zhou withdrew his gaze.

"All of you, rise; today, this deity shall crown the new emperor."

Cangming and Cang Che hurriedly rose.

Cangming wiped his face, drying the remaining tear stains, took a deep breath, and turned to face the officials who were still in shock and unable to recover.

"By order of the Dragon Ancestor, the banquet continues."

"Order the musicians to play again."

The frozen air finally began to flow again.

The sounds of strings and flutes rose once more.

The Dragon Palace hall was brilliantly lit once again.

Chen Zhou sat upon the coral throne.

Everyone stood solemnly, their gazes following that black-robed figure.

From the brocade box held by the Old Turtle Prime Minister with both hands, Chen Zhou took out a crown.

It was cast entirely from silver-white deep-sea profound gauze, the body engraved with myriad-acre wave patterns, and in the center was set a dragon scale the size of a dragon's eye, rumored to have been bestowed by the Dragon Ancestor ten thousand years ago.

The crown was very light.

So light that its weight could barely be felt.

The crown was very heavy.

So heavy that it required the commitment of a thousand, three thousand, or even ten thousand years to wear it steadily on one's head.

Holding the crown, Chen Zhou looked at Cangming kneeling before him.

"Cangming."

Cangming lowered his head: "This subject is here."

"Now, in the name of the Lord of Ten Thousand Scales and the Dragon Ancestor of the Eastern Region."

Chen Zhou's voice was like metal striking stone, every word clear.

It spread through the Dragon Palace and pierced through the seawater.

It resounded across the ten thousand li of the Eastern Region's maritime territory.

"I hereby appoint you—"

"As the new Sea Emperor of the Eastern Region."

"Inherit the legacy of your ancestors."

"Protect the people of your land."

"Guard every inch of territory."

"Shoulder the ten-thousand-jin responsibility."

"Are you willing?"

Cangming raised his head.

His eyes were clear, tearless, and fearless.

"I am willing."

Chen Zhou placed the crown firmly on his head.

In that moment.

The ancient dragon scale on the crown suddenly lit up.

Countless members of the Sea Race, regardless of their status or where they were in the Eastern Region.

Whether they were soldiers fighting bloodily on the maritime front lines, civilians queuing to return to port at Shanhe Pass, or officials solemnly witnessing the ceremony in the Dragon Palace hall.

All of them, at this moment, sensed the call within their bloodline and knelt on the ground together.

"We welcome the new Emperor—!"

The mountain-shaking and tsunami-like cheers of congratulation pierced the seawater and resounded for ten thousand li.

Cangming knelt before the throne.

Wearing the crown.

Cloaked in golden light.

At the corner of his eye, a bead finally slid down silently.

It was both a hot tear and the ten-thousand-year heritage of responsibility belonging to a Sea Emperor within his bloodline.

It was the ten-thousand-jin weight upon his shoulders at this moment, the territory known as the Eastern Region.

Cang Che stood among the crowd, clapping his hands frantically.

He clapped until his palms were red, until his left hand, which had only grown back a few hours ago, began to feel numb and tremble.

But he did not stop.