Chapter 4: Star Radiance
Star Radiance City, as the imperial capital of the empire, could no longer be described merely by its vast land area. It housed a total of 40 space towers, intersecting rail lines, and an extensive network of transportation routes.
In most worlds, space towers had nothing to do with civilian use; the high maintenance costs ensured that.
In the King's District, at Space Tower No. 2 on Tree-Lined Avenue, spatial fluctuations gradually subsided. After a moment, Vice Minister Tor Enta emerged from the main entrance. A vehicle authorized to enter the royal palace was already prepared, and the group boarded.
The journey was silent. When this luxurious yet uniquely styled vehicle reached the side gate of the royal palace, the imperial guards stationed there conducted layer upon layer of inspections before allowing passage.
Inside the vehicle, Vice Minister Tor Enta spoke with a hint of apology: "Lord White Night, normally the surveillance isn't this strict. Recently, His Majesty the King has been unwell, so the subordinates are naturally more tense."
After saying this, Tor Enta pointed to the towering space tower within the palace grounds, explaining that usually, when he came to the royal palace, he would teleport directly to this No. 0 Space Tower. From there, taking the palace's internal rail tram would lead to the royal hall. Yes, the palace required a rail tram to get around; its area rivaled that of a small city.
As the vehicle approached the royal hall, Su Xiao clearly sensed that both the sentries and the patrolling imperial guards had stronger auras. However, their "Divine Flesh" was generally concentrated on their arms. He wondered why this was the case—perhaps the "Divine Flesh" had the lowest probability of "Aberration"?
A majestic building steeped in historical significance appeared ahead. Though not opulent, it exuded an indescribable sense of authority. Getting out of the vehicle, they walked through the main entrance along a red carpet into the royal hall, then took an elevator. This elevator had a strong vintage feel. As for why they didn't use a modern lift or armored elevator, this old-fashioned lift, reinforced with multiple defensive formations, seemed safer.
Ascending to the fifth floor, they did not head to the massive bedchamber there. The old king had never spent a single day in that luxurious sleeping quarters. In his own words, sleeping in too open a space made him uneasy.
Moreover, this renowned king had a less-than-ideal habit: he liked to eat late-night snacks, and only pastries at that. This had led to his physique being far from slender. Especially after inheriting the throne in his forties, with daily exhaustion and lack of exercise, his figure gradually expanded horizontally.
If someone were to pull out photos of the king from ages 25 to 35, they would definitely exclaim, "Holy crap, is this really the same person?" After all, in his youth, the king wasn't just handsome—he was the undisputed ceiling of the empire's ruggedly handsome male beauty standards. His rivals' most common saying was: "If it weren't for his good looks..."
Sometimes, recognition from one's enemies is the most impartial.
Now, the king wasn't exactly obese, but he was teetering on the edge of it. His personal chef was nearly driven to distraction over this issue. What could she do? A king with no bad habits, who just liked a late-night pastry—deny him? Absolutely not. Let him have it? His gradually thickening physique clearly wouldn't allow it either. She even considered resigning, but couldn't bear to leave His Majesty. It was, to say the least, too difficult.
Vice Minister Tor Enta stopped before a bedroom door guarded by two personal attendants. After carefully adjusting his attire, he took a deep breath and knocked. After a moment, a voice, lacking vigor but carrying a hint of authority, came from within:
"Tor Enta?"
"It is I, Your Majesty."
"Come in. If White Night is also here, let him in as well."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Tor Enta opened the door and gestured for Su Xiao to enter first.
Su Xiao stepped into the room. It was a bedroom of about twenty square meters, containing only a maid and an old man reclining on the bed. The old man wore a white sleeping shirt, was so thin he was skin and bones, with slightly disheveled white hair. His aura was like a candle flickering in the wind, but his eyes were far from clouded—they were bright and spirited.
This was the King of the United Empire, Roald Saint Adz. At first glance, Su Xiao's only perception was that this king was on the verge of death. He might die in the next moment, or tomorrow, or next week, but certainly within a month at most. His Primordial Life Force was nearly depleted.
"Meeting you is better than hearing about you, isn't it, White Night?"
A faint smile appeared on the old king's gaunt face. He raised his hand, and the loose, sagging skin on his arm indicated that just a few days ago, he should have been stout and robust. Yet in only a few days, this king had been nearly drained dry.
"Did you come here because you had long heard of the appearance of the 'Star Heart'?"
"No, I only learned of it upon arrival."
"Then why are you here?"
"To slaughter all the gods."
After saying this, Su Xiao took out the "Origin Codex." This caused the old king, who had been reclining against a bolster, to sit up with the maid's assistance.
"This, this is the Codex? Wasn't it lost in the First Era? Oh! The ancient dragons—it was the ancient dragons who sealed it away. That's right, I heard you left the Ancient Dragon Kingdom not long ago."
The old king reached out to touch the "Origin Codex," but just before making contact, he stopped and withdrew his hand:
"Don't let the gods discover that my karma is off. I'd better not touch this thing."
After saying this, the old king fell silent.
Why did Su Xiao declare his intention to deal with the gods right from the start? The reason was simple: if the old king were a puppet of the gods, this meeting would never have taken place. His invitation to Su Xiao could only mean one of two possibilities.