Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 729: Chapter 729. The Regent of Echos

Amon and Xin Wuming returned to Fort Fresh Maw after the troops arrived near Golden Stone City. He reacquired the fort from Jiang Tong’s faction. No one dared to stop his force as they strutted back into the fort.

Amon spent a few days inside the fort as the king’s funeral was being prepared. Today would be the day the funeral was conducted. He called Xin Wuming into his office before he left.

When Xin Wuming entered, he was hit by an aura that caused him lose breath for a moment. He only realized later that it was the aura emitted from Amon. It was an aura of the Peak Spirit Stage.

Xin Wuming saluted Amon, who sat behind his desk. ”Brother, your cultivation has increased. Congratulations!”

”Mm... It’s all thanks to our king’s final parting gift,” Amon said as he played with a small pill in his hand. ”This is called the Inheritance Pill. I’m surprised when I found two of these pills in his space ring. This pill explained the sudden growth of his cultivation when he was crowned. It was weaker than the Inheritance Aether, but my cultivation increased greatly after eating the pill. It not only helped me enter the Peak Spirit Stage, but I was also close to the Beginning Lord Stage. I estimate that after eating another aetherium fruit, I will become a Lord Stage cultivator.”

”Brother’s improvement is a boon to our force. I pray that it happens soon,” Xin Wuming remarked.

”Too bad Huang San only possesses two of these pills,” Amon said. He threw the pill in his hand at Xin Wuming, who caught it with surprise. ”The second one is for you.”

”Brother... This pill is too precious. Please, you should use it for yourself,” Xin Wuming handed the pill back to Amon.

Amon waved it away. ”I can’t consume another pill so soon. Furthermore, the pill is useless once I enter the Lord Stage. You use it. You will be more useful to me if you become stronger.”

”In that case, I won’t waste it. I swear I will be stronger so I can better serve Brother,” Xin Wuming said.

”I won’t expect anything less.” Amon stood up and walked to the door. He stopped before exiting. ”I will remain in Golden Stone City after the burial ceremony. I will probably not return for several weeks. I will leave the First Demon Army to you. Get them back in shape, and do it quickly.”

Xin Wuming didn’t expect the order. ”Brother, hasn’t the war ended already?”

Amon grinned. ”Another one will come about soon.”

Xin Wuming didn’t waste time asking Amon for clarification. He said, ”I understand. I will do as Brother commands. I just received a report that we have received many applications from civilian cultivators. I originally wanted to screen these applications and select only the best. But if another war is truly coming, I will accept them all and put them into training immediately.”

Amon nodded his approval. He left without further instructions.

*

The burial ceremony for Huang San and Huang Ti lasted for three whole days. Huang Er and Huang Zen were also included, but their burials were conducted symbolically, since they had no remains to be buried.

The ceremony began in the palace courtyard. It lasted the whole day. Nobles and officers from all over the kingdom were summoned to attend this ceremony.

On the second day, the ceremony turned into a funeral procession that carried the four deceased’s coffins all around the capital. Civilians were obliged to come out and pay their respects when the funeral procession passed their places.

On the third day, the four coffins were brought into the royal crypt. The royal crypt was located under the palace, in the opposite section from the Spring of Life. Only officers of the highest rank were allowed to follow the procession into the crypt, where they witnessed Huang San and Huang Ti being put in their final resting place. Amon was among this exclusive group.

After the royal burial ceremony, a one-week mourning period was mandated. No one was allowed to open shops, hold a gathering, or get drunk. During this period, an intense discussion took place inside the palace among the civil and military officials. The discussion reviewed the current unusual situation where the throne was left with almost no one next in line. The only member of the Huang Clan who had the right to the throne was Huang Bei, but he was not even two years old.

Yang Li asserted herself in the discussion. During her years in the palace, she had been working together with Amon’s accomplices, whom he planted among the court officials. This helped her gain much influence in the court. And since she was the queen, everyone couldn’t just dismiss her.

Amon also participated in the discussion. He backed up Yang Li with support from the officials he had bought over, thanks to the work of the Demon Gang and the Lin Hei Sect.

After that week, an announcement was made. Huang Bei was appointed a child monarch. The throne was his, but he would have no authority in governing the kingdom. The authority would be handed to him once he came of age. Before that, a regent was appointed to act in his place.

The selected regent was none other than the hero of Echos. The hero helped repel Khode’s invasion before retaliating by mounting a counter-invasion. He also defeated Kazhan and slain its Lord Stage sovereign. His role during the battle in Oredolia was instrumental. He was among the group who secured the ingredient that allowed them to expose the true nature of the Holy Mother. He then saved the Echos Army, which was under attack by Lin Xiaolong’s force.

His achievements were undeniable. Everyone in Echos knew his legend. No one objected to his appointment.

General Amon was, on that day, known as the Regent of Echos. He held the highest authority in Echos until Huang Bei came of age.

*

Inside Echos Palace’s throne room, Jiang Tong, Liu Xun, and other military officials knelt facing the throne. Although Jiang Tong was not yet fully recovered, he had healed enough to move. He also participated in the meeting a few days ago that decided amon as the regent. He was among those who heavily opposed the decision. Alas, his influence wasn’t strong enough to alter the decision.

Sitting on the throne was Yang Li. She held Huang Bei in her arms. Standing beside her was Amon. Today was the day of the weekly court meeting. They listened to issues from all around the kingdom and decided upon them. As a regent, Amon was the one making all the decisions. Yang Li and Huang Bei were only there for show.

The meeting had ended, but Jiang Tong came forward for an audience.

”My queen, my king,” Jiang Tong began. ”When will you give us the order to march into Khode? All our soldiers are itching for payback for what they did to our king!”

”Our army will march, but not into Khode.” Like the rest of the meeting, Amon was the one who answered.

Jiang Tong itched to tell Amon to know his place. He still didn’t accept Amon’s authority, but showing a public defiance would give Amon the reason to punish him, or even demote him. So, he restrained himself.

”Regent, can you explain why the hold off? Is it because you have personal benefits from Khode? I heard talks from people who had contacts with Khode that Khode was obliged to pay you tributes.”

Xin Wuming, who had become an Intermediate Spirit Stage, stood below the throne platform. He scolded Jiang Tong, ”How dare you! Are you accusing the regent of colluding with Khode? Know your place, Jiang Tong!”

Jiang Tong’s fist shook. He was furious. He was Echos’ First Class General. He held the highest rank in Echos’ military. Though Amon had promoted Xin Wuming to the rank of General, Xin Wuming was still considered his subordinate. It was infuriating to hear his subordinate speak to him that way. He remained still, though. He kept his anger from showing.

He replied, ”I am simply demanding an explanation why we have not yet been mobilized to avenge our beloved kings.”

”Very well, I will give everyone the explanation,” Amon said. ”The one who was responsible for our king’s demise is not Khode, but Lin Xiaolong. Most know him as a member of Khode’s current high council, but he was originally an Echos citizen. He came from the Lin Clan, which used to dwell in White Cloud City. The Lin Clan was massacred by the kingdom due to a false accusation. Lin Xiaolong held the Echos Kingdom responsible. That’s why he targeted our king.”

Jiang Tong spat, ”Pah! I don’t care why that bastard did it. The fact is, he assassinated our king. Even if he did it out of order from Heaven, we must still make him pay for it!”

”That is without question,” Amon said. ”I explained that to emphasize that our king’s assignation was the deed of Lin Xiaolong, not Khode. Khode had no idea about what Lin Xiaolong was doing. They had sent formal condolences and removed Lin Xiaolong from his official position in the high council. They also conducted a manhunt for him to help us bring him to justice. Unfortunately, he is no longer in Khode.”

”They can be lying. Let me lead an army there to conduct our own search. If they are sincere about bringing Lin Xiaolong to justice, they shouldn’t stop us.”

Amon shook his head. ”We know for certain that Lin Xiaolong is not in Khode. Zhong Hua?”

Zhong Hua spoke after receiving the cue. ”I have received confirmation from my spies that they spotted Lin Xiaolong. As the regent said, he is not in Khode.”

”Where is he?” Jiang Tong asked.

”Gyleth Marx,” Zhong Hua answered.