Sovereign of the Ashes

During the Rongyue World War, Gongsun Wudi rarely used her formal title.

Most of the time, both soldiers and officers simply addressed her as “Grand General”.

The title itself—combining “Guardian of the Nation” and “Great Peace”—hinted at the expectations her father had placed on his children.

It may even have reflected the broader direction of the empire’s governance.

Her father was known as the First Emperor, the founder of the Dawn Empire.

And yet, the one currently on the throne was her older brother.

As the topic came up, Sein asked, “What about your father?”

A trace of sadness flickered across Gongsun Wudi’s face. “He passed away not long after I was born. In truth, he never actually took the throne. That title was granted to him posthumously by my brother.”

“It seems he left behind some regrets, but no one ever shared them with me. Perhaps my brother knows more,” she said.

She let out a quiet sigh, and the joy of returning in victory seemed to fade from her expression.

Without another word, she walked into her residence.

It was only then that Sein realized he had touched on something he should not have.

The loss of an overlord was no small matter for the Dawn Empire—it was a lasting regret, and one that came with far-reaching consequences.

And this conversation could even affect future diplomacy between the Dawn Empire and the Magus Civilization.

The one who had created the empire’s Dragon Qi must have been an extraordinary figure.

Now that he was gone, it was unclear how many overlords the Dawn Empire still had.

Seeing the gloom on Gongsun Wudi’s face, Sein found his own mood growing heavier.

If this visit failed to secure any support for the Magus Civilization, it would amount to nothing less than a diplomatic failure.

Still, there was no point dwelling on it now. He could only wait until he met the Emperor.

In the Dawn Empire, where imperial authority stood above all, the Emperor alone determined the course of the entire civilization.

Within his own civilization, his authority might even surpass that of Lady Bev, the leader of the Magus Civilization!

After accompanying Gongsun Wudi into her residence, the princess set aside a large, scenic stretch of land for Sein and placed it entirely at his disposal.

Sein accepted without hesitation. After spending some time with her, he had come to understand her temperament—she had served in the military for years and handled everything with decisive efficiency. Hesitation or excessive politeness would only annoy her.

Once the land was secured, Sein summoned more than ten elemental golems to begin building his magic towers.

For now, he planned to construct four—one each for his Ashen Flame research, body tempering experiments, mechanical studies, as well as alchemy and apothecary work.

Since he did not yet know how long he would be staying in the Dawn Empire, he held off on more complex, time-consuming projects.

It was during construction that Sein realized Gongsun Wudi’s private quarters lay very close by—among a cluster of grand buildings just beyond his chosen site.

From a certain point of view, the land he had been given could be considered part of her back garden.

Just... a very large one.

Before the towers were even halfway complete, Sein received a summons to attend an audience at the imperial palace.

This time, Gongsun Wudi’s appearance had changed completely.

She was no longer clad in white-gold battle armor, but dressed in an elegant princess gown with a sophisticated design.

A moment ago she had been a war goddess—now she looked every bit the Dawn Empire’s Princess Guardian.

The contrast was so striking that even Sein paused for a moment.

She rode a one-horned white dragon steed; even as a princess, she clearly had little interest in traveling by palanquin.[1]

“What are you looking at?” Gongsun Wudi asked.

Snapping out of it, Sein turned away. “Nothing. Your mount just reminded me of a species from the Grand Elven World within the Magus Alliance.”

“Oh? What kind?” she asked.

“Unicorns,” Sein replied. “Powerful gem-type creatures born with extraordinary abilities. Their bloodline is only slightly below that of dragons and phoenixes. In the Grand Elven World, they symbolize purity. Only the purest elven maidens are allowed to ride them.”

Gongsun Wudi had never visited the Magus Civilization. Although she had spent years campaigning across many lands, there were still countless things unfamiliar to her.

As she listened to Sein describe the Magus Alliance, she showed clear interest.

The imperial palace was not far from her residence.

It was likely arranged that way so the Emperor could see his younger sister more often.

When Sein and the others arrived at the palace, the delegation from Rongyue World, including Caiyu the Butterfly, was not summoned along with them.

The difference in treatment was obvious.

In the eyes of the Dawn Empire, a representative of the Magus Civilization like Sein held far greater importance than those from a defeated world.

He had established the empire nearly two hundred thousand years ago.

There was no doubt he was an overlord-level powerhouse of immense strength.

In the past tens of thousands of years, however, there had been no record of the Emperor personally leading troops into battle.

Given that, it seemed unlikely that Sein would be able to secure a large-scale reinforcement force for the Magus Civilization.

Still, that was a matter to worry about later.

What mattered now was that, since arriving in the Dawn Empire, Sein had been treated with far more respect than he had expected.

The Emperor himself received him in the imperial court.

Also present were the Princess Guardian, the Crown Prince—Gongsun Qi, and numerous high-ranking officials.

The Emperor appeared young.

Of course, Rank Four and above beings could alter their appearance at will—let alone someone at the overlord level.

Seated upon the throne, he carried a natural authority that left a deep impression on Sein.

It was not something he deliberately projected. Rather, it was reinforced by the solemn atmosphere and strict rituals of the imperial court.

When receiving Sein, a mere Rank Five mage, the Emperor even wore a faint smile. That alone spoke volumes about the close relationship between the Dawn Empire and the Magus Civilization.

The Crown Prince, on the other hand, looked even younger.

Unlike the Emperor, he truly was young in age, as he was only a Rank Five.

Setting aside the advantages granted by the dynasty’s fortune, his strength alone might not even match Sein’s.

As for their attitude toward him, Sein could tell that the Emperor and several of the older powerhouses were genuinely welcoming.

However, some of the younger officials, including the Crown Prince, seemed less sincere, as if they were simply going through the motions.

It was not hard to understand. No matter how close the ties between the Dawn Empire and the Magus Civilization had once been, that was a matter for the previous generation.

Among the younger generation, few had likely even heard of the Magus Civilization.

After all, even Sein himself had only just learned of the Dawn Empire...

Still, it was reassuring that real authority within the empire remained in the hands of the elders gathered around the Emperor.

1. Translator’s Note: A palanquin is a sedan chair, usually for one passenger. It is carried by an even number of bearers on their shoulders, by means of a pole projecting fore and aft. ☜