Angel King Hua Que

Hua Zhen wanted to keep himself calm, but the moment he took the dagger from the Second Prince, his hand still trembled slightly. Feeling the dagger's icy touch, he was beside himself with excitement. So this is a Silver Blade-class weapon?

Heh, he's still just a child. So easy to win over... Hua Tuo's eyes flashed as he watched him. I've already done you an enormous favor. I just hope you little brat won't disappoint me in the future~

Gus rolled his eyes furiously from the side. Wasn't it just a dagger? A moment ago, Hua Zhen had kept everyone at arm's length, but the next, he was shamelessly calling him Brother this and Brother that. Wasn't that a little too realistic? Gus was completely speechless toward his own Highness.

"Dong~~"

Just then, a melodious bell suddenly rang out from beyond the great hall. Accompanied by drifting "celestial music," it seemed to form an ancient, majestic hymn.

A deep voice soon followed.

"The Angel King has arrived!!"

Hua Zhen, who had just obtained the Dark Sacred Silver Dagger and was secretly thrilled, froze when he heard that. His brows furrowed slightly, and his little heart began pounding wildly against his will.

He's finally here?

"Heh~ It's only natural to be nervous at your first occasion like this, but don't worry, Old Third..." Hua Tuo chuckled and reassured him. "Stay by Second Brother's side in a moment. Just do whatever I do~"

Hua Zhen looked up at him, then grinned, baring his teeth. "Thank you, Second Brother!"

Tiangong etiquette had countless rules. Having someone guide him was certainly better than fumbling through it alone. Never mind why the Second Prince had given him the gift—at least he had not treated him the way Hua Ye had. That thank-you had come from the bottom of his heart.

"Why be so polite with Second Brother~" Hua Tuo said with a smile, then led him toward the center of the great hall.

Angel Civilization had existed for more than seventy thousand years. From the cold-weapon era to the Gene Era, it had had many rulers, but aside from the current Angel King Hua Que, none had truly achieved fame throughout the universe.

At the beginning, some thirty thousand years ago, Angel Civilization had its own council of elders, known as the Council of Elders. It consisted of several hundred noble clans, and its duty was to assist the Angel King in handling major matters.

At the time, the Council of Elders wielded immense power. On the surface, it pledged loyalty and allegiance to the Angel King, but in reality, it controlled the core of Angel Civilization's power. The great clans checked and constrained one another, forged endless marriage alliances, and yet harbored all kinds of conflicts as they played game after game to hollow out the Angel King's authority.

After entering the Aerospace Era, factions within the council multiplied. Many clan elders fought to secure benefits for their own families. Their corruption and rigidity led Angel Civilization to suffer repeated defeats in external wars, nearly bringing it to ruin. It was at that time that the young Hua Que ascended the throne.

At the start of his reign, he joined forces with the clans loyal to him, implemented reforms, and promulgated a legal code. He gradually weakened and encroached upon the other clans, and in the end, with thunderous methods, seized all great power within Angel Civilization for himself. Though the council still existed then, it existed in name only.

Hua Que was a highly intelligent man. He understood that if a civilization lacked its own system and order, internal and external causes would inevitably lead to conflict and decline. To prevent that from happening, he established the great Tiangong Order. Its purpose was to allow Angel Civilization to pursue lasting survival in this savage and chaotic age.

At the same time, under that order, he established six auxiliary institutions: the Scientific Research Council, the Military Administration Department, the Hall of Law Enforcement, the Construction Department, the Construction Department, and the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Let us briefly introduce them here.

Scientific Research Council: As its name implied, this was Angel Civilization's institution for overseeing scientific research projects. Its main responsibilities included Angel Gene upgrades, Angel Palace City warship weaponry, high-end instruments and equipment, and the development of Tiangong's defense mechanisms. It was of paramount importance!

Hua Que attached great importance to this institution and spared no expense in dedicating fifty percent of Tiangong's resources to it. After all, technological development was like rowing against the current: if one did not advance, one would fall behind. If he did not want other civilizations to catch up, he had to increase investment!

Military Administration Department: This was Angel Civilization's department for managing the Angel Legion. Tiangong's two Wing Kings were each responsible for part of it. Left Wing King Miller oversaw external military administration—that was, external campaigns and warfare—while Right Wing King He Zheng oversaw Internal Military Administration, namely the management of Tiangong's "Imperial Guards."

It was worth mentioning that although they could issue orders to Angel Commanders of every rank, the final authority to mobilize troops remained firmly in Hua Que's own hands.

Hall of Law Enforcement: A legal framework for order was essential to the survival of a civilization. Hua Que understood this deeply, so he promulgated a legal code within Tiangong. The Hall of Law Enforcement rewarded and punished Tiangong's angels according to that code.

Construction Department: This was also the institution mentioned frequently before. Among the Six Great Institutions, it had the most public servants and handled the widest variety of affairs. From overseeing Angel Civilization's diplomacy, to palace-city etiquette and the hosting of grand banquets, to promoting Angel King Hua Que's achievements—after all, Angel Civilization needed to expand, and it was necessary to instill its ideals into the natives of newly conquered planets. Its reach was extremely broad.

Construction Department: This one was much easier to understand. It was mainly responsible for palace-city architectural design, the exploration and extraction of resource deposits in surrounding star systems, planetary transformation, and so on.

Civil Affairs Bureau: Though that was what it was called, it did not refer to an official title, but an institution that managed ordinary angel residents and Subordinate Civilizations. It also handled Angel Civilization's recruitment affairs. Its main administrative location was in Tian Cheng District on the angels' Main Star.

The Six Great Institutions did not interfere with one another. Each had its own duties, and every one of them was indispensable.

It was precisely because of the systems Hua Que had established that Angel Civilization could stand tall among the many powerful forces of the universe, dominate its own domain, and endure for tens of thousands of years. Everything depended on his contributions.

Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that Hua Que was a supreme existence in the hearts of angels and the rulers of those Subordinate Civilizations. The brilliance of his achievements was simply beyond comparison with Angel Civilization's predecessors.

The moment he appeared, the previously noisy great hall immediately fell silent. Everyone moved to their proper places and did their utmost to project the solemnity fitting for the occasion. The wine cups in their hands had long since been lowered, their arms hung at their sides, their backs were ramrod straight, and their faces carried incomparable reverence. Even Hua Ye, who was usually so unrestrained, was no exception.

Hua Que was already more than thirty thousand years old, but he looked like a middle-aged man in his forties. He wore a crown set with all manner of gemstones, his golden hair streaked with silver combed neatly back. His exquisite purple toga robe was trimmed with gold and adorned with jade, every detail displaying its owner's noble and commanding status.

His eyes were as deep as the sea, as though they possessed a magic capable of drawing in one's mind. They were calm and distant, making others afraid to meet his gaze even for an instant. A warm smile rested on his lips, giving people a feeling of warmth and peace.

Following behind him were two peerless beauties dressed in magnificent attire. One was gentle and refined, while the other possessed a charmingly seductive face. Their appearance seemed to brighten the entire great hall. These two were none other than the mothers of Hua Zhen and Fourth Prince Hua Xiong.

From the moment she entered the great hall, Consort Xin Yao's gaze had been constantly searching. When she saw that small figure standing beside Hua Tuo, her previously furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and her watery gaze seemed capable of melting the entire hall.

She was breathtakingly beautiful; even the phrase "beauty capable of toppling a kingdom" was insufficient to describe her. There were only a handful in the great hall who could compare with her. Though she dressed conservatively, her magnificent robes could not conceal her captivating curves. Her golden hair was tucked behind her ears, and even without makeup, she shone as brilliantly as if she were fully adorned.

That doting gaze and gentle smile were things Hua Zhen had never experienced before. There was no need to be surprised—his mother in his previous life had been far more fierce in his mind. That was why Consort Xin Yao's way of looking at him made him feel especially uncomfortable.

"Old Third, relax. Don't be nervous!" Seeing his solemn little face and tense body, Hua Tuo gently patted his shoulder, clearly misunderstanding something.

"Uh... Father King's presence is too overwhelming. I'm a little scared!" Hua Zhen swallowed and spoke softly. Though he had been brimming with confidence before, he was now nervous to death. After all, his little life was at stake.

"Haha, Little Highness, you'll gradually get used to it!" Miller's voice came from beside him.

Hua Zhen glanced at him without speaking. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. After silently encouraging himself, he straightened his back and looked ahead...