The King Is Dying! Heading to the Royal City

Murong Earldom.

Several months had passed since Su Changge returned from hunting his second spirit ring.

A few days ago, his second child was born.

He named his eldest son Su Murong and his second daughter Su Muyue.

Including the character "Mu" in their names served to honor the sentiment of the Murong Earldom's rise through the grace of his wife's family.

Su Changge's plan had been to enjoy a period of stability, allowing the foundation of the Murong Earldom to settle and deepen.

However... the trees desire stillness, but the wind will not cease.

On the eve of a magnificent, tumultuous era, the first stirrings of chaos began.

"The old King is dying?"

Inside the study, Su Changge gripped the secret letter sent from Haagen-Dazs Royal City, his pupils constricting.

Haagen-Dazs Kingdom! Bala Kingdom! Sylves Kingdom! Gulei Kingdom! Frost Sky Duchy!

The territory occupied by these four kingdoms and one duchy accounted for nearly forty percent of the Heaven Dou Empire's land.

As hereditary states established at the founding of the Heaven Dou Empire, they were nations within a nation.

Aside from paying a certain tribute to the Empire each year, their economy, politics, military, and personnel appointments were almost entirely independent.

In particular, the four kingdoms and one duchy were located in the central region between the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, the Star Dou Great Forest, and the Star Dou Mountain Range—areas infested with various soul beasts. They faced constant threats of invasion from the Star Luo Empire and chaos from soul beast tides of all scales.

Their military was formidable, and their armaments were excellent!

They were the southern shield of the Heaven Dou Empire, yet also a thorn in the side of every Heaven Dou monarch.

Throughout the ages, every change in the throne of these kingdoms had ignited a storm of blood and carnage that swept across the entire realm.

Power struggles between royal families...

The Heaven Dou imperial family hoped to regain control over the succession of the four kingdoms and one duchy, or even abolish them to establish provinces, achieving true unification for the Empire.

Spirit Hall hoped to plant its flags within these kingdoms to expand its influence and strength!

The Star Luo Empire schemed to win over or even destroy these kingdoms to weaken the overall power of the Heaven Dou Empire!

Then there were the Seven Great Sects, the ancient nobility...

There were too many people and too many factions wanting a piece of the pie during the transition of power.

The Haagen-Dazs Kingdom, in particular, bordered Jialing Pass to the north; once they harbored rebellious intent, they could drive straight into the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire!

To the far southwest, it bordered the Hadrian Kingdom—a territory shared by Spirit Hall and the Star Luo Empire—placing it at the intersection of several major powers.

The slightest ripple would trigger a tidal wave.

In the midst of such turmoil capable of overturning royal power, the tiny Murong Earldom was like an ant, liable to be crushed by any faction that suddenly intervened.

"Someone, summon all the officials for a meeting."

Because the matter was of such great consequence, Su Changge hesitated for a moment before having Murong Ruyan invited as well.

Before long, the dozen or so officials appointed by Su Changge had all arrived.

They were responsible for administration, agriculture, taxation, construction, military affairs, and more.

After a brief gesture, Su Changge did not hide anything, nor did he ask for their opinions; he simply conveyed the news of the old King's impending death and his subsequent arrangements.

Administration, agriculture, and taxation were to continue as usual.

But regarding the military and construction... expand! Expand! Expand!

Musket Cavalry! Elite Infantry! Artillery Battalion! And the newly formed Spirit Master Battalion!

Su Changge had removed the limiters on the core combat systems of the Earldom.

"Please rest assured, My Lord Changge. We will complete the expansion and the forging of firearms on schedule; we will never fail your expectations."

"However, the Royal City has become a den of tigers and wolves. My Lord Changge, you must be extremely cautious... the Earldom cannot do without you!"

Although the officials did not want Su Changge to risk himself so easily, after hesitating repeatedly, no one dared to speak up.

In their eyes, Su Changge was the King of the Murong Earldom!

The will of the King, even if wrong or uncertain, was not to be defied by anyone.

If one had to find a reason for this, it was only that they, as subordinates, were too weak and too foolish to share the burden of their superior.

"Mm! I understand."

"I leave the Earldom in your hands during this time."

With a simple response, Su Changge waved his hand to dismiss the officials.

In the blink of an eye, only Murong Ruyan and Su Changge remained in the large study.

"Changge, since the Royal City is a den of tigers and wolves, can you not go?"

"I don't want you to take the risk..."

Murong Ruyan walked to Su Changge's side and wrapped her arms around him, her tone soft and fearful of displeasing him.

"Ruyan, we have no choice but to go!"

"Perhaps the Murong Earldom's current foundation and military strength are decent enough when considering the surrounding territories."

"But in the eyes of those empires, or even the top-tier powers of the entire continent, the Earldom doesn't even qualify to be a decent chess piece!"

"This change in royal power might involve top-tier Spirit Masters at the Spirit Douluo or even Titled Douluo level... If the Murong Earldom doesn't want to be purged afterward, we must stand on the right side."

"Rest assured, you and Gullier don't need to worry about these matters; I will handle everything."

Su Changge stroked Murong Ruyan's dark hair, his body gradually reacting.

After staying at Murong Castle for another two days and leaving Murong Ruyan and Alice Gullier fully satisfied, Su Changge set off for Haagen-Dazs Royal City with dozens of Musket Cavalry.

Perhaps by the time he returned from the Royal City, Murong Ruyan and Alice Gullier would bring him more good news.

Haagen-Dazs Royal City was located in the heart of the kingdom.

It was surrounded by fertile plains on all sides.

Agriculture and commerce were extremely prosperous, and the population far exceeded any city Su Changge had seen in over a decade.

After displaying the banner of the Murong Earldom, Su Changge entered the Royal City without encountering any obstruction.

Of course, after paying out a large sum of Gold Soul Coins, Su Changge also learned some useful intelligence from the Royal City guard officer!

Since the news of the old King's impending death had spread, no fewer than a hundred nobles of various ranks—marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons—had arrived at the Royal City over the past few days.

These nobles held real power in their local regions, with forces under their command ranging from two or three hundred to several thousand, or even nearly ten thousand!

Once these nobles arrived at the Royal City, they were immediately courted by the many princes and princesses vying for the throne.

Among these numerous princes and princesses, the ones with the greatest momentum were currently the First Prince Snyder, the Third Prince Ente, and the Seventh Princess Alice!

Behind these three, they either had the support of the many Spirit Hall branches within the kingdom, had earned great military merit in their youth and gained the support of many powerful generals, or maintained close ties with the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family to secure certain backing...

Of course, these were only the cards that the princes and princesses had revealed on the surface.

As for how much they had hidden in the shadows, no one would know until the moment the struggle for royal power came to an end.