The sea seemed shrouded in dark clouds, oppressive and deathly still.
The three kings sighed silently, unsure how to comfort Jiang Chen.
A king of such formidable strength, high-spirited and in his prime, had slain the River God by the Long River and transformed into a dragon to devour four kings in the East Sea. Each achievement had been dazzling and a source of pride.
Yet now, they only seemed painfully glaring.
Because he might never be able to do any of it again.
A beauty fading and a general growing old were the two most unbearable sights in this world.
After a long silence, Jiang Chen suddenly moved. What he did left the three kings with even more conflicted feelings, their hearts wrenching.
He neither wept nor flew into a rage.
Instead, he turned to look at the mountains and rivers of the Nine Provinces. Then he smiled weakly, his smile so sincere, without a trace of falsehood.
Even his sorrow had vanished.
Having paid for a moment of peace for the Nine Provinces with a fall in his own realm, this young king showed not the slightest resentment. He merely said one thing.
"If my realm has fallen, so be it. As long as these magnificent mountains and rivers remain, that's enough."
"My young friend..." Tears streamed down the Mount Tai King's aged face.
"Kid!"
"..."
The three kings contributed another wave of Ghost Qi.
Jiang Chen's smile grew even wider, making their hearts ache all the more.
The Mount Tai King took out several items: a whole stick of Red Incense, half a thumb-thick White Wax candle, and a small bottle of Incense Oil with Paper Ash floating inside. It was probably oil that had been used in a ritual offering.
"My young friend, take these for