Darkness swallowed the last sliver of light.
Covered in blood, Luo Cheng knelt before his father, his expression grief-stricken.
Dying was the easiest thing, but the living would always grieve.
Luo Ze stood rigidly upright, like a keen sword thrusting toward the heavens.
Gazing into the ink-black night, he said softly, "Cheng, do not grieve anymore.
Your elder brother merely went a step ahead of us.
The Ducal House's blood is flowing, but its souls are growing ever lighter. This is Ji's achievement.
Besides, is dying for the Altars of State not the greatest glory of all?"
Their souls were growing ever lighter?
Luo Cheng froze. He closed his eyes slightly, and a delicate fragrance seemed to waft from within him.
This strange occurrence left him at a loss. "Father?!"
Luo Ze said nothing more, merely raising a hand to point at the sky.
"The shackles of the mandate of heaven!"
Luo Cheng understood at once, a trace of relief appearing on his face.
Though Luo Ze grieved inwardly over Luo Ji's passing, there was a note of ease in his words.
"The shackles we have borne for centuries are finally about to come undone.
From now on, the Luo Clan Descendants will be able to live unburdened upon this magnificent land of All Xia."
No one knew what pressure the Luo State Ruling House had endured over the years.
A blade had always hung above their heads, cold and keen.
"Clan head!"
"Lord of the State!"
A clamor came from outside. Luo Ze stepped out of the house to find a group of men long renowned among the Dare-to-Fight Warriors approaching together.
At the sight of Luo Ze, they instantly dropped to one knee, silently shedding tears.
Tears shone in Luo Ze's eyes as well. Forcing a smile, he