Entering the magnificent yet empty hall, Xilǐ'er finally saw the legendary "Two-Faced Throne".
He didn't know which king he would face first, so he stood quietly at the lowest point, waiting for instructions.
"My knight, come forward."
A clear, gentle voice suddenly echoed in his ears, and Xilǐ'er's body trembled, beginning to move to one side.
This is... the voice of the [ King of Domination ].
The loyal knight knelt on one knee on the red carpet, his head bowed, not daring to look at the figure on the throne.
"Remove your helmet and visor."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xilǐ'er pressed the buckle on the back of his head, removed his helmet, and revealed his brown curly hair and light blue eyes to the King of Domination.
"Good."
Although it was unclear what he was praising, the King of Domination's tone still carried a hint of curiosity:
"I couldn't sense you for a time; it seemed you had gone to a faraway place. Why don't you tell us about your journey?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xilǐ'er remained kneeling and began to earnestly recount his experiences over the past six months.
The battle with the regular army of the Graycast Corridor forced Xilǐ'er out of his fully resurrected state, leaving him to wander westward with only fragmented memories.
A kind and generous lord took him in and promised not to restrict his departure.
In the days that followed, the armored knight lived a simple life as an instructor, exchanging all his wages for fine iron to nourish his body and his horse.
The arrival of the Blood Corpse did not disrupt their plans. After defeating several surging Corpse Tide, Xilǐ'er was finally able to embark on his journey home.
As a knight, Xilǐ'er was well-educated, and although his narration was somewhat plain, it was truthful. He quickly and clearly recounted his experiences over the past six months.
"... That concludes my entire experience before returning."
Xilǐ'er lowered his head and said earnestly:
"Your Majesty, although this is not within my scope of duty, as a knight, I still need to inform you that the Second Holy See can become our ally."
Xilǐ'er, unusually eloquent, spoke a kind word to Ed, but the King of Domination, seated high on his throne, seemed not to hear it.
He was now muttering to himself the part that Xilǐ'er had just spoken:
"A semi-vegetative state... a fire dragon... a shrewd lich... an undead..."
As if suddenly awakened from a dream, the voice of the King of Domination came again:
"You know this isn't within your scope of duty? You don't need to concern yourself with this anymore, Xilǐ'er. You're a Knight of Conquest; tell me, what is the duty of Knight of Conquest?"
"It is to bring victory to His Majesty."
Xilǐ'er's body tensed abruptly. He sensed the displeasure in the King of Domination's tone. He knew he shouldn't overstep his bounds, but as a knight, there were things he had to say.
However, after that initial rebuke, the King of Domination's tone softened once again:
"Despite being absent for half a year, your experience truly demonstrates your loyalty and courage."
"In the Eternal Domain, loyalty and courage will be rewarded accordingly, right?"
Is this a question being asked of oneself? Clearly not.
As Xilǐ'er was puzzled, a magnetic voice entered his ears:
"That's right, a reward should be given."
The voice came from the other side of the dual throne, from the Immortal King!
Xilǐ'er lowered his head even further, while the two rulers of the Eternal Domain simultaneously raised their right hands. An invisible yet incredibly powerful force flowed in their hands, like a raging tsunami attempting to destroy everything around them.
Xilǐ'er's eternal emblem on his chest suddenly lit up, and the symbol of eternity and infinity began to operate on its own. The two inconspicuous eyes encased within it also slowly opened at that moment.
A large amount of Psionic Energy surged into Xilǐ'er's chest, making it difficult to discern whether it was the superior suction of the emblem on his chest or the overwhelming Psionic Energy that required a "pressure relief valve".
The power from the Twin Kings entered Xilǐ'er's body, and he trembled as he accepted it all, feeling the transformation of his own body.
A bead of sweat gathered on Xilǐ'er's chin and finally dripped onto the bright red carpet.
The Knight of Conquest, panting heavily, struggled to maintain his current posture, determined not to embarrass himself before the Twin Kings.
The invisible and intangible Psionic Energy tsunami vanished within the palace, and the emblem on Xilǐ'er's chest gradually dimmed, yet became clearer and more profound than before.
The King of Domination's voice rang out again, this time with an encouraging tone:
" Xilǐ'er the Knight of Conquest "
"Exist."
The door to the Middle Tier is now open to you.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Xilǐ'er also felt the shackles being broken, and he suppressed his excitement as he respectfully responded to the King of Domination before him.
The figure on the throne simply nodded.
"Now you."
The two-sided throne began to slowly rotate, and when Xilǐ'er looked up slightly again, a different person was standing before him.
The Immortal King's aura was far more terrifying than that of the King of Domination. Even though the other party was trying to restrain himself, Xilǐ'er could still feel the oppressive force that made him kneel and submit.
This king, with his magnetic voice, now resembled an elder looking at a promising junior.
He reminisced about the past and said earnestly to Xilǐ'er:
"It was a very interesting experience. It reminded me of when I just freed you from your amber state. Back then, you were still trapped in the madness brought on by loneliness and confinement, and you almost smashed your companions who were still sealed away to pieces... How many years ago was that?"
Xilǐ'er bowed his head respectfully and said:
"It was eighty years ago, and I dare not forget it in the next moment."
"Eighty years..."
The Immortal King repeated the number, a touch of emotion creeping into his voice. Looking at the "century-old veteran" before him, the Immortal King's tone was earnest:
"I have a new task for you. Are you willing to accept it?"
"Your Majesty, I will obey all your orders."
The Immortal King nodded in satisfaction and said:
"Okay, this matter is actually very simple. The advance team has confirmed the existence of a Blue Dragon's lair deep within the Demon Realm."
"That dragon was severely injured and is unable to freely use its prized Psionic Energy spells. It needs to recuperate for a long time."
"Join the Dragon-Hunting Knights, traverse the demon realm teeming with Blood Corpse Demon Realm to slay it, and bring its carcass back to the Eternal Domain."
Are you willing?
Xilǐ'er First:
"I am willing."
"Very well, you can leave now."
The Immortal King waved his hand, and the doors of the hall opened in response. Xilǐ'er to the Twin Kings once more, then slowly withdrew from the magnificent and solemn hall.