Chapter 775: Death of Valentine VII

Lionheart City, Triumph Palace.

A young man who looked to be no more than 20 or 30 years old was strolling leisurely in the palace with his hands in his pockets.

His brilliant golden hair shone with a dazzling light, and his appearance was handsome to the point of being regal. His deep, pure, ruby-like red eyes radiated a divine aura.

Whether it was the radiance of the Dao reflected in his pupils or his naturally noble bearing, there was not a trace of animality or barbarism. In the glittering golden lights of the Triumphal Palace, he shone in his white tuxedo like a god on earth.

That was the "first generation of famous prime minister" Peng Bonazzi.

The positions of Red and Black Phase are passed down through generations. Each generation of Red Phase is a child of Pomponazzi, and each generation of Black Phase is the Vice Principal of the Ziggurat.

However, unlike the Black Phase, who does have certain functions and powers... the Red Phase does not actually have any autonomous power. When people refer to the "Red Phase," they are usually referring to the "Original Red Phase," the person behind the Red Phase.

The first Black Prime Minister never cared about political affairs, being a mere figurehead. However, the first Red Prime Minister demanded all power and wealth in his hands... Each generation of Red Prime Minister was his puppet and extension, his most loyal and obedient child.

Because of this, few knew what the "Principal" actually looked like... but everyone in the Xingtan Palace knew the First Red Chancellor. The guards of the Triumph Palace were no exception.

Faced with this true power holder, the most powerful transcendent on the planet, no guard dared to stop him or inquire about his whereabouts - it was useless to stop him anyway.

As if the palace was built for Pomponazzi, Pomponazzi encountered no obstacles in his passage.

He walked leisurely into Alfonso Valentin's study.

He waved his hand slightly, and the tightly closed door flashed red light and opened with a bang.

The Red Prime Minister Peng Bonazi walked in with a smile and saw the old man sitting at the desk reading a letter.

There was no one in the study except him.

There were no attendants, no guards, no servants, even Valentine VII's most trusted jester was nowhere to be seen.

"Long time no see, little Alfonso."

The blond young man, who looked no more than thirty, said leisurely, "It must have been over twenty years since we last met."

"...Yes, Pomponazzi."

The white-haired old man raised his head slightly and said slowly, "Since... the last time the Herasil Vault was opened, you haven't been to the Triumph Palace again."

"Yeah, I'm angry when I come. I might as well not come."

Pomponazi said casually, "Anyway, I've been unhappy with this Triumphal Palace for a long time."

As he spoke, he sat down on the desk in front of the old man.

Pomponazzi stretched out his hand and put his arm around the old man's neck.

"I say, Alfonso."

The First Red Prime Minister said nonchalantly, "I'm planning on renovating the Triumphal Palace later—this golden palace is too vulgar. I'm planning on changing it to red and black. What do you think?"

"Gold and red, maybe."

Valentine VII was not angry, but said patiently: "The red and black color scheme...that's the style of the Hellassar Empire."

"Is it not good?"

Pomponazzi asked in return, "I intend to rebuild the Helasar Empire. What do you think?"

"The Heracle Empire, where there isn't even a Heracross?"

The old man chuckled.

There was no trace of sarcasm or ridicule in his laughter, only a sense of the impermanence of life.

"That's why I want to open the Hrasil Vault."

Pomponazzi held out his hand: "Give me the key."

"The key is the king's scepter. It's next to my bed in my bedroom. The principal cast the key into the dragon bone inside the scepter."

The old man didn't react at all, but took the initiative to explain: "But the key alone is useless, you still need an offering to open the door..."

"The blood of Heracross—I know."

Peng Bonazi interrupted the old man and nodded without waiting for him to finish.

He looked the old man up and down, a look of satisfaction in his eyes. "Not bad, little Alfonso. You still know how to show me some respect... What reward do you want? I can let you enjoy your old age—you can also try to cultivate your adaptability to the path of love, and I will personally resurrect you."

"That's not necessary."

The white-haired old man coughed softly a few times, with a dim yellow light in his pupils: "Anyway, I'm tired.

"Xingti has so many problems to solve... They're not problems I can solve alone, nor are they problems that our generation can solve. Instead of patching it up, we might as well just tear it down and rebuild it.

"--Since you're planning to take over this mess, I'll have some free time."

The dejected and low-pitched speech that seems to emphasize "I don't care" is the proof of excessive twilight.

"That won't do."

Pomponazzi's tone was extremely firm: "The reward I give you is not something you can refuse. Don't make me angry, Alfonso. We can end this more decently."

For the prime minister, refusing his gift was also an act of "losing face" - refusing his reward meant that the other party put him on the same level as himself. If this person was not Alfonso, and there was still some acquaintance, he would probably have died the moment he dared to refuse him.

The old man's dim yellow pupils trembled slightly, as if he had thought of something. His face, as stiff and lifeless as a statue, seemed to come to life for a moment.

"Then... let my children live."

He whispered.

"Oh, yes."

Upon hearing this, Peng Bonazi laughed heartily and said, "I originally planned to let them survive. But since you beg me so, I plan to grant them the gift of eternal life! How about it, are you happy? Hahahaha..."

He laughed heartily a few times alone, but his expression suddenly darkened: "Why aren't you laughing?"

"—Mr. Pomponazzi."

Alfonso Valentin suddenly spoke up.

And in an instant, Pomponazzi became quiet.

For this was the respectful name with which Alfonso, still a boy, had addressed Pomponazzi when he first saw him.

This is also the name Valentine I "Basil Valentine" used when he was still unfamiliar.

They are so similar. Not only do they look alike, but they also sound alike, and even their personalities and habits are similar.

Of all Bashir's children... after all these years, Alfonso was the one who was most like him.

...But this similarity is only limited to adolescence.

When Alfonso entered middle age, his appearance was significantly different from that of Bashir. And when he was old, he was completely different from the old Bashir.

"I am at least a fifth-level transcendent..."

Alfonso spoke slowly, "Since embarking on the path of the 'Golden Stone Knight,' I've never had the opportunity to demonstrate my strength. If this is my end... I want to give it a try."

Hearing his words, the smile on Hong Xiang's face gradually faded, and he became serious and silent.

——Knight of the Golden Stone.

That is the most popular advanced profession for Star Antimony Alchemists.

To obtain this advanced profession, one must complete an alchemical ritual called "Chemical Marriage Ceremony" at the third or fourth energy level.

It was an extremely dangerous alchemy—alchemists were required to kill themselves during the ritual, allowing their souls to transform into any form and return to a more perfect body, recreated from their own corpses. After completing the ascension ritual, they could advance to become "Golden Stone Knights."

The fourth energy level is a crucial one. From this point on, the power of the Dao carried by the human body becomes quite intense... and only such a body can carry the balanced power extracted from the concept of "Star Antimony Alchemy."

With each rebirth, the body becomes older and more decayed, but the soul becomes stronger.

If one can complete seven rebirths, the soul will be refined into a brilliant soul - the "star antimony" sought after by alchemists.

This allows alchemists to obtain souls as great as those of gods. With such power, they can reach the sixth level and accomplish one of the three miracles.

"How many times have you completed rebirth?"

Hong Xiang asked seriously.

"Four times."

Alfonso replied.

"Not as good as Bashir," Pomponazzi sighed. "He completed it six times—he was only one step away from achieving eternal life."

"Can the Soul of Star Antimony... gain eternal life?"

"Yes. Back then, I hoped to find a friend who would stay with me forever, even though the path wasn't one of love. That's why... I support his career."

Pomponazzi stared at Valentine VII, and the nostalgia in his eyes gradually cooled.

He turned around, his back to Valentine VII, and looked at the portrait hanging in the study - a portrait of Valentine I.

"I'll give you one chance."

Pomponazzi replied, "Because you were willing to call me 'Sir' back then."

Valentine VII stared at Pomponazzi, and his pupils gradually glowed with a bright yellow light.

He sat there motionless, but his soul left his body in an instant.

The soul that can be seen with the naked eye was constantly extracted from his seven orifices and condensed into a solid entity, turning into black smoke - condensed into a black hungry wolf, howling and pouncing towards Pengbonazi!

But Pomponazzi didn't react at all.

As the hungry wolf, emitting black smoke, approached Pomponazi, his body began to rupture, bleed, and shrivel—not from impact or laceration, but from a sudden collapse and disintegration. All the Dao power used for protection was completely negated; it was a direct killing effect on the substance itself.

When the hungry wolf roared through Pengbonazi, his body suddenly shattered!

In addition to Pomponazzi, the desk he was sitting on and the soft wool carpet on the floor were also swallowed up and shattered by the ink-like power!

Under the impact of that force, Peng Bonazi's body eventually turned into ashes and was completely dispersed by the invisible airflow.

This is the first step in alchemy.

Destroying the old nature of all matter, turning it into usable "primordial matter," will then give it the opportunity to be reborn again, transforming it into a completely new substance—the first step of the resurrection ritual, "death," symbolizes this step.

And for mortals, this step alone is enough to kill almost anyone!

After the hungry wolf tore apart everything it touched, it fell to the ground, turning into a pool of inky black mud. But then, a white liquid as thick as milk emerged from it.

The next moment, a pure white and clean dove flew up from the mud!

That is the "whitening" after the "blackening", which decomposes and purifies the essence of matter. After the whitening is completed, alchemists can freely manipulate these separated substances.

This also means that the alchemist has completely controlled this mass of matter, enough to shape it into any form he wants...

——But at this moment.

Suddenly, a slender hand broke out from Valentine VII's chest!

It grabbed the pigeon and strangled it to death despite its desperate struggle.

In the fierce struggle, white feathers that far exceeded its body size flew throughout the room...that was the old king's torn soul.

"Uh, uh uh..."

The white-haired old king looked at all this in astonishment, but he could no longer say anything.

Then, his chest ruptured further, while his stomach continued to expand and bulge.

"—I told you, you only have one chance. You can only go this far, no further."

A clear and tender young boy's voice rang out: "If you can't kill me... then don't be too greedy. It's you who are not prepared—"

Immediately afterwards, a blond boy, who was about eleven or twelve years old, crawled out from the old king's bulging belly.

Except for his more childish appearance, this is Pomponazzi himself!

His body was naked and covered in blood and transparent mucus.

After he landed, he stretched comfortably.

"If you remember my words after you go to the Dream Realm, remember to come back and find me sometime. I'm quite curious about what happens after death. From now on, your bedroom is mine, your wife is mine, and your country is mine—there's no need to keep the name Xingti. For all these years, not even one person has completed the Xingti Soul... Do you really deserve to be called Xingti?"

At this time, the old king's chest and abdomen had been completely torn and cut open.

He slumped in his chair, his throat and lower abdomen splitting apart from the center, looking like a prawn with its head cut off, shell and thread removed.

The organs in his chest and abdomen had completely melted away, leaving them empty. Like a chicken with all its offal removed, it was nothing but bones and flesh, ready to be deep-fried at any moment.

Pomponazzi, who had easily recovered from his shattered state and was perfectly reborn, did not react at all - for him, this was just an everyday act.

He is the Son of the Moon who is closest to the sixth energy level in the world!

This level of "death" was just an ordinary sleep for him.

At this time, the white-haired old man whose stomach was cut open was still breathing "ho ho", and his trachea made a sound like a bellows.

He wasn't completely dead—he was even conscious.

The old man was staring at Peng Bonanzi with his eyes wide open, his mouth opening and closing like a dying fish, as if he wanted to say something.

"It's really tiring," sighed Pomponazzi, who had returned to his youthful state. "Let me give you a quick death."

He raised his left hand towards the old king.

There was a flash of red light.

The next moment, all the blood and energy in the old king's body was instantly drained - he almost turned into a piece of human skin and completely lost his life.

Peng Bo's tender and frail body swelled in the wind, but within a few breaths, it returned to its original form. His once childish face became mature and handsome in the blink of an eye, and his once slender hands and feet became strong and powerful again.

He did not bother to cover his body, nor did he care about the blood stain on Valentine VII. Or rather, it was impossible for him to have any blood stain on him anymore - even a tiny bit of blood had been completely drained by Pomponazzi.

At this time, Valentine VII looked like a clean dark yellow blanket covering a skeleton.

He took great interest in pulling the cape from the corpse of Valentine VII and then put it on himself. He had no other clothes on, so the cape was not enough to cover his private parts.

But Peng Bonazzi kept this posture and pushed the door open and walked out.

He clapped his hands, attracting the others' attention.

"Come here," Peng Bonazi lazily leaned against the door, revealing his streamlined, muscular body, as perfect as a marble sculpture. "Go and collect the remains of your late emperor. Bring them to the bedroom later. There's a table missing in the study. Remember to replace it. There's no need to replace the carpet. Send someone to the Red Castle to get my spare carpet later.

"—By the way, someone else take me to Alfonso's bedroom. Then call Louise and Lucien over. I want to celebrate Xingbi's new life with them."

Pomponazzi planned to spend the night in amusements with his wife and son in the presence of the now tattered Alfonso, and before the portraits of his ancestors in his bedroom—a small punishment for having had an expensive dress he loved so much rudely destroyed by the old man.

—I said, you are allowed to try to kill me. But I did not allow you to ruin my clothes.

A rebellion involving the change of supreme power in Xingtan began and ended quietly.

No one can get involved, and no one dares to stop it.

It seems as if everything is inevitable.

"……Excuse me."

Someone boldly asked, "Will you be our king from now on?"

If Peng Bonazi really becomes the king of Xingtan... then maybe it can be considered a good thing!

"King? Haha...Valentin...VIII?"

Pomponazzi was in a good mood, so he was willing to explain with a smile: "No, I won't. I am just the Prime Minister with the additional identity of a prince. Whether from Louise's perspective or Lucien's perspective... I can be called a prince. After all, they are all my lovers.

"——As for your new king, I have already decided on him. It is Lucien Valentine... although he doesn't know about it yet."

Update completed!

A 5,000-word update. Today's plot is not suitable for chapter division, so it is a two-in-one chapter!

I’ll write more tomorrow!

(End of this chapter)