CHAPTER 634: HIS LAST WORDS

A piece of news that caused an uproar across the entire populace spread rapidly throughout the continent, as the sovereigns of each major territory were the ones personally announcing it—a piece of news the people had never expected.

It was said that the continent was stepping into a new era, one where they would unite under a single banner. The outside world had now opened, and its influence might soon reach the continent, making unity all the more critical.

The entire continent would be unified under one great empire, with Aldrian as the first emperor. His official coronation would take place a week after the marriage of Aldrey and Irene. From that moment on, the entire hierarchy of the continent would change.

The empires would become kingdoms, while the others remained the same. With the creation of a great empire uniting the full strength of the Barisan continent, it was hoped that peace and stability would be maintained amid the presence of powerful forces from beyond the continent seeking to enter.

Although this news caused an uproar across the continent, just as the leaders had anticipated, the entire populace welcomed the development positively. No one opposed the plan, instead, many supported it deeply and embraced it wholeheartedly.

With someone like Aldrian leading the continent, the people believed it would truly be safe from any threat. Order would be strengthened, and their lives would improve because of it. Even without Aldrian becoming emperor, crime across the continent had already declined. His name alone was enough to create that effect.

So what would happen if he were enthroned as the highest authority?

Those who harbored evil intentions would be even more afraid to act.

The people believed in Aldrian’s moral compass and his sense of righteousness, trusting his credibility and integrity because of his track record.

They also believed that Aldrian would lead the continent to new heights, as the strongest individual in the land. They had even heard that those from outside the continent were reluctant to offend him.

All in all, the creation of this empire and Aldrian’s enthronement were events awaited by all, and the people were eager for it.

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Not long after meeting with Baron Rosalind, Aldrian was now walking through a dim hallway, where the corridor was lit only by small illumination crystals placed along the sides. His footsteps echoed quietly as he continued onward, eventually arriving at a place lined with cells on both sides of the wall.

This was another face of the grand palace on the floating land. Beneath all its grandeur, beauty, and luxury, there existed an ominous place like this, hidden beneath the splendor above.

This hidden place, concealed from the sight of others, was where Aldrian could imprison someone without much concern.

Even if he chose not to seal the cultivation of a pseudo-immortal stage cultivator here, a deadly formation guarded the area, one powerful enough to kill a cultivator at that level. With a formation that dangerous, escape was out of the question.

Aldrian kept walking toward one of the cells and stopped in front of it. His blue eyes, faintly glowing in the dim surroundings, stared at the man inside, his body tied to a lone chair.

The man’s condition was far from what it used to be. His face was worn and haggard, his long black hair messy, with several strands already turned white. His pale skin and thin body stood in stark contrast to the burly, powerful figure he once was. His eyes were half open, but his gaze was lifeless, as if the will to live had already left him.

He seemed to know that Aldrian was standing before the cell, but he simply did not care.

Aldrian looked at the man who had once been the mastermind behind the devils in the Barisan continent, the leader and strongest among the devils and cultivators, aside from Aldrian himself.

After the war, Aldrian chose to imprison Zhang Haoran here. He felt it would be a waste to kill him immediately, as there might still be information hidden in his memories that Aldrian had yet to uncover. When Aldrian looked into Zhang Haoran’s memories, they were still incomplete.

He might have missed something important, as he had viewed them in haste due to the circumstances at the time.

He also wanted to see if the man could still be of use in the future, given that he had once been an apostle of Tarius. Aldrian had already checked whether the system inside Zhang Haoran was still present. However, during the inspection through his own system, he discovered that Zhang Haoran’s system had completely disappeared.

Aldrian thought that Tarius had truly discarded Zhang Haoran because he was no longer useful. Maybe that bastard was already looking for a new apostle to replace him.

Since the war ended, Aldrian had only come to see Zhang Haoran once, without saying a word. He simply looked through his memories, checked what needed to be checked, and left.

Zhang Haoran, who was initially shocked by the situation and the failure of his god’s plan, now seemed to have given up entirely.

He already knew he had been abandoned by his god, which was confirmed by the disappearance of his system. At the time, he could only smile bitterly to himself. He had realized long ago that his god might only be using him, but he simply didn’t care.

As long as he gained power and could return to Earth to enact his revenge, he had allowed himself to become a tool.

But now? He had nothing left.

Revenge? He no longer had the strength. He was weak.

Although the flame of revenge still burned in his heart, his body could no longer follow it. He felt tired and powerless.

Click. Kriek.

Aldrian entered the cell and stood in front of Zhang Haoran, his gaze fixed downward at the man.

"After thinking it through, I’ve decided I no longer need anything from you. There’s nothing left in you that makes your life worth preserving."

"To be honest, I originally planned to execute you in front of the entire continent a few days from now, to ease the pain of those who lost their lives, or whose lives were turned into hell by the devils. But I’ve changed my mind. Killing you in loneliness is enough." Aldrian spoke as he reached out and touched Zhang Haoran’s head.

"There’s no need for the people of this continent to be reminded again of the terror of war and the devils by seeing your face. I don’t want to stain these joyous times with your presence, either."

Zhang Haoran continued listening without a single movement.

"Any last words?"

Hearing the question, Zhang Haoran’s eyes trembled slightly before shifting toward Aldrian’s lower body as he tried to look up at his face. His head struggled to rise, but he kept forcing it until he could finally see Aldrian’s face. There was no expression on it, but his lifeless eyes stared directly into Aldrian’s.

"If you are a god, please hear my request," his hoarse and faint voice echoed.

"Please, avenge the death of my sister. I beg you with all my heart."

"I don’t care what I become in my next life, as long as those responsible for my sister’s death face their consequences."

Hearing that, Aldrian’s expression didn’t change. He wasn’t surprised that Zhang Haoran saw him as a god. But then, inwardly, he was stunned, he could suddenly sense the power of faith flowing from Zhang Haoran into him. The man was truly sincere in his request, and his faith was unexpectedly strong.

"This man truly has made vengeance the sole purpose of his life. He doesn’t care about anything else, as long as his sister’s death is avenged. If he can’t do it himself, he’s willing to beg anyone or anything to carry out that revenge," Aldrian thought.

After speaking, Zhang Haoran fell silent. It seemed he had said everything he needed to say. His eyes remained locked on Aldrian’s face, never looking away as he made his request.

From Aldrian’s hand, which was resting on Zhang Haoran’s head, a golden flame suddenly emerged. This was one of his techniques born from his comprehension of fire laws, developed further through the insights he gained from the comprehension of his many followers.

He called it the Fire of Judgment, a flame that burns anything burdened by bad karma. The greater the karma, the larger and hotter the flame. It was a technique that combined fire laws with karma laws.

For someone like Zhang Haoran, who had committed countless atrocities in his life, the flame would undoubtedly reduce him to ashes in an instant. And with such immense karma, he would surely carry its weight into his next life.

The moment the golden flame appeared and touched Zhang Haoran’s head, it instantly spread across his body in a split second. There was no scream. No movement. His body turned to ash, and even the ashes were consumed, leaving nothing behind. No trace of him remained.

Yet in that final instant, his eyes never left Aldrian, as if he truly believed, truly hoped, that his plea would be answered.

After executing Zhang Haoran, Aldrian turned and walked out of the cell.

With Zhang Haoran’s death, the final Chapter of the devils who had brought ruin to the Barisan continent came to a close.