"Just like that, the final battle began. After that battle, the situation in the Kutu Royal City was settled. In the next 20 years, it gradually became the Nardo Kingdom." 

Within the sparse palace, a middle-aged man patted a young boy's head as he smiled.

​​

"And then, grandfather, you became the new King?"

Hearing the story from the man, the young boys' eyes sparkled as he asked.

"That's right." 

The young boy had many, many questions, and he was very innocent. However, the middle-aged man was very patient and mildly explained everything to him.

After a while, some footsteps sounded from outside; the young boy's playmate had come to play with him.

"Go and play." Seeing this, the middle-aged man smiled and indicated that he should leave, and the young boy reluctantly left the man's side.

Within the hall, only the man was left.

His surroundings were sparse and luxurious, but there was no one else, making his figure seem quite lonely.

However, the man was not uncomfortable; he had long since become used to this.

Watching the young boy leave, he silently walked out of the hall.

The faint sunlight shined on his body, revealing his features.

His face was handsome and exquisite, and even though he was getting on in years, he still had the same figure as before and seemed quite extraordinary.

He wore a black robe and his hair fell freely. He did not give off an aura of might and dignity currently; rather, he gave off calm and gentle airs.

This was the Nardo Kingdom's ruler, King Kailin Nardo.

Chen Heng stood outside the hall and silently looked into the distance, thinking back over the past 20 years.

After that decisive battle, Lanlod had been defeated and was killed by Chen Heng. The rebel army was also suppressed and surrendered to him.

Following this, he used Olivia's name to clean up the Kutu Principality's situation, defeating each of the rebel rulers and taking in their territories.

After Olivia died, as Verna's husband, Chen Heng had built the Nardo Kingdom from the foundations of the Kutu Principality.

And now, 20 years had passed.

Over these 20 years, much had changed.

Under Chen Heng's painstaking efforts, the northern side was no longer a problem.

The northern rulers who had helped Chen Heng were given better territories in other places, and Chen Heng had taken over their original territories and fused them.

Apart from this, the neighboring Olis Kingdom had also disappeared. Chen Heng had grasped an opportunity and acted while they were going through internal chaos, and he had defeated and devoured them.

The Nardo Kingdom was already a massive entity. No matter if it was in terms of territory, army, or the number of Knights it had, it far exceeded the previous Kutu Principality.

However, this was already the limit.

It was not that the Nardo Kingdom could not continue to grow but that Chen Heng no longer had the time or energy.

"Time…" Outside the hall, Chen Heng deeply sighed.

He was nearly 60 years old, but he still looked quite young. He was still extremely powerful, but he had still aged greatly.

In actuality, by now, he had already become a Great Knight.

In terms of Body Forging, he had also achieved much, and he had nearly completed the Solid Rock Body Forging Technique.

The current him could rival an army by himself. Even if there were 1,000 people surrounding him, he could single handedly massacre them all.

It was using this martial power that he was able to accomplish so much.

It was just that Chen Heng could sense that his body was reaching his limit, and under normal circumstances, it was not possible to advance anymore.

He had used up all of this body's potential, and he did not have much lifespan left either.

A Great Knight's lifespan was usually around 100 years old, and Chen Heng was not even 60 years old, so it seemed like he still had much time left.

However, missteps in cultivating the Solid Rock Body Forging Technique and using his life energy to cultivate had caused his body to decline quickly, and his lifespan was much shorter than other Great Knights.

Based on Chen Heng's own estimates, if things went on like this, he would only be able to last for another few years.

However, he did not mind and only smiled as he turned and left.

Following this, Chen Heng came to another hall.

Within that hall, an elderly woman was silently lying on a large bed.

She wore a black dress and looked incredibly aged, like a 70 or 80 year old woman.

"Verna, I've come to see you." 

Looking at the woman, Chen Heng smiled and sat down.

The elderly woman seemed to react to his arrival. Her hand twitched but she did not open her eyes.

This elderly woman was Verna.

A few years ago, Verna had developed the same symptoms as her older sister and father had, and she would often fall unconscious.

It was alright at first, but it became more and more severe, until now, when she could no longer wake up.

In actuality, if Chen Heng had not been giving her his life energy all this time, she might have passed away since long ago.

Despite this, this was still her limit.

Apart from some slight reaction when Chen Heng came, she did not react at all to other people.

Soon, she would most likely leave Chen Heng forever.

Chen Heng deeply breathed in and looked at Verna with a complicated gaze that contained both cherishing and apologetic feelings.

The scene from back then played in his mind.

Back then, Verna had been very young and was ignorant towards the things of the future. Now, she had become this elderly and was in such a condition.

"I'm sorry." After staring in silence for a while, Chen Heng smiled and said, "Based on how things are going, Verna, you will probably leave before me. However, don't worry, I will leave soon too.

"I don't know if this world has a god of the afterlife, but even if there is, I most likely will not be able to see you again," Chen Heng sat there and softly spoke much.

On the bed, Verna silently lay with her eyes tightly shut. She just slightly moved a bit now and then, as if she was listening.

Everything was calm and quiet.

After a while, footsteps sounded from outside.

"Father," a voice sounded from outside, sounding low and dignified.

A tall man walked in dressed in silver armor, looking incredibly mighty and valiant.

If one looked closely, they would find that his appearance looked somewhat similar to Chen Heng's.

This was Kerdo, Chen Heng and Verna's eldest son, as well as his successor.

"What did you summon me for, father?" Kerdo asked as he looked at Chen Heng.