Taicang is weak and perilous, on the brink of disaster. The ancestral command of the Ji clan’s eighth generation decrees: those unworthy must not assume great responsibility, or else the more than six hundred thousand innocent people of Taicang...

Seeing the bewildered expression on Summer Clark's face, the vigorous old man seemed overwhelmed with grief. “Your Highness, as a member of the Taicang royal family, your past mischiefs were tolerated by the Shang King and us ministers—we turned a blind eye and let you be.

But now, Taicang has just suffered the calamity of the falling star. Within, the people of Taicang are starving; without, the three thousand evil hounds of the Jiugou army are eyeing us covetously. And yet, at such a critical moment, you still managed to commit such a crime!”

Summer Clark glanced around at the ministers in the room, all dressed in black, and the generals clad in black armor. The grief in their eyes was unmistakable, as if Summer Clark had truly disappointed them to the utmost.

“What should I do at a time like this?”

Summer Clark carefully observed these ministers, and as his thoughts raced, he discerned the look in their eyes.

There was anger, but even more grief.

So, Summer Clark immediately adjusted his demeanor, his expression becoming deeply downcast.

His tone was more panicked than ever.

With tears streaming down his face, he said, “Honored ministers, for such a thing to happen, my heart is torn as well...”

“You have committed a grave crime and cut off the late king’s hope, and now you dare mention the late king?” The vigorous old man, hearing Summer Clark's words, instantly erupted in anger and shouted.

Summer Clark thought he had misheard. The expression he had been feigning suddenly became genuine as he tentatively asked, “Cut off the late king’s... hope?”

The vigorous old man wept bitterly. “Pity the late king, who toiled all his life for Taicang, only to ensure that the human race of Taicang would not suffer oppression and slaughter by other races!

Who would have thought, in the end, he did not die at the hands of those foreigners, but died in despair... The Shang King was the backbone of Taicang, our pillar in these cruel and chaotic times. Today, after I deal with this matter and become a criminal for defying the crown prince, I will take my own life to atone, and follow the late king!”

The vigorous old man wept bitterly, and behind him, all the officials and many royals choked with sobs, calling out to the late king, bowing their heads to the ground, overcome with grief.

Summer Clark awkwardly watched this scene, feeling as if he would die of anger at the original owner of this body.

At last, the stream of memories in his mind fully merged.

More memories surged into his mind like a fountain.

It turned out that a month ago, a meteor fell from the sky, and by some cruel twist of fate, landed right in the camp of Taicang’s Cangwei Army. The Cangwei Army, on which Taicang relied to contend with the two neighboring nations, was, thanks to this damned meteor, utterly obliterated!

Not only that, the place where the meteor struck emitted a terrifying spiritual energy pressure.

Many citizens who inadvertently approached were crushed into bloody pulp by this terrifying pressure—truly horrifying!

That day, the whole nation wept. The King of Taicang issued a self-condemnation edict and offered sacrifices to the heavens for nine days.

He even sliced the flesh from his own right arm, piece by piece, as an offering to the heavens, praying for their mercy.

Finally, on the tenth day, that terrifying pressure began to dissipate, and by the nineteenth day, it had completely vanished.

But a new crisis soon followed. The foreign Jiugou Kingdom, taking advantage of Taicang’s grave wounds, stationed troops at the border of Taicang City. With the loss of the Cangwei Army, Taicang no longer had the strength to resist Jiugou.

If the Jiugou Kingdom’s foreign army invaded Taicang, the human race of Taicang would inevitably become the slaves, playthings, or even food of the Jiugou people.

To avert this catastrophe, the King of Taicang sent six envoys in succession to Jiugou to sue for peace.

After sacrificing the lives of six envoys and nearly the entire national treasury,

An envoy from Jiugou arrived, subjected Taicang to every humiliation, and then presented their terms.

Taicang was to offer up six hundred boys, six hundred girls, and the national treasure, the Taicang Jade. In exchange, Jiugou would allow Taicang to survive for another three years.

Six hundred boys and six hundred girls meant at least a thousand Taicang families would be torn apart, causing the King of Taicang unbearable pain and sleepless nights.

As for the national treasure, in the King’s eyes, it was not so precious. Compared to the lives of his people, the vast spiritual energy contained in the Taicang Jade was insignificant.

When the people of Taicang learned of this, thousands of boys and girls knelt before the palace gates overnight, petitioning to die for Taicang, to die for the human race.

Countless parents, tears streaming down their faces, stood behind these boys and girls, hearts breaking, yet not a single one stopped their children.

In their eyes, with Taicang in peril, anyone’s sacrifice was justified.

Because on such a boundless and savage land,

Without the protection of the nation’s destiny, that was far more terrifying than death.

The King of Taicang personally ascended the city wall to thank the people of Taicang.

Those boys and girls who volunteered to die looked up at the city wall, at the ruined streets, their eyes full of reluctance, yet with no thought of retreat, willing to die for their people, for Taicang.

But in the end, the King of Taicang could not bear to let these boys and girls, the future of Taicang, die for the nation.

At this moment of national mourning,

A message came from the palace: the crown prince Summer Clark, mischievous and lacking reverence, had secretly played with the Taicang Jade just taken from the royal treasury.

The most infuriating part...

This idiot had smashed the Taicang Jade, which was only meant to temporarily store spiritual energy!