Hearing Yingji announce her intent to inherit the position of the Dust King, the elders and protectors of the Dust Tribe within the hall were utterly shocked. For over a hundred millennia of the Dust Tribe's existence, never had a woman wielded such great power.

Moreover, the Dust Tribe had always been a society that held men in higher esteem than women, so the notion of a woman ruling over everything was hard for them to accept. Furthermore, Yingji had declared her successor to be her and Chen Ji's daughter, Chen Mu, yet another female.

However, given the current situation, Yingji, who held the sacred Dust King Ring, was incredibly domineering, and her presence was bolstered by a young man wielding the Sword of Dust. To contradict her would be akin to courting death. Thus, despite their reservations, the elders and protectors dared not voice opposition.

"Do any of the esteemed elders and protectors have objections or find anything inappropriate? Speak freely!" Yingji said, her face set in a cold and murderous expression.

As a result, naturally, no one dared to speak out.

"Since nobody has any objections, then I shall temporarily assume the role of the Dust King!" Yingji sneered, then turned around, took Chen Hao's hand and pulled it back behind her, and walked over to sit before the throne.

After a silence, and seeing that the crowd below was as quiet as a flock of sparrows, Yingji snorted angrily, her left hand, adorned with the Dust King Ring, slightly trembling.

Sensing this, the elders and protectors below exchanged looks, then one by one, they began kneeling on the ground, paying homage to the first queen in the history of the Dust Tribe.

"Yuqiao, like you, she's a queen, too!" Chen Hao said, retreating to Ye Yuqiao's side.

"But I'm still a young girl, and besides, don't you think I'm prettier and cuter than her?"

"Of course, my Yuqiao is the second prettiest and cutest young girl in the world?"

Ye Yuqiao frowned slightly and looked at Chen Hao, huffing, "Jerk, who do you think is first?"

"I haven't discovered the first one yet!"

"Everyone, please rise!" Yingji addressed the people below, then looked at Chen Hao, paused for a moment, and continued, "The assassin who attempted to kill the former king is still at large; we must capture him as soon as possible to appease the late king's spirit."

Following that, Chen Hao, Ye Yuqiao, Lin Huashan, and Yi Ning were led by several palace maids to see a painter within the palace, to describe the features of King Nanlin.

Outside the palace, upon hearing that the High Priest and Great Protector had been executed in the palace by the young man wielding the Sword of Dust, and after the queen's decree of amnesty, the opposing factions within the city surrendered their weapons and pledged loyalty to the queen.

Not long after, Yingji, who had just taken on the role of the Dust King, rode in a carriage escorted by hundreds of guards for a city parade, to announce the astonishing news of her becoming queen to the Dust Tribe.

Dusk fell.

By this time, the palace painter had finished hundreds of portraits of King Nanlin and distributed them across the Dust Realm.

After dinner, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao returned to their room.

Upon entering the room, Chen Hao immediately picked up Ye Yuqiao and carried her sideways to sit on a chair made of dust.

"Yuqiao, you've gotten lighter! Don't lose any more weight; there's no feeling left when I pinch you."

Ye Yuqiao stuck her tongue out at Chen Hao, her cheeks flushing red, "I'm not a doll, why would you pinch me? Besides, if you don't like the way it feels, just don't pinch. Also, it's your fault for not taking care of me properly that I've lost weight."

"It's my fault, so I will definitely make sure you are well-fed and chubby in the future!"

"You just try your best, I won't get fat no matter how much I eat," Ye Yuqiao said indifferently, then suddenly changed the subject, "Chen Hao, when do you think we'll find King Nanlin?"

Chen Hao shook his head, "It's hard to say, who knows how vast the Dust Realm actually is? Perhaps, I need to find a way to lure King Nanlin here, like releasing the power of the Nether King Orchid Heart to let him sense my presence."

"Do you feel confident about defeating him?" Ye Yuqiao asked with a slight frown.

"I'm not confident about defeating him," Chen Hao replied, shaking his head, "but I am confident I won't let him take the Nether King's Heart! Moreover, ever since I obtained the power from the Dust King Ring and the Sword of Dust, I've always felt a heaviness in my chest, like there's an urge inside me that's pent up."

"Chest heaviness? An urge?" Ye Yuqiao looked puzzled, while she gently massaged Chen Hao's chest with her soft left hand, "Could it be that the power you got from the Dust King Ring and the Sword of Dust hasn't been fully absorbed by you, and it's wreaking havoc inside your body, which is why you feel this oppressive sensation in your chest?"

Having said that, Ye Yuqiao pressed gently on several spots on Chen Hao's body with her left index and middle fingers. The cold power of the Nether King within her also infused into Chen Hao, suppressing the unruly power in his blood and meridians.

"Do you feel a little better?" Ye Yuqiao asked.

Chen Hao simply smiled and said nothing more.

"Naughty!" Ye Yuqiao lifted her hand and pinched Chen Hao's cheek hard, "Be serious. Tell me, do you feel a bit better now?"

Chen Hao smiled and hummed in response, "To be honest, it's a lot more comfortable now. I feel cool inside and not so restless anymore. Little girl, you have quite the strength in your hands."

With that, a glint of light flashed in Chen Hao's eyes, and then he sprawly laid down on the bed, "Yuqiao, I've been having backaches and pains recently, and since your hands are strong, you could just give me a massage."

"Are you sure you want me to massage you?"

"Absolutely."

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Yuqiao finally sat down by the bed, then reached out her hands towards Chen Hao's back.

Chen Hao closed his eyes, wearing a smile of anticipation and utter contentment.

Just as Ye Yuqiao's soft and smooth hands touched Chen Hao's sleek back, there was a sudden "crack."

Immediately following was Chen Hao's earth-shattering scream, as he felt as if his entire skeleton was being shattered by a chilling force that was seeping into his body.

"Dare to ask the queen for a massage, you truly have a death wish!" Ye Yuqiao said angrily.

After a few agonizing screams, Chen Hao turned to look at Ye Yuqiao, almost in tears, "But you're my girlfriend, too. You'll marry me in the future, so what's wrong with giving me a massage?"

A moment later, while Chen Hao was still crying out in pain, a warm and gentle breath hit the back of his ear, and at the same time, a soft touch attacked his back.

"Okay, I'll give you a massage now!" Ye Yuqiao's lazy and gentle voice sounded by his ear, as she began massaging Chen Hao gently.

"The Nether King is actually giving me a massage, such treatment is only afforded to me, Chen Hao!"

...

...

(Today is the Qixi Festival, let Chen Hao and Yuqiao show off their love, wishing everyone a happy Valentine's Day)

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