Chapter 1356 - 308: Succession Ceremony (Part 2)

Fran’s opening speech was quite lengthy, starting from the establishment of Yanjing to its development, and then from Yanjing’s development to Lin Haifeng’s achievements. After talking about Lin Haifeng’s achievements, he went on to discuss Wen Yu’s influence and the strength of his power.

As he spoke, Wen Yu even felt a bit embarrassed.

In Fran’s words, the current Commander-in-Chief of Yanjing was practically omnipotent. Following Wen Yu was like clutching onto a giant pillar of the heavens. As for those who hadn’t managed to latch onto this pillar yet, it’s okay, because there’s still a chance since Yanjing is about to start a new round of expansion.

Whether humans or mutant creatures, Yanjing fears none!

Listening on, Wen Yu felt something was off.

It seemed that this succession ceremony was not just to legitimize himself but rather felt more like Yanjing recruiting under his banner to further strengthen its dominion on Earth, and even on the tiered battlefield.

However, considering that he and Yanjing were soon to be inseparable, Wen Yu was actually pleased to see such a spectacle.

Fran droned on for nearly an hour, during which everyone below sat upright and attentive while Wen Yu sat alone on the podium, maintaining the necessary demeanor under the watchful eyes of all the world’s beings. It was only after Fran’s opening speech concluded that he stepped aside and signaled for Wen Yu to step forward to speak.

Wen Yu rose, walked to the podium, looked at the bustling powerful experts and troops of Yanjing below, and then at the ferocious giant beasts encircling the Central Square. After a moment, he finally spoke.

"I am Wen Yu..."

These simple four words brought a quick applause from the audience, which faded just as quickly. Once everything quieted down, Wen Yu, meeting the gaze of billions, continued according to the speech draft.

"My name, the older generation of folks should have heard of, and the younger generation should be somewhat familiar with. At one time, I might have been merely a mysterious figure talked about by word of mouth, but today, upholding a sense of duty and intention, I stand here, taking over the greatest power in this world from Lin Haifeng... and Fang Yuqiong."

"However, power and responsibility are complementary to each other. To enjoy greater power, one must assume greater responsibility."

At this point, Wen Yu paused briefly.

"From the beginning of the apocalypse to now, our path hasn’t been flawless. There have been setbacks, conflicts, conspiracies, and betrayals, even patricide..."

"Tragedy has never been absent from the mortal world, and we, living in the end times, have undoubtedly experienced the greatest tragedy since antiquity—this is the era of greatest sorrow, yet also the era where the brilliance of humanity shines through."

"Those who know me may understand what kind of person I am. Once, I was unrestrained and heedless. I was once hailed as the strongest Independent, and I once, for personal grudges or momentary pleasure, committed cruel massacres... Yet, someone taught me what responsibility means... his name is Lin Haifeng."

"He showed me through his actions that responsibility means sacrifice, means doing deeds of a demon but still maintaining inner resolve, also means the continuation of the race will rise above personal glory or dishonor."

"This is his hope, and it is what he hopes his successor can achieve. Whether or not I can achieve it, I don’t know, but I am willing to strive and endeavor in that direction."

"All because this is called responsibility, the responsibility of being the strongest, the responsibility of being the leader of Yanjing."

"And another person taught me the meaning of strength..."

"His name is Tang Haofei."

When mentioning Tang Haofei, Wen Yu’s heart was momentarily stirred. He picked up the microphone and walked to the edge of the ring.

"A phrase he once told me, I still remember to this day. The essence of strength is not to posture or slap faces, not to act at will, because when the strongest develops an attitude of acting at will, he will inevitably become the sorrow of the whole world and even the entire era."

"Strength means upholding justice—at least the justice one identifies with."

"Strength means punishing evil, promoting good, and using violence to counter violence."

"Strength means bearing responsibilities heavier than others."

"I possess strength, which is my fortune, but for others, whether this is fortune depends on the essence of my heart."

"If I commit evil, it brings ruin; if I do good, it benefits all creatures."

"Good and evil reside in my heart."

"And today, with the trust of all, I have assumed the authority of Commander-in-Chief of Yanjing, and likewise, I bear your expectations of being the highest leader of humanity, and even of the whole world, given this, I, Wen Yu, hereby swear."

"I pledge to perform my duties diligently, to safeguard the world’s safety."

"I pledge not to use power and strength to bully the weak, not to use hegemony and status to oppress others."

"I pledge that responsibilities which people can shoulder, I shall certainly shoulder, and responsibilities that people cannot shoulder, I shall also bear."

"I also pledge to transform this responsibility into my belief."

"End of oath..."

With the brief speech concluded, a fierce applause immediately erupted from the audience. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people below, Wen Yu also forced a slight smile.

This is a trap...

A deep pit personally dug for Wen Yu by Lin Haifeng.

After reciting the oath, Wen Yu finally realized Lin Haifeng’s "malice"—from demigod to Earth’s will, it had incited Wen Yu’s ambition to centralize power, and upon his own death, successfully inflicted heavy damage on both the demigod and Earth’s will, then handed Yanjing over to Wen Yu on a silver platter.

For Wen Yu, who had already nurtured the thought of "this world needs only one voice," Lin Haifeng’s proposal came at just the right time—besides Wen Yu, it is Yanjing. Now that the two have merged, will there be a second voice in this world?

No...

This precisely hit Wen Yu’s G-spot.

The benefits it brought were enough to satisfy Wen Yu—various strategic weapons and plans, a vast power, ample supplies, elite talent from all fields, all of these completely filled in what Wen Yu lacked.

From now on, the entire world means no more troubles!

Yet today, Wen Yu finally understood what inheriting Yanjing truly meant.

It signified responsibility, signified that from today, he was to shoulder the life and death of the entire world.

Because rights and obligations are twin siblings, expansion of power means the increase in responsibilities.

And Wen Yu, for the duties he recognized as his own, there would be no reason to shirk them!

As the applause below gradually subsided, Fran then stepped forward to hang the honor medal representing the Commander-in-Chief of Yanjing on Wen Yu.

He patted Wen Yu’s shoulder and, with a voice only the two of them could hear, laughed and said.

"Congratulations, Commander Liu."