Chat group, if you have anything to say to my Holy Sword,

As Xiling stood on the stage, looking at the two students sleeping so "openly" below, he deeply understood the feelings of a teacher who had lectured at the academy years ago when the students were all asleep.

So Xiling decisively kicked the two guys out.

Those two people are Luo Tianyi and Penglai Temple Jiuxiao, who are currently wandering around the streets, although there's not much to see in the current royal city of Rodel.

There are now seven people in the meeting room. Xiling pointed with her pointer at the large characters in the center of the wooden board: Silver Law.

Xiling addressed the crowd below, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Silver Law—it is not the successor to the Golden Law, but a complete overthrower. Its core lies in 'progress' and 'innovation'!"

Xiling's gaze swept across the crowd below, her speech slow but weighty: "The pursuit of eternity, the desire to freeze time, to lock all things into a predetermined cycle—this is the chronic disease of the old era, the shackles that prevent life from reaching higher possibilities! Therefore—"

His pointer slammed down heavily below those four large characters, producing an even louder "snap!": "'Eternal and unchanging' is the primary enemy of the Silver Law!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. Colin's breath caught in his throat! He instinctively straightened his back, his face filled with a mixture of shock and confusion. As a former researcher of the Golden Law, "eternity" was the highest pursuit under the radiant light of the Golden Tree, a symbol of the law's perfection! Now, in the new king's definition, it had become the primary enemy?!

The intense cognitive conflict rendered him almost unable to think. His inner doubts surged like boiling magma, and almost instinctively, he raised his hand abruptly, the movement bordering on urgency:

"Your Majesty!" Colin's voice trembled with excitement. "Please forgive my intrusion! But I simply cannot understand! Why... why is 'eternity' the enemy? The Golden Law pursues eternity so that glory may endure and order may prevail! Is pursuing stability and longevity also wrong?"

After asking those questions, Colin realized what he had done—he had actually questioned the legal foundation of the new king!

To Colin's surprise, Xiling on stage showed no anger at being offended. On the contrary, his bright eyes instantly lit up with excitement, as if he had finally waited for the questioner he had been looking forward to.

"Good question, Colin!" Xiling gave him a big, approving thumbs-up without hesitation.

The smile on his face hadn't faded, but his eyes had become incredibly focused. Instead of immediately responding with a long-winded explanation, Xiling did something that surprised everyone—

He bent down, groped around under the podium, and then, amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, he straightened up and opened his palm.

In the palm of my hand, an object lies quietly.

It was just a very ordinary quill pen.

Everywhere in the border region, you could see the most common and cheapest quill pens—the kind apprentices used to copy scriptures and merchants used to keep accounts. The pens were slightly worn, and the feathers were not from rare birds; they bore the marks of long-term use.

“Everyone,” Xiling’s voice rang out again, her gaze sweeping over the three people from the border region.

"How long has this kind of pen existed in the borderlands? You yourselves have probably long forgotten. It has witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, the fall and rise of demigods, and even the changing of laws!"

Xiling's tone suddenly became more serious, filled with strong doubt: "But even after such a long period of time, long enough for the oceans to change, has it—made any improvement? Has it made any progress? To this day, it is still the same!"

Xiling's gaze was fixed intently on Colin and Mengget: "Tell me, do you know the reason? Why would a tool that has accompanied civilization for so long be trapped in an eternal, suffocating state of unchanging reality?"

The meeting room was silent, save for the occasional whistling of the wind outside the window. Colin opened his mouth, trying to find reasons from various angles, but ultimately he was stuck at some invisible barrier, unable to form a complete answer.

Montgomery remained silent, as if he were thinking of something, but those thoughts weighed heavily on him and he couldn't bring himself to say them.

In this silent, unresolved moment, a cold, precise, and emotionless voice rang out, like a stone of truth thrown into stagnant water: "Because of the Golden Law."

These words instantly drew everyone's attention. Colin stared in astonishment at his mentor, who had never imagined that his mentor would so directly and decisively point the finger at the once supreme law!

Xiling smiled knowingly and admiringly, and raised a thumbs up again in the direction of the golden mask: "Truly a master! You hit the nail on the head!"

He then clapped his hands, drawing everyone's shocked gaze away from the golden mask. "Alright, everyone, stop staring at the master's research. Truth is like this: once revealed, it's shockingly concise."

Xiling gently tapped the blackboard behind her with her pointer once more. This time, there was no sound of chalk scraping. A flash of silver magic appeared, and the words "Silver Law" on the blackboard vanished and reformed like ripples on water, instantly transforming into a giant tree symbol—the Golden Tree—with lush foliage and radiating an illusory golden glow.

The tip of the pointer rests firmly on the center of the golden tree pattern.

"The Golden Law," Xiling's voice grew deep and solemn. "This was once the eternal order of the borderlands, bearing the hopes and prayers of countless beings. People prayed to it, they begged it, and they anchored the foundation of everything firmly in its radiance."

Xiling paused, her gaze sweeping over Colin. "Colin just asked, 'Is there anything wrong with this?'" Xiling repeated Colin's question, her voice devoid of blame, only conveying a deep thoughtfulness.

"From the perspective of maintaining order alone, it is good; it provides stability, a foothold for faith, and even brings relative peace in certain periods."

Xiling abruptly changed the subject, her tone becoming sharp: "But! It's not good enough! Far from good enough! Because it lacks the most crucial element—the 'lighthouse' that guides the way forward!"

Xiling's voice suddenly rose: "It's because there's no guidance! No pursuit of a 'better' realm! All of you, the entire civilization of the borderlands, are stuck in place under the 'eternity' of the Golden Law, without making any progress!"

Xiling's gaze, like a burning star, stared directly at everyone below, especially Mengget and Colin: "Tell me, the most glorious era of the Borderlands—the Golden Age! The great Eternal Queen Marika ended the strife and unified the Borderlands! And then?!"

Xiling's question struck everyone's hearts like a hammer blow. "After that, what did the Queen lead you to do? After establishing the Golden Law's dominance, what progress did she promote for civilization? Looking at the long scroll of history, what substantial progress did she—or rather, the elites of the borderlands under the Golden Law—promote?!"

Xiling looked at everyone: "I am not trying to denigrate Her Majesty Queen Marika's achievements. She ended the chaos, and her greatness is beyond question. But I am the new king, and I must, and absolutely must, explain the pros and cons! The drawback of the Golden Law lies in the illusion of 'eternity' it creates, which numbs the spirit of ambition!"

He surveyed the crowd and delivered a startling conclusion: "After Queen Marika's reign, the border region seemed to fall into an eternal state of 'peace' and 'stability.' But is that truly the case?" His pointer struck the golden tree pattern heavily, producing a dull echo. "No! Absolutely not! It's a terrible stagnation! A slumber of civilization! Even more terrifying is..."

Xiling's tone was cold and cruel: "Under that false eternal glory, time has not only failed to advance, but has, in a way, begun to regress!"

Xiling's chilling words, "The regression has begun," were like the last stone thrown into a lake, creating ripples that were heavy and suffocating. Colin's face was pale, his lips trembling, as if he wanted to defend that glorious era, but was overwhelmed by the cruel logic of reality.

A complex and indescribable light flashed in Montgomery's eyes—a mixture of an instinctive defense of the era that had been rejected and an unspoken, suffocating pain he had vaguely felt during those long, stagnant years.

Xiling's gaze swept over the two of them, her tone unwavering: "But the root of this stagnation is not entirely Queen Marika's fault alone."

Xiling's voice echoed in the silent conference room. "That was the choice of the times, and also the result of the collective choice of all living beings living in that era—including you."

Xiling looked out the window: "What was the borderland like back then? It was filled with primitive slaughter, chaotic disorder, and the fear of living in constant fear! Marika, she was the terminator of that dark age, the sharp blade that cleaved through the chaos! She created order and brought unprecedented unity and peace. This achievement is enough to make her famous for all time and be remembered by future generations!"

Xiling's voice carried an unquestionable respect, but she immediately changed the subject: "That is precisely why the Golden Law she established has gained almost blind trust and reliance in people's hearts. People regard 'eternity' as the most precious gift bestowed by the Queen, and they are content with this, fearing the uncertainty that any change might bring."

Marika's blind trust in people failed to guide them forward, perhaps due to a lack of time, or perhaps due to other considerations.

After Xiling finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent...

Only one person's presence remained as steadfast as a rock amidst this storm of ideas, seemingly unaffected by any emotional turmoil.

Without the slightest hesitation or emotional fluctuation, the golden-masked voice rang out again, precisely posing the core question:

"Then, what about your Silver Law?"

How will you proceed?

Only one person, with a completely flat tone, asked the golden-masked man, "So, what about your Silver Law? How do you intend to proceed?"

Om-!

The magic surged once more, and the pattern of the golden tree, like sand art scattered by a strong wind, rapidly disintegrated and reformed! —The Silver Law!

Xiling slammed her palm heavily next to the four large characters "Silver Law"!

"The path forward lies in these four words! It lies within these Silver Laws!"

His gaze, sharp as a torch, swept across the entire room, finally settling on the expressionless golden face of the man in the golden mask: "The Silver Law must ignite the 'beacon' missing from the Golden Law! And it must burn eternally!"

Xiling's voice was resolute: "To move forward, we need direction! Civilization needs guidance! No matter which king reigns over Rodel in the future, no matter how times change, people must have an eternal guide that transcends the individual and the times! That is—"

"Going a step further!"

"The name of this lighthouse will be 'Going a Step Further'!"

Xiling's voice echoed in the conference room with an undeniable declaration: "Want a blessing? Then move forward! Want power? Then move forward!"

"Even the most ordinary farmers, craftsmen, scholars, and warriors... as long as they embark on the path of seeking 'better,' the blessing of silver will descend equally upon everyone!"

"It does not bestow favors based on noble bloodlines, nor does it grant special treatment based on strength!" Xiling opened her arms as if embracing the invisible future. "It only looks at one thing—whether you have taken a step towards 'taking another step'! This is the cornerstone of the Silver Law, and its greatest promise!"

Xiling's words caused an incredulous light to flash in Colin's eyes, and Mengget's figure trembled slightly, as if he was shocked by this unprecedented concept of "equality".

Just then, the cold, flat voice of the man in the golden mask rang out again: "The law provides people with a direction to move forward... a path never before imagined."

He paused, then turned his golden face to Xiling and posed a question: "Such a radical change... would the gods agree?"

Xiling chuckled softly, a laugh devoid of contempt: "Gods?"

Xiling shook her head slightly, "From the moment the Elden Ring is restored to its complete state, there will no longer be a 'container' for the Elden Ring."

Xiling's gaze seemed to pierce through the dome of the royal city, looking towards the Silver Tree: "There is only one Elden Ring in the world—an Elden Ring that carries the 'Silver Law'! It is no longer controlled by any individual will, whether human or so-called god."

Xiling raised her hand, pointing to the location of the Silver Tree: "It will forever operate independently at the core of that tree, like the cornerstone and heart of the world, maintaining the order of the 'Silver Law'! Its rules are the pulse of the world, and its 'further progress' is the direction of all things."

Xiling withdrew her gaze and looked directly at the golden mask again: "This result...this foundation of the future order, Master, are you satisfied?"

The meeting room fell silent; the air seemed to freeze.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

The man in the golden mask slowly rose from his seat. He stood ramrod straight.

The instant he stood still—

Om-!

A silvery glow suddenly emanated from the golden mask.

In the silvery light, the golden-masked figure bowed slightly toward Xiling, his head covered by the golden mask, making a clear and unmistakable bow that symbolized recognition and submission!

His cold, emotionless voice, at this moment, seemed to carry an indescribable hint of understanding and choice: "Please let me join you."

"To join in the creation of that 'code' that guides the future"

"Please let me join you... to fight for the foundation of this new order."

A smile played on Xiling's lips. "It's an honor, Master."

Chapter Forty-Two: Coronation! Xiling! The Silver King!

With the addition of the Golden Mask, the chat group felt a sense of relief. After all, having a hard-working, I mean, a powerful master join the group would definitely be a great help in this battle, such as weaving the codex.

In the chat group

[I Don't Want to Be the Hero Anymore]: "Done!"

[The Great Magician Faded One]: "Amazing!"

【Warrior Chasing the Flame】: "It's been hard on you, thinking of all those things."

[I don't want to be a hero anymore]: "A hero's potential is limitless."

[Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: "By the way, why did you change your name?"

【Warrior Chasing the Flame】: "I'm not a high school student anymore, of course I need to change my name."

[I'm Not a Foodie]: "Everyone! Something's happened!"

[I Am the Savior]: "Something terrible has happened!"

[I'm not a foodie]: "Many people in the city were clutching their stomachs and struggling on the ground."

[I am the Savior]: "Their expressions were extremely painful, as if they were poisoned."

[I'm Not a Foodie]: "What should I do? Everyone, should I try using Voice of a Distant Star?"

[I Don't Want to Be a Hero Anymore]: "Calm down first, let's go over there and see what's going on."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the conference room. A soldier clutched his stomach, his face extremely pale. But when he saw Xiling walk out of the conference room, he subconsciously straightened his back. However, just by straightening up slightly, his face became even more pale.

In a hoarse voice, Montgomery asked the soldier, "What happened?"

“Lord Mongols…Lord Silver King…” Each breath the soldier took was accompanied by excruciating pain churning in his abdomen. He forced up his trembling arm and gave a broken but desperately powerful salute.

Menggete nodded, while Xiling frowned as she looked at the soldier, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

After bowing to the two officials, the soldier managed to speak, "Your Majesty, for some unknown reason, everyone in the royal city of Rodel is currently clutching their stomachs and appearing to be in great pain. We tried to investigate, but before long, even we soldiers have become like this."

Mongot's expression turned grave. Could it be that an enemy had come to the royal city of Rodelne and had silently used something like a curse spell?

But just as he was thinking, Xiling stepped forward and put her hand on the soldier's shoulder, under the soldier's bewildered and excited gaze.

Xiling opened her mouth and said, "I'm full."

When Xiling said those words, something was directly ripped out of her body.

The soldier clutched his stomach in disbelief. The intense pain he had felt earlier had completely vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

"This...this..." The soldier's voice trembled, filled with the bewilderment of surviving a catastrophe, then overwhelmed by a surge of gratitude and an almost divine frenzy. His knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the cold ground, his forehead pressed deeply against the earth: "Thank you—the—King—for—his—blessing—!!!"

The soldiers' voices and movements jolted Xiling out of her daze.

"If I can help you," Xiling's voice carried a gentle quality that could soothe any wound, "then that would be wonderful."

Xiling leaned slightly forward and gently supported the soldier's trembling shoulder: "Now, please rise, loyal warrior. There is one more thing I need your help with."

"Yes, sir!!!" The soldier, as if divinely ordained, sprang up with astonishing strength and stood upright like a pine tree.

Xiling looked into the distance, and in the royal city of Rodel, countless people were prostrate on the ground, wailing incessantly.

“Go tell your comrades not to panic.” Xiling’s voice reached the soldiers’ ears clearly. “This is not a calamity, but the echo of the first cry of the law. Soon, everything will be calm. Tell them that I will take care of everything.”

Upon hearing Xiling's words, the soldier's eyes shone even brighter. "Yes, Your Majesty!!"