The Ninth Princess Returns to the Divine Capital! Lu Changsheng Strikes for the First Time, Shocking All!

"Master Lu, you..." As Lu Changsheng walked out, Zhao Shuying hurried forward. "It is done!" "Zhao Shuying, go back and prepare. I expect we will be leaving Liangcheng for the Divine Capital very soon," Lu Changsheng said bluntly. "It really went through..." Zhao Shuying felt bitter inside. In the end, she had still embarked on the path of no return that was the succession struggle. Every fiber of her being resisted the idea. Yet what could she do? She owed the foundation of her Innate Water Spirit Body entirely to the divine item Lu Changsheng had given her. What was more, she was completely under his control. Now that Lu Changsheng had made his decision, Zhao Shuying was powerless to change it. Her only choice was to follow. "Yes, Master Lu." Zhao Shuying returned to the residence with Lu Changsheng. In truth, there was little to pack. Both of them could depart at any moment. However, Lu Changsheng still needed to take the time to manifest an avatar and refine the divine item, thereby cultivating the Innate Wood Spirit Body. He separated out a Martial Saint avatar. In merely two hours, it had refined the divine item and forged the foundation of the Innate Wood Spirit Body. Lu Changsheng had now manifested three avatars. One avatar cultivated the Reincarnation Divine Body. The other two cultivated the Innate Water Spirit Body and the Innate Wood Spirit Body, respectively. Among them, the avatar cultivating the Innate Water Spirit Body had not even achieved initial mastery due to the lack of a divine item. Yet with Lu Changsheng's comprehension, achieving mastery was only a matter of time. "Three avatars." Lu Changsheng's true body appeared as well. Of these three avatars, the one cultivating the Reincarnation Divine Body would accompany the Ninth Princess back to the Divine Capital. The other two avatars could continue to roam the world in search of divine items. As for his true body, Lu Changsheng decided to remain hidden in the shadows behind the Reincarnation Divine Body avatar. He would avoid entering the Divine Capital as much as possible, while keeping close watch over the Reincarnation Divine Body avatar. After all, this was his most crucial matter at present. The next day, Lu Changsheng set out with Zhao Shuying, arriving at the Provincial Governor's Estate to meet the Ninth Princess. "Your Highness, we are fully prepared," Lu Changsheng said. "Good!" "Events have transpired in the Divine Capital. I must return at once. We set off immediately!" The Ninth Princess was well pleased. That Lu Changsheng had arranged everything in a single day showed that he, too, was eager to go to the Divine Capital. His objective was divine items, which put her mind at ease. Having a clear ambition was good. A lack of purpose was what raised suspicions of hidden motives. As for divine items, if Lu Changsheng could truly help her win the succession, the imperial treasury of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty held plenty of them. What would be the harm in bestowing a few on him? Of course, that was contingent on winning the succession. At the thought of this, the Ninth Princess's heart grew heavy. The succession struggle was arduous indeed. Especially given her current predicament. Yet recent events in the Divine Capital had brought about a subtle shift in the situation. Perhaps this would be her chance! The Ninth Princess did not travel by carriage. Instead, she boarded a flying boat. Crafted from unknown divine items, it could accommodate many passengers at once and moved with tremendous speed. Evidently, she was truly desperate to return to the Divine Capital as quickly as possible, going so far as to deploy a flying boat. Thus, Lu Changsheng's Reincarnation Divine Body avatar and Zhao Shuying boarded the flying boat alongside the Ninth Princess, hurtling swiftly toward the Divine Capital. The Divine Capital was the most prosperous place in the entire Great Qian Divine Dynasty. Yet at this moment, beneath that flourishing surface churned dangerous undercurrents. Anyone well-informed or of notable standing had instructed their kin to keep a low profile and avoid causing trouble outside. The reason was simple: the Sixth Prince was dead! The Sixth Prince had been an imperial prince contending in the succession struggle, yet he had actually died. The Emperor of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty was furious, dispatching wave after wave of investigators. They were determined to find the Sixth Prince's killer. However, hopes were exceedingly dim. It was said that the Sixth Prince's death was tied to otherworldly godly beings. Those otherworldly godly beings possessed bizarre methods and terrifying might. Forget killing an imperial prince—had the Emperor himself not been stationed in the Divine Capital backed by a national divine item, he too might have been slain by them. Naturally, otherworldly godly beings varied in strength. The weaker ones had not only been killed by the Great Qian Divine Dynasty, but many had even been captured alive; they were nothing remarkable. Yet against truly formidable otherworldly godly beings, unless the dynasty deployed a national divine item or certain extraordinary divine items, it genuinely could not contend with them. Therefore, whether they could even track down that otherworldly godly being was doubtful. Talk of vengeance was mostly empty bluster. How many years had otherworldly godly beings been appearing? Which divine dynasty had not vowed to eradicate them, only to fail in practice? The divine dynasties simply could not touch them. The main reason so many people were being cautious now was that with the Sixth Prince dead, the thirteen royal contenders had been reduced to twelve. The vacuum left behind by the Sixth Prince's death would undoubtedly trigger fierce competition among the remaining twelve princes and princesses. At a time like this, picking a side recklessly was foolish. Consequently, the entire Divine Capital seemed treacherous and unpredictable, and countless people tread with utmost care. It was under such circumstances that the Ninth Princess's entourage finally returned. Her arrival was like a drop of water splashing into a pot of boiling oil. The calm of the Divine Capital shattered in an instant! Inside the Princess's Estate, the Ninth Princess wore a frosty expression as she listened to her subordinates' reports. They were mainly briefing her on the current situation in the Divine Capital, especially the intelligence regarding the Sixth Prince. "Your Highness, the Sixth Prince fought with an otherworldly godly being over a divine item and was slain as a result. Though His Majesty is incensed, the otherworldly godly being who besieged the Sixth Prince vanished without a trace long ago and will be terribly difficult to find." "Following the Sixth Prince's death, the experts he once recruited, as well as the officials and prominent families who supported him, have been left behind. Now, the various princes are all competing to win them over." "We attempted to court them as well, but because Your Highness was not present in the Divine Capital, few responded. Fortunately, Your Highness has returned..." Listening to her subordinates, the Ninth Princess gained a general understanding of the Sixth Prince's demise. Vying with an otherworldly godly being for a divine item was bound to be extraordinarily perilous. Even though the Sixth Prince had refined a divine item himself, had forged a divine body foundation, and had brought along many top experts—a formidable camp by any measure—what did that matter? Word was that the otherworldly godly being he encountered was named Huang Tianhao. This Huang Tianhao was supposedly a peerless figure even among otherworldly godly beings, possessing earth-shattering power. Without a national divine item, suppressing him would be nearly impossible. In the end, clashing with Huang Tianhao had naturally cost the Sixth Prince his life. "Huang Tianhao..." Lu Changsheng searched his memories, but did not recognize the name. After all, the myriad races boasted countless experts, and he knew little about most of them. The Ninth Princess waved her hand and said, "Pay no heed to the otherworldly godly beings. They dare not come running amok in the Divine Capital." "The Sixth Prince left the capital to vie for a divine item against that group of otherworldly godly beings, only to kick an iron plate and lose his life." "Regardless, with the Sixth Prince dead, we must claim a share of the spoils no matter what." "Which experts, officials, or prominent families from the Sixth Prince's camp have yet to be swayed by the other princes?" The retainers of the Princess's Estate exchanged glances before the one who had just spoken continued, "Reporting to Your Highness: many under the Sixth Prince have already switched allegiance, but several prominent families appear to be biding their time, holding out for a better offer." "Among them, the Ouyang family carries the greatest influence. Both the Third Prince and the Eleventh Prince tried to win them over, but were turned away." "If Your Highness were to visit in person, there might be a chance, but..." The speaker trailed off. Even if the Ninth Princess went in person, convincing the Ouyang family to pledge their allegiance would still be an uphill battle. Back then, the Sixth Prince had expended immense effort to bring the Ouyang family to his side. With the Ninth Princess already at a disadvantage in the succession struggle, how could she hope to win them over? Yet she refused to yield. The Ouyang family commanded vast influence. If she could secure their backing, her momentum would steadily rise. When that time came, she would be able to compete against the other princes once more. With this thought, the Ninth Princess made up her mind. "I will go to the Ouyang family in person." "There is no time to lose. Ready the carriage—I depart for the Ouyang family at once!" She could wait no longer. Her journey to Xia Province had cost her precious time, placing her at a severe disadvantage. She desperately needed the Ouyang family. After all, their connections spanned the entire dynasty, and they controlled one of the Divine Capital's ten great merchant guilds. They were fabulously wealthy. For a prince or princess seeking to claim the throne and build a faction, a power capable of providing an endless stream of wealth was paramount. It was precisely the Ouyang family's support that had propelled the Sixth Prince to become a favored contender for the succession. If the Ninth Princess wished to overturn the current landscape, she had to make the Ouyang family serve her! In the past, she had never had the opportunity to win them over. Now, things were different. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and she had to seize it! "There is no time to waste. We go to the Ouyang family right now," she declared resolutely. "Your Highness, you have only just returned to the Divine Capital. Perhaps we should go tomorrow instead?" "Moreover, you still need to summon some experts, otherwise the Ouyang family..." The retainer stopped short, but the Ninth Princess understood his meaning. The Ouyang family was not easily swayed. So what if she was a princess? Without sufficient strength, how could she win them over? If they saw that her faction was too weak, they would never agree. The Ninth Princess's gaze swept over the crowd, finally coming to rest on Lu Changsheng. "Master Lu, I fear I must trouble you to step forward. Ordinarily, having just arrived in the Divine Capital, you ought to rest for a few days, but the matter is truly pressing, and the Ouyang family is vital to me..." Lu Changsheng understood her intent. "It is fine. Important business comes first," he said calmly. "Since I am now an advisor to the Princess's Estate, it is only natural that I help shoulder your burdens." He did not refuse. Having joined the Princess's Estate, he had no need to keep a low profile. Remaining passive would never earn him divine items. He had to show the Ninth Princess his worth. The greater his value, the more divine items he could obtain from her. "Good. Then I must trouble you, Master Lu!" A hint of delight surfaced on the Ninth Princess's face. She knew full well that Lu Changsheng had forged the foundation of the Reincarnation Divine Body. With a divine body foundation, how terrifyingly strong must he be? With Lu Changsheng accompanying her to the Ouyang family, she felt much more confident. Before long, the carriage began to roll forward, heading toward the Ouyang family estate. The retainers of the Princess's Estate were thoroughly astonished. This time, the Ninth Princess had taken very few people along, and the most prominent among them was this newly arrived "Master Lu." None of them were familiar with him. "Just who is this Master Lu to be held in such high esteem by Her Highness?" "I heard he is a top expert Her Highness recruited specifically from Liangcheng in Xia Province." "What? Her Highness traveled tens of thousands of li to Xia Province just to recruit this Lu Changsheng?" "What great ability could he possess to warrant Her Highness making such a long journey for him?" "I am not sure. But for Her Highness to value him this much, he must possess real capability." "Regardless, this visit to the Ouyang family will surely test Master Lu's true depth. We need only wait and see." Whatever the retainers whispered had no effect on Lu Changsheng. At that moment, he sat inside the carriage, glancing at the Ninth Princess. She truly lacked capable subordinates. He had barely joined the Princess's Estate, yet he was already being entrusted with such a critical task. If she had enough capable people to hold down the fort, why would she need a newcomer like him to handle such a monumental matter with the Ouyang family? This merely showed that the Princess's Estate genuinely lacked top experts, leaving her no choice but to rely on him. Yet this was also a good thing. The stronger he proved to be, the more weight he would carry in her faction. Still, this matter with the Ouyang family had to be handled cleanly! After less than an hour, the carriage pulled up outside an enormous manor. This was the Ouyang family estate. The Ninth Princess stepped down from the carriage. A retainer from her estate immediately stepped forward to announce her identity. The Ninth Princess put on no airs, waiting quietly outside the manor. Soon, a member of the Ouyang family hurried out to greet them. Upon seeing the Ninth Princess, he bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Highness! We failed to welcome Your Highness's grand arrival from afar—please forgive our discourtesy!" "Think nothing of it," she replied. "May I enter now?" "Of course. Your Highness, please." The Ouyang family dared not bar her way. Thus, the Ninth Princess led Lu Changsheng and the others smoothly into the Ouyang family estate, soon arriving at the reception hall. Inside, the core figures of the Ouyang family had all assembled. Their failure to greet her outside was not out of arrogance. Rather, the political climate in the Divine Capital was treacherous. Princes and princesses were all attempting to court the Ouyang family. If they appeared overly warm toward any particular royal contender, it would invite trouble, potentially sending the wrong signal and causing other factions to miscalculate. That would be a true disaster. Therefore, the Ouyang family preferred to appear discourteous rather than overly enthusiastic. "Ouyang Fu greets Your Highness!" Inside the hall, Ouyang Fu, the head of the Ouyang family, moved to offer a grand formal bow. Yet how could she allow that? The Ninth Princess immediately supported him, smiling. "Patriarch Ouyang, there is no need for such ceremony." Ouyang Fu said nothing further, rising smoothly before ushering the Ninth Princess to the seat of honor. "Your Highness, what instructions do you have for honoring us with your presence today?" Ouyang Fu inquired. Though he could guess her purpose, he had to play dumb at this moment. Ouyang Fu had weighed the various princes repeatedly, but he had never seriously considered the Ninth Princess. After all, her faction was far too weak; winning the succession was simply impossible for her. Joining her camp would be nothing short of seeking death. Ouyang Fu was no fool. The succession struggle was no child's play. A single misstep meant complete ruin. The stakes were too high for the Ouyang family to bear. The Ninth Princess glanced at Ouyang Fu. They were both cunning old foxes, so what was the point of playing games? Dispensing with pleasantries, she went straight to the point: "I am already aware of what happened to Sixth Brother. Though he is gone, you once allied yourselves with him, and you must now find a way forward." "Ouyang Fu, what do you think of my Princess's Estate?" Ouyang Fu's expression stiffened. Must she be so direct? People said the Ninth Princess acted decisively, yielding nothing to any man, and it seemed the rumors were true. Unfortunately, when one's strength was insufficient, words meant nothing. Gritting his teeth, Ouyang Fu said in a heavy voice, "Your Highness, the succession struggle is no ordinary matter. Our Ouyang family would be staking our lives and the fortunes of over three thousand clan members upon it; we must tread with extreme caution." "At present, the First Prince, Third Prince, and others command immense influence, while Your Highness holds little advantage. Therefore, my Ouyang family..." Ouyang Fu shook his head. His meaning could not be clearer. The Ouyang family did not fancy her chances and refused to place their bets on her. "It is easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to deliver charcoal in the snow. I believe Patriarch Ouyang understands this truth." "Besides, does Patriarch Ouyang truly believe that siding with the First Prince or Third Prince guarantees victory?" "Only one person can triumph. Whomever you choose carries tremendous risk. The best path would be not to choose at all, yet the Ouyang family is already too deeply entangled to pull back." "Since that is the case, why not choose me?" "As for the matter of advantages you mentioned..." The Ninth Princess paused, turning her gaze toward Lu Changsheng with a smile. "Securing an advantage is actually quite simple. My journey to Xia Province allowed me to recruit a talent of Master Lu's caliber." "With Master Lu's abilities, I believe that in terms of martial prowess, I am hardly inferior to the First Prince or Third Prince." "If Patriarch Ouyang does not believe me, you may dispatch the promising talents of your family to spar with Master Lu. What say you?" The Ninth Princess radiated confidence. Ouyang Fu, on the other hand, was taken aback and suspicious. "Master Lu?" "Is this Master Lu truly... that strong?" Ouyang Fu scrutinized Lu Changsheng thoroughly from head to toe. Yet no matter how he looked, Lu Changsheng appeared utterly ordinary, showing no hint of formidable strength. In truth, three factors were paramount for imperial heirs in the succession struggle: Officials, prominent families, and powerhouse experts. Officials went without saying—every official was shrewd. Winning them over required effort on multiple fronts, often depending on the maternal lineage's political influence. Next were prominent families. Prominent families represented heritage and wealth. The Ouyang family was such a clan. Though not the most powerful, they backed a merchant guild capable of providing the Princess's Estate with an unending stream of funds. Such a family was precisely what the Ninth Princess desperately needed. Finally, there were the experts. This aspect was equally vital. A top expert could resolve any crisis. The Great Qian Divine Dynasty had been founded on martial might. It was by obtaining a national divine item that the dynasty had risen and established its vast empire. Thus, powerhouse experts were indispensable in the succession struggle. Evidently, the Ninth Princess had made her position clear: Lu Changsheng was the Princess's Estate's expert. At the very least, he was someone she held in the highest regard. Ouyang Fu's thoughts raced. If he truly was a top expert, then what the Ninth Princess said was not unreasonable. Since it was all a gamble anyway, why not deliver charcoal in the snow? If they succeeded, the returns would be unimaginable. As for adding flowers to brocade? The risk was essentially the same. If they failed, the Ouyang family was doomed either way. Of course, the premise was that the Princess's Estate had to display some sort of advantage—in whatever form—so that the Ouyang family could see hope. If there was no hope at all, how could Ouyang Fu convince the rest of his clan? "Your Highness, if you are so confident, then some of my Ouyang family's juniors shall take the liberty of sparring with Master Lu." Ouyang Fu reached his decision. He then invited the Ninth Princess and Lu Changsheng to the Martial Arts Field. Beneath the platform, three members of the Ouyang family were already waiting. "Your Highness, these three are young talents of my Ouyang family. Though young, their strength is considerable. All of them have refined divine items and forged spirit body foundations." "Master Lu, which junior would you like to spar with first?" Ouyang Fu asked. Lu Changsheng swept his gaze over them and instantly gauged their strength. They merely possessed spirit body foundations. Ever since entering the Divine Capital, Lu Changsheng had noticed that those who had forged divine body foundations were exceedingly rare. Evidently, forging a divine body foundation was exceptionally difficult. He recalled how much effort it had taken him to forge the foundation of the Reincarnation Divine Body. Had he not utilized an avatar and continuously sustained it with the power of his true body, how could he have forged that foundation? The same held true for other divine bodies. Lu Changsheng's avatar was at the Earth Saint level, and his true body was at the Heavenly Saint level. Yet even with a physique at the Heavenly Saint level, forging a divine body foundation was an arduous task. The inhabitants of the Kunwu World were ordinary mortals by comparison. For ordinary bodies of flesh and blood, dreaming of forging a divine body foundation was sheer fantasy. Of course, the Kunwu World was vast, harboring all manner of secrets. For instance, karmic providence. If one's providence was immense enough, even a mortal might stumble into forging a divine body foundation. Alternatively, certain extraordinary divine items might aid mortals in achieving it. Yet such individuals were exceedingly few. This was precisely why the Ninth Princess, upon learning that Lu Changsheng had refined the Reincarnation Bead and forged the Reincarnation Divine Body, had immediately moved to recruit him, even accepting his "impertinent" terms. It was because Lu Changsheng had forged a divine body foundation, making him a top figure even within the Divine Capital. How could the Ninth Princess pass up such an expert? Even had she obtained the Reincarnation Bead herself, she would have had no way to help someone forge a divine body foundation with it. At most, she could have studied it or traded it for other benefits. Unexpectedly, she had discovered Lu Changsheng. This was an unforeseen windfall, far surpassing her original goal! Naturally, it was only after arriving in the Divine Capital that Lu Changsheng realized just how much weight this avatar of his carried. "There is no need. The three of you may come at me together," Lu Changsheng said indifferently, glancing at the trio. "What?" "All three together..." "Master Lu is far too conceited! Our Ouyang family may not be renowned for martial prowess, but these three are our clan's finest juniors. He holds our Ouyang family in far too little regard!" Instantly, the faces of many Ouyang clan members darkened. Lu Changsheng's words were indeed a slight against the Ouyang family. Yet Lu Changsheng merely shook his head. "My apologies. Do not misunderstand." "I do not look down upon the Ouyang family. Rather, I consider all the experts in the Divine Capital to be the same, not just the Ouyang family." Boom! Lu Changsheng's words stirred up an uproar. He was no longer merely looking down on the Ouyang family—he was looking down on every expert in the entire Divine Capital. This went beyond sheer arrogance. It was hubris! It was folly! Did the vast Divine Capital not even warrant a glance from him? "The three of you, attack together!" "Let us broaden our horizons and see just what heavenly methods Master Lu possesses!" Anger surged within Ouyang Fu as well. He felt Lu Changsheng was thoroughly insolent. For the Ninth Princess to recruit such a boastful fool—he would have to seriously reassess her ability to judge character. Yet the Ninth Princess remained silent. Lu Changsheng had not been this arrogant in Liangcheng. Making such shocking remarks now undoubtedly served a purpose. Naturally, she would not interfere. Besides, among martial artists, strength settled everything! Lu Changsheng did indeed have a purpose. His arrival in the Divine Capital did not call for laying low; he needed to be as conspicuous as possible. The more high-profile, the better. If he wanted to obtain numerous divine items, how could he manage without drawing attention? Only by standing in the spotlight would he attract the notice of various factions, opening the door to acquiring all sorts of divine items. How could someone obscure in the Divine Capital ever hope to gather a large quantity of divine items? That ran contrary to his objective. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! As Ouyang Fu's voice fell, the three young experts of the Ouyang family dropped onto the Martial Arts Field one after another. The three remained taciturn. Yet as they stood on the field, an intense fighting intent radiated from their bodies. A terrifying battle aura soared into the sky, pointing straight at Lu Changsheng! Lu Changsheng took slow, deliberate steps onto the Martial Arts Field. "Kill!" The next instant, the three members of the Ouyang family acted without hesitation. The moment Lu Changsheng stepped onto the field, they struck. Their assault came with thunderous momentum, clearly intended to deny Lu Changsheng any room to breathe. Sweeping toward him from three directions, all three unleashed the power of their spirit bodies. Though they had merely forged spirit body foundations, their strength was formidable nonetheless. They had reached the level of peak Earth Saints. Unfortunately for them, even peak Earth Saints were far too weak before Lu Changsheng. Though this was an avatar, it had forged a divine body foundation. And for a divine body foundation, its starting point was the Heavenly Saint level! In other words, the Limit Realm of the Boundary Sea! Thus, Lu Changsheng struck out with a single palm. It was as if the entire Martial Arts Field were engulfed beneath that one hand. Rumble! As his palm descended, the entire Martial Arts Field instantly disintegrated into powder. Whoosh! Countless pairs of eyes from the Ouyang family turned toward the field, their faces pale with utter shock!