As it turned out, Lu Changsheng's reasoning was entirely correct.
The factions under the three princes moved with utmost speed, gathering every divine item they could acquire before personally delivering them to Lu Changsheng at the Princess Estate.
Some factions claimed they had divine items but failed to deliver.
Lu Changsheng didn't even need to lift a finger.
The Princess Estate's men destroyed those factions outright.
With that, the remaining factions realized Lu Changsheng's standing in the Princess Estate even more clearly; how could they dare slacken?
Lu Changsheng collected all the divine items, totaling thirteen.
Twelve were spirit-body-level divine items, and only one was a divine-body-level divine item.
Lu Changsheng was actually quite pleased.
There really was a divine-body-level divine item among them.
Naturally, Lu Changsheng split off new avatars and cultivated them one by one.
A few days later, Lu Changsheng possessed as many as twenty-five avatars.
Among them were nine divine-body-level avatars and sixteen spirit-body-level avatars.
This was a terrifying number.
Once all twenty-five avatars fused, what level of power would they unleash?
Even Lu Changsheng found it hard to imagine.
He was now truly confident that he could walk unhindered through the Divine Capital.
In fact, once his avatars merged, they would be far stronger than his true body.
Even peak Martial Dao Sovereigns might well be blasted to pieces.
What counted as an opportunity?
This was a true opportunity!
Counting the time, it had been about a year since Lu Changsheng entered the Kunwu World.
In a mere year, he had obtained unimaginable opportunities.
"Next are the First Prince and Third Prince.
"Since they became two of the succession struggle's three titans, their foundations are bound to be no worse than the other princes'. Once those two princes are defeated, the harvest will surely be immensely bountiful.
"And finally, there is the greatest treasury of all."
Lu Changsheng looked up, gazing into the distance toward the Imperial Palace.
Indeed, the Imperial Palace was the greatest treasury!
The Great Qian imperial family had ruled the realm for so many years; how many divine items and treasures had they accumulated?
There were probably even clues regarding an immortal body within the palace.
But he could not rush.
The palace housed a national divine item!
Capable of slaying even Martial Dao Sovereigns, that national divine item was terrifying.
Lu Changsheng felt that it was likely a fearsome divine item comparable to the Ancestor Realm.
In the Kunwu World, even Martial Dao Sovereigns were repelled and expelled, let alone the Ancestor Realm.
Beings of the Ancestor Realm could not enter the Kunwu World at all.
A national divine item capable of unleashing Ancestor Realm power was naturally in a league of its own, virtually invincible.
Even though Lu Changsheng's strength had surged, he still did not dare claim he could contend against a national divine item.
He had to proceed step by step.
Only by aiding the Ninth Princess to win the succession struggle and eventually ascend the throne as the supreme ruler would he have the opportunity to delve into the imperial treasury.
And so, Lu Changsheng resumed his quiet cultivation at the Princess Estate.
No matter how tempestuous the outside world became, he remained as calm as drifting clouds, motionless as a mountain.
In truth, the outside world was indeed caught in turmoil.
Many princes had been "cleared out," effectively eliminated from the succession struggle.
They had virtually lost all hope of winning.
Yet that was not the most shocking development.
What shocked people most were the rumors surrounding Lu Changsheng of the Princess Estate.
Rumors spread that Lu Changsheng had swept through the estates of three princes in a single night, suppressing numerous experts under the three princes entirely by himself.
When this rumor broke, countless people were dumbfounded.
Some even considered it utter nonsense and found it thoroughly absurd.
One person sweeping through three princes in a single night?
Were the experts under those princes made of paper?
Most people did not believe it.
However, the First Prince and Third Prince believed it without a shadow of a doubt.
Their intelligence sources made it crystal clear: Lu Changsheng had truly done it!
In a single night, he had wiped out the forces of three princes!
"Lu Changsheng... Who would have thought Ninth Sister would become my greatest threat?"
"Back then, Ninth Sister was actually among those meant to be cleared out. Who could have expected her to grow to this stage in such a short time? Having taken over all the forces of the three princes, coupled with Lu Changsheng's prestige in the Divine Capital, countless officials have already begun to take sides and pledge allegiance to the Princess Estate. This Ninth Sister of mine has truly gained unstoppable momentum."
"Third Brother, what did I tell you back then? You and I fought for so long, only for someone else to reap the harvest."
"Eldest Brother, there's no need to sow discord here. Ninth Sister is my greatest threat, but isn't she yours as well? Now that the succession struggle has come to this, neither of us has a way back. Only one among the three of us will emerge victorious. Save your schemes and tricks—they're useless. To win the succession, one must rely on true, hard strength!"
The First Prince and Third Prince were currently seated facing each other, discussing matters concerning the Ninth Princess.
The First and Third Princes were actually a unique pair.
In their youth, they had been very close.
But as they grew up, gradually realized their status, and entered the succession struggle, they drifted further and further apart.
With the Ninth Princess's rise, each wanted the other to clash head-on with her so both sides would suffer heavy losses.
But how could that happen?
At this stage, neither was a fool.
Who didn't understand the fables of the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole lurks behind, or the snipe and clam quarreling while the fisherman catches both?
"The imperial physicians informed me that Royal Father likely has only three months left. He might not even last that long. The peaceful days for the three of us are probably coming to an end."
"Indeed. With the succession struggle where it is, a victor must be decided."
"The imperial elders will likely summon all three of us to the palace soon."
The two exchanged glances, both understanding the other's resolve.
The winner takes all, and the loser is condemned.
In the imperial family, such was destiny!
However, with the purge concluded, the entire Divine Capital became extraordinarily calm, carrying an air of the calm before the storm.
All the factions that needed to choose sides had made their choices.
Countless officials willing to stake everything had already cast their lots.
The news that the current Emperor was bedridden with grave illness was no longer a secret.
Everyone knew the succession struggle was practically drawing to a close; the final victor would soon be decided.
The more critical the moment became, the quieter the Divine Capital grew.
Even the vagrants and scoundrels on the streets were far fewer.
Yet beneath the surface, clouds churned, and treacherous undercurrents surged.
Days passed one by one.
In the blink of an eye, two months went by.
The Emperor's condition showed no improvement.
On this day, however, an unusual group of people arrived at the Emperor's bedchamber.
They were all clad in black robes embroidered with golden dragon threads, each exuding a commanding presence.
Even the imperial concubines and ministers felt a chill run through their hearts upon seeing them.
For their status was anything but ordinary: they belonged to the Imperial Elders Council.
The members of the Imperial Elders Council were all imperial kin—venerable seniors of the imperial family who had refined divine items.
They were all imperial elders with shockingly high seniority.
Of course, if that were all, the Imperial Elders Council would be nothing more than figureheads, as they did not interfere in the administrative affairs of the divine dynasty.
Yet the reason the Imperial Elders Council held a pivotal status and could even depose or enthrone an emperor in extraordinary times came down to a single factor: the national divine item!
The Imperial Elders Council controlled the national divine item!
While the Emperor had the right to deploy the national divine item, he still required the consent of the Imperial Elders Council.
That was why the Imperial Elders Council wielded such tremendous power.
"Everyone, out," an elderly man in black robes said in a raspy, cold voice.
"Yes, Imperial Uncle."
The Empress glanced at the elderly man in black robes. She recognized him: an Imperial Uncle among the Elders Council who shared a close relationship with the Emperor.
At such a juncture, the sudden arrival of the Imperial Elders Council clearly signaled that they were about to determine the crown prince—the heir apparent was finally to be decided.
They desperately wanted to know how the Emperor and the Elders Council would choose, but since the council was already clearing the room, they dared not linger.
Soon, only the Emperor and several members of the Imperial Elders Council remained in the bedchamber.
"Emperor, have you made your decision?" the Imperial Uncle asked.
The Emperor was gravely ill, not incapacitated from speech.
He gave a dismal laugh. "It seems the Elders Council has already made its decision. What objection could We possibly have? Imperial Uncle, can that divine item truly not be granted to Us? Have We not governed well? Under Our reign, the Great Qian Divine Dynasty's strength has flourished day by day, and its national destiny has reached the pinnacle of the world. Why can it not prolong Our life? We do not ask for immortality; twenty more years would suffice. Can We not have even twenty years? With Our achievements, is extending Our life by twenty years truly out of the question?"
The Emperor was still unwilling to accept his fate.
His face flushed red as he questioned the Imperial Uncle—or rather, the members of the Imperial Elders Council.
In truth, life-extending items existed in the Kunwu World.
After all, if even divine items existed, how could there be no means to prolong life? They were merely exceedingly precious.
Ruling the world as they did, how could the Great Qian imperial family lack life-extending treasures?
Yet the imperial family also had its rules.
"Emperor, have you forgotten the ancestral teachings?
"No emperor may use life-extending items. That was an answer you already knew when you won the succession struggle.
"This has nothing to do with your achievements. No matter how great your deeds, a life-extending item cannot be granted to you.
"Enough. The Emperor should be well aware of our purpose today. The Elders Council will summon the First Prince, the Third Prince, and the Ninth Princess to the palace to contest the position of crown prince.
"We are merely notifying you now. Emperor, rest and recover in peace."
With that, the Imperial Uncle turned and walked straight out of the Emperor's bedchamber.
The council members naturally understood the situation; they were even accustomed to it.
Which emperor did not desire longevity?
Once granted a first twenty years, there would surely be a second twenty years, followed by a third, a fourth, endlessly.
Ultimately, that would only drag the entire imperial family and the Great Qian Divine Dynasty into the abyss.
If an emperor wished to use a life-extending item, the Imperial Elders Council would be the first to refuse!
"We are not reconciled to this...!"
The Emperor roared from within his bedchamber.
Immediately following his fury, he spat up another mouthful of blood.
That very day, rumors circulated that the Emperor's condition had worsened and his days were numbered.
Yet neither the First Prince, the Third Prince, nor the Ninth Princess had any mind to concern themselves with the Emperor's illness now.
For they had all received a special "invitation" to enter the Imperial Palace—not from the Emperor, but from the Imperial Elders Council!
The three knew full well the Elders Council's status. Their hearts tightened at once.
What was destined to come had finally arrived!
At the Princess Estate, the Ninth Princess sought out Lu Changsheng alone.
"Your Highness, is something the matter?" Lu Changsheng asked calmly.
During this period, he had been quite relaxed.
He didn't need to handle any trivial affairs, spending his time solely studying divine bodies and spirit bodies.
His avatars could also cultivate divine bodies.
Though progress was exceedingly slow, it was progress nonetheless.
However, when cultivating a divine body by conventional means, even advancing by one percent was extraordinarily difficult, to say nothing of reaching perfection.
There seemed to be no hope of achieving a consummate divine body—at least not in the short term.
Even someone with comprehension as transcendent as Lu Changsheng's was like this, let alone others.
Probably very few people harbored any hope of completing a consummate divine body.
The Ninth Princess looked grave. Taking a deep breath, she produced an invitation and said in a heavy voice, "Mister Lu, the palace has sent me an invitation."
"An invitation?"
Lu Changsheng took it and looked.
"An invitation from the Imperial Elders Council..."
Lu Changsheng understood.
Under ordinary circumstances, the Emperor was the most powerful person in the Great Qian imperial family. Yet everyone knew that the true anchor of the imperial house was not the Emperor, but the Elders Council!
The Elders Council commanded the national divine item.
In critical moments, they possessed the authority to depose and enthrone rulers.
Furthermore, practically every crown prince was decided not by the Emperor, but by the Imperial Elders Council.
Even the reigning Emperor had attained the position of crown prince only after gaining the Elders Council's approval.
The succession struggle was essentially about satisfying the Imperial Elders Council.
The victor would be the crown prince!
Now that the Elders Council's invitation had arrived, it meant the succession struggle had reached its final step!
Lu Changsheng looked up at the Ninth Princess.
He could tell that despite her steadfast will, she was somewhat nervous.
After all, this was the final step of the succession struggle; who wouldn't be nervous?
The Ninth Princess had likely never imagined that her fate would undergo such a massive transformation in such a short time—to call it earth-shattering would not be an exaggeration.
A year ago, how could she have conceived that she would stand a chance at reaching the final stage of the succession struggle?
Back then, she had probably been weaker even than the Thirteenth Prince.
If she hadn't met Lu Changsheng, she would likely have been eliminated long ago.
"Your Highness, you need not be nervous, nor do you need to fret. With me here, the position of crown prince will certainly be yours; no one can take it away!"
Lu Changsheng spoke unhurriedly, yet his words carried an almost magical reassurance that put one's heart at ease.
The Ninth Princess felt grounded.
Indeed, with Lu Changsheng by her side, what did she have to fear?
"Then I shall rely on you tomorrow, Mister Lu."
The Ninth Princess said no more.
Everything went without saying.
Her nervousness had stemmed from how swiftly the Princess Estate's fortunes had risen in recent days; she had lacked the confidence and inner backing to match it.
But she had Lu Changsheng.
That was her greatest source of confidence!
The next day, several luxurious carriage entourages rolled slowly toward the Imperial Palace.
At the palace gates, all three carriage processions came to a halt.
Guards had long been stationed at the gates, their numbers multiplied severalfold.
Evidently, word had reached them that today was destined to be an extraordinary day.
"Greetings, First Prince, Third Prince, Ninth Princess.
"Your retinues' carriages may not enter the palace. By order of the Elders Council, each contender is permitted to bring only five attendants."
The guards stopped the carriages.
"Five attendants?"
The First Prince, Third Prince, and Ninth Princess drew back their carriage curtains one after another.
If they were limited to five attendants, they would have to consider carefully.
Their followers far exceeded five, and even those who had forged a spirit body foundation numbered more than five.
They clearly had to select their five strongest.
Yet all three knew this was the Elders Council's decree.
They could not negotiate, and so each selected five attendants.
"Very well. Please enter."
With that, the guards stepped aside.
The carriages drove slowly onward, proceeding deep into the palace until they reached a spacious Martial Arts Field.
Buzz.
In an instant, a terrifying force swept across the Martial Arts Field, enveloping the entire grounds in a flash.
"A divine item!"
The faces of many present shifted slightly.
Even those who had forged a divine body foundation were no exception, for they sensed a threat.
That a divine item could make even someone with a divine body foundation feel threatened meant that while it was not a national divine item, it was far more formidable than ordinary divine-body-level divine items.
"There is no need for alarm. This is a divine item deployed by the Elders Council to ensure the Martial Arts Field is secure and that no battle will spill over into the rest of the palace."
Right then, several dozen elderly men appeared.
The foremost among them were none other than the elders of the Elders Council—holders of immense imperial power who could even depose or enthrone emperors.
The First Prince, Third Prince, and Ninth Princess stepped down from their carriages and bowed toward the Elders Council. "Greetings, Elders!"
The elders nodded slightly.
One of them said indifferently, "You should all understand that the succession struggle has reached a point where only the three of you possess the capability to compete for the position of crown prince.
"The Emperor's health is failing, and the imperial heir must be determined as soon as possible.
"Therefore, we summoned the three of you today to decide who shall be the crown prince."
The hearts of the three tightened.
Although they had roughly guessed the purpose of today's summons, hearing the elder state it aloud still brought a wave of tension.
Having waited so long and exhausted every scheme, this day had finally arrived.
In any case, there was only one throne of the crown prince.
Among the three of them, only one victor would emerge today.
"May I ask the elders how the position of crown prince will be decided?" the First Prince inquired.
The determination of the crown prince was conducted personally by the Elders Council through trials.
The content differed every time.
Even as royal princes, they had no way of knowing what trials the Elders Council would devise.
"To decide the crown prince this time, there will be only three trials.
"First: as the crown prince and future emperor of the Great Qian Divine Dynasty, with hundreds of millions of subjects under your rule, governing the divine dynasty requires supreme wisdom.
"The Elders Council will activate an illusion divine item. You will enter an illusion and become the emperor of a dynasty. Once the illusion ends, we will evaluate the results of your governance and rank you accordingly."
With that, the elders waved a hand.
A beam of white light instantly enveloped the three, and they fell into the illusion immediately.
Though it was an illusion, it still required time, albeit perhaps very little in the outside world.
Lu Changsheng looked at the elders as well.
Clad in black robes, they wore indifferent expressions.
Yet for some reason, Lu Changsheng felt an elusive wisp of danger emanating from them.
This prompted a thought in his mind.
For him to feel a trace of threat at his current level of strength, there was only one possibility: the national divine item!
These elders could likely deploy the national divine item at any moment!
Lu Changsheng had long heard of the national divine item's reputation.
Capable of obliterating Martial Dao Sovereigns, its power was even comparable to the Ancestor Realm.
He truly wished to witness it for himself.
But for now, he had to exercise patience.
This was the critical juncture of the Ninth Princess's succession struggle; everything else would have to wait until she succeeded.
Minutes and seconds ticked by.
Only half an hour passed in the outside world, but within the illusion, several decades had unfolded for the First Prince, Third Prince, and Ninth Princess.
In the illusion, they were supreme monarchs whose word was law, capable of deciding countless lives with a single utterance!
Still, they remembered that they needed to "govern the realm."
In the beginning, they were diligent and conscientious.
Yet as time went on, they discovered more and more problems.
Being a good emperor was not so simple.
One could hold to one's original aspiration for a year, three years, or five years.
But what about ten, twenty, or thirty years?
After wielding supreme power for decades, would one still remain true to their initial intent?
Such people existed, but they were likely few.
Anyone possessing such temperament would surely not govern poorly.
"The time has come. Awaken!"
Suddenly, an elder in black robes barked a low command.
It rang in their ears like the tolling of a great temple bell.
The three opened their eyes at once, thoroughly awake.
"Just now, I..."
"The illusion. It was an illusion trial."
"In the illusion, I became emperor and reigned for thirty years..."
All three remembered in an instant.
Although they had known they were facing a trial when they first entered, the time spent inside was so long that they gradually forgot their original intention and forgot it was a trial, thereby revealing their true natures.
The elder in black robes remained expressionless and said calmly, "First Prince, you reigned for thirty years in the illusion. The realm remained generally stable, and the people enjoyed rest and recovery. You qualify as a ruler who preserved what was handed down. Rating: above average.
"Third Prince, you reigned for thirty years in the illusion. In the first ten years, you reformed abuses, forged ahead boldly, expanded territory, and enriched the people, bringing the realm to a peak of prosperity. In the latter twenty years, you indulged in sensual pleasures, neglected affairs of state, and allowed national strength to decline, leaving a mess for your successors. Overall, you were not entirely inept. Rating: pass.
"Ninth Princess, you reigned for thirty years in the illusion. In the beginning, you were vigilant and cautious, diligent in governance, and cherished your people. You suppressed rival factions while promoting and utilizing talented commoners. Outwardly, you expanded the territory; inwardly, you reformed governance abuses and cracked down on corruption. For thirty years, as if every day were the first, you never dared slacken. In those thirty years, national strength reached unprecedented, magnificent heights. Rating: excellent!"
As the black-robed elder's voice fell, the three showed differing reactions.
The First Prince was reflective, lost in thought.
The Third Prince's face darkened, and he looked at the Ninth Princess in disbelief.
He was inherently conceited; how could he ever accept losing to a woman in governing a realm?
Yet he acknowledged the Elders Council's assessment and did not lose his temper.
After all, his rating was still a pass.
For his first ten years on the throne, he had performed admirably.
In the future, as long as he constantly reminded himself not to err, there would be no problem.
Moreover, this was only the first trial of the succession assessment. Two remained; he still had a chance.
"Furthermore," the black-robed elder added, "in the illusion, upon the Ninth Princess's passing, the historical annals praised her as an Empress of the Ages!
"This is the supreme honor among monarchs!"
Boom!
As soon as those words were uttered, all three felt a tremor in their hearts.
The First Prince and Third Prince in particular turned pale.
Even the First Prince, who was usually unperturbed and maintained his composure even if Mount Tai crumbled before him, could not help but show shock.
Praised in the annals of history as an Empress of the Ages!
That was no ordinary title.
It was the supreme glory among rulers!
What merit or ability did the Ninth Princess possess to become an Empress of the Ages?
Even if it had merely been an illusion, and the nation governed had been an ordinary mortal dynasty rather than a divine dynasty—and there was a vast difference between a mortal dynasty and a divine dynasty—one still could not deny the Ninth Princess's governing talent.
The elder's purpose in saying this was clear: in the first trial, the Elders Council was exceedingly pleased with the Ninth Princess!
This placed immense pressure on both the First and Third Princes, forcing them to take things even more seriously.
Having lost the first trial, they could under no circumstances lose the second.
Otherwise, there wouldn't even be a need for the third trial—they might as well cede the position of crown prince to the Ninth Princess directly.
"Elder, please begin the second trial," the Third Prince said urgently, unable to sit still.
No matter what, he had to turn the tables in the second trial.
The black-robed elder did not dwell on the subject.
In truth, he knew that a divine dynasty was indeed different from a mortal dynasty.
In a divine dynasty, many people possessed transcendent power, capable of destroying cities and shattering terrain at a whim.
Many methods used in mortal dynasties could not be applied to a divine dynasty.
Governing a divine dynasty was far more difficult.
"Very well. Then let the second trial commence.
"The second trial is will.
"Will is paramount. An unyielding will is of vital importance to an emperor.
"Begin the trial."
The black-robed elder wasted no more words.
Another wash of white light covered the three, plunging them once more into an illusion.
This trial tested will.
And will came in many forms: the will to endure physical agony, the will to endure mental anguish, the enduring of spiritual torment over prolonged periods, and so forth. All required an unyielding will to sustain.
Only with a powerful will could one avoid faltering in any endeavor.
For an emperor, will was all the more crucial.
If the emperor of a divine dynasty lacked a resolute will and merely drifted with the crowd, he would never make a good ruler.
Lu Changsheng found it rather interesting.
It seemed a divine dynasty's grooming of an emperor was truly distinctive.
The first and second trials could indeed filter out an exceptional emperor.
Even if the result were not extraordinary, it certainly wouldn't produce an incompetent tyrant.
That was why divine dynasties chose merit over seniority: to become emperor, one had to defeat rivals one by one, braving every ordeal before one could become the crown prince and eventually ascend the throne!
Another hour passed.
During this time, varied expressions crossed the faces of the three—some in pain, some serene, some shifting constantly.
But an hour later, the black-robed elder barked once more, "The time has come. Awaken!"
The sound boomed like thunder.
Shaken awake by the shout, the First Prince, Third Prince, and Ninth Princess slowly opened their eyes.
Chapter 332