The Immortal Fairy had originally thought that establishing the Great Bean Dynasty would take some effort—such as requiring her and Girl Yun to step in, overthrow the Great Xia Dynasty, and set up a new imperial court.
Considering that overthrowing Great Xia could not be solved by sheer force alone and that she would likely encounter all sorts of resistance in practice, the Immortal Fairy had never bothered to go out into the world and establish the Great Bean Dynasty.
Who would have thought that the royal family of Great Xia would be so easy to talk to? Whomever she wanted to become emperor could become emperor.
Right now, she was the Acting Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, the Lord of the Heavenly Court, and soon to be the founding emperor of the Great Bean Dynasty. She was the leader of the three greatest factions under heaven—treatment she had never enjoyed even back in ancient times.
She knew there couldn't possibly be so much intrigue and plotting in the world. Look at that—everyone was a good person after all.
Lu Yang looked at the Immortal Fairy with uncertainty and doubt. *Fairy, your intelligence from before was just an act, wasn't it?*
"Little Yangzi, why do you keep staring at me?" the Immortal Fairy asked, looking at Lu Yang in confusion. It was the first time she had ever seen her Second-in-Command wear such a shocked expression.
"N-nothing. I just think you're quite clever, Fairy."
"Of course this immortal is clever!" Though she didn't understand why her Second-in-Command had suddenly said that, hearing him praise her cleverness still made her very happy.
In reality, Meng Jingzhou was filled with admiration for the Immortal Fairy's answer. As expected of an immortal! Not only was her cultivation supreme throughout history, but even her emotional intelligence was so astronomically high that it left others in the dust.
Looking at Lu Yang, on the other hand—he had an immortal following him for free, yet after all these years, he hadn't learned a single thing. All he knew how to do all day was scheme against Meng Jingzhou!
*You better sit in the spiritual space and take notes!*
Hearing the Immortal Fairy's answer, everyone's expressions shifted. What a sharp reaction! Not only had he skillfully dodged answering, but he had also trapped the Second Prince!
Whether the Second Prince answered "Lu Yang has the final say" or "Lu Yang doesn't have the final say," either answer would be wrong.
If he said Lu Yang had the final say, that was high treason, a capital offense. If he said Lu Yang didn't, that meant implying Lu Yang was useless, leaving the Second Prince with no face to associate with him further.
Such cunning, such calculation, paired with this earth-shattering cultivation—no wonder he was hailed as the foremost figure of the younger generation!
Even Daoist Buyu in his youth couldn't have achieved such a level!
Fortunately, the Second Prince possessed a meticulous mind. Though startled by the Immortal Fairy's answer, he continued to feign drunkenness. That way, even if this were brought up in the future, he would have an excuse to shrug it off.
Who could have guessed that the Immortal Fairy would add, "If you don't know who should be emperor, then I'll be emperor. Do you want to seek an official post under me?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out all over the Second Prince; he no longer dared to pretend to be drunk.
If he kept feigning drunkenness, there was no telling what other treasonous words Lu Yang might blurt out!
He had heard that back in Luotian Forest, Lu Yang had made wild remarks about wanting to establish a Great Bean Dynasty, and now he was bringing up that topic again.
Could it be that even back in Luotian Forest, he had already anticipated Jiang Zhu's actions?!
What terrifying calculations!
There were some jokes Lu Yang could make, but he could not.
Who was Lu Yang? The next Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, deeply valued by Yun Zhi, a half-immortal. During his disappearance in the East Sea, Daoist Lord Hanhai had personally visited the East Sea to search for him, which spoke volumes about how much Daoist Lord Hanhai prioritized him—not to mention that Lu Yang had even saved the ancient ancestor of the Dragon Clan.
The future leader of an immortal sect, possessing exceedingly close ties with three half-immortals—whether in status or background, no one could compare to him.
As long as Lu Yang only spoke empty words and did not commit actual rebellion, who would dare touch him?
Even his imperial father wouldn't dare!
"Fellow Daoist Lu Yang is joking," the Second Prince said, not daring to carry on the topic. If he continued along that line of conversation, let alone inheriting the throne, whether he could even keep his position as a prince would be in question.
When the Second Prince looked at the Immortal Fairy, his eyes held a faint trace of awe. It was the first time he had encountered a prodigy even more meticulous and calculating than himself.
Indeed, there were always people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens.
The Immortal Fairy didn't understand why everyone was looking at her with awe. Was it because she was going to become the emperor?
That seemed to make sense.
Changing the subject, the Second Prince pointed toward the dancing girls and said, "Is Fellow Daoist Lu Yang interested in these dancers? If you find them appealing, you may take them all back with you. Dual cultivating with them can even increase your cultivation."
"What would I want them for?"
Seeing Lu Yang refuse, the Second Prince wasn't surprised. With a brilliant pearl like Ye Mengyin preceding them, these dancers were indeed unlikely to catch his eye.
He clapped his hands, and a line of attendants filed out from a side room carrying trays. On the trays were various rare treasures and cultivation manuals, all greatly beneficial to cultivation. Any single one of them was worthy of being the finale item at an auction. Even the other invited guests felt a surge of envy upon seeing them.
His Highness had really spared no expense!
"Fellow Daoist Lu Yang and I felt like old friends from our very first meeting. I have prepared a few modest gifts, and I hope you will not look down upon them and will accept them."
The Immortal Fairy truly did look down on them. With just a glance, she recognized the origins of these items. They were of no use to her whatsoever; even the rocks in front of her immortal cave were worth more than this junk.
Yet on second thought, these things weren't meant for her—they were for Lu Yang.
Then they were of some use after all.
These treasures were meticulously prepared by the Second Prince for Lu Yang in order to win over this powerful ally. If Lu Yang accepted them, it would indicate a willingness to lean toward his side.
The Second Prince secretly observed Lu Yang's reaction, filled with nervous anticipation.
"Given for free?" The Immortal Fairy thought to herself that the Imperial City truly was full of good people.
"Naturally," the Second Prince replied with a nod and a smile.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you."
The lead attendant took out a storage ring, swept all the items on the trays into it, and presented it with both hands.
Seeing the Immortal Fairy accept the storage ring, the Second Prince's smile widened.
It seemed everything said before was merely because Lu Yang didn't want to be tested.
Even if, taking a step back, Lu Yang didn't openly support him in the future, having accepted these treasures meant he wouldn't oppose him either.
Talk of "for free"! One doesn't receive rewards without merit. How could anything in this world be truly free? Everything came with a price.
"Fairy, you shouldn't have taken those things,"
Lu Yang, the portable old lad, said with a touch of worry within the spiritual space. If it had been him, he wouldn't have accepted anything from the Second Prince.
"Hmm? Why shouldn't this immortal take them?" The Immortal Fairy didn't understand why her golden finger was so anxious.
"Accepting gifts is tantamount to picking a side!"
"Picking a side? What side?"
"To accept a person's favors is to place yourself in their debt; to take someone's gifts ties your hands! Once you take his things, you have to do things for the Second Prince," Lu Yang explained in the simplest terms possible.
"Didn't this immortal confirm it before taking them? They're given for free," the Immortal Fairy said. She was meticulous and left no loose ends.
"Then if you two become enemies in the future, will you make a move against the Second Prince?"
"Of course I will." The Immortal Fairy thought her Second-in-Command's question was completely bizarre.
"Besides, this immortal didn't take them for nothing—this immortal said thank you!"
Lu Yang: "..."
*Is my skin too thin? Should I learn more from the Fairy?*
Chapter 921