"I take it back," Eldest Prince Jiang Qun said with complete composure, not feeling the least bit shameless about it.
What did he mean, he was going to be the emperor? Who heard it? Was there any proof?
"Hey! We taught you since childhood that a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold and that you must keep your word! Have you forgotten all of it?!" Emperor Xia fumed. It had taken so much effort to trick the boy into relenting; how could he just take it back whenever he pleased?
Jiang Qun looked at his imperial father in disbelief. *Where was all this honesty and trustworthiness when you were feigning illness just now?*
"Taking it back won't do you any good. We recorded everything with an image-recording orb." Emperor Xia knew what kind of person his eldest son was and had come fully prepared.
*Just be a good boy and be the emperor.*
"I have no shame!" Jiang Qun said, stiffening his neck stubbornly with a look that dared anyone to do their worst, completely at odds with his elegant, refined reputation in the outside world.
Father and son glared at each other like two fighting roosters, neither willing to yield.
In the end, Emperor Xia couldn't hold out and was the first to concede defeat.
He let out a long sigh and said, "Tell me, in every other family people fight tooth and nail to inherit the throne. How is it that when it comes to you, you refuse it to the death?
"If you inherit the throne, not only will you be the master of the Central Continent, but you will also become the vessel of the national destiny. You know full well the miraculous nature of national destiny—it is immensely beneficial to cultivation."
Jiang Qun poured out his true thoughts as well: "Dad, you've been on the throne, so you know better than anyone. This throne might look comfortable, but in reality, you're bound by restrictions at every turn. If nothing else, can you travel incognito among the common folk all day like I do?
"What cultivators seek is carefree freedom. If I sit on the throne, I lose my freedom. Even with the aid of national destiny, my mental state will have fallen into an inferior realm. How am I supposed to cultivate in the future?
"Huh? Dad, why that expression? As a cultivator yourself, haven't you even realized such a simple truth?"
Emperor Xia: "..."
*Don't think you're so great just because your cultivation talent is higher than your old man's.*
"And let's talk about that ancestor in the Forbidden Grounds. Though I don't know his identity, I imagine he once sat upon the throne as well. Why did he step down from it? Surely he felt restrained as well!
"How about this: pick someone who pleases your eye to be the heir. I see Second Brother, Fourth Brother, and Fifth Brother all have their hearts set on it. Let one of them inherit the throne, and I'll assist him to make sure he doesn't make mistakes."
Emperor Xia glared, his mustache bristling. "Nonsense! In our family's hundred thousand years, there has never been such a precedent!"
"Dad, if you don't have anything else, I'll be taking my leave. You just rest and nurse your health in peace." Jiang Qun was about to excuse himself.
"Wait a moment." Emperor Xia had a sudden brainwave and called him back.
Jiang Qun walked back resignedly, hands tucked into his sleeves, and cupped them as he asked, "What is it?"
"Didn't you say before that when you travel incognito among the common folk, running into injustices and revealing your true identity feels incredibly satisfying?"
Jiang Qun hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully, "...Yes."
"Then let's do this: you know all my habits. Disguise yourself as me and handle state affairs for a few days, while I go out and have some fun."
Jiang Qun looked at his father in shock. *Dad, do you even hear what you're saying?*
Emperor Xia felt his son was right—for cultivators, the most important thing was carefree freedom. "We don't have many good days left to live. Can't We enjoy life a little? As Our eldest son, what's wrong with sharing your father's burdens?"
"By your imperial decree." Since his father had put it like that, Jiang Qun could only comply.
"Come, come, sit right here." Emperor Xia hurriedly cleared the seat and pushed his beloved son down onto the throne, then dashed off toward the imperial treasury to search for treasures that could conceal his identity.
Emperor Xia's cultivation was ordinary, only at the Soul Formation stage. If he relied solely on his own methods to disguise himself, he would easily be recognized. But it didn't matter—even if his personal methods were lacking, the imperial treasury had plenty of means to conceal one's identity.
Jiang Qun watched his father's departing figure. Even from behind, his father's delight was unmistakable, as if he had finally been liberated from the throne.
He sighed, feeling that this throne wasn't comfortable at all. It was so cold it sent a chill to one's heart.
"Why doesn't this chair even have a cushion?
"And my dad's been sitting here for so long—how hasn't he even warmed it up?"
...
Perhaps news of the Second Prince hosting Lu Yang had been leaked by someone with ulterior motives, or perhaps the other princes could simply no longer contain their impatience. Ever since the Immortal Fairy departed from the Second Prince's residence, she received gifts sent by the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince every single day.
Although Lu Yang's preference would not be the sole deciding factor, it could still play a massive role in the succession to the throne.
Everyone wanted to win over this heavyweight bargaining chip.
The Immortal Fairy had no idea how important she was, nor did she care why people were sending her gifts. She generously accepted every single one.
She used these gifts to aid Lu Yang's cultivation, and her sleep quality improved noticeably as well. Lu Yang himself was busy sparring with the Invincible Nascent Soul inside his spiritual space.
"One Sword Into Ten Thousand Swords!"
Lu Yang shouted loudly. Densely packed sword blades filled the sky above the spiritual space, a sight that would strike terror into anyone.
The Invincible Nascent Soul also unleashed One Sword Into Ten Thousand Swords. Streaks of sword qi transformed into tangible swords, erupting straight from the ground.
One man and one infant attacked at the same time. Tens of thousands of sharp blades collided, sparks showering everywhere as killing intent surged to the heavens.
Next, Lu Yang and the Invincible Nascent Soul both unleashed Village in the Palm. The two palms collided with a roar like rolling thunder.
Having unleashed two ultimate moves in succession, Lu Yang ran short of spiritual energy. Just as he paused to catch his breath, the Invincible Nascent Soul charged fiercely forward and sent him flying.
"Stop, stop, stop! No more fighting!" Seeing that the Invincible Nascent Soul wanted to keep going, Lu Yang hurriedly called a halt.
His total spiritual energy was the same as the Invincible Nascent Soul's, yet the Invincible Nascent Soul still had power to spare after executing two techniques in a row. That meant the spiritual energy the Invincible Nascent Soul used to construct those two techniques was far more refined, without a single shred wasted. This was precisely where he needed to learn from it.
"Show me again. Let me take another look."
With the Immortal Fairy's verbal decree, Lu Yang could command the Invincible Nascent Soul at will. He could not only use it as a sparring partner, but also have it perform a specific technique repeatedly for him to observe.
In this way, Lu Yang's cultivation speed increased dramatically.
"Huh? The fourth Jiang boy wants to invite this immortal over." On this day, as the Immortal Fairy received the daily gifts as usual, she discovered an invitation among them. The Fourth Prince's tone in the letter brimmed with bold magnanimity, stating he hoped Lu Yang could visit his manor so he could fulfill the host's duties.
Lu Yang had heard that this Fourth Prince carried a strong jianghu air. He loved making friends above all else, never caring about their status, associating with people of every sort and walk of life.
Lu Yang hadn't paid much attention to this before, but ever since hearing from Meng Jingzhou's father that the Fourth Prince also intended to vie for the throne, he had begun pondering the purpose behind the prince's behavior.
Having friends in every walk of life meant, on the other hand, that the Fourth Prince's informants were everywhere. That was a terrifying intelligence network—it was likely that even the intelligence Senior Brother Dai possessed wasn't as detailed as the Fourth Prince's.
Lu Yang mused that the Fourth Prince probably felt enough gifts had been delivered and that they now shared some friendly acquaintance, which was why he had finally sent the invitation.
"Fairy, do you want to go?"
"Sure, why not?" The Immortal Fairy had had quite a fun time when she visited the Second Prince's manor last time.
Chapter 924