Chapter 275: Chapter 203: The Truth of the Succession Struggle, The Nation Shocked, A Shift in Public Opinion, Meeting Wei the Ninth Again

That magnanimity and nonchalance of his was merely a facade, an air of having everything under his control, of being able to command the clouds and the rain with a flip of his hand.

On the surface, the Holy Emperor is merely an Eighth Realm Martial Artist, but behind him stands the entire Great Yan Dynasty.

How many could possibly stand against the Power of Heavenly Destiny?

...

「The next three days.」

The old eunuch, Eunuch Yan, sent someone over once more, bearing the imperial edict to name the Crown Prince, but Lu Mingyuan tactfully refused again.

This time, however, everyone was reassured.

’His Highness was telling the truth.’

’The Holy Emperor really did send someone again.’

This meant the position of Crown Prince was all but secured, so there was no need to worry anymore. Zi Yun and Hong Wan were already starting to dream about how large a house they could live in after moving out of the Cold Palace.

Wang Zhaoyan was also relieved, and she cheerfully went to show off in the various other palaces.

Lu Mingyuan remained alone, cultivating silently in the bamboo forest on the back mountain of the Cold Palace.

[Venerable Purple Fate Grid - Celestial Heart Wisdom Eye, Refinement Level increased to 35%]

[Unlocked Trait - Knowledgeable (Basic Level)]

[Knowledgeable (Basic Level): Versatility in knowledge and extensive reading will greatly enhance one’s comprehension, enriching the Divine Soul and Spiritual Power.]

Lu Mingyuan’s Body Technique was like a shifting phantom. It was as if the ground shrank with every step; he vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing as gracefully as a dragonfly touching water, perched on the very tip of a bamboo leaf.

The Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth became his stepping stones. The formless, intangible Spiritual Qi was like a layer of water, and he moved through it with complete freedom.

It was as if he were flying.

Within a radius of several hundred yards, the world was his playground; he could appear anywhere he wished.

He moved with such freedom that not even a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator could track his position.

’So this is the Martial Arts Celestial Spirit Divine Technique, Carefree Travel.’

Lu Mingyuan pondered, ’With the Knowledgeable trait, I can learn any Cultivation Technique with ease. I’ve already reached Minor Achievement in Carefree Travel, one of the three great Martial Arts Divine Techniques, in just three short days. Not even my previous Martial Venerable Fate Grid could grant me such speed.’

’I have to increase my strength further before leaving the Cold Palace.’

Just then.

The world fell silent.

The rustling of the bamboo leaves ceased.

An elderly figure appeared in the bamboo forest on the back mountain.

Lu Mingyuan seemed to sense something. His heart skipped a beat, and he whipped his head around.

He was an elderly eunuch dressed in simple blue robes. His temples were gray, and his aura was deep and restrained. His eyes were as still as a thousand-year-old lake, without a single ripple, holding the profound weight of ages.

It was Wei the Ninth.

"What are you lamenting? Leaving the Cold Palace to become the Crown Prince... isn’t that something to be happy about?" Wei the Ninth chuckled.

Lu Mingyuan leaned against a stalk of green bamboo, crossed his arms, and shook his head. "It’s not that simple. If I were in the Upper Three Grades, then I’d have reason to celebrate. But right now, I’m only at the Dragon Gate realm. I can’t even defeat a Governor of One Continent from the Three Academies."

"Even?" Wei the Ninth couldn’t help but chuckle.

"A Great Yan Guardian Envoy... out of tens of millions of people on an entire continent, only one ever emerges. If word of what you just said got out, I can’t imagine how many people you’d anger to death."

Lu Mingyuan said, "Let’s not talk about that. Where have you been? I almost died in the Grotto Heaven. Why didn’t you intervene?"

Wei the Ninth’s eyes narrowed as if in repose. "I was there. I was always there."

"And you’re alive and well now, aren’t you?"

"Wei the Ninth," Lu Mingyuan said, his expression turning extremely serious, "do you know about my father?"

"I do," Wei the Ninth said with a shrug.

"A very ambitious Emperor. At the same time, for certain reasons, his lifespan has been drastically reduced. The National Fortunes of the world have always followed a pattern of ebb and flow. He’s a tragic figure, really—an Emperor who poured his heart and soul into building a powerful, ascendant Great Yan, but has no time left to enjoy the fruits of his labor."

Lu Mingyuan asked earnestly, "Can you tell me what exactly my father has been doing for the past sixty years?"

Wei the Ninth blinked, asking back with a look of great interest, "Are you sure you want to know?"

...

6,000 characters. A long Chapter.