376: A new path

However, after he learned that the Kunlun Liu Family had produced a special Cultivator Genius named Liu Rushi, he immediately became vigilant and had Zhu Deqin step up the collection of information on this matter. He hadn't expected that today, information regarding this would be delivered directly to him, and it even involved his primary rival for the succession, Prince Lu!

If this information was true, then the confidence of Prince Lu's side would suddenly surge, and the threat to him would increase infinitely. After all, those Immortals in the legends were all extremely terrifying existences, completely incomparable to current Xuan Practitioners. Prince Ding had even read in a book that a single Cultivator could destroy an entire army of Mortals. At the time, he naturally didn't believe it, but now he believed the rumor a bit more. The main reason was that the appearance of Liu Rushi had broken the traditional power system of Xuan Practitioners, allowing him to see the terrifying potential of Cultivators. After all, Liu Rushi was a confirmed Cultivator, as personally acknowledged by Sabado, the Master of Xuanji Tower.

If the previous information that Long Yuan was actually Zhu Deyuan had shocked Prince Ding, then the news that Zhu Dequan was a Cultivator Genius was nothing short of a bolt from the blue. This was because that waste Prince Fu posed no threat to Prince Ding at all and had withdrawn from the succession race early on. However, the third prince, Prince Lu, was a stumbling block on Prince Ding's path to the throne of the Great Emperor. Now, this stumbling block had a son who was a Cultivator Genius—how could Prince Ding bear this?

He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and said, "So, Zhu Dequan stayed at Xuanji Tower because he can cultivate?"

Zhu Deqin nodded and said, "According to our inside source, Prince Lu personally spread this information, saying that because Zhu Dequan possesses the Aptitude of a Genius Cultivator, he has already joined Xuanji Tower and will soon be sent to the Cultivation Sect behind Xuanji Tower for focused training!"

"Is that so? What is the name of the Cultivation Sect behind Xuanji Tower? Where is it?" Prince Ding asked with wide eyes.

"I heard it's called Tianji Pavilion, and it's... Beyond the Heavens!!!" Zhu Deqin said through gritted teeth.

"Tianji Pavilion? Beyond the Heavens?!!! How is that possible?!!!" Prince Ding was a bit dazed. This information came so suddenly that even his usually stable emotions were now in a state of upheaval.

"Yes! Prince Lu said this was personally stated by Sabado, and..."

"And what?!"

"I heard that Xuanji Tower will soon release more information regarding cultivation and will recruit Cultivation Seeds in the Great Ming to replenish talent for the Cultivation Sect behind them!" Zhu Deqin said, his eyes lighting up as well. He felt this was an opportunity; if he could also cultivate and join Xuanji Tower, his future would naturally be as bright and broad as Zhu Dequan's.

"Old Third would actually personally reveal such major information to the public; what on earth is he thinking?" Prince Ding felt somewhat puzzled.

Logically, now was the critical period for these princes to compete for the succession. Information as major as cultivation and Zhu Dequan joining Xuanji Tower should definitely be top-secret and could be used as a trump card. There wasn't even enough time to keep it secret, so why would Prince Lu personally spread it?

When things are unusual, there must be something fishy!

Prince Ding felt there must be some trick behind Prince Lu's move.

Zhu Deqin then said, "Father, I feel that Third Royal Uncle's move was likely prompted by Sabado!"

"Oh? What's the reason?"

"From the news revealed by Third Royal Uncle, we can learn that Xuanji Tower will have major moves next. First is selling more information regarding cultivation, and second is recruiting Cultivation Seeds for Tianji Pavilion. Therefore, regardless of whether Third Royal Uncle revealed this news, Xuanji Tower would have sold it soon anyway. Thus, he is merely revealing it a step ahead. His main purpose might be to let people know that Zhu Dequan has joined Xuanji Tower with his Genius Aptitude, and that Xuanji Tower has now become his backer!" Zhu Deqin pondered.

Prince Ding was slightly surprised upon hearing this and nodded inwardly. It seemed that although his son's combat power and talent were lacking, he still had some brains. This analysis was quite reasonable; presumably, that was indeed Old Third's purpose!

Xuanji Tower, a mysterious power that suddenly appeared several hundred years ago, had once been marginalized and suppressed by many peers, Sects, and aristocratic families. However, every assault was easily resolved by them, to the point where no one dared to provoke them now, not even the Great Ming officials.

No one knew where Xuanji Tower came from or why they possessed such formidable strength to settle the suppression from all sides. But now, the mysterious veil covering Xuanji Tower seemed to be starting to lift!

It turned out they actually came from Beyond the Heavens!!!

Thinking of this, Prince Ding couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. He looked up, his eyes seemingly seeing mysterious forces Beyond the Heavens looking down at the Blue Star... "Can people really survive Beyond the Heavens? What kind of world is that?! Perhaps it's a cultivation world like the information said?!" For a moment, Prince Ding showed a look of yearning. Recalling the legends of cultivation and immortality in history, his heart pounded. If he could also cultivate, could he also live forever?

If he could live forever, why would he still fight so hard for the succession? Wouldn't it be better just to live well?

"Eh? Could it be that Old Third is thinking the same thing?!" Prince Ding suddenly realized.

Just now, he was wondering why Prince Lu would actively reveal this information. Although Zhu Deqin's analysis was quite reasonable, if he delved deeper into Prince Lu's thoughts, Prince Ding found that his own guess might actually be more accurate!

Only an ambitious hero understands another ambitious hero. Both Prince Ding and Prince Lu were Sword-Wielders, the main forces in the succession struggle, and pillars of the Empire. In essence, they were both ambitious, hero-like existences. After so many years of fighting, and the increasingly complex succession activities in recent years, a subtle change had occurred in their psychology. They both knew that participating in the succession struggle was extremely dangerous; on this path, one could only win and not lose. The winner takes all, while the loser would likely lose everything. But with so many princes, only one could eventually win. So, this was both a path to the heavens and a path paved with mountains of corpses and seas of blood—success or death!

And now, outside of this path, another path had appeared. This new path was full of attraction. Not only could participants potentially gain powerful combat strength, but they could also obtain magical substances like Immortal Pills and Immortal Qi, allowing one to live forever!

Think about it; even if one becomes a Great Emperor, a few hundred years later, they are nothing more than a mound of yellow earth. But a Cultivator can live forever and roam freely Beyond the Heavens. Compared to immortality, what does a Great Emperor of the Mortal realm count for? Nothing more than a bumpkin huddled in a small place...