The next day, in the early morning.
Ye Xuan, who was preparing to enter the Exquisite Pagoda for cultivation, found two uninvited guests arriving at the Thunder King’s manor. These two were none other than Changsun Wugou, and beside him, the person Ye Xuan recognized from the Star River Empire – Long Xin.
Of course, Long Xin probably hadn't seen Ye Xuan before.
As for why they were together, it was because Changsun Wugou was Long Xin's maternal uncle.
“Little friend Ye, or rather, Lord Thunder, I trust you are well!”
Upon arriving at the Thunder King’s manor, Changsun Wugou greeted with a hearty laugh. Seeing the visitors, Ye Xuan already had a vague idea of Changsun Wugou's reason for coming, likely to introduce Long Xin to him.
“Marquis Pingchuan, what brings you to the Thunder King’s manor?”
“And this gentleman is?”
Although Ye Xuan knew this person was Long Xin, the third prince of the Longyang Empire, this was their first meeting given his current status.
“Heh heh, allow me to introduce you.”
Changsun Wugou smiled slightly when Ye Xuan mentioned his nephew. “Lord Thunder, this is Long Xin, the Third Prince of the Longyang Empire, and also my nephew.”
“He has come here hoping to befriend you, Lord Thunder.”
Long Xin, hearing his uncle’s words, revealed a gentle smile. “Lord Thunder, your talent is extraordinary. Meeting you today, you truly live up to your reputation.”
“This prince fears he is far inferior!”
“Heh heh, Your Highness, you jest.”
Listening to Long Xin’s words, Ye Xuan found that this Long Xin seemed to have matured considerably after not seeing him for many days. The pressure of the imperial succession struggle must have been significant, otherwise, Long Xin wouldn't have transformed so quickly.
After a brief exchange.
Long Xin seemed to recall something and warned Ye Xuan, “By the way, Lord Thunder, I've received word that an exchange delegation from the Lanling Empire will arrive tomorrow.”
“At that time, the Zhao family will secretly collude with the people from the Lanling Empire, intending to harm you, Lord Thunder.”
Long Xin relayed the intelligence from his mole within the Zhao family to Ye Xuan, clearly aiming to enhance his image in Ye Xuan's eyes.
“Oh?”
“An exchange delegation, targeting me??”
Ye Xuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected the Zhao family to still be so persistent. However, considering the situation, the first prince was destined to be his enemy due to his association with the Zhao family, and the second prince and the Ji family, who had exterminated his junior disciple’s clan, were likewise mortal enemies.
The third prince before him, whose maternal clan, the Changsun family, had been quite agreeable and had even provided him with considerable assistance.
Since this prince wished to forge a connection, Ye Xuan decided to go with the flow. Compared to the other two princes, Long Xin was undoubtedly a much better choice to become the Lord of the Longyang Empire.
“Thank you for informing me, Your Highness.”
After a brief conversation and to establish a familiar acquaintance, Changsun Wugou and Long Xin departed through a side entrance. After all, the Third Prince's influence at this point still lagged far behind the other two.
Once Changsun Wugou and his companion had left, Ye Xuan flashed into the Exquisite Pagoda.
“The temporal flow rate... seems to have increased significantly again.”
Feeling the temporal flow rate, Ye Xuan’s lips curved into a smile. “A temporal flow rate of 3.5 times, coupled with a ten-fold energy concentration. Does this mean the cultivation speed here is already 35 times that of the outside world!”
“Tsk, this speed is truly something to look forward to.”
Ye Xuan exclaimed, and this was still just the beginning. Once Ye Xuan reached the Void Ancestor realm, the second level of the Exquisite Pagoda would be unlocked, which was twice as potent as the first level. This meant that the second level alone would offer a cultivation speed 70 times that of the outside world.
“I will strive for a breakthrough before tomorrow.”
With this thought, Ye Xuan wasted no further time. With a flip of his right hand, a hundred thousand high-grade Emperor Crystals were produced, transforming into pure energy that, along with the ten-fold energy concentration of the first level of the Exquisite Pagoda, surged into Ye Xuan’s body.
And so it went…
A quarter of an hour!
Three quarters of an hour! Five quarters of an hour!!
Time flowed by like water. Inside the Exquisite Pagoda, apart from the appearance of an energy vortex, everything returned to silence.
Meanwhile, in the Third Prince’s palace within the Imperial Palace.
“Uncle, I am truly grateful for your help today.”
Long Xin let out a deep sigh of relief. He wouldn't have acted this way before, but now, with Ye Xuan's rise seemingly a foregone conclusion, securing his support would undoubtedly increase his chances of success in the future.
Changsun Wugou looked at his nephew before him and pondered the current situation in the Imperial Palace. “Little Xin, Ye Xuan’s enmity with the Zhao family now means he will certainly not support the First Prince.”
“As for the Second Prince, I have received secret intelligence that he has been secretly colluding with the Loulan Empire for many years, and I even possess substantial evidence.”
“If this evidence were to be known by the Emperor, the Second Prince would certainly be finished.”
Changsun Wugou knew the Emperor too well. If he were to find out, he might even strike him down on the spot.
“What!”
Hearing his uncle’s words, Long Xin looked at Changsun Wugou in disbelief. “Uncle, what did you say!?”
“The second one, he colluded with the Loulan Empire!”
This news clearly had a significant impact on Long Xin. “Are you sure, Uncle?”
“Heh heh, of course.”
Changsun Wugou smiled slightly. “This information is absolutely true, and furthermore…”
“If I can know this, do you think the Emperor is unaware?”
He paused before continuing, “Your father took on the mandate in a time of crisis, laying low for centuries. His foresight is far beyond that of ordinary people.”
“Moreover, my intuition tells me that your father is orchestrating a grand plan, one that might involve various factions within the Longyang Empire, and even the selection of the next Emperor!”
“This…”
Hearing Changsun Wugou’s words, Long Xin was taken aback. “Uncle, are you certain?”
“However, what should we do?”
Although Long Xin inquired, based on his understanding of his father over the years, he already believed seventy to eighty percent of it. If this were true, then his opportunity might have arrived.
“What to do, your maternal grandfather has already thought it out for you.”
Changsun Wugou continued, “Your maternal grandfather advises you to remain inactive and not make any moves.”
“Of course, if you can foster a good relationship with Ye Xuan beforehand, that would be most ideal.”
“Furthermore… today’s interaction clearly shows that Ye Xuan did not reject your overtures. This means that among the three princes, he has already shown a leaning towards you.”
“As for what comes next…”
Changsun Wugou then looked in the direction of the Thunder King’s manor. “The rest will be handled by the Changsun family. After all, only if you become the Emperor will the Changsun lineage be absolutely safe.”
“Naturally, if the First or Second Prince were to become Emperor, your mother’s situation would likely be quite precarious.”
“Furthermore, there’s one more point!”
Changsun Wugou, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, continued. “If you were to make a move now, although you might gain an initial advantage, it would be disadvantageous if you were cornered and eliminated by the combined forces of the First and Second Princes…”
He meticulously analyzed the current situation. It could be said that Changsun Wugou had meticulously planned everything since his sister entered the Imperial Palace. Listening to his uncle's analysis, Long Xin nodded in agreement and then said, “Alright, I will listen to Uncle and Grandfather!”