Hearing Duke Yushan's words, Lu Yin's heart trembled. "Me?" he asked in astonishment.
Duke Yushan nodded. "That's right, the fourth is you. You are qualified to become the emperor of the Great Yu Empire."
Lu Yin's eyes widened. "Royal Brother, don't joke around. I'm just an idle king, not even a member of the Yushan clan. How could I be qualified? Royal Brother, you shouldn't speak so carelessly."
Duke Yushan smiled as he stared at Lu Yin. "I'm not speaking carelessly. Do you know what my Father Emperor said to Undying Zishan before the Undying Duo roamed the Innerverse?" He paused, then said slowly, "If we don't die this time, this empire will be half yours and half mine. The Great Yu Empire belongs to the Yushan clan, but it also belongs to your Zishan clan."
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes, meeting Duke Yushan's gaze. Then he smiled and picked up a piece of food. "Tastes pretty good."
Duke Yushan withdrew his gaze. "If it's good, then eat more. The people below don't know how to behave. I apologize to you, Royal Brother, on their behalf."
Lu Yin knew he was talking about Sika, but he didn't mind. "Royal Brother, when will the Astral-10 academy arrive? Is there any definite news?"
Duke Yushan shook his head. "I don't have any. In the entire Great Yu Empire, only one person can receive that news, and that is Fifth Sister, who is also your fiancée in name."
Lu Yin rolled his eyes. He had looked into this Fifth Princess, Wendy Yushan. Fiancée? She wouldn't even deign to look at him; she didn't even care for the Great Yu Empire itself.
With a soft clink, a spatial ring was placed on the table. Duke Yushan stood up. "As your Royal Brother, this is a meeting gift. Please don't dislike it. I'll be leaving first."
Lu Yin's eyes lit up. Now this is the good stuff. He believed that a gift from Duke Yushan wouldn't be shabby.
Duke Yushan smiled, and just as he was about to leave, he suddenly said, "It's rumored that the Zishan clan has a hidden treasure. Royal Brother, you might as well try looking for it. Who knows, you might have an unexpected gain." With that, his figure vanished.
Lu Yin held the spatial ring in one hand, his eyes glinting. Treasure? What does Duke Yushan mean? He wants me to look for it? What a joke. Undying Yushan hasn't said a single word about any treasure, which obviously means he doesn't want others to touch it. If I go looking for it, wouldn't I be seeking death? This is a trap. Does he really think I'm that greedy? These royal disciples really have a bad habit of setting traps for others whenever they're bored.
As he ate, Lu Yin inspected the spatial ring, and his eyes lit up. Inside was a ring-type battle armor. Coming from Duke Yushan, it had to be at least Melting Realm-grade battle armor. It was a good item, a very generous gift, just a bit insidious in its delivery.
He hadn't expected the Zishan clan to also have the qualification to inherit the throne. Was that why Sika was suppressing him? Impossible. Even with the qualification, it didn't mean he could succeed. Facing the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, what did he have to compete with? They had been operating in the empire for hundreds of years; no one would take him seriously. So why was Sika constantly targeting him? Could it be because of the Zishan clan?
Duke Yushan had apologized on Sika's behalf, which clearly meant Sika's previous actions were of his own accord. Or could it be that Duke Yushan wasn't the only one behind Sika?
"Bronson," Lu Yin said faintly.
Behind him, a figure stepped out of the void. It was Bronson. "Your Highness."
"Have you heard of the Zishan clan's treasure?" Lu Yin asked.
Bronson's voice was heavy. "I have, but that was a matter from hundreds of years ago. No one has mentioned it in recent years."
"Do you understand Sika? Does he have any old grudges with the Zishan clan?" Lu Yin asked again.
Bronson shook his head. "I do not know."
Lu Yin fell into thought. The waters of the Great Yu Empire ran deep. On top of that, Undying Yushan was growing older, and it was rumored his old wounds had relapsed. He probably didn't have long to live. How would this struggle for the throne end?
But none of this concerned him for now. By that time, he would probably be in the Astral Combat Academy.
After sitting for a while longer, Lu Yin left the tavern and returned to the King of Zishan's residence.
The residence's library had many books, but none on combat techniques; they had probably been taken by the Zishan clan. Lu Yin focused his search on books about breaking through to the Melting Realm.
The Melting Realm was a turning point for a cultivator. One's future achievements could be seen from their Melting Realm. This was mentioned in many books, but Lu Yin didn't understand what it meant.
He only knew that the path to becoming stronger consisted of cultivation realms and combat techniques. What else was there?
"Bronson, have you ever been to the Innerverse?" Lu Yin asked.
Bronson shook his head. "I have not."
Lu Yin felt it was a pity. The Innerverse was far stronger than the Outerverse. He had been in the Innerverse before but was always confined to one place. He knew nothing about the Innerverse, and even less about the Melting Realm.
Should he ask Undying Yushan? Lu Yin shook his head. The man was an emperor. Even if he showed Lu Yin some favor, he wouldn't let him run to him for every little thing. Crown Prince Dolan Yushan seemed gentle, but in reality, he was just as scheming as Duke Yushan. Besides them, who else was there? Comilla? It was best not to contact her. The more he did, the more his own value would decrease.
"Is Your Highness thinking about how to break through to the Melting Realm?" Bronson asked. He rarely spoke on his own initiative.
Lu Yin shook his head. "Breaking through to the Melting Realm will happen naturally. I'm thinking about the fundamental power of the Melting Realm."
Bronson pondered. "In the Great Yu Empire, the foundation of an expert is combat techniques. However, I have heard that a power called Battle Qi circulates in the Innerverse, and it is extremely powerful."
Lu Yin's eyes lit up. Battle Qi. He had heard of it. A belligerent person must have spirit; this is Battle Qi. It originates from a person, transcends the heart's original intent, and stems from the very foundation of the human body. It can attack, it can defend, it can break limits, it can crush the heavens, it can tear the stars.
This was an incomprehensible power. Anyone could possess it, but not everyone could activate it. He had heard of it a few times in the Innerverse, and the memory grew deeper. Unfortunately, the Outerverse had no method for cultivating Battle Qi. This kind of method was a top secret even in the Innerverse, with a higher level of secrecy than the Physique Tempering Art.
That Bronson had heard of Battle Qi was obviously related to his status, but that was the extent of it. He knew nothing more about it.
Lu Yin looked up at the stars, at the three continental rings, and his eyes flashed. How could he have forgotten it—the Heavenly Beast Claw.
To learn the first 20 forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw, he needed the approval of all Five Great Hall Masters. Thinking of this, Lu Yin opened his personal communicator to contact Gules, asking her to help get Gurbach to agree. But then he stopped abruptly. Thinking of Gules's temperament, he decided it was better not to. It would be good enough if that girl didn't cause trouble for him.
Helpless, Lu Yin could only use his status as a Martial Hall member to send a request to the Five Great Hall Masters, asking to learn the first 20 forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw.
Tian Ming was the first to agree. He had already agreed back at the body reconstruction pool; he was a very easygoing person.
The second to agree was Lok Ang.
The third to agree was Huo Zhong.
Huo Zhong was from the Huo family. Lu Yin hadn't expected him to agree; he had thought the Huo family would hate him because of the incident with Huo Xiaoling.
Gurbach and Shuz did not agree, which Lu Yin regretted, but it was also expected. He was just trying his luck. Getting three to agree was already not bad.
How to get the remaining two to agree was a problem.
Just then, Lu Yin received a notification: Gurbach wanted to meet him.
Lu Yin was surprised. Gurbach wants to see me? His first thought was Gules. That girl must have snitched, otherwise why would Gurbach want to see him.
That's fine too. He was just worrying about how to get him to agree. A meeting might reveal his thoughts.
Lu Yin didn't delay. In the middle of the night, he set off for the first ring. For cultivators, the distinction between day and night wasn't very clear; going without sleep for several days was perfectly normal.
Gurbach's branch hall was far from the body reconstruction pool. Starting from the King of Zishan's residence, it took a full nine hours to arrive, by which time the sky was already bright. This was the speed of the latest model of flyer; an ordinary person would take at least several days.
In the first ring, there was a large lake, which could also be considered a sea. It was azure blue and could be seen from Planet Zhenwu, its area far exceeding the total area of Earth. In the center of this sea was Gurbach's branch hall.
Huge towers were stacked on top of each other, with people occasionally streaking through the air. Creatures swam in the sea, sometimes launching attacks at the towers, only to be instantly obliterated.
A Star-Wandering expert stood guard here.
Lu Yin sat in the flyer as it flew straight towards the tower. Looking down, he could see Martial Hall disciples hunting creatures on the sea's surface.
On the top floor of the tower, in a spacious stone room, a young man opened his eyes, looked outside the tower, and grinned.
Bronson was stopped outside the tower. Lu Yin, as a member of the Martial Hall, was allowed to enter.
The tower was extremely tall, piercing through the clouds. Inside, many Martial Hall disciples moved about, all looking at Lu Yin with curiosity.
The Martial Hall gathered the young elites of the Great Yu Empire. Every member who joined was extraordinary, and they were all future competitors.
Lu Yin walked into the tower and looked up. A stone staircase spiraled upwards. To go up, one could only climb the stairs; flying was not allowed. This was the rule.