Chapter 1484 - 78: The Grand Throne
The Saint Prince halted before the Talisman Sea Array.
He silently clenched the Spirit Sun Rod, suppressed his anger, and regained a bit of calm.
He knew.
What Venerable Zhu Yan said was indeed correct.
Though it felt good to smash the Nether Sea Venerable’s residence today... how would he explain to the elders of the Great Saint Mountain afterward? His future was to inherit the position of Holy Emperor and oversee the grand scheme. Acting rashly due to personal resentment—was this temperament truly fit to govern Great Ape Mountain?
The Saint Prince’s birth seemed glorious, but in truth, he was incredibly lonely.
The birth of an Imperial Family bloodline required a significant cost.
Great Ape Mountain invested much effort and employed numerous secret techniques to cultivate him as a "perfect bloodline."
Perhaps because too much essence and blood were drawn.
The Saint Prince’s mother quickly withered away after giving birth.
Thus, the Saint Prince grew up under the watchful eyes of the elders of the "Great Saint Mountain." Though he enjoyed ample resources, he received no care. His mother passed too early, and his father was retreating in isolation for years, no one to guide him... He only knew that his most crucial mission was to inherit his father’s position.
He was the most qualified bloodline of Great Ape Mountain in a millennium.
He was born at the opportune time, during an era of Qi Fortune flows... if he continued his path, he might even surpass his father!
But.
As his realm ascended.
The Saint Prince gradually understood that the path to succession in Great Ape Mountain was not as smooth as imagined.
His father had been in isolation for far too long.
To the extent that...
Some within Great Ape Mountain began to develop "second thoughts."
"Your Highness, I have accompanied you since your childhood."
Venerable Zhu Yan bowed slightly, spoke sincerely, "I hope to see the day you are crowned and ascend... but now is not the time to incite conflict. A submerged dragon should remain hidden and endure."
"So... what do you mean?"
The Saint Prince suppressed his anger, exhaled deeply.
He looked at Zhu Yan.
Though he was remarkably talented, he still relied on his "teacher" throughout his cultivation journey.
Venerable Zhu Yan was his teacher during his youth, instructing him until he reached the Yin God Realm. Apart from teaching "Great Dao Intent," Zhu Yan also imparted many life lessons... The Saint Prince’s current way of handling matters was greatly influenced by Venerable Zhu Yan.
Now, the Saint Prince’s realm had far surpassed Zhu Yan.
Yet he continued to respect this teacher.
"The Nether Sea Venerable wishes to have the world’s heroes come to Great Ape Mountain to pay homage to the Holy Emperor."
Venerable Zhu Yan spoke earnestly, "This is actually a good thing... because you are the heir of the Holy Emperor. Now that you have obtained the ’Spirit Sun Rod,’ in a sense, you are the next Holy Emperor. If, during the gathering of the world’s heroes, the succession matter is announced, wouldn’t it be a smooth transition?"
The Saint Prince fell into contemplation.
This was indeed a good idea, but.
"I worry about my father..."
The Saint Prince hesitated to speak.
This time, the Holy Emperor’s isolation had lasted far, far too long.
In past years.
Some placed "Holy Emperor" and "Zhao Chunyang" together.
These two strongest figures were both in long-term isolation, causing many speculations...
Though Zhao Chunyang was mostly in isolation.
In recent years, he occasionally took action.
Whenever he took action, it caused a sensation across the world.
Holy Emperor, however, was different.
He had remained in a "deathly silence" for many years.
"You fear His Majesty the Holy Emperor won’t appear at the birthday banquet..."
Zhu Yan was stunned, then spoke solemnly, "Your Highness, not long ago, did you not visit the Fighting Holy Peak to check on him?"
"..."
The Saint Prince fell into silence.
The Holy Emperor’s isolation could not be disturbed by outsiders.
But there were always exceptions.
When Great Ape Mountain faced unexpected situations.
Great Venerable Realm Divine Ability Users, and special figures like the Saint Prince, were permitted to visit the "Fighting Holy Peak" to check.
Just after promoting to the Yang God Realm.
The Saint Prince went to the Fighting Holy Peak and returned with the "Spirit Sun Rod."
At that time, the battle on the Sea Suppression Platform had just ended.
The Saint Prince was amidst a wave of doubts, having released Xie Xuanyi, sparing the lives of Sword Palace’s future Sect Leader—a move seen by many Great Demons as a sign of weakness and ineptitude... Generosity does not command troops. Some elders within Great Saint Mountain criticized the Saint Prince, believing he was too young, too immature, that his actions couldn’t lead Great Ape Mountain to the mountain peak as the "Holy Emperor" would.
But.
With the appearance of the Spirit Sun Rod.
All doubts were entirely extinguished... or rather, swallowed.
The Holy Emperor had given the Saint Prince his approval.
"At that time, I didn’t actually meet my father."
The Saint Prince lowered his eyes, his voice hoarse, revealing a secret he never disclosed to outsiders.
His hand that grasped the Spirit Sun Rod tightened and relaxed again.
Logically, after refining this supreme treasure, the rod would be as light as a feather.
But at this moment.
He felt that the Spirit Sun Rod weighed a thousand pounds.
"What?"
Venerable Zhu Yan was aghast.
He quickly released a Tao Talisman to isolate this space, though they were standing outside the Talisman Sea, several miles from Nether Sea Venerable’s residence, but the Venerable’s methods... no one could say for sure.
"There’s no real need for that."
The Saint Prince glanced at Venerable Zhu Yan’s scattered Tao Talisman.
He looked expressionlessly towards the center of the Talisman Sea, saying, "From the moment you appeared, I released Taoist Intent."
The moment he returned to Great Ape Mountain.
The Saint Prince knew.
The mastermind behind all this, the Nether Sea Venerable, seemed immovable as the mountain but actually hid in the shadows, silently waiting for events to unfold.
If he guessed correctly.
Nether Sea was currently in his residence, maneuvering the array, watching events transpire here.
If it were only himself.
The Saint Prince wouldn’t mind Nether Sea’s spying.
But... since Zhu Yan had appeared, he couldn’t disregard him.
"Your Highness..."
Venerable Zhu Yan’s expression was complex.
He truly didn’t mind the opinion of the Nether Sea Venerable towards him, as the elders within Great Saint Mountain had already keenly detected the off atmosphere. Regardless, he had to take a stance. He would unwaveringly support the Saint Prince, resolutely endorse this sole son of the Holy Emperor to become the new leader.
"However, even if he hears, it’s no matter."
The Saint Prince chuckled.
This laughter carried a hint of self-mockery.
"If I guessed correctly... last time I went to the Fighting Holy Peak and failed to see my father, Nether Sea was also aware."
His uncle coveted the throne.
The Saint Prince had long seen through this.
He never feared the matter of succession.
Even if some tumult arose these years, as long as everything proceeded according to the rules, he would still be the undisputed "next Holy Emperor."
But the precondition is...
Everything following the rules!
From this episode of the birthday invitation fiasco, Nether Sea Venerable clearly wasn’t abiding by the rules, beginning to orchestrate grand schemes.
If his father were safe and sound on the Fighting Holy Peak, how dare Nether Sea act like this?
...
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(PS: Having lunch, there will be another update this afternoon.)