The matter had come to an end, but the ripples had not died down. Instead, they continued to spread throughout Azure Sea Lake and beyond.
The Third Prince, Gu Xing, who had long resided in Tai Chi Hall by the East Sea, had finally revealed his true identity. Only then did the demons of Azure Sea Lake learn that the one who had accompanied him all these years was a Seventh-Tier Sword Way Demon Cultivator.
For the advisers and retainers who had previously followed the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince, it was like having a bucket of cold water poured over their heads.
Only now did everyone see clearly that the Third Prince was Azure Sea Lake's rightful Crown Prince.
Another rumor circulated through the East Sea's water palace: the Second Prince, Gu Rui, had sought solace in wine and smashed many rare drinking vessels in his hall within half a day.
Gu Feng, by contrast, had always been hot-tempered, yet he remained unusually calm. Not a stir came from him.
The balance of legitimacy in the succession had quietly begun to tilt.
Even so, the lake's major powers continued to watch and wait.
Since his birth, the Third Prince had lived in seclusion within the Dragon Palace, cultivating in private. He had never set about building a faction of trusted followers. Otherwise, countless scions of Dragon Palace lineages would likely have rushed to pledge themselves to him long ago.
For now, the vast majority of lineages chose not to make a move. Only a few prominent lineages within Azure Sea Lake had already forged close ties with Gu Rui's or Gu Feng's faction through marriage and shared interests. They were too deeply entangled to switch allegiance.
Several months later, the clamor gradually faded, and another piece of news