Political Intrigue Refresher

Third Prince was completely dumbfounded. He knew about retreating to advance, but what on earth was crossing the Chencang secretly?

"I ask you, what kind of scene will you encounter when you return to the imperial palace this time?" Zhang Yang stared at Third Prince.

Third Prince fell silent.

Zhang Yang helped him spell it out. "You made the Cloud Mountain Empire lose a massive amount of face, a Nascent Soul Realm eunuch died, and you forced the Cloud Mountain Empire to redeem the Flying Dragon Army at the cost of vast resources. If the emperor doesn't kill you, he could hardly be considered a merciful old father. Under such circumstances, you still want to fight for the throne?"

Third Prince's spirit and vigor vanished in an instant, his head drooping. He knew very well that such an outcome was unavoidable.

"Under these circumstances, if your several brothers kick you while you're down, won't you be dead for sure? Even if you don't make mistakes, they will make you make mistakes." Zhang Yang guided him step by step. "Since it's like this, why don't you simply show your stance and stop fighting for it? How do you cleanly and neatly show that stance? Of course, going to immerse yourself in immortal cultivation is the most thorough way!

You just tell your imperial father that you made a huge mistake this time, and you willingly withdraw from the fight for the imperial throne to lead the Flying Dragon Army and make amends through meritorious service. The Flying Dragon Army is the empire's greatest military force, and keeping it in the hands of outsiders is always unsafe. It's simply best to control it in the hands of one's own people.

Once you do this, will your imperial father give you a chance? Won't your brothers stop viewing you with hostility?

Even if your imperial father doesn't give you the Flying Dragon Army, once you declare that you won't fight for the throne, can't you openly cultivate relationships with various ministers?

Things have already reached this point, do I still need to teach you what comes next?"

Third Prince's eyes involuntarily lit up. He felt this was his best way to break the deadlock; at the very least, returning to the imperial palace this time should carry no danger.

He grew conflicted again. "However, if I ascend the throne after cultivating immortality, won't I be dead for sure once I reach the Golden Core Realm?"

Zhang Yang gave a faint smile. "Reaching the Golden Core is immensely difficult in itself. With your foolish appearance, even if you manage to form a Golden Core, it will have to be decades from now, won't it? Besides, can't you just suppress your realm and refuse to break through?

To take a step back, once you've been emperor for decades and feel that you are about to break through to the Golden Core, wouldn't it work to simply abdicate?

By then, you will have experienced the thrill of being emperor, and you can still cultivate the Dao for longevity... Damn it, hearing myself talk makes me want to be emperor too. If I weren't already at the Golden Core Realm, I'd really give it a try."

"I understand!" Third Prince let out a long breath of relief, looking at Zhang Yang with gratitude. "Thank you for your guidance."

Pausing for a moment, he asked again, "It's just that I still don't understand, why are you helping me?"

Zhang Yang said indifferently, "Even though your Cloud Mountain Empire caused the trouble this time, our Azure Cloud Sect still bit off a huge chunk of flesh from you. If we don't ease the tension beforehand, both sides will sooner or later end up in a massive battle.

This is no good for us, nor is it good for you. The reason I'm helping you is in the hope of suppressing the emergence of such a situation. Another reason is that the Azure Cloud Sect hasn't developed in a long time, and I hope that after you return this time, you will promote trade with our Azure Cloud.

Our Azure Cloud Sect has talismans, pills, and other good things. These items are far superior to those of other sects.

Your Cloud Mountain Empire can cooperate with us and get rich together."

Third Prince shook his head. "Our Cloud Mountain Empire's resources are already controlled by the Heavenly Profound Sect. The Heavenly Profound Sect has someone serving as the imperial adviser, so he probably won't allow such a situation to occur."

Master, do you still say the sect isn't allowed to interfere in imperial court affairs? Just look at the Heavenly Profound Sect over there—they're probably rolling in wealth! Zhang Yang expressed his pent-up dissatisfaction to Azure Cloud Master inwardly.

He said indifferently, "I didn't say right now. You just need to secretly push the development of this matter behind the scenes, and we will negotiate with the Heavenly Profound Sect later."

"Fine!" Third Prince readily agreed. "Then who should I look for to take as a master?"

Joining Azure Cloud was definitely out of the question; given the emperor's current hatred toward Azure Cloud, it would only yield the opposite of the desired result.

"Of course you look for someone with status who isn't a member of the Heavenly Profound Sect to be your master! For instance, Xu Bai shouldn't be a member of the Heavenly Profound Sect, right? He is the best master." Zhang Yang said casually.

Third Prince asked in surprise, "How do you know Commander Xu isn't from the Heavenly Profound Sect?"

Zhang Yang retorted irritably, "The imperial adviser is from the Heavenly Profound Sect, and the Heavenly Profound Sect is immensely powerful. How brain-damaged would your emperor have to be to let the Heavenly Profound Sect command a force as formidable as the Flying Dragon Army? Isn't that obvious? Is our intelligence really that far apart?"

Third Prince was left speechless.

"Alright, we're done talking. Take the Flying Dragon Army and go dig the ground for me." Zhang Yang pointed inside the Azure Cloud Sect. "Divide three thousand men into thirty squads, with one hundred men in each squad—that's just right. You must finish the construction period within a few days.

Right, you personally lead one hundred men and carry out the construction according to my instructions."

After undergoing a session of talk therapy, Third Prince's heart was no longer filled with such deep hatred. Joyful on the inside while putting on a heavy-hearted expression on the outside, he handed down the tasks to the Flying Dragon Army.

Then, he indicated that he, the Third Prince, was the one who caused all of this, and he was willing to share weal and woe with everyone.

The numerous Flying Dragon Army soldiers couldn't help but be moved.

Although they were cultivators, they were merely Foundation Establishment cultivators, and furthermore, soldiers nurtured by the empire; their hearts still held a deep respect for imperial authority.

Now that Third Prince was willing to suffer together with them, how could they not feel grateful?

Subsequently, the thirty "construction squads" headed up the mountain.

"Do you know how to build houses? Those who know how to build houses go build houses, and those who don't know how to build houses hurry up and lay pavements. Everything must be paved with bluestone slabs so people don't dirty their shoes when walking on rainy days. Right, make sure the drainage on both sides is done well, and tamp down the foundations for me." Zhang Yang transformed into the general contractor of the construction squad, busying himself around the Azure Cloud Sect with the three thousand workers.

After arranging their respective tasks, he led Third Prince and one hundred men up to Azure Cloud Peak.

"Flatten this place for me and tamp down the foundations. You are all cultivators, and some of you even possess Dao seeds already—can't you use spiritual energy to work? This counts as a form of cultivation for you, you know?

Yes, yes, yes, after finishing the first floor, build the second floor. Use spiritual bamboo to weave the entire second floor for me. You don't need to worry about whether the spiritual bamboo is sturdy; I will carve talismans on it later. Also, dig a large pool in front of the house for swimming and things during leisure time."

When Situ Mingyue saw Zhang Yang's small two-story villa, she instantly felt that the courtyard she had purchased from Zhang Yang didn't appeal to her at all anymore.

However, that was bought with twenty thousand spiritual stones! Her heart ached just thinking about abandoning it like this!

Situ Mingyue glared angrily at Zhang Yang. "Eldest Senior Brother, I bought a thatched shed with twenty thousand spiritual stones, while you live in such a magnificent and imposing house. Aren't you going to give an explanation?"

Zhang Yang chuckled. "You already called me Eldest Senior Brother, do you still need an explanation for this?"

"I don't care, I'm going to complain to Master, you swindled me!" Situ Mingyue turned around and ran off.