The Third Prince Returned After Completing His Studies

While Zhang Yang was cultivating at the Azure Cloud Sect, the Prince of Southern Peace had already arrived in Anqing City with the Flying Dragon Army.

This negotiation had recovered the Flying Dragon Army at a lower price than expected, without the need to cede any land. Without question, it had been an extremely successful negotiation.

However, this incident had ultimately had a major impact on the Cloud Mountain Empire. Someone needed to take the blame and bring the matter to a close.

The Emperor could not possibly take the blame, and the Third Prince could only bear part of it. The other part naturally fell to the Lord of Anqing City.

Upon arriving in Anqing City, the Prince of Southern Peace captured the city lord and executed him that very day.

The charge announced to the public was that the Lord of Anqing City had arbitrarily provoked conflict with neighboring powers, a crime beyond forgiveness.

The Lord of Anqing City had not died unjustly at all. The Cloud Mountain Empire had indeed intended to deal with the Azure Cloud Sect, but this conflict had truly been caused by the Lord of Anqing City.

After dealing with the Lord of Anqing City, the Prince of Southern Peace went to the Xiao Family.

Xiao Jianchun was extremely nervous. Even the Lord of Anqing City had been dealt with—what fate awaited the Xiao Family?

Seemingly noticing the Xiao Family's unease, the Prince of Southern Peace smiled and reassured them, "Since the Azure Cloud Sect has already agreed to cooperate with your Xiao Family, then cooperate properly! But if you cooperate, do it properly. Do not harbor any crooked thoughts. Take the Lord of Anqing City as a warning, and do not bring disaster upon the Xiao Family."

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. Our Xiao Family absolutely will not," Xiao Jianchun promised again and again.

The Prince of Southern Peace nodded and returned to the Imperial Capital with the Flying Dragon Army.

After arriving at the Imperial Capital, the Prince of Southern Peace had Xu Bai settle the Flying Dragon Army, while he himself brought the Third Prince into the palace, where they met Emperor Li Shiqing in the inner hall.

The moment they met, the Emperor pointed at the Third Prince and began berating him. "You unfilial son, look at the enormous trouble you caused this time!"

There was a warning in his gaze.

The Third Prince, already coached beforehand, immediately knelt on the floor and lowered his head. "Father Emperor, your son is guilty!"

"Raise your head and look at Us!" the Emperor shouted in a low voice.

Without hesitation, the Third Prince raised his head and looked at the Emperor.

When the Emperor saw that there was no resentment in the Third Prince's eyes, he was finally relieved. He gave a cold snort and said, "You have caused such a grave disaster this time. We have not yet decided how to punish you, so you will first be confined to your residence for half a year."

How could he not know that the Third Prince had taken the blame for him?

But some matters needed an explanation, a reason everyone could accept.

The Empire had spent such a vast amount of resources. Without a reason, it simply could not be justified.

"Your son accepts his punishment!" The Third Prince first confessed his guilt, then continued, "Father Emperor, your son has one request and asks for Father Emperor's permission."

The Emperor's gaze immediately became wary as he slowly asked, "What is it?"

"Through this incident, your son suddenly understood that even commanding Myriad Troops and Horses is still little more than a joke before those powerful Immortal Cultivators. Therefore, your son no longer has any attachment to the mortal world. Your son wishes to pursue Immortal Cultivation!"

"What? You wish to pursue Immortal Cultivation?" The Emperor was greatly shocked and could not help rising to his feet.

This answer was something he had never anticipated.

Beside them, the Prince of Southern Peace watched his nose, and his nose watched his heart, remaining silent.

He had participated in this negotiation, which was why he was qualified to hear these secrets. But since it concerned the Imperial Family's great affairs, he did not dare speak rashly.

"Your son has already made up his mind. Your son must pursue Immortal Cultivation!" the Third Prince said resolutely.

The Emperor scrutinized the Third Prince for a long time before slowly sitting down. "Do you know what Immortal Cultivation means?"

"Your son understands!" A faint smile appeared on the Third Prince's face. "After pursuing Immortal Cultivation, one possesses the might to move mountains and fill seas, and a body of eternal youth and immortality. Compared to that, what do other matters amount to?"

The meaning beneath his words was clear: even if you gave me the throne, I would not want it.

The Emperor stared blankly at the Third Prince. Having made the Third Prince take the blame this time, he had worried that the boy would return and make a tremendous scene. In truth, he valued the Third Prince greatly; otherwise, he would never have allowed him to command the Flying Dragon Army.

Yet this boy actually wanted to pursue Immortal Cultivation?

He suddenly wondered whether taking the blame had hurt the Third Prince's feelings. Then, after personally witnessing the strength of Immortal Cultivators, had he developed such thoughts?

At this thought, his heart softened. He slowly said, "We understand! Return to your residence first. We will give you three days to consider it. After three days, We will make arrangements."

"Father Emperor, your son has considered it for a long time already. There is no need for three days. Your son has even found a master."

"Who is it?"

"Your son has worked alongside Commander Xu Bai for a long time and has personally witnessed Commander Xu's strength. Therefore, if Father Emperor permits it, your son wishes to take Commander Xu as his master. Furthermore, such a powerful force as the Flying Dragon Army must be held in the hands of our own people. Your son is willing to share Father Emperor's burdens. Once your son achieves success in cultivation, your son will suppress enemies from all directions for Father Emperor." Following Zhang Yang's instructions, the Third Prince sincerely laid his intentions before the Emperor.

He had even feared that the Emperor would be wary of him, but unexpectedly, the Emperor merely glanced at him and said, "Since you insist, We approve. But do not regret it in the future."

"Your son will never regret it!"

The Emperor glanced at the Third Prince, then turned slightly and asked, "Eunuch Hong, do you think you could offer some guidance to this child of Ours?"

A purple-robed eunuch appeared before them like a ghostly shadow. With a broad smile, he said to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, this old servant's body is incomplete, and the cultivation method this old servant practices is somewhat peculiar. It is not suitable for His Third Highness to cultivate. However, this old servant has cultivated some results after all. Once His Third Highness steps onto the immortal path, this old servant can assist His Third Highness in certain aspects of cultivation."

The Emperor nodded and gestured to the Third Prince. "We approve. We will summon Xu Bai shortly and have him teach you Immortal Cultivation."

He had also feared that the Third Prince might pretend to cultivate while secretly plotting to seize the throne.

But since Eunuch Hong had guaranteed it, the Emperor was reassured.

The Third Prince had gotten his wish and left the palace.

When he left the palace, he walked out smiling.

Only after the Third Prince had departed did the Emperor look at the Prince of Southern Peace with an expression of pained concern. "How did it go?"

As though he had only just awakened, the Prince of Southern Peace hurried forward several steps and whispered to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, Azure Province has been preserved!"

The Emperor froze for a moment, then hurriedly asked, "Quickly, tell Us—how did you negotiate it?"

In his view, Azure Province had certainly been lost. Who would have thought it could actually be kept?

"Your servant negotiated with the Azure Cloud Sect for a long time and firmly refused to agree to the Azure Cloud Sect's excessive terms. After your servant argued his case with reason, the Azure Cloud Sect finally agreed to yield. Aside from the Spirit Stones and resources I brought with me, the remaining portion need only be repaid within ten years.

"However, the Azure Cloud Sect also proposed a condition. They wished to sell Talismans, magical treasures, and other goods produced by Azure Cloud within our Cloud Mountain Empire. Your servant thought this would also benefit our Empire. Furthermore, since Azure Cloud had yielded, we needed to yield as well, so your servant agreed without authorization. I ask Your Majesty to forgive my offense."

The Emperor smiled. "My dear minister has rendered great service through hard work. What offense is there? You handled this matter very well. We shall reward you."

The Prince of Southern Peace said with a bitter smile, "Your Majesty, your servant has not yet finished reporting. Azure Cloud is quite willing to follow the Rules. Although they will sell goods within our Empire, they are willing to pay taxes and ask only that we grant them some preferential treatment. Also, were we not previously mining within the Azure Cloud Sect's territory... Azure Cloud has agreed to continue cooperating with us. Furthermore, perhaps because they found their discussions with your servant agreeable, they have agreed that if there are people in your servant's family with aptitude for Immortal Cultivation, they may be sent to Azure Cloud, where they are willing to train them."

"Ah?" The Emperor smiled even more happily. "Since you negotiated this, you shall continue to handle the cooperation! Tell the Azure Cloud Sect that We are not a stingy person either. All taxes on the goods they sell in the future will be waived."

How much could those taxes possibly be worth?

Besides, if the Azure Cloud Sect did not pay taxes, did they dare take action against them? The Heavenly Profound Sect had never paid taxes either—did they dare collect from it? Since that was the case, they might as well be generous.

"As for sending disciples to pursue Immortal Cultivation... make your own arrangements." At this point, the Emperor gave a strange smile. "However, We also have two candidates here. Send them to Azure Cloud together under the name of your descendants!"

Previously, they could only secretly send people there. Now they could openly send people there—why not?

Next, the Prince of Southern Peace carefully reported to the Emperor everything he had seen of the Third Prince's conduct at the Azure Cloud Sect.

When the Emperor learned that the Third Prince had suffered such tremendous humiliation, a protective affection arose in his heart for the Third Prince.

He was naturally very reassured by a prince who had already embarked on Immortal Cultivation.

He simply had not expected that this prince had undergone advanced study in the arts of power and was no longer the same.