I Was the Crown Prince; Why Couldn't I Fight for the Throne?

The Devil Sect had entered the capital?

Jiang Changsheng was not worried. Instead, he asked, "Where does Ghost Eye Evil King rank within the Devil Sect?"

Chen Li replied, "Aside from the sect master, the Devil Sect has two deputy sect masters. Below them are the Seven Evil Kings and the Eighteen Envoys. Ghost Eye Evil King is at least among the top five. When he attacked Dragon Arising Temple before, he had been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison and was severely injured. His strength was actually less than half of what it was at his peak. The methods used in the Heavenly Prison are difficult for even martial arts experts to endure."

And that was only fifth place?

Jiang Changsheng began to look forward to the Devil Sect's arrival. Of course, when facing Devil Sect experts, he would not let down his guard.

He had to go all out. He could not develop a complacent mindset. Against any enemy, he had to kill them as quickly as possible.

Jiang Changsheng warned himself inwardly, and his gaze grew resolute.

Seeing the change in his expression, Chen Li assumed he was afraid. "If you're worried, you can stay temporarily with my Chen family. No matter how powerful the Devil Sect is, they surely wouldn't dare attack a High Official's residence."

Jiang Changsheng shook his head. "Thank you for the kind offer, but I have to remain for Dragon Arising Temple's sake. Don't worry."

Chen Li stroked his beard and smiled. "That's true. Four years ago, you were already able to kill Ghost Eye Evil King. How strong must you be now? Tsk, tsk, I wouldn't dare imagine it."

Jiang Changsheng answered modestly, and Chen Li began discussing other matters.

First, he spoke of the martial world. At the beginning of this year, a young genius had emerged in the martial world. At sixteen, he had mastered a divine art and stepped into the ranks of Peerless Experts. Now, he had even become the leader of a sect, which had been renamed the Returning Origin Divine Sect!

The Great Jing Dynasty valued martial prowess. Such a gifted young talent naturally attracted the favor of court nobles and influential figures. It was said that more than ten clans had already sent people to win over the Returning Origin Divine Sect's leader.

Chen Li said disdainfully, "In my opinion, the true young genius is you, Changsheng. Before you, any genius pales into insignificance."

Jiang Changsheng shook his head with a laugh. "I don't want to be any sort of genius. I only want to experience peaceful years on the mountain."

"Peaceful years... what a wonderful 'peaceful years'!"

Chen Li praised him. Ever since Jiang Changsheng had begun carrying a whisk in his hand, Chen Li felt that the youth had become increasingly detached from the mortal world. He even possessed more immortal grace and Dao Bone than Taoist Priest Qingxu. If there truly were a young immortal in this world, he should be like this.

As they chatted, Chen Li began recklessly criticizing court affairs again, fiercely complaining about the emperor.

Jiang Changsheng even suspected that he was about to rebel.

Although Jiang Yuan had treated Jiang Changsheng unfairly, this realm belonged to the Jiang family. Naturally, Jiang Changsheng would not help others overthrow his own family's empire.

After chatting for half an hour, Chen Li took his leave. Before he departed, Jiang Changsheng brought out several sheets of paper listing various medicinal ingredients and asked Chen Li to help find them. Chen Li accepted them directly and said he would do his utmost.

Jiang Changsheng intended to refine Youth Preservation Pills and an antidote to the Devil Sect's poison. The Second Prince, Jiang Ming, had previously sent him many medicinal ingredients, but they were far from enough.

Alchemy combined with the Spring and Autumn Medical Canon truly made a perfect match. The Spring and Autumn Medical Canon contained many prescriptions, though not many involved cultivation—only a scant few, one of which was the Youth Preservation Pill.

Jiang Changsheng had no desire to spend his long life growing old.

Night fell, and Jiang Changsheng continued practicing.

White Dragon climbed onto the windowsill and quietly gazed at the moon. Beneath the moonlight, its snake body gave off a faint glow.

The next day, the two Daoist children whose memories had been altered by the Illusory God Eyes came to visit. Jiang Changsheng felt guilty toward them, so he taught them the Qi Finger technique.

Although Qi Finger was a martial art of the Chen family, Chen Li had never forbidden him from passing it on.

From then on, the two little Daoist children often came to visit Jiang Changsheng. He also gave them names: the boy was called Wan Li, while the girl was called Ming Yue.

Another autumn arrived.

Because the emperor had left, the capital became even livelier than before. More merchants and escort teams came and went, and naturally, there were more cases as well.

Chen Li, who had recently been working at the capital's government office, felt utterly exhausted. He was not yet thirty, yet he already bore the weathered air of a man in his forties. It showed most clearly in his hair, more than half of which had turned white, while his brows were filled with worry.

Jiang Changsheng was quite concerned that Chen Li might suddenly die from overwork, but there was no way to persuade him otherwise.

"The Yang family and the Hong Family are openly and secretly fighting each other. Each is recruiting civil and military officials, and they have even begun recruiting martial world experts. It seems the capital is about to erupt into conflict. Perhaps they were the ones who brought in the Devil Sect, using revenge through the Devil Sect as an excuse to seize the chance to eliminate their opponents."

Chen Li sighed, weighed down by worry.

Jiang Changsheng said, "Then the Chen family must be careful."

Chen Li shook his head. "The Chen family has not taken sides. Besides, the family head is the High Official of Revenue. Who would dare touch one of the Six High Officials? The ones being targeted are merely the claws and fangs of each faction."

Jiang Changsheng thought that made sense and did not offer any further warning.

Chen Li had come this time mainly to deliver medicinal ingredients. There were over a hundred kinds, with nearly ten portions of each. Two large chests had to be carried up the mountain. Of the ingredients Jiang Changsheng had listed, Chen Li had prepared ninety percent of them. His sincerity was plain to see.

After briefly speaking of the undercurrents in the capital, Chen Li hurriedly left.

Jiang Changsheng began sorting through the ingredients. He now had all the materials for the Youth Preservation Pill. As for Taoist Priest Qingxu's antidote, he still needed to examine his injuries carefully.

Then Jiang Changsheng left his room and went to visit Taoist Priest Qingxu.

Taoist Priest Qingxu rarely showed his face these days. He had completely handed all major and minor affairs to Meng Qiushuang. He remained in his quiet little courtyard, sitting beneath a tree, though no one knew whether he was practicing or contemplating life.

Jiang Changsheng came before him, bowed, and said, "Master, this disciple has recently gained some insight into medicine and alchemy. Would you be willing to let this disciple examine your injuries?"

Taoist Priest Qingxu did not open his eyes. Instead, he raised a hand and pulled back his sleeve, revealing a horrifying arm. His entire forearm had turned pitch-black, and the blood vessels, like long worms, had begun to turn purple.

Jiang Changsheng stepped forward and examined it carefully.

Taoist Priest Qingxu said, "Changsheng, have Chen Li's recent conversations with you had any ulterior motive?"

Jiang Changsheng replied, "No. Every time he comes, apart from bringing gifts, he only talks about miscellaneous matters. He has never taught this disciple to do anything, nor has he asked this disciple to act for him."

Taoist Priest Qingxu gave a soft grunt, then continued, "The Chen family has a complicated background. In the court, they are not accepted by any faction. That is why I allowed him to associate with you. But the Chen family is a double-edged sword. If you do not grasp it properly, they may drag you into the abyss."

"This disciple knows that they served as officials under the previous dynasty. I understand."

"It is good that you understand. From childhood until now, I have not especially taught you much. Yet seeing you as you are today, I am very gratified. Neither of the two imperial sons succeeded in winning you over. It seems you already have your own thoughts, rather than merely seeking the truth."

Taoist Priest Qingxu smiled, looking exceptionally kind and benevolent.

Jiang Changsheng stared at him and could not help asking, "Master, could you tell me about your old story with His Majesty?"

At those words, Taoist Priest Qingxu fell silent.

Though the master and disciple did not lay everything bare, they both understood without speaking.

"Alas, back then, I had not yet become a Daoist, and the emperor was not yet emperor. We were fellow villagers. When our city was breached, our families were brutally slaughtered. Only he and I escaped. The world knows only that I rendered merit in saving the emperor, but little do they know that before I began practicing martial arts, he was always the one protecting me..."

Taoist Priest Qingxu opened his eyes and gazed at the leaves above, sinking into endless remembrance.

Jiang Changsheng listened intently, wanting to understand what kind of person Jiang Yuan was.

In Taoist Priest Qingxu's story, Jiang Yuan had been brave and loyal. When facing desperate situations, he dared to stake everything on one throw. He had also possessed great personal charisma. Wherever he went, he could gather a group of fiercely loyal followers. After gaining the Yang family's support, Jiang Yuan rose completely.

However, after Jiang Yuan founded the nation and proclaimed himself emperor, he changed.

"That day, he stood atop the Heaven-Reaching Platform in the imperial palace, looking down at the civil and military officials below, at the mighty army, as though he were looking down upon All Living Beings. He displayed every ounce of an emperor's majesty. Amid the sea of people, I noticed a change in his eyes. He changed. His gaze shifted from pride and joy to worry and wariness. At that moment, I knew Jiang Yuan was gone. In his place stood the Great Emperor Kaiyuan, whose ambitions soared higher than the heavens."

"Since ancient times, emperors have been lonely men. That same trait has appeared in His Majesty today. His sights are not fixed upon the present realm, and what he expects of his imperial sons is by no means ordinary father-son affection. What he wants is the world; what he fights for is ten thousand years."

As Taoist Priest Qingxu spoke to this point, an intense admiration unexpectedly seeped into his tone.

Jiang Changsheng understood the meaning beneath his words.

The old Daoist priest was speaking on Jiang Yuan's behalf!

Come to think of it, in eighteen years since his birth, Jiang Changsheng had only met Jiang Yuan once. He had never truly interacted with him.

Taoist Priest Qingxu shook his head and smiled. "Everyone wants to become emperor, but who knows the hardships of being emperor? Disciple, if you became emperor, what kind of emperor would you be?"

Jiang Changsheng shook his head with a smile. "This disciple does not know how to be emperor, nor does this disciple wish to become emperor."

Taoist Priest Qingxu gave him a meaningful look.

The story was over, and Jiang Changsheng had finished examining him, so he rose and took his leave.

Taoist Priest Qingxu watched him depart, as if trying to see through his heart.

With his back to Taoist Priest Qingxu, Jiang Changsheng's lips curled upward.

An emperor?

It truly made one's heart race!

I was the Crown Prince. Why couldn't I fight for this throne!

That mad thought in Jiang Changsheng's heart began to sprout.

Jiang Yuan might have a thousand reasons and ten thousand positions, but none of them gave him the right to toy with Jiang Changsheng's life!

"Since you can deceive heaven and cross the sea, then I'll do the same. Let's see whose methods are more brilliant."

Jiang Changsheng thought silently.

At the third level of the Dao Follows Nature Skill, he could easily kill a Peerless Expert. By the fourth level, he should at least be able to fight a Heaven-Reaching Expert to a draw. Since he had never seen a true Heaven-Reaching Expert, Jiang Changsheng had to overestimate his opponent.

Once I reach the fifth level, I'll go meet the Heaven-Reaching Expert in the imperial palace!

At the turn of summer and autumn, the capital suddenly grew desolate. The cause was a plague. Those infected all suffered weakness in their limbs and became irritable. If they argued with others, they could easily become so enraged that their hearts were attacked by fury, their five viscera and six bowels ruptured, and they died in agony.

The disease spread with terrifying speed. Jiang Changsheng had been busy refining Youth Preservation Pills and Taoist Priest Qingxu's antidote during this period and had not left his courtyard. He only learned of the plague when Qing Ku told him.

Dragon Arising Temple had already closed its gates and was no longer receiving visitors.

Jiang Changsheng did not think much of it. They only had to endure it. He even began looking forward to the survival reward after the plague passed.

On this day, he finally refined three Youth Preservation Pills. He consumed one, and from then on, his youth would remain forever, his appearance fixed at eighteen.

He did not know how long the Youth Preservation Pill's effects would last. In any case, if changes began to appear, he could simply take another Youth Preservation Pill.

Taoist Priest Qingxu's antidote was somewhat troublesome. According to the prescription in the Spring and Autumn Medical Canon, he was still missing one medicinal ingredient. However, he was not in a hurry. There were still three years left.

The introduction was merely a gimmick and a general overview. The things that could happen over three hundred years could not be written in an introduction, but the descendants would certainly be the protagonist's descendants. Keep reading and you will find out!

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