Ninth Prince

Jade Capital, Evergreen Temple.

Heavy snow drifted through the air, blanketing everything in silver.

The sky was dim, the clouds pale, the cold light bleak.

The Daoist temple's side chamber was antique and elegant, incense curling through the air.

A youth of sixteen or seventeen sat upon a yellow meditation cushion.

His bare upper body was covered in densely packed silver needles.

The silver needles quivered, pulsing at a mysterious rhythm, like the sound of the Great Dao.

Seven glass lamps patterned with chi dragons stood around the cushion in the formation of the Seven Stars, resonating with the qi of heaven and earth.

Outside the array stood a middle-aged Daoist in black-and-white robes. He held a silver needle in his right hand, his brows slightly furrowed and his expression grave.

A moment later.

The youth within the array slowly opened his eyes.

After putting on his shirt, Fang Heng felt that his body had grown somewhat lighter.

"Thank you, Master, for treating my injuries."

"Unfortunately—the Seven Stars Life Extension Array treats the symptoms, not the root cause."

"It cannot remove the Ten Absolute Poisons from within your body, my disciple."

Daoist Xuanqing sighed and slowly shook his head.

"Master, there is no need to blame yourself. I have long grown used to this over the past decade or so."

Fang Heng gave a self-mocking laugh. Not only was he not disappointed, he even consoled Daoist Xuanqing instead.

The Ten Absolute Poisons within his body had been carried over from his mother's womb.

If they could truly be cured, then with his status as the Ninth Prince, why would he have ended up like this?

Sixteen years ago, he had transmigrated here.

It had happened just as his mother was giving birth. The Emperor had suffered an assassination attempt, and his mother had stepped forward to take a palm strike for him.

Although the Yinglong Guard had arrived in time and slain the assassin,

the Ten Absolute Poisons had still passed through the bloodline between mother and son, remaining in his body like a festering disease clinging to the bone.

Removing the Ten Absolute Poisons was difficult, yet not difficult.

As long as he could cultivate to the Ninth Realm, the Ten Absolute Poisons would heal without treatment.

In the present age, the mainstream paths of cultivation were Martial, Daoist, and Buddhist.

Because of the assassination attempt during childbirth,

Fang Heng's martial bones had shattered, dooming him to be unable to practice martial arts.

Nor did he possess immortal roots, so he could not cultivate the Dao.

As for keeping the ancient Buddha's blue lamp for company?

The Ten Great Dao Courts were deeply entrenched in the Great Qian Dynasty.

How could they permit those bald donkeys from the west to extend their hands into the imperial family?

All three paths of cultivation had been blocked.

Unwilling to let Fang Heng meet an Early Death, his mother searched everywhere and found a sliver of hope.

Evergreen Master, the founding patriarch of Evergreen Temple, had originally been a woodcutter in the mountains.

By a twist of fate, he had obtained a Life-Nourishing Art.

After ten years of bitter cultivation, he perfected the Life-Nourishing Art and actually condensed immortal roots after birth.

Later disciples of Evergreen Temple had tried to emulate their patriarch, yet not a single one had succeeded.

Still, the legend had been passed down.

Clinging to the hope of trying her luck, his mother had carried the swaddled Fang Heng to Evergreen Temple and apprenticed him to Daoist Xuanqing.

For the past sixteen years, Fang Heng had come to Evergreen Temple every month.

Using the Seven Stars Life Extension Array, he drew vitality into his body to suppress the Ten Absolute Poisons.

As for perfecting the Life-Nourishing Art and condensing immortal roots after birth?

He had not even seen a shadow of it.

More than once, Fang Heng had suspected that Evergreen Temple had deliberately gilded the face of its founding patriarch.

Leaving the cultivation chamber, he entered the outer room, took a sip of spirit tea, and moistened his throat.

Daoist Xuanqing stroked his beard, suddenly shifting the subject to the war at the Northern Border.

"Disciple, have you heard the news of the war at the Northern Border?"

"Master, do you mean Shang Hongye's crushing victory at Wind and Snow Pass and her recovery of three thousand li of lost land?"

Fang Heng set down his teacup and spoke calmly, the war at the Northern Border surfacing in his mind.

"Precisely!"

"A tiger father truly had no dog daughter!"

"Shang Hongye is indeed Prince Zhenbei's daughter. In military strategy, she is likely no worse than Prince Zhenbei himself."

Daoist Xuanqing's brows danced with excitement as he sighed in admiration and praised her repeatedly.

Prince Zhenbei was foremost among the Great Qian Dynasty's four great kings of different surnames.

He had guarded the Northern Border for sixty years, commanded a million troops, and wielded towering authority. Among the common people, he was known as the Military Sage.

Every few years, Great Qian's mortal enemies, the Northern Barbarians, invaded the Northern Border, leaving devastation in their wake.

This year, Shang Hongye had marched north, shattered Wind and Snow Pass, and reclaimed lost territory.

The entire nation rejoiced. It was immensely satisfying, and there were even faint signs that she might become the next "Military Sage."

"News has come from the palace that Shang Hongye is to enter the capital and choose a husband."

"What a pity. Such a fierce general will be trapped within Jade Capital."

Daoist Xuanqing slightly furrowed his brow, a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice.

Fang Heng had long heard that Shang Hongye would enter the capital to choose a husband.

It was his imperial father's decree.

A nakedly open scheme.

It was called choosing a husband, but in truth, she was a hostage!

If their positions were exchanged, and he were his imperial father, he would have done the same.

Shang Hongye was young and brilliant in military strategy. Now that she had rendered great merit, her reputation stood high.

One family, two Military Sages.

No Emperor could endure that.

Summoning Shang Hongye to the capital and having her choose a husband was a masterful move by Emperor Yuanchu.

Confine her within Jade Capital, blunt her edge, and temper her will.

Once she bore imperial blood and formed ties of attachment, she would count as half a member of the imperial family.

Only then could they rest easy allowing her to lead troops beyond the capital.

Every civil and military official in the court understood this calculation perfectly.

Thus, the range of Shang Hongye's possible husbands was actually extremely narrow.

She could only choose from among Emperor Yuanchu's sons.

"Master, do you wish to seek justice for Shang Hongye?"

"Hahaha—quite the opposite!"

"Shang Hongye's arrival in the capital is a heaven-sent opportunity for you, my disciple!"

As soon as those words fell, Fang Heng was briefly stunned before immediately realizing

what Daoist Xuanqing meant by a heaven-sent opportunity.

Fang Heng's expression shifted twice, turning rather strange.

"Master, do not go randomly pairing mandarin ducks."

"Shang Hongye may be excellent, but she is a hot potato now."

"A few days ago, the Eastern Palace even released word that the Crown Prince thought of her by day and dreamed of her by night."

"He dreamed of Shang Hongye, fell in love at first sight, and wished to grant her the position of secondary consort."

"If the Crown Princess had not come from one of the Ten Great Dao Courts and possessed such a powerful background, I fear Eldest Brother would have been willing to offer even the position of Crown Princess for Shang Hongye."

Fang Heng hurriedly took a sip of fragrant tea to calm his shock and steady his emotions.

That woman Shang Hongye was entangled in far too much. He could not afford to get involved with her.

"The Crown Prince?" Daoist Xuanqing shook his head, revealing a teasing smile. "Absolutely impossible!"

"If the Eastern Palace and Prince Zhenbei joined hands, hehehe... your imperial father would likely be too frightened to eat."

Fang Heng nodded slightly, agreeing with Daoist Xuanqing.

If Prince Zhenbei, who held heavy military power, joined hands with the Crown Prince,

that picture would be far too beautiful!

"However..."

"Even if Eldest Brother has no chance, there are still several other imperial brothers."

"Second Brother possesses an Innate Sword Bone and the bearing of a sword immortal."

"Third Brother's sinews and bones are like dragons, able to pull up mountains with strength that overwhelms the world."

"Fourth Brother has a Divine Firmament Thunder Body. With the thunder arts of heaven and earth, there is nothing he cannot do."

"Fifth Brother is Seven Orifices Exquisite, possessing the ability to remember everything at a glance and infer three things from one."

"These imperial brothers are dragons and phoenixes among men. All of them would make fine matches."

Fang Heng continued his analysis.

Whether in talent or in their maternal families' backgrounds, these imperial brothers far surpassed an inconspicuous figure like himself.

Daoist Xuanqing gave a mysterious smile and spoke in a certain tone.

"The mothers of these princes all came from the Ten Great Dao Courts."

"If it were any of these princes, the Crown Prince would not agree."

"He would certainly do everything in his power to ruin their marriage alliance."

"The current situation in court is unstable!"

Fang Heng fell silent.

Whenever he thought of the shifting clouds and treacherous waves of court politics, his head began to ache.

When the Founding Emperor of Great Qian established the dynasty, he left behind eight words of true doctrine.

The Emperor and the sects shall share the realm!

The sects throughout the realm were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river, beyond counting.

Only the Ten Great Dao Courts had passed down their inheritances without interruption, deeply rooted and firmly established.

The mothers of every Great Qian Emperor throughout the generations had come from the Ten Great Dao Courts, without a single exception.

Therefore, succession to the Great Qian throne did not follow the ancient Huaxia system of inheritance by the eldest legitimate son.

Instead, the strong were honored. The capable rose, while the incapable fell.

Thus, every struggle for the throne was marked by bloody winds and foul rain.

The Ten Great Dao Courts all entered the fray, supporting their own princes.

In a sense,

from the moment Fang Heng was born, he had been destined to become an idle Prince.

Because his mother came from a military family and had not the slightest connection to the Ten Great Dao Courts.

Fang Heng still remembered that, several years ago, rumors had spread from the palace.

Emperor Yuanchu disliked the Crown Prince, berating him as harsh and unkind, devoid of the bearing of a sovereign.

From then on, many princes had begun to stir restlessly, hoping to replace him.

Even the factional struggles in court had grown increasingly fierce.

Daoist Xuanqing took a sip of spirit tea and explained the matter in an unhurried manner.

"Disciple, after excluding the Crown Prince and all the princes born to the Ten Great Dao Courts,"

"has your hope not increased enormously?"

"This matter has great potential!"

"Master, my life will not last long. I do not even know how many more years I can live. Why should I delay someone else?"

Fang Heng shook his head and sighed. He had no interest in the matter whatsoever.

"Hehe!"

"For Shang Hongye, someone whose life will not last long might even be better."

Fang Heng was speechless, yet he also felt that Daoist Xuanqing was right.

Shang Hongye truly might take a liking to a sickly prince like him.

After all, his greatest virtue was that he posed absolutely no threat.

But...

Fang Heng was unwilling!

Shang Hongye was plainly at the center of a whirlpool.

Once he was swept in, he would no longer be able to control his own fate.

Fang Heng only wanted to be an idle Prince and enjoy a few more years of comfort.

"Master, you must not make things worse while trying to help."

"A woman like Shang Hongye is more than this disciple can handle."

Fang Heng waved his hand and hurriedly spoke, hoping to dispel Daoist Xuanqing's intention to interfere.

Daoist Xuanqing sat beside Fang Heng, patted his shoulder, and spoke earnestly.

"Disciple, young people should act like young people."

"You're so lifeless all day long. How are you like a young man?"

"A young man should be high-spirited."

"Drink the strongest wine, ride the finest horses, sleep with the most beautiful women."

"Only then will you have lived up to the glory of your youth."

"Shang Hongye is hailed as the foremost beauty of the Northern Border, and she's a peerless genius of her generation. Do you really not want a woman like that?"

Seeing Daoist Xuanqing's wicked grin, Fang Heng suddenly asked a question.

"Master, who is more beautiful—Mistress or the courtesan Guanguan?"

"Shh—shh—"

"Keep your voice down. Don't let your mistress hear you."

Daoist Xuanqing's expression changed drastically, his face full of anxious worry.

The next instant, a woman's cold snort came from outside the room.

"Who is Guanguan?"

"Come out here and explain yourself."

Daoist Xuanqing instantly looked as though his parents had died.

He glared at Fang Heng, seeming to say—

Disciple, you've killed your master!

Fang Heng spread his hands and gave his master a look of helplessness.

Leaning back with his hands behind his head, Fang Heng stared up at the sky, a trace of loneliness on his face.

"Sixteen years!"

"It's been sixteen years since I transmigrated!"

"I wonder how my parents are doing?"

"I hope the study materials on my hard drive haven't been discovered."

"Death is a small matter; losing one's chastity is a grave one!"

For these sixteen years, Fang Heng had been afflicted by a virulent poison.

At first, he had still placed his hopes on a golden finger.

But by now, he no longer held any hope.

Just then—

Suddenly!

A tremendous boom rang out in his mind.

It came fast and without warning.

Utterly abrupt.

Like the toll of a great bell, it shook the heart and soul.

Within his sea of consciousness, heaven and earth overturned as winds and clouds surged.

In the boundless darkness—

A dazzling, mysterious golden light tore through the void.

Like a blazing great sun in the firmament—

It illuminated his entire sea of consciousness, turning night into day.

Then, before Fang Heng's astonished eyes—

An ancient scroll slowly unfurled.

Vast and boundless, stretching without end.

As though it could blot out the heavens and cover the earth, swallowing his entire sea of consciousness within it.

Profound, ancient, weathered, and eternal, its undying aura rippled out from the scroll.

A torrent of information surged into his mind like ten thousand galloping horses.

"Fate Map?!"