How Could He Compete?
After Zhuo Ning's influence on the nation's National Fortune was triggered, the next step was for the two remaining princes who were unable to attend.
The twenty-seventh prince's National Fortune were equally dazzling, though only to a degree comparable to those of the fourth prince.
This situation was basically expected by everyone with common sense.
The 27th prince indeed had an advantage over any other prince because of his powerful backing.
However, despite his strong advantages, he could not directly translate them into the National Fortune.
Even if his uncle, the emperor of the Dao One Immortal Kingdom, could support him without limit.
They dispatched all sorts of unparalleled masters to him.
However, these experts still essentially belong to the Dao One Immortal Kingdom.
Unless the Twenty-Seventh Prince can utilize these experts to contribute to the Blazing Sun Immortal Kingdom, or they directly pledge allegiance to the Twenty-Seventh Prince.
Otherwise, no matter how many experts are sent, it won't improve the Twenty-Seventh Prince's National Fortune in the slightest.
However, on the other hand, even the Immortal Emperor of the Dao One Immortal Kingdom would treat Six-Tribulation Loose Immortal like the one who helped the Twenty-Seventh Prince with utmost respect.
Why would he possibly serve a mere twenty-seventh prince?
They were only able to come and help because of Immortal Emperor Daoyi's influence.
Therefore, if it weren't for this Barbarian Clan invasion, the ways in which Immortal Emperor Daoyi could have helped the Twenty-Seventh Prince obtain the National Fortune would have been truly limited.
Normally, the most they would do is to boost trade between the two countries through the efforts of the 27th Prince.
After all, the Immortal Emperor of the Blazing Sun Immortal Kingdom was no fool; he was still wary of the immortal kingdom that his son was backed by.
It was only because this happened to coincide with the Barbarian Clan invasion that the Immortal Emperor, adhering to the principle of making the best use of resources, tacitly approved the twenty-seventh prince's act of relying on experts from other countries.
Otherwise, the entry of Six-Tribulation Loose Immortal into the realm could be directly classified as an act of inciting conflict.
The moment the Crown Prince's National Fortune appeared, everyone present fell silent.
Although the dazzling light of the National Fortune Great Sun could not compare with that of the Immortal Emperor, it was far stronger than that of the other princes.
If a comparison must be made, then one can only say that the fates of the National Fortune held by the eldest prince and the other princes are not on the same level.
Even though Zhuo Ning's National Fortune had already surpassed that of the Fourth Prince and the Twenty-Seventh Prince.
But compared to the eldest prince, he would instantly pale in comparison.
The eldest prince truly lives up to his reputation as the God of War of the Immortal Kingdom.
Even before the Immortal Emperor ascended the throne, he, as the then grandson of the emperor, had already begun leading the Immortal Kingdom's army in campaigns across the north and south.
This situation did not improve after the Immortal Emperor ascended the throne; on the contrary, it worsened.
Having become the eldest prince, he had become almost obsessed with leading troops into battle.
Out of his affection and trust for the eldest prince, the Immortal Emperor did not stop him.
On the contrary, they fully supported the eldest prince's actions and granted him sufficient military power.
This eldest prince did not disappoint the Immortal Emperor's expectations; he was invincible in both offense and defense, and had never been defeated in hundreds of years.
Centuries of fighting for the country have brought this eldest prince National Fortune far exceeding that of other princes.
Seeing the fate of the National Fortune being jeopardized by the Crown Prince's blood, even Yi Xuan felt a sense of powerlessness.
This achievement was earned honestly and fairly through hard-fought battles, without any involvement of conspiracies or tricks, which made Yi Xuan feel extremely troubled.
Even if Yi Xuan could quickly improve Zhuo Ning's National Fortune by targeting ordinary people.
But this improvement will take time!
The gap between Zhuo Ning and the First Prince is now obvious.
No. 01 quantified the National Fortune situation shown by the Great Sun, and found that even if Zhuo Ning and Yi Xuan continued to advance according to the current plan...
By improving the quality of life of the people of the Blazing Sun Immortal Kingdom in three areas—agriculture, healthcare, and education— Zhuo Ning's National Fortune can be enhanced.
It would take at least seven or eight years for them to catch up with the current eldest prince.
Don't forget, Zhuo Ning's National Fortune is rising, the Crown Prince's National Fortune won't stagnate.
And now we're also fighting off Barbarian Clan!
Assuming the Barbarian Clan retreat within two years, it would take Zhuo Ning at least fifteen years to completely surpass the First Prince in terms of National Fortune.
Fifteen years!
Zhuo Ning can wait!
Yi Xuan can wait too!
But the Immortal Emperor couldn't wait any longer!
Let alone fifteen years, Yi Xuan the Immortal Emperor's current condition, it's hard to say whether he can even live to see the next New Year!
Finally, the royal ancestral worship ceremony concluded amidst cheers from the people.
Each prince, harboring their own secret thoughts, hurriedly returned to their respective immortal abodes.
As for the National Fortune of the First Prince and the Twenty-Seventh Prince, special personnel would be sent to the front lines to report on their situations.
"How could the National Fortune of the nation be so extraordinary for the eldest prince?"
Upon returning to the Immortal Abode, before even sitting down, Yi Xuan grabbed Zhuo Ning and asked a question.
Zhuo Ning shook his head with a wry smile, "It's always been like this! My eldest brother has fought for the Immortal Kingdom for hundreds of years, achieving numerous military exploits. Naturally, the National Fortune is incomparable to that of ordinary people!"
It's no wonder Zhuo Ning didn't tell Yi Xuan about these things before.
Yi Xuan is really too blindly confident!
He believed that no matter how much these so-called princes of the Immortal Kingdom did for their kingdom, there would be a limit to the National Fortune they could obtain.
After all, how much power can a prince possibly possess?
Throughout history, how many princes have been suspected by their emperors?
Even cases of patricide and regicide are not uncommon, Yi Xuan does not believe that the Immortal Emperor would be without any precautions against his sons!
But who could have imagined that he would actually let his guard down against this eldest prince?
The maximum support provided to him enabled the eldest prince to reap such extraordinary National Fortune over several centuries.
Upon seeing Yi Xuan's serious expression, Zhuo Ning, who was standing to the side, actually burst out laughing, "Hey, actually, the situation isn't as bad as you think!"
"What's the meaning?"
Yi Xuan looked at Zhuo Ning, puzzled.
"Actually, because my eldest brother has always been obsessed with leading troops into battle, he has absolutely no interest in governing the country! He has even stated to our father more than once that he has no interest in the throne."
"Is that so?"
"That's right!" Zhuo Ning nodded and said, "Almost everyone in the Immortal Kingdom knows about this situation. Otherwise, would we princes be crazy? Knowing there's no hope, why would we still compete? Besides, when I returned to the Immortal Kingdom, my father made this very clear!"
After hearing this, Yi Xuan felt much more at ease.
However, no one can say for sure about these things until the very last moment!
What if the First Prince suddenly changes his mind, or what if all his previous actions were just a smokescreen?
Therefore, the key is to be far ahead in terms of National Fortune.
Thinking of this, Yi Xuan quickly asked Zhuo Ning to describe the National Fortune in the previous year.
Although he didn't know what Yi Xuan was going to do, Zhuo Ning still summoned Lin Li and asked him to use Imaging Technique to show Yi Xuan the state of Zhuo Ning's nation's National Fortune from the previous year.
Looking at the National Fortune Great Sun of the prince who was even worse than the one who ranked last this year in terms of Imaging Technique, Yi Xuan silently asked No. 01 to quantify it in his heart, and then waited for No. 01 to give Zhuo Ning the final National Fortune growth situation for this year!