Star Sky Professional

"Any secret realm may have guardians and realm spirits..."

"This Transcendence Secret Realm is so extraordinary that it can move its entrance to evade the pursuit of Dao Lords and Dao Venerates, which clearly makes it even more exceptional..."

Fang Xing was very calm, after all, he was merely a cultivation avatar.

Moreover, now that he could sever any connection with his true self through the Gate of All Heavens, the worst outcome was nothing more than death.

"Wrong time, wrong place, wrong person!"

A grand, vast voice echoed.

Clouds gathered to form a special face: "However... you still entered, this is the great ability of a Transcender!"

The face was evidently a bit fearful.

To forcibly send someone into the Transcendence Secret Realm, it was hard to imagine how powerful the existence behind Fang Xing was.

Perhaps, it had already surpassed the original Transcender who arranged the inheritance!

"I apologize for the presumptuous intrusion... I just want to obtain an innate spiritual treasure."

Fang Xing said politely.

"Just an innate spiritual treasure? You really are polite... ever since that cultivator took away the 'Tai Chi Diagram', no one has been able to take an innate spiritual treasure from the secret realm..."

The cloud-faced figure seemed to smile: "However, I am willing to give you this opportunity... like all inheritors, to receive the gift, you must first undergo a test."

"Alright."

Fang Xing nodded, he was now a Primordial Spirit Dominator with the combat power of a one-step Dao Lord.

This was like the Loose Cultivator of Yiling reaching the threshold set by the Sky-reaching Platform; as long as it was a test set for the Primordial Spirit Realm, with even a slight possibility of passing, a Primordial Spirit Dominator would definitely pass.

And as long as it was a True Immortal test, he would definitely pass!

At least, he was quite confident!

"Hehe..."

The realm spirit of the Secret Realm suddenly laughed: "Whether mortal, cultivator, True Immortal, Dao Lord, or Dao Venerate... those who enter the Transcendence Secret Realm face the same test... my master doesn't care about your qualifications, comprehension, or even luck, and fate... he set up the secret realm just to assess 'character'!"

"Character?"

Fang Xing was a bit surprised: "How is this assessed?"

"It's simple, once you choose to enter the test, I will seal your memory, cultivation, and turn you into a mortal entering another world... afterwards, it's all up to you to showcase your abilities."

The realm spirit of the Secret Realm smiled: "Although your memory will be sealed, your instincts and character remain... and that is the test."

Since the entrants would have their memories sealed, it didn't mind 'giving away the questions'.

"Indeed, an interesting test."

Fang Xing nodded.

He considered himself a seasoned veteran of Secret Realms, having encountered all sorts of tests.

Tests of combat power, foundations, comprehension, and so on... innumerable challenges.

Unexpectedly, this time's Secret Realm inheritance was quite intriguing, testing 'character' with deliberately obscured memories.

"Come on."

He nodded.

"Are you ready? Hmm... failing the test does not result in death, but you have such a formidable backing that brought you in here, obviously with high expectations."

The realm spirit of the Secret Realm nodded.

In an instant, Fang Xing disappeared.

In the Secret Realm, not to mention a mere Primordial Spirit Dominator, even the four-step Dao Lord of the top Dao or an eternal existence, it did not regard them highly.

Handling a mere True Immortal was naturally an easy task.

"But... could this one be the person my master has been waiting for?"

A hint of anticipation flickered in the eyes of the realm spirit of the Secret Realm...

...

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The nine-tiered palace halls opened one after another.

The sound of the night watch faintly came through.

In Daqian, the Eastern Palace of the Crown Prince.

"Now... what time is it?"

The Daqian Crown Prince 'Li Rubi' inquired.

"Reporting to Your Highness, it is the third watch..."

An old eunuch in a purple robe lowered his voice, seemingly unwilling to disturb the night's tranquility.

The palace maids and young eunuchs serving nearby were even more discreet, observing decorum, and not making a sound, seemingly blending seamlessly into the corners and walls of the study room.

They would only appear when summoned by the Crown Prince.

"The third watch already!"

Li Rubi stood with his hands behind his back, walking out of the study into the outside world.

He had a full Heavenly Court, a face like jade, moving with the elegance of a dragon, exuding an indescribable majesty.

This was the future ruler of the sixteen provinces of the two capitals, the Crown Prince of Daqian.

The Crown Prince arrived at a high platform and said, "I wish to be alone in solitude, you need not follow..."

"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The palace maids holding lanterns and the guards with swords bowed, and only the purple-robed old eunuch was holding a pure white fox fur coat in his hands: "Your Highness, it's late at night, the dew is heavy, take care of your noble body..."

Li Rubi waved his hand, seemingly indifferent.

'Alas... could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince is troubled by the inspection criticism today?'

The old eunuch looked at the back of the Crown Prince and cursed inwardly: 'Back when His Highness was in his prime, how dare just a censor? It's all Prince Tai's fault...'

...

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The breeze blew gently, and the ancient starry sky, free from any pollution, was bright and dazzling.

Li Rubi, or rather Fang Xing, exhaled a long breath: "Where have I ended up this time?"

Clearly, he had not had his memories sealed.

This might be because he was merely an avatar, with the main consciousness still intact.

The main body also had the attribute panel for protection, immune to the Secret Realm's law sealing, and was connected to the Gate of All Heavens, which essentially made it a 'cheat.'

"Cheating is nice, using cheat codes in games is my favorite."

Fang Xing nodded secretly, sorting through the memories of 'Li Rubi.'

'The Daqian Dynasty was established less than thirty years ago. The Founding Ancestor was Li Rubi's father—Li Bianlong. This man was a remarkable figure, having experienced countless battles, led four thousand cavalry, and shattered the sixty thousand-strong army of the Xia King, pacifying the chaotic times in one swoop, establishing the dynasty... His civil and martial prowess were unparalleled, and after founding the dynasty, he implemented light taxes and registered citizens... There were only just over two million households at the start of the dynasty; now the population has grown to 3.27 million households. Under the reign of 'Jingde', perhaps the history books will note it as the 'Reign of Jingde'?'

'As for this Crown Prince 'Li Rubi', he is the legitimate son of Li Bianlong, who had a harmonious relationship with his wife. Much of his early success relied on the support of his wife's family, and they had three sons and four daughters together, though many died unfortunately, leaving only the youngest son, 'Li Rubi', who was titled as Prince of Wei and was advanced to Crown Prince as he came of age...'

This Li Rubi had a rather good childhood, not only did his parents love each other, and his siblings were harmonious, but he was also the Crown Prince, and his maternal family was solidly supportive. Fortune tellers even said his features indicated immense nobility, with a dragon and tiger's presence, and a celestial demeanor.

But in the twentieth year of Jingde, the Empress passed away, and in the twenty-third year, the Crown Prince's uncle, the chief noble of the military, Duke Yingguo 'Zhang Yang', died from an old ailment, leaving the Crown Prince without support, and he fell into depression...

With the emperor's other sons, Prince Tai and Prince Kang, gradually reaching adulthood, rumors spread that the emperor intended to change the heir. The Eastern Palace was in a state of panic. The Crown Prince once tried hard to accomplish something, yet the more he did, the more mistakes he made, even being criticized by inspectors repeatedly for 'improper conduct', 'frivolous behavior', 'writing errors in memorials, suspected of disrespecting the Emperor' and so forth...

By now, the entire Eastern Palace seemed like it was decorated with flowers, but in reality, it seemed to have fallen into a deadlock.

"Heh heh..."

After digesting the memories, Fang Xing glanced towards the 'Diligence Hall' in the Imperial Palace and let out a cold laugh, naturally understanding the root cause.

All and everything rested solely with Emperor Li Bianlong. Without the Emperor's tacit approval, would the few brothers dare to compete with the Crown Prince? Would simply a censor dare to trouble the Crown Prince?

'Li Bianlong was immensely heroic, raised an army at fifteen, and pacified the kingdom by twenty, his intelligence and martial prowess were absolute. Now, at only forty-six, he diligently works every day, reviewing memorials until the middle of the night, and still favors palace beauties. Just this year, he has added a brother and three sisters to Li Rubi's family...'

'A Crown Prince is naturally seen as dividing the power of a king. Such a strong and ambitious ruler, with grand plans, cannot tolerate power slipping away.'

'Even if it's his son, it cannot be tolerated!'

'Not to mention, the Crown Prince was previously too strongly associated with his maternal family and was secretly used by nobles to contend with the emperor...'

'The more capable the Crown Prince, the harder the position, and the closer to death!'

'Where in the world is there a forty-year Crown Prince?'

'Uh... naturally, there are cases, but under constitutional monarchy, the emperor's power is limited... completely different from current feudal centralization.'

'Being merely reprimanded presently, Li Rubi is already lucky; it will only get increasingly miserable from here, even possibly being dethroned like Emperor Kangxi's crown prince...'

'Especially such heroic and mighty rulers, the older and more tyrannical they become, the harder they are to deal with... Slight dissatisfaction can cause disaster!'

As cultivators near their demise, they may even become 'longevity demons'!

The ancient emperors, with nearly unlimited power, approaching death, how unpredictable their actions become.

'So... is this the test of my temperament?'

'What should I do next?'

'If indulged in pleasures, awaiting doom, it's evident there'll be no favorable judgment...'

'This Secret Realm seals memories, testing one's instincts... and thereby testing one's temperament.'

'How to break the deadlock?'

Fang Xing pondered: 'To accomplish something, one must first know what power one has?'

'This world, hm? This world... not only lacks law fluctuations but even repels the Power of Dao, truly a pure 'non-magic' world?'

'Though there are Taoists and monks, there is no superordinary capability, even the bravest in the army without armor, surrounded by a few strong men with weapons, will fall instantly...'

'Power of Dao, isn't it supposed to adapt to the world with it? It can only mean the Transcenders possess extraordinary means, even able to imprison Dao Master Realm, or even Eternal Realm?'

Fang Xing's heart sank halfway.

Without extraordinary power, the emperor, no matter morally, righteously, or even powerfully... could easily crush him!

His strongest military power was merely five Eastern Palace guard squads, just two hundred and fifty men, and how many of those were actually trustworthy? While they might protect the Crown Prince diligently usually, to rebel or something, they would probably first capture the Crown Prince himself!

'Then... it's better to display loyalty, as Li Rubi still has some father-son connection with the emperor. By communicating sincerely, showing intentions, and willing to cut ties with the maternal family and other noble interest groups, displaying an aura of a wise ruler, enduring for ten or several decades, there's a chance to succeed in the succession.'

After all, he had already regained his memory, which was the biggest cheat tool.

Be it steelmaking or agriculture, as long as productivity develops, there are benefits to attract people, becoming a 'wise Crown Prince.'

Li Bianlong, after all, being the founding Great Emperor, has the heroic spirit inherently. Among all sons, the Crown Prince is the strongest and the rightful successor, why not pass the throne?

'Only, over ten, several decades, there are too many variables, a slight change might cost me my life!'

'Also must be meticulously cautious, reverent and respectful, isn't that tiresome?'

'Once the emperor ages and weakens, a plot in the palace, or a fake Imperial Decree... could easily lead me to my demise, such endings have been plenty in history...'

'Why should... my life and death rely on someone else's whims?'

'No matter what you are, you threaten my safety, and you will die!'