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Hua Yan Street, the vast and majestic Prince Cheng Mansion stood here, like a grand fortress.
Within the mansion, in the elegant study.
"Rest assured, Your Highness, there’s an opportunity to persuade those Guest Elders. Tianxing has already spoken with them and informed them of Your Highness’s intentions. The majority have agreed, based on the recent news from the mansion, there should be no issue this time."
Qi Tianxing stood respectfully in front of the desk, reporting to the calm Twelfth Prince who was leisurely flipping through a book.
"However..."
At this point, he hesitated a bit and said, "Elder Gu, being the head of the Guest Elders, holds another Purple Golden Cicada. It’s unclear if he will choose me."
"No need to worry," the Twelfth Prince said with a faint smile, "Within the entire Duke Heng Mansion, I’m the most familiar with Gu Mingru. He appears to be steady and seems to never make mistakes, but in reality, he is weak in character, fearful, and hesitant. It’s just that he doesn’t want to bear responsibility and only seeks stability, giving people such an impression."
Qi Tianxing was taken aback.
"Gu Mingru has been stuck at the Three Talents Heaven Barrier for probably three hundred years now."
The Twelfth Prince shook his head and laughed, "With his realm, he has long understood the Heaven and Earth Law but has not dared to Harmonize, not daring to take that step because he fears that his Dao Heart cannot bear his Dao, afraid of death, that’s all."
Qi Tianxing said in surprise, "I thought Elder Gu couldn’t break through..."
"The myriad ways of nature, everything lies within heaven and earth. Harmonization means there’s no Dao that can’t be harmonized, only a Dao Heart that cannot bear the Dao."
The Twelfth Prince said flatly, "Someone with such cowardly weakness in their heart, what Dao can they bear? They’re merely relying on life-extending Treasures to live longer."
"Ordinary people naturally cannot compare with Your Highness," Qi Tianxing said respectfully.
He naturally knew that the Twelfth Prince was the reincarnation of the legendary Myriad Poison Demon Ancestor. Though of the Demon Path, it was just an alternative Dao.
Legend has it that the Myriad Poison Demon Ancestor made a great vow to use supreme poison to make the heavens weep blood and kill all Mutant Beasts and the Demon Clan of the Eternal Night, willing to sacrifice everything, thus considered Demon Path.
Such great obsession, such Dao Heart, naturally entered Saint with ease, to bear his heart, to bear his Dao.
"So, no need to mind Gu Mingru."
The Twelfth Prince continued flipping through the book in his hand, speaking calmly, "I support you, which in itself pressures him. Do you think he fears the Seventeenth Brother more, or respects me more?"
"The Seventeenth Prince has yet to develop his influence, naturally respects Your Highness more," Qi Tianxing said.
The Twelfth Prince said casually, "With his nature of seeking stability, even if the support is equal between you and Qi Yinmo, he would choose you."
"Thank you, Your Highness, for the guidance. Now Tianxing can also be at ease," Qi Tianxing said with a bow.
"No need to be so humble."
The Twelfth Prince glanced at him, shook his head with a smile, and said warmly, "You are the future Duke Heng, your status is not much different from a Prince, stand tall."
"The grace of Your Highness’s assistance, how can Tianxing forget?" Qi Tianxing shook his head slightly.
Just then—
"Your Highness!"
A somewhat urgent voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Amidst the quick footsteps, a withered old man with knitted brows walked into the study, bowing, "Your Highness, just now, the informant from Duke Heng’s Mansion brought bad news."
The Twelfth Prince remained calm and just asked, "Is there a change with the Jade Cicada on the plum tree?"
"Yes."
The withered old man said, "The informant in Duke Heng’s Mansion said just within less than an hour, three Red Blood Cicadas consecutively left Young Master Tianxing’s plum tree, switching to Qi Yinmo’s tree, and a new Red Blood Cicada also chose Qi Yinmo’s plum tree!"
He glanced at Qi Tianxing and said, "Currently, Young Master Tianxing’s plum tree has twenty-one buds, while Qi Yinmo’s has forty-eight."
"What?"
Qi Tianxing was stunned, murmuring, "Impossible... how is this possible? Those Guest Elders clearly promised me, it was agreed upon, how could they go back on their word?"
The withered old man said, "Interests move the heart, since they are changing sides, naturally the Seventeenth Prince offered a higher bid."
Qi Tianxing found it even harder to believe, "How could it be? The conditions those Guest Elders asked for were high, especially the Minister Elders. I dared to agree only with Your Highness’s support, but what does the Seventeenth Prince have? Would even figures like the Main Hall Master casually grant a disciple a large amount of Treasure?"
"...Logically, no."
The withered old man frowned as well, "Figures like the Main Hall Master have their sights set on the entirety of the Human Clan. Even if impulsively accepting a disciple, providing the best cultivation environment is already good enough, why would they grant a large amount of Treasures?"
The Twelfth Prince pondered briefly, then suddenly chuckled, "Unexpectedly, my Seventeenth Brother, a Prince from common folk, has such means. Truly surprising."
"Your Highness, what should we do?" Qi Tianxing couldn’t help but ask anxiously.
"I cannot publicly take action for you."
The Twelfth Prince glanced at him, continued flipping his book, and said calmly, "I’ve done what I should have done. Aside from waiting for the results, there’s no need for any additional action. I’ve never underestimated my Seventeenth Brother. As long as it doesn’t cross the line, I’ve tried my best. If paying an even higher price is needed, it’s not worth it."
Qi Tianxing was once again surprised, murmuring, "Your Highness means, to give up?"
"If you are not resigned, go try." The Twelfth Prince said without lifting his head, "You may paint a picture of future benefits as Duke Heng and see if those Guest Elders are willing to take it."
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