Hearing Duke Yushan's words, Lu Yin's heart skipped a beat in surprise. "Me?"
Duke Yushan nodded. "That's right. The fourth one is you. You have the qualifications to become the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire."
Lu Yin blinked. "Brother, please don't joke around. I'm just a leisurely prince, not even part of the Yushan family. How could I possibly be qualified? Please don't say such things."
Duke Yushan smiled as he gazed at Lu Yin. "I'm not joking. Do you know what my father said to the Undying Zishan duo before they ventured into the inner universe?" He paused and then continued slowly, "He said, 'This time, if we don't die, the empire will be half yours and half mine. The Great Yu Empire belongs not only to the Yushan family but also to the Zishan family.'"
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes and stared back at Duke Yushan. Then he smiled and took a bite of his food. "It tastes pretty good."
Duke Yushan withdrew his gaze. "If you like it, eat more. My subordinates were thoughtless. I apologize on their behalf."
Lu Yin understood that he was referring to Sikar but didn't mind. "Brother, do you have any concrete information on when the Tenth Academy of the Stars will arrive?"
Duke Yushan shook his head. "I don't. In the entire Great Yu Empire, there's only one person who might have that information—my fifth sister, who is also your nominal fiancée."
Lu Yin rolled his eyes. He had looked into Princess Wendy Yushan, his so-called fiancée. Fiancée? She wouldn't even spare him a glance. She didn't even care about the Great Yu Empire.
With a thud, a Void Ring was thrown on the table. Duke Yushan stood up. "As your elder brother, consider this a meeting gift. Don't disdain it. I'll take my leave now."
Lu Yin's eyes brightened. This was indeed a good item. He trusted Duke Yushan wouldn't give him anything subpar.
Duke Yushan smiled and was about to leave but suddenly said, "There are rumors of a treasure in the Zishan family. You might want to look for it. Who knows, you might find something unexpected." After speaking, his figure vanished.
Holding the Void Ring in one hand, Lu Yin's eyes flickered. A treasure? What did Duke Yushan mean by that? Was he suggesting Lu Yin look for it? That was a joke. The Undying Yushan had never mentioned the treasure, clearly not wanting others to touch it. Looking for it would be a death wish. This was a trap, thinking Lu Yin was greedy. The royal family members indeed had a knack for digging traps.
While eating the side dishes, Lu Yin checked the Void Ring. His eyes lit up. Inside was a suit of armor, likely at least at the Fusion Realm. Good stuff, Duke Yushan was indeed generous, but too scheming.
But he hadn't expected that the Zishan family also had a claim to the throne. Was Sikar suppressing him because of this? Impossible. Even if he had a claim, it didn't mean he could succeed. Facing the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, what did he have to compete with? They had been entrenched in the empire for hundreds of years; no one would take him seriously. Then why was Sikar always targeting him? Could it be because of the Zishan family?
Duke Yushan had apologized on Sikar's behalf, clearly indicating Sikar's actions were his own. Or was Sikar supported by someone other than Duke Yushan?
"Bronsen," Lu Yin called out calmly.
A figure emerged from the void behind him. It was Bronsen. "Your Highness."
"Have you ever heard of the Zishan family treasure?" Lu Yin asked.
Bronsen replied solemnly, "I've heard of it. It's a story from hundreds of years ago. In recent years, no one mentions it anymore."
"Do you know anything about Sikar? Does he have any old grudges with the Zishan family?" Lu Yin asked again.
Bronsen shook his head. "I don't know."
Lu Yin pondered. The waters of the Great Yu Empire ran deep, especially with the Undying Yushan growing more frail. Rumor had it his old wounds had flared up, and he might not live much longer. How would this battle for the throne end?
But for now, it had nothing to do with him. By then, he might be at the Tenth Academy of the Stars.
After sitting for a while, Lu Yin left the tavern and returned to Zishan Manor.
The manor housed many books but no combat techniques, likely taken by the Zishan family. Lu Yin focused on finding books about breaking through to the Fusion Realm.
The Fusion Realm was a turning point for cultivators. A person's future accomplishments could be judged from their Fusion Realm, as many books had noted, but Lu Yin didn't understand what it meant.
To him, the path to becoming stronger involved only realms and combat techniques. What else was there?
"Bronsen, have you been to the Inner Universe?" Lu Yin asked.
Bronsen shook his head. "No."
Lu Yin felt it was a pity. The Inner Universe was vastly more powerful than the Outer Universe. He had stayed in the Inner Universe but had been confined to one place, gaining little understanding of it, and knew nothing about the Fusion Realm.
Should he ask the Undying Yushan? Lu Yin shook his head. Even if the emperor cared for him a bit, he wouldn't let Lu Yin pester him about everything. The Crown Prince Doran Yushan seemed gentle, but he was as scheming as Duke Yushan. Besides these people, who else was there? Mira? It was best not to contact her. Too much contact would reduce his value.
"Are you considering how to break through to the Fusion Realm?" Bronsen asked, rarely taking the initiative to speak.
Lu Yin shook his head. "Breaking through to the Fusion Realm will happen naturally. I'm considering the essence of the Fusion Realm's strength."
Bronsen pondered. "In the Great Yu Empire, strength fundamentally lies in combat techniques. But I've heard that in the Inner Universe, there's a force called 'battle energy' that is extremely powerful."
Lu Yin's eyes lit up. Battle energy, he had heard of it. Those who love battle must have spirit, which becomes battle energy. It comes from within, originates in the heart, stems from the body's essence, and can attack, defend, break limits, crush the heavens, and tear the stars.
It was an incomprehensible power. Anyone could possess it, but not everyone could awaken it. He had heard about it several times in the Inner Universe and remembered it deeply. Unfortunately, there was no method to cultivate battle energy in the Outer Universe. Even in the Inner Universe, such methods were top secrets, more confidential than the Body Tempering Technique.
Bronsen had likely heard of battle energy due to his status, but knew nothing more.
Lu Yin gazed at the starry sky and the Third Ring Continent. His eyes flashed. How could he forget about the Heavenly Beast Claw?
To learn the first twenty forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw, he needed the approval of the Five Hall Masters. Thinking of this, Lu Yin opened his personal terminal to contact Grice, hoping she could persuade Golbahar to allow him to learn the Heavenly Beast Claw, but he stopped. Given Grice's personality, he thought better of it. It would be good if she didn't mess things up for him.
Helpless, Lu Yin had to personally, as a member of the Universe Hall, request permission from the Five Hall Masters to learn the first twenty forms of the Heavenly Beast Claw.
Tian Ming was the first to agree. He had already agreed during the Body Tempering Pool event. He was easy to talk to.
The second to agree was Locke Ang.
The third to agree was Huo Chong.
Huo Chong was from the Huo family. Lu Yin didn't expect him to agree. He thought the Huo family would be hostile because of the Huo Xiaoling incident.
Golbahar and Shuz didn't agree, which was disappointing but expected. He was only trying his luck by applying. Getting three approvals was already good.
How to get the remaining two to agree? That was the question.
Just then, Lu Yin received a notification that Golbahar wanted to meet him.
Lu Yin was surprised. Golbahar wanted to see him? His first thought was Grice. She must have complained. Otherwise, why would Golbahar want to see him?
It was fine. He was worried about how to get Golbahar's approval anyway. Meeting might reveal his thoughts.
Without delay, Lu Yin set off for the First Ring at night. For cultivators, the distinction between day and night wasn't clear. Not sleeping for several days was normal.
Golbahar's sub-hall was far from the Body Tempering Pool. It took nine hours from Zishan Manor with the latest flying device, which was already fast. For ordinary people, it would take several days.
The First Ring had a vast lake, or rather, a sea. It was so blue that it could be seen from True Universe Star. Its area far exceeded Earth's total surface. In the center of this sea was Golbahar's sub-hall.
A huge tower layered upon itself, with people occasionally flying across the sky. Creatures roamed the sea below, sometimes attacking the tower but being instantly obliterated.
Here, star-walking experts were stationed.
Lu Yin flew directly towards the tower, looking down
to see Universe Hall students hunting creatures on the sea surface.
At the top of the tower, inside a spacious stone room, a young man opened his eyes and looked outside, grinning.
Bronsen was stopped outside the tower. Lu Yin, as a Universe Hall member, could enter.
The tower was extremely high, piercing the clouds. Inside, many Universe Hall students moved about, curiously watching Lu Yin.
The Universe Hall gathered the Great Yu Empire's elite youth. Every member was exceptional and a future competitor.
Lu Yin reached the tower's center and looked up. The stone stairs spiraled upward. To ascend, one had to climb; flying was against the rules.