[Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.]
[The situation in the capital of the Great Yong Dynasty had undergone earth-shattering changes.]
[The voices supporting Ye Yu in the court were growing louder and more numerous.]
[This turn of events was completely unexpected to everyone.]
[The princes truly couldn't understand how someone who merely threw around money and spirit stones could attract so many ministers to his side.]
[This was not only puzzling to them but also to Emperor Ye Kuiliang.]
[Some high-ranking officials, after reaching a certain position, no longer cared about money and spirit stones.]
[So why did they choose Ye Yu?]
[Ye Kuiliang immediately ordered an investigation.]
[Three days later, after reviewing the investigation results, Ye Kuiliang's expression became grave.]
[In his view, Ye Yu, who only threw money and spirit stones around, had already successfully transformed.]
[Throwing money directly was the most inferior method.]
[Ye Yu's favorite approach was to cater to their preferences.]
[For those who liked spiritual pets, he sent the very best.]
[Refused?]
[He would kill a pet in front of you and bring another the next day.]
[Still not satisfied?]
[Then he would kill again.]
[Forget about value; if the minister doesn't like it, it's a sin of the spiritual pet.]
[Antiques and martial arts techniques were treated the same way—take them if you want, destroy them if you don't.]
[Being proactive was extreme!]
[The more difficult a minister was, the more Ye Yu was determined to deal with them.]
[Some said they didn't want to participate in the princes' struggles.]
[Ye Yu would immediately respond that there was no need for their participation in the struggle; sending gifts was entirely due to valuing their integrity.]
[He simply wanted to make friends.]
[Anyone who became a minister wasn't a fool.]
[With such direct talk, what else could be said?]
[Moreover, a scholar would die for a true friend.]
[If a prince could show such respect and humility, then why not support him in a fight?]
[Thus, more and more people gathered around Ye Yu.]
[After reading the investigation report, Ye Kuiliang stood by the window for a long time.]
[His gaze was very complex.]
[Ye Yu's actions, though seemingly wasteful, had actually maximized the allure of money and spirit stones.]
[Perhaps this kid could indeed buy his way to the position of crown prince.]
[In reality, Ye Kuiliang had overthought it.]
[Ye Yu was simply a prodigal.]
[After years of exploration, he discovered that directly giving spirit stones to ministers did not trigger his prodigal talent.]
[So Ye Yu began to change his tactics.]
[He started purchasing items that were grossly overpriced but not worth the cost, and gave them to different people according to their preferences.]
[Only when they accepted these gifts would Ye Yu trigger his prodigal talent.]
[If someone refused the items, he would be even more delighted.]
[Because at that moment, Ye Yu would personally destroy the expensive items he had bought.]
[This approach proved extremely effective.]
[His cultivation progressed rapidly.]
[Ye Yu also enjoyed the process immensely.]
[In just ten years, he had reached the peak of the Golden Core realm, only one step away from the Nascent Soul realm.]
[To conceal his true abilities, Ye Yu specially bought a high-priced concealment spiritual artifact.]
[He wore it daily and never made a move.]
[Only in this way could he freely indulge in his wasteful practices.]
[However, in recent years, there were very few people with true character.]
[This greatly disappointed Ye Yu.]
[So, one night a few days later, Ye Yu suddenly looked up.]
[Since he had almost finished winning over the ministers, he would focus on the princes next!]
[They must be the most distinguished ones.]
[When the time came, whatever they refused would be destroyed on the spot.]
[The saying goes well, I use my hands to fulfill the dream of being prodigal!]
[In the following days, Ye Yu sought out the Eighteenth Prince, continuously sending gifts.]
[Such enthusiasm immediately reminded the Eighteenth Prince of Ye Yu's methods.]
[He was infuriated on the spot, and refused all the gifts sent.]
[Even though these were items he longed for but could not obtain.]
[Ye Yu, being rejected, was not angry but delighted.]
[He immediately began destroying these items at the Eighteenth Prince's doorstep.]
[It was a sight that made people feel heartbroken.]
[And this operation by Ye Yu spread throughout the entire Great Yong Dynasty in just half a day.]
[Everyone thought Ye Yu had gone mad.]
[Addicted to wasting money, huh?]
[Starting to bribe his own brothers?]
[They had been striving for the title of crown prince since birth.]
[How could it be swayed just by money?]
[When a certain censor under the First Prince learned of this matter, he immediately went to the palace to accuse Ye Yu.]
[But the accusations failed, and he ended up receiving a beating.]
[What business is it of yours if brothers exchange gifts?]
[Ye Kuiliang's attitude left everyone astonished.]
[Is he now so biased? Ignoring even formal accusations?]
[Even if you pretended to tell them you would reprimand Ye Yu as before, it would still be some sort of explanation.]
[But now, you don't even bother with pretense.]
[Ye Kuiliang's actions made many princes feel disheartened.]
[At the same time, the ministers aligned with Ye Yu began celebrating.]
[At this point, is there still a need to fight for the position of crown prince?]
[They had served the emperor for hundreds of years but had never seen him show such leniency to anyone.]
[Such behavior represents Ye Kuiliang's attitude.]
[What else is there to say? Let's celebrate!]
[However, in the Zhou Manor of the Great Yong Dynasty, Zhou Baiwan was still calculating accounts late into the night.]
[To be honest, over the years, Ye Yu's frequency of withdrawing money had increased so much that Zhou Baiwan was barely managing.]
[But seeing victory was in sight, Zhou Baiwan had already resolved to endure, no matter the cost!]
[He was determined to see the Zhou family's descendants ascend to the throne!]
[Even if it was a grandson rather than a direct descendant!]
[Half a month later, the Eighteenth Prince compromised.]
[He accepted Ye Yu's gifts.]
[This action left Ye Yu quite perplexed.]
[What happened to the backbone?]
[The Eighteenth Prince told Ye Yu that he knew in his heart that, given the current situation, he was no longer in contention for the crown prince position.]
[So he would no longer resist and hoped Ye Yu would show him favor once he became emperor.]
[Ye Yu's expression instantly became incredibly strange.]
[Eight years later.]
[Seven princes had already expressed their abandonment of the crown prince position to Ye Yu.]
[Everyone believed that in a few decades, Ye Yu would definitely conquer all the princes and become the crown prince.]
[And at this moment...]
[Ye Kuiliang voluntarily abdicated and announced that Ye Yu would become the new emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty.]
[By this year, Ye Yu had already reached the peak of the Divine Transformation realm.]