Five years passed in the Black kingdom, and the tale of the so-called Weak Prince continued to weave itself into the fabric of Nanshan's tumultuous history. Tian Yu, the third prince, outwardly bore the mantle of insignificance. In public, he was the picture of mediocrity—lacking the martial aura of his elder brothers or the political shrewdness of the royal court. But behind this unassuming facade, a tempest of ambition churned.
From the moment Zhang Wei, his Nascent Soul subordinate, began operations, the Shadow Lotus Information Agency spread its tendrils like a silent specter. Within the span of two years, it had established footholds in every major city of the Kingdom. By the end of five years, its reach extended into the neighboring Tier 4 Spirit-grade kingdoms, infiltrating even the volatile Central Continent.
Rumors whispered in the darkest corners of taverns spoke of Shadow Lotus agents who could uncover the secrets of kings and nobles. For the right price, they provided intelligence, blackmail, and even assassinations. Their reputation soared when a Central Continent king fell to their blades—a death orchestrated with such precision that no evidence was left behind.
Through these covert operations, Tian Yu amassed wealth and influence, creating an empire in the shadows.
On Tian Yu's eighth birthday, a new venture took shape. The Yunxiao Commerce Guild, presented as a subsidiary of a distant immortal faction, emerged with startling confidence. Its supply chains overflowed with pills, cultivation techniques, and artifacts of shocking quality. What startled the world most was their audacious claim of having access to Divine-grade treasures.
The guild's credibility solidified during an extravagant auction, where a Divine-grade sword technique—the first of its kind on Celestara in centuries—was unveiled. The technique's revelation sparked a frenzy, with sects, kingdoms, and factions vying for control.
In the ensuing chaos, alliances fractured, wars erupted, and bloodlines were extinguished. Tian Yu watched from the shadows, his lips curled into a cold smile. The auction had served its purpose: to destabilize the balance of power and plant the Shadow Lotus as the ultimate beneficiary of conflict.
By the age of ten, the Yunxiao Commerce Guild had become synonymous with unattainable riches and unparalleled power. Its reputation spread across Nanshan, and whispers of its connection to an immortal realm only heightened its allure. Those who investigated its origins met silence—or the Shadow Lotus' blades.
Amid his successes, Tian Yu's personal life was marked by tragedy. His mother, Consort Lan, fell victim to a vile poisoning attempt.Tian Yu spent countless nights at her bedside, his calm demeanor masking a deep, simmering rage.
On one such night, Tian Yu vowed silently: "When the time is right, I will unmask you all."
The Black Dragon Kingdom, once a proud power, was now a Tier 4 Spirit-grade kingdom, ranking among the weaker nations on the Nanshan Continent. Its neighbors—coalitions of Spirit and Earth-grade factions—had long eyed its lands. For two years, King Tian Zhao waged war against them, seeking to defend his crumbling borders.
Though victorious in small skirmishes, the kingdom suffered grievous losses in resources and manpower. As the war dragged on, the factions within the royal court grew restless, each seeking an opportunity to seize control during the chaos.
In his chambers within the Commerce Guild's central branch, Tian Yu sifted through reports. He remained a picture of serenity, his movements precise and deliberate. Before him lay documents detailing the latest acquisitions of the Shadow Lotus and projections for the next auction.
As he read, a trusted agent approached, kneeling before him.
"Your Highness, news from the frontlines." The agent's voice was low, tinged with urgency.
Tian Yu looked up, his calm gaze betraying no emotion. "Speak."
"King Tian Zhao has fallen. He was ambushed on his return from the southern borders. His entourage was overwhelmed by assassins believed to be from the Emerald Frost Alliance. His body... was recovered by surviving soldiers."
For a moment, silence filled the room. Tian Yu set down the document in his hand, his expression unreadable.
"An ambush," he murmured. "Convenient timing, wouldn't you say?"
The agent hesitated. "There are whispers that factions within the court may have played a hand. The Emerald Frost Alliance does not typically operate this far south without... incentive."
Tian Yu's lips curved into a cold smile. "So the vultures are circling already."
He rose from his seat, his bearing regal despite his youth. "Summon Zhang Wei. It's time to prepare for the next phase."
"Yes, Your Highness."
As the agent departed, Tian Yu's gaze turned toward the horizon, his thoughts unfathomable.
"Father's death changes nothing. The throne was always mine to claim. Let them plot and squabble. I will remind them why the Shadow Lotus is feared."
Though the world knew him as the Weak Prince, Tian Yu's actions behind the scenes painted a different story. His information network spanned continents, his commerce guild disrupted economies, and his assassins eliminated obstacles with surgical precision.
At only ten years old, Tian Yu was no longer the insignificant third prince of The Black Dragon kingdom. He was a phantom orchestrating chaos, a shadow building an empire, and a boy poised to reclaim his birthright.
As the chapter of his father's reign closed, Tian Yu's journey to the throne—and beyond—began in earnest.