Chapter 750: Second Prince

"Young Master Meng, it's been three years since we last met, hasn't it? I often hear tales of your prowess from the storytellers in the Imperial City." The Second Prince, Jiang Zhu, stood tall and imposing. He smiled as he lightly patted Meng Jingzhou's shoulder, like a long-lost friend.

"You two know each other?" Lu Yang considered this and realized it made sense; who in the Imperial City didn't know Meng Jingzhou?

Meng Jingzhou secretly transmitted a message to Lu Yang: "Back when I was making a name for myself in the Imperial City, I beat up his younger brother—his full brother, same mother and father. That's how we met."

Lu Yang thought, 'Goodness, he truly lives up to his reputation as the Imperial City's ruffian, even beating up princes.'

"Presumably, these two are Tao Yaoye, who invented the 'Dream Bubble,' and Man Gu of the Ancient Barbarian Tribe. And this person is..." The Second Prince hesitated when he saw Li Haoran.

Tao Yaoye and Man Gu frequently went out on missions, so the Second Prince easily gathered information about them. However, Li Haoran rarely left the sect, so the Second Prince didn't recognize him. Su Yiren had called him "Haoran" at the Immortal Appraisal Convention, not his full name.

"I am Li Haoran, a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect."

"Ah, so you are Fellow Daoist Li Haoran. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"And this, then, must be Fellow Daoist Su Yiren, the hermit. Please, everyone, quickly take a seat."

The Second Prince saw Su Yiren holding Li Haoran's wrist and remembered the news he'd heard at the Immortal Appraisal Convention. He looked at Li Haoran with a strange expression, but his good upbringing allowed him to quickly conceal it.

"May I ask, Your Highness, what brings you to seek us out?" Meng Jingzhou had interacted with the Second Prince before and knew that an invitation like this surely implied a purpose.

"Nothing at all. It's merely that we, as citizens of Great Xia, happened to meet in the East Sea. We're simply here to catch up and enjoy some East Sea delicacies."

Meng Jingzhou thought to himself, 'I'll believe your tall tale. Your three large ships are full of Great Xia cultivators; do you really need to come over to catch up with us?'

Man Gu, hearing that the purpose was so simple, buried his head in his food. Although the taste wasn't as good as the white crucian carp he'd eaten before, the variety was excellent. Eating different kinds would be a broadening experience.

"I've heard that Fellow Daoist Lu Yang is a disciple of the Silent Daoist, and your spells and swordplay are exceptional, allowing you to contend with the so-called Young Cult Master Lu. You've also served as acting sect leader twice. Truly, your future is limitless! Many cultivators in the Imperial City look up to you as a role model!"

Lu Yang humbly replied, "Your Highness is too kind. It's all due to my own efforts; it has nothing to do with my master."

The Second Prince's eyelid twitched slightly. He didn't know how to respond to that.

"I heard Your Highness came to the East Sea this time to search for an immortal elixir of longevity. Have you found any clues?"

The Second Prince smiled, "I just visited the Lord of Penglai Island and heard a few secret stories from him. It's possible an immortal elixir of longevity exists."

"We are also concerned about His Majesty's health. If needed, we can assist Your Highness in finding the elixir."

"I appreciate Fellow Daoist Lu Yang's kindness, but immortal elixirs grow in harsh environments. If something were to happen to you, I'm afraid it would be difficult to explain to the Dao Seeking Sect."

"It's no problem. We immortal sect disciples all have means of self-preservation. Your Highness needn't worry about our safety."

With the conversation reaching this point, the Second Prince couldn't very well refuse Lu Yang and the others' offer of help.

"Then I thank you all for your kind intentions."

Lu Yang and the others, having been invited by the Second Prince, voluntarily boarded the ship.

"These three ships must have cost a fortune. It seems Your Highness is very well prepared for this elixir hunt in the East Sea."

The Second Prince sighed, looking worried: "Although my eldest brother claims no interest in the throne, no one knows if he's being sincere or not. And my third brother is also eyeing the imperial seat with great ambition."

"Imperial Father is the pillar of Great Xia. If he falls, it will inevitably trigger a struggle for the throne, plunging Great Xia into chaos."

"While I have no desire to contend for the throne, nor do I wish to see siblings turn against each other, I have come to sea for this very reason. If this East Sea expedition can yield an immortal elixir of longevity to extend Imperial Father's life, then these three ships will be a small price to pay."

"I've met the Eldest Prince twice before, and from his demeanor, he doesn't seem interested in the throne."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou had seen the Eldest Prince, Jiang Qun, once at the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony, where he used the alias Xia Qun and served as the Deputy Governor of Qingzhou. They had also seen him at the Dao Seeking Sect's celebration, where he represented Great Xia.

"Some say that my eldest brother is merely biding his time, secretly accumulating power. There are even rumors that Imperial Father's remaining lifespan is short and that it's somehow connected to my eldest brother."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged glances. It seemed the affairs of the Imperial City were more complex than they had imagined.

The Second Prince suddenly realized the topic had become rather heavy, and he had said too much—things Lu Yang and the others shouldn't know. Changing his mood, he chuckled, "Alright, why dwell on such matters? The East Sea boasts a vast and magnificent scenery. There's no need to think about these bothersome things."

The large ship set sail, its canvas unfurled. The vast blue sky and the deep sea seemed to merge at that moment, forming a seamless vista where sky met ocean. On the surface of the sea, sunlight scattered like broken gold, creating shimmering waves that reflected a dazzling world of light and shadow. Gazing at it for a long time could indeed soothe the mind.

However, Lu Yang felt nothing for the beauty of the East Sea. His mind was currently filled with the East Sea's waters and an immortal-level mermaid swimming wildly within them.

"Might this be Young Friend Lu Yang?" An old man appeared silently beside Lu Yang.

Earlier, when Lu Yang watched the Second Prince disembark, all the surrounding attendants were in the Body Integration stage. Only this old man was unfamiliar to him, leading him to suspect the man was at the Tribulation Transcending stage. Now, he heard the Immortal Fairy confirm that the other party was indeed at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

"And you are?"

"This old man is Cang Mingzi. I once had the good fortune to exchange blows with Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi."

Lu Yang understood immediately. No wonder this venerable Tribulation Transcending elder was so polite to him, even calling him "Young Friend." It turned out he had been defeated by his Senior Sister.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi has cultivated for merely a thousand years, yet she has already reached a transcendent and saintly realm. It truly makes this old man feel ashamed."

"Senior Cang Ming is jesting. Countless people envy your level of cultivation."

"It's merely something I've slowly accumulated over time. As Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi's junior brother, and possessing such outstanding talent, you are surely destined for a prominent place in this grand era's struggles."

Cang Mingzi, seeing the flourishing young Lu Yang, felt a wave of emotion. He then walked away, hands behind his back, shaking his head slightly.

"What do you make of it?" Meng Jingzhou suddenly asked Lu Yang without context, sending the message telepathically.

Lu Yang sighed, replying telepathically as well: "The Second Prince wants to befriend us too much. If I'm not mistaken, we might encounter a shipwreck soon."

Although the Second Prince tried hard to appear uninterested in the throne, he had just said he wasn't sure if his eldest brother would contend for it, and then added that his third brother was also eyeing the imperial seat. That "also" indicated that the Second Prince himself coveted the throne.

Meanwhile, he and "Old Meng" were, respectively, the future Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect and Senior Sister Yun Zhi's junior brother, and the eldest young master of the Meng family. If the Second Prince could win them over, the throne would be as good as his.

A quick way to deepen friendship, naturally, was to encounter a danger and survive it together.

"I wonder if he'd still dare to try and win us over if he knew we were both from the Heavenly Court Cult."