I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 420 - 269: Rongniang’s Aura

That night, Li Jizhou once again consolidated all the information of Prince Yun’s Mansion.

Unfortunately, despite having suspicions, there were still no clues to be found.

There are only two possibilities: one is that I guessed wrong, and the Ninth Prince’s birthday coinciding with Prince Yun’s reemergence is just a coincidence.

The second is that Prince Yun knows the gravity of the matter and has been very cautious, leaving no trace.

"If this matter can be confirmed, we can completely manipulate Li Yuan to perform Soul Searching... No, the cultivation world in Central State is even more treacherous than the Eastern Desolation of the previous generation, with all sorts of methods emerging endlessly,

When there was only the Primordial Spirit left in Liangzhou, Li Yuan observed its origin, only to find that the origin had been altered. The matter concerning Prince Yun is of great importance, perhaps he had planned from the beginning to sacrifice the pawn to save the commander, and it’s inevitable that there’s such a Divine Soul Skill.

However, if Li Yuan is determined to uncover the truth, naturally, there will be higher-level methods, after all, Prince Yun is just a Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Divine Soul Secret Skills he can perform are limited.

Moreover, if a soul cultivator like Long Ni, who is proficient in Divine Soul Secret Skills, takes action, it will surely not be kept secret. The fear is whether Dragon Aspect and Prince Yun are in cahoots..."

Li Jizhou pondered for a long time, feeling both joy and worry in his heart.

The joy is, if this matter is confirmed, Old Jiu would not only lose the throne, but even the destruction of his Divine Soul is light punishment. How severe the consequences of putting a green hat on Li Yuan, who always values his reputation, are unimaginable, as it would tarnish Li Yuan with an indelible stain.

With Old Jiu out of the competition, the throne would be inherited by Li Jizhou alone. With the Crown Prince confirmed, Li Yuan would inevitably bestow the Jiuli Map in advance.

This not only secures Li Jizhou’s position as the rightful heir but also tempts Long Ni to act and remove hidden dangers once and for all.

The worry is,

Given how much Li Yuan values his reputation, he will undoubtedly go to great lengths to keep this under wraps. Those who know of this may face danger.

Li Jizhou even suspects that for the sake of eternal glory, Li Yuan might not hesitate to silence even the most promising prince of the Jiuli Dynasty.

After all, the former Crown Prince isn’t dead yet!

"I must not be implicated!" Li Jizhou finally made up his mind.

This matter must be investigated thoroughly, but the one who ultimately reveals it requires careful consideration.

Early the next morning, Li Jizhou secretly sent a message to Han Zhen, the protector of Yunzhou, to investigate whether there were any connections between Prince Yun’s Mansion and the Dragon Aspect.

If there is no connection between Long Ni and Prince Yun’s Mansion, then the matter of the Ninth Prince could be a case of two birds with one stone!

Approaching noon, Consort Rong sent someone to invite him once again.

Li Jizhou dressed casually and went forth having prepared in his mind.

Since returning from Yunzhou, Li Jizhou had been residing in the Dao Academy focused on cultivating, while the Ninth Prince had not visited the Dao Academy recently under the pretense of comprehending the Dao Foundation.

This banquet was also arranged within the palace.

The Ninth Prince, not yet sixteen, hadn’t been officially made a king, so the so-called Jiuwang Palace was actually Consort Rong’s bedchamber.

Saint Emperor Li Yuan, averse to women, only resorted to begetting children for inheritance reluctantly some years ago, and after leaving offspring, never paid attention again.

So, the Saint Emperor’s footprints were basically absent in Consort Rong’s bedchamber.

Consort Rong’s bedchamber was decorated in an elegant and simple manner, whether to please the Saint Emperor or because of a genuine distaste for opulence is unknown.

When Li Jizhou arrived at Consort Rong’s bedchamber, several other princes and princesses had already arrived ahead of him, consulting eagerly with Li Chaoyang, obviously with a flattering intent.

These princes and princesses were all of average talent, destined to be without chance for the throne, and an honorary title in other lands seemed inevitable. Now, they wanted to be close to the future Saint Emperor for a stable future.

However, the moment Li Jizhou arrived, they immediately ceased their flattering, all coming up to greet him respectfully.

After all, the most competitive ones now were the Seventh Prince and the Ninth Prince.

As for who would eventually seize the throne, no one was certain.

Regardless, they dared not offend either.

"Princess Jin’an pays respect to the Seventh Prince, wishing you a prosperous path and an everlasting Immortal Dao." Princess Jin’an, Li Yuan’s second child, was originally the current eldest princess, also Li Jizhou’s second sister. But in the heartless imperial family, especially in cultivation dynasties, there’s no regard for gender.

Princess Jin’an, born with a Top-Grade Water Spirit Root, had very average aptitude among the numerous princes and princesses of the Jiuli Dynasty.

She had long accepted her fate.

"Changqi greets Seventh Brother, wishing Seventh Brother an early achievement in forming the Immortal Golden Core and birthing a high-level Dharma Aspect." The Eighth Prince directly performed a kneeling ceremony, which, in terms of brotherly relations, was quite excessive.

...

The respect shown by other princes and princesses towards Li Jizhou wasn’t missed by Li Chaoyang, who felt anger in his heart.

After all, he was just a thirteen-year-old child, lacking the life experiences of someone like Li Jizhou who had lived through three reincarnations, how could he be expected to have understanding and acuity?

"Ah, the Seventh Prince finally graces us with his presence, I’m extremely honored!" Just as Li Jizhou finished responding to his siblings, Consort Rong gracefully appeared.

The veiled derision in her speech was evident.

Li Jizhou smiled lightly, thinking she might believe he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old youth, who would have the arrogance of youth. With enough flattery, he’d become conceited.

"What is Consort Rong saying? Speaking so distantly, it’s as if you don’t acknowledge me as your son," Li Jizhou replied with a smile.

His gaze roamed over Consort Rong.

Today Consort Rong’s attire was indeed alluring.

Her mature aura inherently exuded infinite charm, rivaling An Liuli, with whom Li Jizhou had debated for a decade in his previous life, and today’s attire further accentuated a maternal allure.

"Oh, Seventh Prince, you’ve spoken too seriously, how could I willingly lose such an outstanding son? Come, let Consort Rong see if you’ve grown thinner after traveling the world." Consort Rong, hearing Li Jizhou call her Consort Rong, seeing the unabashed look in his eyes, smiled even more charmingly, and warmly stepped forward to tidy Li Jizhou’s hair and clothes.

Moreover, intentionally or unintentionally, her vast maternal aura brushed against Li Jizhou’s chest.

Especially when arranging the hair at the back of his head, she was almost pressed against him.

Her mature presence close to Li Jizhou, her fragrant breath against his neck, made him tingle, and this seventeen-year-old body of his had an involuntary reaction.

This only deepened the amusement in Consort Rong’s eyes.

Li Jizhou’s heart paused slightly, glancing at Consort Rong in surprise.

Seducing me?

Is Consort Rong truly so audacious? And utterly disregarding ethics?

Could it truly be unbearable loneliness?

If so, the illicit affair with Prince Yun might really be possible.

Prince Yun, being of the same lineage as Saint Emperor Li Yuan, and the royal family of the cultivation world has methods to purify their bloodlines, ensuring that each generation’s bloodline remains unchanged from their ancestor.

If that’s the case, then if Prince Yun and Consort Rong indeed had a secret affair, the offspring’s bloodline wouldn’t be much different from Li Yuan’s own, at least not detectable through bloodline provenance techniques.

Li Jizhou immediately smiled and shook his head, even if Consort Rong were truly unbearably lonely, why would she seduce him? It’s too risky.

Her only aim could be to have the Ninth Prince ascend to the throne.