Ten years of dormancy: Starting as a martial arts master at the pinnacle

"Father, you mustn't!"

Li Yuanqian no longer cared about his image and spoke up in opposition.

"Grandfather, please reconsider."

Li Longjing echoed this.

As he knelt down, he glanced thoughtfully at Li Changqing.

He recalled that Li Changqing had previously sent him a telepathic message from afar.

Li Longjing had a vague suspicion that Li Changqing's strength might have truly reached the Free and Unfettered Realm or even higher.

He actually understood somewhat why his grandfather would throw out such a bait.

He was merely a regent, and a regent whose status was equivalent to that of an emperor.

Isn't that going a bit too far?

The fact that the Great Zhou Dynasty did not have a regent does not mean that there were no dynasties in the surrounding areas with regents in charge.

Li Changqing was also stunned for a moment; he almost thought he had misheard.

"Is Grandfather planning to abdicate and become the Retired Emperor?"

Upon hearing Li Changqing's words, Crown Prince Li Yuanqian's pupils dilated instantly.

He looked at his father in disbelief.

Although he knew in his heart that his father's abdication was only a matter of the next few years.

This means that their struggle for the throne has entered its final stage.

By appointing Li Changqing as regent, there was naturally no possibility of Li Yuanhao becoming emperor.

It's impossible for the father to be the emperor and the son to be the regent, right?

So, the emperor can only be him?

Thinking about this, Li Yuanqian suddenly didn't know whether he should oppose or agree.

Li Zheng did not answer, but instead turned his gaze to Li Changqing.

After observing for several breaths, he finally spoke slowly: "I have thought it over carefully. If you wish to be emperor, no one can stop you. Not even me!"

Hearing these words, Li Yuanqian and his son Li Longjing felt as if they were hallucinating.

What is Your Majesty talking about?

If Li Changqing is willing to become emperor, no one can stop him.

On what grounds?

A hint of realization flickered in Li Longjing's eyes.

Could it be that his cousin in front of him is not the carefree person he imagined?

Or is it the Great Freedom, or even a Sword Immortal?

So much so that even his grandfather had to do everything in his power to support him.

After all, for the Great Zhou royal family, nothing is more important than cultivating a true supreme being.

As long as Li Changqing has that potential, even if the probability isn't 100%, but only 30% or 40%, it's worth it.

He could do whatever he wanted throughout the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

"But I am the emperor, and also the head of the royal family of the Great Zhou. Therefore, I must consider not only the fate of the Great Zhou, but also the fate of my Li clan."

After saying that, Li Zheng stared intently at Li Changqing with his old eyes: "Anyone who inherits the throne from a Grandmaster or higher can unleash the combat power of a Supreme Peak. Giving you this treasure would only be icing on the cake. But if we don't give it to you, we might have two Supremes in the future."

"So, what do you think of my proposal? Regent, you can establish your own residence and have your own private army. I guarantee that your status will not be lower than that of the Duke of Qi. You may not know much about the Duke of Qi's residence, but let me put it this way: their status is equivalent to that of the Vice Emperor of the Great Zhou."

"It's because the ancestor of the Duke of Qi's mansion not only had my royal bloodline, but was also a supreme being."

Li Changqing had already investigated this matter thoroughly.

"That's right, it's because our Ancestor is a Supreme Being. That Supreme Being's mother was a princess of our Great Zhou. By that reckoning, I should call her Grandmother Ancestor."

The Duke of Qi's mansion held a superior position and naturally had something to rely on.

Crown Prince Li Yuanqian and Li Longjing dared not utter a single word.

They overheard a shocking secret.

Their father and grandfather had clearly already regarded Li Changqing as a near-supreme ruler.

Crown Prince Li Yuanqian felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

The place he longed for seemed to be slipping away from him.

With such a powerful backer, what need is there to say about the future emperor of the Great Zhou?

Apart from King Li Yuanhao of Qin, probably no one else is qualified.

"I know you have little interest in these things. You want to gather the Heavenly Golden Man and the Cloud Dragon Body Refining Technique, and you want to establish informants throughout the land. I can fully support you in all of that. Not only the Canal Gang, but you can also bring the Salt Gang under your command. The forces you build will be completely at your command and will not be subject to any department of the court. Of course, your people must not break the law. What do you say?"

Two baits were thrown out in succession, both of which greatly tempted Li Changqing.

"Grandfather, there's no such thing as a free lunch. I promised, but I don't want the throne in the Golden Palace. Tell me your conditions?"

If it were simply a matter of preventing Li Changqing from becoming emperor, Li Zheng could simply explain the reasons to him.

Li Changqing would agree.

Unless the person about to sit on the throne is someone Li Changqing dislikes.

Otherwise, he would have no reason not to agree.

Reaching the pinnacle of power within Kyoto is not what Li Changqing is after.

But later, the world opened the door wide to granting the regent's power...

This is all that Li Zheng could give to Li Changqing.

He brought this up at this time, under pressure from the court and the royal family, so he must have had his reasons.

Li Changqing had a vague guess in his mind, so he simply asked directly.

"The selection of the Great Zhou Emperor's successor has only one prerequisite: breaking through to the Profound Realm. The princes who are currently qualified have all achieved this. Your father is the strongest, and the Crown Prince is the weakest. However, this does not prevent them from unleashing peak Supreme Realm combat power after inheriting the throne."

"I have only one request for you: you must not interfere in the final years of the struggle for the throne."

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Li Yuanqian, who had thought he had been abandoned, suddenly looked up at his father, the Emperor.

The crown prince, who was already over forty, had bloodshot eyes.

"Father!"

If it weren't for the Emperor's explicit instruction, they would have been left to fight Li Changqing indefinitely.

One can imagine what would become of their Crown Prince's residence.

Lee Yong-kyung also clenched his fists subconsciously.

If he works harder, he can cultivate the Glazed Body to the 7th level.

Could it be that he and his son, like Li Changqing, also possess sufficient confidence?

But this is easier said than done.

He went through countless hardships just to reach the fifth stage of cultivation.

Li Changqing remained silent.

With the appearance of Li Changqing, Qin King Li Yuanhao's throne is practically secured.

The Crown Prince and the other princes combined have no more than a 20% chance of winning.

If Li Changqing gets involved, they probably won't even have a 20% chance of success.

"No!"

Li Changqing flatly refused.

"I'm still investigating what happened back then. If I find out that my being switched and discarded was related to my uncle, the Crown Prince, I will never let him become emperor."

"Just investigate what happened back then. If you find anything related to the Crown Prince, he will be placed under house arrest and will die six months later."

Li Zheng said decisively.

"Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. My grandfather was truly a good father, but how can I, as his son, not offer him any help?"

……