Chapter 623: Illegitimate Son

Crown Prince Zhao Jing gazed at Wuji Palace from before Donggong, pondering the identity of True Person Taiyi and his connection to the current Son of Heaven.

A gut feeling told him this True Person Taiyi had a deep bond with his father, and had known him for a very long time.

Otherwise, given his father's nature, he would never rashly grant the title of State Preceptor to an unknown mountain Daoist.

Yet though his intuition said so, Zhao Jing could find not a single shred of evidence proving True Person Taiyi had known his father before—because Zhao Jing, as the legitimate eldest son, was born when his father was sixteen, still an obscure Eighth Imperial Prince with a shabby residence and few guests; the people he met were few, and Zhao Jing knew them all, none of whom was this Daoist.

Zhao Jing frowned in deep thought, yet found no clue.

"Your Highness, the True Person Taiyi was first introduced by Prince Xin—perhaps Your Highness should ask Prince Xin himself." A nearby official whispered.

Prince Xin, Zhao Rui?

Zhao Jing's expression shifted slightly. Zhao Rui was his half-brother, brilliant and gifted; had he not been the illegitimate son, the crown might well have passed to him. But after ascending the throne, his father had acted decisively—granting each sibling either a princely or princess title and exiling them far from the capital, preventing a repeat of the Eight Princes' succession struggle.

Thus, his position as Crown Prince stood firm, unshakable.

Zhao Jing deeply admired his father for this—cutting off disputes at their root.

"I, as the elder brother, really ought to pay a visit to my younger brother." Zhao Jing turned his gaze away from Wuji Palace and immediately ordered his carriage prepared to leave the palace.

Not long after.

The Crown Prince's carriage arrived before a mansion.

When Zhao Jing entered the mansion, he found Prince Xin Zhao Rui in the rear courtyard.

Zhao Rui, as if expecting him, had already prepared wine and dishes, waiting in the pavilion.

"Big brother, you've come." Zhao Rui smiled.

Zhao Jing said: "Fourth brother, stop playing coy. Who is this True Person Taiyi? Don't tell me you don't know. A mountain Daoist suddenly made State Preceptor—this has drawn the attention of the Yin Emperor, and all the land's incense deities are outraged. Father isn't the type to act on whim; he must have a deeper reason. I suspect Taiyi's identity is extraordinary, so I want to hear it from you directly."

He cut straight to the point.

He was Crown Prince, future Emperor—simple as that; no need for false courtesy with Zhao Rui.

Zhao Rui said: "Big brother, I've only known True Person Taiyi for two or three days. He appeared mysteriously, with extraordinary power—he killed the Mount Taiyue Deity, the City God of Xinzhou, and Marquis Zhongwu all at once."

"I'm not interested in such tricks. No Daoist, no matter how powerful, can rival the collective incense of the realm and generations of emperors." Zhao Jing said seriously. "I only want to know the True Person Taiyi's true identity. He bears the Dragon-Tiger aura—don't tell me you didn't notice."

Zhao Rui said: "Dragon-Tiger aura? I did hear the spirits in my mansion mention it, but I truly don't know Taiyi's identity. Yet I'm certain: True Person Taiyi and Father knew each other long ago."

"You think so too?"

Zhao Jing's heart sank: "I thought the same before I came. But the strangeness lies here—I, as the legitimate eldest son, know every person my father ever met, every face he knew. Even if I didn't remember things as a child, the old servants must have memories. Yet everything about this True Person Taiyi is blank."

Zhao Rui smiled: "Big brother, have you considered that Father knew True Person Taiyi even earlier than we imagine? Perhaps…"

"Perhaps what?" Zhao Jing asked.

"Perhaps you and I weren't even born yet." Zhao Rui picked up a cup, poured wine slowly, and offered it to Zhao Jing.

Zhao Jing did not take the cup—his face turned pale: "You mean… could True Person Taiyi be Father's illegitimate son? No, that's impossible."

A possibility—most likely, yet most unthinkable—flashed through his mind.

"It's not impossible. After all, True Person Taiyi is young, barely in his twenties, while Father is thirty-eight. The ages match." Zhao Rui smiled, drained his own cup. "If True Person Taiyi is Father's illegitimate son, then everything makes sense."

"Why would Father defy all opposition to make him State Preceptor, granting him the incense of the realm? Why does he bear the Dragon-Tiger aura? Why did Father bestow Wuji Palace upon him, and appoint him Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, along with a squad of Golden-Eyed Guards?"

"Of course, I hope this guess is false. But if it's true, Big Brother, your status as legitimate eldest son vanishes—and the Donggong Crown Prince seat…"

"Enough, Fourth Brother. You're sowing discord, using the State Preceptor as a knife to kill me? So you still haven't given up since being made Prince Xin—you still want to compete with me." Zhao Jing was no fool; though shaken, he refused to believe Zhao Rui's one-sided words.

Zhao Rui said nothing, merely drank on: "Actually, I do hope True Person Taiyi is Father's illegitimate son. He carries noble bearing and astonishing power. Setting aside personal feelings, I admire him. If he becomes Emperor one day, I have no objection."

He glanced at Zhao Jing.

To be honest, he resented this Crown Prince.

What did he have beyond being born a few years earlier? Neither scholarly nor martial talent, only scheming to win court officials and build factions—all beneath contempt.

True leadership means cultivating alongside Father, strengthening oneself, and governing the realm together—not neglecting the essentials for petty scheming.

Zhao Jing sneered: "Fourth Brother, stop dreaming. Whether or not True Person Taiyi is Father's illegitimate son, from the moment he was named State Preceptor, he has no retreat—either resign and flee to the mountains, or prepare to be destroyed by the incense deities of the realm."

"Incense is a taboo. Even Father dares not touch it. How dare a powerless mountain Daoist?"

"Not necessarily." Zhao Rui shook his head slightly. "Big Brother, you haven't seen True Person Taiyi truly fight—he swallows mountains and rivers, invincible under heaven. I believe if he and Father unite, they can accomplish something earth-shattering. As a younger brother, I can only warn you: no matter what Father and True Person Taiyi do, you must support them unconditionally."

"Support? Let him survive these ten days first. The Yin Court's petition has already been burned. Within these ten days, the Yin Emperor will act." Zhao Jing snorted—he was beginning to doubt Zhao Rui's true intent.

Was he truly trying to sow discord—or did he have another motive?

But night had already fallen unnoticed.

Above Wuji Palace, a crimson glow still shot skyward, while a brilliant golden light descended, drawing in countless spiritual energies and incense qi from all directions.

Such a massive cultivation display sent shock through the incense deities of the capital.

"Is that the State Preceptor, True Person Taiyi? What is he doing? Even within the palace, he dares cast such a spell? And this spectacle has lasted a full day and night."

"Was it he who killed Wang Qijun, the Northern Guardian Deity? A Daoist who kills a Guardian Deity? Is the realm about to descend into chaos?"

"If he secures the State Preceptor title, he will be the nightmare of every incense deity."

They whispered among themselves, yet all felt a fierce threat from Li Yi. Such an anomaly, if not eradicated soon, would become the greatest enemy of the realm's incense deities.

Immediately, the incense deities moved. They could not wait until some night ten days hence—they must act quickly against True Person Taiyi.

At the very least, strip him of his State Preceptor title, deny him the incense of the realm.

Since ancient times, only emperors have ever received incense.

But emperors struggle to cultivate; though they become Yin Emperors after death, it is acceptable. Yet if a Daoist could receive the incense of millions and cultivate from it, wouldn't that strike at the very root of the incense deities? No one could tolerate it.

Yet these incense deities vastly underestimated Li Yi's cultivation speed.

Only the first night.

Li Yi's twelve acupoints were completely filled.

Fifth Qi Realm, Second Layer—achieved.

Feeling the surging magic power and strengthened Dragon-Tiger energy within him, Li Yi's spirit soared—he felt stronger than before by more than several times. With incense power and the magic from his twenty-four major acupoints, he could now roam the realm unchallenged.

Yet he did not grow complacent.

He pressed on toward Fifth Qi Realm, Third Layer.

Open the Liver Acupoint, absorb Wood Qi.

If successful, his Heart Fire would merge with Wood Qi, multiplying the power of his Wind Summoning Art severalfold. Combined with incense energy, his spells might rival those of a Three Flowers Realm master.

Indeed,

By midnight,

A column of emerald light descended from heaven, entering Wuji Palace once more.

In moments, beams sprouted new buds, ancient trees revived, and a vibrant vitality spread forth.

Yet progress slowed noticeably at the Third Layer of Fifth Qi Realm.

Without Heart Fire to refine True Gold, nor Kidney Water to nourish Wood Qi, this stage was a bottleneck for Daoists—no shortcuts, only slow, patient cultivation.