Royal Capital, Sixth Prince Residence, study room.
A series of images flashed in the air above the study. An exceptionally handsome young man sat behind the desk, watching with great interest. After a quarter of an hour, the images finished playing. The handsome man spoke: "Have you figured out this person's identity and background yet?"
A black-clad man kneeling in the study replied, "Your Highness, the investigation is ongoing. For now, we only know that the youth's surname is Song."
Upon hearing this, the handsome man addressed as 'Your Highness' frowned slightly. "Keep investigating. I want all his information within three days."
"Yes, sir! I take my leave!"
After the black-clad man left, the handsome man turned to a middle-aged scholar in the study. "Xuanji, what do you think?"
This middle-aged man was named Shen Xuanji, the chief strategist of Lucas Li, the Sixth Prince.
Shen Xuanji slowly began, "This young man is highly skilled in formations, already at earth-grade formation master level. His mind and cunning are exceptional, and he possesses immense wealth. His origins are likely extraordinary. If Your Highness can win him over, your great ambition may be within reach."
"Oh? What is your insight, Xuanji?" Lucas Li asked with interest.
Shen Xuanji smiled confidently. "Everyone has a weakness. This whole incident started because of a woman named Cece from the Immortal Cloud Pavilion. It shows that this young man is the type who cherishes beauties."
"Sounds more like a lecher to me!" Lucas Li joked.
Shen Xuanji continued, "Call him a romantic or a lecher, but later he actually spent ten thousand top-grade spirit crystals to have Old Man Tanner rescue someone from the Duke of Qi Residence. Even Your Highness wouldn't spend ten thousand top-grade spirit crystals on a single woman, would you?"
"True enough!"
Lucas Li nodded in full agreement. "Ten thousand top-grade spirit crystals could recruit a whole army of experts. There's no way I'd spend that on just one woman."
Shen Xuanji went on, "That shows he's the type who values beauties over power. If Your Highness caters to his tastes, you might just be able to win him over."
"You mean I should send him a beauty?" Lucas Li looked at Shen Xuanji, a bit displeased.
"An ordinary beauty won't do, and it can't look too deliberate either!" Shen Xuanji said with a smile.
"Then how do you suggest I do it?" Lucas Li asked, exasperated.
"Actually, there's someone perfect for the job—if Your Highness can bear to part with her."
"Who?"
Lucas Li pressed further, but quickly realized what Shen Xuanji meant and glared at him in annoyance. "Don't tell me you want me to give Xiao Ba to him?"
Shen Xuanji replied, "The Eighth Princess is closest to Your Highness, and she's so innocent and lively that no one puts up their guard around her. That youth is about her age, and if it works out, he'll become your brother-in-law. Who would he support if not you?"
"No way, I absolutely won't agree!" Lucas Li shook his head.
Shen Xuanji tried to persuade him, "Your Highness may have the advantage for now, but the Second and Fourth Princes have joined forces. Individually they're no match for you, but together, you might not be able to beat them."
"But I still have the Prime One Church, don't I? Once I marry Lila, the church will surely support me fully!"
"That's where you're wrong, Your Highness." Shen Xuanji shook his head. "You should be wary of the Prime One Church—relying on them too much might not be a good thing!"
Lucas Li fell silent at that. Shen Xuanji was right—if he relied too much on the Prime One Church, he might end up as their puppet, and that was something he could never accept.
Seeing Lucas Li deep in thought, Shen Xuanji also fell silent, giving him time to consider.
......
Meanwhile, at the Second Prince Residence.
Second Prince Nathan Li was also discussing how to recruit Ian Song with his advisers.
Nathan Li's cultivation wasn't as strong as Sixth Prince Lucas Li's, but he was the eldest, so he'd managed to recruit more followers. Yet as his younger brother rose in influence, Nathan's advantage shrank, and in recent years he'd even had to ally with the Fourth Prince just to withstand Lucas's pressure.
More people meant more opinions.
And after spending so long at the prince's residence, most of the advisers had grown more selfish. In fact, the majority opposed recruiting Ian Song. Their reasons were twofold: first, his origins were unclear; second, he'd killed Aaron Jiang, and if the Tang King decided to pursue the matter, recruiting him would become a huge headache.
Nathan Li wasn't stupid—he knew his advisers were overlooking Ian Song's strengths, which irritated him. But he had a habit of indecisiveness, so after some thought, he still agreed with the majority and decided not to recruit Ian Song.
Fourth Prince Residence.
The Fourth Prince, clad in battle armor and radiating heroic energy, watched the footage his men had gathered and burst out laughing. "I've always hated that old bastard Colin Jiang, and now to see him get wrecked like this—I'm thrilled!"
Of the three princes, Nathan Li was reasonable and listened to advice, but tended toward indecision. The Fourth Prince was fiery and combative—though only at the initial Divine Transformation stage, even most mid-stage cultivators couldn't match him.
The last was the Sixth Prince, known for his wisdom and peerless talent—he'd already reached the late Divine Transformation stage.
Of the three princes, the Tang King actually favored the Fourth Prince most, but everyone knew his temperament was unsuited for the throne. That's why the Second and Sixth Princes had far higher support.
"Your Highness, this man is a formation genius. He even made Duke Colin Jiang suffer a huge loss—should we try to recruit him?" a burly man suggested.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together—Victor Li only recruited the most warlike followers.
The burly man who made the suggestion was Bada, an elder of the Giant Elephant Sect. He practiced the Giant Elephant Body Art, possessed immense strength and nearly impregnable defense, and though only at late Divine Transformation, he could fight three peers of the same stage without defeat.
Victor Li nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! This guy is just my type. Bada, go invite him over—tell him I want to share a drink!"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I'll definitely bring that kid over!"
Prime One Church.
After Annie Chan finished her account, Lila Li suddenly felt a strong urge to meet that man.
The thought sprouted and grew wildly, instantly taking over her mind.
"Annie, come with me to the Outer City!" Lila Li said.
"Huh? Saintess, what are you going to the Outer City for?" Annie Chan asked curiously.
"I want to meet the man you mentioned," Lila Li said honestly.
"Saintess, are you planning to recruit Young Master Song?" Annie Chan asked again.
"Maybe!"
Moments later, Lila Li led Annie Chan out of the Prime One Church's main altar and arrived outside the formation set up by Ian Song.
"Young Master Song, my lady the Saintess requests an audience!" Annie Chan called out in her clear, crisp voice.
"Come in!"
A passage opened in the formation. Without hesitation, Lila Li stepped inside, while many onlookers stared in astonishment at the scene.
The Prime One Saintess herself had come—was she representing the Prime One Church to recruit Young Master Song?
"Please, have a seat, Saintess!"
Ian Song pointed to a stone bench.
But Lila Li didn't sit. Instead, she fixed her gaze on him, unblinking, as if trying to see right through him.