The Crown Prince and the Seventh Princess

Another decade has passed, and now it is the twentieth year of the Heaven Origin Era.

All five of Ian Song’s children have grown up. Victor Huang and Nathan Huang are now adults.

Thanks to Ian’s guidance, Victor Huang and Nathan Huang have both become outstanding young men.

At eighteen, Victor Huang advanced to the rank of Great Grandmaster; Nathan Huang was even more impressive, reaching Great Grandmaster at just seventeen.

What delighted Ian most was how well Victor and Nathan got along.

However, one issue has been troubling Ian lately—the question of who should be appointed Crown Prince.

He has only two sons, so naturally the Crown Prince must be chosen from them. Both are highly accomplished, leaving Ian torn between naming Victor Huang or Nathan Huang as heir apparent.

Many support Victor Huang, since he is the son of Empress Harriet Gu, but Nathan Huang also has plenty of supporters.

Imperial Study Hall.

"Father, your sons greet you!" Victor and Nathan Huang knelt and saluted their father.

"You may rise."

"Thank you, Father."

The two replied in unison. By tradition, they would address him as 'Imperial Father,' but Ian felt that was too formal, so he always had them call him 'Father.'

"I called you both here today for a reason," Ian said, his gaze sweeping over them with satisfaction.

Victor Huang now stood at six-foot-one, with a dignified, heroic bearing. His features resembled Ian Song by seventy or eighty percent—standing next to the youthful Ian, they could almost be mistaken for brothers.

Nathan Huang, on the other hand, took after Lynn Ning—handsome and scholarly. Despite his honest appearance,

...he was actually the cleverest among his siblings, the most mischievous by far, and the one punished most often growing up.

Ian continued, "Recently, many senior ministers have submitted memorials, pressing me to appoint a Crown Prince. Honestly, you are both equally outstanding in my eyes, so I truly can't decide who should inherit the title. I called you here today to hear your thoughts."

At his words, the brothers exchanged glances, seeing the tension in each other's eyes.

After a long silence, both brothers knelt again. "Father, we are willing to accept your decision."

"You two...!"

Ian looked a bit helpless. "Victor, you first—do you want to be Crown Prince?"

"Uh..." Victor hesitated.

"A true man should face things head on—if you want it, say so. If not, then don't!" Ian barked.

"I do want it," Victor said through gritted teeth.

"Nathan, what about you?" Ian asked again.

"I want it too!"

Ian nodded in satisfaction. "Good. Since you both want it, I'll give you a fair chance to compete. As the saying goes, governing a great nation is like cooking a small fish. I'll appoint you each as a county magistrate."

You'll have three years. Whoever governs their county best will become Crown Prince. But during this time, you can't reveal your royal identity—whether deliberately or by accident. If you do, you're out. Any objections?

"We'll follow your arrangements, Father."

They replied in unison.

"All right, go prepare yourselves and say goodbye to your mother. In three days at most, you'll be leaving the palace!"

"Yes!"

Watching his two sons leave, Ian sighed softly, then lowered his head to deal with the memorials.

Over these twenty years, Ian's cultivation in both Immortal-Dao and martial arts had steadily advanced. His Immortal-Dao cultivation had reached late Golden Core, but forming a Nascent Soul would take more time. His martial arts, meanwhile, had reached mid-stage Martial Saint, and he was close to late-stage—within three years, he should reach late Martial Saint.

Suddenly, after reviewing a memorial from the Heavenworks Institute, Ian smiled. Ten years ago, they had begun researching airplanes; seven years ago, the empire had its first plane.

Five years ago, Heavenworks developed bombers and fighters.

After five years of development, Heavenworks, following Ian's specifications, produced bombers and fighters powered by spirit crystals.

Spirit crystal energy far surpassed gasoline—not only was it more stable, but it also lasted much longer.

According to the memorial, a single low-grade spirit crystal could keep a bomber flying for a month, and a fighter for a month and a half.

For defense, the aircraft were inscribed with concealment and silencing formations, allowing them to fly utterly silent and invisible—far beyond the best jets of the real world.

Heavenworks also developed spirit-crystal missiles, cannons, and grenades.

Originally, spirit crystals were scarce among humans because they were hidden deep in mountains and underground, making them hard to find and mine.

But with technological progress—especially eight years ago, when Heavenworks invented a spirit-crystal detector—mining output soared.

Now, the imperial treasury holds over five million supreme-grade spirit crystals, more than a hundred million high-grade ones, and countless mid- and low-grade crystals.

Over twenty years, the imperial academies have produced wave after wave of graduates, all instilled with loyalty to the empire. Some joined the military, some the bureaucracy, making the Grand Martial Empire ever more stable.

With a thought, Ian pulled up the system interface.

Of the five system missions, he'd completed three; if he defeated the Demon and Devil Races, he could return to the real world.

Time passed differently here—one day in the real world equaled ten years in this one.

He had spent over twenty years in this world, but only two days had passed in reality. The thought of returning soon left him reluctant—he'd lived less than twenty years in the real world, but more than twenty in this one.

Fortunately, he had gathered a vast store of spirit crystals here, and after leaving, he could return via the temple's teleportation.

A few days later, in the Imperial Study.

Ian, dressed in dragon robes, sat imposingly behind the imperial desk, his gaze curious as he watched a stunning young woman enter.

"Fox Clan, Serena Fox greets the Human Emperor!"

She bowed gracefully.

"Princess Seven, no need for formalities. Please, rise," Ian said, raising his hand.

Compared to Lingqi Ji, this Fox Clan Princess Seven was even more enchanting—one glance from her and most men would never forget her.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Serena Fox replied with a gentle laugh.

"Someone, bring a seat for Princess Seven!" Ian called.

Ian called out.

At once, a female attendant brought over a soft chair.

Since the two Demon Gods were slain, the Demon Clan's power had waned, and for years they remained in hiding. Humans and monsters frequently attacked them; now humans held a province-sized territory, while the monster race had seized two provinces.

A few days ago, Ian announced plans to attack the Demon Clan. The Tiger King immediately sent Princess Seven of the Fox Clan—who had ties to Ian—to discuss an alliance.