Hu Zhongxuan looked at you with an unexpectedly pleased smile. "You see things clearly, more so than many high-ranking officials embroiled in court politics."

You continued, "I suspect Li Anlong might appoint a crown prince from among his great-grandsons or even great-great-grandsons."

Hu Zhongxuan nodded. "I think so too, and most likely it'll be Li Chengping, the eldest grandson of imperial grandson Li Zhanji."

You knew of Li Chengping, who had just turned eighteen this year. Judging by his age, he might well survive until Li Anlong's passing to inherit the throne. You found Hu Zhongxuan's prediction quite plausible.

After half an hour more of political discussion, you both went your separate ways - you to cultivate, and he to cultivate the bittersweetness of love.

Year 37:

You completed your fifth true qi condensation. Moreover, you felt significant progress in your Divine Micro-Vision technique, now approaching perfection. You gained comprehension of another Earth Source sword qi, bringing your total to thirteen out of twenty-four - just over half. These sword qi were your trump card, for which you'd prepared numerous high-grade healing pills in your storage space, ensuring you could recklessly unleash them while rapidly healing your injuries if necessary.

Throughout the past year, Li Anlong hadn't appointed an heir. Court officials repeatedly petitioned him to name a crown prince, but the emperor remained utterly unmoved. Despite this, Li Zhanji's popularity remained high as the presumed next in line. Li Zhanji himself recognized this situation, but being mild-mannered and non-confrontational, he only allowed himself to chuckle under his covers.

Liu Yanhao, the Ultimate Grandmaster assigned by Li Anlong to monitor Li Yu, had dutifully resided at Prince Yongning's mansion for a full year without discovering any misconduct. Far from plotting rebellion, Li Yu would immediately stand at attention facing the capital direction for three seconds whenever Li Anlong was mentioned - even while defecating - showing utmost reverence. Following Li Anlong's orders, Liu Yanhao repeatedly provoked and insulted Li Yu, committing numerous faux pas like spinning the lazy susan while his superior was serving himself. Yet Li Yu always responded with unflappable grace, giving Liu Yanhao no excuse to escalate. This forced Li Anlong to shift his focus elsewhere.

Year 39, Age 54:

While practicing seventh-grade pill refining as usual, you opened the furnace expecting the standard six pills. But your eyes nearly bulged out when you saw eight perfectly formed pills inside - your seventh-grade pill refining had finally reached mastery level, meaning you'd officially caught up to Xie Huide's rank as a genuine seventh-grade pill refiner!

"Woo-hoo~" you dragon-cried in excitement, drawing Hu Zhongxuan who burst into your refining chamber. Upon seeing the eight pills, he lifted you in an ecstatic spin that triggered unpleasant memories, making you hastily demand to be put down. You understood his excitement - only one step remained before you could refine the eighth-grade Reviving Yang Pill.

That day, Hu Zhongxuan visited Deng Wanshu's chamber, repeatedly promising to awaken her. That evening when he emerged red-eyed, you pretended not to notice his grief.

This year, Li Anlong finally named an heir - or rather, didn't. Instead of choosing Li Zhanji or Li Chengping, he designated Li Chengping's eldest son as crown prince, leaving the entire court dumbfounded since Li Chengping wasn't even married yet. The emperor had essentially appointed a potentially nonexistent heir, a move so quantum-mechanical it boggled minds. Yet upon reflection, many realized the logic: at 131 years old with 70 years remaining, Li Anlong would outlive the 21-year-old Li Chengping (who'd be 91 by then and unlikely to reign long). Thus the move to skip a generation suddenly seemed reasonable.

This development made the usually noncompetitive Li Zhanji cry into his pillow, while Li Chengping's residence became swarmed with matchmaking nobles hoping their daughters might painlessly ascend to empress dowager status.

Three months later, during cultivation, your Star River Blade Art completed eight cycles. Seven years of accumulation culminated in a breakthrough - you advanced from early-stage to mid-stage Essence Refining. Surging true qi unleashed powerful shockwaves that rattled doors and windows before subsiding. Your Nine Condensations Profound Skill also achieved its sixth condensation, elevating your combat prowess to casually defeating mid-stage Grandmasters.

Most remarkably, your decade-stagnant Divine Micro-Vision finally reached perfection. Now you could reliably enter the state at will without chance of failure. While prolonged maintenance remained mentally taxing, sustaining it for ten to fifteen days posed no problem. Like varying pregnancy risks from mere hand-holding, recovery periods differed by constitution - yours required two or three days' rest after two months of continuous use.

Your Earth Source sword qi also progressed with three new comprehensions, totaling sixteen. Upon reaching peak Essence Refining, you planned to fuse them, eagerly anticipating whether you'd explode or ascend directly to Ultimate Grandmaster status.

Pleased with today's progress, you left the cultivation chamber. Hu Zhongxuan approached asking about eighth-grade pill refining progress. "Uncle!" you exclaimed, "I only became a seventh-grade refiner three months ago! Give me some breathing room!" His current demands surpassed even your past-life boss's exploitation.

Realizing he'd pushed too hard, Hu Zhongxuan backpedaled: "No rush. If talent falls short, diligence will compensate!"

"My talent's insufficient?" you retorted, eyes widening. "I reached seventh-grade younger than my master! Have some conscience, uncle!"

Seeing your unstable mental state, Hu Zhongxuan hastily changed topics: "Don't get upset - who'll refine my pills if you collapse? Anyway, your 'good friend' came looking for you earlier."

"Good friend?" you frowned. "I've always been a loner without entanglements. What friend?"

"He Yu!" Wan Qingluan stood in the courtyard, hands behind her back in a white dress, face radiant with joy.

"Well hello there, my good friend!" you brightened, walking toward her.