Listening to Lin Yuan's words, Emperor Liu Shi was momentarily stunned.
He had imagined various answers, ones more aligned with normal expectations, perhaps pleading for Princess Seven or expanding the selection process to try to prevent her from becoming a "divine weapon master."
On the more ruthless side, he could agree with Emperor Liu Shi's actions, feeling that sacrifice for the nation was expected of royal offspring.
But Liu Shi never thought that Lin Yuan's response would be this.
"No need to cultivate a divine weapon master. Just give me time, and I will surpass one."
To know that every divine weapon master is backed by a divine weapon.
In the Thirty-Six Nations of Central Plains, divine weapons are like gods.
Surpassing a divine weapon master is akin to surpassing these gods.
Such rebellious words, if spread, might make the Great Yan Dynasty the focal point of the Thirty-Six Nations.
By then, political upheaval could cost Lin Yuan his position as crown prince.
Of course, Emperor Liu Shi, being Lin Yuan's father, would never let these words leak.
"Yuan'er, truly ambitious," Emperor Liu Shi praised.
If Lin Yuan were thirty or forty years old and had experienced the might of divine weapons, such words would be deemed ignorant.
What a divine weapon is becomes clearer the higher one's position.
But Lin Yuan was merely six years old.
What if a six-year-old has some unrealistic ambitions?
When Emperor Liu Shi was six, he wanted to shoot down the sun.
"However, Yuan'er, these words should only be shared with your father," Emperor Liu Shi reminded after his praise.
"Don't tell others, not even those closest to you."
Being the crown prince demands caution in words; emperor Liu Shi's affection for Lin Yuan allows for some leeway in his actions, but not regarding divine weapons.
"I understand."
Lin Yuan glanced at Emperor Liu Shi, realizing he hadn't taken his words to heart, as expected.
Thereafter, Emperor Liu Shi chatted briefly with Lin Yuan before taking his leave.
Watching Emperor Liu Shi depart, Lin Yuan remained composed.
With his current capabilities, showing power beyond a Martial Saint could win Emperor Liu Shi's trust.
However, this held risks, mainly given Liu Shi's status as emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty and representative of the nation's divine weapon.
If Liu Shi harbored some means of detection...
If Lin Yuan showcased abilities, it might attract the attention of the divine weapon, resulting in irreversible outcomes.
It's known that divine weapons consume humans.
The stronger one's abilities and vitality, the more "delicious" they become to a divine weapon.
Those with inherently powerful souls are considered feasts, bound to the weapon master to be savored slowly.
In both abundant Qi and powerful soul, who in the Thirty-Six Nations could compare to Lin Yuan?
If Lin Yuan's aura were leaked, the divine weapon of the Great Yan Dynasty would certainly go berserk.
Not only this nation's weapon but those of the other 35 would all awaken to share Lin Yuan as a feast.
Thus, since learning of divine weapons, Lin Yuan minimized his exposure.
Even if he must act, it is far from the ancestral land of the weapons and away from those like Emperor Liu Shi who have interacted with them.
It’s not that Liu Shi would betray his son, but some matters simply aren’t within his control, perhaps even unbeknownst to him.
"I've perfectly integrated this world's cultivation system into my martial path. My current level surpasses the Martial Saint. Let's call this realm the 'Martial God' realm."
Lin Yuan thought while sitting cross-legged.
The Martial God realm is freed from physical shackles, containing divine insights of the incredible kind.
The Taiji Yin Yang way constantly refines his "divine" aspect like a grindstone.
In the main world, the Martial God realm is roughly between the second and third stages of the third tier.
Lin Yuan's cultivation path relies on the physical body as a foundation, the Taiji way as a framework, and the myriad evolution paths of the main world as its flesh.
Now, by integrating the perfect body refinement method of this world, he's absorbed the best of all cultivation systems.
"However, progressing further won’t be easy," Lin Yuan mused, opening his eyes.
Crossing into the Martial God realm within six years since arriving in this world was largely due to past accumulations.
If not for the time spent integrating the perfect body refinement method, he would have reached it a year or two sooner.
But that's where the advantages end; the road ahead needs to be explored further.
Even with heaven-defying comprehension, future cultivation won't be as efficient as the initial six years.
"This world's stay allows for a hundred sixty years—it's only been six, so there’s time," Lin Yuan reminded himself, closing his eyes to continue cultivating.
With Lin Yuan in hiding and divine weapons in the open, as long as he didn’t court death, the divine weapons wouldn’t detect him.
His heaven-defying comprehension allowed constant improvements, rendering the most daunting hurdles as merely time-consuming challenges.
As the Great Yan Dynasty cultivated a new divine weapon master, the political situation within the Thirty-Six Nations of Central Plains stabilized.
Their confidence reestablished, the Great Yan Dynasty grew stronger in negotiations with other nations.
With external threats quelled, internal governance was all that remained.
Emperor Liu Shi wasn’t a foolish ruler.
Coupled with occasional counsel from Lin Yuan, the nation's strength steadily grew, especially with Lin Yuan's initiatives to bolster trade with other nations, opening new trade routes, and enriching the populace.
This also earned Lin Yuan widespread support.
His actions promised the dynasty at least another generation of prosperity.
History saw many instances of capable fathers and incompetent sons leading to dynastic rise and fall.
But with Lin Yuan's evident competence and political acumen, he was more than fit to succeed the emperor.
The court largely respected Lin Yuan.
Even the Grand Tutor openly admitted his inferiority to Lin Yuan before Emperor Liu Shi.
Afterward, seeking to save face, what choice did he have?
Nothing but to praise Lin Yuan ardently.
It's not he lacked competence; it’s just that Lin Yuan is excessively extraordinary.
Some courtiers initially doubted, speculating how a mere child could be so accomplished, urging the Grand Tutor to retire due to senility.
However, facing Lin Yuan, they found themselves speechless, unable to retort.
After Lin Yuan demonstrated his talents again before other ministers, exercising a balanced approach of reward and discipline, his prestige naturally grew.
Emperor Liu Shi quietly observed, struggling to hide his growing satisfaction.
When it came to managing people and balancing powers, Lin Yuan seemed innately adept.
Liu Shi had expended much effort to bring the court under control, partly due to the legitimacy of his rule.
Yet Lin Yuan, not even that old...
Time passed, and so it was that twenty years went by.
(The End of the Chapter)