Chapter 927: The Battle for the Throne

At this point, the Grand Elder's tone became noticeably more excited. "At first, the matchmaking tournament was only supposed to be a small-scale event, held in Kali City. But for some reason, the scale expanded. After all, there's more than one Emperor position available! If someone marries a future Emperor, their chances of becoming an Emperor rise significantly. In the end, the event turned into a stage to showcase participants' power and value. Many eleventh-order powerhouses have announced their intent to participate.

"An Emperor seat is just far too tempting, and there isn't just one available but

three

. Practically every eleventh-order person on the continent is interested. This is the best opportunity in centuries. Anyone who can secure one of the positions will become one of the most powerful beings on the continent. Who wouldn't want a shot at that?

"Since the number of participants simply exploded, the Ancestral Court decided to move the tournament here. Actually, the Emperors of the Solstice Empire lobbied for it. It's not like demons and nymphs are prohibited from marrying each other, so we couldn't pass up this opportunity. Everyone hopes to seize one of the Emperor seats. And so, what began as a matchmaking event is now being announced as the 'Battle for the Throne.' Apparently, few care whether they actually marry a city lord or another. What the eleventh-order people really want is their own Emperor seat. If someone shows dominance in this competition, they may gain full support to ascend. Things are boiling over. More than a hundred contestants have already signed up, and all of them are top-tier eleventh-order powerhouses."

Tang San remained calm. "And what does this have to do with us?"

Before the Grand Elder could reply, a familiar voice rang out. "It actually has a lot to do with your clan, and with you specifically. If you want to become an Emperor, you'll need this kind of opportunity. I highly suggest that you consider joining."

Hearing the voice, Tang San quickly stood up and bowed. A figure had just appeared not far from him, none other than the Sunborne Nymph Emperor.

"I heard your cultivation ended, so I've come to check in. You've really got patience, I have to say. Over forty days in seclusion... That's quite something for someone who's not an Emperor," the Sunborne Nymph Emperor said with a smile.

Tang San replied wryly, "I don't even know how it happened, Your Majesty. Maybe I just felt too at ease here in the Ancestral Court. It made deep meditation come easily."

The Sunborne Nymph Emperor looked him over and nodded in approval. "Not bad, you've actually made progress again. Your Blue Gold Tree clan might not excel in combat, but when it comes to advancing in cultivation, you're certainly not falling behind anyone."

He then turned to the assembled elders. "You may all leave."

The elders simply bowed without a word and took their leave. They were naturally eager to find out what the discussion was about, but seeing how respectfully Tang San treated the Sunborne Nymph Emperor, they naturally understood their standing. Considering that their clan leader hadn't shown this level of deference even to the Soul Capturer Nymph Emperor, the Sunborne Nymph Emperor was clearly not someone that could be slighted.

Tang San invited the Sunborne Nymph Emperor to sit, then closed the door and stood respectfully by the sofa.

The Emperor was pleased with Tang San's show of courtesy. Waving a hand, he said, "No need to be so formal. We're on the same side, and you're an official city lord now as well. You should carry yourself with authority. Sit."

"Yes," Tang San replied, finally taking a seat at a respectful angle across from him. Internally, though, he sneered.

If I don't act respectful, who knows what you'll think?

Given how sensitive the neutrality issue was, he had to make sure the Emperors of the Solstice Empire, and the Sunborne Nymph Emperor most of all, believed he stood firmly with them.

The Sunborne Nymph Emperor said, "Let's talk about your neutrality first. We in the Solstice Empire already passed the motion, as you probably expected already, and I've spoken to Celestial Fox about it as well. He's generally in favor but still hesitant. He hasn't given a definitive answer; he only said he'd decide after the Battle for the Throne. You should understand what that means: On the surface, this is a matchmaking event, but in truth, it's a contest of strength between the Solstice Empire and the Empyrean Dominion.

"If both sides are evenly matched, then each could claim one Emperor seat and the third could be given to you as a neutral party. That would be ideal. But if one side is clearly stronger, it could get messy. A fight for dominance is inevitable. That's why I suggest you participate in the Battle for the Throne. You may not be a combat expert, but the Ancestral Tree's legacy granted you that Life Deprivation Domain. Even if you're up against a stronger opponent, anyone caught in your domain could fall. After all, you even dared to absorb

my

energy."

Tang San gave an awkward smile. Obviously, he hadn't returned the bloodline power he had taken from the Sunborne Nymph Emperor. Also obviously, he had no intention to do that, and the Emperor was far too proud to ask for it back.

The Sunborne Nymph Emperor continued, "Your Blue Gold Tree clan has been too weak for too long. If you want to have a word to say on this continent, even if that word is 'neutrality,' you need to show your value. In this competition, you don't need to win, but you

must

demonstrate your clan's worth before the strongest contenders. I've already come to an agreement with Celestial Fox about this matter; after the tournament, we'll hold a meeting at Council Mountain to discuss your neutrality. Whether your performance earns you favor will depend entirely on you."

Tang San tested the waters. "Your Majesty, if I were to win... would I really have to marry the Peacock Demon clan's leader?"

The Sunborne Nymph Emperor laughed. "You really think big. You beat one of our Great Nymph Kings and now you think you're invincible? It's not that simple. Those competing are the absolute strongest below the Emperor level. Your abilities are unique, yes, but do you think there's absolutely no one who can counter them? Your weaknesses are obvious. I wouldn't count on winning if I were you. But to answer your question: If you do win, wouldn't marrying the Peacock clan leader be great? By everybody's standards, she's quite the beauty. It wouldn't be a loss to anyone if you were to marry her. And your two clans are on opposite ends of the continent; that would make you the longest-distance couple in the history of the continent."

Tang San said, "Then I'll follow your advice and give it a try. But if I lose quickly, please don't be too hard on me."

The Sunborne Nymph Emperor gave him a sideways glance. "Lose too quickly, and forget about neutrality, even your bid for the Emperor seat could vanish just like that. We're all hoping for your ascension, because it would bring immense benefits to the Ancestral Court. But you should know that these top-tier eleventh-order demons and nymphs are downright starving for a shot at the throne. They've waited for decades. If you take a seat just because you're special, they'll never accept it. The Ancestral Court must remain fair, or the entire continent could fall into chaos. So you'd better perform. At the very least, don't get crushed early."

Tang San gave a bitter smile. "Alright. I'll do my best."

"Study your tactics well. And don't worry too much. Even if you can't become an Emperor now, I'll find a way to get you to that level eventually. With the Ancestral Tree's favor, it might be possible for you to reach Emperorhood without taking one of these three seats. The Ancestral Tree's life energy alone could push you across that threshold."