After returning to the Meng Residence, Meng Jingzhou found his father and detailed the events that had occurred at the Second Prince's official residence.

Upon hearing this, Meng Potian was not surprised by the Second Prince's efforts to win over Lu Yang.

He looked at Lu Yang with a smile, "Among the nine princes, it's not only the Second Prince who wants to make contact with Little Lu. It seems he is the first one who couldn't restrain himself, which is normal, considering his usual inability to remain composed."

"Not just him?" Meng Jingzhou was surprised, it turned out Old Lu was quite popular.

"Since the Crown Prince is not very keen on succeeding to the throne, it's inevitable that some princes become interested in it. According to the intelligence we've gathered, the Fourth Prince and Fifth Prince are also willing to compete for it."

"Is the throne really that attractive?" Meng Jingzhou thought to himself that the throne was useless; he wouldn't want it even if it were offered to him.

Meng Potian glanced at his son and Lu Yang. They were all family, so there was nothing he couldn't say, "That is the throne, bearing the State Destiny, carrying the will of countless people, the one who sits below one and above tens of thousands.

As long as the one in the forbidden area of the Imperial Palace doesn't intervene, then Emperor Xia is the most respected person under heaven, with no one who dares to defy his will."

In the Spiritual Space, upon hearing Meng Potian's words, Lu Yang pondered; it seemed to be true, Emperor Xia did indeed appear to be a highly respected individual.

"Why didn't I feel this way before?" Lu Yang wondered, recalling his previous impression of Emperor Xia.

Then he remembered, the first time he met Emperor Xia was when Fairy Eternity wanted Emperor Xia to be the fourth in charge.

Then it was Fairy Eternity serving as the Acting Sect Master, challenging not only the masters of the Four Great Immortal Sects but also Emperor Xia, which frightened Emperor Xia into granting him various privileges such as entering the court without bowing and ascending the hall bearing a sword.

With these experiences, plus Fairy Eternity constantly nagging about the Ancient Immortal's embarrassing moments, it was hard for him to feel any awe towards Emperor Xia.

"You have also had contact with Great Yu Cultivators, especially since your Seek Dao Sect captured Master of All Laws from the Great Yu Alliance, as well as Wu Youdao, the sixth Emperor Yu, and the second Imperial Teacher of Great Yu. Why have they chosen to awaken at this time? Is it merely for immortality? No, they have the intention to replace Great Xia and rebuild Great Yu."

Meng Potian did not know that Wu Youdao and the second Imperial Teacher of Great Qian had also been captured by the Seek Dao Sect.

"It is said that the one in the forbidden area of the Imperial Palace does not take action unless the life or death of Great Xia is at stake, thus sitting on the throne would actually mean being the master of the Central Continent."

"Exactly what realm is that person from the forbidden area of the Imperial Palace?" Meng Jingzhou had long heard of an ancestor from the Jiang Family in the forbidden area of the Imperial Palace.

Meng Potian's expression turned grave as if discussing some sort of taboo, and slowly let out two words.

"Immortal."

"Oh, I guessed as much."

Fairy Eternity and Meng Jingzhou accepted this fact calmly, showing none of the intense emotional changes Meng Potian had expected.

Both Great Qian and Great Yu were founded by Immortals, so it was only logical for Great Xia to have an Immortal as well.

Meng Potian's face twitched slightly, wondering what these two young men had encountered outside, for they seemed entirely unimpressed by the notion of an Immortal.

"No wonder our ancestors couldn't beat those of the Jiang Family," Meng Jingzhou understood, knowing why their ancestors had lost; Jiang Pingan was an Immortal, and it was impossible for a mere gentleman like Meng to win against him.

"Our ancestors were really disappointing, had they won, I would be the Crown Prince now."

Meng Jingzhou felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier, realizing that the task of producing an Immortal for the Meng Family had fallen on him.

"So now you understand why the throne is so important; it's akin to being the spokesperson for an Immortal."

While they were speaking, the door was knocked on, and housekeeper Xu entered.

"Master, someone is here to repay a debt."

The housekeeper Xu rarely referred to Meng Potian as "big brother," as calling him "big brother" gave off the impression that they were some sort of underworld force, especially with a phrase like "big brother, someone is here to repay a debt," making the Meng Family seem like some kind of illegal operation.

The Meng Family had always been law-abiding in their dealings, unlike a demonic sect which had never registered as an illegal organization.

"Who is it?" Meng Potian asked. Normally, mundane matters of lending and repaying debt could be handled by Xu You without necessitating the involvement of the family head.

For Xu You to inform him meant the person's identity was not low, or the amount being repaid was substantial.

"The man claims to be Shi Huagu, wishing to repay the ten billion Spirit Stones he once owed."

Meng Potian nodded, "One billion spirit stones is indeed a sizable sum."

"Shi Huagu... I remember he is the one who opened the Come Again Barbecue chain, right?" Meng Potian had some impression of this newly risen commercial prodigy.

"But I don't recall us ever lending him money."

Especially when it involved lending one billion spirit stones, Meng Potian would definitely have remembered.

"The promissory note has been checked, it is indeed issued by our Meng Family. The only thing is that the debtor's column has been altered by causality divine ability, it seems he voluntarily took on the previous debtor's responsibility."

Meng Potian was moved by this, hardly believing there could be such a person of deep feeling and loyalty in the world.

"Come, take me to see him."

Meng Potian had just stepped one foot out the door when he turned his head and shouted to Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, "You two probably haven't seen the repayment process before. Come take a look and gain some experience."

Even if Meng Potian hadn't said anything, Meng Jingzhou would have wanted to join the excitement.

The name Shi Huagu was all too familiar to him.

...

The Meng Residence's guest reception area.

There were many private rooms in the reception area, differing in quality according to the business value.

Shi Huagu was nervously waiting in a superior private room for someone from the Meng Family who could make decisions to arrive.

"Don't be nervous, you've already saved up one billion spirit stones, haven't you?" Sect Leader Mu Baiyi had also come. Shi Huagu's debt, including the issues left by the previous leader, was somewhat official business. He had accompanied him to prevent any hitches along the way.

"At last I don't have to fear the lightning strikes anymore," Shi Huagu sighed with relief. He had waited for four long years for this day, enduring a thunder tribulation each month, fifty tribulations in total. It was a miracle that he was still alive.

He should never have been so reckless as to steal Qin Haoran's treasure in the first place.

This was no treasure at all!

Had it not been for the Heavenly Court Sect showing him the way, he would have had no idea how many lifetimes it would take to accumulate so many spirit stones.

"Are you Shi Huagu?"

Meng Potian appeared with Meng Jingzhou and the possessed Lu Yang, his face beaming with a warm and sincere smile.

"Yes."

Shi Huagu noticed Meng Jingzhou and Lu Yang, and was slightly startled, not expecting these two to be present.

He had met Lu Yang once when he sought Tao Yaoye for advertising, while he had only seen portraits of Meng Jingzhou.

Mu Baiyi had met both of them in the corpse inn in Wild State.

To Shi Huagu, they were just two talented juniors, so he didn't think much of it. He handed over Qin Haoran's promissory note, as well as the storage ring containing one billion spirit stones, to Meng Potian, anxiously waiting for the outcome.

Meng Potian first inspected the promissory note carefully. The Meng Family always followed the rules; they wouldn't take money that wasn't theirs.

Then he checked the storage ring three times. The Meng Family had its principles; the money that was theirs couldn't be a cent short.

"Mmm, the promissory note is authentic, and there are indeed one billion spirit stones in the storage ring."

Upon hearing this, Shi Huagu let out a sigh of relief, standing up to take his leave, but Meng Potian stopped him.

"Wait a moment, you haven't paid the interest yet."