Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1022 The Changing Situation in Xianyang: More and More People Are Participating!

"Strong...too strong..." He withdrew his fist, looking at his unscathed hand, not even a scratch. The skin on the back of his hand was only slightly pale from the instantaneous impact, but it quickly returned to its rosy color. This wasn't just a surge in attack power; his body's defense and ability to withstand recoil had also increased by several orders of magnitude! Normally, if flesh and blood were to directly confront granite, the stone would shatter, and at the very least, the bones in his hand would be fractured or even pulverized. But now...

He quickly made a mental estimate. If he had to quantify his martial prowess, assuming that before his breakthrough, with the peak of the thirteenth level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique and other miscellaneous skills, his martial prowess would be around 110 points, then now, he felt that his strength had more than doubled, probably reaching over 230 points! This was a leap beyond just one realm! It was a pity that the system didn't seem to provide such a concrete data panel, otherwise he really wanted to see that soaring number with his own eyes.

Moreover, he keenly sensed that the improvement went far beyond mere strength and defense. He closed his eyes, concentrated, and carefully sensed the surroundings. The previously imperceptible, extremely faint air currents now seemed to transform into tangible threads, gently brushing against his skin, bringing a clear sense of direction and force. The murmuring sound of the underground river in the distance became exceptionally clear; he could even distinguish the "drip-drop" sound of water droplets falling from stalactites and hitting puddles.

The air in my nasal cavity, which was originally mixed with the smells of rocks, dust, and decay, now seemed to contain an extremely faint metallic scent from minerals in deeper layers of the earth, as well as the faint vitality emanating from certain special fungi in the distance. My vision also seemed to have become sharper; the outlines of objects in the darkness became clearer, and I could even catch the trails of dust particles floating in the air.

The five senses were enhanced in an all-round and amazing way!

An irrepressible smile, a mixture of elation and confidence, slowly curved Gao Yao's lips, finally blossoming into a wide, unrestrained grin. This smile dispelled the gloom and oppression of the past few days. His transformation in strength was real, tangible, and a confidence he could truly grasp!

"Enough, that's enough!" he cried out in his heart. Before, he had some plans for how to escape this underground palace that had imprisoned him for so long, but he always felt the road ahead was fraught with danger and too many variables. But now, with his superhuman strength and the sharpness of the divine weapon, the Crimson Sky Sword, even if this underground palace were an impenetrable fortress, he was confident he could carve a passage through it! Moreover, this place wasn't completely sealed off; there were ventilation holes, and by following the airflow, the chances of finding an exit were extremely high.

With this in mind, Gao Yao no longer hesitated, a resolute glint in his eyes. He had to act immediately; every moment he lingered here meant more unforeseen events could occur in the outside world. He quickly organized the tools and supplies he might need in the system space, held the Crimson Sky Sword at his waist in the most convenient position, took a deep breath of the smoke-filled air that swelled with power, and strode resolutely towards the direction from which the air currents were most prominent in his memory.

Meanwhile, in the city of Xianyang on the surface, another storm was brewing, its unpredictability no less than the life-and-death transformation that Gao Yao experienced in the underground palace.

Xiao He's return, and the news he brought back about the Emperor's "seclusion" to discuss the issue of succession, was like a boulder thrown into a seemingly calm but deep pool. The ripples spread rapidly, affecting the nerves of everyone at the heart of power. Such a matter was virtually impossible to conceal, especially in Xianyang, the heart of the empire's power. Those astute officials, with their keen senses and influence throughout the court, had already detected something amiss from the slightest clues.

A storm is brewing. An invisible tension begins to permeate the air above Xianyang Palace, so oppressive it's hard to breathe. The once clear-cut factional boundaries are becoming blurred and complicated, and private interactions, visits, and secret talks suddenly become more frequent.

These past few days, the place with the most frequent visits and a constant stream of carriages and horses in front of the mansion is the residence of the eldest son, Gao Lin, and the second son, Gao Zhe.

Gao Lin, as the eldest son of the legitimate wife and the highly respected Princess Lü Zhi, naturally possessed an absolute advantage in inheriting the throne, both in terms of patriarchal clan system and the power of his maternal relatives. He was a representative of tradition and the rightful next emperor in the eyes of many old ministers who adhered to etiquette.

However, his weaknesses were equally apparent. Even when Gao Yao was still in charge of the court, this eldest son was frequently reprimanded for his indecisiveness and lack of decisiveness. Even though the court officials dared not speak openly, they all knew in private that Gao Lin's character was weak and timid, overly reliant on the opinions of his mother, Empress Lü, and powerful ministers like Xiao He, lacking the strategic vision and decisive leadership expected of a ruler.

In peaceful times, he might be able to maintain the status quo, but with the empire newly established, facing internal troubles and surrounded by powerful enemies, many people have a question mark in their minds about whether he can turn the tide.

In contrast, the situation was quite different for the second son, Gao Zhe. As the second son, he was naturally at a disadvantage according to the ancient tradition of primogeniture, which dictated that the eldest son should be chosen over the most virtuous. What was even more troublesome was that his mother, Lady Yu Shu, was of Tu'an ethnicity, a foreign race. In the context of a unified empire, this was a significant stain on Gao Zhe's identity, placing him under considerable original sin from the very beginning of the struggle for the throne.

However, Gao Zhe's strength lay within himself. Perhaps due to differing educational philosophies, Lady Yu Shu's discipline of him leaned more towards guidance than constraint, granting Gao Zhe considerable freedom to develop his interests and talents beyond the prescribed royal curriculum.

This allowed Gao Zhe to demonstrate exceptional talent and enthusiasm in both literary and military affairs. Although his academic performance was average, he was quite accomplished in horsemanship, archery, swordsmanship, and spear fighting, earning him recognition from some of the younger officers in the army.

Most importantly, Gao Zhe was highly opinionated, with his own methods and logic in doing things. He knew how to assess the situation and had begun consciously cultivating relationships with court officials and building his own power base early on. His initiative, ambition, and the composure and decisiveness he displayed that seemed beyond his years gave many officials who were disappointed with Gao Lin or hoped to gain more benefits during the power transition a new hope and a new investment opportunity.

What they admired was Gao Zhe's potential for independence and strength, which differed from his brother's.

Thus, undercurrents within Xianyang began to quietly converge and clash around these two most likely contenders for the throne. Gao Lin, relying on his legitimacy and righteousness, gained the support of the Lü clan, a powerful family of imperial relatives, and most of the conservative civil officials. Gao Zhe, on the other hand, attracted the attention of a group of young military officers, some pragmatic officials, and those who hoped to disrupt the existing order and make a fortune through speculation, thanks to his personal abilities and charisma.