[Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.]

[The situation in the capital of the Great Yong Dynasty had undergone earth-shattering changes.]

[The voices supporting Ye Yu in the court were growing louder and more numerous.]

[This turn of events was completely unexpected to everyone.]

[The princes truly couldn’t understand how someone who merely threw around money and spirit stones could attract so many ministers to his side.]

[This was not only puzzling to them but also to Emperor Ye Kuiliang.]

[Some high-ranking officials, after reaching a certain position, no longer cared about money and spirit stones.]

[So why did they choose Ye Yu?]

[Ye Kuiliang immediately ordered an investigation.]

[Three days later, after reviewing the investigation results, Ye Kuiliang’s expression became grave.]

[In his view, Ye Yu, who only threw money and spirit stones around, had already successfully transformed.]

[Throwing money directly was the most inferior method.]

[Ye Yu’s favorite approach was to cater to their preferences.]

[For those who liked spiritual pets, he sent the very best.]

[Refused?]

[He would kill a pet in front of you and bring another the next day.]

[Still not satisfied?]

[Then he would kill again.]

[Forget about value; if the minister doesn’t like it, it’s a sin of the spiritual pet.]

[Antiques and martial arts techniques were treated the same way—take them if you want, destroy them if you don’t.]

[Being proactive was extreme!]

[The more difficult a minister was, the more Ye Yu was determined to deal with them.]

[Some said they didn’t want to participate in the princes’ struggles.]

[Ye Yu would immediately respond that there was no need for their participation in the struggle; sending gifts was entirely due to valuing their integrity.]

[He simply wanted to make friends.]

[Anyone who became a minister wasn’t a fool.]

[With such direct talk, what else could be said?]

[Moreover, a scholar would die for a true friend.]

[If a prince could show such respect and humility, then why not support him in a fight?]

[Thus, more and more people gathered around Ye Yu.]

[After reading the investigation report, Ye Kuiliang stood by the window for a long time.]

[His gaze was very complex.]

[Ye Yu’s actions, though seemingly wasteful, had actually maximized the allure of money and spirit stones.]

[Perhaps this kid could indeed buy his way to the position of crown prince.]

[In reality, Ye Kuiliang had overthought it.]

[Ye Yu was simply a prodigal.]

[After years of exploration, he discovered that directly giving spirit stones to ministers did not trigger his prodigal talent.]

[So Ye Yu began to change his tactics.]

[He started purchasing items that were grossly overpriced but not worth the cost, and gave them to different people according to their preferences.]

[Only when they accepted these gifts would Ye Yu trigger his prodigal talent.]

[If someone refused the items, he would be even more delighted.]

[Because at that moment, Ye Yu would personally destroy the expensive items he had bought.]

[This approach proved extremely effective.]

[His cultivation progressed rapidly.]

[Ye Yu also enjoyed the process immensely.]

[In just ten years, he had reached the peak of the Golden Core realm, only one step away from the Nascent Soul realm.]

[To conceal his true abilities, Ye Yu specially bought a high-priced concealment spiritual artifact.]

[He wore it daily and never made a move.]

[Only in this way could he freely indulge in his wasteful practices.]

[However, in recent years, there were very few people with true character.]

[This greatly disappointed Ye Yu.]

[So, one night a few days later, Ye Yu suddenly looked up.]

[Since he had almost finished winning over the ministers, he would focus on the princes next!]

[They must be the most distinguished ones.]

[When the time came, whatever they refused would be destroyed on the spot.]

[The saying goes well, I use my hands to fulfill the dream of being prodigal!]

[In the following days, Ye Yu sought out the Eighteenth Prince, continuously sending gifts.]

[Such enthusiasm immediately reminded the Eighteenth Prince of Ye Yu’s methods.]

[He was infuriated on the spot, and refused all the gifts sent.]

[Even though these were items he longed for but could not obtain.]

[Ye Yu, being rejected, was not angry but delighted.]

[He immediately began destroying these items at the Eighteenth Prince’s doorstep.]

[It was a sight that made people feel heartbroken.]

[And this operation by Ye Yu spread throughout the entire Great Yong Dynasty in just half a day.]

[Everyone thought Ye Yu had gone mad.]

[Addicted to wasting money, huh?]

[Starting to bribe his own brothers?]

[They had been striving for the title of crown prince since birth.]

[How could it be swayed just by money?]

[When a certain censor under the First Prince learned of this matter, he immediately went to the palace to accuse Ye Yu.]

[But the accusations failed, and he ended up receiving a beating.]

[What business is it of yours if brothers exchange gifts?]

[Ye Kuiliang’s attitude left everyone astonished.]

[Is he now so biased? Ignoring even formal accusations?]

[Even if you pretended to tell them you would reprimand Ye Yu as before, it would still be some sort of explanation.]

[But now, you don’t even bother with pretense.]

[Ye Kuiliang’s actions made many princes feel disheartened.]

[At the same time, the ministers aligned with Ye Yu began celebrating.]

[At this point, is there still a need to fight for the position of crown prince?]

[They had served the emperor for hundreds of years but had never seen him show such leniency to anyone.]

[Such behavior represents Ye Kuiliang’s attitude.]

[What else is there to say? Let’s celebrate!]

[However, in the Zhou Manor of the Great Yong Dynasty, Zhou Baiwan was still calculating accounts late into the night.]

[To be honest, over the years, Ye Yu’s frequency of withdrawing money had increased so much that Zhou Baiwan was barely managing.]

[But seeing victory was in sight, Zhou Baiwan had already resolved to endure, no matter the cost!]

[He was determined to see the Zhou family’s descendants ascend to the throne!]

[Even if it was a grandson rather than a direct descendant!]

[Half a month later, the Eighteenth Prince compromised.]

[He accepted Ye Yu’s gifts.]

[This action left Ye Yu quite perplexed.]

[What happened to the backbone?]

[The Eighteenth Prince told Ye Yu that he knew in his heart that, given the current situation, he was no longer in contention for the crown prince position.]

[So he would no longer resist and hoped Ye Yu would show him favor once he became emperor.]

[Ye Yu’s expression instantly became incredibly strange.]

[Eight years later.]

[Seven princes had already expressed their abandonment of the crown prince position to Ye Yu.]

[Everyone believed that in a few decades, Ye Yu would definitely conquer all the princes and become the crown prince.]

[And at this moment…]

[Ye Kuiliang voluntarily abdicated and announced that Ye Yu would become the new emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty.]

[By this year, Ye Yu had already reached the peak of the Divine Transformation realm.]