A few minutes ago, in the Banquet Hall of the third level of the Ethren City.

Crown Prince Hadre looked towards his right and saw his two brothers from different mothers, seated. They were the Second Prince, Keith Ethren, and the Third Prince, Alexi Ethren.

His two brothers seemed to notice his gaze as well as they turned to look at him on this grand occasion.

One's lips widened with a hidden intent and the other smiled genuinely as if he didn't have anything of concern behind that smile.

Crown Prince Hadre's brows twitched. He knew that his second brother has always been devious and cunning, so their battle behind the scenes was quite intense over the current century.

However, for his third brother who supposedly did nothing to target the throne even though he was worthier than the two of them in terms of cultivation because of the age difference, his third brother, Alexi Ethren gave him a sense of inscrutability and imperceptible danger.

They all then looked away at the same time, each one plotting their own thoughts in their minds.

In the seat of honor, Emperor Kaiser Ethren nodded his head in appreciation when he saw his three prodigal sons be seated near to him out of the many spread out in the Banquet Hall.

In the past. he didn't think that he would have many sons in the future. He couldn't help but think back.

After ascending the throne, he had fathered twenty princesses with various women in his harem before managing to father his first son.

His first son, Hadre Ethren had been given birth to by the Empress, Iona Ethren twenty years after he ascended the throne. At that time, he was 471 years old. When he ascended the throne, he was around 451 years old.

Honestly, he didn't think that he wouldn't manage to father a worthy male heir, but after twenty years and many tries, he finally fathered Hadre Ethren. This further entrenched the Empress, Iona Ethren's seat to be beside him as the Empress.

Then by actively procreating, he tried to birth another son but it was of no use as if he had been plagued by a curse. He birthed another twenty-five daughters before finally giving birth to his second son.

His second son, Keith Ethren had been given birth to by one of his royal concubines after thirty years of hard work after the First Prince had been born.

And as if being cursed by the heavens for a century, he no longer birthed any son and he became half-crazed, ruining the lives of many women in the process like the palace maids, commoners, trying to impregnate all of them into birthing a prince.

At one point in that cursed century, as if being possessed by a heart demon, he even ordered his over-populating female children to be silenced!

Hundred and twenty years later, his third son, Alexi Ethren had been given birth in another territory after he had taken a liking to an exotic woman from another territory. It was rather an exhilarating encounter, and surprisingly, she birthed a son after a year, hence, he took the baby with him, Alexi Ethren as the Third Prince, shocking the Empire.

After all, there was a long pause of more than a century before he birthed another Prince.

Furthermore, after birthing the Third Prince, he gave birth to more sons as if the curse plaguing him had been lifted, but instead, they all turned out to be more or less useless in terms of talent and cultivation, with most of them becoming wastrels while the other becoming licentious and frivolous characters.

In his 499 years as the Emperor of the Ethren Empire, he spent most of the time, sleeping with his harem consisting of more than five hundred women, hence, he had more than a thousand children altogether!

"To think Alexi would be the most promising out of the three prodigies I fathered... Perhaps, I've made a mistake in not taking his mother with him..." Emperor Kaiser Ethren languidly commented, not at all feeling remorse even though he said he made a mistake.

Alexi Ethren, the Third Prince didn't have support in the Royal Palace, and he grew up in no one's care. He stuck out like a sore thumb, in the beginning, finding trouble with everyone, even the Emperor and the Empress, making a scene demanding to see his mother.

After reaching the Revolving Core Stage in Essence Gathering Cultivation at a young age, Alexi Ethren disappeared from the Ethren Empire and made his living in unknown regions before finally returning back to the Empire.

At that time, he was around three hundred years old and a Law Dominion Expert! This alone didn't garner any tumultuous waves in the Empire but the fact that he was at the Peak-Level of Law Dominion Stage at an age of three hundred sent enormous waves, even stirring the Emperor's heart.

For this reason, he had let Alexi Ethren govern the entire southeast region. A few decades have pa.s.sed since then but it seemed like he didn't involve himself in any power struggle.

"Honestly, he's the promising son I have out of the three, but it seems like he has no interest in becoming an Emperor whatsoever..."

Empress Iona Ethren frowned as she listened to the Emperor. She glanced at Alexi Ethren's harmless face and found him to be an eyesore.

She felt that only her son, Hadre Ethren should deserve to become the next Emperor of the Ethren Empire! In that way, she can retain her power and become the Empress Dowager in the future!

At that time, she would possess both status and power while not having to entertain the Emperor actively anymore!

"One might think that he is the most promising son but what if his cultivation path stops at the Peak-Level of the Seventh Stage? Wouldn't that be a cause for depression if he becomes the Emperor?"

Empress Iona casually commented, "His foundation is perhaps incredibly weak..."

"Or he chanced upon his own lucky chance..." Emperor Kaiser Ethren smiled back at Empress Iona as he interrupted.

Empress Iona smiled back but inwardly she was fuming in anger.

"Haha, don't get mad." Kaiser Ethren beamed, "Although he is the best, he certainly isn't fit for being an Emperor. With how he treats the low-cla.s.s people, I find it increasingly disconcerting to even call him my child. I don't know what he experienced in the past when he survived without our Empire's protection but it will be better if he stops doing that, otherwise, I would just have to rely on our son or my second son to lead the Empire as the Emperor next."

Empress Iona grinned, "Of course, it is my child Hadre who is going to lead the Empire next."

"Are you sure? When I abdicate the throne next year because of the Ethren Empire's Tradition, the next Emperor will be decided by me and the Royal Protectors who are at the Mid-Level Law Sea Stage. We each have one vote, and my two sons are working hard to make those Royal Protectors cast a vote for them."

"My second son, Keith, has rather done this banquet, unique to my tastes... See all those tantalizing dishes? He has even personally hunted a Low-Level King Beast Stage Magical Beast from the Sunset Tear Mountain for me..." Emperor Kaiser Ethren teasingly shot a look, "Who knows? Perhaps, my single vote can become the turning point in who becomes the Emperor..."

Empress Iona blinked and cast a lewd gaze at her husband, "Perhaps you won't be thinking the same after tonight..."

"Oh... I'm looking forward to it then..." Kaiser Ethren cast a l.u.s.tful glance at his Empress.

Today was his last birthday as the Emperor of this Empire, so he was rather looking forward to what will happen during this day.

"The envoys from the Alstreim Family have arrived!"