Zhang Lie beckoned the ninth prince over. "Sit down. We'll hear this information together."

Heijie Niu began, "The king of the realm's health is declining day by day. I believe he'll be dead within two or three years."

Zhang Lie stilled. "Two or three years? Is the king of the realm's health that poor?"

"After all, he's lived for thousands of years. Even though he's supported by the will of the world, his body's still going to decay away sooner or later."

"Tell me more about the battle for succession."

"There are three separate factions: one for the crown prince, and two for the other princes."

Heijie Niu picked a branch off the ground and drew two large circles in the dirt, one which he labeled the crown prince and the other which he labeled the other princes.

"Of...