"My Rabbit really is a thrifty little rabbit who knows how to run a household!"
Xiao Bai happily counted the spirit stones it had earned, then took out the used underwear it had stolen last night. Once it auctioned them off, it could buy some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
"Qin Feng's adolescent underwear, starting bid: 20 spirit stones!"
"I bid 25 spirit stones!"
"..."
The young ladies of the Moon God Palace were serious about men. The moment the used underwear went up for auction, the entire crowd erupted in screams.
Whoosh!
A sharp whistle split the air, growing louder amid the endless forest. Qin Feng's eyes snapped open beneath the waterfall, a fierce glint flashing in them as waves of invisible Sword Qi surged around him.
Boom!!
The invisible Sword Qi tore through the waterfall in an instant and collided with the incoming energy. Water exploded from the falls, spraying in every direction.
Two beauties, one tall and one short, appeared beside the waterfall. They were Moon God and Zi Yuan. Unlike seven years ago, Zi Yuan had now shed her youthful awkwardness. Every frown and smile of hers brimmed with alluring charm.
Word was that she had spent these years cultivating alongside Moon God, practicing some powerful technique that only women could learn.
"Not bad. Your grasp of sword intent and the sword heart grows deeper by the day."
Moon God regarded Qin Feng with great satisfaction. She hadn't broken the palace rules all those years ago for nothing by making him the Moon God Palace's God's Son. One day, he would make the Moon God Palace far stronger.
"I have to be strong enough to marry Big Sister Moon God. At least I'm aware of that much."
Qin Feng gave her a roguish one-sided eyebrow raise, showing off his physique in front of Moon God.
Thud!
Zi Yuan angrily stepped forward and kicked Qin Feng into the waterfall. "You've been eyeing my aunt since we were kids! I'm a beauty standing right here, and you don't even notice me?!"
"You've certainly grown."
Qin Feng surfaced and took a look. He didn't know what Zi Yuan had been eating all these years, but she had definitely grown bigger—big enough that one hand couldn't hold them.
"Pervert!!"
Flustered by his teasing, Zi Yuan's face turned bright red, and she started play-fighting with Qin Feng again.
"You two, stop fooling around!"
Moon God had grown used to Qin Feng's teasing. She said calmly, "Qin Feng, the Yin Moon Dynasty's Death Elimination Tournament, held once every ten years, is coming up in a few days. Are you interested in taking part?"
"The Death Elimination Tournament?"
Qin Feng furrowed his brow. He had heard of the tournament.
Ever since the Yin Moon Dynasty's reforms a hundred years ago, the Death Elimination Tournament had become the key to the dynasty's rise.
It was much like the gaokao. The great powers of the Yin Moon Dynasty sent their outstanding youths to compete, and everyone who passed would receive the dynasty's full support.
Powerful instructors and abundant cultivation resources—it had everything one could ask for.
The only difference from the gaokao was that, after crossing the single-plank bridge amid a sea of competitors, those who failed the gaokao could try again. The Death Elimination Tournament was exactly what its name suggested: only those who made it across alive would pass, and many would remain in the arena forever.
Qin Feng didn't care much about life and death. What mattered to him was whether he might meet the Son of Heaven he loved.
Just then—
Cheers rang out from the young ladies nearby. It sounded like they were celebrating that one of them had bought the underwear for 100 spirit stones.
"White Rice Bucket!!"
With a light touch, Qin Feng skimmed across the water and landed behind Xiao Bai.
At the sound of that name, Xiao Bai bristled and shouted furiously, "My Rabbit's name is Qin Xiaobai! Qin Xiaobai! Qin Xiaobai! If anyone calls My Rabbit a white rice bucket again, My Rabbit will bite them to death!"
"Sure, White Rice Bucket!"
Qin Feng nodded to show he'd heard, but made no effort to change his habit.
So that was why his underwear had gone missing before he'd even washed it. This rabbit had taken it out and put it up for public auction.
"It's Moon God!"
The young ladies scattered in a panic, like schoolchildren who'd just run into their homeroom teacher.
"Xiao Bai, you've gone too far!"
Zi Yuan stood to the side, puffing out her cheeks as she strongly condemned Xiao Bai's actions.
"My Rabbit didn't want it to turn out this way, but My Rabbit is hungry..." ??
Xiao Bai put on a pitiful expression. Life had been so bitter lately.
It used to have no Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to eat, but at least it got carrots on time. Lately, for some reason, even the carrots had stopped coming.
If it didn't sell something soon, it would starve to death.
"Ah..."
Qin Feng sighed helplessly. It wasn't that he didn't want to feed the rabbit; he simply had no Villain Points left.
His own life was terribly hard too. If he couldn't find another victim—no, Son of Heaven—soon, he was thinking of switching careers and becoming a flower-picking thief.
The pay might be a little low, but at least it would keep him fed.
Just then—
A young lady came to report, "Your Highness, God's Son, there's a Heavenly Pride outside who wishes to challenge you."
"Again!"
Qin Feng felt utterly exasperated.
Ever since he had been named the Archaic Era's Number One Heavenly Pride, people had kept coming to the Moon God Palace to challenge him. But none of them was the Son of Heaven he sought, so he couldn't muster the slightest interest.
The young lady continued, "Your Highness, God's Son, this person is no ordinary man. He's a Student of Heaven's Son from the Great Xia Royal Family."
"Student of Heaven's Son!!"
Qin Feng frowned. The term wasn't unfamiliar to him.
If he remembered correctly—and he was sure he did—during the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination system and the use of students of the emperor had helped bring the era of the Great Families to an end, greatly strengthening central authority.
What was the Emperor of Great Xia trying to accomplish by doing this? Was he hoping to use the opportunity to weaken the Great Families?
Soon—
Qin Feng found the relevant records.
Seven years ago, the Emperor of Great Xia had suddenly announced that he would take disciples. Any Heavenly Pride he selected would become a Student of Heaven's Son.
The news set all of Great Xia ablaze. Being the emperor's disciple sounded like an unparalleled honor, and even the Great Families could hardly resist the appeal of the title Student of Heaven's Son.
Thus began a grand selection. As expected, the Great Families' Heavenly Prides won by a landslide, but a large number of talented youths from humble backgrounds also emerged.
The Emperor of Great Xia kept his promise and took the Great Families' Heavenly Prides as disciples. He didn't overlook the youths from humble backgrounds, either, accepting them as provisional Students of Heaven's Son.
"That old fox really is targeting the Great Families!"
Qin Feng saw at once what the Emperor of Great Xia was plotting.
The title Student of Heaven's Son sounded supremely prestigious, but in truth, these students were tools of the emperor.
The Heavenly Prides from humble backgrounds had no backing. They could only attach themselves to the Emperor of Great Xia and become a sword in his fight against the Great Families.
The Great Families' Heavenly Prides, meanwhile, had a master-disciple bond with him. Refusing to obey would be treasonous; in terms of moral high ground, the Emperor of Great Xia had already won.
At the same time, Qin Feng was curious who had been advising the Emperor of Great Xia. Based on his ten years as a veteran reader, that person was very likely the Son of Heaven he had been searching for over the past seven years.
Rumble!!
A rumble came from the front hall, along with the Student of Heaven's Son shouting abuse.
"Qin Feng, you've got the nerve to be a traitor, but do you have the nerve to come out? I know you're home! Stop hiding in there and keeping quiet..."
Before you continue