Knock, knock, knock~!
Early the next morning, Xu Nian'an's door was gently knocked on.
Still half-asleep, Xu Nian'an was helped up by a pair of icy hands. His nightclothes were gently removed and replaced with a custom-tailored Python Robe.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty... It's time to wash up."
Hearing the soft calls by his ear, Xu Nian'an reluctantly opened his mouth. The next moment, a soft object began gently brushing his teeth.
Gurgle, gurgle~
By the time it was time to rinse, Xu Nian'an's personal maid had already chosen a basin and was waiting for him to spit out the rinse water.
But Xu Nian'an turned his head, dodged the basin, and spat onto the bed he'd been sleeping in.
Crash~!!!
In an instant, a whole crowd of maids dropped to their knees before him.
"What happened?"
Just then, a feminine voice rang out, and Xu Fu strode over.
Seeing the wet patch on the bed and the foam left at the corner of Xu Nian'an's mouth, how could he not know what had just happened?
To be honest, Xu Nian'an wasn't all that high-minded.
Since he'd crossed into another world and become the ruler of a kingdom, couldn't he enjoy himself a little?
He wanted to indulge, but neither Long Xiaoyao nor Xu Fu liked his laid-back nature. They might dislike it, but they wouldn't dare say so aloud.
So they did their best to correct him.
At Long Xiaoyao's suggestion, Xu Nian'an had to meditate with him for the time it took an incense stick to burn, before the sun rose each morning.
It was supposed to clear his mind and benefit his health.
But Xu Nian'an's body was only six years old, to be precise. He was very prone to oversleeping, and he also had a bad habit.
He hated being woken up.
So Xu Nian'an would protest, occasionally smashing things and damaging objects in his palace, giving the people outside a little extra income.
Spitting his rinse water onto the bed was one of his masterpieces.
"You useless fools! You can't even serve His Majesty properly. Out of my way!"
Xu Fu kicked aside several maids in front of him, took the boots from a maid's tray, and slowly approached.
"Your Majesty, allow me to put on your boots."
Xu Nian'an said nothing, silently lifting his foot.
Once the boots were on, he slowly opened his eyes and kicked Xu Fu away.
He deftly took a towel from beside him and wiped the corner of his mouth.
"Get up."
The maid let out a sigh of relief at Xu Nian'an's words.
Though he was young, plenty of people had died by his hand.
Upon ascending the throne, he'd furiously executed officials and their entire clans, drowned Gu Lei's two-hundred-thousand-strong army, reclaimed lost territory, and conquered the Galloping Wolf Kingdom... At least five hundred thousand people had died because of Xu Nian'an or orders he'd given indirectly.
"What are you standing around for?"
"Change His Majesty's bedding! Do you want him to sleep in filth tonight?"
At that, Xu Nian'an slowly waved his hand.
"No need. Have the hotel manager replace the bed too."
"I don't like sleeping in an uncomfortable bed twice."
With that, Xu Nian'an set off ahead of the others.
The top floor of the hotel.
"Your Majesty is later than yesterday."
Xu Nian'an didn't answer Long Xiaoyao. He silently sat cross-legged, facing east.
Before long, a scarlet flame slowly appeared between his brows.
It flickered and gathered, until a pale glow emerged on the eastern horizon.
Behind Xu Nian'an, a massive sun slowly appeared.
Buzz, buzz, buzz~
As the fierce sunlight shone down and the temperature rose, it seemed ready to melt everything around them.
Long Xiaoyao slowly opened his hand.
Whoosh~
In an instant, a black Soul Power barrier surrounded Xu Nian'an.
After the time it took an incense stick to burn,
the sun behind Xu Nian'an slowly contracted and entered his body.
Bang~!
The instant the sun entered his body, a loud boom rang out from within him.
The next moment, Xu Nian'an opened his eyes in excitement.
His Soul Power had finally broken through after being stuck for so long.
[Level 19!]
Xu Nian'an had reached Level 19 Soul Power in just one month.
Of course.
That was because Xu Nian'an had discovered that cultivating with his Second Martial Soul, the Sun Martial Soul, released beneath the sun sped up his progress.
He'd worked himself to the bone for a whole month, but at least he'd finally broken through.
Still, his progress was a little slow.
But Xu Nian'an wasn't in a hurry. Before long, he'd be able to resolve his current predicament.
Phew~
"After observing for the past month, Your Majesty's cultivation speed beneath the sun is three to five times faster than usual."
"Is it because of his Martial Soul, or... I wonder if his speed would increase beneath the Moon Martial Soul at night..."
Hearing Long Xiaoyao's words, Xu Nian'an clenched his buttocks.
Good grief. It was bad enough having his mornings exploited. Now Long Xiaoyao had his eyes on the nights, too.
Cultivating at night wouldn't be a problem for now. The main thing was, that part of him wasn't usable for the time being.
But what about when he came of age?
No. He absolutely couldn't let this become the precedent.
Just as Xu Nian'an was thinking of a way to refuse, hurried footsteps came from behind him.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Someone from the imperial palace is here. They say the Tiandou Hunting Festival is being held today."
"Breakfast is being served there."
Xu Nian'an took advantage of the opening and got to his feet.
"Elder Long, it's getting late. Don't you think..."
At that, Long Xiaoyao slowly stood up.
In truth, Long Xiaoyao was by Xu Nian'an's side most of the time, keeping assassins and petty criminals from getting anywhere near him.
"Your Majesty, you attend to your business."
Outside the hotel, the lavish carriage of the Great Ming King set off alongside the knights of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
Halfway along the road, a figure in a black robe barged into the Great Ming carriage procession.
Rustle~
"Reporting to Your Majesty."
"We've found the Sunset Forest you asked us to locate."
"It's not far from the Royal Hunting Ground, east of Heaven Dou City."
Inside the carriage, Xu Nian'an slowly raised his head.
"And what about the thing I asked you to find inside the Sunset Forest?"
Hearing Xu Nian'an's question, the messenger hesitated.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, we've found the general area you described. But there's a poisonous mist formation there. We can't break through it for now, and we haven't found the real path into the valley. We'll need more time."
Xu Nian'an waved his hand.
"Do it as quickly as you can."
Xu Nian'an couldn't stay in the Heaven Dou Empire for long, but he was determined to plunder the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and its Immortal Herbs.
It was half past eight.
At last, they arrived at the Heaven Dou Royal Hunting Ground.
The moment Xu Nian'an's enormous procession arrived at the Royal Hunting Ground, it drew countless eyes.
This Hunting Festival was somewhat unusual, so it wasn't just the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire who had come. Heirs and princes from other kingdoms were there as well.
What was particularly surprising was that among the flags of the various kingdoms, Xu Nian'an spotted the flag of the Star Luo Empire.
Xu Nian'an wasn't surprised the Star Luo Empire had come. After all, the main purpose behind this Hunting Festival was to broker peace between the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Great Ming Kingdom.
What surprised Xu Nian'an was that a prince of the Star Luo Empire had come, too.
He wondered whether the prince who'd come this time was the Star Luo Empire's eldest prince, Dai Weisi, or Dai Mubai...
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