Started from listening to music in the brothel and earned billions of bad people

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the room, casting patches of mottled light and shadow. Li Xingyun slowly awoke, gently stretching his arms before carefully and slowly crawling out of the warm and soft embrace.

As his cultivation progressed, Liu Ruyan, once an insurmountable mountain, now seemed so fragile and vulnerable. When with her, Li Xingyun couldn't even unleash his full strength and skills, fearing he might accidentally injure her.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan let out an indistinct hum: "Hmm~ Why get up so early?" She seemed to be still immersed in a sweet dream, and was not willing to make the effort to open her extremely tired eyes.

Li Xingyun looked at her cute and adorable appearance and couldn't help but smile. He responded softly, "The competition hasn't ended yet. I have to go to the imperial study this morning to take care of some business. You just rest here obediently, and don't be so stubborn in the future!" After that, he considerately tucked in the corners of the quilt for Liu Ruyan. His movements were extremely gentle, as if he was treating a rare treasure.

Recalling the wild, passionate lovemaking between them last night, Li Xingyun couldn't help but sigh. While the experience was certainly passionate, he had to admit that Liu Ruyan's performance in bed was somewhat disappointing. However, these thoughts only flashed through his mind; after all, at the moment, he was more concerned with Liu Ruyan's health.

"Hmm~ All right!" Hearing that Li Xingyun had important matters to attend to, Liu Ruyan didn't try to persuade him to stay. She nodded obediently, then tucked her head deeper into the covers, trying to avoid the gradually brightening light. She looked exhausted and needed a good night's sleep.

Li Xingyun left the room, called Yuan Tiangang, and walked out of the palace. Along the way, he and Yuan Tiangang walked side by side. Although there was not much communication between the two, there was a tacit understanding and trust between them.

Soon after, they arrived at the main gate of the Imperial Palace. The magnificent palace complex, towering into the clouds, was awe-inspiring and awe-inspiring. After passing through layers of guards, Li Xingyun and Yuan Tiangang finally made it inside.

Walking along the broad stone path, they were surrounded by blossoming gardens and a patchwork of pavilions. A gentle breeze brought bursts of floral fragrance, bringing a delightful touch of joy. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the imperial study.

Li Xingyun stopped, turned around and faced Yuan Tiangang, saying softly, "Just wait here for me." Yuan Tiangang nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. After all, except for those summoned by the emperor himself, no one else was allowed to set foot in the imperial study.

Yuan Tiangang's hoarse voice rang out: "Yes!" He had long been aware of such rules, and based on his past knowledge of royal etiquette, the rules of the Shenwu Empire before him were nothing compared to those he had encountered before.

When Li Xingyun walked into the imperial study alone, he was surprised to find that he was the last one to arrive. He saw several of the emperor's brothers already sitting in the room, whispering to each other.

"Second brother, third brother, sixth brother, eighth brother! You all came early, or am I late?" Li Xingyun smiled brightly and greeted everyone. His voice was clear and loud, instantly breaking the originally dull atmosphere in the room.

Hearing Li Xingyun's greeting, one of the men looked up. It was the Sixth Prince, Li Xingmin. He also smiled and replied, "Good morning, Thirteenth Brother! You're not too late."

The other princes nodded in greeting, welcoming Li Xingyun. The Third and Eighth Princes also nodded as a gesture of greeting.

At this moment, among the crowd, only the Second Prince, Li Xinghu, had a face so gloomy it looked as if water could drip out of it. His mouth twitched slightly, and his eyes stared coldly ahead, as if he couldn't wait to tear someone into pieces.

"Oh, look at our Old Thirteen. He's getting cocky after winning two matches in a row. Does he think he has a sure win?" Li Xinghu twitched the corners of his mouth with a forced smile and spoke sarcastically in a sarcastic tone.

However, facing Li Xinghu's sarcasm, Li Xingyun remained calm and even smiled slightly: "Haha... Second brother, you are wrong. Although I have won two games in a row by chance, I am far from being impatient!"

Hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but show a hint of surprise. You know, Li Xingyun wasn't usually this good-tempered. He'd usually fight back without hesitation in situations like this. But now, he was being so low-key. Not only didn't he confront the Second Prince, but he acted completely nonchalant. This was truly surprising. Could it be that the sun had risen from the west today?

"Hmph! You're at least somewhat self-aware and know how to curb your arrogance!" Seeing that Li Xingyun didn't refute him as usual, Li Xinghu assumed he was afraid of him and couldn't help but feel secretly proud. Even so, he didn't forget to continue to act like a brother, giving him a few more lectures to demonstrate his authority.

Unexpectedly, Li Xingyun's next words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly destroying Li Xinghu's good mood. "Second brother, I'm afraid you've misunderstood. I'm certainly not impulsive, but I'm absolutely confident of winning this competition!" Li Xingyun said, glancing at Li Xinghu nonchalantly, his eyes revealing undisguised confidence and pride.

"You!" Li Xinghu's face turned blue with anger upon hearing this. His chest heaved violently, and his heartbeat seemed to slow down for a moment. He had never imagined that Li Xingyun would dare to speak so arrogantly in front of everyone. He simply didn't take his brothers, the emperor, seriously at all!

Before he could utter another word, Li Qiankun, carefully supported by a young eunuch, slowly entered the hall. This was the first time Li Xingyun had seen Li Qiankun in his present state since returning to Shenwu City. For a moment, he couldn't help but stare wide-eyed as he carefully looked up and down at his long-lost father.

Li Qiankun looked slightly frail, as if he would collapse at the slightest gust of wind. However, as he took his first steps, his stride didn't feel strained; instead, he exuded a calm and resolute presence. His face, already imposing without anger, still radiated an awe-inspiring majesty. At first glance, there seemed nothing unusual, as if everything was intact.