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Xuan Ming drew a deep breath and decided to ignore Qian Renxue's inexplicable associations and that shy, "I've seen the light" look on her face.
His head was already big enough; he really didn't want to cram any more weird junk in there.
"All right, stop thinking about nonsense."
Xuan Ming waved a hand. "Get ready. I'm going to find Bo Saixi. We'll meet at the Sea God's palace, then head down together and settle the Douluo Star faith issue and the federation reform in one go—no more delays."
"Ready? What do I need to get ready for?"
Qian Renxue spread her hands, perfectly justified. Golden light flashed over her, and her slightly disheveled yet still resplendent Angel God armor instantly looked brand-new. "This goddess is born beautiful—ready to leave at any time. Let's go together."
Xuan Ming rubbed his temples, exasperated. "I meant… do you want to do some mental prep? Or maybe keep a low profile?"
"Don't you know your relationships with the others are… a bit delicate?"
He phrased it tactfully, but the meaning was crystal-clear.
Among his tangled web of relationships—so messy you could ball it up—Qian Renxue was the most special, and the most awkward.
The other girls—Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, even Gu Yuena and Zi Ji—had all gotten close during their years on Sea God Island.
Though they might feel a twinge of jealousy, they could still act friendly on the surface and even squeeze around a mah-jong table now and then.
Only Qian Renxue.
Former Young Lord of Spirit Hall, the transfer student who joined late, plus her inborn pride—she'd had almost no contact with anyone besides Bibi Dong.
She hadn't even met Snow Empress or Ice Empress, the Divinities from the Extreme North Land, more than a handful of times.
Which created a painfully awkward scene: whenever everyone gathered, Qian Renxue looked like a peacock that had wandered into a flock of cranes—aloof, conspicuous, and out of place.
"Awkward? Why should I feel awkward?"
Qian Renxue arched a brow, chin lifting. "As long as I'm not embarrassed, someone else will be. Besides, we'll all be living under one roof—cough—in the same God Realm eventually. Better to face it openly than hide."
Xuan Ming stared speechlessly at the sky.
You may not be embarrassed, but I sure am!
Just picturing that battlefield of jealousy made his scalp tingle.
But seeing her "take me or else" stance, Xuan Ming knew escape was impossible today.
"Fine, do as you please."
He sighed, giving up the struggle. He caught her hand, Divine Thought stirred, and the two shot off as a streak of light toward the Sea God's palace floating above the God Realm's ocean. The palace loomed over an endless blue sea, a magnificent sapphire edifice carved from crystal, radiating gentle, sacred light.
Since the girls' palaces were still under construction, and Bibi Dong had let slip that lately the lot of them were holding "secret meetings" at Sea God's place, Xuan Ming brought Qian Renxue straight here.
The instant they landed, Xuan Ming was struck dumb by the sight before him.
The solemn Sea God Grand Hall had been turned into a casino!
In the center, a huge table of ten-thousand-year ice stretched lengthwise, surrounded by a bevy of beauties.
Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Binger, Huo Wu—even the usually dignified Bo Saixi sat at the table, clutching several crystal-clear ice cards.
And dealing at the head of the table was none other than the normally frosty Ice Dragon King!
He wore a black tailcoat of unknown origin and shuffled the cards with practiced ease, looking for all the world like he'd trained for millennia.
"Wh-what is going on here?"
Xuan Ming stood in the doorway, utterly stunned.
Gambling was forbidden in the God Realm… wait, he was the God King—hadn't he made that rule?
Just then Xiao Wu, at the head of the table, slammed her palm down. Violet-black divine force surged, the destructive Aura unique to the God of Destruction spreading outward.
"Hold it!"
Ruby eyes wide, she glared across at Zi Ji. "I want to inspect the cards!"
Zi Ji flinched at the sudden pressure, shrinking a little, but her mouth stayed tough. "Inspect away! This Dragon has a clear conscience—do you think I'm afraid of you?"
Ice Dragon King stepped forward with a blank expression, slender fingers brushing across the card pile in front of Ziji; a faint chill swept past.
"The cards are fine."
Ice Dragon King announced coldly.
Xiao Wu slumped back in her seat, grumbling, "Impossible… how can she be this lucky every round? There has to be cheating…"
Xuan Ming was completely bewildered.
These Divinities, instead of cultivating or contemplating the Dao, are actually gathered here playing cards—and getting completely obsessed?
"What are you all betting on? Sounds lively."
Xuan Ming couldn't help asking aloud.
At his voice the great hall fell silent for a heartbeat.
Then every head swiveled toward him in unison.
Xiao Wu, who'd been sulking, brightened instantly; she leapt from her chair with a cheer and lunged forward—only to screech to a halt when she spotted Qian Renxue beside Xuan Ming, wariness flashing in her eyes.
Meanwhile, a dispirited little loli exuding an Aura of total defeat shuffled from the back of the crowd and sidled up to Xuan Ming.
It was Snow Empress.
The former sovereign of the Extreme North Land, now a First-Class God, hung her head, looking utterly lifeless.
"Wuu wuu wuu… Xuan Ming…"
Snow Empress tugged at his sleeve, voice full of grievance. "I lost everything… I'm last in line…"
Xuan Ming stared down at her, bewildered. "Lost everything? What exactly are you betting—divine force? Divine Artifacts? God Positions?"
She lifted her face and gave him the look reserved for idiots. "Your allocation rights, of course!"
"Pfft—"
Qian Renxue beside him almost burst out laughing.
Xuan Ming himself turned to stone.
"M-my what rights?"
He wondered if his ears had malfunctioned.
"Allocation rights!"
Snow Empress counted on her fingers, deadly serious. "The order in which we get to sleep with you next."
"Look, we've all become gods and there's only one of you. We can't all pile on at once—how improper would that be?"
"Besides, Gu Yuena said—and Bibi Dong agreed—they can't accept… well, too chaotic a scene. And they know your personality wouldn't handle a messy free-for-all either."
"So, after unanimous discussion, you can take two at most."
"With limited slots, someone has to go first, right?"
"No one yields, no one wants to be last, so Ice Dragon King suggested the fairest method—cards!"
"Whoever wins the most goes first; whoever goes bust goes last."
"Sadly…" Snow Empress sniffed, pointing at her empty table, "I was the first to lose every chip… so I'm dead last. Wuu… by the time it's my turn it'll probably be next month…"
Xuan Ming gaped, the corner of his mouth twitching wildly.
Watching a roomful of goddesses quarrel red-faced over who would "sleep with him" made the world spin.
What… what kind of situation was this?!
He drew a deep breath. "You lot… stop this nonsense."
"Nonsense?"
Snow Empress tilted her head, puzzled. "Then what—should we fight it out? Winner drags you off?"
"And…"
She rose on tiptoe, patted his shoulder, and spoke with the gravity of an elder. "You'd better cooperate and obediently make your rounds in the bedchamber. Otherwise… we'll definitely come to blows."
"Look at Ziji over there—she nearly went bust several times, but Ice Dragon King secretly cheated to keep her alive!"
Fury flared in Snow Empress as she pointed at the still-stoic Ice Dragon King. "Favoritism! Blatant favoritism! We're both Spirit Beasts—why does Ziji get an exploit? When I busted first, Ice Dragon King didn't even glance at me, much less slip me an ace!"
"It's unfair! I protest! I demand a rematch!"
Her wails echoed through the hall, earning more schadenfreude than sympathy, along with a few snickers.
Xuan Ming stood rooted, brain buzzing.
He turned to Qian Renxue, pleading for backup with his eyes.
But Qian Renxue was rubbing her hands in excitement, asking, "Since I'm here, deal me in too—I want to play!"
Xuan Ming: "…"