Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

Xuanming took a deep breath and decided to selectively ignore Qian Renxue's inexplicable association and her shy "I understand" expression.

His head is big enough now, and he really doesn't want to cram any more weird and useless stuff into it.

"Alright, stop thinking about all that nonsense."

Xuanming waved his hand, "You prepare yourself first. I'm going to find Poseidon now. We'll all gather at the Sea God's Mansion later, and then go down together to resolve the Douluo Star faith and Federation reform issues once and for all, so as to avoid any unforeseen complications."

"Prepare? What do I need to prepare?"

Qian Renxue shrugged matter-of-factly, and a flash of golden light appeared on her body, instantly transforming her somewhat disheveled but still magnificent angelic divine attire. "This goddess is naturally beautiful and can set off at any time. Let's go, we can go together."

Xuanming rubbed his temples, a slight headache in his eyes. "What I mean is... do you want to mentally prepare yourself? Or maybe avoid this area for a bit?"

"Don't you know that your relationships with other people... well, they're a little complicated?"

Xuanming's words were tactful, but the meaning was quite clear.

In his complex and intricate network of relationships, which could be drawn into a tangled mess, Qian Renxue is definitely the most unique and also the most awkward one.

The other girls, like Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and even Gu Yuena and Zi Ji, had already become very close during their years together on Seagod Island.

Even if everyone harbors some jealousy, they can at least maintain a harmonious facade, and occasionally even get together to play mahjong or something.

Only Qianrenxue.

As the former young master of the Spirit Hall, and a "transfer student" who joined later, coupled with her innate arrogance, she had almost no interaction with anyone except Bibi Dong.

They had barely even met the spirit beast deities of the far north, such as the Snow Emperor and the Ice Emperor, more than a few times.

This led to an awkward situation: once everyone gathered together, Qian Renxue was like a peacock that had mistakenly wandered into a flock of cranes, aloof, conspicuous, and somewhat out of place.

"Awkward? Why should I be embarrassed?"

Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow and tilted her chin slightly. "As long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed. Besides, we'll be under the same roof anyway... cough, in the same divine realm, we'll have to face each other sooner or later. Rather than hiding, I might as well assert my dominance openly."

Xuanming gazed silently at the sky.

You're not embarrassed, but I'm the one who's embarrassed!
The atmosphere of that chaotic battlefield made his scalp tingle just thinking about it.

But seeing Qian Renxue's "I'll die if you don't take me" attitude, Xuanming knew that he was doomed today.

"Okay, whatever you want."

Xuanming sighed and stopped struggling in vain. He reached out and took Qian Renxue's hand. With a thought, the two of them instantly transformed into streams of light and flew towards the Sea God's residence in the ocean region of the God Realm.

……

The Sea God's Palace is located on a vast blue ocean in the realm of gods. The magnificent blue palace is like a crystal sculpture, radiating a soft and sacred light.

Because Xiao Wu and the others' divine abodes were still under construction, and Bibi Dong had revealed that the girls had been holding some kind of "secret meeting" at the Sea God's place in the past few days, Xuan Ming brought Qian Renxue here directly.

However, as soon as he landed, Xuanming was stunned by the scene before him.

The once solemn and majestic Sea God Temple has now been transformed into a casino!
In the center of the main hall, a huge long table made of ten-thousand-year-old ice sat there, surrounded by a large group of beautiful women.

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu... even the usually dignified and composed Poseidon was sitting at the table with a serious expression, holding several crystal-clear ice cards in her hand.

Right in the center of the table, the dealer was none other than the usually aloof Ice Dragon King!
At this moment, the Ice Dragon King was wearing a black tailcoat that he had somehow acquired, and he was shuffling the cards with practiced ease, his movements so professional that it seemed as if he had been practicing for tens of thousands of years.

"What...what is going on?"

Xuanming stood at the entrance of the main hall, completely dumbfounded.

Gambling is forbidden in the realm of gods... Oh wait, he's the God-King, so it seems like he set this rule?
Just then, Xiao Wu, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly slammed her hand on the table. Her purplish-black divine power surged instantly, and a destructive aura unique to the God of Destruction spread out.

"Wait!"

Xiao Wu stared intently at Zi Ji opposite her with her big, ruby-like eyes. "I want to check the cards!"

Zi Ji was startled by her sudden aura and shrank back somewhat guiltily, but still stubbornly insisted, "Test me then! I am an upright and honest man, why would I be afraid of you?"

The Ice Dragon King walked forward expressionlessly, his slender fingers tracing the deck of cards in front of Zi Ji, a faint chill sweeping across the surface.

"There's nothing wrong with the cards."

The Ice Dragon King announced coldly.

Xiao Wu sat back down, somewhat annoyed, muttering, "That's impossible... How could she be so lucky every time? There must be something fishy going on..."

Xuanming was even more confused.

These gods, instead of cultivating themselves and comprehending the rules, are actually gathering to play cards? And they're playing so enthusiastically?
"What are they all betting on? It's so lively!" Xuanming couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing his voice, the hall fell silent for a second.

Immediately afterwards, everyone's eyes turned to them.

Xiao Wu, who was still feeling annoyed, suddenly brightened up and jumped up from her chair. She cheered and was about to pounce on him, but when she saw Qian Renxue next to Xuan Ming, she stopped in her tracks and a hint of wariness flashed in her eyes.

At this moment, a little girl, looking dejected and radiating an aura of "I lost everything," slowly crept up from the back of the crowd to Xuanming's side.

It's Hyotei.

This former overlord of the far north, now a first-level deity, is hanging his head, looking utterly hopeless.

"Waaaaah... Xuanming..."

Hyotei tugged at Genmei's sleeve, her voice filled with grievance, "I lost everything... I was last in line..."

Xuanming looked down at her, his face blank: "Lost everything? What exactly were you betting on? Divine power? Divine artifacts? Or a divine position?"

Hyotei looked up at him with an expression as if he were an idiot, and said matter-of-factly, "Of course, we're betting on your allocation rights!"

"puff--"

Qian Renxue, who was standing next to her, almost burst out laughing.

Xuanming was completely petrified.

"What...what right do I have?"

He felt there might be something wrong with his ears.

"The right to allocate resources!"

Hyotei counted on his fingers and explained in a serious tone, "It's about... the order in which we sleep with you next."

"Look, everyone's become a god now, and there's only one of you. They can't all flock to you at once, can they? That would be disgraceful."

"Furthermore, Gu Yuena said that Bibi Dong also agreed, as they cannot accept that kind of... well, chaotic scene. And they also know that, given your personality, you definitely cannot accept that kind of messy thing either."

"Therefore, after everyone's unanimous discussion, you can only accept a maximum of two people together."

"Since there's a limit to the number of spots, there should naturally be a first-come, first-served system, right?"

"No one was willing to concede to anyone else, and no one wanted to be at the bottom of the list. So the Ice Dragon King suggested that they settle the matter in the fairest way possible—by playing cards!"

"Those who win the most are in front, and those who lose everything are in the back."

"I'm sorry..." Hyotei sniffed, pointing to his empty stomach, "I was the first to lose all my chips... so I have to be last in line. Waaah... It'll probably be next month before it's my turn..."

Xuanming was stunned, his mouth twitching wildly.

Looking at the room full of goddesses arguing heatedly over "sleeping with him," he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

What... what kind of situation is this?!

Xuanming took a deep breath, "You guys... stop messing around."

"Nonsense?"

Hyotei tilted her head, looking at him with a puzzled expression. "Otherwise? Do you want us to fight? Whoever wins will drag you away?"

"and……"

Hyotei stood on tiptoe, patted Genming on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "You'd better cooperate obediently and serve him in bed once. Otherwise... everyone will definitely start fighting."

"Look at Zi Ji over there. She almost lost everything several times just now, but the Ice Dragon King secretly cheated to save her!"

At this point, Ice Emperor became even more furious, pointing at the still expressionless Ice Dragon King and accusing him, "Fairness! So unfair! We're both Soul Beasts, so why does Zi Ji get a cheat code? When I was the first to be eliminated, the Ice Dragon King didn't even glance at me! Let alone cheat on me!"

"This is unfair! I protest! I demand a rematch!"

Hyotei's cries echoed in the main hall, but they did not elicit much sympathy; instead, they drew a few gloating laughs.

Xuanming stood there, feeling a buzzing in his head.

He turned his head and looked at Qian Renxue beside him, trying to find a glimmer of support.

However, Qian Renxue was looking at the card table with great interest, and even rubbed her hands together and asked, "Um... since I'm here, shouldn't I be given a deck of cards? I want to join in!"

Xuanming: "..." (End of this chapter)