"Your Excellency," Baili Du began, feigning a casual tone as he inquired, "I recall you mentioning after I entered the God Realm that the divine positions are currently full. The realm can no longer accommodate more gods."
"Since it is full, why not simply expand it?"
One must play to their audience's desires, and the topic of God Realm Expansion was one the God of Destruction was guaranteed to love.
Despite Tang San's past claims that the God of Destruction's lust for power had blinded him, the truth was that if you added up every deity in the God Realm, none could match Tang San's own near-maniacal obsession with control.
As expected, the God of Destruction's face darkened at the question, but internally, he was overjoyed.
Most gods in the realm were content with the status quo, idling away their days in their palatial estates, lost in wine and dreams. None thought of making the God Realm bigger or stronger, or restoring it to the former glory of the Divine Dragon Realm.
None except the God of Destruction.
To him, this was complacency—and long-term complacency was a death sentence. He looked at this new Holy Necromancer and thought: His stance and inclinations might just align perfectly with mine!
"Hmph... there is no need to hide this from you. You are a Half-step God King; you can naturally feel the suppression from the God Realm's laws."
Seeing Baili Du nod, Destruction continued, "In fact, you are lucky. If you were a Law Enforcer under the Asura God, they would have suppressed your cultivation to the First-Class God level before allowing you to ascend—just as they did with the God of Emotions, Rong Nianbing."
Baili Du was well aware of this. Among the First-Class Gods, the two strongest were the Sea God and the God of Emotions, both existing very close to the level of a Supreme God.
The Sea God was powerful due to his Ultra-Divine Artifact, the Sea God Trident, and the divine skill Unfixed Storm. The God of Emotions, meanwhile, held a position that was inherently at the Supreme God level; had the God Realm been able to accommodate it, Rong Nianbing might have become the sixth God King.
Of course, that was the state of the position under Rong Nianbing. Truthfully, the compatibility between the Emotion seat and Huo Yuhao wasn't actually that high.
Baili Du nodded in understanding. "So, Excellency, are you telling me the difficulty of expansion lies with the Sea God?"
At those words, the God of Destruction's purple robes billowed without a breeze. A light flashed in his violet eyes before returning to a calm stillness.
The answer was obvious; it didn't need to be spoken. At this moment, Destruction had truly accepted this newcomer into his inner circle.
"Expansion is a necessity—a mandatory path—if we wish to welcome more geniuses from the mortal realm and take control of more star systems. Tang San has been obstructing us, hindering the development of the entire God Realm," Destruction said coldly. "He seems to have forgotten how many people he brought up from the lower realms when he first arrived. When has he ever followed the rules? If it were up to me, the God Realm would not be in this state."
Baili Du narrowed his eyes slightly. His expression remained unchanged, but his aura suddenly grew more violent.
Destruction immediately felt a wave of intent radiating from him—a desire to crush the enemy.
Baili Du looked seriously at the God of Destruction. "Your Excellency, is there anything I can do?"
To Destruction, this reaction was perfectly normal. Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents; blocking their path to progress is even worse. Who would want to stay stuck at Half-step God King when they could become a true God King?
A partnership forged in mutual interest is far sturdier than so-called "brotherly affection."
"...Very well. I will put this on the agenda for the God Realm Committee as soon as possible. However, this is a grave matter and requires careful planning. I promise you: once the expansion is complete, you will have a seat on the Committee."
Perfect. He's taken the bait.
Baili Du pondered for a moment. "There is no rush; I trust you, Your Excellency. However, I feel I must offer a warning. Regarding Tang San... though I haven't interacted with him much, I have seen many 'gentlemen' who are humble on the surface but hypocritical to the core. I suspect Tang San is one of them."
"Such people are difficult to deal with. One never knows what underhanded tactics they might use behind your back."
"Oh?" Destruction looked at Baili Du with a half-smile. "You have quite the nerve to speak of the God Realm's ruler that way."
Baili Du shrugged naturally. "Does Your Excellency believe I am wrong?"
"..." After a moment of silence, the God of Destruction looked up and said calmly, "Come, let us head to my domain first."
...
Douluo Continent, Sea God Island.
Huo Yuhao rubbed his chin. "It's not entirely impossible. Maybe..."
Before he could finish, his stomach let out a long, resonant cry for justice.
Grumble...
"Uh, well..."
Ma Xiaotao let out a giggle and patted his head. "My mistake, little brother. Let's eat first. Do you want to go to the Inner Court cafeteria or eat here?"
Huo Yuhao was surprised. "The cafeteria does delivery?"
"Of course," Ma Xiaotao replied. "Inner Court disciples are treated very well, and the food tastes excellent."
Huo Yuhao hesitated, considering his massive appetite. "Uh... then I'll trouble Sister Xiaotao to show me around."
But Ma Xiaotao didn't move. She just stared straight at Huo Yuhao.
"...Is there something on my face?"
Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes at him. "Do you plan on watching me change clothes? I mean, staying isn't out of the question if you want."
With that, she lifted a long leg right in front of him and began to provocatively peel off her silk stockings, inch by inch.
By the time a flustered Huo Yuhao had scrambled out of the secret room, Ma Xiaotao had already emerged wearing the red uniform of the Inner Court.
A woman dresses for the one she likes. When it came to her "little puppy," she could dress up, but for anyone else, there was no need.
The cafeteria wasn't crowded, but the duo attracted plenty of stares as they walked in—especially since Huo Yuhao was still wearing the white uniform of a First-Year Outer Court student.
Ma Xiaotao personally brought Huo Yuhao three large plates of exquisite delicacies. After all, her "little puppy" had worked himself to exhaustion today; he needed nourishment.
Just then, a tall male student with short golden hair walked over. "What brings you to the cafeteria today, Ma Xiaotao? Have you finally suppressed your evil fire?"
Ma Xiaotao spared the newcomer a cold glance. "What's the matter, Dai Yueheng? Worried I'm going to take my Captain's position back?"
Huo Yuhao blinked. Dai Yueheng... he looks quite a bit like Dai Huabin...
Dai Yueheng merely laughed at Ma Xiaotao's words, but his gaze shifted to Huo Yuhao. His eyes narrowed, and his voice carried a touch of cold distance. "And who is this little brother? I shouldn't have to remind you that Outer Court disciples aren't allowed on Sea God Island whenever they please."