Ultimate Game of Wits, Wealth, and Nerve!

"If Instructor Meng has something to say, just say it. I have things to do, so I'm afraid I can't keep you company for long."

Su Xian did not want to keep beating around the bush. The drawing in his hands was nearly finished, and he had his own business to attend to.

"Since that is the case, I'll be direct. We want Your Highness to take part in this Soul Master Competition and compete on behalf of the academy."

After speaking, Meng Shenji stared at Su Xian with bright eyes, his burning gaze full of anticipation.

"Did Qin Ming tell you?" Su Xian raised a brow, his voice immediately turning cold.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness. Only the three old fellows among us know about this. It will never be leaked."

Meng Shenji hurriedly gave his assurance, while inwardly becoming certain that what Qin Ming had said was true.

Who would have thought that the First Prince possessed such talent? At fourteen, he was only a Soul Elder, yet he already had the combat power of a high-level Soul Ancestor!

If he could join the Royal Academy team, then at the Spirit City finals three months from now, their Royal Academy would have a few more chances of victory.

The Royal Academy had already lost two consecutive tournaments, held once every five years. They absolutely could not keep losing!

What they would lose would not merely be the academy's reputation, but the dignity of the entire Heaven Dou Empire!

"You want me to participate in the Soul Master Competition?"

Su Xian pondered for a moment, then immediately shook his head. "Not going. Not even if you beat me to death. I don't have the time!"

Although if he went, he could truly stand before the Papal Hall carrying a Level 9 Fixed Soul Cannon, looking down upon the world, and then extort them...

But he had always been a low-key person!

He could not do something so shameless and despicable!

Besides, Soul Tools could not be used in the Soul Master Competition, which completely limited his room to perform!

If they were allowed, he would toss out a Level 7 Soul Guidance Bomb every match, blasting the entire arena with deafening explosions. Now that would be satisfying!

As for fighting barehanded, what was the fun in that?!

You punched me once, and I slapped you once. Didn't they know that force was mutual?

It was like going to war: I had brought cannons, missiles, and nuclear bombs, yet you wanted to fight me with bayonets?

Fuck!

Was he supposed to be an idiot and agree to such a moronic request?!

Just drag out my Italian Cannon and fire a few hundred rounds at you. Why make so much unnecessary trouble!

Seeing Su Xian refuse, Meng Shenji immediately became anxious. "Your Highness, this is not merely a matter for the academy. It also concerns the honor and disgrace of the empire. As a prince, you should at least contribute something!"

"Right, I did contribute. Just now, I was thinking about forming a Cheerleading Squad."

As he spoke, Su Xian blinked his large eyes, his gaze filled with sincerity.

Meng Shenji: ...

I have a fucking curse I desperately want to say right now!!

A Cheerleading Squad?

What the hell would that be good for?!

The louder they cheered, the more miserable the loss would be later. They would not be there to cheer anyone on—they would be there to get slapped in the face!

"Could it be that Your Highness is truly so cold and heartless, so unreasonable?"

With a faint sigh, Meng Shenji suddenly felt exhausted in both body and mind, utterly disappointed in Su Xian.

This empire did not belong to them—it belonged to the imperial family!

If even the First Prince was this irresponsible, did the empire still have any hope in the future?

"Not at all. I'm not cold and heartless. I simply see things clearly."

Su Xian shook his head and finished tracing the final character, "King," in his hand. A smile could not help appearing on his lips.

Oh~

Meng Shenji's eyes narrowed, as though he sensed a turning point. "I would like to hear the details!"

"Fine, then just treat me as cold and heartless, and unreasonable."

He had originally wanted to discuss the great path of being a salted fish with Meng Shenji, but his work was already finished, and he could not be bothered to keep talking. He shrugged, utterly unmoved.

Meng Shenji: ...

Fuck! Were you playing with me?!

"Your Highness, this old man shall take his leave!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, Meng Shenji left indignantly, without the slightest hesitation.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, his mentality would completely collapse!!

"Good that he left. It's time for me to handle my important business!"

With a faint sigh, Su Xian did not try to stop him. He still had something extremely important to do next.

This was the ultimate game of strategy, intellect, and money. He could not afford to waste any more energy on other matters!

"Wife, I've finished making it! Come play!"

A piercing shout rang out as Su Xian grabbed his completed creation and dashed out of the hall.

Three minutes later.

Su Xian and Qian Renxue sat on a soft sable pelt.

"Are you planning to tell our fortunes?"

Looking at the cards before her, which resembled tarot cards, Qian Renxue's little face fell slightly, her interest waning. She had thought Su Xian had come up with something truly fun.

"These aren't tarot cards. They're called playing cards, and they're used for a very fun game." The corner of Su Xian's mouth twitched as he patiently explained.

"Playing cards?"

Qian Renxue was also taken aback. She then picked up the card bearing the words "Great King," and it did indeed seem quite different from tarot cards.

"What does this stand for?"

Still unable to make sense of it, Qian Renxue waved the Great King card and asked curiously.

Su Xian replied rather smugly, "This is the Emperor. It has a scepter drawn on it and is the biggest card of them all. The one below it is the Empress."

Seemingly having grasped the key point, Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. "So these cards have ranks?"

"That's right!"

Su Xian gave Qian Renxue a thumbs-up. She smiled happily without saying anything, and Su Xian continued explaining.

"This is an A, symbolizing one. It implies someone beneath one person yet above ten thousand others—in other words, a prince."

"K represents the kings of the four duchies of the Heaven Dou Empire. The duchies are a little too small, so they aren't counted among the rest."

"Q represents queens and consorts, while J represents the nation's generals and military. The remaining cards are arranged by number from 2 to 10, representing soul masters of different ranks."

The more Su Xian explained, the more pleased with himself he became. Just look at his Douluo Continent explanation for playing cards—it was so simple and easy to understand!

Hearing this novel explanation, Qian Renxue's eyes sparkled. Hugging Su Xian's arm, she said in a coquettish tone, "Just tell me how to play."

"Alright, then we'll start with the simplest one, called Texas Hold'em."

With a slight curl of his lips, Su Xian smoothly pulled Qian Renxue into his arms with his right hand. She did not resist, instead lying in his embrace with a smile and enjoying the warmth radiating from his chest.

Then, Su Xian began the first hands-on teaching session of his life on the Douluo Continent.

As for Qian Renxue, she looked like an endlessly curious child. Her clear, springlike eyes brimmed with wonder, as though the door to a new world was about to open before her, leaving her eager with anticipation.

"Why can't three cards with two A princes or two Q consorts beat three 8 soul masters?" Qian Renxue pouted, somewhat dissatisfied.

"These three soul masters are all 8 cards, implying that they can unleash a three-in-one Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"So that's how it is. But why can't they still beat soul masters with cards that are all 8, like 345?" —Qian Renxue.

"The numbers 345 are consecutive, which is called a straight. It represents their strong sense of unity and cooperation. But two A princes or Q consorts would fight among themselves if they were together." —Su Xian.

"Emmm... then why are three cards of the same suit stronger than a straight that represents unity and cooperation? Don't you think that's unreasonable?" —Qian Renxue.

"Cards of the same suit represent being in the same season and time, so they would act together as a group. But the three cards of different suits that form a straight merely happened to meet by chance." —Su Xian.

"Then..."

"Stop! I'm out of words, so don't ask anymore!"

"Okay, okay..."

Su Xian: ...

This is too hard for me!

Good thing I think fast, boohoo~

Please vote and bookmark! This chapter is laying the groundwork for the Entertainment City later on, so it might be a little padded, but I had to write it...