"Your Excellency..." Baili Du asked casually, pretending it had just occurred to him. "I remember that after I entered the Divine Realm, you told me there was no room left for another deity, and that the Divine Realm couldn't accommodate any more."
"If it's already full, then why not expand it?"
When you spoke, you had to appeal to what the other person cared about. The God of Destruction would surely like the subject of expanding the Divine Realm.
People might recall Tang San saying that the God of Destruction's ambition for power had blinded him, but in truth, all the deities in the entire Divine Realm combined couldn't match Tang San's near-mad desire to control power...
Just as expected, the God of Destruction's expression darkened at those words, but inwardly he was overjoyed.
Most of the deities in the Divine Realm were content with things as they were, spending their days drinking, reveling, and drowning in pleasure in their own residences. No one thought about how to make the Divine Realm bigger and stronger, or restore the glory it had once enjoyed as the Divine Dragon Realm.
No one except him, the God of Destruction.
What did you call that? Complacency. Too much of it could get you killed!
In the God of Destruction's view, this newly arrived Holy Necromancer might just be someone who could stand entirely on his side!
"Hmm... There's no need to hide this from you. You're already a half-step God King, so naturally you can sense the rules of the Divine Realm suppressing you."
Seeing Baili Du nod, the God of Destruction continued, "You could say you're lucky. If you'd been a law enforcer under the Asura God, he might have suppressed your cultivation to First-Level God before letting you ascend to the Divine Realm, just as he did with the God of Emotion, Rong Nianbing, back then."
Baili Du already knew this much. Among the First-Level Gods of the Divine Realm, the two most powerful were the Sea God and the God of Emotion, both beings who came very close to being Supreme Gods.
The Sea God was powerful because he possessed the Super Divine Artifact, the Sea God Trident, and the divine skill Boundless Sea Ripples. As for the God of Emotion, the position itself was as powerful as that of a Supreme God. If the Divine Realm hadn't been unable to accommodate any more deities, the God of Emotion might even have had a chance to become the sixth God King.
Of course, that was when Rong Nianbing held the Emotion God Position. To be honest, the Emotion God Position wasn't all that compatible with Huo Yuhao.
Baili Du nodded in understanding. "So, Your Excellency, are you saying the main obstacle to expanding the Divine Realm is that Sea God?"
At those words, the purple robe on the God of Destruction stirred without a breeze. A glint flashed in his violet eyes, then they quickly returned to calm.
The answer was plain as day. There was no need to say more.
At that moment, the God of Destruction had already come to trust this newcomer from the bottom of his heart.
"If we want to welcome more of the mortal realm's geniuses into the Divine Realm and take control of more star systems, expansion is essential. It's the only way forward. Tang San has been obstructing us, standing in the way of the entire Divine Realm's development." The God of Destruction's voice turned cold. "It seems he's forgotten how many people he brought here from the lower realm when he first came to the Divine Realm. Did he ever follow the rules himself? If it were up to me, the Divine Realm wouldn't still be in this state."
Baili Du narrowed his eyes slightly. His expression didn't change, but a touch of savagery entered his aura.
The God of Destruction immediately sensed an urge to destroy his enemies emanating from him.
Baili Du looked the God of Destruction straight in the eye. "Your Excellency, is there anything I can do?"
The God of Destruction considered Baili Du's reaction perfectly normal. Cutting off someone's livelihood was like killing their parents, and blocking someone's future was worse still. Who would choose to remain stuck at the half-step God King level if they could become a God King?
A partnership built on mutual benefit was more solid than so-called brotherly affection.
"...Good. I'll bring this before the God Realm Committee for discussion as soon as possible. But this matter is of great importance, and we'll need to consider it carefully. I promise you that once the Divine Realm's expansion is complete, I'll let you join the God Realm Committee."
Good. The God of Destruction had finally taken the bait.
Baili Du thought for a moment. "There's no need to rush that. I trust you, Your Excellency. But I think I should warn you about Tang San... I haven't had much contact with him, but I've met plenty of people like him: gentlemen on the surface, yet hypocritical and affected underneath. I think Tang San is probably that kind of person, too."
"People like that are hard to deal with... You never know what underhanded tricks they might pull behind your back."
"Oh?" The God of Destruction looked at Baili Du with a half-smile. "You've got some nerve, talking about one of the Divine Realm's rulers like that."
Baili Du shrugged, perfectly at ease. "Do you think I'm wrong, Your Excellency?"
"..." After a moment of silence, the God of Destruction raised his head and said calmly, "Come with me first."
Douluo Continent, Sea God Island.
Huo Yuhao tapped his chin. "It's not that there's no way. Maybe..."
Before he could finish, his stomach let out a long, yearning growl for justice...
"Grrr..."
"Uh, well..."
Ma Xiaotao giggled behind her hand and patted his head. "It was careless of me, big sister's fault. Let's eat first. Do you want to eat in the Inner Court's cafeteria, or here?"
Huo Yuhao was surprised. "The Inner Court cafeteria delivers food?"
"Of course. The Inner Court disciples have pretty good benefits, and the cafeteria food tastes great, too."
Huo Yuhao hesitated, considering how much he could eat. "Um... then I'll trouble you, Sister Xiaotao. Show me what I've been missing."
But Ma Xiaotao didn't answer. She just stared straight at Huo Yuhao.
"...Is there something on my face?"
Ma Xiaotao gave him an exasperated look. "Do you want to stay and watch your big sister change clothes? Of course, there's nothing wrong with staying, either."
As she spoke, she lifted her long leg right in front of Huo Yuhao and began slowly peeling off her stockings, inch by inch, in a highly provocative manner.
By the time Huo Yuhao had hurriedly scrambled out of the secret chamber, Ma Xiaotao had changed into the red uniform that marked her as a member of the Inner Court and come out.
A woman dressed for the one she loved. If her little puppy was around, she might as well look pretty. But the rest of the time, there was no need.
There weren't many people in the cafeteria, but the moment the two walked in, they attracted quite a few stares. Huo Yuhao, in particular, was still wearing the white uniform of a first-year Outer Court student.
Ma Xiaotao personally brought Huo Yuhao three large plates of delicious food. Her little puppy had been exhausted today, after all. He needed a good meal to build his strength back up.
Just as Ma Xiaotao had said, the food in the Shrek Inner Court cafeteria really was delicious. The portions were generous, too. Ravenous, Huo Yuhao shoveled food into his mouth like a whirlwind, and soon he had devoured most of the three plates.
Just then, a tall male student with short blond hair walked over. "What brings you to the cafeteria today, Ma Xiaotao? Have you gotten your Evil Fire under control?"
Ma Xiaotao gave him a cool glance. "What's the matter, Dai Yueheng? Afraid I'll take back your captain's position?"
Huo Yuhao blinked twice. Dai Yueheng... He looked a little like Dai Huabin...
Dai Yueheng only smiled at Ma Xiaotao's words, but his gaze fell on Huo Yuhao. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice carried a hint of distance. "Who's this young fellow? Do I really need to remind you that Outer Court students aren't allowed on Sea God Island without permission?"
Before you continue