Expanding the Harem

Outside the Ye Family Fortress at this moment, a scene of bustling activity unfolded.

Hundreds of craftsmen were busy at work; some hauled stone, others laid bricks, and some carved timber, the rhythmic clanging of their labor echoing one after another.

Yu Xiaogang stood by the roadside, staring at the busy construction site, completely stunned.

She had spent every last gold soul coin she possessed, traveling over mountains and through rivers, only to finally arrive near the Ye Family Fortress.

Yet, the scene before her made her wonder if she had arrived at the wrong place.

She stopped a craftsman who was carrying bricks and asked cautiously, "Excuse me, brother, is this the Ye Family Fortress?"

The craftsman set down the bricks in his hands, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked her up and down.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Yu Xiaogang's heavily powdered and painted face, a flicker of strangeness crossing his eyes. "That's right, this is the Ye Family Fortress. But it's currently undergoing expansion. Are you here to find someone?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly, though her heart grew even more confused.

"Expansion? The Ye Family Fortress was perfectly fine, why expand it?"

Seeing her bewildered expression, the craftsman explained, "Word is that Brother Cao has too many wives, and the fortress can no longer accommodate them. The mistress, Ye Lingling, decided to expand, building ninety-nine garden-style residences on top of the original foundation for the wives to live in. They're also building a massive manor at the very center, which will be the residence for Brother Cao and the mistress."

"It's a massive project; I heard it costs over a million gold soul coins!"

Yu Xiaogang's mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. Ninety-nine residences? A million gold soul coins? Just how many women does Brother Cao have?

A million gold soul coins? Could it be that the little rich girl, Ning Rongrong, had arrived?

She swallowed hard, a surge of even more fervent desire rising in her heart.

Ninety-nine garden-style residences, one for each wife—if Brother Cao took her in, wouldn't she be able to claim one for herself?

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, and she quickly asked, "Brother, where is Brother Cao right now?"

The craftsman pointed toward the interior of the fortress. "He should be in the main hall; I just saw a few of the wives go in."

Yu Xiaogang thanked him and hurried toward the fortress. Passing through the construction site, she finally arrived at the main hall.

Inside the hall, several figures were sitting together, drinking tea.

The man in the center wore a green robe, his features handsome and his lips curled into a faint smile; it was none other than Cao Xiyu.

Beside him sat Ye Lingling, her water-blue hair styled in a matronly bun, her demeanor elegant and noble.

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Liu Erlong, Ah Yin, Tang Yuehua, Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu Zhuyun, and the others sat on either side, each in their own distinct posture.

Yu Xiaogang stood at the entrance, gazing at the room full of peerless beauties, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy.

She took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.

Ye Lingling looked up at this uninvited, strange person, her brows knitting slightly. "Who are you?"

Before Yu Xiaogang could answer, Xiao Wu exclaimed in shock, "You... you're Yu Xiaogang?"

The gaze of everyone in the hall instantly converged on Yu Xiaogang.

That powdered and painted face, that pointed chin, that seductive posture—it looked bizarre no matter how one viewed it.

Cao Xiyu was in the middle of sipping tea when he heard this, and he spat the tea right out.

He set down his cup and widened his eyes, his expression as if he had seen a ghost. "What the hell! Grandmaster? How did you end up looking like this neither-man-nor-woman mess?"

Xiao Wu covered her mouth, unable to hold back a laugh. "Brother Cao, Xiaogang did it for you! She specifically underwent surgery to become a woman!"

The corner of Cao Xiyu's mouth twitched slightly.

For him? Specifically underwent surgery? To become a woman? He felt a chill of revulsion shoot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He looked Yu Xiaogang up and down: the powdered face, the pointed chin, the hand held in an orchid-finger gesture, the slightly swaying waist.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the nausea in his heart. "I can't even bear to look."

Yu Xiaogang, however, did not think there was anything wrong with herself.

She stepped forward and stood before Cao Xiyu, pressing her palms together, her eyes filled with pleading. "Brother Cao, please take me in! I can do anything! Washing, cooking, cleaning—I'm proficient in everything! Warming the bed is no problem at all! Although my looks can't compare to Xiao Wu and the others, I'm not bad either!"

Cao Xiyu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He turned his head away, unable to bear the sight. "Ugh! Get out, get out now! Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from beating you to death!"

Yu Xiaogang refused to give up. She turned to look at Xiao Wu and the others, her face full of grievance. "Xiao Wu, Rongrong, Erlong, say something for me! If you take me in, we'll be sisters! Natural allies!"

Xiao Wu waved her hands quickly, looking disgusted. "Don't look at me! I don't want to be sisters with you!"

Ning Rongrong also shook her head repeatedly, stepping back a few paces as if she might catch something unclean just by being near her.

Liu Erlong was even more direct; she stood up and delivered a kick!

"BANG!!!"

Yu Xiaogang's seductive figure was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the steps outside the door.

She struggled to climb up, her body covered in dust and her makeup half-smeared, looking utterly wretched.

Liu Erlong clapped her hands and said coldly, "Get lost! If I see you again, I'll break your legs!"

Yu Xiaogang looked at the disgusted gazes in the hall, at Liu Erlong's icy face, and at Cao Xiyu, who wouldn't even deign to look at her. A surge of indescribable despair and rage welled up in her heart.

She stood up silently, turned around, and limped away from the Ye Family Fortress.

Behind her, Xiao Wu's laughter rang out: "That Yu Xiaogang is truly insane."

Liu Erlong let out a cold snort. "Disgusting."

God Realm, God Committee Hall.

Beneath the golden dome, the atmosphere was heavier than it had ever been.

Asura God sat upright on the God King's throne, his dark red divine armor still bearing the cracks left behind from his battle with the Silver Dragon King.

His face was pale and his aura was unstable, yet his eyes remained sharp.

"Everyone," his voice was somewhat weak, "the situation in the lower realm is more complex than we imagined. The Silver Dragon King's strength is not inferior to This Seat's. Some soul beasts... have already broken through the million-year limit."

"There are also many humans who have attained god-level strength."

The gods fell silent.

Asura God was severely injured and dozens of deities had fallen; such losses had not been seen since the war against the Dragon God.

God of Destruction frowned. "Then in your opinion, how should we respond?"

Asura God was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "A direct frontal assault would be too costly. We might as well change our approach and dismantle them from within."

He stood up, his gaze sweeping across the gods present. "The connection between the God Realm and the Douluo Continent has been restored. We can descend with divine trials to cultivate our own forces on the Douluo Continent. Those who harbor dissatisfaction toward Brother Cao, those who have had their wives or daughters taken away, those filled with jealousy, resentment, and unwillingness—they are all our targets."

God of Goodness furrowed her brows slightly. "Is doing this not a bit inappropriate?"

Asura God looked at her and said indifferently, "Inappropriate? The Fire God is dead, This Seat is severely injured, and the God Realm has lost all face. You are telling me it is inappropriate?"

God of Goodness opened her mouth, but did not speak again.

Asura God withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, "This matter is settled. All deities, go and find suitable candidates to bestow your divine trials upon."

The gods acknowledged the order and dispersed.