Heaven Dou City, a certain noble's estate.
Several noblewomen gathered together, sipping tea as they watched the Sky Screen, their expressions a sight to behold.
A middle-aged woman dressed in finery set down her teacup and coughed softly. "These Dreamy Sweetheart Handcuffs... They do sound rather interesting."
Another, younger wife covered her mouth as she giggled. "Sister, are you thinking of giving them a try?"
The middle-aged woman glared at her. "What nonsense! I'm just curious, that's all!"
The younger wife chuckled and leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Sister, you can stop pretending. Between us sisters, what can't we talk about? The Passion-Burning Whip, the Dreamy Sweetheart Handcuffs—who wouldn't want them? Double the fun!"
The middle-aged woman's cheeks flushed faintly, but she said nothing.
An old woman who had been silent all along suddenly spoke, her voice hoarse. "You're all so inexperienced. What's double the fun? The pleasure Brother Cao enjoys is beyond your wildest imagination."
All the wives turned to look at her.
The old woman set down her teacup and said calmly, "Just think about it. Those girls' divine skills—Dragon King Tyrant Body, Infinite Stamina; Thousand-Lady Hundred-Change, which can change the body at will; Moon Reflecting Thousand Waves, which can probe a person's thoughts; and on top of that, the Passion-Burning Whip and the Dreamy Sweetheart Handcuffs... That's more than double the fun. It's unlimited fun!"
The wives were dumbfounded.
The old woman rose, brushed down her skirt, and headed for the door.
At the threshold, she suddenly stopped. Without turning around, she said, "If I were fifty years younger, I'd go to Ye Family Fortress too."
With that, she swept away, leaving the wives staring at one another.
The news that Bo Saixi had made the list sent ripples through every corner of the continent.
Unlike the ordinary factions that only watched for entertainment, the powers truly standing at the continent's peak saw far more than the superficial "double the fun."
Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Xiao gazed at the fading figure on the Sky Screen and remained silent for a long time.
Before the Sky Screen had descended.
The High Priest of Sea God Island, a Level 99 Limit Douluo, invincible in the sea.
She was an existence on par with his grandfather Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall, one of the three people standing at the pinnacle of human Soul Masters.
And yet, even such an extraordinary woman could only rank third.
"Even an existence like Bo Saixi can only rank third," Tang Xiao murmured, his voice filled with emotion. "I wonder what kind of peerless splendor the top two possess."
The First Elder also wore a grave expression. "Sect Master, the higher the Combat Power Ranking goes, the stronger those who make the list become. Bo Saixi is already a First-Level God, so the top two..."
Above First-Level Gods were God Kings. Could those top two have already reached the level of God Kings?
Tang Xiao was silent for a moment, then abruptly changed the subject. "A letter came from Hao."
The First Elder raised an eyebrow. "Tang Hao? What did he say?"
"He said he inherited a god's legacy, and that as long as he passes the God Trial, he can become a god." Tang Xiao spoke softly, but with a trace of concern.
The hall fell silent at once.
After a moment, the First Elder slowly said, "Sect Master, I'm afraid this may bring disaster rather than good fortune."
Tang Xiao turned to look at him.
The First Elder continued, "Tang Hao and Brother Cao are sworn enemies. His wife, Ah Yin, and his younger sister, Yuehua, were both... Given his temperament, if he becomes a god, he'll definitely go after Brother Cao to take revenge. But what ordinary god could possibly stand against Brother Cao?"
He paused, worry flashing in his eyes. "And what if the Clear Sky Sect gets dragged into it..."
Tang Xiao closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
Of course he knew Tang Hao's temperament better than anyone.
Stubborn, headstrong, set in his ways. Once he had made up his mind, not even nine bulls could drag him back.
If he truly became a god, he would certainly seek revenge on Brother Cao.
And with Yuehua and Ah Yin on Brother Cao's side, if things came to that, whose side would the Clear Sky Sect take?
"The First Elder makes a fair point." Tang Xiao opened his eyes, his expression helpless. "Sigh, there's nothing I can do to stop this. You all know Hao's temperament. I can't talk him out of it."
"If it truly comes to the point of no return, we can only rely on Yuehua to help."
The First Elder nodded, his heart a tangle of emotions.
The dignified Clear Sky Sect, once the continent's number-one sect, now had to rely on a woman to preserve it.
It was a bitter pill to swallow.
Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor, holding a teacup, his brow furrowed slightly.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong sat on either side of him. All three wore troubled expressions.
"The continent has been rather strange lately." Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and began slowly. "It seems that a large number of gods from the Divine Realm are bestowing God Trials. According to reliable reports, Xue Ye, Dai Tianfeng, Jiang Luyuan... even that Bu Le have all earned the favor of gods and begun their God Trials."
Chen Xin furrowed his brow. "All of them hold grudges against Brother Cao's side. Xue Ye's empress was taken from him, as was Dai Tianfeng's. Jiang Luyuan's wife and daughter both went to Brother Cao, while Bai Chenxiang crippled Bu Le..."
"Is the Divine Realm trying to stir up conflict?"
Gu Rong stroked his beard and said gravely, "Very likely. Since they can't win head-on, they're trying to undermine him from within. The Divine Realm wants to kill with a borrowed knife."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Still, this also proves from another angle that Brother Cao's side is no weaker than the Divine Realm. That's why the Divine Realm can only retaliate this way."
He rose and walked to the window, gazing at the golden light still moving across the Sky Screen. He fell silent for a moment.
"Keep supporting Rongrong generously." He turned to Chen Xin. "Allocate another million gold coins to her. Ye Family Fortress is expanding and needs money. Rongrong is the young lady of our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We can't let anyone look down on her."
Chen Xin nodded. "Yes, Sect Master."
Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment, then added, "Also, don't antagonize the factions whose members have received God Trials. Xue Ye, Dai Tianfeng, Jiang Luyuan... They're all victims, and they're simmering with resentment. There's no need for us to stir up trouble. We'll just watch and wait."
The Divine Realm had bestowed God Trials. Those who had lost everything would gain power and surely go after Brother Cao for revenge.
Whose side would the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect take?
Rongrong's, of course. As for everyone else, there was only so much they could do.
Spirit Hall, Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong stood by the window, gazing at the Sky Screen in silence.
Behind her, Qian Renxue and Rakshasa God sat on either side.
"The Divine Realm has bestowed a large number of God Trials," Rakshasa God began, a trace of mockery in her voice. "Xue Ye, Dai Tianfeng, Jiang Luyuan, Bu Le... They all have grudges against Brother Cao. Asura God is trying to kill with a borrowed knife."
Qian Renxue furrowed her brow. "Even if they become gods, they still won't be a match for Brother Cao, will they?"
A complicated gleam flashed in Rakshasa's eyes. "If Asura God dares to do this, he must have something to fall back on. Perhaps he has another card up his sleeve."
Bibi Dong turned around and looked at her. "And you? You're a god of the Divine Realm too. If the Divine Realm and Brother Cao go to war, whose side will you take?"
Rakshasa God fell silent for a moment, then smiled. "Whose side? Brother Cao's, of course. If I make the list someday too, the Divine Realm certainly won't spare me."