["Nine-Colored Goddess": Tsk tsk tsk! Tang San really is Tang San—always full of surprises.]

["Rakshasa God": Fool! There's still plenty of time left this month. A bit more intel and you could've figured out she could devour poison. Now your method's been exposed, it'll never work again.]

["God of Speed": That Meng Yiran sure has a venomous tongue. Drowning a fish with water? Hahaha—]

["God of Emotion": So even you, Tang San, miscalculated? That's right! You do make mistakes! I'm not giving up!]

After that lively round of commentary…

[User "Phoenix God" has gifted: "Phoenix Divine Sense" ×70 threads]

["Phoenix God": I thought Tang San was acting so smug because he had a trump card—turns out it was just that? What a massive L!]

[User "Rakshasa God" has gifted: "Rakshasa Divine Sense" ×1]

["Rakshasa God": At least he beat me once.]

["Phoenix God": Don't remind me. It hurts!]

He hadn't lifted a finger and still raked in 71 threads of divine sense.

Absolutely worth it.

He didn't forget about the other bet either. A glance at the soul tool timer—

19 seconds?

Pretty fast.

His gaze swept across the area.

The ballot box dissolved on its own. Sheets of paper floated up and embedded themselves into a stone slate, which floated in front of Diyi Hong.

"Rongrong got 20 seconds? Missed it by just one."

"Huh?"

"Teacher Zhao, you got 19.9 seconds—how cunning!"

Zhao Wuji straightened up, grinning ear to ear under Ning Rongrong's stunned gaze.

He might look rough and burly, but anyone who'd escaped pursuit from the Spirit Hall had long since lost the luxury of being careless.

"Teacher Zhao," Diyi Hong said with a chuckle, "how about this: for your reward, I'll upgrade your second soul ring?"

Zhao Wuji nodded enthusiastically.

With Li Yusong already hinting, Diyi Hong would've brought it up even if he hadn't.

"Alright then. Step forward."

He patted Zhao Wuji's muscular arm and hurled him into the Divine Realm fragment, leaving behind a divine-bestowed soul ring.

Didn't even go in with him—just tossed it over with a "Use your soul power to absorb it."

Then he swept a mischievous gaze over the group.

Heh heh heh…

Time for some fun.

"Aside from Meng Yiran and Xiao Wu, everyone else has to face punishment!"

"Now let me think… what would be suitably thrilling…"

Everyone: "…"

We're screwed!

All they could do was silently pray Diyi Hong didn't come up with anything too twisted.

Back out of the bet?

Who'd dare?

Maybe only Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi had the guts for that.

Flander scurried over quickly.

He whispered,

"Diyi Hong has some secret technique—even the Clear Sky Douluo couldn't beat him. Sect Master Ning, you really want to stay calm here."

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin jolted.

Flander wasn't the type to talk nonsense. Offending Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Clear Sky Douluo, and Diyi Hong all at once?

Impossible.

Which meant…

It's true?

They exchanged a meaningful glance.

So someone powerful backing Diyi Hong had dispatched a Title Douluo to protect him personally?

To be able to suppress even the Clear Sky Douluo…

Even their sect couldn't pull that off.

Meanwhile, on Diyi Hong's end—

After a brief chat with the gods in his livestream, he decisively chose the "most profitable" option.

"Got it!" Diyi Hong grinned. "Everyone ever played King's Game?"

The tense group collectively let out a tiny breath.

King's Game was simple: everyone drew a card, and the one who drew "King" could assign any two card numbers a task.

Since card identities were unknown, it was all randomized.

For example—

Tell player 1 and player 12 to kiss, and they both turn out to be guys?

"Why so quiet? Don't know the rules?"

Diyi Hong cleared his throat solemnly.

"Then let me explain. In King's Game, everyone draws a card. I, as the King, will designate two card numbers, and their owners must follow my command."

Everyone: "…"

Huh?

"Wait a second!" Ma Hongjun bravely protested. "Isn't the fun of King's Game that anyone can be the King? This is—"

"Excellent." Diyi Hong smiled. "Since Ma Hongjun has objections, you're disqualified from this new King's Game. Your punishment will be… experiencing childbirth."

Ma Hongjun: (っΩДΩ;)っ

No room for protest.

Diyi Hong activated his external spirit bone, Holy Eye. A golden beam flashed—

Direct hit on Ma Hongjun.

"Hsss—"

"No!!!"

The others quickly backed away from him, scared they'd be next.

Diyi Hong smirked.

"So… anyone else got a problem?"

Seeing the chubby guy writhing in agony, who'd dare say a word?

"Unanimous vote of approval, then."

Diyi Hong nodded with satisfaction.

"I'm not heartless, you know."

"Since Tang San lost the challenge, his punishment is this: Everyone gets one chance to have him take a punishment in their place."

"Once everyone's used that once, this round of King's Game ends."

"Clear?"

Everyone nodded in unison.

Who wouldn't want a free "get-out-of-punishment" card?

Tang San, though already sensing what was coming, had no choice.

He grit his teeth and accepted.

Diyi Hong clapped.

"To avoid accusations of favoritism—anyone got a set of playing cards?"

Everyone looked at each other.

Who carries cards on them?

Ning Fengzhi clapped.

A spirit master swiftly brought over a gilded deck.

Ning Fengzhi personally unwrapped it, displayed the cards to everyone, then selected a suitable number based on the group.

After a good shuffle, they each came up to draw.

Throughout the process—

Diyi Hong didn't move. He just stared at the "vote board" in front of him, clicking his tongue in wonder.

Curious as ever, Ning Rongrong leaned in to take a look.

"Huh?"

"Every vote's for Yiran? Not a single one for Tang San?"

Tang San, awaiting judgment, slowly raised his head.

Huh? Didn't Teacher vote for him just now?

He strode over, eyes sweeping the board.

Sure enough—every vote had gone to Meng Yiran. The only variation was the guessed time, with the highest being just 3 minutes?

He stared at Yu Xiaogang in disbelief.

Didn't you encourage me? How do you explain this?

Yu Xiaogang turned away guiltily.

Encouragement was one thing.

But knowing he'd definitely lose, yet still voting for him…

Honestly, a forfeit like Xiao Wu might've been the smarter choice.

Still, he had hoped Tang San might defy the odds and rewrite fate.

So… yeah.

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Haha! Even Yu Xiaogang didn't back Tang San!]

["Phoenix God": Dammit! I'm worse than Yu Xiaogang? Tang San misled me!]

["God of Emotion": Anyone who trusts trash like Tang San is doomed to suffer.]

["God of Speed": Haha! Yeah! He totally had this coming!]

Ahem! Diyi Hong interrupted, "Now, the first King's Command—starting bid: 1 thread of divine sense."

["Nine-Colored Goddess": Oh ho! So that's why you picked this game, streamer—you're after the divine sense bids!]

["God of Speed": But they don't even know each other's numbers. This blind bidding—wait… streamer?"]

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