"It's very simple."

Diyi Hong smiled brightly.

"I just absorbed an external soul bone. It gave me two soul bone skills."

"Neither are offense-based. They're more about control and support."

"As long as you can stand and endure both of them, you win."

"Then you can pick one Immortal Herb from what's left and take it."

"Oh, and this round is open to everyone except Sword Douluo."

"Limited spots—first come, first served!"

Control and support-type soul bone skills?

Big deal.

"I'm in!" Ma Hongjun said without hesitation. "For Immortal Herbs, I'll stand to the very end!"

"Me too!" Dai Mubai followed closely behind.

"I'm joining too!" Meng Yiran refused to fall behind.

The Shrek students and teachers all registered on the spot.

Even Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but join the competition.

As for the excluded Chen Xin, he didn't seem to mind.

—After all, as a Titled Douluo, he was bound to be treated specially.

Only Xiao Wu hesitated, looking at the recently rescued Tang San.

"Ge?"

Tang San's expression flickered between hesitation and doubt.

Wait a minute…

Was this another trap?

He was beginning to notice a pattern—every time something involved Diyi Hong, he ended up suffering the most.

A bit of… persecution complex was forming.

He never expected—

"Alright, registration's closed," Diyi Hong declared. "Everyone who signed up, line up facing me—we're starting now."

Tang San was stunned.

Huh?

It's starting already?

I haven't even gotten in line yet!

—Or maybe he was just overthinking it. Maybe no one cared whether he joined or not.

"Wait!" Tang San called out urgently. "I want in too! And Xiao Wu!"

Diyi Hong glanced sideways at him, visibly annoyed.

"So indecisive. What a pain."

"I'll allow it this time, but don't make it a habit."

What else could Tang San do?

He forced a smile and gave Xiao Wu a look, signaling her to hurry and join the line.

Men on one side, women on the other, ranked by height.

Tang San stood at the front.

Clearly, he wasn't the tallest.

["God of Speed": Streamer, you're insane! That bait-and-hook routine? Textbook manipulation!]

["Phoenix God": I really thought Tang San was finally gonna dodge one for once.]

["God of Emotion": The streamer was so confident about this bet… I'm getting excited!]

Diyi Hong swept his gaze across the line, stopping on Zhu Zhuqing.

"You. What are you doing over there? Come here."

Zhu Zhuqing blinked in surprise.

But she still stepped forward, anticipation in her eyes.

Diyi Hong ruffled her hair, his tone slightly exasperated.

"If you wanted an Immortal Herb, you could've just said so."

"I didn't give you too many earlier because your body's too strong. If your spirit rings' age gets too high, your current soul power won't be able to activate the skills."

"Here."

"These three Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums. Take them and push your Diamond Body to the limit. Below god-rank, you'll be invincible."

"Let's just call it the Diamond Invincible Body."

Zhu Zhuqing held the three Immortal Herbs, her expression unreadable.

Surprise, gratitude, suspicion, confusion…

To see such a storm of emotions on such a usually cold and aloof face—

It showed just how shaken she was.

She wanted to say something.

But she didn't know what to say.

"Thank you?"

Too distant.

"Okay?"

Too casual…

Still hesitating.

Diyi Hong gave her a pat on the shoulder and pointed at the three-story villa nearby.

"Go inside and absorb them."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently and walked away without another word.

But something in her heart solidified with certainty.

That moment made many faces change!

Tang San's greed.

Meng Yiran's possessiveness.

Dai Mubai's eyes turning green with envy.

The others couldn't hide their jealousy either.

Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang were filled with regret.

Even Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin frowned deeply.

The former felt threatened—his daughter wasn't the only, or even the first choice?

Chen Xin was simply furious.

—This kid was blatantly playing both sides!

While Douluo Continent had no formal rule, most strong cultivators were loyal in love. Monogamy was the unspoken norm.

And this little brat was already two-timing?

He glanced at the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemums on the table, and they suddenly felt burning hot in his hands.

"Alright. Let's begin the main event."

Diyi Hong clapped.

"All you have to do is stare into my eyes and endure."

"Whoever lasts the longest without surrendering gets to pick an Immortal Herb."

"Everyone clear?"

Flender and the others were full of confidence.

Ma Hongjun and his crew were laser-focused.

They all responded affirmatively.

"Wait!"

A figure ran over—Yu Xiaogang.

He squeezed into the lineup, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I meet the requirements too. I can participate, right?"

Oh?

Someone's actually running toward death now?

"Of course," Diyi Hong said generously.

"I may not like you, but I keep my word."

"Ready? Here I go!"

A golden third eye slowly opened on Diyi Hong's forehead.

Not a vertical eye like Erlang Shen's—it was round and brilliant, filled with cosmic starlight.

Radiant golden light shone forth, bright but not blinding.

At the same time—

Diyi Hong began to chant:

"What is filial piety?"

"What is love?"

"Feel the greatness of a mother's love—"

Pregnant Stare!

His external soul bone, Heavenly Eye Sun Form, burst into radiant brilliance.

Those illuminated felt a surge of warmth, like sinking into a mother's embrace.

But then…

That warmth concentrated in their bellies.

And to their horror—they saw their stomachs balloon like inflated balloons. In ten seconds, they reached full-term pregnancy size.

What followed was a tearing, searing pain that came in relentless waves!

Unrelated to cultivation level or physique.

It was pure pain—so intense it overwhelmed their consciousness.

Their bodies reacted instinctively—

"AHHH!!!"

"HNGHHH!!!"

"IT HURTS IT HURTS IT HURTS!!!"

"WHAT IS THIS??!!"

The group wailed like tortured souls. Most collapsed outright.

Too painful!

Their legs gave out—they couldn't even stand.

That's right!

One of Diyi Hong's self made soul bone skills—used in 9 out of 10 comedy novels—the infamous Pregnant Stare!

Crafted by Divine Prank Saint, this skill lets the target experience the agony of childbirth—to better appreciate a mother's love.

Old-school move, but if it works, it works.

And look—

Even the gods in the livestream were speechless from the shock of it!

Can you imagine?

A whole lineup of people—men included, even an old guy pushing fifty—all visibly pregnant before your eyes?

The sheer absurdity blacked out the minds of gods.

Their brains just… crashed.

Diyi Hong knew—

He'd already won his bet with [God King of Destruction 002].

This?

This was just one of his soul bone skills.

He still had another that he hadn't even used yet.

That one… was the real bombshell.

But let them catch their breath first.

He looked over his handiwork with satisfaction.

The higher-ranked experts—Meng Shu, Flender, etc.—still held on.

Only auxiliary-type Shao Xin had collapsed outright.

That was expected.

Dai Mubai, with slightly lower level, gritted his teeth and endured, drawing on his experience with pain.

In fact, as his Hidden Vajra Zen activated, he seemed to be… vaguely enjoying it?

Yep.

He was definitely going down a certain path soon.

But—

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