Karni was not going to confess. Siduo already knew of his feelings. Instead, he would make a great show for her. She did say he couldn't slack off. Confessing right now would just be slacking off, considering what he did in the first trial.
There were still a couple of people after him. Those might have been considering that they should confess instead of showing their power. Karni was about to change that.
Lotuses sprouted beneath his feet as he walked to the centre of the lake. His sixty seconds had already started. He needed to be fast, but not too fast.
On the final step a Lotus grew. It exploded in growth, becoming a giant Lotus the size of a house. Such sudden growth launched Karni high into the sky.
He brought out The Guardian. Six Soul Rings appeared around the Guardian. The people in the audience could not help but gasp. He had a total of ten Soul Rings, and every single one of them was Black. The fourth on his Panda even had a small tinge of red. It was an incredibly ring to see for such an event.
Wulin could not help but stare at Karni from behind. Wulin thought he had grown by leaps. He gained a Soul Bone that could control Gravity and gave him an impressive skill in defence. His Spiritual Power also grew to the level of Spiritual Abyss while he was in the Dragon Graveyard, but here was Karni, whose Spiritual Power was off the charts. He could not sense what Karni's current levels were. Not just that. Last he knew Karni, Karni was a Soul Ancestor. Now he was a Soul Emperor, while Wulin was still a Soul Ancestor. In fact, Karni's Soul Power had already reached rank 63 in the past few months.
Karni held the Guardian in his right hand, pointed downwards toward the lake, while his left hand stretched toward the sky. His third Soul Ring of the Panda shone once again. He called for help from Lily from within. Up in the sky sprouted another Lotus the size of a house, except it was upside down.
Finally, six Soul Rings circulated around the Guardian, and the sixth one shined. A Soul Ring he gained not so long ago. His newest skill.
On the tip of the Greatsword, a sudden, but immense force appeared. Light darkened around it. A spiral pull appeared in the whole region around the lake, the water disturbed.
A small black dot appeared at the tip.
"It is incredibly small, but unlike most skills that appear like big black holes, that is a genuine Black Hole. It is a pure force of the natural law. It has no foreign elements in it." Yun Ming widened his eyes at the scene before him.
"To think such a small object could carry the weight of mountains." Long Yeyue nodded alongside Yun Ming.
The tiny pitch-black dot looked to be about 2 cm big. But that was not the true object. It was just that at that point, the light was fully sucked in already. Long Yeyue and Yun Ming felt the size of the Black Hole. It was almost as small as an atom. That was how terrifying true Black Holes were. Such a tiny thing had the weight of a mountain. The mass of Black Holes was terrifying.
It was the first time Karni had a skill that had no connection with Sound whatsoever. Shifting accessed the Space Element through Sound, Quivering Silver Feathers also used Sound as a medium to affect Space. The first three skills were all connected to Sound. But this one. Karni directly created a Black Hole, the only thing different from other people was that he heard the Black Hole's sound. The movement of Space had a Sound of its own. It's just that he did not control that Sound with this skill.
However, understanding the fluctuations of the Black Hole helped him control it. This was the tiniest it could go. Any smaller and the Black Hole would fall apart. The problem was, if it was any bigger, he could lose control. And that would be dangerous for everyone involved. The most he could do was to use Soul Power to control how much the Black Hole would affect. He limited its range of gravity and did not let it work in its purest form.
He pointed his palms—now paws—upwards and circled them. The Lotuses were caught into the gravity of the Black Hole, the lower one rose, the upper one fell, they started circling the Black Hole.
The Blooming Loti shone again, and a bunch of tiny Lotuses sprouted around the Black Hole, connecting the two giant Lotuses. They made the shape of a ring.
But the time was up, and Karni slowly lowered the Lotuses and himself then disassembled the Black Hole. He looked toward Wu Siduo with a tiny smile. Her eyes were a bit shaky. She started to get an idea of why Karni wanted to join this festival; her heart was getting a bit shaky due to it all.
Karni returned and those who still haven't gone went. It was clear that after Karni's presentation of skill, there was an art of how one presented their powers. Karni displayed his powerful abilities along with an intent behind it.
The fourth section began soon. It was quite a simple one, but also the most important one. It was time for the women to choose their man. This was the fourth segment: Destined for Three Reincarnations. Karni was not aware of just how true this name would be for his future.
The first to be called were the two girls who kept themselves hidden. Na'er and Gu Yue.
Lan Muzi's addressed them. "Up till now, the both of you are the only ones with your veils still on. If you're still unwilling to take them off in this segment, you'll not have the chance to take off your bamboo hats ever. So, I implore you to decide carefully. Also, because of your outstanding performances in protecting your veils, if you remove your veils now, you will have priority in the fourth segment. I'll give both of you a minute to consider this."
"I'll remove it." Na'er shouted confidently and removed her bamboo hat. For the first time in this festival, the audience could look at the Dragon Spear Goddess.
Her decision immediately shocked the audience as she approached close to Karni, Long Yue and Wulin, then settled next to her brother.
"It seems you guys have a weird family dynamic." Karni could not help but comment on the side.
"Junior Disciple Brother, please shut up." Na'er 'smiled' at Karni.
"Yeah, Karni, please just… shut it." Wulin sighed next to Karni as well, then began to question his younger adopted sister.
"Sure, sure. I'll leave you two alone." Karni looked ahead and stared at Gu Yue on the other side. She was the only anomaly left. Karni felt a bit tense that he could not influence her now. He could only trust that Wulin's actions would help her decision-making. If it went anything like the original timeline, it should all be fine. The deal they made three years ago should come to fruition.
That being said, Gu Yue neither revealed herself, nor chose anybody. Since this happened, Wulin would have to decide his own fate.
Ye Xinglan stepped up after the initial introduction was over, and to a very comical effect, she came close to Xu Lizhi who asked her if she's "just passing by." It was quite adorable when she grabbed his hand and Xu Lizhi blushed widely and at the same time became ecstatic.
Next up came Wu Siduo. Originally, she was meant to be in love with Wulin, but she was basically a different person. She and Karni looked at each other the whole time she made her way to Karni.
"Hi, Kiki." She held his hand immediately.
"Hey." Karni squeezed her hand, but they did not talk further as the festival still had to continue.
Yuanen Yehui came to Xie Xie which also caused an embarrassing scene. Xie Xie was simply shameless, basically declaring he was the bottom in the relationship.
Next came Liu Liu, who settled down next to a shaky Luo Guixing. The man could barely believe his eyes. He wanted to say something, but Liu Liu shushed him to just let the festival continue for now.
After everyone settled, another point of interest appeared. Princess Yun'er. As Karni expected, she came their way. Despite Karni's best efforts, she ended up falling in love with Wulin. He could only hope that the future would be kinder to her than originally…
She abruptly stopped between Long Yue and Wulin. She glanced between the two, then settled on Wulin's eyes for a moment. Karni immediately noticed the worry in Wulin.
She stared at him for a while, and he stared at her, filled with worry and a bit of pity. Yun'er's body tensed a bit, she looked at Siduo for but one glance. The one person who might tell her that she should persevere would be exactly Siduo, her close friend. Yet… she saw Siduo looking at her in pity as well. It was Siduo who Struck the final nail in the coffin.
She turned back to Wulin. Her body relaxed, and she let out a long sigh. Not one of frustration… but one of letting go. She and Wulin looked at each other eye to eye. "Brother Three, let's stay friends in the future."
Wulin nodded with a genuine smile.
Siduo returned the smile, then looked at Long Yue with different eyes then before. There was no more conflict in her eyes anymore. She settled herself next to him.
Long Yue stared at the princess, his eyes glass-like. He was the first to truly confess. He was not her first choice, but he knew her better than anyone else. They had known each other for years, but the past few years have been tough on both of them.
She really did let go. He knew this princess. When she decided on something, she stuck with it.
Karni was pleasantly surprised on the side. That… was not something he had expected.
"She will not have to suffer." Siduo said silently so only Karni could hear. She had heard from Karni the plans of the future in full by now. There were only a couple of hiccups he still could not tell her. The most troubling issue of which was destruction of Shrek, and some events that happen after it.
But Karni was not about to worry over that on a festival like this.
Besides, after Yun'er, only two girls were left. They ended up not wasting much time.
It was time for the next segment. The Happily Ever After. Lan Muzi introduced the event. "According to the rules, the power of authority will be reversed in the Happily Ever After segment. The males are given the opportunity to make the final choice. If all of you pick the females who chose you earlier, then we'll be sending you our greatest blessing and congratulate all of you on the success of love. In this segment, the Sea God maidens who have already chosen the males, have thirty seconds each to express to them something you wish to tell, especially to the males which many females have chosen. Our Sea God maidens will need to work harder to impress their beloved males. If a male chooses a female who didn't choose him, then both of you have one minute's time for confession. However, I must also remind all of you that if you were to choose a female who didn't choose you earlier, then the rate of failure will be extremely high. The rate of failure for the previous years' Sea God Fated Date Festival exceeded eighty percent."
Tang Yinmeng added. "At the same time, there's also one more rule that all of you should be aware of. In this final segment, the successful dating couple may possibly be the victims of bride kidnapping later. In the bride kidnapping segment, both of you are to confront the bride kidnapping together. If you are capable of reaching the Sea God Lake's shore with ease, then both of you are considered successful."
Karni nodded. Hm. Again, some aspects of the timeline repeated verbatim. It was odd, there were certain aspects that changed due to the butterfly effect, yet at the same time, it was like a force outside of the world kept working to keep everything in line as best as possible.
Karni was reminded of the words. That ancient voice he heard during his reincarnation. The voice that warned him of his actions during the tournament in Star Luo Emprie. "Do not mess with destinies of those predetermined." These were words he could not forget. Whatever it was, his reincarnation was not a thing of happenstance. Something kept the timeline in check. That same something brought him here. And that voice knew something about it.
Siduo pinched Karni's hand. He stopped spacing out. Oh. He had already missed Xie Xie and Yehui's happily ever after.
It was Liu Liu's and Luo Guixing's turn. Karni blinked. Hm. That was out of order. Wulin was supposed to go next.
Liu Liu turned to Luo Guixing. "I know you're supposed to explain whether you choose me as the fair maiden. But I already know you chose me, as arrogant as that sounds." Liu Liu took Luo Guixing's hands in hers.
"Guixing you… are an idiot."
Luo Guixing blinked.
"You're a genius when it comes to battle, but emotionally? You're an idiot. But… you're a sincere idiot."
Liu Liu took a big breath. "I am not sure how I feel about you. I've been avoiding you for a reason. But… I have to admit that your confession surprised me. So, I'm telling you this ahead of time. I don't know if I can… feel something greater for you. But you… I… I do find you somewhat cute. And you did make me… blush. If you're still willing to try this out, knowing I'm not sure about you, then-"
"I am. I one hundred percent am." Luo Guixing said quickly.
Liu Liu could not help but smile at the enthusiasm, with her cheeks turning red again. "Okay. Let's try it out then."
Lan Muzi congratulated them. "I wish the both of you your Happily Ever After. There don't seem to be any kidnappers either. With that, let us celebrate our second successful couple!"
"Alright, next from the lot is…" Tang Yinmeng raised her voice. "Val Karni."
Karni blinked. Then he smiled. Well, this wasn't bad either. It wasn't bad at all. He turned to Siduo and grabbed her hand. He pulled her outwards softly. "Shall we?"
Siduo's heart was beating as Karni brought her into the middle of the lake. Karni could hear it loud and clear. And truth be told, his was beating just as loud-
"She is mine!" A voice suddenly shouted from the male side.
"Oho? It appears we have a challenger. Prepare for a bridal kidnapping!" Tang Yinmeng sounded surprised. This was a couple that the people did not expect to be challenged.
Karni and Siduo both paused. Their spirits were suddenly aroused. This was meant to be their moment, and some asshole was ruining it!
Siduo's eyes widened further when she looked at the man in front of her. The guy that chased her during the one-year Karni was away. Karni beat him up once before… why was he here again? From the presentation he did two rounds ago…
Karni and Siduo watched as the man's Soul Rings rose. Soul Sage.
"I will tell you this only once, Guo." Siduo held back Karni from speaking. "I have already given myself fully to Karni. And he will be the only one to ever get that."
The audience turned completely silent at those words. That… what could one even say against that?
"I… I am Gao, not Guo! And I do not care. As long as I beat him, you will change your mind."
"By gods man, have you learned nothing from what you saw today? Power is not everything. People's feelings don't just change like that. She doesn't even remember your name!" Karni rubbed his eyes. He was genuinely shocked this was happening at all.
"What… you chicken?" The man looked at Karni.
Karni blinked once, then smiled cruelly.
"Fine." His voice echoed all around him. Karni was a Panda. His nature was relaxed and friendly by nature. But this?
Karni's Soul Rings shone. Royal Panda Cushion and the Samurai Bamboo Armour. In an instant, Karni looked a terrifying God of War. A terrifying mask which he shaped like that of a demon's, an exaggerated armour that was needlessly overdesigned to look menacing. The armour really shaped itself as his mind imagined it, though it did not affect the functionality.
His Guardian appeared. All but the fourth Soul Ring shone at once. A rising rumble started in the surroundings. Silver feathers grew on the Guardian, then straightened out. One could barely notice a pattern of feathers on it now. They were almost fully compact. Solid. The space was cut at the edges by the slightest of movements.
The man finally could not handle it anymore. He was a Soul Sage now. He had to activate the Avatar immediately. Spiked Gloves enlarged in his hands and appeared outside him, but… this feeling wasn't right. He stared at Karni and found himself unable to move. Terrified to move.
Then the scene worsened. Karni's bright yellow eyes shone twice as much as the surroundings behind him started to darken. A single giant Lotus appeared behind him. But the Lotus blackened… and became the centre of gravity.
The ears of the man were rumbling. They were bleeding. A constant release of deep thundering sound was heard everywhere. Like the very sky was crashing down.
"You little, pathetic, motherfucking bitch of a man." Karni said.
"I will give you a simple choice." Karni raised the Greatsword high into the air. Greatsword Consciousness exploded forth.
"Remove yourself from this and jump into the lake. Never show your face again. Or dare to step a single step forward, and I swear on my Martial Souls, you better hope the teachers are willing to save you, because I…"
The Spiritual Power rose. "Will."
The Sound vanished completely, all of it condensed inside the Greatsword. "Not."
The Greatsword glowed White, Sonic Entropy exploded. "Show."
The Sonic Entropy fused with the Greatsword Consciousness. "Mercy."
It was the single most powerful combination Karni could do, yet the next move was both weird yet somehow the most horrific part of his move. His left leg stepped onto the Greatsword, the Soul Bone—Flight into the River—revealed itself to the world.
The man was shaking. Shaking for his life. He… he would not survive that hit. He felt it in his instincts. And somehow he knew… he could not dodge.
He stared at those eyes. They looked at him as if he was an ant. A war god looking down on a mortal.
He could not help it. His instincts were screaming at him. He did not release his Avatar.
He only used his abilities to run away, directly into the lake.
Karni relaxed his presence and skills. The people watched in awe as everything turned from complete ruin to normal, as if nothing had happened. Karni used every visual trick he had and added it with his presence and comprehension of Sound. The most impressive idea he used was the fusion of Black Hole and Lotus. Karni had found in the last few months that Blooming Loti was especially good for combining with other skills. He was still discovering ins and outs of it.
He took a big breath and looked toward Siduo. With that kerfuffle over, he could finally focus on what he really came here to do.
Lan Muzi announced. "Let us celebrate another succse-" His voice cut off.
"I'm sorry senior Lan, but I'm not in the mood for interruptions right now. We both know it is not against the rules for me to do something before."
Lan Muzi was surprised for a bit but nodded. He looked to his lover and asked silently, curious. "Do you think you'd be able to silence me that way?"
Tang Yinmeng thought about it. She was someone who also had a Sound-based Martial Soul. "I could do it to you if I wanted… but I don't think I'd be able to prevent him from doing it."
"This junior is quite terrifying." Lan Muzi could not help but admit.
On the lake, Karni finally brought Siduo to the middle of the lake. He looked at her and she looked at him.
"Wu Siduo." Karni's Blooming Loti shone again. It really was a beautiful skill. It grew to the size of a house again.
"Sisi." But the Lotus grew further.
"My love." And it was now as tall as a castle. Its width went from the male side all the way to the female side.
Karni reached inside his shirt.
… … …
The very first memory. The very first meeting.
"Excuse me, can I sit here?" A small girl sat next to him, shooing away a classmate he did not remember anymore.
… … …
Karni pulled out a box.
… … …
"Oh, come on, I'll even give you a little kiss if you defeat me."
… "No." He answered back.
They were so cringe. But he understood it now. She knew him from before. She expected him to recognise her. Thinking about it, that small interaction must have broken her heart a little bit on the inside back then.
She expected a cheesy counterattack, instead she got confusion.
… … …
Karni knelt.
… … …
They became partners. They became disciples of the same teacher. They crunched and studied deep together for days on end.
… … …
Siduo already put her hands on her mouth. Tears were starting to well up in her eyes.
… … …
He remembered the first vision he had. To this day, it was still the most terrifying one. It was Siduo being shot.
But she was fine, and they grew from the encounter, despite the challanges they encountered.
… … …
She was there where he first killed a person. She even took the blame. And she was there when Grandma Ying died. They woke up together in the cold snow. She was there for him, helping to process the death.
… … …
They travelled over the ocean. To a different continent. They faced the threat of the Golden Island, and Karni told her the truth about his existence.
They spent the nights apart, yet mornings together, filled with the smell of cocoa.
… … …
Together they messed around after entering Shrek. They were students on fire, even forcing the elders of the Sea God Pavilion to get involved.
… … …
But they were separated. Their consequences catching up to them. Yet the separation gave way to growth.
… … …
And to a wonderful reunion. A reunion that led them to be teachers for three years.
… … …
And after three years, they finally did it, and they could not keep their hands off each other anymore.
And now… now they were here. They owned a house together, they lived together. But it wasn't over yet. Far from it.
… … …
"Wu Siduo." Karni said. "You appeared in my life so suddenly. You were a wrecking ball, coming to destroy my perceptions of the world. You know me best, and you will be the only person to know me so much on the inside and on the outside. I hope I can be the same for you too."
Karni took a big breath. "… Sisi. I love you. I love you more than anything in the world. This world… I care about it only because you are in it. I have learned to love this world due to you."
He opened the box. A beautiful silver ring decorated with two small rubies on the top was inside it.
"As everyone here as our witness. Sisi. Will you marry me?"
Siduo blinked as she wiped away her tears.
"Yes."