Word Count: 2,728 Words
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The Love at First Sight segment proceeded in an orderly fashion. With each passing round, more lamps winked out until only twenty male students remained. The ratio of men to women was finally approaching one to one.
With their numbers reduced, the male students were rearranged into a single line, facing the eighteen Sea God Fairies across the water.
Zhang Lexuan smiled gracefully. "After Mutual Appreciation and Love at First Sight, I believe everyone has gained a basic understanding of each other. Now we will enter the third phase of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival: Love at Second Sight.
Ladies, please note that while Love at First Sight allowed you to leave your lights on for any boy you found appealing without consequence, Love at Second Sight is different. You cannot choose casually; you must take responsibility for your decision.
To ensure fairness, each male student will now draw lots. According to the results, you will come up one by one and have one minute for self‑introduction.
Gentlemen, you may confess to your chosen Sea God Fairy or demonstrate your abilities. After your introduction, come to Bei Bei and me to report one Sea God Fairy's number.
Once all male students have finished, it will be the ladies' turn to choose. You get only one selection, and you cannot go back on it."
After speaking, Zhang Lexuan flew to the girls' side, reshuffled their order, and pinned number plates one by one to each of their chests. Bei Bei glided over, treading lightly on the lily pads while holding a black lot-drawing container.
Ling Bai drew number two, a very early position. The male student presenting before him was Dai Huabin.
Aside from the hundred-person melee Director Du had hosted, Ling Bai had no interactions with Dai Huabin, so he paid him no mind. His gaze instead drifted to the girls across the lake.
Hua Yao drew number one and Ma Xiaotao drew number three. Standing between them with the number two plate and still wearing a bamboo hat was the only girl who had turned off her light for him.
Ling Bai would drink Sea God Lake dry if girl number two wasn't Wang Dong Er.
Wu Feng drew number six, Ning Tian wore number seven, Han Ruoruo was number eleven, and Dugu Lin, who had voluntarily removed her hat, was number fourteen.
"Male student number one, please begin your self‑introduction."
Dai Huabin stepped from his lily pad. White fur sprouted rapidly as a thick white light encased his tall, burly frame. Relying on his White Tiger Shield Body Barrier to barely maintain his balance, he walked steadily toward the eighteen girls.
"My name is Dai Huabin. I am a Rank 57 Power Attack System Spirit King. I have a girlfriend. Her name is Zhu Lu; she just has not entered the Inner Courtyard yet."
The instant Dai Huabin spoke, Sea God Lake exploded in an uproar. The boys leaned back tactically, the girls were stirred with indignation, the audience's jaws dropped, and even the Sea God Pavilion elders' mouths twitched. Only Yan Shaozhe was rubbing his chin, muttering to himself:
"Is this kid looking for a concubine at the Sea God Festival? He has guts…"
Amid the commotion, the fiery-tempered Wu Ming was the first to lose her patience and snapped, "If you have a girlfriend, why are you participating in a blind date!"
"I am here for a battle."
Dai Huabin replied dispassionately, "I hope one of the Sea God Fairies picks me so I qualify for the bride‑stealing segment."
With that, he turned and returned to his lily pad without even reporting a number to the hosts, confirming the truth in his statement.
He was not here for romance, but purely to target someone.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Dai Huabin as if sensing something, only to find the other boy staring fixedly at him, his evil eyes grim and his fighting spirit blazing.
The two had a long‑standing grudge. The 'battle' Dai Huabin mentioned was clearly against him.
Zhang Lexuan shook her head slightly. The Sea God Festival was starting to feel more like a tournament than a matchmaking event. She announced:
"Next, Junior Brother Ling Bai."
Ling Bai spread his six angelic wings and soared into the sky. His clear voice rang out for all to hear:
"Ling Bai, seventeen years old. Martial Spirit: Seraphim. Rank 79. Thank you."
It was a simple, unembellished statement of fact, yet its effect was explosive.
The girls' eyes widened. During Mutual Appreciation, they had seen his terrifying seven spirit rings and knew he was already a Spirit Saint, but Rank 71 and Rank 79 were two very different realms. One was a newly ascended Spirit Saint; the other stood at the threshold of Spirit Douluo!
Reaching Rank 60 by twenty was a legendary achievement, nearly guaranteeing a future as a Titled Douluo with a chance at becoming a Super Douluo. When Ling Bai turned twenty, he would be a Spirit Douluo at a minimum and could very well become a Titled Douluo!
A twenty‑year‑old Seraphim Titled Douluo… Ling Bai's future was blindingly bright. He was all but guaranteed to become the continent's foremost powerhouse for the next two centuries!
Shrek Academy promoted monogamy, but the mainstream view across the Douluo Continent was that the strong deserved more. Men taking concubines and women keeping male companions was entirely normal.
For Inner Courtyard female students seeking partners, strength was an absolute priority. A thought bloomed in their minds: should they offer themselves up to secure benefits for themselves and their families?
For those who already harbored feelings for Ling Bai, the gasps and words of envy from the crowd only made their eyes soften. The man they loved would always blaze like a golden sun.
On the ferry, Elder Xuan swallowed a mouthful of chicken and then washed it down with a hearty gulp of wine. He sighed with regret, "What a pity. We never did manage to tie this kid to the Academy for good.
Now that Jianmu Douluo is a Limit Douluo, we cannot force Ling Bai to stay. Fortunately, it seems Xiaotao and he have something between them."
"They have probably been together for some time."
Yan Shaozhe said tentatively. "Elder Xuan, you once said you wanted to choose between Xiaotao and Yuhao as the next Sea God Pavilion Master. Perhaps, considering Ling Bai's connection…"
"There is no rush. Let us observe a while longer."
Elder Xuan wiped his greasy hands, unwilling to make a hasty decision.
Both candidates had their strengths and weaknesses.
Huo Yuhao possessed Twin Martial Spirits and showed talent with Spirit Guidance Devices. His weaknesses were his low strength, being held back by Ultimate Ice before reaching Rank 70, and his Tang Sect membership, which would inevitably divert his attention.
Ma Xiaotao, on the other hand, had pure roots as a descendant of Ma Hongjun from the original Shrek Seven Monsters. She had been personally raised by Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei'er, possessed formidable strength, and held great prestige. Her weakness was that her overall potential was less than Huo Yuhao's.
But now, another weight had been added to the scales on Ma Xiaotao's side: Ling Bai. The marital ties were something Shrek had to consider seriously.
In terms of pure talent, Huo Yuhao had the upper hand, but he had joined Shrek halfway through. Ma Xiaotao had an explosive temper. If Huo Yuhao were appointed and Ma Xiaotao became dissatisfied, she might whisper pillow talk and incite Ling Bai and Jianmu Douluo to come and blow everything up with brute force.
The simultaneous appearance of two Ultimate Martial Spirits, which should have been a great blessing, had suddenly become a source of vexation for Elder Xuan.
Setting aside Elder Xuan's dilemma, the Love at Second Sight segment on Sea God Lake had concluded. Zhang Lexuan smiled and said, "After Mutual Appreciation, Love at First Sight, and Love at Second Sight, it is time for Three Lives Entwined.
Each Sea God Fairy will introduce herself and choose her favored male student. At the end of this segment, if a male student is not chosen by any female, he will leave the festival.
The two ladies still wearing bamboo hats, please note that afterward, you may choose to remove them.
Alright, let us begin."
The number one Sea God Fairy, Hua Yao, tapped her toes on the water lily and spun beautifully. Seven spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, three black—rose around her. A layer of pink spirit power formed a shockwave that pressed down on the water, steadily holding her aloft.
"Hua Yao, thirty‑one years old, Control System Spirit Saint. I want a gentle, stable partner with whom I can build a beautiful future."
Her figure flashed, and Hua Yao arrived before Gu Fan, giving him a graceful curtsey. A wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. A pleased smile appeared on Gu Fan's face as he made a gentlemanly gesture of invitation.
The number two girl, Wang Dong Er, stepped forward. She still wore her bamboo hat and said not a word as she chose Huo Yuhao, much to his bewilderment.
Huo Yuhao looked at the silent woman beside him, the movement in his throat suggesting he desperately wanted to ask, Beauty, who are you?!
"Screech—!"
A piercing phoenix cry suddenly rang out. A fire phoenix descended from the sky, transforming into Ma Xiaotao's figure. She walked straight to Ling Bai, her snow‑white chin slightly raised:
"Do you think I need an introduction?"
Ling Bai smiled and shook his head, flying up to give her the water lily pad.
A searing wave of heat washed over them. Wu Feng craned her neck, staring at Ma Xiaotao as she said irritably, "Make some room!"
Ma Xiaotao pursed her lips. The lily pad was only big enough for two, and it was obvious that more than two girls would choose Ling Bai. She couldn't be bothered to squeeze, so she simply flapped her phoenix wings and left the pad.
Ning Tian stepped onto the lily pad after Wu Feng. Ma Xiaotao had never considered Wu Feng a serious rival, but Ning Tian was completely different.
She was the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's next successor and Ling Bai's childhood sweetheart of seventeen years. The clan's elders must surely wish to see them united.
Since removing her veil, Ma Xiaotao had watched Ning Tian closely. She had expected that seeing her barge in would provoke a reaction, at least a cold snipe like Wu Feng's. Yet from start to finish, Ning Tian had remained eerily calm, betraying no extra emotion.
Han Ruoruo arrived as well. With her nature and cultivation, she had no need to scramble for space on the lily pad and simply floated quietly at Ling Bai's side.
Dugu Lin hummed a tune as she broke through Sea God Lake's waves, standing prettily before the lily pad. Meeting Wu Feng's predatory gaze, she decisively looked up at Ling Bai with pitiful eyes:
"What should I do? I cannot fly, and my cultivation is not strong enough to hover long. Without somewhere to stand, I will sink~"
"Vixen!"
Wu Feng's ample chest rose and fell several times. Even with mental preparation, the scene angered her to the point of explosion. She gnashed her teeth and glared at Ling Bai.
It's all your fault for being such a womanizer!
Ling Bai pressed down on the empty air with his left hand. Snowflakes drifted down and gathered on the lake. Everyone clearly felt solid ground beneath their feet; a thick sheet of ice had formed below them, removing the need to use spirit power to stand.
"Thanks! Still so considerate!"
Dugu Lin winked flirtatiously and blew him a kiss.
The final girl stepped forward. Like Wang Dong Er, she wore a bamboo hat. She walked on the water's surface, ice forming with her every step, until she came before Ling Bai. Then, she removed her hat, revealing a clear and cold face.
Ling Luochen.
She said flatly, "I have no one else to choose, and you wouldn't be interested in me anyway. After two years apart, I want to see clearly the gap between us, so I will challenge you in the bride‑stealing segment."
"Alright."
Ling Bai paused briefly before nodding slowly.
Six of them!
One‑third of the eighteen girls had chosen Ling Bai!
Ma Xiaotao was fiery, Wu Feng vivacious, Ning Tian noble, Han Ruoruo gentle, Dugu Lin seductive, and Ling Luochen cool. Six beauties of different temperaments formed a magnificent spectacle, each representing a different facet of feminine charm.
Six nations vying for supremacy!
The smoke of war was rising!
When had the young kids from the Outer Courtyard ever seen such a grand scene? They were all dumbstruck. The male students pounded their chests and stomped their feet, tears streaming down their faces as they yelled at the top of their lungs:
"Senior, start a class! We'll listen on our knees!"
The female students split into two camps. The clear‑headed disdain faction cursed Ling Bai as Shrek's number one scumbag. The infatuated faction thought: Come on, with god‑level talent and heaven‑defying looks, what are the other girls doing? Why are they not choosing him!
By now, the number of participants had dwindled considerably.
Among the female students, apart from the six who chose Ling Bai and Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao who voluntarily withdrew, all the rest were paired one‑to‑one. For instance, Wu Ming chose Chu Qingtian, Hua Yao chose Gu Fan, and Wang Dong Er chose Huo Yuhao. Consequently, fewer male students remained than female students.
It was worth mentioning that one girl had indeed chosen Dai Huabin.
Sure enough, there was no shortage of people who just wanted to watch the world burn.
Bei Bei announced in a resonant voice, "We now begin the final segment of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival: Hundred Years of Harmony. The power of decision now shifts to the male students.
Each of you can make his final choice among the girls. If you choose the girl before you and have no competitors, congratulations on completing your Hundred Years of Harmony. But if competitors appear, we'll enter the bride‑stealing segment.
The Hundred Years of Harmony segment will proceed according to the girls' numbers. Gu Fan, do you accept Hua Yao?"
Gu Fan's voice was warm and smooth. "I thank the Lotus Fairy for choosing me. Hua Yao has always been my dream. A simple, peaceful life is true happiness. I'm willing to protect and cherish her for a lifetime."
"Very well. Does anyone wish to steal the bride?"
Sea God Lake fell silent. After about ten seconds, Zhang Lexuan and Bei Bei declared in unison, "Congratulations to Gu Fan and Hua Yao on completing your Hundred Years of Harmony. On Sea God Lake, a fated bond is made. May your love last forever. The ceremony is complete!"
Next, it was Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong Er's turn. This time, Huo Yuhao was not chosen by Ling Luochen or Ning Tian. He and Wang Dong Er recognized each other, and he accepted Dai Huabin's challenge.
Huo Yuhao and Dai Huabin fought a chaotic battle back and forth. In the end, the Ice Jade Scorpion had a natural advantage on Sea God Lake. Huo Yuhao defeated Dai Huabin and successfully joined with Wang Dong Er.
"Junior Brother Ling, it's your turn. What good fortune to be favored by six Sea God Fairies at once."
Zhang Lexuan teased, "Given Ling Bai's special situation, each of the six girls may share a few words from her heart. Xiaotao, you start."
Ma Xiaotao gazed into those brilliant golden pupils. "Before, we were neither innocent friends nor open, honest lovers. If I don't try once tonight, I won't be reconciled."
Wu Feng cracked her knuckles. "If you don't pick Ning Tian, you. Are. So. Dead!"
Ning Tian's expression was serene. "Bai‑ge, I completely respect your choice."
Han Ruoruo lowered her gaze. "If you really can't decide, Elder Sister can be your buffer. I won't hold you back…"
Dugu Lin wouldn't be Dugu Lin without shocking everyone. "Oh no, I don't seem to have any advantages. Whoever wins, can you save me a concubine position?~"
Ling Luochen's expression was serious. "Don't mind me. I just want one fight."