"Doesn't matter if you don't get enough to eat. I'll come find you later." Muye said calmly, giving Gu You a quick glance up and down before nodding. "Nice clothes." With that, he turned and left.
Gu You quietly watched him go. That seat wasn't something simple. The current Sect Master of the Ontology Sect, a god-ranked mecha master, his cultivation likely at the level of an Ultimate Douluo, and he even possessed a four-word battle armor.
This was the first night's banquet, so both delegations remained relatively reserved. Few people even stepped onto the dance floor to dance.
Most just chatted, everyone seeming at ease.
Soon, staff came by to hand out numbers. Everyone had to stick them on their chest, for later when they'd choose winners of a few "best of" mini-games.
"Our method of selection is simple. Each delegation will first pick five respected representatives to conduct an initial selection. From that, ten candidates each will be chosen for Best-Dressed Gentleman and Lady, Most Handsome Gentleman and Most Beautiful Lady, and Best Dance Partner. Then everyone will vote, and we'll decide the final winners. I'm not worried about the rest—only that our dance floor still looks far too empty. Most of us here are young, and young people need energy! Don't suppress your inner passion. Come on, let's dance!"
Sima Lanxiao's voice carried a persuasive charm, and under his urging, more people finally entered the dance floor.
"Do you know how to dance?" A clear, crisp voice sounded next to Gu You.
He turned to see a girl in a pale blue dress, her face shy as she asked him.
Gu You didn't turn her down rudely, but he sighed regretfully. "Sorry, I don't know how."
"I see." The girl gave up, disappointment flickering on her face as she left.
He really hadn't lied—he truly couldn't dance.
"Dance with me?"
Gu You lifted his head impatiently—hadn't he already said no? But when he saw who it was, the impatience vanished.
It was Gu Yue…
"I really don't know how."
"That's easy. I'll teach you." Gu Yue smiled.
"Fine, but when I step on your hem and make a fool of you, don't blame me." Gu You lifted his hand helplessly.
"Then it just means I didn't teach you well." She grinned mischievously.
Gu Yue turned her body to face him, holding his hand without letting go, raising it slightly, her other hand settling lightly on his shoulder.
"Just follow my movements. Let me lead. Put your hand on my waist," she whispered.
"Okay."
"Here we go."
As she spoke, Gu Yue slid her left foot, drawing Gu You with her into the dance floor.
So fast?
Gu You was stunned, but he tried his best to follow her steps.
From her hands came a natural guiding force, pulling his body smoothly.
Her movements grew faster, and his own steps gradually grew more fluent. With the music's rhythm, he began to grasp the basics.
The handsome man and the beautiful woman, their dance wasn't technically perfect, but it easily drew eyes nonetheless.
"You pick things up quickly, no matter what it is," Gu Yue said, guiding him along.
"Of course. Think about who I am—in this world, if I claim second, no one would dare claim first." Gu You replied smugly.
Gu Yue rolled her eyes.
When the song ended, the dancers also stopped. Though it was just one piece, Gu You's strong coordination and reflexes had already helped him adapt a bit.
"See? Dancing's pretty fun, right? Want to go again?" Gu Yue asked with a smile.
Gu You hurriedly shook his head. "No way. Didn't you notice I kept looking down just now? I was terrified of stepping on your foot. If I did, we'd both look like fools. There'll be many more banquets. Let me observe how others dance first, then I'll try again with you."
"Fine. I just learned a new dance recently anyway."
"Huh? I don't remember you practicing."
"Girls have things to learn that boys don't need to know about. If you all knew, what fun would that be?"
"Fair enough…"
The preliminary selections for best categories began soon after.
To everyone's surprise, Wu Changkong was nominated for both Best-Dressed Gentleman and Most Handsome Gentleman. Maturity really did have its appeal.
As for Best-Dressed Lady, Shrek Academy's Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan made the cut.
In the Top Ten Most Beautiful Ladies, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, and Xu Xiaoyan were all shortlisted.
Then came the voting stage.
After a round of voting, Gu You was chosen as Best-Dressed Gentleman. Best-Dressed Lady went to Gu Yue. Most Beautiful Lady, however, was not one of them—it went to a stunning young beauty from the Star Luo Empire. And the Most Handsome Gentleman? None other than the cold, aloof "Ice Prince," Wu Changkong!
When Wu Changkong went onstage to accept his award, everyone clearly noticed a flicker of awkwardness in his eyes. Perhaps this was the first time their stern teacher had faced such a situation. If Elder Cai weren't present, he might not have even gone up.
The prizes weren't much, just some Star Luo Empire specialties. But through this sequence of events, the two delegations had clearly grown closer.
The banquet was a great success. The Shrek and Star Luo delegations had become noticeably more familiar with one another. The members were all of varied backgrounds—scholars, warriors, commoners, and nobles alike. Naturally, there was also discussion of combat strength. Wu Changkong casually mentioned that both sides had extremely powerful mecha masters and battle armor masters among their groups, representing their respective academies.
Later, back in his cabin, Gu You changed into his usual clothes and immediately felt much more comfortable. He opened the balcony door, letting the sea breeze pour in. The cool wind brushed against his face and body, refreshing him. He breathed deeply of the moist air and looked up at the sky.
Tonight's weather wasn't good—no moonlight or starlight. The sea was pitch black, only the sound of waves faintly audible. Yet it carried a strange tranquility that seemed to stir the body's energy.
Stepping onto the balcony, gripping the railing, violet light flickered in his eyes as he activated the Purple Demon Eye to peer below.
The Purple Demon Eye greatly boosted his vision. With the ship's lamps, he could clearly see the seawater beneath them.
At night, the sea turned black, devoid of light, yet brimming with mystery.
The ocean was truly the most vast place in this world, covering nearly seventy percent of the planet's surface.
The planet itself…
Gu You pondered. Even he was curious about what lay beyond the Douluo plane.
Astronomy, a new science, had already begun to develop. People were beginning to attempt to explore through…
(End of Chapter)