After Ye Liu, two more Soul Sage–level disciples took their turns. Both failed to gain anything, and then it was Zhu Ziyang's turn.
"Ziyang, it's been a long time," Dai Yueheng greeted with a smile, exchanging pleasantries.
"It has indeed, Senior Brother Dai, Senior Sister Zhang. Congratulations to you both," Zhu Ziyang replied warmly.
"Mhm! We'll catch up later. It's your turn now—good luck," Yueheng encouraged.
Zhu Ziyang nodded calmly and stepped forward. His stride across the lake was unhurried, almost leisurely, as each step left behind a trail of frost that spread into ice. The casual elegance of his movements left many disciples dumbfounded.
For the senior brothers who knew him, it wasn't so surprising—they were aware of his strength. But for the newer inner court disciples, it was a shocking display. Who was this man who walked across the water like he was strolling through a garden?
"Sigh, I knew it. That guy came here just to steal the spotlight," Xu Sanshi muttered to Bei Bei from several leaves away.
"Shut up!" Bei Bei snapped. He was still sulking over Sanshi's stunt with Tang Ya earlier. Even if he knew it wasn't intentional, it still left a sour taste in his heart.
Ziyang stopped just five meters from the line of female disciples. Any closer, and they'd be allowed to attack. He had already observed carefully during the earlier turns. Despite the identical outfits and veils, he was almost certain he had identified Jiang Nannan and a few others.
He walked straight toward the third Sea God Fairy. As he passed the fifth—Tang Ya—she shot him a quick, encouraging wink. His heart settled, and with a smile he stopped in front of the third fairy.
"Nannan," he whispered softly.
He reached out to lift her hat. The Sea God Fairy made no move to resist. In one smooth motion, he unveiled Jiang Nannan's shy, radiant face.
"You passed the first trial," Nannan murmured, her voice barely audible yet perfectly clear to him.
Cheers erupted behind him. Ziyang moved on without pause.
He strode to the ninth fairy, his movements crisp and certain. In a flash, he snatched away her hat. "Sister Xiaotao!" he called.
Ma Xiaotao had been ready to put up a challenge, but he had been too quick—calling her name only after unveiling her face. Did he really fear no mistakes? Still, though she was flustered, she couldn't help offering him a dazzling smile.
Even that sun-bright smile didn't stop him. Ziyang pressed forward to the twelfth fairy. "Lingyi!" he called softly as he revealed Qian Lingyi's sweetly smiling face.
And finally, the twentieth. He reached for her hat—but this fairy wasn't going to let him succeed so easily. Golden flames flared in her palm as she struck at his outstretched hand.
Ziyang remained utterly calm. He flipped his right hand, summoning freezing cold to suppress the fire, and caught her delicate fingers firmly. With his left, he swept away her hat.
A delicate, furious face appeared beneath it—Diwu Huan'er.
To be honest, her presence surprised him. But since she had chosen to participate, he could hardly leave her to be claimed by another. After all, they had once shared an intimacy of skin-to-skin contact.
The disciples behind him were beside themselves. Four! He had unveiled four Sea God Fairies in one turn!
"Ziyang, leave some for the rest of us!"
"Senior Brother, have mercy!"
Their cries turned into laughter as Ziyang stepped back, smiling faintly.
"That's enough. I'll give everyone else their chance to shine."
In a flash, he vanished from the front line, reappearing a hundred meters away on his own lotus leaf. The effortless display left many disciples gasping in admiration.
Even Dai Yueheng and Zhang Weiwei exchanged startled glances, silently acknowledging the unspoken guess in each other's eyes.
"Ziyang, you're incredible!" Xu Sanshi leaned over, grinning wickedly. "But four at once? Can you handle that?"
"What can I say? I was born with both talent and looks," Ziyang replied lightly, borrowing a bit of Sanshi's shameless tone.
"You—!" Sanshi's face darkened. At a loss for words, he slumped back onto his lotus leaf, sulking.
After Ziyang, two more disciples took their turns. Then it was Bei Bei's. Since Tang Ya's veil had already been lifted by Xu Sanshi, Bei Bei simply chose not to act. After all, the first stage didn't require participation from everyone.
Next came Chu Qingtian, twenty-seven years old, a rank 67 Soul Emperor with a Lightning Leopard martial soul. Despite being an agility-type, he possessed a bold, reckless heart.
Egged on by his fellow disciples, he actually dared to reach for Wu Ming's veil.
Wu Ming, known as the Red Rose of the inner court, was famed not just for her beauty but also for her fiery temper—worse even than Ma Xiaotao's. She had attended the Sea God's Fate before but never once met her fated one, which was why she and Han Ruoruo remained the only single women of their generation.
After him, it was Huo Yuhao's turn.
Ziyang watched with interest. As the wielder of Ultimate Ice—and with Ziyang himself setting the example—Yuhao's approach was calm and steady. Each step froze the surface beneath his feet, leaving a trail of ice as he walked.
He soon reached the line of Sea God Fairies. Fourteen still wore their veils. For a moment, Yuhao hesitated. Whomever he chose, it would be awkward—if it was someone he knew, it might be fine, but if it was a stranger, it would be mortifying.
Seeing his uncertainty, Wu Ming let out a teasing laugh. "Little brother, you're so young—what are you doing at a matchmaking assembly? Go on, lift Ruoruo's veil! She likes boys like you."
"Wu Ming, do you want to die?!" Han Ruoruo snapped furiously, her face no doubt flushed crimson beneath the veil. The other women burst into giggles.
"Alright, alright, let's not bully him," Tang Ya said kindly, stepping in before Yuhao fled in embarrassment. "Yuhao, don't be shy—just pick someone."
"Oh, okay." Yuhao nodded quickly, relieved. He thought about using his Spiritual Detection to find Xiao Xiao, but as soon as he extended his spiritual power, an overwhelming force suppressed it instantly.
A voice whispered in his ear: Yuhao, no cheating.
His body stiffened. He looked toward Ziyang, who only smiled and shook his head.
With no choice, Yuhao sighed and moved forward. His gaze fell on the fourth fairy, standing between Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan. Something about her felt familiar. He decided to gamble.
As he approached, Ziyang's lips curved into a knowing smile. That fairy was trembling—sure enough, it was Xiao Xiao.
Yuhao reached out nervously. To his relief, she didn't resist. He lifted the veil, revealing a sweet, pretty face. Though they hadn't met in years, he recognized her instantly.
"Xiao Xiao! It's been so long!" Yuhao said with a goofy grin.
"Mhm. It has," Xiao Xiao answered softly, her eyes alight with joy.
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