The Festival Convergence
Han Yu and Lin Mei finally returned from their chaotic journey, having successfully located the lovesick Ying Li and used the Soul Resonance Art to soothe her heartbreak—a success that had left Han Yu emotionally drained but had stabilized the regional Qi flow. They arrived at the vast, neutral Cloudspring Village which hosted the annual, extravagant Festival of Eternal Love.
Han Yu was supposed to be keeping a low profile, but the convergence of all his rivals was inevitable.
He was instantly confronted by Yue Rong and Lin Qing, who arrived almost simultaneously, their auras clashing like ice and fire.
"I see you finally emerged from the wilderness, prodigy," Yue Rong said coldly, her voice sharp enough to cut silk. "After that embarrassing display of a 'pity-shield,' I am here to see if you can manage a genuine display of shared conquest."
"Don't worry, Ice Queen," Lin Qing snarled, sparks flying from her fingertips. "He's here for me. I've designed three new explosive pills for the festival games! I expect him to acknowledge my Attack superiority."
Jin-Jin, the Matchmaker Spirit, materialized above Han Yu's head, buzzing with delight. "Chaos! All three major potentials are here, my prince! The jealousy is delicious!"
Han Yu put on his most dazzling, diplomatic smile. "Ladies, ladies! This is the Festival of Love! Let us compete not with fury, but with charm! My affection is as boundless as the heavens!"
Just then, a booming announcement cut through the music. "Welcome, cultivators, to the Test of the Immortal Bond! A competition for couples to prove their unified spiritual strength!"
The Reluctant Entry
Han Yu immediately tried to flee. "That's my cue to leave! I'm not doing a couples' contest! The last time I was in a relationship, I was eight, and I shared a sweet bun with a spirit animal!"
Lin Mei grabbed his sleeve. "Oh, no, you don't! Elder Zhang ordered me to keep your reputation intact! If you run, they'll assume you're guilty of favoring one and are too cowardly to choose! You are participating, with me!"
Han Yu, realizing that publicly refusing would cause a massive, unforgivable jealousy spike, reluctantly agreed. Lin Mei dragged him to the registration.
The first challenge was The Spiritual Synchronization Test: Couples must hold hands and channel their combined Qi through a delicate lotus array. The array would only light up when the partners' energy, emotion, and intent were perfectly synchronized.
Han Yu was paired with Lin Mei. Yue Rong and Lin Qing were forced to watch from the sidelines, their jealous glares focusing immense, chaotic energy on the array.
Han Yu took Lin Mei's hand. "Alright, Lin Mei. Think of pure, neutral efficiency. Think of filing paperwork perfectly."
"I am thinking of punching you," Lin Mei muttered.
Han Yu immediately used the Soul Resonance Art, not to speak to her soul, but to read her current emotional state to match his Qi. He needed a perfect synchronization to win and calm the jealousy.
However, Han Yu's powerful Dao Celestial Soul connected to all three major rivals simultaneously.
Lin Mei's Soul (Near): "I hate this. I hope he loses. I should have stayed home and polished my sword." (Furious Resignation)
Yue Rong's Soul (Far): "If his Qi doesn't match hers, it proves their bond is fake. He will be mine! He needs a powerful conquest partner!" (Icy Determination)
Lin Qing's Soul (Distant): "They are holding hands! I'm going to set off my new 'Jealousy Bomb' pill! I'll turn the lotus array into fire!" (Volatile Anger)
Han Yu's Qi went completely haywire, overwhelmed by the conflicting emotions.
The lotus array flared red, blue, and green, before exploding in a shower of sparks.
Comedic Disaster #1: Spiritual Mismatch.
The Test of Trust and The Disaster
The second challenge was The Test of Trust: The male partner must be blindfolded while the female partner uses Ethereal Whisper to guide him across a field of rotating energy blades.
Han Yu was blindfolded, relying entirely on Lin Mei's voice.
"I need your Ethereal Whisper, Lin Mei! Perfect guidance!" Han Yu commanded.
Lin Mei's whispered instructions were precise: "Blade right! Step left! Now JUMP!"
Han Yu, using his Thunder Step movement skill, moved with blinding speed, but his Soul Resonance Art was still picking up the psychic commentary from the sidelines:
Yue Rong (Whispering to herself): "He trusts her too much! If he trips, it proves he needs my superior intellect!"
Lin Qing (Whispering to herself): "He trusts her too much! I'm going to trip him myself!"
Lin Qing, unable to restrain herself, threw a tiny, hidden Profound Core-level blast of wind Qi toward Han Yu's foot.
Han Yu's Soul Resonance Art picked up the intent of the attack moments before it struck.
He yelled: "Lin Mei! Stop Lin Qing!"
Lin Mei, bewildered, shouted: "I can't! Just jump!"
Han Yu, unable to dodge with Star Shifting Mirage while blindfolded, was forced to use his last resort. He activated Vajra Body, strengthening his leg to be as unbreakable as divine steel, and deliberately tripped over the harmless wind blast.
He didn't fall gracefully. He tumbled, rolling into a cart of festival decorations, coming to rest with his face buried in a bucket of sticky pink candy floss.
Comedic Disaster #2: The Sweet Shame.
The Aftermath and the Fan-Fanned Flames
Han Yu tore off the blindfold, covered head-to-toe in sugary pink fluff. The crowd, including the exasperated judges, was roaring with laughter.
Yue Rong and Lin Qing approached, their jealousy now mixed with satisfaction and renewed determination.
Yue Rong sneered. "So much for your 'unbreakable bond.' You lost because your Qi was tainted by fear and indecision."
Lin Qing laughed. "And you fell into candy floss! You prove yourself worthy only of my most ridiculous explosive pill!"
Han Yu, defeated and sticky, tried one last desperate attempt to placate them all and address the "favoritism" rumor.
"This loss," Han Yu declared loudly, scraping candy floss from his eye, "proves that I cannot possibly choose a favorite! My soul is so complex, so multifaceted, that I require all of you! My energy is simply too large for one single partner! I need a harem to contain my majestic, perfect Qi!"
Instead of calming them, this declaration fanned the flames of their rivalry into a frenzy.
Lin Mei (Furious): "A harem?! You just made it worse!"
Yue Rong (Icy Fury): "He wants a harem? Fine. If he requires conquest, I shall conquer his other women first!"
Lin Qing (Fiery Determination): "He needs more women to contain him? I will prove I am ten women rolled into one!"
Jin-Jin the Matchmaker Spirit was ecstatic. "Yes! The declaration of the Harem! Beautiful! The emotional chaos is accelerating the Love Crystal Diamond growth across the board!"
Han Yu sighed, pulling a sticky strand of candy floss from his hair. The Festival of Eternal Love had done nothing but confirm that his path to world conquest required him to be eternally, tragically awkward.