"I…"
Wang Dong's lips parted slightly, her pretty face turning pale.
The words "I am Wang Dong" caught in her throat, yet in the end, she could not say them.
She could not bring herself to speak—
because Huo Yuhao's inexplicable distance and indifference toward her were all too clear.
Even now that she had returned to her female form,
given his temperament,
he would likely still treat her with the same cold reserve.
Seeing her remain silent, Huo Yuhao said nothing more and turned, gliding back to his own water lily.
Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan exchanged a glance, sighing silently.
They had long known about Wang Dong's true identity as a girl.
At first they were shocked.
Gradually, that shock turned into understanding and sympathy.
Naturally, they hoped their good sister would find someone worthy.
But judging from Huo Yuhao's attitude—
this road would likely be far longer than imagined.
With a single move, Huo Yuhao had caused all twenty-one girls' veils to fall.
The first segment, "Mutual Appreciation," ended cleanly and decisively.
As he stepped upon his lotus and returned to his place,
the boys cast helpless looks at him.
"Yuhao, you're ruthless—didn't even leave us a chance to show off?"
"Bro, I'll call you big brother already! You've got Senior Sister Zhang and Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao—what more do you want?"
That last sentence drifted into his ears, and Huo Yuhao's heartbeat suddenly skipped.
"Do not speak nonsense."
On the shore,
the students were already in an uproar.
The very first stage had been so dramatic that the atmosphere of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival had been pushed to a fever pitch.
"The veils of the twenty-one girls have been lifted."
"Next, we proceed to the second and third stages of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival."
On the pleasure boat, Yan Shaozhe said with a smile:
"Now that you have met, it is time to understand one another's hearts."
"The second stage is called 'Love at First Sight.'"
"Before each girl is a lotus lantern. She may leave it lit for the male student she favors."
"Any boy whose lantern remains lit may proceed to the next round. If no lantern shines for you, you must regretfully withdraw."
After a pause, he continued:
"The third stage is 'Love at Second Sight.'"
"Each boy will have one minute to introduce himself."
"Afterward, he must announce the number of the girl he admires. Once all the boys have finished, the girls will make their final choices."
From the second and third stages onward, the hazy ambiguity in the air gradually became clear.
The shy, fleeting glances between boys and girls sparked like scattered stars,
heating the already romantic atmosphere even further.
As the one who had lifted all the veils—and the first boy to step forward—
all twenty-one lotus lanterns lit up for Huo Yuhao without suspense, illuminating the lake like daylight.
Of course, this did not mean that every girl secretly admired him.
More than anything, it was recognition of his extraordinary talent.
And under everyone's watchful gaze—
only the blue-haired girl's hand rested upon the mechanism to extinguish her lantern.
Wang Dong very much wanted to put it out…
But when her fingertips touched the cold soul-tool inscription, her strength ultimately faltered."…I will not admit defeat."
Huo Yuhao bowed calmly and stepped back to his place upon the lotus.
In this stage,
the girls were not limited to lighting their lantern only once.
Therefore, after Huo Yuhao, the boys straightened their clothes and did their utmost to present their most impressive selves, hoping to retain a few lingering lights of favor.
...
As the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival continued in full swing—
Sun Moon Royal Academy.
Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Jing Hongchen stood quietly before the main gates, as though waiting for someone.
From afternoon until dusk fell,
he had remained there in silence for two full hours.
Yet not a trace of impatience showed on his fair, plump face.
It was hard to imagine
what sort of existence
could make the proud Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall conduct himself in such a manner.
"Hall Master, isn't the other party being far too arrogant?"
"In this world, who else is worthy of making you wait like this?"
Elder Ma, standing behind him, could not help but speak in a low voice.
After his defeat in the Spirit Master Tournament, he had been confined as punishment—yet Jing Hongchen had released him that very day.
Jing Hongchen did not shift his gaze. Calmly, he said:
"This person truly stands at the peak of the continent. He is as famous as that Dragon God Douluo of Shrek—together they are called the 'Light and Darkness Holy Dragons.'"
"I-Is it that Your Excellency?!" As an 8th-class soul engineer and a notable figure in the Spirit Master world, Elder Ma had naturally heard the legendary name.
His expression changed drastically, and he dared not speak further.
"You lack reverence for a peak power. Get back to your confinement," Jing Hongchen's tone was flat, yet brooked no refusal.
"…Yes."
Elder Ma bowed resignedly and withdrew.
Dusk completely swallowed the last traces of daylight. Soul tools outside Illustrious Virtue Hall lit up one after another, illuminating the entire structure as bright as day.
Then, in a silent instant—
Jing Hongchen suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and jerked his head upward.
Several meters above the ground, in midair, a tall figure stood there quietly at some unknown time.
The man wore a wide black robe. His silver hair was combed neatly back without a single strand out of place. His face was smooth and fair like that of an infant, save for two long white brows that hung down along his cheeks.
Under the interwoven glow of soul-tool lights and deepening dusk,
his face faintly carried a majestic draconic aspect.
Jing Hongchen's pupils contracted. He involuntarily took three steps back before steadying himself.
Swiftly brushing his sleeves, he cupped his hands in salute:
"Jing Hongchen greets the Grand Worship of the Holy Spirit Cult—the Darkness Holy Dragon, Senior Long Xiaoyao."
The old man lowered his eyelids slightly. His gaze was like an ancient well, deep and unfathomable—like a divine dragon looking down upon the mortal world.
"You said that the boy holds something the Holy Spirit Cult requires."
"Senior, perhaps you would step inside—"
"No need."
Jing Hongchen inhaled deeply and said in a grave tone: "Huo Yuhao possesses Level 9 soul tools belonging to Illustrious Virtue Hall."
"I request that Senior take action and execute him."
"Once it is done, those three soul tools shall belong entirely to you. In addition, I will offer a large quantity of rare metals required by the Holy Spirit Cult as compensation."
He was by no means benevolent. Having suffered such a setback at Huo Yuhao's hands, how could he be reconciled?
Furthermore, the talent the youth had displayed made him wary—even fearful. Since there was conflict, he had to pull the weed out by its roots before it could fully grow!
In truth, rare metals alone would not have been enough to move this Level 99 Limit Douluo.
But as the dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Jing Hongchen held a rank equivalent to a duke within the empire and had close ties with Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
And Xu Tianran had long been secretly allied with the Holy Spirit Cult.
These layered entanglements—
were the true bargaining chips that could prompt this "Darkness Holy Dragon" to act.
"Huo Yuhao—only twelve years old, yet possessing the combat power of a Titled Douluo."
"It is true that he defeated you?"
Long Xiaoyao's voice revealed no emotion, yet Jing Hongchen's face darkened.
"I underestimated him. Had I been prepared, Huo Yuhao would have had no chance of victory."
"Furthermore, the Dragon God Douluo still lives. Huo Yuhao is his disciple—I am not his opponent…"
Long Xiaoyao said nothing further.
He looked toward the distant direction where Shrek Academy lay.
Within those deep, desolate eyes, a faint ripple seemed to pass—like wind disturbing the surface of a still abyss.
"Dragon God Douluo… Mu En…"
A trace of unfathomable reminiscence surfaced upon his majestic face.
Then his figure slowly dissolved at the blurred boundary between dusk and light—
like a dragon diving into the abyss, leaving no trace behind.