Mu En's passing sent shockwaves across the entire Douluo Continent. At least in the eyes of the major powers in the former three Douluo nations, they now stood without a single Limit Douluo to rely on.
Almost immediately after the news broke, representatives from all major factions arrived at Shrek Academy—not only to pay their respects, but more urgently, to discuss how to confront the Sun Moon Empire.
Any wise observer understood: Mu En's death had already triggered a chain reaction within the Sun Moon Empire. They were merely waiting for the right moment to ignite a war that would engulf the entire continent.
For Shrek Academy itself, there was no time to linger in grief. After receiving Mu En's final gift upon his passing, the academy immediately resumed operations exactly as the elder had instructed before his death.
Yet sorrow still hung thick in the air.
To lift spirits and help students and teachers emerge from mourning, the Sea God Pavilion announced that the Sea God's Bond Matchmaking Ceremony would proceed as scheduled in two days—and all academy members were welcome to attend as spectators.
Instantly, an atmosphere thick with "love" swept through the campus—so sweet it nearly rivaled syrup itself.
Shrek Academy, Sea God Island
"Has Bei Bei still not woken up?"
Thanks to Mu En's final blessing, every Inner Court student experienced a breakthrough in cultivation. Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao, for instance, had finally crossed the threshold into Soul Emperor using Divine Bestowed Soul Rings. Moreover, their martial souls had received a form of "divine blessing."
Bei Bei was the clearest example.
After bonding with his Heavenly Dragon Horse spirit soul, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul had been just one step away from evolving into Light Holy Dragon. Now, with Mu En—his own ancestral great-grandfather—imparting his final essence at the moment of death, the evolution was inevitable. The only question was: how powerful had his new Light Holy Dragon martial soul become?
That lingering transformation was why Bei Bei remained unconscious.
Which brought them to the present scene.
Inside a living room on Sea God Island, Chen Junting and other familiar male Inner Court students gathered, each passing time in their own way.
All except Xu Sanshi, who paced restlessly back and forth.
"Senior Xu, why are you so worked up?" Chen Junting asked.
His right palm lay open, intricate formation patterns slowly weaving across his skin. Though his eyes never left the glyphs, he effortlessly split his attention, directing a sliver of awareness toward Xu Sanshi.
"I'm not worried," Xu Sanshi halted mid-step, scratching his head. "It's just—if Bei Bei doesn't wake up, who'll host the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival? You know most of our Inner Court students are, well… older and still single."
"Unlike little Yuhao," he added with growing mischief, "who came in with his own childhood fiancée. Right, Caitou?"
"You got that right," He Caitou chimed in, the light mood loosening his usual stoicism.
"Senior Xu! Brother He!" Huo Yuhao lifted his head from a mess of design schematics, his hair so ruffled it nearly halved his charm.
His flushed cheeks betrayed his embarrassment.
He did not have a "childhood fiancée"!
"Oh come on," Chen Junting propped his head on his left hand, a mischievous glint in his eye as he turned the tease on Huo Yuhao. "I'd say Yuhao's more like Dong'er's childhood groom."
"Brother Junting!"
"Alright, alright—I surrender!" Seeing Huo Yuhao turn nearly crimson, Chen Junting quickly dispersed the formation in his palm and raised both hands in mock surrender. With a meaningful glance at Xu Sanshi, he subtly redirected attention back to the original topic—hoping to spare Huo Yuhao further torment.
From Xu Sanshi, they learned that all male students except Bei Bei were required to participate in the matchmaking event. Without Bei Bei, there simply was no male host.
"Then you could do it, Senior Xu," Huo Yuhao shot back, refusing to be outdone. "Aren't you and Senior Nannan basically official already? Just step into Bei Bei's role!"
"You and Bei Bei aren't the same!" Xu Sanshi protested, shaking his head so violently one might fear for his neck. Then, with a smirk that made Huo Yuhao squirm, he added, "Besides—if we're talking like that, you and Dong'er could just as easily host together."
"No way! Absolutely not!" Huo Yuhao hastily gathered his scattered blueprints and shoved them into his storage soul guidance device. "If that happened, Dong'er would murder me!"
"Scary," Xu Sanshi muttered, then swiftly shifted his target.
"Well, if not me… there's always…"
As Xu Sanshi's eyes drifted meaningfully toward him, Chen Junting instantly cleared his throat—twice. "Ahem! Let's not change the subject."
"Fine," Xu Sanshi conceded, then puffed out his chest, pride practically radiating off him. "Anyway—I'm planning the most formal, most romantic confession for Nannan at the ceremony. But Bei Bei's situation is different. On the surface, it's because Xiao Ya can't attend—but really? They've basically been given imperial orders to marry."
Imperial orders?!
Whose orders?!
Quick—spill the details!
The group's interest was instantly piqued. They dropped whatever they were doing and crowded around Xu Sanshi. Even the ever-serious He Caitou subtly perked up his ears.
After all—gossip was human nature!
"Whose orders? Obviously Elder Mu's," Xu Sanshi revealed. "Bei Bei told me Elder Mu summoned him privately before passing—just to ask when he planned to get married and have children."
Ah! So that's how it is!
Bang—!
"What are you all gossiping about?!"
The front door, left ajar, flew open. A fiery red figure strode into the living room.
"Xiao Feng!? You're here?!"
"Shouldn't you be with Xiao Tian and the others?"
Chen Junting instantly dissolved his formation glyphs. Huo Yuhao swept up his blueprints and stashed them away. Clearly, they had secrets they didn't want Wu Feng to see.
Their haste only fueled her curiosity.
She glanced around suspiciously. "I came to see what kind of surprises you're planning for the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival."
"Don't hide it—let me peek! I promise I won't tell!"
But as Wu Feng leaned in, Chen Junting finally got a clear look at her face—and his eye twitched violently at the haphazardly smeared rouge.
"Xiao Feng… maybe go back and let Xiao Tian redo your makeup?"
"Huh? It doesn't look good?"
"'Not good' is an understatement," Xu Sanshi deadpanned, his eyes turning into lifeless fish-gaze. "You clearly have zero makeup skills!"
"Hey! That's way too harsh!"
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)