"Love must always progress step by step."
Zhang Lexuan's voice echoed across Sea God Lake.
"After 'Mutual Recognition,' 'Love at First Sight,' and 'Second Glance, Lasting Love,' it's time for destined lovers to bind their fate for three lifetimes. Thus, this fourth round is called: 'Three Lifetimes, One Destiny.'"
"Now, it's the girls' turn. Each will step forward, introduce herself, and choose the young man she admires."
"Charming gentlemen may win multiple hearts… but those lacking charm?" She smiled wryly. "Perhaps you'll have to wait for the next Sea God's Bond to meet your fairy."
Undoubtedly, this was a wolf-scarce, meat-plentiful situation—or rather, the opposite.
Seventeen girls choosing from twenty-three boys meant at least six men would leave empty-handed.
(Though Jiang Nannan was still counted—after all, she'd only turned off Xu Sanshi's lamp. Who knew? Maybe they'd still make it work.)
Some spectators, eyeing the exquisite Jiang Nannan, clearly entertained such thoughts.
Floating on his tortoise soul spirit in the lake, Xu Sanshi saw those looks—and panicked.
Hey! You're trying to steal my girl?!
But he quickly calmed himself. Hmph. I trust Nannan loves me. None of you stand a chance.
And indeed—he was right.
The moment Zhang Lexuan finished explaining the rules, Jiang Nannan raised her hand immediately:
"Senior Sister, Bei Bei—I voluntarily withdraw from this year's Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival."
With a light step, she glided across the water's surface.
Spotting Xu Sanshi—still frozen on his tortoise, face lit with joy—she flushed slightly and scolded, "Idiot! Are you coming to get me or not?"
"Oh! Right! Coming!" Xu Sanshi jolted back to reality, patting his tortoise. "Old Turtle—go! Fetch my wife!"
The tortoise soul spirit rolled its eyes (as much as a tortoise could)—Why not just let her teleport over?
As Jiang Nannan exited, many male students slumped in disappointment.
Great. One less girl.
"Well," Zhang Lexuan recovered smoothly, "even though Jiang Nannan has withdrawn, 'Three Lifetimes, One Destiny' continues. First up—Girl #1, please step forward!"
The moment she spoke, Girl #1 floated out as if weightless. Just before touching the water, she spun gracefully—one full rotation—and beneath her, a lotus blossom unfurled from the lake, lifting her gently into the air.
Two yellow, two purple, three black—
seven soul rings, marking her as a Soul Saint, pulsed rhythmically.
"My name is Hua Yao. My martial soul is Lotus. I'm 31, a Control-type Battle Soul Saint. All I seek is a gentle, kind-hearted man to share a quiet life with. That is my greatest wish."
Brilliant talent, simple dreams.
Naturally, she chose Gu Fan—a male student of similar temperament, cultivation, and long-standing friendship.
A perfect start for the round.
Next came Wang Dong'er.
Her choice was obvious. She didn't even bother with pretense—instead, she claimed her territory loudly:
"I used to disguise myself as a boy! Yuhao was my roommate, and we even have a martial soul fusion skill! So no matter what—Yuhao is mine!"
By the end, she was crimson with embarrassment.
Under the crowd's teasing stares, she simply spread her Light Goddess Butterfly wings and flew straight to Huo Yuhao's side.
Before she could speak, an ice throne rose from the lake to greet her.
More girls followed, selecting their chosen ones—leaving the unchosen males green with envy.
Soon, it was Ning Tian's turn.
She raised her right hand. From her palm, nine radiant hues coalesced into a nine-tiered, nine-colored pagoda—gleaming with jade brilliance and imperial splendor.
With a graceful step, her Wind-Cutting Wings (external soul bone) unfurled slowly.
"I am Ning Tian. An Auxiliary-type Equipment Soul Emperor."
She offered no further explanation—just a formality. With a flap of her wings, she landed lightly on Chen Junting's summoned Seven Kill Sword. Smiling, she dismissed her martial soul and looped her arm through his.
The next girl stepped forward—still veiled. But Chen Junting and the others had already guessed her identity.
In the next second, she ripped off her veil.
Fiery red hair—Wu Feng's face was revealed.
Chen Junting grinned and gestured toward her.
"Xiaotian—what do you think Wu Feng will choose?"
He turned to Ning Tian, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"I don't control what Sister Feng does," Ning Tian shrugged carelessly. "But if she—"
Before she could finish, Wu Feng—like a chattering machine gun—rattled off her introduction, then flashed a troublemaker's smirk and pointed straight at Chen Junting:
"I choose the swordsman too!"
Instantly, Chen Junting was back in the spotlight.
Every gaze on him carried the same unspoken message: You sly dog—trying to snag two beauties at once?
But Chen Junting just crossed his arms, a playful smile on his lips. He'd seen this coming—and knew exactly what nonsense Wu Feng was about to spew.
"Oh? Unexpected!" Zhang Lexuan teased.
But the next second—
"Sister Feng!"
Ning Tian's warning tone made Wu Feng raise both hands in surrender. "Ning Tian—it was a joke! Just a joke! Senior Sister, Bei Bei—I withdraw!"
As the #1 shipper of the Chen-Ning couple, she wasn't that reckless.
Ugh—another spot gone!
The remaining boys groaned internally.
Wu Feng's withdrawal seemed to trigger a chain reaction. Two more girls unveiled themselves—Di Yao and Ma Xiaotao—and also chose to withdraw, having no interest in any of the male contestants.
Di Yao, as a Three-Eyed Golden Lion in human form, had only joined out of curiosity about the human world—and Chen Junting. She had no intention of choosing a "lover."
For her, this was just fun.
And now, it was enough.
As Di Yao left, another wave of despair hit the boys.
But when Ma Xiaotao withdrew, their expressions barely changed. Clearly, no one dared court the Inner Court's most volatile "volcano."
That'd be asking for suffering.
With three girls gone, Han Ruoruo—already low on hope—removed her veil. After a moment's hesitation, she apologized to her close friend, Wu Ming.
(After Wu Feng's turn, Wu Ming was next—meaning Han Ruoruo would go last.)
Wu Ming waved it off, even offering to let Han Ruoruo go first. Zhang Lexuan couldn't object.
"Thank you, Ming'er."
Han Ruoruo scanned the crowd, hesitant. "I'm… not good at these kinds of choices. So I'll be direct: If anyone likes me, please step forward and tell me. If not… I'll end my participation here."
Silence fell over the lake.
"Senior Ruoruo is so pitiful," Ning Tian murmured.
In the Inner Court, female students were rare. Ning Tian was young, and Han Ruoruo—being close to Chen Junting—had often looked after her. Seeing her senior's disappointment, Ning Tian's heart ached.
"Not pitiful at all," Chen Junting said softly, pointing. "Look."
Ning Tian turned—and saw a middle-aged man leap from the ferry boat.
"May I… be the one?" he called out.
Recognizing him, the crowd gasped:
"Teacher Wang Yan?!"
Even Han Ruoruo was stunned.
But before she could react, Wang Yan stood before her. Gently, earnestly, he confessed his long-held affection—every word striking her heart.
Their eyes met. Love bloomed.
Wang Yan spoke his final vow:
"In this vast world of three thousand realms, I cherish but three: sun, moon, and you.
The sun is my dawn. The moon, my dusk.
You are my every morning and every night.
This love—eternal, unchanging, until death."
Han Ruoruo took his hand, eyes glistening.
"I think… my love has arrived."
Clap clap clap—!
One pair of hands clapped—then the entire lake erupted in cheers and blessings.
Ning Tian leaned against Chen Junting's shoulder, applauding softly. She looked at the man who'd started the applause and murmured, "Teacher Wang is so brave… to stand up and confess like that."
"Love makes people brave," Chen Junting said, watching Wang Yan and Han Ruoruo depart together. He smiled inwardly.
"Of all the moments tonight… Teacher Wang Yan is truly the MVP of this matchmaking round."
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