Chapter 82

What can you do by leaping two meters into the air? Hecaitou immediately gave the answer.

The soul-guide thruster on his back suddenly burst into strong light, driving Hecaitou's body to flash out. This flash was not a forward dash but a surge diagonally upward.

In midair, Hecaitou's large flying soul tool wings behind him unfolded, soul power light spraying out, and he appeared above the female trainees.

At that moment, the wings of his flying soul tool began to deform: they shot forward like an umbrella canopy, encircling his chest, then sprayed light downward, weaker than before. Hecaitou used the thrust to hover in midair. The control was exquisite, awe‑inspiring.

Everyone, be careful.

As he spoke, Hecaitou's hands moved simultaneously.

He looked bulky and tall, seeming clumsy, yet his hands were unusually agile. A large number of black iron lumps flew from his hands, speeding straight into the water—at least a hundred of them.

What is that? That was the thought shared by all the female trainees.

Having seen Hecaitou's earlier performance, the female trainees thought him both honest and reckless, instinctively assuming it must be a powerful explosive. Even unfamiliar with soul engineers, they knew anything a soul engineer throws cannot be touched lightly.

Thus, almost all the female trainees made the same motion at this moment—leaping upward.

Seventeen figures leapt up together, while those black iron lumps all plunged into the water. But… nothing happened.

Hecaitou gave a hehe smile, pointed his right hand downward, and a beam of light fell straight into the water. Immediately, a miraculous scene appeared.

The entire water surface suddenly brightened, and then hundreds of light columns surged up from below and shot out, their light instantly covering all the female trainees.

What kind of attack is this? The female trainees didn't know, but they felt no strong threat.

The speed of light was extreme; some quick-reacting female trainees immediately deployed defensive soul skills, while others, feeling no threat, were already struck by the beam in their surprise.

The beam actually had no power and no effect on their bodies, but within the light columns there was a gentle impact force.

Among the seventeen female trainees, besides the few whose bamboo hats had already been lifted, another three had their hats blown off by the airflow from the light columns.

"This guy is a cheat! He was just pretending," Han Ruoruo, the most perceptive, said, reacting immediately. Since Hecaitou started using a seventh‑level soul tool against them, he seemed to have already laid his plan. That's why he could make all the girls leap up when he threw those iron lumps, rather than have them block his soul tools.

And sure enough, his purpose was achieved. Although we don't know how he did it, those airflow‑bearing light columns were all shot from underwater.

Hecaitou gave a hehe smile in midair as another soul cannon appeared on his shoulder. Before the female trainees could react, he fired it. The shot was aimless, but he used its strong recoil to blast himself backward, employing the soul cannon as a soul thruster—faster, able to fly backward, without needing a chest‑mounted thruster like Huo Yuhao.

In two and a half years, who at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has progressed besides Huo Yuhao? Hecaitou usually keeps a low profile, but his expertise in soul tools is absolutely top among all students.

"Hecaitou!" Fan Yu shouted angrily again. Hecaitou's fired shell happened to come their way, landing in the water a few meters from the ferry, yet it kicked up a spray of water.

Qian Duoduo laughed loudly, saying, "This little Hecaitou is getting worse and worse. He must have been led astray by Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi."

Bei Bei had just been angered by Hecaitou to the point of seeing black, and hearing Qian Duoduo's loud voice say that, his vision darkened again, and his gaze at Hecaitou turned fierce.

Xu Sanshi also wore a bewildered, wronged look—clearly he'd been hit while lying down. Hecaitou has clearly been with Huo Yuhao for over two years; what does it have to do with me?

Hecaitou landed steadily on a lotus leaf, no longer showing his earlier recklessness. After landing, he gave a hehe smile and waved at the opposite girls, but his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao was also greatly startled when she first saw him activate. Now, facing his fervent gaze, her face flushed and she lowered her head, but in her mind a black light‑shaped head swayed. She seemed to see again that reckless guy from four years ago at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament stage. Over two years have passed—how did he become even darker? If Hecaitou knew Xiao Xiao's thoughts now, he would surely tear up and say, "Dear, it's night—who wouldn't be dark?"

Regardless of how Huo Yuhao and Hecaitou managed it, together they removed eight bamboo hats. Of the seventeen female trainees, fewer than a third still wore theirs. This included the second female trainee on the left that Huo Yuhao had previously noticed; her hat remained firmly in place.

The first segment then clearly sped up, with male trainees taking the stage one after another, each showing their abilities. Some tried to cut corners, but whether because Hecaitou's impression on the girls was too deep, none of those opportunistic males ended well; during this, two more fell into the water. After the first segment, the original thirty‑nine male trainees were reduced to thirty‑six.

Among the female trainees, three still wore bamboo hats at this point, including the female trainee Huo Yuhao had previously noticed. This also disappointed him greatly; if he could see her appearance, he could naturally judge her.

Finally, Chen Qiye entered, a long sword appearing in his hand as he swung it, releasing a sword wind that lifted the remaining bamboo hats.

And Wang Dong'er was thus exposed early before everyone.

Upon seeing Chen Qiye's long sword, the Sea God Pavilion elders on the bed felt both delight and some anger.

"This brat, you made us worry for nothing for so long, and hurt us for so long."

"All right, now that you're back, everything is best."

…

After this mutually sympathetic first segment, the inner court students' emotions were fully stirred; Huo Yuhao, standing in the first row, could clearly feel the pairs of fiery gazes beside and behind him.

Most male trainees were gazing at the girls they liked; among the female trainees whose faces had already been revealed, the most beautiful was still Jiang Nannan, whose lovely, unmatched appearance seemed to outshine all others. However, everyone knew about the tangled relationship between Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, so most paid her little attention. After all, including Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan had never shown any favor to any male trainee.

Next came the reseating, according to the number of bamboo hats each removed in the first round. Huo Yuhao, with five hats, naturally took the first seat in the front row.

"Next is the second segment." Bei Bei announced loudly: "After getting to know each other in the first segment, now it's time for the girls to express who they like. Thus this second segment is called Love at First Sight. The rule is simple: each female trainee receives a switch to control the soul lamp beneath her, lighting it for each male trainee. Any male who receives a lit lamp may continue; if no female leaves a lamp lit for him, he must leave."

Huo Yuhao clearly remembered that Bei Bei had told them earlier: this second segment requires the least time, but for the male trainees it is the most important test. Because in this segment, no matter how strong or excellent you are, if no female trainee leaves you a lamp, you are immediately eliminated. Since male trainees outnumber females considerably, this segment was originally meant to simplify the situation.

Huo Yuhao was the first to face the great test.

"Please, Sea God fairies, consider carefully; you have one minute. Be sure to think it over! Moreover, I emphasize that if you give no lamp to any male trainee, it also means you will give up this matchmaking event and withdraw from Sea God Lake."

The female trainees naturally each had their own plans; though they were a hundred meters apart and appeared calm, no one knew whether they already had someone in mind. The minute passed quickly. Under Zhang Le Xuan's prompting, Bei Bei continued to host.

"All right, then we begin the second segment, Love at First Sight. First, please, Sea God fairies, leave a lamp for Huo Yuhao. In this segment, leaving a lamp does not mean you must ultimately choose him; a good impression is enough to give him a chance, and yourself a chance. I believe he will also notice the girls who leave him a lamp. Begin."

Huo Yuhao could not possibly claim he wasn't nervous; looking at the seventeen girls in the distance, he instantly felt his heartbeat quicken. His mind at this moment was somewhat blank; no matter how strong his usual judgment, he could not figure out how many girls would give him a lamp.

"Three, two, one." With Bei Bei's countdown, suddenly a pale gold light went out.

Huo Yuhao stared and saw that the one who extinguished his lamp was none other than Wu Feng; her face showed a hint of disdain as she lifted her chin contemptuously toward him.

"All right, finished. There are sixteen light beams in total. Huo Yuhao got off to a good start!" Bei Bei said with a smile.

Huo Yuhao had only been paying attention to who extinguished his lamp; now he discovered that the other sixteen girls, including Han Ruoruo and Wu Meng, had actually left him a lamp—something he never expected.

It is obvious that in the earlier sympathetic segment, whether it was the Snow Lady or his own elegant bearing, they left a good impression on the girls; only Wu Feng extinguished his lamp out of spite.

"Second, Hecaitou. Sea God fairies, please get ready." Bei Bei continued this segment. Huo Yuhao had already passed.

Huo Yuhao could clearly feel his senior brother nearby tense up instantly. Hecaitou stared with large eyes, unblinking, gazing toward Xiao Xiao's direction; his bowl‑sized fists clenched unconsciously, and even sweat beads began to roll down his temples.

Although this is only the second segment, this segment alone is enough to prove whether Xiao Xiao has a favorable impression of him.

"Begin."

With Bei Bei's call of "Begin," Huo Yuhao felt his vision darken as a large area of lights opposite went out rapidly.

Unlike Huo Yuhao, his earlier act of aiming a seventh‑level fixed‑install soul cannon at the opposite side had indeed cost Hecaitou many points. Moreover, his burly build and dark skin really did not match the aesthetic of most girls.

"It won't all go out, will it? No!" Hecaitou whispered a anguished cry.

Fortunately, when the vast majority of lights went out, two beams remained.

First, within one beam was the lovely, unmatched Jiang Nannan. Jiang Nannan gave Hecaitou a faint smile, her eyes holding a touch of encouragement. Only, it was uncertain whether Hecaitou could see it from such a distance.

Hecaitou felt his whole body go weak, the clothing at his back completely soaked with sweat. In that instant, to him, it felt like a matter of life and death.

Apart from Jiang Nannan, the only other person caught in the remaining beam of light was Xiao Xiao. But Xiao Xiao kept her head lowered, not looking at Hecaitou. Huo Yuhao looked from afar and could see two faint blushes flying across her pretty face.

"Nannan is truly righteous!" Hecaitou couldn't help but exclaim.

Huo Yuhao chuckled and said, "Second Senior Brother, why don't you praise Xiao Xiao?"

Hecaitou wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Yuhao, I'm nervous, what should I do?"

Huo Yuhao gave a wry smile and said, "I'm nervous too… I'd rather just have a big fight. To be honest, this event really gets the heart racing! But I'm better off—I at least have no target, whereas you're overthinking because you care. Relax, Second Senior Brother; I saw Xiao Xiao's face slightly flushed, probably from shyness. That's a good thing. At least she left you a light, so there's a chance."

"Mm." Hecaitou nodded firmly. It was obvious that Xiao Xiao's leaving him a light had greatly boosted his confidence.

The Mutual Attraction segment continued, and the female participants were quite ruthless in turning off the lights. Apart from Huo Yuhao, who managed to keep sixteen lights on, the next few weren't as bad as Hecaitou, but their lights didn't exceed one-third. Soon it was Xu Sanshi's turn.

Xu Sanshi was at the end of the first row, and the two rows behind him were mostly male participants who had achieved nothing in the first round.

Participating in the Sea God Fate Matchmaking Grand Assembly for the first time, Hecaitou felt nervous—and Xu Sanshi was no different. He fixed a fiery gaze on Jiang Nannan's direction; to him, it didn't matter if the other sixteen lights went out, as long as Jiang Nannan left him a light.

"Xu Sanshi, Mutual Attraction, begin."

"Off, off, off…"

I don't know whether it's because the girls all knew this guy's only target was Jiang Nannan, or because he had acted shamelessly in the first segment, but the speed at which the lights went out was even a bit faster than when Hecaitou was up.

Soon the lights went out, leaving only two beams—one belonging to Xiao Xiao, the other to Jiang Nannan.

Just as Xu Sanshi breathed a sigh of relief and a smile began to appear on his face—"swish"—Jiang Nannan decisively pressed the button in her hand, the pale gold light instantly went out, leaving only Xiao Xiao's single beam still lit.

The smile on Xu Sanshi's face instantly stiffened, his complexion turned deathly pale, and his body even swayed.

"Nannan, you're so ruthless!" Xu Sanshi cried out in anguish, but he ultimately managed to steady his stance.

On the other side, Hecaitou anxiously asked Huo Yuhao, "Yuhao, Yuhao. How did Xiao Xiao leave a light for the third guy? What's going on?"

Huo Yuhao replied speechlessly, "Second Senior Brother, you're overthinking because you care. Why did Fourth Senior Sister leave you a light just now? Naturally, it's because we, our own people, support our own. Xiao Xiao is the same—could she bear to see your lights all go out?"

Only then did Hecaitou finally relax, though he still muttered, "Sanshi is indeed a bit more handsome than me…"

Huo Yuhao turned his head away, simply ignoring that nagging fellow.

Xu Sanshi scraped through, but the male participants behind him weren't so lucky. "More wolves than meat!" The number of male participants still exceeded that of the females by double, so in this situation someone was bound to be eliminated.

As the lights went out round after round, when this second Mutual Attraction segment ended, only twenty-four male participants remained on stage. Just this second round eliminated a third of the guys.

As for Chen Qiye, there was only one of him—the reason being simply that he wore a black robe the whole time.

At this moment, the Divine Realm was also in turmoil.

(End of chapter)