Chapter 85

In this segment, the female participants take turns appearing, introducing themselves, choosing the male they like, and going to his side. The male participants should step aside a bit, as it's not excluded that someone with great charm could attract more than one female participant. At the end of this segment, if a male participant hasn't been favored by any female participant, then sorry, you will leave our matchmaking event this time. The remaining people continue to the final segment.

Without a doubt, in this fourth segment another male trainee will be eliminated. Among the seventeen female trainees, Jiang Nannan has left, leaving sixteen. Even if the female trainees ultimately make one‑on‑one selections, only sixteen of the remaining twenty‑three male trainees can stay. In at least the first four segments of this Sea God Fate matchmaking event, the female trainees hold the priority. This also conforms to the commonsense principle of ladies first.

Let's begin. Please note, the three female trainees still wearing bamboo hats: later, when you introduce yourselves, you may choose to take off your hats and reveal your true faces. If in this segment you still do not show your faces or give any hints, then in the final segment, unless the male trainees have definitely chosen you, you will not be allowed to take off your hats until the event ends. Now, please, the No. 1 female trainee, introduce yourself and make your choice.

The No. 1 female trainee tapped the tip of her foot on a lotus leaf; because there was solid ice beneath, she exerted full force, her body seeming to encounter no resistance as it floated out. Just before landing on the water surface, her form gracefully turned once. A layer of white soul power transformed into a surging air wave, pressing down on the water and steadily holding her aloft.

Two yellow, two purple, three black—seven soul rings slowly pulsating.

This female trainee appears to be about twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight years old; her looks are not extraordinarily beautiful, but her facial lines are very soft, easily giving a sense of approachability. Without using any soul skill, she relied solely on soul power to hover above the water surface—seemingly simple but actually extremely difficult to control—earning immediate applause from the male trainees.

Huo Yuhao was among those applauding; at his current cultivation level, even if his control were stronger, he could not possibly achieve that.

"I am Hua Yao. My martial soul is a lotus. Control‑system Battle Soul Master. I am thirty‑one years old; I only wish to find a gentle‑tempered man as a partner. A plain, ordinary life is true, and that is also what I pursue."

A simple introduction, yet it easily leaves an excellent impression. Although she is thirty‑one, among high‑level Soul Masters, age difference is not an issue.

Zhang Le Xuan smiled and asked, "Then what is your choice?"

Hua Yao's pretty face flushed slightly as she drifted forward, already flying ahead.

This fourth segment, Three Lives Fate, is not as simple as Zhang Le Xuan previously said. In this stage, all female trainees face a problem: when they approach the male trainees, how to keep their bodies from falling into the water. After all, the water surface offers no resistance; whether they can endure until the end of this segment is uncertain. Therefore, in this segment, whether the male trainee chosen by a female trainee can display gentlemanly conduct by yielding his lotus leaf also represents that they…

Soon, Hua Yao stood before the group of male trainees; her lovely eyes glanced over everyone and finally settled on a male trainee who looked about thirty years old.

This male trainee was tall and slender, his appearance somewhat ordinary, but his demeanor was very composed; in each previous segment his performance had been unremarkable, showing nothing special—even Huo Yuhao only remembered that he was a seven‑ring cultivator.

Her figure flickered, and Hua Yao had already arrived before that male trainee, performing a slight salute. Instantly, the other male trainees burst into cheers, as if hitting the jackpot! That male trainee also showed surprise in his eyes, but soon a pleased smile appeared on his face. He said nothing, merely tapping the tip of his foot on the lotus leaf, drifting back three meters, and making a very courteous inviting gesture.

Hua Yao had no qualms; she drifted directly onto it, her pretty face blushing slightly as she lightly bowed her head. Their communication was completed in that silent, moistening manner. The male trainee had also been hovering in mid‑air, his action similar to Hua Yao's earlier, but at that moment a pink lotus blossom silently appeared beneath his foot, its petals opening to support his body.

Hua Yao had said earlier that her martial soul is a lotus!

The two exchanged a smile, feeling as if everything was understood without words.

Inner courtyard disciples may not interact much, but knowing each other is natural; often everyone feels shy about revealing their true feelings, and this Sea God Fate matchmaking event is the perfect stage.

Zhang Le Xuan smiled and said, "Lone Sail, your lone sail is probably going to become a big ship!"

Lone Sail was clearly a man of few words; he slightly bowed toward Zhang Le Xuan, but the excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.

Zhang Le Xuan said, "Then it's time for the next female trainee to take the stage."

The female trainee wearing the number‑two badge was precisely the one Huo Yuhao had been paying attention to all along. Upon hearing Zhang Le Xuan's words, he suddenly felt a bit nervous; this female trainee still wore her bamboo hat, so how would she choose? Her figure drifted, and she flew out, a faint golden light radiating from her body. A surprising scene unfolded: she said nothing, did not remove the veil of her bamboo hat, but flew straight toward the male trainees.

Zhang Le Xuan couldn't help but say, "This girl is quite a stranger to me! Aren't you going to take off your bamboo hat and say something? Don't forget my reminder just now."

That female trainee merely shook her head lightly in mid‑air, yet still said nothing, heading straight for the male trainees. Her body looked extremely light; after drifting ten meters, she tapped the tip of her foot on the water surface and rose again. A hundred‑meter distance was nothing but a few rises and falls.

One yellow, two purple, three black—six soul rings in the optimal configuration, enough to catch the male trainees' eyes. Since the start of this matchmaking event, this female trainee has not only never revealed her true face, but has not even spoken a single word, making her all the more mysterious.

The No. 2 female trainee drew nearer; it was clear she would soon be before everyone. Without the slightest hesitation, she actually headed straight for Chen Qiye. The golden light on her body suddenly vanished, and even her soul rings retracted, making it look as if she were about to dive straight into the water.

Chen Qiye said nothing; merely the aura he naturally emitted froze the surrounding lake surface.

"You…" Huo Yuhao's eyes held a hint of surprise, but more so hesitation.

The girl's body tilted slightly; her head of pink‑blue hair flung forward, large waves of hair cascading from her shoulders and showing beyond the veil.

Although she still had not spoken, still had not opened her mouth, this simple hint nevertheless shocked Huo Yuhao's heart and spirit; his inner speculation was finally confirmed—perhaps she refrained from speaking out of shyness, not revealing her true face because she feared attracting more male attention. After all, if she truly were as beautiful as the goddess of light, she would surely outshine everyone at this matchmaking event. Chen Qiye shook his head, "What's the point?"

Chen Qiye gazed at the heavens, "Tang San, you'll be coming soon too."

The girl lightly leapt and landed on the lotus leaf before Huo Yuhao, gently nodding at him, still remaining silent.

Zhang Le Xuan smiled and said, "It seems Huo Yuhao and our mysterious female trainee have great tacit understanding! Have you two already made an agreement? Give me your answer at the final segment. Let's continue."

Afterward, several more female trainees took the stage in turn, each choosing the male trainee she favored. Not a single female trainee opted to withdraw.

Finally, it was Xiao Xiao's turn.

Xiao Xiao lifted her head to look opposite; the flush on her face had not yet faded, and her eyes still held a hint of hesitation.

Not far away, Wu Ming laughed and said, "Xiao Xiao, listen to me, sister: never miss the best opportunity because of a moment's shyness. When a man loves you most and you accept him, you can completely capture his heart; he will love you, and even, out of gratitude for your acceptance, pamper you for a lifetime." Han Ruoruo also laughed: "Ming'er, you seem to understand so well, yet you still haven't snatched one up?"

Wu Ming said with some regret, "Isn't it just that there's no suitable one?"

Xiao Xiao nodded at them; the determination finally appeared in her shy eyes: "Thank you, both elder sisters."

Saying that, she already leapt forth.

Unlike the previous female trainees who had taken the stage, as soon as Xiao Xiao's figure flickered, five soul rings appeared on her body—two yellow, two purple, one black. Without a doubt, among all the female trainees, her cultivation level is relatively low. As a five‑ring Soul King, it is absolutely impossible for her to hover in mid‑air without external aid.

But Xiao Xiao had her own ability. Just as she approached exhaustion with a leaping motion, suddenly a great cauldron appeared beneath her. She tapped the tip of her foot lightly on the cauldron's edge, and her whole body came to a stop on top of it. Immediately, a strange scene unfolded: she and the cauldron vanished simultaneously, reappearing thirty meters away.

Thus, after flashing three times in succession, she arrived before the male trainees.

"Puchi!" At that moment, the sound of water entering was heard. He Maitou, because he was too nervous, actually stepped and broke his own lotus leaf. Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough; in an instant he gathered soul power, pressing down with both hands, pushing outward with the power to control the crane from the Tang Sect's secret art Controlling the Crane and Seizing the Dragon. Only then, amidst the churning water, did he rise again.

Huo Yuhao's side had not yet moved when a black great cauldron suddenly appeared out of nowhere beside He Maitou.

"Come up." Hua Xiao called anxiously. Knowing that falling into the water meant elimination, she no longer had any thought for shyness; another flash of light, and she brought the cauldron beneath her to He Maitou's side.

He Maitou lightly pressed his hands on the Three Lives Soul‑Calming Cauldron, leapt up, and landed on the cauldron. Because he was overly excited, his lips trembled a little.

"Xiao Xiao…" He Maitou called softly.

"Mm." Xiao Xiao also lowered her head.

"I will treat you well."

"Mm."

"I really like you."

"Mm."

No matter what He Maitou said, Xiao Xiao's reply was always just one word. She kept her head lowered, daring not to look at him. After two and a half years of separation, two and a half years of longing, at this moment they finally stood together. Their two fervent hearts were also gradually drawing near.

Zhang Le Xuan nudged Bei Bei beside her and said, "Now it's your turn."

"Okay." Bei Bei's emotions had mostly recovered by then; watching Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, He Maitou and Xiao Xiao become a loving couple, as the senior brother he felt genuine joy from the heart.

"On the Three Lives Cauldron, Three Lives Fate—Maitou, you'd better seize it!" Bei Bei's voice rang out with a hint of teasing.

He Maitou shouted, "Senior brother, I will definitely seize it. Opposite senior sisters and junior sisters, please don't choose me anymore—I already have someone."

"Hahaha…" He Maitou's earnest confession instantly drew loud laughter from everyone, and the atmosphere, which had been somewhat amorous, became much more relaxed.

Xiao Xiao was so embarrassed she had nowhere to hide; she reached out and twisted He Caotou's arm, then said in a low voice: "You're like a black charcoal head—who else would be as blind as me to choose you! Really self-indulgent."

He Caotou gave a hehe smile: "It doesn't hurt; twist it two more times, I'm afraid I'm dreaming."

Xiao Xiao, however, didn't twist again; instead she rubbed the spot she had pinched and said softly: "Could it be that even in a dream you don't want to see me?"

He Caotou rubbed his big bald head: "Willing, of course willing. But if this is a dream, what will I do when I wake up?"

Xiao Xiao finally laughed: "If it really is a dream, then just keep dreaming."

The fourth segment continues.

Another female student appeared. Like the second female student in front of Chen Qiye, she still wore a bamboo hat on her head.

The female student waved her right hand, fluttered out, and a beam of light appeared out of nowhere above the water surface. Huo Yuhao's eyesight was excellent; he was surprised to see that it was actually a spindle-shaped soul tool.

The female student floated down onto that soul tool, stood firmly, and her figure glided toward the male students.

As she glided, she took off the bamboo hat on her head, revealing an extremely beautiful face.

This female student looked about seventeen or eighteen; not only was her appearance extremely beautiful, her figure was also very good, with a hint of apology on her pretty face as she said: "My name is Ning Tian. Because I am an auxiliary-system soul master, I can only stay on this water surface with the aid of a soul tool. Rank fifty-four, auxiliary-system tool soul king. My martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Although her earlier words meant she lacked the ability to hover on this water surface, no one thought her strength was weak. Who would be weak after getting into the inner court? Moreover, she looked so young. When she finally revealed her martial soul, many male students showed a look of sudden realization.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, famed as the number one auxiliary-system tool martial soul on the continent! She certainly qualified to enter the inner court! Although she had no combat ability whatsoever, in the auxiliary field she was absolutely an extremely formidable presence!

(End of chapter)