From the moment Gu La and his group returned to Shrek Academy and entered the school gate, they were surrounded by an overwhelming sea of pink posters and a bustling atmosphere—the promotional campaign for the Sea God's Fate Blind Date Conference was in full swing.
Gu La looked at slogans like "Hand in Hand for Life" and "Fate Sealed by the Sea God," and couldn't help but scratch his head.
Of course, he hadn't forgotten his little girlfriend Xiao Xiao. Speaking sweet words privately was fine, but to make some deep, emotional confession in front of everyone, under the public eye...
Just thinking about it made him feel extremely uncomfortable. The level of awkwardness... made him rather challenge a Limit Douluo one-on-one.
"The Mu En who came up with this blind date conference... really... understands girls' hearts quite well," Gu La could only complain inwardly, with a touch of helplessness.
He searched the inner court but couldn't find Xiao Xiao's figure.
Well, it seemed his little girlfriend belonged to the type who enjoyed romantic atmospheres. She was most likely already on the carefully arranged Sea God Lake, waiting for him to "ride on seven-colored auspicious clouds" to confess to her.
Gu La sighed. His gaze swept past Huo Yuhao on the other side, who also seemed somewhat confused and was apparently searching for Wang Dong. Gu La felt even more speechless.
He had helped Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er resolve the biggest hidden danger—the fate connection with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion—but he didn't know where these two would ultimately end up.
"Never mind," he shook his head. "I'll just treat it as watching a show. Besides... to avoid the old guys from the Sea God Pavilion questioning where I got all those secrets about Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, I need to show off some 'special' strength at the right time to divert their attention elsewhere."
Huo Yuhao followed Bei Bei to the Tang Sect residence, while Gu La wandered around the academy alone. He felt that after two years, the academy hadn't changed much overall—just a few new faces.
Night fell. The usually quiet, dark Sea God Lake was tonight brilliantly lit.
Special soul engineering lotus lanterns floated on the lake surface, their soft light making the water appear dreamlike and surreal.
Over twenty girls in pure white dresses and gauze-covered bamboo hats stood gracefully on a lotus platform in the center of the lake, lined up in a row, waiting for their chosen boys to select and confess to them.
Gu La's gaze swept over them and easily found Xiao Xiao—no wonder, with her typical youthful, sweet appearance and petite figure, she stood out prominently among the group of girls.
His gaze subconsciously drifted to another figure—Wang Dong'er in feminine attire. Out of curiosity, he even wanted to use his spiritual power to penetrate that thin gauze to see how beautiful the legendary Goddess of Light truly was, and whether she could compare to the Gu Yuena in his memory. But in the end, he suppressed this curiosity.
"Never mind. It's better to keep some anticipation."
Soon, the hosts Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan appeared. After an enthusiastic opening speech, they announced the official start of the Sea God's Fate Blind Date Conference.
Zhang Lexuan's gentle voice spread across the lake: "First segment: Mutual Appreciation. Please, boys, use your abilities to step onto the water lilies, approach the girl you admire, and remove her hat. Girls can only defend, not attack the boys."
The first to step up was a senior Soul Saint from the inner court, but as soon as he stood on the central water lily, he was replaced at the edge by Xu Sanshi's sneaky Xuanwu Replacement, while Xu Sanshi himself appeared triumphantly before Jiang Nannan.
With flowery words and flamboyant actions, he immediately provoked "public outrage" from all the girls, who each blocked him.
In the end, it was Huo Yuhao who secretly helped him cheat using shared spiritual detection, barely allowing him to remove Jiang Nannan's hat, making her both shy and angry.
Next was He Caitou. He honestly said he was just trying his luck. Using exquisite soul device control, he created diversions and remotely removed three girls' hats.
Then came Huo Yuhao. He released his adorable Snow Maiden spirit soul. Amid dancing ice and snow sprites, he easily removed five hats, causing a wave of exclamations.
Finally, it was Gu La's turn. He guided his water lily slowly toward Xiao Xiao's position and stopped before her.
Unlike others who went straight to action, he deliberately struck a gentlemanly pose, extending his hand and speaking in a deliberately affected, slightly playful tone:
"Beautiful lady, may this humble person have the honor of removing your hat?"
Xiao Xiao had just expended considerable effort protecting her hat and was a bit annoyed that Gu La appeared so late. But hearing this, she couldn't help but laugh out loud. She knew Gu La was deliberately acting silly to make her happy—he wasn't usually this frivolous.
She cooperated well, replying in a coquettish tone: "Hmph, seeing how sincere you are, this lady will magnanimously give you a chance~"
"Deeply grateful, my beautiful Miss Xiao Xiao." Gu La smiled as he gently removed Xiao Xiao's hat, revealing her flushed, smiling face.
He even deliberately winked, as if saying "See, for your sake, I'll say any cheesy line."
Bei Bei on the shore saw this scene and couldn't help muttering: "This... can couples even participate in the Sea God's Fate Conference? I feel like these two are just here to show off their love."
A wave of good-natured laughter and envious teasing immediately rose from the surroundings.
Zhang Lexuan suppressed a smile and lightly coughed: "Please, student Gu La, return to your original position. We are about to begin the second segment—Love at First Sight. In this segment, girls will light lanterns for the boys they admire."
Gu La winked at Xiao Xiao, turned with a flourish, and floated back to the shore.
The lantern-lighting segment began. Because Xu Sanshi had been too flamboyant and arrogant in the previous segment, he had offended almost all the girls—and not a single lantern lit up for him.
In the original storyline, Xiao Xiao might have lit a lantern out of friendship to help him advance to the third round, but now she was completely immersed in the sweetness of Gu La's return, having long forgotten about Xu Sanshi.
"No—!!!"
Xu Sanshi knelt on the water lily, letting out a miserable wail. His carefully prepared 174th confession attempt had failed before it even began!
But rules were rules. The water lily he stood on slowly sank into the water, taking his endless grief and acting skills with it.
Unfortunately, Jiang Nannan knew Xu Sanshi too well and didn't spare him a single pitying glance throughout.
Bei Bei on the hosting platform covered his forehead and shook his head, silently mourning for his good brother: "Serves you right for being so flashy. You overplayed it."
When it was Gu La's turn, three lanterns lit up on the lake surface before him.
Besides Xiao Xiao, there were also Ning Tian and a senior sister Gu La didn't recognize.
Gu La was somewhat surprised but maintained his poise, nodding slightly toward the three girls without saying more, showing perfect tact.
Zhang Lexuan stepped out again: "Next is the third segment, Second Glance, Lasting Love. Please, boys, introduce yourselves one by one. You have one minute to demonstrate the ability or soul skill you believe will most attract your admired girl. The appearance order will be redrawn by lot to ensure fairness."
The first to step up was Chu Qingtian, a six-ring Soul Emperor with the Lightning Leopard martial soul, who delivered bold words about "whoever's heart I win, with them I'll form a bond."
The second drawn was surprisingly Gu La. He rubbed his nose and slowly floated to the center of the lake, speaking in a "sincere" tone:
"Senior sister host, I don't think I need to demonstrate, do I? My admired girl is only Xiao Xiao. I only wish to walk through the rest of my life with her. Can I skip the introduction?"
Zhang Lexuan suppressed a laugh and shook her head: "No can do, junior brother Gu La. Rules are rules. Unless you can convince all the students and teachers on site to make an exception for you, you must follow the process."
She knew this kid's true nature well and wouldn't be fooled by him.
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao also felt something was off. Knowing Gu La as they did, this guy actually liked showing off in front of others—why would he ask to skip?
Unless... he was setting up for a bigger impact!
Sure enough, the next moment, Gu La sighed as if very "reluctant," then began speaking:
"Alright. Gu La, eighteen years old. Martial soul... dual ultimates, Holy Sun Angel. Soul power level... seven rings... Soul Saint."
He paused as if stating something very ordinary.
But immediately after, under his feet, brilliant soul rings suddenly rose!
Black, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red!
Four deep ten-thousand-year soul rings, three hundred-thousand-year soul rings radiating terrifying pressure!
The light of all seven soul rings intertwined and shone brilliantly, the terrifying red color almost illuminating half the Sea God Lake, instantly stunning everyone on and around the lake.
"What?!"
Huo Yuhao almost fell off his water lily, eyes wide with shock. "Brother Gu's soul ring configuration has changed again?! Could he also have a simulating soul skill?!"
He felt he was getting confused by Gu La's endless hidden cards.
Above at the Sea God Pavilion, Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Qian Duoduo, and other bigwigs who had been watching below suddenly stood up, faces filled with disbelief.
Their first reaction was also a simulating soul skill, but they immediately dismissed it—in a setting like Sea God's Fate, Gu La absolutely couldn't use fake soul rings to deceive people.
Yan Shaozhe was particularly ecstatic. Seeing that astonishing soul ring configuration and eighteen-year-old Soul Saint cultivation, the slight resentment he had felt over Gu La revealing his origins instantly vanished, replaced only by immense excitement and pride.
However, Gu La's next sentence instantly froze the smile on Yan Shaozhe's face.
As if just remembering, Gu La slowly added: "Oh, by the way, I'm also... an Eighth-grade soul engineer."
"Pooh—hahaha! Eighth-grade soul engineer! An eighteen-year-old eighth-grade soul engineer! My goodness! I can't take it anymore! Someone stop me! I'm going to die of happiness!"
Vice Dean of the Soul Device Department Qian Duoduo burst out with earth-shattering laughter, excitedly waving his arms, looking like he wanted to immediately rush down to snatch Gu La back to the Soul Device Department.
Yan Shaozhe's face turned alternately green and white. He forced calmness and coughed: "Ahem, just an eighth-grade soul device master... Gu La is exceptionally talented, achieving this with just a bit of divided attention. Ultimately, his peerless talent in martial soul is more important to the academy."
He carefully avoided mentioning Gu La threatening Long Xiaoyao with "Evil's Bane" devices, trying to shift focus back to martial soul.
But Xian Lin'er had been on site back then. She immediately shot him down: "Yan Shaozhe, don't try that trick. Gu La's soul engineering talent is no less than anyone's."
"Especially his self-created 'Evil's Bane' series of bombs—fully utilizing the advantages of ultimate attribute soul power, even managing to momentarily block the Darkness-attribute Limit Douluo Long Xiaoyao. This kind of talent is truly a treasure when placed in the Soul Device Department."
"What? Evil's Bane? Blocked Long Xiaoyao?" Xuan Zi, who had been drinking alone under the moon in the spectator stands, immediately perked up. "Quick! Tell me exactly what happened!"
A group of Sea God Pavilion bigwigs immediately began heatedly discussing which was more important—Gu La's martial soul talent or soul device talent—and that heart-stopping interception battle, almost forgetting the blind date conference below was still ongoing.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Lake, a mixture of uproar and deathly silence alternated.
Everyone was shocked speechless by Gu La's completely unreasonable soul ring configuration and soul device master level.
Xiao Xiao, standing on the lotus flower, was completely stunned.
She had indeed harbored a little girl's wish—to use the Sea God's Fate opportunity to have Gu La formally and romantically confess to her, making up for the "regret" that she had been the one to initiate their relationship back then.
But... but Gu La's "surprise" was way too big!
Feeling the countless gazes mixed with shock, envy, jealousy, and disbelief around her, Xiao Xiao felt like she was sitting on needles, her face burning hot, wishing she could immediately jump into the lake and pull Gu La away from this "trouble spot."
She lightly bit her lip, looking at that figure in the center of the lake who seemed to have his own halo, attracting everyone's attention. Her heart was both proud and shy, finally turning into a coquettish mutter.
"Hmph! Still the same Gu La... must be showing off again..."
But no matter what, the sweet, proud feelings surging from deep within her heart were genuine and almost overwhelming.
Xiao Xiao looked at her boyfriend in the center of the lake, radiating brilliance and attracting everyone's gaze. Feeling the increasingly fiery, almost "moth to the flame" gazes from the girls around her, she suddenly realized—she couldn't stay any longer!
Modesty, procedures—all were thrown out the window. She almost instinctively made her decision.
Xiao Xiao lightly pushed off with her feet. Her petite figure gracefully leaped off the lotus platform. The beautiful flight soul device Gu La had given her instantly unfolded behind her, carrying her like a nimble swallow, drawing a beautiful arc as she flew directly toward Gu La in the center of the lake.
Under countless astonished gazes, Xiao Xiao precisely landed on Gu La's water lily, grabbed his hand, her voice urgent yet firm. "Let's go!"
Before Gu La and others could react, she pulled the still-stunned Gu La, activated the flight soul device, and the two flew away like escaping some flood or fierce beast, quickly disappearing at the boundary of night and lamplight.
Bei Bei on the hosting platform stared dumbfounded, almost dropping his microphone into the lake.
He had never expected that Xiao Xiao, who usually appeared obedient, introverted, even somewhat shy, would have such a "bold" and decisive side.
A trace of envy flashed in his eyes, but soon that envy was quickly replaced by deep sorrow—he thought of Tang Ya, who was now nowhere to be found.
Zhang Lexuan nearby keenly caught Bei Bei's emotional change. Her own body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment, a complex, unspoken pain and gloom flashing in her eyes.
But she quickly adjusted, continuing to host the conference with her still gentle yet firm voice, drawing everyone's attention back to the scene:
"It seems our junior sister Xiao Xiao has already made her firmest choice. Let's wish them well. Alright, let's continue..."
...
Pulled by Xiao Xiao all the way out of the inner court area, landing on the streets of outer Shrek City, Gu La finally seemed to come to his senses. Looking at Xiao Xiao's flushed face and slightly panting breath, he couldn't help but chuckle:
"Why leave so early? I wanted to see what foolish face Huo Yuhao would make when he met Wang Dong'er."
Xiao Xiao's steps suddenly stopped.
Right! One of the biggest highlights of Sea God's Fate was Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er recognizing each other. As a devoted gossip enthusiast, how could she miss this?
She suddenly realized something, looking up at Gu La in surprise: "You... how did you know Wang Dong was cross-dressing?!"
Gu La nodded, as if it were only natural: "Of course. I knew from the first day I saw him. The Light Goddess Butterfly is a martial soul only females can awaken. This basic knowledge you'd know if you read more books."
"Which of the academy's senior officials isn't sharp? They've all known all along. They just kept quiet out of respect for the Hao Tian Sect, plus everyone enjoys watching the show—nobody revealed it."
—Just like him.
Xiao Xiao's eyes instantly brightened. That slight "sense of crisis" was instantly crushed by her powerful gossip spirit.
She grabbed Gu La's sleeve and suggested: "Then... then let's sneak back to watch? Very quietly—no one will notice!"
"Good idea." Gu La readily agreed.
So, the two exchanged smiles, then quietly returned the way they came. Using superb movement techniques and Gu La's spiritual power to obscure them, they stealthily slipped back to a hidden corner near Sea God Lake, just in time for the most exciting part.
They witnessed Huo Yuhao, unable to recognize Wang Dong'er, dejectedly choosing to give up and prepare to leave; they witnessed Wang Dong'er actively flying out to block his path; and most thrillingly, they witnessed that heart-stopping moment—Wang Dong'er slowly removing her own hat with her hands.
In an instant, it seemed all the lights converged here.
Powder-blue hair flowed like a waterfall. Azure eyes shone brighter than stars. Perfect features combined to form a breathtakingly beautiful face—pure yet noble.
The entire Sea God Lake seemed to fall silent for a moment, then erupted with countless gasps and suppressed exclamations. Many boys stared with wide eyes.
Gu La observed carefully too. With his extremely high immunity, he stroked his chin and silently evaluated: "Hmm... truly beautiful, worthy of being a God King's daughter... but somehow, I still feel Na'er is more pleasant to look at?"
Perhaps it was first impressions, or perhaps some subtle psychology after knowing her identity—he always felt Wang Dong'er's beauty was missing something.
Beside him, Xiao Xiao nervously glanced at Gu La. Seeing his clear gaze—only pure appreciation without a trace of infatuation—she satisfiedly nodded, happily hugging his arm, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, enjoying this secret sweetness and the romantic atmosphere on site.
The night deepened. The Sea God's Fate Conference gradually concluded amidst noise and various emotions.
Gu La and Xiao Xiao quietly left the academy with the crowd.
Walking on the lamplit streets of Shrek City, Gu La looked at the still-excited Xiao Xiao beside him, then leaned close to her ear and whispered suggestively: "It's still early... why not skip the dorm tonight?"
Xiao Xiao's face instantly turned bright red, her heart pounding.
She naturally understood Gu La's meaning. Her heart struggled with curiosity. Finally, in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, she "mhm"ed—giving her consent. That bit of persistence easily dissolved under the push of immense curiosity and emotion.
The night was gentle as intoxication. The moon shyly hid behind gauze-like clouds, swaying gently, as if also feeling happy and shy for this loving pair.
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