After Jiang Shengyu stepped onto the lotus platform, the others finally snapped out of their daze.
In an instant, they each unleashed their abilities and leapt from the shore toward the lotus platforms on the lake.
The thirty-seven available positions were swiftly occupied, marking the beginning of the next phase — removing the veiled hats of the maidens before them.
Beibei was the first to act.
Behind him, the Radiant Holy Dragon Martial Soul unfurled majestically, its pure white brilliance illuminating the entire Sea God Lake.
Before him pulsed the perfect configuration of two yellow, two purple, and one black soul ring, and a resonant dragon's roar shook the heavens!
Before his passing, Mu En's divine Holy Dragon had deeply awed every teacher and student of Shrek Academy.
Now, as Beibei released the same Martial Soul that once belonged to Mu En, the mighty pressure of dragon might filled the air, and the crowd erupted with excitement. Even the outer court students couldn't help but applaud.
"Is that Beibei? I heard he's Grandmaster Mu's great-grandson?"
"What's lineage got to do with it? Haven't you heard about Senior Sister's affair?"
"Wasn't he involved with the Tang Sect's leader? And didn't he also have some unclear relationship with that girl from the Sun Moon Empire…?"
"How bold of him to even show up at the Sea God Fate!"
Those aware of Beibei's tangled affairs whispered quietly among themselves.
Using the aura of the Holy Dragon to his advantage, Beibei successfully removed two veiled hats — unfortunately, neither belonged to Jiang Qingtong.
As he returned, his gaze briefly swept toward Jiang Shengyu, his expression unreadable.
Jiang Shengyu merely smiled faintly. His fifth soul ring glowed, the crimson radiance washing over heaven and earth.
Snowflakes began to fall from the sky as he unleashed his technique — Imperial Frozen Heaven: Snow Dance Raging Sun!
Under the fluttering snow, the temperature around the lake plummeted sharply. The surface of the water, centered around him, began to freeze solid, transforming the once-fluid lotus platforms into crystalline ground.
Then, stepping down lightly from his lotus, Jiang Shengyu gestured elegantly with one hand, as though inviting someone forward.
Jiang Qingtong, Meng Hongchen, Wang Dong'er, and Ling Luochen each removed their veiled hats of their own accord — and even Ning Tian, after a moment's hesitation, did the same.
All of them stood along the outer edge of the lake, naturally drawing less attention.
That was why Beibei hadn't found Jiang Qingtong earlier — he wasn't familiar with her, and she, along with the others, had deliberately suppressed their presence.
Aside from Jiang Shengyu himself, perhaps no one could have located them.
Seeing so many girls voluntarily reveal themselves, Xiao Hongchen frowned deeply.
"Again? Why are there so many this time!?"
Onshore, Jiang Feixin, who had been watching anxiously, finally let out a sigh of relief when she saw Jiang Qingtong take off her veil for Jiang Shengyu.
So, Qingtong was only participating for formality's sake — she was safe!
After the group of girls revealed their faces, Jiang Shengyu made no further move. He simply turned back and returned to his lotus platform.
Yet, just then, several other girls also lifted their veils, their eyes fixed on him.
He's leaving already? Not continuing?
Wasn't this the perfect chance to display himself?!
But Jiang Shengyu merely stood tall upon his lotus, serene and composed, the faint smile on his face calm and detached.
After a brief silence, the lakeside erupted into thunderous applause and excited chatter.
Standing on the prow of the tower ship, Yan Shaozhe watched the vast expanse of snow covering the lake and murmured in astonishment,
"That's a domain-type soul skill! The domain of Ultimate Ice!"
"A ten-thousand-year soul ring granting a domain isn't that surprising," Xuanzi said with a slow shake of his head.
He turned toward the Snow Empress.
"Teacher Xue, what do you think of his Ultimate Ice attribute?"
"It's… excellent," the Snow Empress replied softly, her cool voice carried by the chill wind — her eyes never once leaving Jiang Shengyu's snow-clad figure.
The event on the lake continued.
Thanks to Jiang Shengyu's freezing of the water, the risk of elimination by falling in had completely disappeared.
When the rankings were tallied again, Jiang Shengyu took first place, having removed the veils of eight participants.
His exceedingly young age, paired with his terrifying soul ring configuration, ensured that — aside from the two who already knew him, Jiang Qingtong and Meng Hongchen — even the others now lit their lanterns for him.
Though Jiang Shengyu bore the identity of a Sun Moon Empire citizen, his brilliance was enough to make the inner court students overlook his origins.
Under his overwhelming influence, nearly half of the participants were eliminated this round.
When it came time for self-introductions, Beibei was the first to step forward, introducing his cultivation and Martial Soul to the girls' side.
However, many inner court girls who knew about his complicated history with Zhang Lexuan and Tang Ya frowned in displeasure.
Unbeknownst to him, Tang Ya herself stood silently on the shore, watching everything.
Her lips curled into a faint, self-mocking smile as her eyes fell on Beibei's figure in the distance.
After she left, Mu En and the Academy indeed chose a different path for Beibei.
Perhaps that was for the best — she and Beibei had already diverged onto separate roads. Forcing themselves together would only bring pain.
Besides, neither Beibei nor Shrek Academy would ever approve of her cooperation with the Sun Moon Empire.
But for the sake of the Tang Sect, there was no turning back for her.
Stepping across the frozen lake, Jiang Shengyu advanced slowly once Beibei finished. He saluted the crowd and said evenly,
"My name is Jiang Shengyu. Sixteen years old.
A Level 59 Assault-Type Battle Soul King, from the Sun Moon Empire."
Name, age, cultivation, and origin — only these four details.
He gave nothing more, yet not a single person dared underestimate him.
That single ten-thousand-year soul ring alone was enough to command awe throughout Shrek Academy.
Without hesitation, Jiang Qingtong, Meng Hongchen, Wang Dong'er, Ling Luochen, and Ning Tian all chose Jiang Shengyu.
Even an inner court student named Wu Ming joined them.
So many girls choosing the same person — it was an unprecedented sight!
Off to the side, Xiao Hongchen crouched lazily atop his lotus and snorted.
"I knew it! You just had to draw all the attention. If I'd known this would happen, I'd have scratched up your face when we were kids — then you'd only have my sister to marry!"
Jiang Shengyu: "…"
…Lunatic.
Beibei, seeing Jiang Qingtong choose Jiang Shengyu, couldn't help but frown.
On the tower ship, the Shrek faculty grew increasingly anxious.
"Elder Xuan!" cried Xian Lin'er. "Qingtong didn't choose Beibei — what do we do now!?"
They had no idea about Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's secret.
To them, her choosing Jiang Shengyu simply meant she wasn't interested in anyone else and had picked him to avoid awkwardness.
Xuanzi frowned deeply, then said after some thought,
"Don't panic. Didn't Ling Luochen and Wang Dong'er also choose Jiang Shengyu? If Qingtong and Beibei don't work out, it's fine — if Shengyu ends up with any of the others, that's still a good outcome!"
Hearing this, the others finally relaxed a little — though the Snow Empress wore only a faint, mocking smile.
Compete?
You think you can compete with Jiang Qingtong?
Even she had to admit — Jiang Qingtong was the one most suited to stand beside Jiang Shengyu.
As the Sea God Fate continued, Jiang Shengyu and the women beside him became the absolute center of attention.
All eyes were fixed upon them, waiting eagerly for what would happen next.
Tomorrow, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong's relationship would finally be laid bare before everyone!
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