Chapter 163: Carnage Plus
Although Zhang Lexuan knew she was influential in the inner court, she hadn't expected her participation in the Sea God's Matchmaking Event to cause such a stir. She blamed Han Ruoruo for needlessly hyping it up.
Zhang Lexuan shot an annoyed glance at Han Ruoruo, who just covered her mouth and giggled mischievously. Sighing in resignation, Zhang Lexuan took to the air, a crescent moon appearing behind her as her soul rings ascended from beneath her feet—one yellow, two purples, three blacks, and one red.
"Hello, I am Zhang Lexuan, a Soul Douluo with a cultivation level of 84," she said, looking directly into Du Qianjue's eyes with a calm voice. "If you don't mind the age difference, let's be together."
The area fell silent.
The female students were visibly shocked, their mouths agape in surprise. Meanwhile, the male students were heartbroken, including those already eliminated who were watching from the lakeside, looking utterly dejected.
Zhang Lexuan's bright crescent seemed like the unattainable love in their hearts. And today, their dream was slipping away to another...
"No!" "Senior Sister!"
Chen Zifeng was in disbelief.
Du Qianjue blinked, confused. "What's going on, Big Sister? Aren't you supposed to be with Bei Bei? Why are you exploding over a hat?"
As Du Qianjue stood bewildered, Zhang Lexuan had already flown up to him, her face calm but a trace of shyness beneath. "What are you waiting for? Ice lotus!" Ma Xiaotao chided Du Qianjue for not reacting.
Even though she saw Zhang Lexuan as a formidable rival, Ma Xiaotao still admired her. Now that Zhang had chosen Du Qianjue, he hadn't even created an ice lotus for her.
Wu Ming also stared at Du Qianjue disapprovingly.
"Oops, sorry." Du Qianjue awkwardly smiled and pointed below Zhang Lexuan's feet, creating an ice lotus just like the others'.
Zhang Lexuan nodded at him lightly, and as her soul rings and the moonlight faded, she gracefully landed on the ice lotus.
Now there were five.
Ma Xiaotao, Ling Chen, Xue Yue'er, Wu Ming, and Zhang Lexuan. The atmosphere around Du Qianjue grew tense. Other than Zhang Lexuan, who stood serenely, the four Sea Goddesses were all wary of each other, especially Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming.
After a moment of calm, they realized that as long as Zhang Lexuan was there, their chances were slim, so they became wary of her as well.
Normally in the inner court, they would show the utmost respect to Zhang Lexuan. But this was the Sea God's Matchmaking Event, where personal happiness was at stake, and there was no room for holding back, even if it was against Zhang Lexuan.
Du Qianjue was feeling overwhelmed by the competition among the five stunning beauties around him. Although he had expected to attract attention by showing off a little, he hadn't expected Zhang Lexuan to join in.
Unbeknownst to him, Mu En and Yan Shaozhe were pushing her from behind. Surrounded by the intense gazes and beautiful faces, Du Qianjue didn't feel pleased but rather uncomfortable.
It was too much pressure.
He glanced at Xue LingLong, knowing it was her turn to make a choice next.
"Let's welcome the next Sea Goddess, contestant number nine. Before making your choice, would you like to remove your hat?" Han Ruoruo asked with a smile.
"There's no need. I hope he will remove it for me," a crisp, clear voice rang from beneath the veil. Xue LingLong 's slender figure rose lightly like a snowflake and quickly approached Du Qianjue.
Du Qianjue smiled slightly and didn't create an ice lotus. Instead, he just opened his arms, standing on the lotus leaf.
Xue LingLong's cheeks under her veil turned slightly red, but she didn't shy away and landed directly in his arms.
The couple embraced, Xue LingLong holding the ninety-nine ice roses Du Qianjue had given her, while he gently wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
Even though Xue LingLong 's hat wasn't lifted, it still felt to everyone like they were a perfect match.
This odd sense of compatibility made the other male students envious.
How many now? Six?!
The Sea Goddesses were originally only eighteen, and this guy has taken one-third of them? That's too much!
I'm so jealous!
Du Qianjue found the situation with the five women around him not only surprising but also slightly uncomfortable, even painful.
He instinctively looked at Xue LingLong again. After Zhang Lexuan, it was her turn to choose.
"Next, let's invite the ninth Sea Goddess. You can consider whether you want to remove your hat before making a choice," Han Ruoruo said cheerfully.
"I'd rather he take it off himself," Xue LingLong responded with a clear and melodious voice from under her veil, drifting gently and quickly reaching Du Qianjue.
Du Qianjue smiled and, instead of creating an ice lotus, simply spread his arms and stood on the lotus leaf.
Xue LingLong 's veiled face blushed slightly, but she didn't avoid him and fell straight into his arms.
Thus, the pair embraced, Xue LingLong clutching the ninety-nine ice roses Du Qianjue had given her, while he gently held her slim waist. Even though her hat wasn't lifted, everyone felt as if they were meant for each other.
This strange sense of compatibility irritated the other male students.
"Is this the sixth one?"
There were only eighteen Sea Goddesses, and this guy had taken a third of them—that was too much!
"I'm so jealous!"
Ah!
Du Qianjue watched the five women in front of him, other than Zhang Lexuan, the other four women's eyes narrowed slightly, sizing up the Xue LingLong in his arms.
Only Zhang Lexuan knew that Xue LingLong was originally Du Qianjue's fiancée, and they were just here for fun at the Sea God's Matchmaking Event. Essentially, the others were just intruding, with no right to show any temper in front of Xue LingLong.
But the other four didn't know that!
So the atmosphere became even stranger among them.
All the hostility suddenly shifted from Zhang Lexuan to Xue LingLong.
Indeed, the conservation of energy exists—hostility doesn't disappear; it just shifts.
But would Xue LingLong care?
Clearly not.
Although she didn't understand why Du Qianjue wanted to participate in this matchmaking event and felt a bit uncomfortable seeing so many human women wanting to steal her man, this event still brought her a different kind of experience.
She also liked the flowers Du Qianjue gave her.
Ninety-nine ice roses, Xue LingLong could make them herself with a wave of her hand, but how could those compare to the ones her man gave her?
She sneaked a peek at Du Qianjue and found his eyes full of her, not caring about the other women around him at all.
Xue LingLong felt a little triumphant in her heart.
'My charm is still pretty strong, hmm~'
A smile crept under her veil, and Xue LingLong didn't realize that she was displaying far fewer of her former soul beast emperor's indifference, instead showing many more human emotions.
Watching Du Qianjue and Xue LingLong's sweet and happy appearance, except for Zhang Lexuan, the other four women's narrowed eyes revealed a dangerous aura.
The four exchanged glances, reaching a consensus.
You're going to have a hard time in the next round of the Sea God's Matchmaking Event!
(End of Chapter)