Zhang Lexuan quickly displayed the composure expected of a host. Clearing her throat lightly, she said,
"It seems our prodigious young talent from the Sun and Moon Empire is far too popular! But today, only one Sea God Maiden can hold his hand. Ladies, please tell us your reasons for choosing Shengyu."
As soon as Zhang Lexuan spoke, Ning Tian was the first to step forward.
Facing Jiang Shengyu, she said,
"My martial soul has evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda — the most powerful auxiliary-type tool soul on the entire continent! With me behind you, your future will shine ever brighter!"
As she spoke, Ning Tian released her martial soul before his eyes. The nine-tiered glazed pagoda radiated lights of varying hues, its brilliance even more dreamlike under the night sky.
The appearance of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda drew gasps from the audience. Even Jiang Shengyu was taken aback.
He hadn't expected Ning Tian to have consumed the Qiluo Tulip so quickly to evolve her martial soul. Were she and Ning Haoyu not worried that the item he'd given them might be problematic?
On the deck of the floating vessel, the elders of the Sea God Pavilion were visibly shocked.
"Ning Sect Master, has the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly found a way to evolve a martial soul once more?" Xuanzi immediately turned to Ning Haoyu beside him, asking gravely.
Ning Haoyu's eyes, fixed upon the radiant pagoda, gleamed with excitement. Hearing Xuanzi's question, he nodded slightly.
"That's right."
"The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is destined to rise again," Xuanzi sighed in admiration. "Sect Master Ning, such a matter should have been shared with the Academy earlier! The relationship between the Academy and your sect runs deep — we should strengthen our cooperation in the future."
"Naturally," Ning Haoyu replied with a smile.
When had he ever received such deferential courtesy from the head of Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion? Truly, as the saying goes — thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.
Wang Dong'er spoke next to Jiang Shengyu:
"I possess twin martial souls! I will never be a burden to you! My strength — and the strength of the Clear Sky Sect — will both be your allies! My father and uncle also said they would welcome you to visit the Clear Sky Sect again."
By invoking the Clear Sky Sect, Wang Dong'er startled many onlookers. Though the sect had long withdrawn from the world, its name remained legendary. Her open acknowledgment of her lineage left no room for doubt — she was indeed a true successor of the Clear Sky Sect.
Standing beside her, Ling Luochen gazed at Jiang Shengyu and said,
"I may not have such a noble background as they do, but my martial soul is of the ice element — pure elemental ice. While it may not reach the extreme of ultimate ice, I believe our elements complement each other well. I'm willing to become your partner and move forward together."
"If we're speaking of elemental harmony, then my Golden Crow True Flame is no less compatible!"
Wu Ming raised her chest proudly and said to Jiang Shengyu,
"I may be much older than you, but for soul masters of our level, a few years' difference hardly matters! I've heard one of your martial souls possesses the attribute of ultimate fire. My Golden Crow True Flame would gladly accompany and amplify your blazing might."
Among the crowd, some male students who secretly admired Wu Ming grew anxious seeing her bare her heart to Jiang Shengyu.
When it was Meng Hongchen's turn, she didn't say much.
"Shengyu, we grew up together. You know me well. My feelings for you are not inferior to anyone else's."
So they were childhood sweethearts, then?
The uninvolved male students craned their necks eagerly, wondering whom Jiang Shengyu would ultimately choose.
As for Jiang Qingtong, most had already dismissed her — she hadn't said a word, and her quiet stance only reinforced their belief that she had no one she truly liked, and had only come to stand by Jiang Shengyu's side for formality's sake.
Yet, under the gaze of all present, Jiang Shengyu stepped forward onto the icy surface and reached out his hand toward Jiang Qingtong. The moment he moved, she too extended her hand. Their timing — their mutual understanding — was flawless.
"My apologies," Jiang Shengyu said calmly, his fingers interlacing with hers.
"Between us… a contract unchanging through all eternity has long been forged."
Standing together, Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong looked into each other's eyes. In the half-lit night, each saw in the other's familiar face both serenity and unyielding resolve.
From afar, Meng Hongchen and the Snow Empress exchanged knowing looks — as if to say so it truly is. Though their expressions carried a trace of melancholy, everyone else was utterly stunned.
Xiao Hongchen, who had been crouching idly, suddenly stood straight, staring in disbelief.
"You two…!"
"What's going on? Shengyu, Qingtong… aren't you siblings?!"
Even Xuanzi nearly leapt from the deck in shock. "What is the meaning of this?! What's happening here?!"
"I… don't know," Xian Lin'er murmured, dazed.
Seeing the crowd's astonishment, Jiang Shengyu spoke evenly:
"We are not blood-related."
Jiang Qingtong added,
"We've known each other since childhood. Because we look alike and share a martial soul fusion skill, we chose to present ourselves as siblings."
"But it seems Qingtong's charm drew some unwanted attention," Jiang Shengyu said with a faint glance toward Beibei. "So I thought it best to make things clear sooner rather than later — to avoid anyone harboring inappropriate thoughts."
Beibei frowned slightly, understanding the pointed implication.
"How could two people unrelated by blood resemble each other so closely?" Ling Luochen asked incredulously.
"Oh, but there are such cases," Jiang Qingtong replied with a light smile. "Aren't Feixin and Wang Dong'er classmates who look nearly identical?"
Jiang Feixin's existence provided them with the perfect justification for their revelation.
Wang Dong'er was momentarily at a loss for words.
Both Ling Luochen and Ning Tian stood dazed — recalling the times during their expeditions when the pair were almost inseparable. They had taken it then as a sign of close sibling affection, but now, in retrospect, every sign had pointed to something deeper all along.
Xiao Hongchen finally understood why, on the soul train returning to the Sun Moon Empire, Jiang Shengyu had beaten him up the moment he'd said he wanted to pursue Jiang Qingtong — so this was the reason!
He turned to look at Meng Hongchen, realizing from her lack of surprise that she had already known.
On the shore, Jiang Feixin nearly rushed forward to interrupt them, but before she could, a shard of icy cold touched her brow, snapping her back to her senses.
She froze, glancing toward the ship — the Snow Empress was watching her intently, making it clear that any sudden movement would be met with action. Yet Jiang Feixin, proud Emperor Spirit Beast that she was, cared little for such warnings. She, after all, was the emblem of the Star Dou Forest, not some mere "fierce beast" to be intimidated.
But before she could move, frost crept rapidly up her legs, rooting her in place — layers upon layers of ice sealing her where she stood.
By then, everyone's attention was already fixed entirely on Jiang Shengyu and Jiang Qingtong. No one noticed her plight.
To the Snow Empress, the so-called "Emperor Spirit Beast" was little more than a mascot of the forest.
Showing deference in peaceful times was fine — but at a moment like this, such status meant nothing.