Douluo: The Exiled Immortal Descends, Sword and Wine Slay the Gods

Chapter 494: Chapter 494: Zhang Lexuan in White — The Host Takes the Stage! First Round: Mutual Appreciation (Extra)

Sea God Lake.

Dusk deepened, yet the evening glow burned ever brighter.

Layers of orange and gold stacked across the horizon, illuminating the youthful faces along the lakeshore.

Amid this silent clamor, the young men and women waited quietly...

Waiting for the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival to gently begin beneath the rosy clouds.

Splash!

Splash!

Ripples suddenly spread across the center of the lake.

A wooden pleasure boat over twenty meters long broke through the shimmering golden reflections and slowly approached.

Standing aboard were figures deeply respected within the academy:

Dean Yan Shaozhe and Vice Dean Cai Meier of the Martial Soul Department;

Dean Xian Lin’er and Vice Dean Qian Duoduo of the Soul Tool Department;

along with several senior instructors usually seen only at the lecture podium.

Beneath a drooping willow by the lakeshore,

Mu En reclined in his lounge chair with a genial smile, watching from afar.

Boom! Boom!

As the academy teachers took their places, the Sea God Lake fell silent for a moment before clear, ringing ceremonial chimes pierced the twilight sky.

In an instant—

twenty beams of soul-tool light flared up around the lake, descending like bridges from the heavens onto the water’s surface.

Within each beam stood a slender figure clad in a simple white dress, wearing a veiled bamboo hat, descending gracefully.

Their toes lightly touched the water lilies illuminated by the beams, like fairies stepping out of a painting—beautiful beyond compare.

The sight immediately drew waves of cheers and astonished exclamations from the shore.

At that moment—

a cool and elegant figure drifted down to the host’s position at the center of the lake.

It was Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan.

She still wore her ink-dark long robe, her beauty refined and aloof. Her voice carried clearly across the waters:

"Upon Sea God Lake, fate has blossomed for a thousand years. Let the wind and moon bear witness tonight."

"Welcome, fellow students and esteemed teachers, to gather on this fine evening by the lakeside."

"May all who come to this rendezvous find peace of heart and the destiny of joined hands."

After speaking,

she pressed her right hand lightly to her chest

and inclined her body slightly toward the shore and the pleasure boat.

Thunderous applause erupted, cheers shaking the air.

Among the densely packed crowd along the shore, the male participants were bright-eyed and eager to try.

"Without further ado, the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival begins now."

Zhang Lexuan’s clear voice pierced through the thin mist over the lake.

"This year’s Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival consists of five rounds."

"At the end, tonight’s ’Peerless Goddess’ and ’Soulmate Pair’ will be chosen."

"The first round is called—Mutual Appreciation."

She lifted her sleeve in indication.

"As you can see, twenty-one fair maidens now stand upon the waves."

"Next, the male participants must step onto the water lilies that will appear one hundred meters out on the lake. Rely on your own abilities and do not fall into the water."

"Remember—if you lose your footing and fall, you will be eliminated and lose the chance for further fate."

"The young men must lift as many of the maidens’ veiled hats as possible. Cooperation is permitted; you may assist one another."

"The one who secures the first water lily will be the first to take the stage."

"Are you all ready?"

In truth, the rules had long been spread throughout the academy via the Fate Society’s publication.

Yet as soon as Zhang Lexuan finished speaking,

the lakeshore still erupted in a unified roar, voices rising like waves:

"Understood!"

"Tonight we’ll pluck every blossom!"

"The first water lily will be mine!"

The interesting part of this arrangement lay precisely in the hidden intricacies within the rules.

Since "cooperation" was allowed, rivalry was naturally permitted as well.

What the young men sought—

was nothing more than the first water lily.

Only the one who took the stage first would have the greatest chance of lifting more veiled hats.

Once this principle became clear,

their gazes crossed, filled with challenge and hostility.

However—

gradually...

One after another, gazes fell in unspoken agreement upon the blue-robed youth.

Dozens of boys exchanged knowing looks, faint, meaningful smiles appearing on their faces.

But just as everyone was about to dash toward the lake—

an unexpected change occurred.

On the host’s platform, Zhang Lexuan suddenly drifted backward.

At the same time—

within the orange-glazed twilight sky, a bright full moon astonishingly condensed into being.

Moonlight streamed down like silk,

bathing her figure.

The ink-dark robe she wore transformed into pure white as light and shadow flowed across it.

A matching veiled bamboo hat quietly settled upon her hair as well.

Her figure floated gracefully into the ranks of the twenty maidens. The twenty-one women shifted positions in an instant beneath the interplay of moonlight and lake reflections, their sleeves interweaving in a dreamlike blur that dazzled the eye.

When the light finally stilled—

the fair figures upon the lotus flowers remained poised and slender, veils covering their faces, white garments like snow.

But it was now impossible to tell who was who.

On the shore,

the students were already staring in stunned silence.

The brief stillness lasted only three breaths before boiling into an uproar.

"What?! The host personally joined the event?!"

"I’ve been in Shrek’s Outer and Inner Courts for years—this is the first time I’ve seen Senior Sister remove her black robes and participate in the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival!"

"No wonder she said there were twenty-one participants earlier—she included herself!"

"Looks like the Fate Society’s rumors weren’t false! If Senior Sister stepped in, then Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao must be among them too!"

The moment those words were spoken—

all eyes converged once more on Huo Yuhao.

Especially the dozens of male participants; their gazes had grown noticeably sharper.

On ordinary days,

they knew they could hardly compare with this youth who could suppress even a Super Douluo.

But tonight was different...

Under the rules of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival, wasn’t everyone just here for lively fun?

And seeing that the academy’s two brightest jewels might both favor the same person—

how could fellow young men not feel at least a trace of competitive spirit?

"Uh..."

Standing beside Huo Yuhao, Xu Sanshi and He Caitou felt the increasingly heated gazes and couldn’t help their scalps tingling. They quietly edged backward.

"Well... Yuhao..."

"Standing next to you is way too eye-catching."

Xu Sanshi lowered his voice, though the corner of his mouth curled in amused anticipation.

"We both have our own targets tonight. We can’t afford to get dragged down by you."

He Caitou nodded honestly beside him.

They naturally understood—

that tonight’s competition would end in laughter and play; no one would take it truly to heart.

Huo Yuhao looked at these two "brothers who retreated before battle," then at the high-spirited young men brimming with fighting intent. He could only shake his head and laugh softly.

He had to admit—

even someone wholly devoted to cultivation like himself felt a ripple stir quietly within his heart amid such romantic and fervent atmosphere.

"In that case..."

A free-spirited smile rose upon Huo Yuhao’s refined face.

He looked toward the twenty-one slender figures wearing veiled hats.

"The first water lily is mine!"

Boom!

At that very instant—

on the pleasure boat,

Dean Yan Shaozhe flicked his sleeve. Majestic Spirit Power shot skyward, transforming into brilliant fireworks that burst across the air.

The first round of the Sea God Fated Blind Date Festival—Mutual Appreciation—officially began.

Boom!

Boom!

Along the lakeshore,

Spirit Power surged like boiling water, soul tools flashing one after another.

Nearly a hundred youths each displayed their abilities, skimming across the waves toward the first water lily at the center of the lake.

After all, this was Shrek’s Inner Court.

Immediately, two senior students at the Spirit Saint level took the lead, charging ahead of the rest.

Yet before the two could even feel joy—

a blue-clad figure swept past them like the wind, overtaking them with effortless ease...