"Wow! So this is Sea God Island? It's so beautiful!"
At the ferry dock of Sea God Island, seven young boys and girls stepped off the boat. The only girl among them let out an exclamation, her face flushed with excitement.
"It really is stunning!"
A boy chimed in, his expression equally thrilled.
"Wu Lin, Li Zhi, since you two have been to Sea God Island before, you'll be our guides," said a handsome, scholarly-looking boy with a smile as he turned to his two companions.
From his words, it was clear that these seven youths were none other than Tang Wulin and his group, who had just been admitted to the Inner Academy.
"Haha, sure," Tang Wulin replied cheerfully, not hesitating at all. Ever since his Martial Soul underwent its second awakening and evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul, his entire demeanor had changed—gaining a touch of nobility and an even greater confidence.
"Heh, I've heard that in a little while, the Inner Academy's grandest event, the Sea God's Fate Matchmaking Festival, will take place. We've arrived just in time!" Xie Xie said eagerly, his eyes full of anticipation. "I really want some affection from an Inner Academy senior sister!"
Xie Xie's current Soul Power was at rank 51. Reaching this level at the age of 18 already placed him among the elite of his peers.
"Oh-ho! Sounds like Xie Xie already has someone in mind? Come on, spill the details!" Yang Nianxia suddenly slung an arm over Xie Xie's shoulders. His towering, muscular frame and fierce aura made the already slender Xie Xie look particularly small in comparison.
Yang Nianxia, a 53rd-rank Battle Soul King specializing in assault, was a One-Word Battle Armor Master and undoubtedly one of the strongest in the Outer Academy.
"Well… it's not really like that. I just happened to see her once, and I don't even know her name yet," Xie Xie admitted awkwardly, though a hint of infatuation flickered across his face.
"Ooooh!" The group erupted in knowing laughter. Luo Guixing teased, "So it's love at first sight, huh? Well, you'd better hope that girl is single too."
Luo Guixing, a 52nd-rank Battle Soul King specializing in control, was also a One-Word Battle Armor Master. As the team's main control-type Soul Master, he possessed an incredibly rare spatial-element Martial Soul.
Tang Wulin glanced at Xie Xie, a question forming in his mind, but he quickly suppressed it. He didn't understand why Xie Xie was lying, but as a brother, he chose to let it go—after all, everyone had their own little secrets they were too embarrassed to share.
"Hey, hey, you guys are so annoying, laughing at him like that. Xie Xie, don't mind them. I believe you'll definitely win that girl's heart," Zheng Yiran said encouragingly, her words warm and comforting. However, her gaze lingered subtly on Tang Wulin.
As the only girl in the group, Zheng Yiran was now a 52nd-rank Soul Master and also a One-Word Battle Armor Master. Due to her Martial Soul being the Jade Scale Serpent, her hair and eyes had both turned green.
Her fondness for Tang Wulin was something everyone in the group was well aware of, especially after his Martial Soul evolved from Blue Silver Grass to the Blue Silver Emperor. That fondness had deepened into something more—after all, the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul shared a profound connection with the Jade Scale Serpent Martial Soul. To Zheng Yiran, it felt like fate was smiling upon her, silently affirming that her choice was right.
According to her family records, before Poseidon Tang San rose to prominence, the progenitor of the Jade Scale Serpent Soul Masters—also the ancestor of their Zheng family—Jade Scale Douluo Dugu Bo served as his guardian, offering him considerable assistance and even gifting their family heirloom to Poseidon.
As everyone knows, Poseidon Tang San's Martial Soul was the Blue Silver Emperor.
Now, she possessed the Azure Scale Serpent Spirit, while Tang Wulin had the Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. The two of them had feelings for each other—wasn't this a match made in heaven?
"Hehe, thank you, Yiran. You always speak so fairly," Xie Xie said with a grin. "I also wish you success in your endeavors!"
As he spoke, he winked at Tang Wulin, the implication obvious.
Tang Wulin, seeing this, scratched his head awkwardly. Beside him, Yang Nianxia's eyes flickered with a trace of gloom. To distract himself and ease his melancholy, he patted the large figure of Xu Lizhi next to him.
"Big Xu, why aren't you saying anything?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about something, so I didn't speak," Xu Lizhi immediately replied with a simple, honest smile, his voice deep and resonant.
Xu Lizhi was now a fifty-one-ranked Food-type Soul King. An eighteen-year-old Food-type Soul King—his talent was undoubtedly the best among the seven of them. On the day he was admitted to the Inner Academy, he was taken as a disciple by an Elder who had long seen potential in him.
"What were you thinking about so intently?" Yang Nianxia asked curiously.
"What else could it be? Probably thinking about his Xinglan-jie again," Xu Yu Cheng, who had been silent until now, interjected with a tone of exasperation. "I've told you so many times—if you like her, just confess during this Sea God's Fate event. If she agrees, great. If not, at least you'll know and can move on. Why torture yourself with this one-sided love?"
Because they shared the same surname, Xu Lizhi, with his massive build, was called "Big Xu," while the slender Xu Yu Cheng was referred to as "Little Xu." Xu Yu Cheng had always been dissatisfied with his timid, hesitant friend.
Xu Yu Cheng's Soul Power was now at fifty-five, the highest among the seven, and his overall combat prowess was second only to Tang Wulin.
"But... but Xinglan-jie is one of the Shrek Seven Monsters now, and I've only just entered the Inner Academy," Xu Lizhi muttered dejectedly, radiating self-doubt and defeat. "And... I'm so fat, while Xinglan-jie is so beautiful. I... I'm not good enough for her..."
Hearing this, the others exchanged looks of frustration and helplessness.
Tang Wulin spoke up, "Li Zhi, how can you think like that? What does being one of the Shrek Seven Monsters matter? Do you think they don't need love or partners? Besides, you're the most outstanding Food-type Soul Master in a thousand years—the only one in all that time. There have been countless Shrek Seven Monsters over the centuries, so what's there to fear?"
"Exactly!" Xie Xie chimed in, egging him on. "Whether there's fruit or not, you won't know until you shake the tree! You haven't even tried—how do you know it won't work? Don't forget, you and Ye Xinglan grew up together. What if she actually likes someone who radiates security like you?"
"Xie Xie is right!" Luo Guixing immediately added. "Just because she's one of the Shrek Seven Monsters, you shouldn't be afraid to confess. Does that mean we should give up on our long-standing goal? Remember, we're here to challenge them! We need to show everyone we were never meant to be their substitutes!"
"You're all right! I understand now—I know what to do!" Xu Lizhi's fighting spirit was ignited by his companions' words. His face took on a resolute expression as he declared, "Even if I get rejected, I'll bravely speak my heart!"
"Haha, that's more like it!" The group burst into laughter, applauding Xu Lizhi's determination.
Beside him, Yang Nianxia seemed equally moved by his words, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.
The seven members of Tang Wulin's group left the pier chatting and laughing. Shortly after their departure, another ferry crossed the lake—this time carrying only one passenger.
A young man stood there, roughly 185 centimeters tall, with striking golden hair and handsome features softened by a faint smile. His golden eyes, with dark golden pupils, carried a hint of arrogance. His aura was unique—radiant yet intense, exuding righteousness while making it difficult for others to feel close to him.
"Though delayed by two years, Inner Academy—I, Le Zhengyu, have returned!" the youth murmured, his voice laced with pride and excitement. "Yuanen Yehui, I hope you haven't been slacking off!"
This young man was none other than Le Zhengyu, the Sacred Angel Soul Master who was one year senior to Jing Shaoyu.
As the eldest young master of the Angel Clan and the most qualified heir of his generation, Le Zhengyu was twenty years old yet had only just entered the Inner Academy. This wasn't due to lack of talent—two years prior, he had returned to his clan to undergo inheritance rituals. Otherwise, he would have entered the Inner Academy alongside his classmate Yuanen Yehui back then.
Though his enrollment was delayed by two years, his cultivation hadn't stagnated. Now boasting a formidable Soul Power of level 58, he couldn't wait to challenge Yuanen Yehui and erase the shame of his previous defeat.