The matchmaking begins

The Ming Capital Grand Stadium, where the Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention took place on its final day, had shed the tense competitive atmosphere of the previous events and been transformed into a brand-new venue that was both solemn and magnificent.

The core Competition Platform remains in its original position. Its hard, soul-guided alloy surface has been cleaned and now gleams with a cold luster under the lights, as if it still tells the story of the fierce battles of the past rounds.

On the east side of the Competition Platform, a square platform about twenty meters high rose from the ground. The platform surface could only accommodate four or five people standing side by side. The entire body was made of silver-white metal, with small blue soul guide crystals inlaid on the edges. The crystals shimmered with light as Soul Power flowed.

This meticulously crafted platform is the exclusive venue prepared for Silver Dragon Princess Gu Yuena, to choose her husband. Its luxurious scale and unique location underscore the extraordinary significance of today's core event.

With the joint efforts of the Military and Stadium staff, ticket Spectator entered the stadium in an efficient and orderly manner.

Soon, the entire Ming Capital Grand Stadium was packed to capacity.

The Stadium was somewhat noisy, but the Spectator ' eyes were filled with excitement.

Who will ultimately win the heart of the beauty?

Spectator are always fascinated by this kind of gossip, and various speculations abound.

The players who advanced from each group are all quite skilled and good-looking, and they also have a considerable number of fans.

The Spectator members supported different groups, which naturally led to more heated discussions.

Well, apart from Nan Fusheng, who was exposed as having a wife.

Since the final Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage might involve violence, the protective barriers inside the Stadium remain at the highest level, just like before, awaiting the Silver Dragon Princess's decision.

The commentator is in place, or rather, the host is on duty today.

Ai Fei, dressed in a white suit, was already in the commentary booth on one side of the Presidium.

"Please take Spectator seats as soon as possible, and please keep quiet. The final stage of our Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention to find a husband is about to begin."

"After so many days of competition and selection, there is no doubt that those who have made it to the final selection stage are the strongest of the younger generation in the world today."

"Today, we will witness an exciting moment together—how will Silver Dragon Princess Gu Yuena, choose her partner from among these powerful figures? To be honest, my curiosity is no less than yours. The final answer awaits Her Highness's discerning eye."

Under Ai Fei's guidance, the scene gradually quieted down.

However, some Spectator had a question: why was there no prelude performance for such a grand, century-old event?

In the past, similar large-scale events would often invite well-known mainland artists to perform in order to create an atmosphere and alleviate the Spectator's anxiety while waiting. However, the current arrangement of "getting straight to the point" always seems a bit rushed.

In fact, the organizer, Spirit Pagoda, had Oldest One invited several top Spirit Master artists to prepare a pre-show program, but due to the unexpected situation at Qiangu Zhangting, Qiangu Dongfeng once considered canceling the final segment.

Ultimately, the segment was retained to "complete the process and maintain the reputation of the Spirit Pagoda," and the pre-show performance was naturally canceled as a result.

At this moment, Qiangu Dongfeng sat upright in the main seat of the Presidium, calmly watching the arena below, exuding the majesty of a superior.

His grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, suffered a backlash of Soul Power after using "Medusa's Eye," and was further compounded by a series of setbacks. He is currently receiving treatment in the Spirit Pagoda's Treatment Room. Although he is not in mortal danger, he remains in a daze after regaining consciousness due to mental distress.

However, in Qiangu Dongfeng's view, this setback may not necessarily be a bad thing for his grandson.

Because Qiangu Zhangting's cultivation has been smooth sailing since childhood, he lacks the tempering of adversity, while setbacks are the driving force for Spirit Master's growth.

If Sun Tzu cannot even overcome this difficulty, how will he gain the respect of his subordinates and the approval of the other higher-ups in the Spirit Pagoda?

Qiangu Zhangting is over thirty years old; it's time for him to learn to stand on his own.

The Spirit Pagoda is now teeming with talent, including Cai Xukun, who is not yet thirty but has already reached level ninety-eight and is destined to become Limit Douluo in the future;

With the support of his elder brother and sister-in-law, an old acquaintance of the God Craftsman, close ties with the War God Temple, and extensive connections, Fors...

Gu Yuena comes from a reclusive family, possesses exceptional scientific research talent, has made significant contributions to the Spirit Pagoda, and is also a disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix.

These three are all Spirit Emissary. Compared to them, Qiangu Zhangting only has the strength of Super Douluo and the identity of a second-generation Spirit Pagoda member to his name.

If he can't even overcome this small setback, how will Qiangu Zhangting possibly win against these people in the future competition for the position of Tower Master?

Therefore, he did not offer much consolation, only hoping that his grandson could resolve his inner turmoil and transform setbacks into motivation for progress.

On either side of the Presidium sat high-ranking Federation officials who had been invited. Qiangu Dongfeng occasionally turned his head to nod and exchange brief conversations with them—these people were all potential allies of the Spirit Pagoda, and maintaining good relations with them was crucial to the future development of the Spirit Pagoda.

Gu Yuena sat beside Qiangu Dongfeng. Today, she wore a rare black dress with the hem falling to the ground, outlining her elegant figure. Her long silver-white hair was unbound and fell naturally over her shoulders, the ends swaying slightly with her breath.

Her face was only lightly powdered, yet it could not conceal her breathtaking beauty. Even the well-traveled high-ranking officials of the Federation could not help but frequently cast their gazes at her, their eyes filled with amazement.

"Are you confident?" Qiangu Dongfeng turned to look at Gu Yuena, his voice low and carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"I have it." Gu Yuena nodded without hesitation, her tone firm and without the slightest doubt.

"Alright, I'll wait and see." Qiangu Dongfeng nodded slightly and said no more.

Gu Yuena nodded gently, but her gaze unconsciously turned to the other side of the Presidium —where Fors was chatting happily with his master and mistress, along with Fu Xuan and other high-ranking Military, with relaxed smiles on his face.

"Didn't this woman have no interest in the Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage? Why would she come here on her own initiative?"

Gu Yuena narrowed her purple eyes, a hint of doubt rising in her heart. This time, Fors's attendance was not at Nan Fusheng's invitation, but rather the other party took the initiative to attend. This unusual behavior made her particularly vigilant.

To her even greater surprise, when she caught a glimpse of another area in the Spectator, she saw Xu Xiaoyan, Kiana, and their group sitting in their seats, chatting and laughing, interacting intimately with each other.

"Why are they here too?" Gu Yuena's doubts grew stronger, and she secretly became wary.

Fors has always been at odds with her, and his presence here this time might be an attempt to create an unexpected situation in the final round, making her embarrass herself in front of everyone.

"Alright, now I'll explain the final part of the Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage: the rules for choosing a husband." Ai Fei began announcing today's rules.

"The ten finalists will all have the opportunity to be chosen by Miss Gu Yuena. Miss Gu Yuena will later appear on the Matchmaking Platform, and each contestant will have one opportunity to showcase themselves during the selection process."

"You can present a carefully prepared gift, showcase your abilities on the spot, or express your heartfelt sentiments to win the princess's approval."

"At the same time, Miss Gu Yuena has the right to ask questions to the contestants or request to spar. After all the contestants have finished their presentations, Her Highness will make the final choice and determine her partner."

The rules are simple and clear, even somewhat "simple" compared to the complex procedures of the previous rounds.

But the Spectator's attention was already focused on the "final result," and no one was too concerned about the details of the rules—since there was no "prelude" performance, let the "main course" begin as soon as possible.

"Now, please welcome the top ten contestants of this Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention to the stage! Let's give these talented young men a warm round of applause! Spectator members, now's the time to shout out the name of the one you believe will win the heart of your goddess!"

Ai Fei's passionate voice instantly ignited the atmosphere.

The next second, a deafening roar erupted from the stands:

"Kunkun! Kunkun!"

"Sasuke! Sasuke!"

"Yu Longyue! We support you!"

"GG Bond! My idol!"

Different names intertwined, creating a deafening cheer, and colorful support light boards formed a dazzling sea of light in the stands.

Inside the competition venue, a Mermaid in and walked toward the Competition Platform, proceeding in the order of their respective groups.

The ten people lined up in a row, each maintaining a distance of three or four meters from each other.

They were all young talents, and the oldest looked to be only in his thirties. Among high-level Spirit Master, being in one's thirties is definitely considered young.

Ai Fei's voice rang out with a touch of excitement, "Now, let's give a warm round of applause to the core of this Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention —the final decision-maker, the Silver Dragon Princess Gu Yuena!"

The sky suddenly darkened, and then a silver beam of light descended from the sky, landing some distance away. The Spectator then saw a figure slowly rise under the illumination of the light shield.

Her long black dress billowed, her silver hair fluttered in the wind, and she looked like a fairy with her arms outstretched, as if spanning a century, or perhaps only a moment, before gracefully landing on the Matchmaking Platform.

The sheer brilliance of this scene instantly silenced the previously noisy Stadium.

In the eyes of every Spectator, Gu Yuena's figure seemed to be magnified by an invisible force; her stunning beauty, perfect figure, and even the curve of her flowing hair were clearly imprinted in everyone's eyes.

Her otherworldly beauty made everyone instinctively hold their breath, afraid of disturbing this "goddess descended to earth."

Standing on the Competition Platform, Lan Fuzi, even though she had previously had close contact with Gu Yuena, couldn't help but whisper in admiration, "So beautiful... so incredibly beautiful."

Before she could finish speaking, she subconsciously turned to look at Nan Fusheng beside her, only to see him staring intently at Gu Yuena on the Matchmaking Platform, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

For some reason, a complex and indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in Lan Fuzi's heart.

After standing on the Matchmaking Platform, Gu Yuena slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over the ten contestants lined up below. Then she nodded slightly, greeting everyone with an elegant demeanor.

At this moment, Ai Fei quickly adjusted her state and picked up the soul-guided microphone again. "I believe that every Spectator here, like me, has been looking forward to this moment."

Next, the ten selected candidates will give self-introductions in turn. To ensure fairness, the order of presentations will be determined by drawing lots.

She paused, deliberately drawing out her words to create suspense. "So, the first one to get the chance to perform is— the Group One selected, Naruto Uzumaki!"

The moment the words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

For the Spectator, being the "first to appear" means a natural advantage—as long as the performance is outstanding enough, it can leave the deepest first impression on Gu Yuena, and the probability of winning her heart is naturally higher.

All eyes turned to Naruto Uzumaki, eagerly anticipating a spectacular opening.

However, to everyone's surprise...

Naruto didn't look at Gu Yuena on the Matchmaking Platform. Sasuke, he turned to Uchiha Sasuke not far away, his voice urgent. "Sasuke! Come back to the village with me! Everyone's been waiting for you!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Sasuke's expression instantly turned cold, and he glared sharply at Naruto: "Naruto! You're still as persistent as ever. Wasn't your dream to become the village chief? Instead of harassing me here, you should go back and focus on your training to achieve your goal as soon as possible."

"That's impossible!"

Naruto's eyes were filled with determination, and his tone was unwavering, "What right does someone who can't even save their comrades have to be the village chief? Sasuke, don't you understand?"

"Naruto Naruto!"

"Sasuke (Sasuke)!"

The atmosphere between the two instantly became tense, completely ignoring their surroundings and the hundreds of thousands of Spectator present.

Standing in the commentary booth, watching this sudden scene, Ai Fei coughed awkwardly twice, trying to interrupt their conversation, "I apologize for disturbing you two, but Naruto is currently in a crucial stage of the Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention."

She paused, trying to maintain a professional tone. "If you have a personal grudge against Sasuke, you can resolve it yourself after the tournament. The most important thing now is to show your feelings to Silver Dragon Princess. Don't you have anything you want to say to Her Highness?"

Village? Village Chief?

What an obscure term!

Although the information does state that these two lords are both powerful figures from the common people, it is unexpected that they would actually come from the same village.

In this day and age, the word "village" is rarely seen. A village that can nurture two young Titled Douluo must be a place of outstanding people and abundant resources.

"I wonder what the village is called? Should I buy a house there someday?"

After a brief moment of random thoughts, Ai Fei quickly snapped back to reality—as a professional host, she had to bring the focus back to Gu Yuena and not let irrelevant topics distract the Spectator.

"Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention? That kind of thing is completely unimportant!"

Naruto completely ignored Ai Fei's warning, not even glancing at Gu Yuena, his gaze fixed on Sasuke: "Sasuke, come back with me! The villagers are worried about you, and Sakura is waiting for you."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Uchiha Sasuke suddenly unleashed a surge of dense Soul Power, purple light swirling around him. "Now that things have come to this, I will never go back with you. Naruto, why are you so fixated on me?"

"Because we're friends!" Naruto said firmly, his eyes gleaming with an undeniable light. "Even if it means breaking your arms and legs, I'm bringing you back today!"

"Try it if you dare!" Red Light flashed in Uchiha Sasuke's eyes, Three-Tomoe Sharingan suddenly appeared, instantly spreading a sharp aura.

"Then let's give it a try!"

Behind Naruto, golden Chakra suddenly erupted, and a huge phantom of a Nine-Tailed Fox slowly emerged, its ferocious beastly eyes staring at Sasuke, the tension in the air almost freezing.

A major battle seems imminent.

"Your Excellencies! Please calm down! You must calm down!" Ai Fei was sweating profusely, with fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.

She had hosted countless large-scale events and witnessed all kinds of fierce duels, but she had never encountered such an outrageous scene— the Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage had devolved into a "personal feud" between two contestants.

She waved her arms and shouted, "Naruto! Sasuke! This is a time for confessions to the Silver Dragon Princess, not a duel! Please be rational and don't fight here!"

Even Gu Yuena on the Matchmaking Platform showed a hint of surprise in her eyes. Although she didn't care much about the final result of this marriage selection, she didn't expect such an unexpected turn of events.

"Naruto, if you want to fight, go outside! Today I'm going to settle things with you!"

Uchiha Sasuke snorted coldly, his Soul Power surged, and a purple Susanoo instantly took shape, soaring into the sky with a powerful sense of oppression, flying straight towards the outside of the Ming Capital Grand Stadium.

I'll fight you to the bitter end!

Not to be outdone, Naruto followed closely behind with the golden phantom of the Nine-Tailed Fox. The massive body smashed through the temporary Soul Guidance Barrier at the top of the Stadium, and the two figures, one purple and one gold, quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.

These two top ten contestants of the Martial Arts Matchmaking Convention "withdrew from the competition" right before the eyes of tens of thousands of people in the audience!

"Wait! Naruto! Sasuke!" Ai Fei stood rooted to the spot, watching the two disappear into the distance, her voice trembling with barely concealed despair, "Even if you're going to fight, at least wait until the tournament is over before you leave!"

Her shouts echoed through the empty Stadium, only to be met with murmurs from the Spectator. This originally solemn finale had taken an absurd turn, with its first "unexpected" turn.