You Are All My Wings—Only with Every Feather Can I Ride the Wind; The Bride-Stealing Squad

"Junior Xuanzhen, please make your choice."

After Lan Muzi's gentle question, the world seemed to fall silent enough to hear a pin drop. The Inner Court students paired up on the lotus leaves, the Outer Court disciples watching from the shores of Sea God Lake—everyone instinctively held their breath, waiting for Zhao Xuanzhen's final answer.

The Sea God Pavilion Elders and senior teachers aboard the massive ship also pricked up their ears. Shrek's Twin Holy Dragons, rarely not bickering, moved in perfect unison, stretching their necks like old turtles as they stared into the distance.

Yun Ming held Ya Li tightly. At this moment, the couple was briefly glad that they had failed to take Na'er as their personal disciple. Otherwise, seeing their direct disciple's emotional path so tangled and difficult, forcing her to face so many outstanding rivals, would have broken their hearts beyond measure.

Endless darkness stained the clear deep-blue sky. Stars filled the heavens, reflecting against the lights of Sea God Lake below. A breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees drifted by. Six pairs of shimmering beautiful eyes gathered upon the tall young man. Some were encouraging, some yearning, some resolute. Each had entrusted him with her heart, hoping for an answer from the one she loved.

Na'er, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui, Wu Sido, and Dai Yun'er—every one of them was an outstanding figure among their peers, even an unforgettable rising star of this era.

Monsters and prodigies were naturally drawn to one another. Their eyes held only Zhao Xuanzhen, and they longed to stand openly at his side as his lovers.

Even these peerlessly beautiful daughters of heaven could hear nothing but their pounding heartbeats. Zhao Xuanzhen's ink-black eyes were clear and bright, like a radiant moon, shining brilliantly as they burned themselves into their hearts.

Only a few seconds had passed, yet to them, it felt as though an entire century had gone by.

Na'er bit deeply into her red lips. Fine sweat had already seeped into her palm. She felt as though the world were spinning, as if her humanity stood at the edge of a bottomless cliff.

The other girls might lose tonight, but they would still retain a chance to begin again in the future. She had no such opportunity. If her humanity was not firm enough, Gu Yue, who had been watching her like a tiger, would bare her fangs and swallow her without mercy.

Na'er's vision blurred slightly. The next second, a hand deftly slipped between her fingers. Their fingers intertwined, and a coolness traveled from her palm to her wildly pounding heart, calming her restless soul.

Her silver-white eyes regained their focus. Na'er saw that Zhao Xuanzhen had taken her hand. Then came the sound of sharp intakes of breath from all around. Everyone was utterly shocked, because Zhao Xuanzhen's other hand was firmly holding Gu Yue's!

"He actually chose two!"

"He only chose two?"

The disciples of the two courts cried out, representing entirely different sides of human nature.

The choosing was not over. Yin and Yang Qi took shape in midair, condensing into two arms woven from black and white that wrapped around Ye Xinglan and Yuanen Yehui without asking permission!

"This is my choice."

Zhao Xuanzhen's clear voice carried a strange spiritual fluctuation, resounding distinctly beside every Shrek Student's ear. He would not give up a single confidante he had met and shared his life with!

"That takes guts!"

Regardless of whether they were from the Inner Court or Outer Court, all the Shrek Students looked at Zhao Xuanzhen as though he were an idol.

What was balancing two boats? Lord Spirit Emissary had just put on a live demonstration of chaining them all together!

"Junior Xuanzhen, according to the ancient twenty-thousand-year-old rules of the Sea God Fate Dating Convention, you may only choose one among them." Lan Muzi smiled bitterly.

"Rules are not set in stone. Today, I'll try breaking them. They are all my wings. Only with every feather can I ride the wind and soar."

The four girls—Na'er, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, and Yuanen Yehui—looked at one another. Zhao Xuanzhen seemed to be answering Lan Muzi, but it also seemed as though he were speaking directly to them.

Separated by Zhao Xuanzhen, four gazes met and collided in mid-air. Ye Xinglan revealed a trace of a smile. She had long understood that she could not surpass the Black and White Duo, and she could fully accept this outcome. Yuanen Yehui felt the same way. Zhao Xuanzhen had satisfied the little wish she had kept hidden away. In the future, she could advance or retreat as she pleased.

Na'er tightly gripped Zhao Xuanzhen's warm hand. Her childhood sweetheart was indeed far too greedy, but it was precisely because of that greed that she had not fallen into the abyss. As long as Zhao Xuanzhen did not abandon or give up on her, her humanity would only grow more unshakable.

Ripples surfaced in Gu Yue's calm, lake-like black eyes, but they quickly settled again. She had not won, yet it seemed she had not lost either.

Tilting her head slightly to look at Zhao Xuanzhen's profile, Gu Yue's lips suddenly curved into a relieved smile. She moved a little closer and thought secretly:

Fine. We'll settle who wins and loses later.

Breaking the rules threw the Sea God Fate into an uproar. The Spirit Pagoda's newly appointed Spirit Emissary had taken flight alongside several women at the Sea God Fate Dating Convention. By tomorrow, this would spread across the entire continent and become common knowledge.

However, Zhao Xuanzhen had never cared about gossip. To a peak powerhouse standing at the top of the Douluo Continent's pyramid, scandalous rumors were not worth mentioning.

Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu had heard that Zhao Xuanzhen, Na'er, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, and Yuanen Yehui were attending the Sea God Fate together, so she had specifically summoned Zhao Xuanzhen to the 100th Floor for a talk last night.

Because she had once been caught in the rain herself, she wanted to hold an umbrella for those who came after. As someone who had been through it, Leng Yaozhu encouraged her disciple to ignore the eyes of the world and not betray the girls' sincere feelings.

Leng Yaozhu was not some old-fashioned fossil. She had only four words of requirement for Zhao Xuanzhen's partners: willing and wholehearted. However, Zhao Xuanzhen absolutely could not toy with their feelings. He had to treat them sincerely.

Zhao Xuanzhen, Na'er, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, and Yuanen Yehui had all found their place, leaving behind two deeply unwilling cats.

"Why can't you add one more—me?"

Wu Sido looked up at the sky, suddenly feeling that the moonlight above was painfully glaring. The instant she narrowed her eyes, something wet slid out from them.

"You're practically trampling on my dignity!"

Dai Yun'er viciously ground her little tiger teeth together. From the first time they met, Zhao Xuanzhen had never given her any face. The pride of a princess had been pressed to the ground and rubbed raw again and again!

"Hosts, I'm going to steal the bride!" Dai Yun'er called loudly.

"This..."

Hearing this, Tang Yinmeng hesitated somewhat. Lan Muzi lightly patted his wife's hand, signaling that he would control the proceedings. He announced, "For the bride-stealing segment of a union lasting a hundred years, both sides must be evenly matched in strength. Are there any other students who wish to steal a bride?"

"Me!"

A furious roar exploded. A plump figure stepped out from the crowd atop the lotus leaves. Looking at Zhao Xuanzhen and Ye Xinglan, Xu Lizhi seemed nearly possessed. Xu Xiaoyan, who had been helping at his side, hurriedly shuffled away in tiny steps. Her duties for the Sea God Fate had been completed. What came next was Xu Lizhi's own turn.

"For all these years, I've been like a scavenger peeping at someone else's happiness. Sister Xinglan, if I don't try this once, I'll die with regret!"

Xu Lizhi was no longer timid as a mouse. He seized his final chance and charged forth for love!

"And me."

Mountain Dragon King Long Yue floated into the air. His bald head reflected the clear moonlight. Yet before he had even risen half a meter, Xu Mi'er, the Shrek Inner Court disciple who had chosen him during the Three Lifetimes of Fate segment, blocked his path with an unhappy look.

"You're leaving me behind to steal a bride? How am I supposed to get by in Shrek afterward?"

Long Yue scratched his bald head. He had developed a little fondness for this strong-willed woman and suggested, "How about you come steal one with me? We can talk about the two of us afterward."

"Fine!"

Xu Mi'er agreed without hesitation. She had a heart that loved battle and had long wanted to test Zhao Xuanzhen's abilities!

"Wu Sido, for the sake of our shared ancestry, this princess will give you one piece of advice. Don't disgrace the Star Luo Royal Family!" Dai Yun'er urged.

"You don't need to tell me. I'm stealing a bride!"

Wu Sido's expression turned icy. The future was uncertain, but the proud descendant of royalty would never admit defeat just like that!

"Dai Yun'er, Wu Sido, Xu Lizhi, Long Yue, and Xu Mi'er have requested to steal brides." Lan Muzi slowly said, "Junior Xuanzhen, you broke the ten-thousand-year rules of the Sea God Fate. Therefore, you must face the guardian of those rules. As one of the hosts of the Sea God Fate Dating Convention... me!"

The moment those words came out, the Inner Court disciples were instantly stunned. Lan Muzi was the foremost disciple of Shrek Academy, yet he intended to personally challenge Zhao Xuanzhen, who stood at the center of attention!

On the ship, Wu Changkong and Shen Yi frowned deeply. In their memories, their senior brother had always avoided conflict. Tonight, he seemed a little unusual.

"Sister Yue, was this Muzi's own decision?" Sky Pillar Douluo Yun Ming asked Long Yeyue.

Long Yeyue's expression did not change. "Just as Muzi said, Zhao Xuanzhen broke the rules of the Sea God Fate, so he has reason to step forward and defend them.

"Yun Ming, I know what you mean. Since Muzi insists on fighting, we'll change the examiner for the Graduation Assessment. In any case, everyone is merely going through the motions. It is best to part on good terms."

"It's best that Sister Yue understands."

Yun Ming's tightly furrowed brow relaxed. Zhao Xuanzhen's path of cultivation had no precedent. Like Tang San's hidden weapons and Mysterious Heaven Skill, or Huo Yuhao's soul spirit method, Zhao Xuanzhen possessed an unparalleled uniqueness. That was what moved Sky Pillar Douluo.

Mountain Dragon King Long Yue stood among the Nine Great Dragon Kings, yet in Yun Ming's eyes, Long Yue was nothing remarkable. Relying solely on the Mountain Dragon King's instinct to battle, he could not surpass Douluo Continent's many quasi-gods. For the next hundred years, Star Luo Continent could only breathe Douluo Continent's dust.

Zhao Xuanzhen, however, was a true monster. Moreover, numbers were meaningless before him. Yun Ming could foresee that once Zhao Xuanzhen broke through to the quasi-god realm, even if every quasi-god on Douluo Star fought side by side, they might not be able to defeat this most heaven-defying monster of the current generation.

At the same time, Na'er, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui, and other equally astonishing companions stood beside him.

Centered around Zhao Xuanzhen, the Spirit Pagoda's next generation was absurdly powerful. Therefore, Yun Ming had always preferred tempting Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er with benefits. Having lost the chance to accept Na'er as his personal disciple, he was even less willing for Shrek Academy to become enemies with them. They would tacitly complete the Graduation Assessment and preserve a measure of dignity for one another.

"Whether it's stealing brides or giving our all in battle, the five of us fear nothing!"

Na'er raised her arm and shouted. Specks of Silver Light flashed into existence at each of her joints. The silver radiance resembled silver stars, dazzling and brilliant.

Two-Word Battle Armor, Silver Dragon!

Pieces of armor covered her delicate body. The Silver Dragon battle armor was gorgeous and intricately patterned. A pair of enormous silver dragon wings burst open, while six pitch-black Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings emerged. Holding the Silver Dragon Spear, Na'er transformed into a valiant female war goddess!

"Five battle soul masters. One each," Gu Yue said softly.

Moonlight was hazy, silver light flowed. She too had six Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings and wore Two-Word Battle Armor. Gu Yue's battle armor resembled Na'er's, primarily bright and exceptional silver, but its patterns contained ingenious and unique designs that incorporated elements of Zhao Xuanzhen's abilities!

Two-Word Battle Armor, Xuan Yue!

One major reason Na'er was so hostile toward Gu Yue was that this girl was far too good at seizing every opportunity. Adding Zhao Xuanzhen's name to her battle armor was downright underhanded!

"We fight together!"

Ye Xinglan and Yuanen Yehui erupted in unison. Two-Word Battle Armor Star Deity and Two-Word Battle Armor Tai Tian clad their bodies.

After three years of tireless cultivation, coupled with the benefits they had received from Zhao Xuanzhen, all four girls had become Soul Emperors with Two-Word Battle Armor, far stronger than their counterparts in another timeline. The two Silver Dragon King's Half-Selves were especially close to becoming Seventh Ring Soul Sages!

Black, black, black, gold, black, red, purple-gold—seven soul rings slowly rose. A primordial pressure enveloped all of Sea God Lake. Zhao Xuanzhen stood in the center of the girls, molten gold rippling through his eyes. The auras of the five fused into one—grand, vast, and carrying a Sense of Oppression like mountains and seas sweeping out.

The bride-stealing battle had begun!

"I heard you're the Mountain Dragon King. You lost to Zhao Xuanzhen twice in two fights?"

Na'er beat her dragon wings and targeted Long Yue in the first moment.

"Move aside. You aren't my opponent!"

Long Yue's eyes turned dark red. He swung his double-tipped spear, fiercely stabbing against the Silver Dragon Spear. Na'er was transcendentally beautiful, but powerhouses had one common flaw—they did not distinguish between men and women!

"A loser who dreams of challenging Zhao Xuanzhen—get past me first!"

Silver flames burned as the aura of the Silver Dragon King Bloodline surged wildly. Na'er's pupils shifted from silver-white to a magnificent, crystalline purple. Long Yue instantly felt as though he faced a great enemy!

Zhao Xuanzhen's aura pressured him through his own Absolute Strength, while Na'er brought suppression from the deepest origins of his martial soul. The Mountain Dragon King bloodline let out a trembling wail!

Gu Yue's opponent was Xu Mi'er.

Xu Mi'er was a Seventh Ring Soul Sage. In theory, this elite Shrek Inner Court student should at minimum have been a Two-Word Battle Armor Master.

However, after entering the Inner Court, Xu Mi'er had devoted herself to mechas. Her battle armor had stagnated at the one-word level, but she had instead created Shrek Academy's black-grade mecha closest to red-grade. The dual-armor style provided Xu Mi'er with an extraordinary boost, while the Destroyer Series Soul Guide Cannon she developed made her ranged attacks far surpass those of others at her level!

Coincidentally, Element Goddess Gu Yue was also the supreme master of ranged attacks. The two immediately launched a dazzling bombardment!

Two Hell Spirit Cats raced across the water. Ye Xinglan flashed forward and faced Star Luo Princess Dai Yun'er.

She would soon be heading to Star Luo City and did not wish to make things too unpleasant with Wu Sido, so she left her to Yuanen Yehui.

Yuanen Yehui and Wu Sido had also found their opponents. Fallen Angel and Hell Spirit Cat exchanged one clash, then immediately switched martial souls. Titan Giant Ape and White Tiger began a brutal, fist-to-fist clash between real women!

Where no one paid attention, Xu Lizhi threw out all sorts of buns. His furious roar carried traces of sobbing:

"Sister Xinglan! Sister Xinglan! Sister Xinglan!"

Above the sky, Zhao Xuanzhen and Lan Muzi stood ten meters apart. The latter's martial soul was the Yang Wood Blade. The might of his eight Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings was far inferior to the dazzling colors of Zhao Xuanzhen's soul rings.

"I'm sorry, Junior Xuanzhen. I do not wish to fight you, especially tonight, during a Sea God Fate that represents beautiful love. Yet heaven does not grant people their wishes, and I cannot defy my master's command."

"You are Light Darkness Douluo's registered disciple. Why go this far?"

Zhao Xuanzhen's voice softened. He realized who the instigator was. Darkness clouded his eyes as he spread his Spirit Domain Realm Spirit Domain to seal off information.

Lan Muzi's gaze remained calm. "What a teacher does is not necessarily always right. Besides, given my status and abilities, this is all I can do within my means. Even if I remained silent tonight, you would naturally learn everything in time. I am merely informing you a little earlier so you can prepare yourself.

"Junior, remember to be careful during the Graduation Assessment."

After speaking, Lan Muzi seemed to relax considerably. He raised the Yang Wood Blade into an attacking stance and smiled.

"In terms of age, I am twenty years your senior. The disciples of both the Inner and Outer Courts are watching us from Sea God Lake, and I bear the title of Shrek Inner Court's senior brother. I have every reason to give my all in this battle. So tonight, let us... fight without restraint!"