Make It Public?

Mu Xuanheng never once stepped onto the stage during the Soul Fighting tournament.

Even in the most troublesome two-two-three mixed battles, Bei Bei and Gongyang Mo managed to secure one victory, while Gu Yuena easily swept through the other.

Her peerless beauty and monstrous talent pushed Gu Yuena's popularity to an incredibly high level.

Every time she appeared, the spectator stands would erupt into cheers.

As for the assessment of Mu Xuanheng, it had devolved into him being called a "pretty boy."

"He might be a bit handsome, but being handsome doesn't make him worthy of the goddess Gu Yuena," became the consensus.

Mu Xuanheng sat beside Gu Yuena as the two participated in the auction once again.

Mu Xuanheng bid on quite a few items, but most of them were just food. "Why are you only buying things to eat?"

"There isn't anything important, is there? Isn't it great to just make some food and eat?"

In the original story, the most important items at this auction were merely a soul bone and the Snow Empress.

That soul bone was for a skill like Ice Explosion, which was somewhat lackluster. Gu Yuena's elemental control could already replicate soul skills like Ice Explosion, and Mu Xuanheng believed he could do the same.

He had also consulted the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress for their opinions. Bing Di thought it was important and could deal massive damage; Xue Di thought it was just average—it wasn't as if he lacked peerless, mowing-down-style soul skills, and when dealing with stronger enemies, it was better to use the Three Ultimates of the Snow Empress.

Due to various factors, his participation in this auction was just going through the motions. He wanted to see the Star Luo Emperor up close, and the rest was just about finding food.

He didn't want it, but someone wanted him to have it.

Yan Shaozhe, who had come along, really wanted to buy it, but Mu Xuanheng looked completely indifferent. He didn't want to overstep his bounds; after all, he was of the light attribute, and when it came to the ice attribute, there was no way he could understand it better than the Snow Empress.

The entire auction proceeded according to the rhythm of the original story, and the final item to appear was still a level-nine Soul Tool, though it was not the God Sealing Platform.

Wang Yan was in charge of the auction, and that Star Luo Emperor also sought them out.

"How about I gift this Ice Jade Scorpion left arm bone to you all as a reward after the tournament?"

He made no effort to hide his intention to recruit them, and he was even showing off his wealth.

"Why would you think we can win the championship? After all, we don't even have a single Soul Emperor."

Star Luo Emperor: "This is just a wish, and of course, I am optimistic about you." His gaze rested very naturally on Mu Xuanheng: "This young friend hasn't made a move yet, has he?"

Mu Xuanheng shrugged: "Your Majesty, I am only a four-ring Soul Ancestor."

"No matter, I look forward to your performance."

As expected, the Star Luo Emperor gave them the black lot, forcing them to draw the team battle.

Facing five Soul Kings from the Dou Spirit Team, he stepped onto the arena stage for the first time.

"The pretty boy is on stage?"

"How dare he stand beside the goddess!"

Roars and shouts erupted in waves, all opposing Mu Xuanheng standing next to Gu Yuena.

"Wow, you're really popular."

Gu Yuena: "It has no effect. Once you activate your martial soul, they will know you are a genius too."

However, Mu Xuanheng was never the first to strike; he was only on stage as a safeguard.

Because of Gu Yuena's overwhelming strength, he didn't even have a reason to make a move.

Gongyang Mo reached level 60 during the battle, and although he hadn't obtained his sixth soul ring, the effects of his soul skills had still improved.

The opponent's defense-type battle soul master was blown out of the competition arena by Gu Yuena's wind and fire.

The captain, Gu Zhu Jian, was chased and struck by lightning.

Suppressing a five-ring master with four rings was as easy as picking leaves in a forest or drawing water from a river.

She defeated an entire team almost single-handedly.

Her terrifying strength triggered a frenzy in the arena once again.

At the same time, it triggered widespread resistance against Mu Xuanheng.

"A freeloader, relying entirely on the goddess to reach the final four. What use does this trash even have?"

"Why does he get to stand beside the goddess?"

Mu Xuanheng felt a bit heated; he decided to take a small revenge.

He gently pulled Gu Yuena into his arms and held her tightly.

The single action made the whole arena boil over: "Let go of your hands, you bastard!"

The shouting was deafening, drowning out even the referee's announcement of the winner.

The other five people on the stage very tacitly stayed far away from the two of them.

Gu Yuena struggled slightly: "Want to anger them? Do you want me to kiss you?"

Pure temptation.

A sugar-coated bullet; he decided to eat the sugar coating first: "Sure, then can I kiss you back?"

Just as he let go, Gu Yuena turned around and pressed into his embrace: "Then why don't you just kiss me directly?"

She smiled sweetly, her face full of shyness. The audience was left completely bewildered. Was this Gu Yuena? The Gu Yuena who controlled multiple elements on the competition stage and easily defeated a Soul King as a mere Soul Ancestor?

Some in the audience fell silent, while others shouted even louder.

Her unresisting snuggle, and even her initiative to lean in closer, only made the crowd angrier.

There were a few discordant voices: "Is this couple actually... shippable?"

But they were immediately drowned out by the dissatisfied roars of the crowd.

Not even lifting a finger to fight back—this was the outcome.

Seeing that the fire had been stoked enough, Gu Yuena decided to leave some breathing room for Mu Xuanheng and prepared to pull away.

Having come this far, how could Mu Xuanheng possibly stop now?

He pulled the Gu Yuena who had just tried to leave back toward him, bringing them face-to-face. Before thousands of spectators, amidst a chorus of dissatisfied jeers and glares, Mu Xuanheng leaned down and kissed her directly.

It wasn't a kiss on the cheek or the forehead; it was on the lips.

He shouted at the top of his lungs: "I am Mu Xuanheng, Gu Yuena's boyfriend."

Asserting his claim? Making it public? He was purely pouring oil on the fire.

The goddess surrounded by stars had been snatched by a pig? That was the only thought remaining in the minds of the spectators on the sidelines.

Even the members of Shrek were stunned where they stood. They had indeed believed Mu Xuanheng and Gu Yuena were a couple, but who could have expected him to pull a stunt like this at a time like this?

"Mu Xuanheng!" Water swirled around Gu Yuena's body, the trembling currents betraying her unstable state of mind.

A voice suddenly echoed in his Spiritual Sea: "Strike while the iron is hot, cement the facts."

Mu Xuanheng immediately reached out to disperse the water currents and swept Gu Yuena up into his arms in a bridal carry.

The entire arena fell silent, watching him carry Gu Yuena off the competition stage.

Once they were out of sight of the others, Gu Yuena jumped down on her own and pressed her index finger against Mu Xuanheng's lips: "That was quite dashing just now. Would you like me to call you husband right now?"

"We're still young; it won't be too late to call me that later."

Her already flushed cheeks turned beet red. Gu Yuena shouted fiercely: "Mu Xuanheng!"

The surrounding elements turned chaotic, forming spheres that pelted toward Mu Xuanheng.

By the time the round of eight faced off against Zhengtian Academy, Mu Xuanheng was resting below to treat his injuries—skin wounds were still wounds, after all.

"Hmm, she's really giving you face. I'm afraid she might already have feelings for you." Electrolux was still analyzing the situation for him in the Spiritual Sea: "You brat are more impressive than this old man. Back in my day, I jumped into traps without knowing they were traps; you, on the other hand, jump into them knowing full well what they are. It looks like a mutual attraction, but don't end up facing life or death later."

"Elder Eli, if it really comes down to life or death, isn't it better if she loves me?" It was an incredibly utilitarian answer, yet it was laced with a hint of genuine emotion.

"Is this your attitude toward everyone else?"

Mu Xuanheng clearly felt a chill from behind him: "Definitely not. Absolutely not. She is the only one in this situation."

Electrolux: "You have days of suffering ahead of you."

Mu Xuanheng nodded; he was already suffering.

Snow fell in his Spiritual Sea from time to time, while outside, the clamoring crowd wanted him dead.

"Get out here, Mu Xuanheng! Stop hiding behind others and reaping the benefits!"

The shouts came one after another. They were filled with nothing but hatred for him.

Gu Yuena was still stoking the flames of hatred and driving up his notoriety: "Xuanheng will be appearing in the semifinals. Everyone, please look forward to it."

"Kill him!"

"Why does the goddess say his name so intimately?"