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Given the varying strengths of the female cultivators participating in the Sea Immortal Pageant, there would absolutely be no violent or bloody fights, ensuring complete safety. After all, many cultivators, having experienced the intense and thrilling battle for the Sea God’s Tokens, no longer wished for further conflict and preferred to enjoy something more uplifting and pleasant.

And so, the Sea Immortal Pageant came to be.

This was essentially a grand beauty pageant, where female cultivators only needed to display their beauty and grace to the world.

As the female cultivators observed the sea, a Yuanchuang-stage female cultivator appeared.

Upon seeing her, the female cultivators on the spirit vessel grew excited, recognizing her as the Sea Immortal selected three hundred years ago. Each edition of the competition was presided over by a former Sea Immortal who had reached the Yuanchuang stage.

This served as motivation for all female cultivators, showing them that even though they were often seen as an underrepresented group in the cultivation world, there were still strong figures among them. Every female cultivator who became a Sea Immortal could eventually reach the Yuanchuang stage, proving their strength was no less than that of men.

This was also why female cultivators actively participated in the Sea Immortal Pageant.

Liu Zizi, both excited and nervous, tugged at Wen Qiao’s sleeve and said eagerly, "Sister Qiao, this is the Aqua Blossom Fairy from the Aqua Blossom Hall. I can’t believe she’s hosting this time—it’s such good luck! I really admire her!"

Wen Qiao: "...Oh."

It wasn’t that she was indifferent, but as a newcomer, she knew little about the major factions of the Inner Sea Region and had no idea what the Aqua Blossom Hall was.

Still, it was indeed rare for a woman to reach the Yuanchuang stage, so Wen Qiao couldn’t help but feel some admiration for the Aqua Blossom Fairy.

The Aqua Blossom Fairy was as beautiful as a flower, and when she smiled, it was as if frost petals swirled around her.

She addressed the gathered female cultivators: "Ladies, I will now explain the second segment of the competition! Please look at the sea below—there are sea beasts from Rank 1 to Rank 9. Rest assured, even the Rank 9 sea beasts have made pacts with us and will not attack. Your task is to convince the sea beasts to willingly give you the Aqua Gems they carry."

Upon hearing this, everyone realized that the Aqua Blossom Hall was involved in this segment.

The Aqua Gem was a specialty of the Aqua Blossom Hall, a precious item that preserved beauty and youth for female cultivators—and it was incredibly expensive.

By placing Aqua Gems on the sea beasts and having the female cultivators retrieve them by their own methods, the competition would rank participants based on the number of gems collected.

"There are 10,000 sea beasts carrying Aqua Gems in total. Regardless of which Immortal obtains them, there is no need to return them—consider them rewards from our Aqua Blossom Hall."

Hearing this, the female cultivators grew even more excited, especially those with limited resources who couldn’t normally afford Aqua Gems. They tightened their fists eagerly.

Even if they didn’t win the title of Sea Immortal, gathering a few Aqua Gems would still be a significant gain. With 10,000 gems available, surely they could secure at least a few?

The Aqua Blossom Fairy swept her peach-blossom-shaped eyes over the participants, pleased to see their enthusiasm.

However, some female cultivators remained calm and unmoved.

Her gaze lingered briefly on those who showed little reaction, recognizing their identities. Naturally, mere Aqua Gems couldn’t tempt them—they likely saw this as just another task. Among them were the Holy Maiden of White Phoenix Island, the young princess of the Liu clan, and the stray descendant of the Min clan...

The Aqua Blossom Fairy’s eyes paused for a moment on Wen Qiao before moving on.

When the Aqua Blossom Fairy announced the start of the second segment, all the female cultivators dove from the spirit vessel, gracefully plunging into the sea like graceful mermaids in search of the sea beasts carrying Aqua Gems.

Back on Wushuang Island, a gigantic water screen appeared before the Sea God Stele.

All eyes turned to the screen, which clearly displayed the female cultivators underwater, their movements elegant and mesmerizing against the backdrop of the azure sea.

The selected competition area was outfitted with Phantom Pearls to record the participants’ underwater activities—firstly, so the audience could clearly observe the competition, and secondly, to ensure the safety of the female cultivators.

After hearing the details of the second segment, Wen Tuti cheered, "Sister is definitely going to win!"

Qin Hongdao teased him, "Wen Tuti, tell me—did you secretly arrange for the young beasts to hand over the Aqua Gems to Little Sister Qiao?"

Wen Tuti’s eyes gleamed playfully as he feigned surprise. "Eldest Senior Sister actually guessed it! That’s exactly what happened."

Few people knew that Wen Qiao possessed the Divine Monarch bloodline, which had a natural attraction for spiritual beasts—only Ning Jichen, Ning Yuzhou, and Wen Tuti were aware. Although Qin Hongdao and Yi Xuan were trustworthy, such a rare and mystical bloodline was best kept secret for her protection, so Ning Yuzhou had not disclosed it to them.

However, Wen Qiao’s affinity for attracting beast kin was somewhat known among those familiar with her. With Wen Tuti serving as a cover, it didn’t raise much suspicion.

In the water mirror, the Female Cultivators searched the sea for sea beasts carrying Aqua Pearls, each using their own methods.

Among the competing Female Cultivators, the strongest in cultivation was Di Yanbo, the Chosen Maiden of White Phoenix Island. Her keen spiritual awareness made it easiest for her to locate sea beasts carrying Aqua Pearls.

Shortly after diving into the sea, Di Yanbo swam straight toward the seabed and quickly found a sea beast with an Aqua Pearl—an eighth-rank tiger-striped fish.

An eighth-rank beast was no match for a cultivator at the Yuanzong stage. Before it could react, she had already retrieved the Aqua Pearl hidden beneath its ventral fin.

Gliding like a celestial through the waves, Di Yanbo encountered no obstacles. Wherever she passed, any sea beast carrying an Aqua Pearl had its treasure swiftly taken.

Viewers observing via the water mirror sighed in resignation.

"Di Yanbo's cultivation is the highest among the Female Cultivators. Unless it's a ninth-rank sea beast, what could possibly stop her?"

"Exactly. This isn’t fair to the other Female Cultivators."

"But the Sea Sovereign competition doesn’t restrict cultivation levels. It’s unfair, but what can you do?"