"The first segment: cultivation display!"
Lu Lei waved his hand, and spiritual energy exploded in the air like fireworks. "Number One Bull, take the stage!"
The first Flaming Rhinoceros strode into the center of the arena, its spiritual energy patterns glowing brightly. It slammed its feet into the ground, causing the earth to crack within a ten-meter radius. The pressure of its Spirit Breath Realm (Late Stage) cultivation made the nearby manure pit surge.
"Whoa, that stomp! This guy is the MVP of the demolition squad!"
No sooner had Lu Lei finished his snide remark than all the female rhinos extinguished their lights—all five spiritual energy halos vanished instantly.
"Wait, their cultivation isn't bad, is it? Why were they all turned off?" Lu Lei asked, looking at the female rhinos in curiosity.
One of the females let out a fierce roar.
"What? It wrecked your nest last month?" Lu Lei blinked. "Well, then you deserve to be single!"
The second bull rushed onto the stage, eager to impress. Its horns ignited with blue flames as it spewed a column of fire into the sky, which actually took the shape of a lopsided heart in mid-air.
"Not bad, buddy! Sculpting with spirit fire!"
Just as Lu Lei started to applaud, the heart burst into sparks with a "pop," setting the tail hair of the females in the front row on fire. All five lights went out instantly, and the second bull was kicked off the stage, its eyes brimming with tears.
The third bull was the unlucky fellow Lu Lei had previously tossed into the manure pit. It shook the caked waste off its body, and as its spiritual energy surged, it showed signs of coalescing into a liquid state—it had reached the Half-Step Spirit Spring Realm!
"Holy cow! Did it have a breakthrough from soaking in the manure pit?" Lu Lei was so shocked he nearly dropped his manure scoop.
The female rhinos’ eyes lit up, and all four lights turned on.
...
Soon, all the bulls had finished their displays. Out of ten, seven were selected, while the rest were left with no takers.
"Next up: talent showcase!"
Before Lu Lei could finish his sentence, the third bull suddenly stood on its hind legs, spouting fire while spinning in place, drawing rings of flames around itself. The females stamped their feet in a frenzy of affection, their lights glowing blindingly bright.
The sixth bull, refusing to be outdone, performed a series of backflips on the spot. Unfortunately, it lost its balance on the third rotation and slammed into the manure pit with a deafening crash, nearly splashing the female rhinos. The sound of lights being extinguished followed one after another.
When it was the seventh bull's turn, it mysteriously breathed out a ball of flame, which projected images of the female rhinos bathing.
"ROAR!"
Every light in the arena went out, and the seventh bull was beaten into a stupor by the enraged females.
...
"Hahaha, this is hilarious! We should hold a 'If You Are the One' matchmaking event like this for the Fox Clan every year." A Little Fox watching the Flaming Rhinoceros version of "If You Are the One" from the shadows giggled, looking as radiant as a flower.
...
As the talent show concluded, the event finally reached the final segment: "Hands of Love."
"Congratulations to Female Rhino Number Two and Bull Number Three on a successful match."
"Congratulations to Female Rhino Number Three and Bull Number Eight on a successful match."
...
Standing on a giant rock, Lu Lei announced the successful couples one by one.
"Hey, wait!" Lu Lei suddenly noticed that one female in the corner had not turned on her light the entire time. It was the same one that had led the surrender earlier that day—the one with the highest cultivation.
Female Rhino Number One rose gracefully, her spiritual halo remaining dim. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, she walked up to Lu Lei and gently nudged his palm with her horn, her beastly eyes filled with watery longing.
Terrified by this sudden display of affection, Lu Lei scrambled away. "Sister, there’s no future in interspecies relationships! Plus, you weigh several tons more than I do!"
...
Disappointed, the first female rhino lashed her tail. She hadn't chosen anyone and walked away alone. As for the poor tenth bull, despite passing the first two rounds, no one had chosen him. He could only glare at Lu Lei with deep resentment, as if Lu Lei were his romantic rival who had stolen his mate.
...
Following the matchmaking event, Lu Lei’s status in the Flaming Rhinoceros Garden rose sharply. The Flaming Rhinoceroses admired him deeply, even scrambling to help him clean the manure pit just to learn a few secrets on how to "win a smile from a female."
The Half-Step Spirit Spring Realm bull that Lu Lei had thrown into the pit became his most loyal lackey, following him around everywhere like a bootlicking dog.
Unfortunately, Lu Lei’s physical strength had already reached the peak of the Bronze Skin Realm, and these rhinos, who had yet to reach the Spirit Spring Realm, were no longer enough to push him to the point of exhaustion. Therefore, his physical strength hadn't improved much in the last few days, though his "Mountain-Crushing Fist" had become much more polished, and its power had increased.
Ever since the event, the most powerful female rhino, Number One, seemed to have developed an inexplicable "obsession" with Lu Lei. Her deep red beastly eyes often flashed with a sullen, lingering light, as if silently accusing him: "Why didn't you choose me?"
Lu Lei didn't pay much mind to it at first, believing that no romantic entanglement could possibly exist between him and a rhino. However, he soon realized he had underestimated her "persistence."
One morning, as Lu Lei stepped out of his makeshift wooden hut, he saw Number One standing at his door, holding a giant fruit in her mouth. The surface shimmered with a faint spiritual luster, clearly a carefully selected gift.
"Is this... for me?" Lu Lei asked uncertainly.
Number One nodded, placed the spirit fruit at Lu Lei's feet, and gently nudged his hand with her nose, her eyes full of expectation.
Lu Lei couldn't help but laugh and cry at once. He picked up the fruit and forced a smile. "Thanks, but I really can't accept your 'kindness'."
However, Number One seemed to misinterpret his gesture as acceptance. She excitedly lashed her tail and puffed a string of sparks from her nostrils, nearly setting Lu Lei’s pants on fire.
A few days later, while Lu Lei was chatting with another female rhino, he heard a low roar. He turned to find Number One standing not far away, staring coldly at the rhino beside him. The other rhino trembled in fear, quickly retreating and hiding behind Lu Lei.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Lu Lei asked, feeling helpless.
Number One let out a low growl, walked up to Lu Lei, and nudged his chest with her nose, as if staking her claim. She then glared at the other rhino, her powerful spiritual pressure scaring it off immediately.
Watching Number One act "jealous," Lu Lei was speechless.
"Big sister, I was just talking to her. Was that really necessary?"
Eventually, finding himself pestered to his wits' end, Lu Lei simply gave her a title: "The Queen of Vinegar—Yanxin."