After the singing and dancing tournament, two women of the Virtuous Order of Chunzhen sat together in a secluded room. One took light sips from a tea cup while the other tended to the pot.
"Dance of Rain and Fortune? That girl… we truly cannot let her go." Abbotess Li muttered, saying the same thing for what seemed like the tenth or twentieth time. "Only a few abbotesses or the Order ever get a chance to learn that dance. It is as they say, they must be chosen by the shangyang bird to receive its special feather. I have never seen it done any other way. That beast is also greedy and fickle. Nobody can even get a hold of it except for that old turtle bastard. Peh!"
She mumbled a few more words under her breath out of anger before turning to Xuan Xina, "Xina, what did that Chen Wentian say about the matter."
"Reporting to master, I don't think he knew either. He did say that it was always possible that Long Yifei had encountered a shangyang in her youth. But he said it jokingly." Xuan Xina replied.
Li Shishi snorted, "Everything that person says is as useless as fart."
She tapped her cup in thought and said after a while, "A more likely explanation, that pair of Shangyang Sky Skippers he obtained from the Golden Basin Auction House is not ordinary. I have heard of it before, where a pair of slippers can be made with the shangyang's special tail feathers. Such slippers are no longer ordinary immortal items but can be considered spirit treasures, bearing the divine bird's will and desires."
"That… does the Golden Basin Auction House really intend to support him like that? I didn't see any intention of that during the examination," Xuan Xina said.
Li Shishi sighed, "Who knows what those money grubbers are thinking? Anyway, it doesn't matter."
She waved her hand, returning the empty cup to the table and summoning a large scroll from another table with her spiritual force. She unfurled the scroll in midair, letting Xuan Xina also take a look.
The scroll depicted a giant map of the martial brilliance continent. Its shape was longer from north to south and from east to west. It was separated into three sections like a stack of bamboo steamers. The bottom section was the southern region occupied by the Virtuous Order of Chunzhen and the Seven Potentates of Jiannan. The top section was the northern region occupied by the Sororal Order of Endless Love and the Northern Oligarchs. The middle section represented the lawless central region where the Immortal Association had no firm control.
All across the border between the southern region and the central region, there were countless round markers embedded into the scroll. These represented outposts where the Order and the Seven Potentates were constantly fighting against the encroaching bandits.
"Where does master intend on sending Long Yifei? For the second phase of the examination?" Xuan Xina asked curiously.
For the second phase, the task was to start at one of these outposts and attack the central region. The sacred daughters will be scored on how much progress they make northward, how many bandit groups and bandit immortals they can subdue. Naturally, a single sacred daughter wouldn't be able to do much of anything. Therefore, this phase was a test of the acolytes.
"It doesn't matter where she goes." Li Shishi said, "Just choose one for her, she's your responsibility. It's not like her acolyte can do much with his background and tiny sect. Did you hear, Wei Shuangshuang's acolyte has prepared an army of two hundred thousand mortal cultivators as well as three Spirit Lords? Other acolytes have made similar preparations. What can Chen Wentian do compared to such forces? Even if he recruits some help, can he fight a Spirit King?"
She laughed derisively, "Xina, you'll accompany Long Yifei and Chen Wentian during the test. Make sure he stays out of trouble. If anything happens… make sure that Long Yifei survives. Nothing else matters."
"Yes, master."
Sensing that the conversation was over, Xuan Xina bowed and left the room to carry out her orders.
---
In another province of the Martial Brilliance Continent that bordered the chaotic central region, a peculiar scene occurred atop a deserted mountain peak. Three immortals floated in midair amidst the clouds above the peak. One of them was a massive mountain of meat. He was so fat that he outweighed four or five cows. His body looked more like a triangle than a real person.
The second person was an ancient elder with flowing white hair. He was so thin, his skin wrapped around his bones and tendons. He looked like a walking corpse. Except for his eyes which blazed with a strange blue light.
The third person was a handsome man. He showed few signs of age and he carried himself with a vibrant aura. This in addition to his elaborate attire and rich accessories made him look like a wealthy noble.
The noble smiled at the other two immortals and bowed slightly in respect, "Immortal Dashing Mountain Liu Zhangrou, Immortal Crypt Flame Du Minghuo, well met, well met. This one is Immortal Bamboo Waves Yang Gehu."
The meat mountain nodded, adding more chins to his obese appearance. The livening skeleton chuckled and stroked his beard.
"Young Master Yang, there is no need to be polite in front of us. We are all people who live outside the bounds of the Immortal Association. Here, we are all the same," Du Minghuo smiled, which made his countenance even more frightening.
Yang Gehu's smile froze. His current status was no longer that of before. But he was at least better than these two. He was simply banished from the Virtuous Order. His was still a member of the Yang Clan of Great Waves.
That meat mountain named Liu Zhangrou was a wanted man, an infamous bandit, a member of the Four Evils of the Black Forest. He was vile through and through. If he showed up in the southern region, he would instantly be chased down and killed.
The old fart used to be a member of the Sunken Empire of the East. However, due to various reasons, he was kicked out. There was even a bounty on his head. He was a former member of the Seven Potentates who had been hunted like a dog throughout his life. His situation was perhaps even worse.
Yang Gehu's expression hardened, "How many people have you gathered for this mission?"
Liu Zhangrou laughed, "Since you have offered to pay so much, my three brothers and I are ready to fight for you."
Du Minghuo remained expressionless, "I can supply an army of one hundred thousand. But I don't need your money. As long as you leave that flame immortal's corpse to me."
"Fine," Yang Gehu replied, "I will be bringing two Spirit Lord attendants from my clan. Together, we will kill that bastard named Chen Wentian. The time limit is one month."
"Of course, young master." Du Minghuo said, bowing.
"Hahaha, this should be fun!" Lin Zhangrou said, patting his stomach like a booming drum.
Yang Gehu sneered inwardly, looking forward to the day he finally repaid all the humiliation he suffered.
"Chen Wentian, you're dead!"
---
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