Gift Giving Ceremony (II)

Chen Wentian glanced at Long Yifei to see her staring back at him. They both knew what the third phase meant. Many events since the beginning of the school year had all been leading to this. In fact, it had started all the way at the beginning from the Order's dissatisfaction with Chen Wentian as an acolyte.

They had prepared for tonight the best they could. They had discussed all kinds of scenarios until they ran out of ideas. There were no leftover regrets. Their hearts were aligned.

Two factions would attack Chen Wentian tonight. The Seven Potentates didn't know the whole truth but they knew Long Yifei was extremely talented. As the premier power within the Order on this continent, they had to have her. Even if they couldn't win her immediately, they wanted to kick him out as soon as possible.

The Order also wanted him gone but for different reasons. They knew that she was a divine daughter. Her importance to them far surpassed the scope of the continent. If she could be brought up as a senior member, perhaps a cardinal or pope-in-training, it would have a great impact on their prospects on a wider stage.

These two sides held unfathomable power but Chen Wentian still held the premier position. The blessed relationship between a Sacred Daughter and her acolyte was well established since the beginning of the Order. It was one of the core foundations of the whole system. It was a bond that could not be easily broken, at least not easily if the Sacred Daughter was unwilling.

"Are you ready?" Long Yifei asked.

Chen Wentian smiled, "Yeah, are you?"

"Mmm." She nodded, a little nervously.

He reached over the table and grasped her hand. Hers was cold as ice while his was warm like a hearth. Many pairs of eyes were probably on them but he didn't care. He only cared about the woman sitting beside him.

While they were focused on each other, the ceremony proceeded with the first phase. It was a rather boring affair with few surprises. The Sacred Daughters that did not start the year without acolytes weren't as talented to begin with. The acolytes that they found were equally unremarkable, being either junior members of the Seven Potentates or independent immortals with good reputations but no influence.

Each Sacred Daughter's name was called out one by one. This was followed by the declaration of their new acolyte, a public presentation of a number of gifts, and a formal acceptance by the members of the Order. This went on until several hundred empty seats were filled. It also cut down the peanut gallery of men standing around at the edges down to a few stragglers.

"Excellent!" Li Shishi clapped her hand happily, "For all of our brand-new acolytes, welcome to the Virtuous Order of Chunzhen. May you fulfill your duties supporting your Sacred Daughter. I wish the best for you!"

"Now, onto the second phase. This is an opportunity for any predetermined changes in the Sacred Daughter and acolyte relationship. Those that wish to announce anything to the Order, please stand up and declare your intentions to the whole school!"

There was a moment of silence before two figures rose up from the same table, not too far away Chen Wentian and Long Yifei. The Sacred Daughter who stood up was Zhao Linmei and her acolyte was Immortal Drifting Axe Han Baohu, two familiar faces.

They faced Abbotess Li and Zhao Linmei spoke up first, "Abbotess Li, this one named Zhao Linmei formally refute this man as my acolyte. I request that our relationship be severed by the grace of the Virtuous Order."

The grand banquet hall was silent. Every word was heard clearly. Some watched the scene with amusement while others were apprehensive. This was the first interesting thing to happen tonight.

Han Baohu's expression didn't change during these words. He was like a statue, a man who had already accepted the situation and his fate.

"Very well." Li Shishi answered, her face impassive, "Sacred Daughter Zhao Linmei, what is your reason for abandoning your acolyte?"

"Respected abbotess, we are incompatible. He will not be able to support me in my future studies and take me to the immortal realms where I wish to go. Our goals do not align and thus we must separate." Zhao Linmei said.

It wasn't a very good excuse but that was all that was needed. The desires of the Sacred Daughter weighed more than the desire of the acolyte.

"Since you have spoken these words so confidently, you already have a replacement acolyte?" Li Shishi challenged.

"Yes, abbotess. Please meet my new acolyte, Immortal Mountain Bear Guo Tao. I hope the Order can accept him!"

This was followed by a surge of spiritual energy. A tall, slightly fat, man leaped out from the sidelines and landed next to her. The two were in sharp contrast as she wore elegant formal robes while he wore a mishmash of animal furs with a bare chest.

He let out a boisterous laugh and saluted everyone, "Guo Tao greets abbotesses and prioresses of the Order. You all should know of my reputation. I have never mistreated any of my Sacred Daughters in the past. I will provide Zhao Linmei the very best and support her journey to the immortal realms!"

Chen Wentian knew about this guy. He was a rather infamous scion of the Beast Mountain Alliance who had been an acolyte once before. That resulted in some kind of scandal and he wasn't allowed to be one for many years. It seemed that his prohibition was finally lifted.

Guo Tao continued speaking loudly, "I am a core member of the Beast Mountain Alliance. My father is one of the beast emperors. My word is as good as a spiritual oath. As a sign of appreciation towards my new Sacred Daughter, I have gathered the following gifts. Please take a look!"

He waved his hand and a life-size statue made of the purest white jade appeared. It depicted a beautiful goddess in the midst of a sword dance. The handiwork was exquisite, almost life-like. The statue carried a substantial immortal aura as if an immortal was trapped inside.

"This is called 'A Fairy Sister Dances Atop the Clouds', a piece by the famous sculptor known only as the Lucky Plum of the North. My Zhao Linmei has chosen the classic of art and this statue will aid her greatly in the ways of sculpting."

Upon seeing this, the hall broke out in murmurs of approval from the various immortals. This mysterious Lucky Plum of the North was well known throughout the continent. Chen Wentian had seen another sculpture by the same artist during the auction at the Golden Basin. That one had gone for over five kilograms of orange spiritual crystal or fifty million taels of gold.

It didn't end there as Guo Tao brought out two more items in quick succession. One was a large painting and the other was a jeweled vase that was also adorned with intricate patterns. Both were at the Spirit Lord Realm in terms of artistic value as well innate immortal auras. Altogether, the evaluation of his gifts came out to a price of over two hundred million taels of gold.

This amount of gifts was a substantial statement, an open declaration of the new acolyte's intent as well as his wealth. Even if Han Baohu hadn't sold out Zhao Linmei already, it would have been close to impossible for him to fight back.

"Han Baohu, your Sacred Daughter wants to break her relationship with you. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Li Shishi asked.

Han Baohu bowed deeply, "I do not."

He had come to the continent full of confidence and dreams. Now was going to leave as a dog of the Seven Potentates while his precious woman would become someone else's. But he had made a business decision, a decision not to fight back against a much greater power. The audience didn't fault him but it was also impossible to respect him.

"Very well, you may leave." Li Shishi said flatly.

Without another look at Zhao Linmei, the woman he had been with for many years, Han Baohu rose into the air and flew out of the banquet hall. There wasn't even a slight desire to fight back. He had been completely neutered by the Seven Potentates and he left the Virtuous Order of Chunzhen with his reputation shattered.