Two days later, it was time for the final duel of the classic of song and dance. Two sacred daughters remained. Wei Shuangshuang won the tournament for singers while Long Yifei won the tournament for dancers. Now, the two of them would compete for the final prize.
The champion's name would live on in the history books. They would earn the recognition of the school and of the whole continent. They would also gain access to some of the prized secret arts of the Order. All in all, it was a great honor and represented the sacred daughter's prospects as well as their acolyte's power and prestige.
"Master, I will try my best." Long Yifei said as they walked toward the arena arm in arm.
Chen Wentian smiled, understanding her intentions, "That's all you can do. Don't worry too much about the result. Win or lose, it won't change my situation. It won't suddenly convince the Seven Potentates to back off."
"I know. I will still fight for you." She insisted.
He sighed at the situation but he felt satisfied inside. He didn't care about the Order or the Seven Potentates. All he cared about was her. As long as she had him in her heart, he was happy.
Chen Wentian and Long Yifei arrived at the arena fashionably late. By then, the stands were filled with people and there were hardly any empty seats left. A sea of unfriendly gazes followed them as they took their spots beside the arena.
They had good reason for being late. They had cultivated deep into the night, getting only just enough rest so that Long Yifei would still be in peak condition for the duel. This was the last challenge. This was probably also where their opponents would throw everything they had, all the tricks they could think of, at them in order to crush them.
Chen Wentian had also made some preparations but he was just one immortal against so many powerhouse sects and cultivators. He didn't have high hopes for the duel.
He studied the crowd and found a solitary pair of friendly faces. They belonged to Su Yaoci and her acolyte, Immortal Cirrus Sky Xu Gaotian. They were members of the Golden Basin Auction House. They met his gaze and smiled. Although they could not outwardly show their support, it was good to know that he had some support, however minuscule it was.
Shortly after they arrived, the crowd came alive and turned their attention toward two newcomers. They were the Wei Shuangshuang of the Starry Wei Clan and her acolyte, Immortal Hundred Palms Wu Chao, Blue Sky Alchemist of the Undying Medicine Valley. Their names were well-known across the continent. Their backgrounds garnered instant respect from their peers and admiration from others.
The Starry Wei Clan was said to be the most powerful of the Seven Potentates of Jiannan. Their cultivation art was unique and utilized the power of the starry night. There was nothing like it in the continent or the surrounding subcontinents.
The Undying Medicine Valley was small and mysterious. They didn't have a lot of members but they were highly respected. The most powerful and precious medicines came from the valley. Miraculous pills that could heal broken meridians, fantastical concoctions that could improve someone's constitution, anything seemed possible as long as they were involved.
These two celebrities of the continent versus two country bumpkins, the finale of the singing and dancing classic would surely go down as one of the strangest.
Wei Shuangshuang walked up to Long Yifei with the fakest of smiles, "Sister Long, I knew we would meet in the finale. I was surprised to hear that you had lost your singing duel. But this is better, whether it is singing or dancing, we'll finally see who is the champion."
By standing together, the two sacred daughters highlighted their obvious differences. Wei Shuangshuang wore the customary white robes of a sacred daughter but she wore many pieces of jewelry. Her hair was held together in a regal fashion, using a fancy headpiece. On the other hand, Long Yifei's outfit was plain. She wore a simple pair of blue earrings and her sleek black hair cascaded down her back to below her waist. One sparkled like a spoiled princess while the other was a pure, untouchable goddess.
In terms of beauty, Wei Shuangshuang was top tier. There was no doubting that. However, try as she might, she still could not compare to Long Yifei. Long Yifei was one of a kind. Her beauty could steal the hearts of immortals with a glance. Her figure, her curves, her complexion, everything was perfection. Again, the most apt description was that of a common princess standing before a peerless goddess.
Long Yifei nodded respectfully and replied, "Sister Wei, let's have a fair duel."
Wei Shuangshuang covered her mouth and laughed, "Of course, of course!"
Beside the two women, their acolytes stared at each other like old enemies.
Chen Wentian smiled, "Oh? Did Miss Wei also break through recently? I remember two days ago; she was still at the Spirit Initiate Realm."
Wu Chao sneered, "She had been on the brink for a while. The timing just happened to be right. Twenty-seven years old and the Lesser Realm of Spiritual Growth. Her talent is not bad."
It was an unspoken jab at Long Yifei who was thirty-four. On the surface, it was a huge difference. But in reality, it didn't matter much to Chen Wentian. As long as Long Yifei maintained a steady pace, she would reach the immortal realms before long.
"Congratulations!" Chen Wentian replied without a trace of sincerity, "Next time, I will remember to bring a gift."
Wu Chao laughed darkly, "No need. Seeing you lose will be a good enough gift."
"Oh? In that case, maybe I will just forfeit. How about that?"
"You dare?"
The two men again glared at each other. Obviously, Wu Chao had something planned since he was looking forward to this duel so much. Chen Wentian seriously considered forfeiting but decided not to. He knew that Long Yifei wouldn't want that.
Besides the two men, their sacred daughters also studied each other. A fierce competitive spirit arose between them. They were two of the top students of the year. With this duel, they would determine for certain who was lesser and who was better.
For Wei Shuangshuang, someone born into wealth and power, this was her right and her greatest desire. For Long Yifei, this was merely a stepping stone in her journey.
A wave of immortal energy swept over them, drawing their attention to the judge's table. Abbotess Zhang stood up, ready to announce the start of the finale.
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