On the other side of the amphitheater, Long Yifei returned to Chen Wentian with a placid expression he could not see through.
"So? How did it go?" He asked.
"I don't know."
Many pairs of eyes followed her and many ears strained to hear eavesdrop on their conversation. She was now quite infamous as the sacred daughter who ruined the dance performance. Although it wasn't exactly what Chen Wentian wanted, he didn't mind it. There would only be one champion for the classic of dance and song. Long Yifei competed in both subcategories so she still had a chance with singing even if she couldn't progress in the dancing one.
At this time, Li Shishi addressed the crowd once more. She apologized for the dance performance and handed out the grades for all the participants. To Chen Wentian and Long Yifei's surprise, she wasn't disqualified and even received an average grade. Curiously, after comparing it to the other scores across the board, hers was just enough to scrape past to the next round.
"Interesting." He said.
"Very interesting." She replied.
He glanced at her, "That Abbotess Li has a lot of tricks."
She shot him a small smile and shrugged, "Master, you are still the king of tricks."
He nodded, "Yes…"
The opening performances of the end-of-year examination ended just like that. The guests and sacred daughters were directed to the outdoor garden area where the art exhibit was held. There, they would get a chance to mingle with each other while appreciating the various artistic creations of the students over the school year.
Chen Wentian and Long Yifei followed the crowd and they were soon mingling or trying their best. Nobody came up to talk to them. Sacred daughters and acolytes stared at them with unfriendly, mocking gazes from afar but turned away to slight them when they got nearer. It was obvious what was happening, a concerted effort by the Seven Potentates of Jiannan, an open declaration of hostility. Those sacred daughters and acolytes who were not members of the Seven Potentates also stayed away; no doubt worried about their futures lest they associated with an outcast.
"Fei'er, let's find a quiet corner." He said, giving up on the garden party already.
"Yes, master."
Chen Wentian didn't say much and his gaze was disinterested. He let Long Yifei pull him along as his attention was far more focused on something else at the moment.
Across the Millennium Mountains Campus, Chen Mo glided through the shadows and arrived in a large room. Inside, two prioresses were discussing something quietly. They were the same two prioresses who had escorted Long Yifei to be questioned by the judges.
"Zixin, I told you we shouldn't have gotten involved with them." One of the hissed angrily, "Abbotess Li will surely punish us!"
The speaker was Immortal Morning Dance Jiang Zixin, or Prioress Jiang, an instructor of dance at the school. The other was Immortal Sunset Promenade Liu Jiahong, also an instructor of dance at the school. They were the culprits behind the sabotage of Long Yifei's performance dress.
"Jiahong, I told you already, it doesn't matter." Liu Jiahong retorted, "Abbotess Li can't do whatever she pleases without approval from the executive council. Didn't you always want to find an opportunity to leave the Order? Well, this is your chance! Don't tell me you are regretting it? The prince of Bear Mountain of the Beast Mountain Alliance has already accepted your proposal. He is preparing a betrothal gift as we speak!"
"Really! Wow…"
Chen Wentian's interest in the conversation grew when he heard about the Beast Mountain Alliance. They were one of the Seven Potentates of Jiannan. According to rumors, they were a loose conglomeration of several beast art cultivation sects. The most powerful of those formed the core of the alliance such as Bear Mountain, Tiger Mountain, and several others.
He had heard of only one other person of any significance from Bear Mountain which was Immortal Mountain Bear Guo Tao. It was said that his father was one of the beast alliance emperors, probably the ruler of Bear Mountain. However, someone like Guo Tao couldn't be a prince since he could only get sacred daughters by being their acolyte. Directly taking a prioress as a wife was something far beyond his capability. This prince of Bear Mountain should be a significant figure, perhaps even a Spirit King.
After that reveal, Jiang Zixin and Liu Jiahong discussed some uninteresting matters regarding the upcoming wedding, how she would have to resign from the Order, and her anticipation of spending the rest of her life as a real woman.
Chen Wentian could somewhat understand her. There were many prioresses within the Order. Although they had leaped over the dragon gate and entered the immortal realms, there was nowhere else for them to go. The Spirit Lord Realm was their limit.
If they continued to struggle in their cultivation, they could perhaps achieve a fortunate encounter or a lucky breakthrough later in life. However, because of the strict limitations of the Virtuous Order, it meant they would have to remain virgins for the entire time. They would not be able to have children and start families. They would not be able to leave behind their legacy.
"Anyway, what else have you heard from your people?" Liu Jiahong asked, "Will they continue to try and obstruct Sacred Daughter Long?"
Jiang Zixin snorted, "That little girl? If she wants to show off during these end-of-year examinations, she can just keep dreaming. It won't be us. Our task is finished. But others are ready and waiting to sabotage her performances. We will make her regret ever choosing her acolyte. And as for that ugly bastard, he will regret ever living and daring to oppose the Seven Potentates."
Chen Wentian was mildly offended by their words but decided to ignore them as being ignorant. He was more interested in what kinds of sabotage these people were planning. If this was the wilderness of even back at the Eastern Sanmu Subcontinent, he wouldn't hesitate to kill a few people to cause some mayhem.
However, there were too many eyes and ears all over the place at the Millenium Mountains Campus as well as too many experts and smart people. He could only use Chen Mo to gather some information from prioresses or other Spirit Lords. The abbotesses and Spirit Kings were too strong and too numerous. His shadow anchors could only last a short while before being wiped away by the excessive spiritual auras. He also didn't dare use Chen Mo excessively. There were many spiritual arrays in place to protect against eavesdropping and spying. He didn't want to raise any alarms unnecessarily.
"Master, we have company."
Long Yifei's words drew him away from Chen Mo and back to the garden party. He noticed three people coming toward them. Two of them, he recognized as Sacred Daughter Wei Shuangshuang and her acolyte, Immortal Hundred Palms Wu Chao. The other one had an unfriendly face and similar features to another annoying person.
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