"Hello, I am the Golden-Winged General, Xiao."
Xiao extended his right hand.
Chen Meng stood up and shook it.
"Hello, I'm the Archon of Dreams, Chen Meng. I don't know what this 'she' you speak of did, but I'm not her. I'm Chen Meng."
With that, Chen Meng withdrew his hand.
Just then, A'Ping asked,
"Then Chen Meng, what is your divine name? 'Chen Meng' sounds like a mortal's name."
"I don't know my divine name."
Chen Meng answered truthfully.
Everyone except Morax and Gui Zhong was visibly stunned. After all, they'd never heard of a god who didn't know their own divine name.
At that moment, Mi Nu spoke up.
"Is it because your Authority is incomplete?"
Chen Meng looked at Mi Nu in surprise, not expecting him to guess so accurately.
"That's likely the case—Chen Meng's Authority is incomplete after all."
Morax took a sip of tea and added.
Gui Zhong then spoke up.
"Alright, why don't we all introduce ourselves!"
"I am the Soaring Serpent General, Fu She."
"I am the Mind-Ape General, Mi Nu."
"I am the Fire-Rat General, Ying Da."
"I am the Spiral-Shell General, Fa Nan."
Looking at the joyful and harmonious group before him, Chen Meng silently made a resolution—he would protect them, no matter what.
"By the way, where's Liu Yun and the others?"
Gui Zhong asked.
"Oh, they heard a new Archon was joining, so they went to set up the contract ceremony. It might take a while."
A'Ping answered while playing her instrument.
Gui Zhong looked at her and asked,
"A contract ceremony? Why are they setting something up? When Morax and I formed our contract, there was no ceremony. Neither was there for the rest of you."
"They said Guili Assembly is different now, more prosperous than before. This ceremony is both a celebration of that prosperity and a show of respect to the new Archon."
Ying Da explained.
Meanwhile, the two stars of that upcoming ceremony were... drinking tea.
Morax was calm as always. Chen Meng appeared equally composed, but inside he was in full panic mode.
He was terrified that during the ceremony, when his Authority was revealed, the immortals might suppress him on the spot.
After all, they still didn't know who he really was.
"Right, Liu Yun and the others don't know about Chen Meng's identity yet, do they?"
Gui Zhong turned to the group and asked.
Everyone realized it at the same time. If Liu Yun and the others learned of Chen Meng's identity during the ceremony, and acted on impulse...
"We'd better go get them now," said A'Ping, getting up to find them. If something like that really did happen... just the thought of it was exhausting.
Chen Meng might not get hurt, but if it affected his impression of Guili Assembly, that would be bad.
At that moment, Liu Yun and the others were busy preparing for the ceremony.
"Liu Yun, isn't this a bit much for just a contract ceremony?"
Lord Yi Xiao Dao Tian stared at the floating platform made of Mingxia Resonant Stones and Cor Lapis, complete with benches and a ceremonial altar at the front.
"Yeah, Liu Yun, do you even know how many of my Mingxia Resonant Stones you used?"
Lord Ming Hai Qi Xia clutched his heart, looking pained. (╥_╥)
Liu Yun finished the last touches on the altar, then turned to them.
"You don't get it. This platform floats in the sky—you can see the whole of Guili Assembly from it."
"And Ming Hai, don't think I don't know about the giant chunk of Resonant Stone you've been hoarding."
Just then, two other immortals, bored and idle, wandered over to join the fun.
"I think Liu Yun's right. This really does show off Guili Assembly's prosperity and our respect for our new ally."
Lord Li Shui Die Shan spoke up, with Lord Xue Yue Zhu Yang nodding in agreement.
"Exactly. It also highlights the Lord's strength. After all, only with the Lord's guidance could Guili Assembly thrive like this during the Archon War."
"Liu Yun! There you are... is this what you've been working on?"
A'Ping stared at the floating platform made entirely from Mingxia Resonant Stones and the ornate setup on it, momentarily at a loss for words.
"Not bad, right? Only a celestial of my caliber could conceive such a masterpiece."
Liu Yun proudly lifted her chin, while Xue Yue and Li Shui also beamed with pride. Yi Xiao remained silent off to the side, and Ming Xia was quietly grieving.
A'Ping sighed at the scene in front of her.
"Alright, fine. Since it's all done, come with me to see the Lord."
"Oh? What business does the Lord have with us?" asked Xue Yue Zhu Yang, who regarded the Lord as his mentor.
"It's hard to explain here. Just follow me for now."
With that, A'Ping turned and began walking back the way she came.
Liu Yun, Xue Yue, and Li Shui followed her. Yi Xiao sighed and walked over to the quietly mourning Ming Xia.
"Come on, time to see the Lord."
Ming Xia composed himself and followed Yi Xiao.
——————————————————————————
"Lord, may I ask what you summoned us for?"
Xue Yue Zhu Yang inquired.
The other immortals looked at Morax, their eyes filled with questions.
"Is this about the new Archon?" Yi Xiao Dao Tian looked toward Chen Meng, who was seated beside Morax, sipping tea.
Morax took a sip and began,
"Just as you suspect. This is our new ally—Chen Meng."
Chen Meng also introduced himself.
"Greetings, I am the Archon of Dreams, Chen Meng."
Suddenly, divine energy burst from the immortals, surging toward Chen Meng. But it dissipated a foot away from him, blocked by a golden barrier.
"Liu Yun, calm down. If he were her, would the Lord have brought her back? Would he have allied with her?"
A'Ping quickly stepped in.
The divine energy faded as the immortals calmed down. Their reaction had been instinctive—memories of the brutal losses suffered during the campaign against the Archon of Dreams were still fresh.
"We apologize. We acted rashly."
The immortals bowed to Chen Meng in apology.
Morax then spoke.
"Chen Meng is a newly born Archon. His Authority is that of the Archon of Dreams, but it is incomplete."
"But I can guarantee that Chen Meng is absolutely not her."
The immortals looked at Chen Meng, processing Morax's words.
Yi Xiao Dao Tian was the first to step forward.
"I apologize for my earlier actions. I am Lord Yi Xiao Dao Tian."
"I am Lord Liu Yun Jie Feng."
"I am Lord Li Shui Die Shan."
"I am Lord Xue Yue Zhu Yang."
"I am Lord Ming Hai Qi Xia."
A'Ping also stepped forward.
"And me—I am Lord Ge Chen Lang Shi. But usually, just call me A'Ping or Ping'er."
Then Gui Zhong added,
"Alright, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up and introductions are done, Liu Yun, how's the ceremony setup coming along?"
At Gui Zhong's words, Ming Hai Qi Xia's expression instantly dimmed—clearly still mourning his lost stones—while Liu Yun Jie Feng suddenly perked up.
"Then allow me to present the details of our grand arrangement..."