The gift that laid atop Chen Wentian's plinth was also a book. It was thinner than Yang Gehu's Snow Sword Dance but nobody paid attention to its physical features. What caused the massive reaction was a unique aura, one that was famous throughout the continent. This single aura contained two clashing elements, searing flames and arctic ice, two elemental attributes that should have destroyed each other but instead were existing in perfect harmony.
It was the aura of Frostfire!
"Frostfire Battle Dance…" Yang Gehu muttered, his whole body shaking with a storm of emotions.
"Yes, this is the Frostfire Battle Dance." Chen Wentian said, his voice carrying over the hubbub of the crowd behind him, "It is the famous battle dance of the Frostfire Nation and the Frostfire Sect, a dancing art that is effective from the mortal realms to the Spirit Emperor Realm. Of course, this booklet contains only the first five movements and stops at the peak of the Spirit Lord Realm. But, I think this should be a far better gift for my Sacred Daughter than the Snow Sword Dance."
His statement was a massive understatement. The Frostfire Battle Dance on display wasn't a simple dance at the Spirit Lord Realm, it's potential far surpassed the beginner immortal realm. The Snow Sword Dance was cute but it was a whole tier below the much better Blizzard Wave Dance. It was like comparing a treasure sword to a dull kitchen knife, it wasn't even a competition.
"Nonsense!" Yang Mengshi finally blurted out, "There is no way someone like him could have obtained the first five movements of the Frostfire Battle Dance. It's complete nonsense!"
"That's right! Smelly brat, where did you steal this book from? This belongs to the Frostfire Nation! If I find one word of falsehood, I will strike you down where you stand!" Another abbotess shouted.
The abbotesses on Yang Gehu's side were ready to do anything to discredit Chen Wentian. They could not allow this gift to stand. They could not let Chen Wentian win!
"Calm down." Li Shishi interrupted, "Mao Ling, what do you think?"
The abbotess she asked was Immortal Frostfire Bell Mao Ling who was a member of the Frostfire Nation, a member of the Seven Potentates of Jiannan. Abbotess Mao was petite and youthful, with a face that didn't seem to age. Her expression was far milder than the abbotesses in her faction as she studied Chen Wentian with great suspicion.
Mao Ling responded in a small, high-pitched voice, "The Frostfire Battle Dance of the Frostfire Nation is not an art that can be obtained by outsiders. It is not for sale and even if a copy was stolen, nobody would dare to sell it or publicly declare that they own it. Strange…"
"I had heard of a recent rumor but I didn't believe it then… Could it be?" She rubbed her narrow chin and then pointed a finger at Chen Wentian, "You, surnamed Chen! Tell me, where did you obtain this book?"
"The Golden Basin Auction House." Chen Wentian said simply.
Mao Ling's mouth opened slightly as if she had realized something. She suddenly fell silent and deep in thought.
"The Golden Basin Auction House again. Tch. Did you get the Shangyang Sky Slippers from there too?" Another abbotess butted in.
"Of course." He replied, not bothering to elaborate.
Abbotess Yang scoffed loudly, "Auction house this and auction house that. What do you think that place is, your personal market? There is no way you can afford the Shangyang Sky Slippers, let alone obtain the Frostfire Battle Dance. Why don't you drop the act and tell everyone where you stole these items from? You will suffer less if you do!"
"Why can't I afford the Shangyang Sky Slippers? Why can't the Golden Basin Auction House give me the Frostfire Battle Dance? Tell me, what do you think this is?" Chen Wentian said, raising a golden badge above his head.
It was the badge of the Golden Basin Auction House. It radiated golden warmth and a sense of endless wealth. It signified his special status as a distinguished client of the auction house, a status that few in the continent could hold.
"What in the nine hells is that?" Abbotess Yang retorted.
Li Shishi let out a mocking laugh as a second source of the same golden aura appeared in her hand, "Some of you may not know. This is a distinguished client badge for the Golden Basin Auction House. It is quite rare. You all don't have one but I do. It is a pleasant surprise to find that this young acolyte does so as well."
Li Shishi gave Chen Wentian a sly smile and he realized that she had been playing him all along. She knew far too much and the reason why was right in front of him. The Golden Emperor had probably told her everything about him already.
"So? Is that impressive? So what?" Abbotess Yang shot back, "It still doesn't solve the issue of the Frostfire Battle Dance. This item doesn't belong to Chen Wentian so he cannot use it as a gift. Yang Gehu should be the winner!"
Pa!
Abbotess Yun on the other side slapped her armrest angrily, "Who cares? Chen Wentian has shown his distinguished client badge. Who cares how the Golden Basin Auction House obtained this copy of the Frostfire Battle Dance. They had it and they gave it to Chen Wentian. So, he is the rightful owner and that's all that matters. Just give up already, Chen Wentian is the winner of this Gift Duel for certain, stop trying to delay the inevitable!"
"Bitch, shut your mouth!"
"What did you say?"
The claws and fangs came out. The two factions of abbotesses tore into each other with a viciousness that was breathtaking. So many insults were hurled so quickly that it seemed like they would start fighting right on stage.
"So, this is what you're about, Chen Wentian?" Yang Gehu said, jumping in on the action, "You couldn't find a good gift so you had to resort to robbing the Frostfire Nation. You've got guts. But in the end, you're still just a poor bastard. Haha, is this the kind of man Long Yifei deserves? Huh? Answer me!"
Chen Wentian didn't answer him so he shouted at Long Yifei, "Beauty Long, is this the kind of man you like? He will lead you down the path of ruin! Don't be fooled!"
Long Yifei rolled her eyes and ignored the noise.
"Enough, that's enough!" Li Shishi shouted over the chaos. Her spiritual energy swept over the council, finally bringing back a sense of order, "We're not here to settle old grudges. We're here to judge the final round of this Gift Duel and determine the fate of Chen Wentian. Come on, no further arguments will change anyone's minds. Let's vote."
"Fine, let's vote." Abbotess Yang snapped back.
Two sets of spiritual energies rose into the air, three in each group.
The ones that had voted for Chen Wentian were Li Shishi and the two abbotesses on her side. The other three that voted for Yang Gehu were Abbotess Yang and two others of her faction.
Only one person had yet to vote and that was Immortal Frostfire Bell Mao Ling. She was staring at Abbotess Yang and the other two with an unexpected level of anger.
"You three voted for the Snow Sword Dance? Are you trying to insult my Frostfire Nation?" Mao Ling hissed, "You all know how special the Frostfire Battle Dance is, how can a mere Snow Sword Dance compare?"
The question wasn't directed at Yang Mengshi but at another abbotess answered in her stead. This one was known as Immortal Porcelain Star Wei Jiarong. She was a member of the Starry Wei Clan and second only to Abbotess Yang in seniority in their faction.
"Don't be so dramatic. A man's gift is a representation of their ability. Chen Wentian's background and his true limits, we all know that they are far inferior to Yang Gehu. It doesn't matter if he managed to obtain a distinguished client badge. It doesn't matter if he somehow swindled the Golden Emperor into helping him this time around. There is a limit to what the Golden Basin Auction House can provide Chen Wentian while the Yang Clan's support of Yang Gehu is limitless!" Wei Jiarong's tone was calm yet sharp at the same time, showing signs of competence that were missing in her counterpart from the Yang Clan, "So what if we vote for Yang Gehu? We are voting on his ability and his potential. This Chen Wentian is a wilting flower that has already reached its peak while Yang Gehu is a young sapling who can grow into a pillar of support for Long Yifei and the Order."
Mao Ling shook her head, "Nonsense, all nonsense! You know nothing and yet you are so shameless. I cannot let this injustice stand. We are here to vote on gifts, not on a man's potential. Otherwise, why duel with gifts at all."
"Mao Ling, you…" Wei Jiarong said, stunned.
Mao Ling continued, abandoning her prior allies to uphold the honor of her nation, "There is not a single continent, blessed realm, or holy world where anyone can claim that the Snow Sword Dance is better than the Frostfire Battle Dance in any way, under any criteria!"
A burst of blue and crimson spiritual energy rose from her palm, quickly transforming into the symbol for Chen.
"Hahaha, good!" Li Shishi cried out, "The vote is four to three. Acolyte Chen Wentian prevails!"
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