Capítulo 478: Victory or Defeat by Chance (II)
Both men, acolyte and challenger, approached the plinth to place their gifts. The entire banquet hall and thousands of people waited anxiously to see what the next round of the Gift Duel would produce. The score was tied one-to-one but few thought that Chen Wentian could win the whole thing. Affiliates of the Seven Potentates still had complete faith in Yang Gehu. He was a young master of the Yang Clan of Great Waves. The resources at his disposal could surpass even Spirit Kings.
Yang Gehu, on the other hand, wasn't feeling as confident. He had suffered two consecutive blows and a strand of doubt had taken hold of his mind. He paused as his hand was stuck inside the bubble shield and looked toward the abbotesses.
"What's wrong?" Abbotess Yang's voice reached his ear.
"I… I'm not sure which gift to pick." He replied through spiritual energy.
Yang Mengshi frowned and a rapid burst of spiritual transmissions shot between her and the other three abbotesses on her side.
She then went back to Yang Gehu, "What are you worried about? Chen Wentian's first gift should have cost him over ten kilograms of orange spiritual crystal. That should account for a majority of his wealth. You've seen his second gift. He is a poor bastard. It doesn't matter what he brings out, you'll win for sure!"
"Alright!" Yang Gehu said, his confidence returning.
While this covert discussion was happening, another one was taking place between Chen Wentian and Long Yifei.
"Which gift do you think he will bring out?" Chen Wentian asked via spiritual energy.
"He should be saving the Wave Strider Robes for last, that is his best gift. The choice is between the pill and the dance routine. Master, we should send our middle gift so that it can earn the next round against either one. Then, it doesn't matter what happens in the fourth round. Our best gift will beat his best in the fifth. We will assure the third win and the overall victory."
"Smart. Let's do as you say!"
Long before the ceremony, they had discussed all possibilities of the Gift Duel and solutions to all kinds of scenarios. Given how the first two rounds played out according to their most optimistic plan, her plan was the best approach.
"Yang Gehu, present your third gift!" Li Shishi's voice brought an end to the conversations.
"Yes, abbotess." Yang Gehu said.
He removed his hand from the white shield which fell away afterward. Left on the plinth was jade bottle that emitted a rich medicinal aroma.
"This is my third gift. It is a medicine for singers called the Dew Voice Pill. It enhances one's vocal cords and lungs, giving their voice more power and endurance. There are a hundred pills inside this bottle which should last several years. They will allow Long Yifei's voice to grow leaps and bounds."
The council studied the bottle and gave their feedback.
"Yang Gehu is so thoughtful about Long Yifei's future cultivation. Although this gift is not as breathtaking as the previous one, it is still a very important one."
"That's right. A person's voice is naturally fragile without proper training. These pills will allow her to practice harder and longer without suffering any injuries or other mishaps. It is purely beneficial, without any drawbacks!"
"I couldn't have said it better myself, sister! Suitability is what makes this gift excellent!"
"I agree!"
Their praises quickly petered out. Despite their best efforts, this gift was still the cheapest one that Yang Gehu had prepared. Everything that could be praised had already been uttered. It was impossible to paint a pig and turn it into an elephant.
"Alright, Chen Wentian, your turn." Li Shishi said.
"Yes." Chen Wentian said.
Yang Gehu had behaved as Long Yifei predicted but they were unlucky. They had hoped that Yang Gehu's third gift would have been that costume instead of the medicinal pills which was the cheapest gift. They had lost the fifty-fifty coin flip but it didn't matter. If anything, the pills made a victory this around a certainty.
The shield around Chen Wentian's plinth gave way to a pair of slippers. They were made of some kind of feathery cloth and were a pale blue color like the sky. At a glance, they seemed plain but that couldn't be further from the truth. These slippers gave off a tremendous aura that was solidly at the Spirit Lord Realm. It was rich and deep. There was no denying that this was a treasure!
"Everyone," Chen Wentian said, "This immortal item set is known as the Shangyang Sky Slippers. You all should have heard of this already. They are made from the feathers of the fabled shangyang, a divine beast that rules the sky and controls weather and rain. Wearing this, my Sacred Daughter will be able to master all types of dances. These slippers will provide her grace, agility, and the strength to perform the most difficult moves of any dance routine. They will serve her well for many years to come."
He finished his short speech and was met with stunned silence. Nobody expected him to bring out such a precious gift. An immortal set of equipment was the expectation for Yang Gehu, not him. He was a Spirit Lord from the subcontinent. Someone like him could barely afford a Spirit Lord item for himself. It should have been impossible.
Chen Wentian smiled in the face of many ugly expressions. Abbotess Yang's was particularly terrible. There wasn't a trace of beauty to be seen. Yang Gehu was alternating between disbelief, fury, and regret. His face contorted and twisted wildly, ruining his handsome features.
All of the abbotesses on the Seven Potentates' side refused to comment on Chen Wentian's gift but the other three eventually did so. It wasn't like they had a choice. The Shangyang Sky Slippers was an iconic item in the Gift Register, one of the best gifts described within it. A pair would pop up every decade or so and all the Sacred Daughters who practiced the Dao of dance wished for it. The rumor was that they came from a reclusive Spirit Emperor who managed to befriend a shangyang. There was overwhelming demand but no supply.
"Does anyone have anything else to add?" Li Shishi asked, looking at Abbotess Yang in particular.
Yang Mengshi and the other three on her side didn't make a sound, having been beaten into submission for the moment.
"Good, let's vote."
Three votes for Chen Wentian rose into the air from Li Shishi and the two abbotesses on her side. There was an awkward pause before another one appeared, reluctantly but also with the symbol for Chen. Two more soon followed but Abbotess Yang refused to budge, adamantly refusing to cast vote for anyone.
Li Shishi didn't bother to wait and clapped her hands, sweeping the six votes away, "Acolyte Chen Wentian wins the third round!"
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