Chapter 172: Finally over.

Chapter 172: Finally over."What are you trying to pull here? Don’t you have anyone capable in this sect?" Mo Qingsha’s words were a blatant insult, but no one dared to refute.

Everyone sat there, blushed from anger or shame, but Elder Su was anxiously biting her lower lip. She intended to use this opportunity to get on the Celestial Abyss sect’s good side, but the banquet was quickly turning into fiasco.

The only upside was that the young master fancied Throne Evergale’s alcohol, but it was clear that at some point it could lead to even larger disaster.

"Junior Sect Master Mo, could you please specify what you’re looking for?" Elder Su asked.

Before the funeral she prepared for all the known Celestial Abyss’s emissaries, including fancy and personal presents, but never in her dreams she imagined that the sect master’s son himself would show up.

"I want to see something beautiful! Something fiery and passionate!" Mo Qingsha said, and finally everyone around the table grasped the idea. The guy simply preferred the fire cultivators! Whether it was a fetish or an aesthetic choice, it didn’t matter.

"Of course, Junior Sect Master Mo!" Elder Su said, sighing in relief, "As you command!"

Without her saying anything, her junior elders also guessed the meaning and immediately sent off almost all female disciples that were previously gathered. Just in case, two junior elders rushed away, to get few more fire cultivators, but meanwhile the first elemental master stepped forth.

There was a reason why fire cultivators usually didn’t take part in such performances. Their element was the most destructive, and even though the strongest people of the sect were gathered at the table, it was possible to destroy the party on accident.



"Go all out from the start!" Mo Qingsha loudly said, and filled his glass from another jug.

The girl witnessed the earlier disgrace her fellow disciples experienced, and was nervous. But she was conscious of the fact that she was the prettiest of the ones who were left.

She unsheathed her sword and took it in both hands, freezing for a few breaths. Her eyes were closed and clearly she was focusing all her power into the following move.

And it was spectacular. At first she, from head to toe, lit up in dark red flames, and then – stabbed with the sword the air above her with a deep shout, and all the fire, even the flames that the grass below her caught, gathered in a huge fire ball above her and shot to the sky.

It was a single move, but visually impressive. It was almost like the girl intended to destroy the heavens above, and the ball of fire flew high until it dissipated, leaving behind thin strands of smoke.

The move was incredibly taxing, although beautiful, and the girl was barely standing, supporting herself on her sword.

"That’s what I’m talking about! Finally!" Mo Qingsha said, clapping a couple of times, "I thought you were trying to hoodwink me!"

"Our apologies, Junior Sect Master Mo!" Elder Su said, "Next!"

There was no way the girl could kill a cockroach now, to not speak of continuing to show off, but at least she could leave the stage with honor. Similar to the rest of the spectators, the other disciples already guessed their task, and one after another came forth to present their best moves.

The news of the big-shot from the Celestial Abyss sect demanding a show from female fire cultivators spread through the sect. Without asking the opinions of the disciples, every elemental master who had ignited a fire spark, was sent to stand in line, to wait for their turn, while the guest kept emptying one glass after another.

He liked some performances more, some less. There were girls he sent away while they were still in the line.

Elders didn’t know what to think or do – in their long lives they never encountered a situation like this. Fortunately, when the fire cultivators began to demonstrate their skills, the insults stopped, for the most part, that is.

***

When the sun set, the banquet table was illuminated by dimly shining stones set in formations of different sizes. The most light, thought, came from the girls who kept coming to the stage one after another.

Seeing that only about twenty girls were left, the elders began to slightly panic. But then things took an unexpected turn.

It was after an older disciple came to the front, Mo Qingsha’s expression suddenly lit up. His eyes reflected the fiery phoenix that bloomed, mercilessly destroying the ten yard area around the pale woman. It was obvious she hated being here, as well as being forced to show off as a clown for the entertainment of others.

The rest of the disciples tried to behave respectfully, directing their skills to the side or the sky. Her blast, though, left a three feet deep crater around her, and the elders at the table had to use their own skills to prevent them and the table from getting buried under a pile of dirt.

And it wasn’t all. After the first blast, two more phoenixes, one larger than another, exploded in succession, and the last one, the largest, even gave the illusion of a phoenix’s cry echoing in surroundings.

This was a blatant show of disrespect, but the haughty and challenging look that the disciple had, clearly indicated she didn’t care about the consequences. She came to show it was a mistake to force her to perform as if she was a common street artist, and she made her point beautifully.

"Junior Sect Master Mo, I’m sor ..." Elder Su recovered first from the shock, and intended to apologize, but Mo Qingsha didn’t let her.

"So you were saving the best for last!" He exclaimed, in one go gulping down the contents of glass he held. For the brief moment of her performance he was frozen just like the rest, but now his eyes burned with excitement.

"Call her over!" He said, ignoring the changes in the expressions of the others, "Who is she?"

"Her name is Victoria Sunwell. She’s from our Mission Hall." Elder Su demonstrated her remarkable memory, "We have a theory that she has amazing affinity with the fire element and it’s highly likely she has a divine body constitution and ..."



"Divine body, huh? Interesting ..." Mo Qingsha said, "Sit!"

The last part was addressed to the young woman who arrived at the table with obvious discontent across her face. She was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, and had unnaturally pale, almost white skin. Her hair was almost crimson, just like her eyes that burned with angry emotion.

She didn’t object, though.

Victoria was pissed and all she wished for was to be able to punish the old geezers who humiliated her. The aftertaste of disgrace never subsided after she left Ashland, and up until now she never had the chance to fully vent.

Initially she hoped that as soon as she erased the last remnants of her past, the shame would be washed away. Unfortunately, even after Edward died, she still felt this bitter lump in her throat.

But she couldn’t refuse the man sitting at the end of the table. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but the nose, thin lips, and piercing eyes reminded her of her father. His posture and every slightest gesture were elegant and powerful. Even the way he held his glass reminded Victoria of her father’s hand on the grip of his sword.

This guy was a true royalty! Like her!

She didn’t say anything, only slightly bowed her head with a motion that more resembled a nod.

"Sit!" Mo Qingsha repeated, this time patting the spot to the left of him. Then he said to Elder Su, "Alright, the rest can leave!"

Victoria didn’t think much of the implications, but Shen Rouya cursed to herself. If she knew that she could’ve prevented the sect from experiencing the humiliation that lasted the whole night, she would’ve clenched her teeth and sat next to the man till the event was finally over.