Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With most forms of flight being limited within the Heavenly Domain, Vahn and co were asked to board a silvery gondola whose base was surrounded by billowy, golden clouds.Using an ornate piece of white wood that only vaguely resembled an oar, the gondolier waved it through the clouds as if they were a liquid medium. This allowed the rather ornate-looking boat to move through the sky at a surprisingly swift speed, a comet-like trail following in its wake.Gazing out over the gondola's side, Vahn had to admit that the Heavenly Domain was a remarkably beautiful place. There were a number of ancient-looking ruins dotting the scenery, massive spheres that resembled miniature planets drifting through the sky, and, in the distance, a palace of jade so massive that it appeared to divide the world in two."Quite the view, isn't it?"Nodding his head in response, Vahn shifted his attention from the scenery to the man, or, more specifically, the God seated across from him. Erlang Shen was one of the more prominent Gods in Chinese Mythology. He had originally made a name for himself as a God of Infrastructure, but, after Sun Wukong ran rampant through the Heavens, he eventually rose up to become one of the most powerful warrior deities affiliated with the Jade Palace. His companion, the Howling Celestial Dog, had also been elevated to the status of Venerable Elder of all canines, and, according to legends, its howl could weaken demons while drastically strengthening allies.Noticing the husky-like beast staring at Fenrir, Vahn's brows furrowed as he said, "You're playing with fire, little pup."Turning to meet Vahn's gaze, the Howling Celestial Dog, in a deep and manly voice, answered, "You misunderstand my intentions. I am merely admiring the quality of her fur. It is obvious you've taken very good care of her. To be perfectly honest, I'm a little jealous."Hearing the ivory white dog's statement, most of the enmity that had been building within Fenrir's heart and mind immediately faded away. She didn't approve of the way he was looking at her but she could forgive him if he kept complimenting her Master."Besides, I already have seventy-three wives and more pups than I can count. As tantalizing as your companion's haunches are, I'm not exactly wanting for mates."Changing her mind in an instant, Fenrir bared her teeth, a low growl emanating from her throat as she stated, "Choose your words carefully. The only person who can talk about my haunches is my Master."Not expecting Fenrir to speak, a curious light flashed across the Howling Celestial Dog's amber eyes as it adopted a remarkably human smile. Then, with audible amusement in its tone, it stated, "Worry not, young one. I have no intention of stealing you from your Master."Unamused by the implication that he had any hope of stealing her away, a bluish-black aura began to rise from Fenrir's body until Vahn plopped his hand atop her head and said, "Calm down. He isn't trying to antagonize you. Even if he was, you have no reason to get upset. There isn't a force in this world that could take you from me."Though the Howling Celestial Dog frowned in response to Vahn's words, Fenrir practically beamed as she rubbed her head against his palm.Interrupting the strange atmosphere, Erlang Shen had a slightly incredulous look on his face as he remarked, "Your words make it sound as though you lay with beasts. Take it from me, friend. Even if she can transform into a human, you should not engage in such deviant-"Furrowing his brows, Vahn met Erlang Shen's gaze, stating, "You would do well to mind your own business. I have little tolerance for self-righteous fools and bigots..."Adopting a remarkably similar expression, Erlang Shen's friendly facade began to melt away as he said, "Calm yourself, brother. Just as my companion meant no offense, my words were not intended to generate enmity between us. You should not be so quick to place labels and insult others. A less magnanimous God might have taken offense to such a gross disregard for propriety..."Though he wasn't particularly fond of Erlang Shen's words and tone, Vahn couldn't deny the logic contained within. It wasn't like the man was trying to offend him, so, after several tense moments, he gradually relaxed, saying, "I may have overstepped my bounds by calling you a fool and a bigot. For that, I apologize. However, the first half of my statement remains. You shouldn't speak on such matters unless you are intimately familiar with both the person and their circumstances. Arguments made from ignorance are bound to cause offense."Caressing his chin with a gauntleted hand, Erlang Shen seemed to seriously consider Vahn's words before nodding his head in approval, stating, "Now that I have reflected upon them, I can see the wisdom contained in your words. It appears I was in the wrong this time around. Once we reach the Jade Palace, I will be sure to make it up to you. Tell me, Vahn Aldrnari Mason, do you like alcohol...?"Recalling that the Communities formed by Immortals placed a heavy emphasis on compensatory words and actions, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he replied, "Indeed. When the time comes, we can exchange drinks with one another. After all, while your words may have prompted my ire, they were not compelled by hatred or animosity. In that regard, the fault lies with me..."With his shimmering third eye, the Golden Eye of Truth, allowing him to see through illusions and falsehoods, Erlang Shen could tell Vahn was being sincere. His friendly smile immediately returned, as, with the exception of a few venerable Sages, it was pretty hard to find people who were willing to take a step back and admit they were wrong. This drastically increased Vahn's status in his eyes, so much so that he made a silent vow to support the man if anyone tried to bully him during the impending banquet.........After a relatively short, twenty-minute journey, the gondola carrying Vahn, Fenrir, Mikoto, Erlang Shen, and the Howling Celestial Dog finally reached its destination. From far away, it resembled a spiraling staircase that extended thousands of meters into the air despite being fragmented and broken at several parts. Up close, or, more specifically, at the very top of the spiraling staircase was an ornate archway covered in vines that, against logic and reason, produced softball-sized peaches.Upon closer inspection, Vahn also noticed a stream that formed a helix around the structure. There were several breaks in its flow, but, if you were to look closely, it was possible to make out a variety of different fish swimming around the inside as if they were attempting to scale the gravity-defying stream and ascend to heaven. This reminded him of the legend concerning the Dragon's Gate so he was moderately amused when Erlang Shen dutifully explained, "This is one of the gates we use to travel great distances in the Heavenly Domain. In the Mortal World, they refer to these archways as Dragon's Gates. It's said that a carp that manages to swim up the stream and pass through the gate is able to become a dragon, but, as you can see here, the stream doesn't actually intersect with the gate. I once tried carrying a carp through but it ended up slipping from my grasp and falling to the ground without transforming."Seemingly amused by his words, a low chuckle emanated from Erlang Shen's throat as he placed his palm against the glossy, jade-white stone comprising the archway. Immediately thereafter, a portal showing an ancient yet surprisingly bustling cityscape opened at the opposite end. The architecture was reminiscent of a fantasy illustration, but, what truly stood out was the diverse variety of people and races walking about. There were people with animalistic traits, people with bird-like wings, and even a number of demonic-looking individuals present. It was a veritable smorgasbord of races...Noticing Vahn's surprise, a wry smile developed across Erlang Shen's face as he explained, "Though it used to be pretty empty, the Heavenly City surrounding the Jade Palace has come to house more than three-hundred million lesser deities over the past seven thousand years. Most of the residents are pretty weak but you should still be careful about who you offend. Even someone as simple as a beggar might have familial ties to someone in the Imperial Court. Unless you have the ability to see through illusions and deceit, you should be careful who you trust."As if to demonstrate his point, Erlang Shen's form was blurred before coalescing into an aged man with a war-weary expression and a tattered black robe. At the same time, the Howling Celestia Dog shook his body as if he were trying to dry off. When he was finished, his ivory white fur had become a mangy grey, and, though there was still a glimmer of intelligence in its cloudy-brown eyes, it now resembled a stray on its last legs."This is a technique known as the 72 Earthly Transformations. I don't mean to sound braggadocious, but I'm a little too famous. If I were to appear in my normal form, the people wandering the streets would form together as if watching a parade. I'm not particularly shy, but, unless I'm returning from a conquest, I would rather avoid gathering a crowd."Pulling out a tattered bamboo hat, Erlang Shen covered his head in an attempt to conceal his third eye. Then, without waiting to see if Vahn was following behind, he stepped through the portal at a pace that better matched his present appearance. The Howling Celestial Dog immediately followed suit, head lowered and shoulders slumped as if it was just a few steps away from collapsing...Exchanging glances with his two animal companions, Vahn was unsurprised to hear Mikoto say, "I'm already in my Pikachu form. I don't want to look old and ugly."While Mikoto wasn't exactly vain, she still had standards regarding her appearance. She might not like attention but she didn't want people to think she was ugly. Thus, instead of changing her form to appear incognito, she just climbed into the front of Vahn's tunic before settling where Xysteria usually napped. As for Fenrir, she had always taken pride in the beauty of her coat, so, unless she was ordered to transform, she would remain in her current form.Extending his hand, Vahn gave Fenrir's head a pat before adopting a slight smile and following in the direction of Erlang Shen's departure. He wasn't particularly fond of crowds, but, at the same, he didn't really care about concealing his presence or identity. If push came to shove, he was confident he could shove back a lot harder. Thus, even if someone recognized him and tried to make trouble, he didn't, truly, mind. In fact, he quite enjoyed teaching people a lesson.........While most of the Heavenly City's residents remained completely oblivious to Vahn's visit, a few of the more influential Gods had been keeping an eye on him the moment he began his ascent up the Silver Bridge. It was no accident that Erlang Shen had been nearby. Rather, in the days leading up to the Jade Emperor's invitation, the Imperial Court had discussed everything from who would go out to meet him to where he would stay during the banquet.Though many argued that Vahn was receiving far too much consideration for someone that wasn't even part of the Jade Palace, there wasn't much they could say when the Jade Emperor was the one making the concessions. The inordinately handsome God had been keeping a close eye on Vahn's escapades ever since his debut against Leviathan's Tail. He was also one of the few people who had recognized Ziros as a former Deva, so, while others still doubted Vahn's ability, he knew, better than most, how powerful the Sage Dragon had to be in order to secure even a pyrrhic victory. Thus, the moment Vahn sent his message, he immediately convened the Imperial Court before spending the better part of seven days discussing how they would handle him during his stay...He really wanted Vahn to join the Jade Palace.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'How dare you mention Fenrir's fluffy haunches...!','It turns out that Erlang Shen is a pretty chill guy o_o...','Looks like Vahn found himself a fan xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was only ever a matter of time before someone stopped him, Vahn hadn't anticipated that the people stopping him would be a group of young girls with ornate hairstyles resembling rabbit ears."Pardon me, Elder Brother. Might I inquire as to the origin of your companion? I have never seen a creature with such a pure Yin constitution. If possible, I would like to purchase her from you. Please, name your price."Scratching Fenrir's head to help her remain calm, Vahn adopted a smile that wasn't quite a smile as he answered, "Fenrir is my most trusted companion. She isn't for sale."As if she was genuinely surprised by Vahn's response, the young, princess-like girl placed a hand over her mouth as she replied, "Oh my..."Reacting to their mistress's words, two of the girls in her entourage, appearing nearly identical to one another, stepped forward to synchronously state, "Lady Xiao Yue has shown you tremendous favor by allowing you to name your price. Who are you to refuse the Moon's Grace?"After briefly exchanging glances with the disguised Erlang Shen, Vahn stared down at the two girls, answering, "I am known as Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor and Leader of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. Tell me, daughters of Changxi, does your Venerable Mother approve of this kind of behavior?"Not expecting Vahn to mention their mother, the twins visibly paled as the other ten girls in the entourage promptly averted their eyes. The only person who still appeared completely innocent was the young girl they were escorting. Her dainty little face morphed into one of curiosity and confusion as she asked, "Have we erred in some way...?"Resisting the urge to pat the girl's head, largely because of the ornaments contained within, Vahn's expression softened as he said, "It is unbelievably rude to expect someone to part ways with one of their companions. Tell me, if I were to make a similar offer for the girls following behind you, would you be willing to sell them?"Furrowing her brows, the rabbit-like girl, Xiao Yue, briefly pursed her lips before muttering, "I see..." in a disheartened tone. Immediately afterward, however, her expression immediately brightened as she proposed, "Then I will simply purchase both of you. That way, you can always remain together."While Erlang Shen was issuing a rather creepy sounding laugh from the sidelines, Vahn was doing his best to resist facepalming. He could tell the girl was naive and innocent by the way she carried herself but this was bordering on the ridiculous."Listen...you can't just go around trying to purchase people..."Tilting her head to the side, Xiao Yue appeared genuinely confused by Vahn's words as she lightly furrowed her brows and repeated, "I see..." in an even sadder tone. This earned him a number of scary looks from the people observing the events from the periphery, but, not caring about them in the slightest, Vahn pulled out a candied golden apple and said, "Cheer up. We all make mistakes. So long as we learn from them, there's no problem."Staring at the shimmering apple covered in caramel, Xiao Yue's brows raised as she leaned forward, nose twitching ever so slightly as she attempted to capture its aroma. This caused her to resemble a rabbit even further. The ears atop her head even twitched slightly, almost as if they were alive."This is...?"Though wild apples were remarkably common in Heavenly Domain, Xiao Yue couldn't correlate the object in Vahn's hand with the fruit she was familiar with. The variety they produced, Malus Sieversii, was typically fed to livestock or consumed by the poor. It wasn't something the wealthy consumed. Rather, depending on the circumstances, offering an apple to a wealthy and affluent deity could be seen as a tremendous insult."It is a candied sweet from my homeland. It combines the Golden Apples of Avalon with caramel manufactured by Wood Nymphs and Dryads. They are remarkably popular among men, women, and children alike."While she wasn't particularly learned in the stories and myths of other Districts, Xiao Yue had heard numerous tales pertaining to Golden Apples. They were often directly compared to the Peaches of Immortality guarded by the Most Revered and August Matriarch, the Queen Mother and wife to the Jade Emperor, Lady Xiwangmu.After a brief moment of consideration, Xiao Yue extended her dainty, jade-white fingers to grasp the stem supporting the candied apple. Then, despite the concerned looks she was receiving from the members of her entourage, she lowered her head to gingerly nibble the unbelievably fragrant and appetizing treat.Though the caramel met her expectations, Xiao Yue's eyes began shimmering like starlight as she took several additional bites of the apple. She wouldn't be able to describe its flavor in detail but it was easily the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. It was almost like ingesting pure happiness, and, much like genuine happiness, it was gone before she knew it."Ah..."Staring at the emptied stick, a feeling akin to melancholy washed over Xiao Yue as she directed a rather pitiable gaze towards Vahn. Fortunately for her, he had already anticipated this, so, as a kind of toll, he produced an entire tray filled with candied apples as he said, "This should be enough for everyone to have two. Unfortunately, I need to be on my way so you'll have to enjoy them on your own. I suggest you find a shop that sells cinnamon-flavored tea. They go remarkably well together."Hearing Vahn's words, a wide range of emotions presented themselves across Xiao Yue's face. She went from pleasantly surprised and grateful to somber and melancholic in less than ten seconds. It made her appear remarkably adorable, but, with an entire litter of kittens back home, Vahn had no intention of looking after another baker's dozen...Understanding it would be rude of her to continue barring Vahn's passage, Xiao Yue reached up to the golden, branch-like ornament twining around her head. It had golden leaves and several berry-like gems growing along its length, and, the moment she reached up to pull one, even Erlang Shen came forward to shout, "Princess Yue...!" in his actual voice.Shifting her confused gaze to the disguised Erlang Shen, Xiao Yue briefly lowered her hand, asking, "Uncle Shen...?" in a slightly doubtful tone.Exhaling a sigh, Erlang Shen surprised everyone present by dropping his disguise and affectionately replying, "Little Moon, you should not be so quick to part with the buds of your Ginko Tree Diadem. There is a difference between returning a favor and placing yourself at a disadvantage..."Furrowing her brows, Xiao Yue's face scrunched up adorably as she rebutted, "The Revered Mother told me that acts of kindness should be returned ten-fold. I inconvenienced this Elder Brother, yet, in spite of my careless words and actions, he has gifted me with the most delicious offering I have ever eaten. I do not believe our favor is too much as compensation..."Without waiting for Erlang Shen's reply, Xiao Yue plucked one of the sapphire-like buds from her diadem before proferring it towards Vahn and explaining, "Elder Brother, this seed allows you to make a single request of me. You need only crush it between your thumb and index finger and I vow to do everything in my power to grant your request."Though he was tempted to refuse Xiao Yue's offer, Vahn ultimately accepted the Ginko Seed with a smile. He knew she would most likely pout if he refused, so, with the intention of never using it, he placed the seed into his Inventory before cupping his hands together and saying, "Thank you. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my days."Smiling radiantly in response to Vahn's words, Xiao Yue promptly stepped aside before offering a polite and courteous bow. Then, along with her sister-cousins, the twelve moons sired by Changxi, she departed with uncharacteristic haste in an effort to find a tea house serving cinnamon tea...Seeing Xiao Yue scamper off, a tired sigh escaped Erlang Shen's mouth before he walked over to Vahn and said, "You possess the luck of the devil. It's rare to meet the Moon Princess in the Jade Palace, much less wandering the streets. Make sure you protect that seed with your life. If it falls into the hands of someone with malicious intent, the Jade Palace will spare no effort to hold you accountable..."As the daughter of Chang'e, the most beautiful Goddess in the Heavenly Domain, Xiao Yue was nearly as famous as her mother. She was also the personal disciple of Lady Xiwangmu, and, more importantly, a dear friend of Sun Wukong and Karyou, two of the Seven Great Demon Kings. Once it was discovered that a man from outside the Jade Palace possessed the right to request Xiao Yue's favor, they were bound to cause an uproar.With Loi-chan conveniently narrating Erlang Shen's thoughts, the smile on Vahn's face became increasingly wry as he replied, "Relax. I stored it in a location beyond the reach of even the most powerful deities in the Divine Realm. I also have no intention of asking for the Princess's favor so it won't be an issue."Catching Vahn by surprise, Erlang Shen actually glared in response to his words. Then, in a heavy and ostensibly threatened tone, he asserted, "You shouldn't do that. When a female Daoist gives their favor to another, they will ruminate on it every day until a request has been made. You might not care about such things but it will burden Princess Yue's heart and mind if you never make use of the right she has bestowed you..."Understanding better than most how fretful women could be, Vahn exhaled a mildly exasperated sigh of his own before answering, "I understand. Once I have come up with something suitable, I'll be sure to make a request. Now, I believe we have an audience to attend? I can't imagine the Jade Emperor enjoys being kept waiting."Snorting through his nose, Erlang Shen continued glaring at Vahn for several seconds before easing up and answering, "Along with the title of Jade Emperor, the old man is also known as the Greatest God of Benevolence, Fairness, and Mercy. He is patient enough to tolerate that troublemaker, Sun Wu Kong, trashing the Imperial Court. He isn't going to get upset over something as insignificant as a delay in arrival. Rather, he is the type that genuinely believes that people appear at the exact time they are meant to."Not expecting Erlang Shen to go on a moderate tirade that effectively amounted to him praising his father, Vahn's wry smile turned into a light chuckle as he mused, "I see. Your father is, undoubtedly, a great man. However, my words were just a polite way of suggesting we ditch the crowd. I believe you said something about wanting to avoid garnering too much attention~?"Blinking in surprise, Erlang Shifted his attention from Vahn to the rather sizeable crowd forming around them. The moment he did so, a few of the bolder members of the audience came forward, smiles on their faces as they shouted things along the likes of, "Erlang/Brother Shen!" before asking for his autograph. This, somewhat amusingly, caused the proud warrior god to blush, as, despite his previous claim about not being shy, he actually had a fear of public speaking and large crowds.........While Vahn was enjoying the sight of Erlang Shen failing to disperse the crowd, a woman with long, smokey grey hair was watching him from afar. Her golden eyes glistened with fierce intellect, but, if anyone were to spot her, the first thing they would notice is her remarkably curvaceous body veiled behind a skintight, predominately white bodysuit. She also had an inordinately large and armored petticoat, but, juxtaposed against her phenomenal figure, even the sun overhead seemed to pale in comparison."Vahn Aldrnari Mason...you will have the honor of being my 109th kill..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn's curse is still going strong xD...','If a girl gives you her number, you better call back...','New chapter. Who dis...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he could trust the girls to meet his expectations, that didn't mean Vahn had nothing to do. He still needed to convince multiple 4-Digit Communities to participate in his upcoming Gift Game, so, following Shiroyasha's suggestion, he sent a missive to the Jade Palace requesting an audience.After eleven days, leaving him with just 48 until the Coronation Ceremony in the North, Vahn finally received a response from the Jade Palace. They, or, more specifically, the Jade Emperor had invited him to participate in an event known as Zao Shin's Immortal Banquet.As the Jade Palace and its affiliate Communities believed in the ideology that gathering strength was to stand in opposition to Heaven, they were constantly competing amongst themselves in an effort to determine who was the strongest. Zao Shin's Immortal Banquet was an event where each of the Gods, Sages, Faeries, and Immortals affiliated with the Jade Palace would gather together to feast, and, more importantly, challenge each other for a more dominant position within the Imperial Court.Simply put, by inviting Vahn to participate in Zao Shin's Immortal Banquet, the Jade Emperor was giving him a platform to debut within the Imperial Court. The Communities affiliated with the Jade Palace respected strength and wisdom over all else. So long as he could prove himself their equal or better, Vahn would be accepted into the Immortal community without question.While he appreciated the Jade Emperor's very obvious intentions, Vahn had absolutely no desire to tie his fate to the Jade Palace. He wasn't particularly fond of the mentality that most people aspiring to become Immortals possessed. They regarded normal people as little more than cattle, and, more often than not, oppressed anyone outside their immediate line of succession.Though there were a few notable exceptions, nearly every cultivation/murim/wuxia novel Vahn had ever read revolved around a very similar premise. The Main Character almost always started out as a normal person or a cripple with a prestigious background. Everyone they came across, with the sole exception of potential love interests, venerable seniors willing to sacrifice everything for them, and simple-minded childhood friends who were no better than patsies, was a heartless monster, pervert, or someone with a massive ego who spared no effort to try and suppress or outright kill them.The thing that annoyed Vahn the most about such a premise was that, more often than not, even the close family and relatives of the Main Character treated them poorly. As a result, when the MC finally gained some kind of fate-defying power, their first victims were almost always their own kin. Then, despite being a clan that had dominated their regions for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years, the very next town over would be filled with powerful experts that could have easily taken over the MC's hometown.One of the most ridiculous things Vahn had ever read was a cultivation novel where the Imperial Family of the MC's starting world or continent wasn't even in the top ten in terms of power. While there was nothing inherently wrong with this, the thing that irked him was the fact that they were described as having thousands of years of history and a tremendous amount of wealth during their initial introduction. Then, a few hundred chapters later, there were literally bandits and thieves with even greater cultivation than the literal Guardians of the Imperial Family, yet, instead of taking over and ruling as Emperor, they remained simple thugs in a region where any stray Young Master could kill them with a wave of their hand...As the Communities affiliated with the Jade Palace adhered to these kinds of sensibilities, it wasn't an exaggeration to say they were among the most contentious and confrontational groups on the East Side. Were it not for the existence of Shiroyasha, they likely would have taken over a long time ago. Instead, they treated their individual Communities as closed worlds/realms, each containing a society that directly reflected the types of stories Vahn had read about.With the Little Garden having a surface area equivalent of a medium-sized star, not even counting the surrounding landmass, it was possible for large Communities and Alliances to dominate an area even larger than a planet. This, combined with the fact that a Community's territory could be much larger than the plot of land they were assigned, allowed the more ambitious Gods to create literal metaversal structures that were wholly unaware of the existence of the Little Garden.While he wasn't particularly fond of the way they regarded their people, Vahn couldn't actually pass judgment on this particular subject. After all, he was host to an ever-growing number of metaversal structures. He had even converted a part of his Little Garden into an experimental testing ground so that he could better understand how societies developed and changed under certain conditions. He had even allowed a hell-like layer to form within, a place where negative energy pooled to produce creatures evocative of eldritch horrors...In the end, the only real difference between Vahn and the beings presiding over the three hundred thousand Immortal Communities was the fact that he cared more. He didn't view the people living within his Little Garden as resources. Instead, he had created a system where everyone, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, had a chance to be happy. Those that sought power were given the chance to obtain it while those who simply wished to live in peace could literally reside in a sub-dimensional plane reminiscent of Avalon or the Garden of Eden.From a subjective point of view, the structure of Vahn's personalized Little Garden was idyllic to the point of defying reason. Unfortunately, even this didn't really give him the right to judge others, as, even at the pinnacle of Tier 5, there was a limit to the amount of power and influence the Creators of various metaversal structures could exercise whilst under the influence of the Law of Equivalent Exchange. They needed to expend their Divine Power in order to create worlds, and, depending on the complexity of the verse, their powers would be drastically weakened. This was a limitation that simply didn't apply to Vahn as his body was basically a factory that produced an unlimited amount of Source. He might experience a bit of backlash from creating an Actualized World, but, after a few hours of rest, he would be fully recovered and demonstrably more powerful.........With the invitation allowing him to bring two additional guests, Vahn asked Fenrir and Mikoto to accompany him. The latter had decided to join the Sage Dragon's Hearth along with most of the girls that hadn't formed Communities of their own. She was also intimately familiar with the Laws of Lightning and Tribulation, so, if push came to shove, she had more than enough power to teach the participants of the banquet a lesson."Talk about excessive..."Smiling in response to Mikoto's remark, Vahn stared up at a massive gate that was more than a thousand meters in height. The Gods of cultivation worlds were among the most extravagant, so, prior to attending the feast, Vahn had been required to ascend to Heaven via a set of ivory white steps that had descended from clouds of gold.Though there had been tens of thousands of steps, it only took a few minutes for Vahn to ascend past the clouds and through an invisible membrane connecting to the Jade Palace's 'Lower Heaven'. This was the place where most Immortals lived, and, despite appearing as a vast and seemingly infinite expanse of clouds from the outside, the interior was clearly inspired by the Divine Realm. It was a literal island, and, while he couldn't grasp its dimensions, Vahn suspected it was even larger than the actual Divine Realm...Approaching the massive gate, Vahn's smile promptly faded as two gigantic statues, each more than 300m in height, used their massive spears to block his path. Then, in paradoxically soft yet booming tones that resonated through the surrounding void, they synchronously roared, "Thou who hast crossed the Silver Bridge, submit and allow thine bodies to be cleansed of impurity."Without a moment's hesitation, Vahn adopted a resonating tone of his own as he said, "I refuse." with a deadpan expression on his face."IMPUDENCE...!"Punctuating their words, the two statues swept their oversized spears towards Vahn and his two animalistic companions. Fenrir was presently in her wolf form while Mikoto was hanging out on his shoulder as a Pikachu wearing a Raichu hoodie. She had always enjoyed riding on his shoulder, and, though she was more than capable of protecting herself, she had elected to remain in her Pokemon form to reduce the chance of an incident occurring. Neither she nor Fenrir enjoyed being gawked at by licentious, overbearing, and egotistical idiots.Reacting the moment the statues began their assault, a runic pattern manifested across Mikoto's body as she released what appeared to be a very small spark of luminescent golden electricity. It was so small that you could have easily missed it if you weren't looking, yet, in spite of this, both of the statues paused mid-sweep as she said, "Our Master came here at the invitation, not the behest, of the Jade Emperor. The next time you attack him, do not expect mercy."The moment Mikoto finished issuing her threat, cracks began to manifest along the surface of the gigantic spears. Moments later, the inordinately large weapons began to crack and split as vibrant golden electricity danced about their interior. A similarly colored electricity affected the two guards, but, in spite of her words, Mikoto had no intention of killing them. Her paws weren't exactly clean, but, unless the situation forced her hand, she would never go out of her way to kill her opponents.Fortunately for the two guards, they wouldn't have to put her conviction to the test, as, immediately after their weapons were destroyed, a raucous laugh echoed through the surroundings. Then, from atop the massive gate, a rather heroic-looking man with three eyes, accompanied by a peculiar dog with ivory white fur and amber eyes descended like meteors towards the Silver Bridge.With a body covered in silvery golden armor and an inordinately large spear in hand, the three-eyed man adopted a friendly yet challenging smile on his face as he rose to his feet and said, "It has been centuries since anyone dared to threaten the Menshen. You said you were invited by the Jade Emperor? State your names. If you are who you profess to be, I, Erlang Shen, shall escort you to the Jade Palace. If it turns out you are lying, however..."Brandishing his spear, Erlang Shen caused a wave of pressure to descend upon Vahn, Fenrir, and Mikoto. To the God's surprise, none of them so much as flinched as Vahn proferred forth a letter, smiling as he said, "We have no reason to conceal our identities. Tell your father that Vahn Aldrnari Mason and his two companions have arrived."Recognizing the name, Erlang Shen's surprise turned into sincere exhilaration as he shouldered his spear and exclaimed, "You're the Pure-Blooded Dragon that recently appeared in the East! I've been looking forward to meeting you for quite some time! Please, enter! This old fellow will be more than happy to show you around~!"As rumors regarding Vahn had already disseminated through the Jade Palace and the surrounding Heavens, Erlang Shen wasn't lying when he said he was looking forward to their meeting. The thing he conveniently neglected to mention was that every War God in the Heavenly Domain was looking forward to trading blows with the Little Garden's most recent star. They knew Vahn was remarkably powerful, but, until they had confirmed it for themselves, most of the warriors representing the Jade Palace couldn't help looking down on him. Erlang Shen was no exception to this, so, while his smile was sincere, there was also a fierce glimmer in his eyes as he scrutinized Vahn like a succulent piece of dragon steak.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Deadlines are never fun o_o...','The return of Mikotochu~!','Battle junkies and bricks have a lot in common...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2148: Concessions