Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though the inscribed Geass Roll mentioned completing trials, the Cavern of Reflection was more of a formality than anything else. So long as the participants didn't harbor evil or malicious intentions, it was actually a rather beautiful and scenic detour filled with jadeite frescos, mossy ruins, and lakes that glowed with a radiance reminiscent of starlight.Simply put, the Cavern of Reflection was more of a tourist attraction meant to mesmerize visitors rather than deter them from entering. After all, the Jade Palace wasn't exactly wanting for powerful experts. If someone were to invade, they would have to contend against dozens of gods and one of the most powerful forces comprising the East Side's Divine Army.Unfortunately, while the Cavern of Reflection was an attraction for most, it was an obstaince for a certain type of person..."State your purpose..."Staring up at the twin jade statues, each resembling an amalgamation between a lion and a dragon, Fenrir took a moment to consider her response before confidently declaring, "I exist to support and provide comfort for my Master."Though the two beasts resembled statues, both leaned forward to get a better look at Fenrir before asking, "If your Master were to order you to kill a member of the Jade Palace, what would you do?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Fenrir answered, "I would kill them. My Master is a good man. If he deems someone deserving of death, they have brought it upon themselves.""Hmmm...." x2Detecting no falsehoods in Fenrir's words, the two statues, colloquially known as Guardian Lions, briefly exchanged glances. They could appreciate Fenrir's loyalty, but, at the same time, their duty prevented them from letting her pass freely.After a moment of silent deliberation, the statue on the left looked towards Fenrir and said, "Your loyalty is commendable, young one. However, blind faith is rarely a good thing. Even the Gods are not infallible. If your Master commanded you to kill an innocent, it would weigh upon your soul for the rest of your days."Radiating an aura of confidence, Fenrir raised her head to meet the Guardian Lion's gaze as she stated, "I am well aware of that. It doesn't change the fact that my Master is a good man. There are times when both of us make mistakes. Whenever that happens, we support one another and do our best to ensure a repeat incident never occurs."Playing off Fenrir's words, the Guardian Lion on the right raised one of its brows before muttering, "Your statement indicates that both you and your Master have wronged the innocent. Can you tell us how many...or, perhaps, has the number increased beyond your means to recount?"Furrowing her brows, Fenrir paused for a brief moment before answering, "My Master is a God, an Emperor, and a Dragon. His actions have an impact on the entire Order of Creation. The number of innocents he has allowed to die is beyond even the God of Wisdom's ability to recount. However, it was never malicious intent that drove his actions. He has always acted in the interest of the world as a whole..."Detecting numerous falsehoods in Fenrir's statement, both Guardian Lions stated, "You're lying." in a firm, rebuking tone. At the same time, their eyes began to blaze like fiery orbs as the runic pattern lining their bodies began to illuminate.Though she was unable to prevent the fur covering her head, ears, paws, and tail from becoming noticeably more rigid, Fenrir managed to appear relatively calm in the face of the duo's accusations. She wasn't lying to them, or, more specifically, it hadn't been her intent to lie to them. Thus, instead of immediately attacking, she took a moment to reconsider her statement before muttering, "Ah....I think I understand where I erred..."Finding the faults in her argument, Fenrir ignored the increasing auras of the duo as she raised her head and appended, "My Master has always acted in the interest of those who long for a free and unfettered existence. He cares intensely for his family, friends, and loved ones, but, no matter how much he loves them, they will forever take a back seat to his desire to grant freedom to those who sincerely yearn for it..."Having seen her Master fail, time and again, to mind his own business, Fenrir was confident that he would never abandon those who seek freedom. He might not go out of his way to save them in the beginning, but, after seeing the countless injustices that existed within the world, it was only ever a matter of time before he did something about it. This was one of the reason so many people loved and respected him. It didn't matter how great the burden was. If he could help people and provide them with greater freedom, he would shoulder the weight of reality itself...Hearing the conviction in Fenrir's words, the two guardians began to calm down as they sat atop their perches. Then, after a moment of silence, the one of the left asked, "If your Master was to lose his life or succumb to corruption, what would you do...?"After a moment of incredulity, Fenrir confidently asserted, "There isn't a force in Creation that can kill my Master..." before adopting a far more serious expression and stating, "If he were to succumb to corruption, I would remain at his side until he returned to his senses. It doesn't matter how long it takes or how poorly he treats me. I will persist so that he does not lose himself to regret once his awareness has returned. That is my duty...my pride..."Placing her paw over her chest, a phenomenal aura spontaneously erupted from Fenrir's body. The two guardians, wholly unprepared for this, were effectively powerless to resist as a wave of icy cold energy washed over them. In its wake, the cavern was covered in a layer of pristine white ice as the hair atop Fenrir's head gradually shifted from a midnight blue to a lighter, icier blue...Exhaling a large plume of white mist, Fenrir opened her eyes to reveal icy blue irises that matched the color of her hair. When she saw the state of the cavern, a look of confusion briefly marred her face before quickly turning into an apologetic and slightly fretful look as she quickly dissipated the yin and ice elemental energy that had pervaded the statuesque creatures' bodies.Under normal circumstances, the twin lions, Fu and Fuu, would have immediately retaliated if the person undergoing the trial dared to attack them. When they sensed the pure, unblemished, and divine aura exuding from Fenrir's body, however, they hesitated. This ended up being the correct decision, as, the moment Fenrir experimentally flexed her paw, now covered in bluish-white fur, the medium supporting the sub-dimension began to crack as if the void had suddenly become frozen solid and on the verge of shattering.Fortunately, all of the negative emotions Fenrir ordinarily had to keep in check had vanished along with her change. She felt more in control in this one moment than she had throughout the entirety of her life, so, after noticing the strange phenomena, she quickly got it under control. Then, as if to emphasize the significance of her change, particles of golden light began to appear from the void before promptly coalescing into a luminous golden Gift Card."Fragment of Origin...!" x2Recognizing the phrase, Fenrir promptly snatched the card before placing it against her chest. She could always check it later. It was far more important to prevent others from doing the same. After all, while there were innumerable benefits to having your identity more clearly defined, it also made your weaknesses easier to exploit. A notable example of this was how the Norse God of Light, Baldr, was imperverious to harm. However, the moment he was exposed to mistletoe, he became as weak and vulnerable as a normal human male. (A/N: Fun fact. Many have speculated that this is the origin of Superman's weakness to kryptonite.)Seeing Fenrir place away the golden card before they could get a good look at its features, the Guardian Lions adopted remarkably humanoid expressions of discontent. Unfortunately, while it was well within their right to question Fenrir's identity, they couldn't force her to reveal personal secrets. Their duty revolved around exposing a person's purpose and ascertaining whether or not they could be trusted to enter the Jade Palace. Prying too deeply into a person's secrets was more than enough justification for a war between Communities and the factions backing them.As that thought crossed their minds, the Guardian Lions were prepared to proceed with the next phase of the trial when Fenrir's ears suddenly perked up. Then, before either of them could utter so much as a single additional syllable, she vanished into thin air.........Having passed through the Cavern of Reflection with considerable ease, Vahn was waiting outside the entrance to the Jade Palace with Mikoto, Erlang Shen, and the Howling Celestial Dog. They were just making small conversation until Vahn sensed a subtle shift in the connection between him and Fenrir. When he focused his attention on it, he felt an unbelievable chill, but, at the same time, there was a sensation akin to 'serenity' that compelled him to remain calm.Surprising the increasingly friendly God and his animal companion, Vahn spontaneously raised his hand to interrupt the former, stating, "One second..." before promptly linking his senses with Fenrir. He could feel her excitement the moment the connection was established, but, unlike the times he had linked with her previously, it was comparably subtle. Instead, the moment prominent emotion she was currently experiencing could best be described as contentedness.Just as Vahn was contemplating sending her a message, Fenrir's Fragment of Origin manifested into existence. This was more than enough reason to extract her from the trial, so, the moment she drew the Gift Card into herself, he pulled up her Status in his Unit Management tab and teleported her to his side. Then, before anything else, he pulled her into his embrace, a massive grin on his face as he squeezed her tight and said, "Congratulations on becoming a God..."Hearing her Master's praise, Fenrir's tail began to waggle as she nuzzled her face against his chest. This caused Vahn's smile to turn notably more affectionate, but, feeling his hand freeze the moment he grazed Fenrir's tail, his brows immediately perked up as he looked down to see a subtle, icy glow radiating from the interior of each individual bristle. He could also feel a frigid chill seeping into his body from Fenrir's paws. The most surprising thing about this was the fact his body wasn't breaking it down like it would other foreign energies. Instead, it seemed to absorb the icy energy, almost as if it was happy to have it...-----------------------------------------------[Status]Name: Fenrir MasonAge: 108, AgelessRace: Vanargandr, Primordial Ice Spirit, Pure-Blooded DragonParameters: [Transcendental Path to Heaven]Strength: 304,292BAgility: 711,419ADexterity: 118,567BIntelligence: 39,873CLuck: 77,003ASpirit: 504,108AWisdom: 6,228DCharisma: 1,004,617SDivinity: Primoridial Ice(S), Wolf(B), Moon(C), Hunt(C), Severing(C)Authority: Sage Dragon Emperor's Most Trusted Companion(???)Soul Tier: 4Karma: (-)Innate(s): [Insatiable Hunger(Innate):(-)], [Heaven Devouring Wolf(Innate): SS], [Queen of the Pack(Innate):S], [Fenrir Mason: SSS]Gift(s): [Sage Dragon Emperor's Most Trusted Companion: ???], [Unchained: ???], [Queen of the Frozen Abysss: S], [Primoridial Ice Spirit: S], [Apex Predator: S], [Lunar Cry: A], [Freezing Roar: A], [Huntress: S], [Severing Claws: B], [Gleipnir: A], [Blessing of the Moon: C]Talent(s): [Ice Elemental Manipulation: S], [Archmage: S], [Mimicry: B], [Singing: B], [Dancing: C], [Etiquette: C], [Spearmanship: C], [Archery: B], [Flexibility: B], and many more~-----------------------------------------------......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fenrir is the goodest girl','Fenrir is the goodest girl','Fenrir is the goodest girl')(A/N: Important things should be said thrice.)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After casually creating a dantian-like container to house the energy Fenrir was infusing into his body, Vahn separated from the lovable wolf girl to ask, "How do you feel?"Though her mood had diminished somewhat the moment her Master pulled away, Fenrir managed an uncharacteristic smile as she answered, "I feel great. It's difficult to put into words, but I suddenly feel more 'complete' than before."Recalling his moment of ascension in the Record of Danmachi, Vahn offered an understanding nod as he hooked a hand around Fenrir's head before resting his forehead against hers. She wasn't the only one feeling more complete at the present moment. He could feel their connection more clearly than ever before, so, even without her explaining things directly, he knew exactly how she felt."Master..."As if they were the only two people in the entire world, Fenrir stood on the tips of her toes in an effort to seize her Master's lips. Vahn offered no resistance in this regard. Rather, the moment he sensed her intentions, he forcibly separated them from the Jade Palace's Principle Axis of Time. In other words, they now had all the time in the world and no one, except perhaps the Administrator of the Central Network, had the ability to spy on them.From the perspective of everyone else, Vahn and Fenrir had just been staring into each others' eyes after the former rested his head against the latter. The only person to sense anything was amiss was Mikoto, as, the moment Vahn and Fenrir returned to the Principle Axis of Time, she could sense the changes in their bodies and auras. This caused her to feel envious, so, before anyone else could say anything, she jumped onto Vahn's shoulder and gave both him and Fenrir a light shock.Chuckling in spite of the bands of electricity flowing between his molars, Vahn reached his hand up to caress Mikoto's head as he teased, "You're cute when you're jealous..."Though she was fully capable of speech, Mikoto replied with a threatening, "Pika..." before puffing out her cheeks and producing even more electricity. This time, however, she didn't shock either of them as the serene yet piercing gaze of Fenrir's face made it readily apparent she didn't appreciate being electrocuted.Ignoring the energetic bands of electricity, Vahn used his index and middle fingers to persistently scratch under and around her chin until she inevitably released a sigh and rubbed her cheek against the back of his hand...Seeing the intimacy between Vahn and his two animal companions, Erlang Shen briefly exchanged glances with the Howling Celestial Dog. In response, the ivory-white canine adopted a moderately offended expression before stating, "Even if you look at me like that, I have no intention of letting you anywhere near my butt..."Understanding the implication contained in the Howling Celestial Dog's words, a violent aura began to exude from Erlang Shen's body as he stared down at his longtime companion and threatened, "It would appear I've been too lenient on you these past three-hundred years..."Without waiting for his Master to continue, the Howling Celestial Dog promptly transformed into a puppy before speeding off through one of the Jade Palace's walls. He possessed the ability to cross boundaries, so, with walls serving as a boundary between the interior and exterior of a building, he was able to pass through them as if they didn't exist."You mangy lout! If you run off, you better not come looking for me later on...!"Ignoring his Master's threats, the Howling Celestial Dog proceeded to the medium-sized pavilion that served as Erlang Shen's home and the kennel of his moderately sized harem. It had been a few years since he last saw his pups so he was eager to see how they had grown. He was also feeling a little frustrated after seeing Fenrir's human form, so, with the intention of healing his broken heart, he sped off towards his home...Sensing the Howling Celestial Dog's aura disappearing, Erlang Shen clicked his tongue in frustration before shifting his attention back to Vahn, Fenrir, and Mikoto. When he discovered the affectionate trio staring back at him, a bit of heat and a ruddy coloration spread through his cheeks. His fair and unblemished skin made this even more obvious, yet, in spite of this, he managed to appear stoic as he said, "I'll show you to the audience chamber. After that, I expect our next meeting will be at Zao Shin's Immortal Banquet. Truth be told, I'm quite looking forward to the evening's festivities..."Though his impression of Vahn had improved tremendously over the last couple of hours, there was also a bit of resentment in Erlang Shen's heart. Exchanging blows in the arena was the most reliable method of settling grievances, so, the moment the ranking matches commenced, he intended to be among the first to challenge Vahn. Then, regardless of how things concluded, they would forever be brothers-in-arms.Recognizing the competitive glimmer in Erlang Shen's eyes, an expectant smile gradually presented itself across Vahn's face. He was also looking forward to the evening's festivities, so, after a moment of allowing the tensions to increase, he assuredly replied, "As am I." before proceeding to follow his newly found friend through the beautiful and scenic estate constructed from crimson wood, pristine white marble, and vibrant jade.........Shortly after Vahn passed Baihu in the West, an inordinately beautiful woman with ashen hair and a phenomenal figure, eyed by everyone she passed, attempted to bypass the Vermillion Bird, Zhuque, in the South.Noticing the woman's approach, Zhuque, one of the most elegant and attractive women in the entire Heavenly Domain, couldn't help frowning. She didn't consider herself a vain person but the aura exuded by the ashen-haired woman caused her to feel uncharacteristically insecure. It was like the woman held absolutely nothing...almost like she was above even the Gods...With a fiery aura exuding from her body, Zhuque's feet parted with the ground as she elevated herself gracefully into the sky. Her somewhat revealing gown, consisting of red, orange, and gold cloth seemed to come to life as her silky black hair, fastened into a traditional phoenix hairstyle that perfectly framed her face, gained a vermillion hue."Who are you? What business have you with the Jade Palace...?"Catching Zhuque by surprise, the woman promptly took a knee before respectfully lowering her head and answering, "My name is Baegis Assipattle of Orcadia. I have come to the Jade Palace in pursuit of the Sage Dragon, Vahn Aldrnari Mason."......(A/N: Just kidding. Assipattle is a real person in Orcadian Folklore though.)......"My name is Vor Valkyria, First Generation Valkyrie and Vice-Leader of the White Raven Community. I have entered the Heavenly Domain in pursuit of the Sage Dragon, Vahn Aldrnari Mason. I believe the Allfather has already explained the situation to the Greatest and Most Venerable Jade Emperor. Please allow me passage."Recognizing the name almost instantaneously, Zhuque's eyes widened as she lowered herself to the ground and asked, "You're the Goddess of Spears? The Undefeated Dragon Slayer of Odin's Hall...?"Holding out her left hand, Vor manifested an inordinately large lance with the exact same white coloration as her bodysuit. Both were formed from materials that had been harvested from Pure-Blooded Dragons, so, the moment people set eyes on them, an instinctual feeling of dread would settle upon them. After all, while there were quite a number of Dragon Slayers spread throughout history and myth, few had the legacy of hunting one of the 'Strongest Species' for sport.Swallowing hard, most of the ill-will Zhuque had been directing toward Vor immediately settled. The kneeling Valkyrie was purported to be one of the three most powerful female warriors in the South Side, and, according to rumors, she had nearly slain Kouryuu, the Great Sage Who Devastates Seas, during their past encounter. Were it not for the timely intervention of Sun Wu Kong, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, the legendary Seven Sages would have been reduced to three members.Understanding she was absolutely not Vor's match, Zhuque cupped her hands in a respectful and courteous manner as she said, "You honor us with your presence, oh great one. Please, raise your head and stand. If you continue to kneel, everyone here will be forced to prostrate..."Rising the moment she heard Zhuque's words, a practiced smile developed across Vor's face as she said, "Thank you." before dismissing her spear and asking, "May I pass...?"Though she might get in trouble for letting someone pass without an invitation, Zhuque lacked the ability to bar Vor's passage. The rules of the Jade Palace allowed people to challenge each other for virtually any reason, even minor slights. This rule extended to people visiting the Heavenly Domain, so, if Vor really wanted to, she could challenge her to a deathmatch in order to 'earn' passage to the Jade Palace.Refusing to spend the next century resurrecting, Zhuque forced a smile before offering yet another courteous bow and saying, "Please pass..." in an awkward, notably strained voice. She felt like she had swallowed a bug, but, knowing how violent the warriors from the South could be, she wasn't going to risk her neck barring the passage of someone exponentially stronger than an opponent she had no hope of beating...Emulating Zhuque's actions, Vor cupped her hands together and repeated, "Thank you." before raising her head and passing the resentful-looking guardian. Then, the moment no one could see her face, her expression became devoid of emotion as her long and remarkably toned legs carried her forward at a surprisingly swift yet elegant pace.........Though the Heavenly City had once been situated at the exact center of the Heavenly Domain, it had been forced to relocate after the Legendary Poet, Wu Cheng'en, published the classical story 'Journey to the West'. The tale had effectively split the Heavens in two, one side representing the East while the other side represented the Western Regions visited by Xuanzang during his journey to recover Buddhist scriptures.Located near the southern point of the Heavenly Domain's Western Region was the large, floating mountain range that Vahn had noticed shortly after his arrival. He hadn't thought much about it at the time but this was actually the birthplace and home of the second most powerful figure in the East Side, Sun Wu Kong. To the residents of the Little Garden, it was the Legendary Mount Huaguo. To the peoples of the Heavenly Domain, it was known simply as 'Monkey Mountain'.Resting at a pool in the center of a relatively small island whose only prominent features included a bodhi tree and numerous, pumpkin-sized peaches was a golden-haired lass who appeared no older than 13-14 years old. Her hair, reminiscent of golden rice ready to be harvested, was fastened into two small tufts while rounded, monkey-like ears protruded from the sides of her head.Contrary to what most people would expect, this youthful-looking girl with shimmering, emerald-green eyes was none other than the legendary Sun Wu Kong. When people first learned this, their first thought would be that she had used the 72 Transformations in order to prank them. In reality, the monkey demon associated with her myth was actually an entirely separate entity known as the Demon Lord of Confusion. He was deadset on seeking revenge by stealing her Fragment of Origin for himself, but, due to the monstrous difference in their power, Sun Wu Kong was able to enjoy a relatively peaceful life among her people.Grabbing one of the oversized peaches, Wu, as her friends called her, was preparing to take a bite when she sensed a subtle fluctuation in the flow of fate to the East. She still took a massive bite out of the peach, but, rather than continuing to soak in the pull, she raised her nearly naked body from the water and mused, "Oh~? It seems like something interesting is happening over at the old man's place."Using her extendable, monkey-like tail as an extra hand, Wu picked up several more peaches before leaping thousands of meters into the air without any discernible effort. The transparent white fabric covering her body immediately crumbled due to the air pressure, so, for a brief moment, her naked figure was visible for all the inhabitants of Mount Huaguo to see. Fortunately for them, every single one of them immediately averted their eyes, as, despite telling everyone how little she cared about being seen, Wu had severely beaten every single person, plant, or animal who dared ogle her naked form.She might not be shy, but she still had her dignity as a woman.Sensing a complete lack of gazes, Wu issued a contemptuous snort, muttering, "Cowards..." under her breath before promptly donning a brown and white robe, predominately white leggings, and a pair of leathery panties that left very little to the imagination. At the same time, she reached behind her rounded, monkey-like ear to grab a toothpick-sized staff, shouting, "Nimbusssss~!" as her body began to accelerate towards the ground. In response, a golden cloud came out of nowhere to catch her. Then, like a meteor speeding across the sky, she hurried towards the Heavenly City.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Mikotochu wants some loving~','Zhuque got wrecked...','This is not a joke. If you read Last Embryo, the sequel series to Mondaiji, you will learn that this is a faithful rendition of the character xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After passing through the surprisingly crowded Heavenly City, the last obstacle between Vahn and the Jade Palace was an inordinately long bridge spanning a bottomless chasm. Falling here meant descending to the Mortal Domain below, and, due to the restrictions against flight, anyone without the ability to survive crashing into the ground at thousands of kilometers per hour would invariably lose their life.For reasons Vahn couldn't understand, many of the worlds revolving around the cultivation of Qi had no upper limit to the speed at which a person could fall. Concepts such as friction still existed, but, due to the layer of Qi that covered their bodies, Immortals, Daoists, and Cultivators would find themselves accelerating to the point that a relatively short descent of a few hundred meters might kill them.Fortunately, Vahn was far beyond the point that a fall could kill him. He could travel at such speeds that he could bore through entire planets without sustaining the slightest of injuries, so, if anything, the descent to the Mortal Domain would be a leisurely and nostalgic experience.Guarding the inordinately long bridge connecting the Heavenly City to the Jade Palace was a young man with predominately white hair that extended past his hips. The tips of his somewhat wild and free-flowing bangs were tinged with black, and, despite possessing a pair of humanoid ears on the side of his head, there were two, rounded tiger-like ears protruding from the top.As the wall dividing the Heavenly City from the rest of the Heavenly Domain ran from North to South, the gate most people passed through to enter the Jade Palace was the West. As a result, even without seeing the massive white tiger the man was lounging against, Vahn could already guess the man's identity. After all, the tiger stripes on his face and his glacial blue eyes made it pretty obvious..."Baihu."Hearing his name, the animalistic God ceased staring off into space long enough to acknowledge the existence of Vahn and his party. Instead of responding to Vahn's address, however, he focused his gaze on the disguised Erlang Shen, asking, "What are you doing here, dog breath? Weren't you punished to guard the Mortal Domain after attempting to bribe Yue Lao?"(A/N: Yue Lao is the God of Marriage that ties people together using the strings of fate.)Snorting through his nose, Erlang Shen undid his transformation before answering, "I was asked to receive and escort one of the Jade Emperor's guests. Move aside, stupid cat."Turning his attention from Erlang Shen, Baihu stared at Vahn for a brief moment before furrowing his brows when he saw Fenrir. Then, noticing the bulge near Vahn's belly, he groused, "Another dog lover..." before asking, "What are you trying to sneak into the Jade Palace?"Producing the same invitation letter he had shown at the Gate of Heaven, Vahn calmly explained, "I was allowed to bring along two companions. One of them is currently asleep so I would appreciate it if you kept your voice down and retracted your aura..."Recognizing the spiritual imprint on the invitation letter, Baihu cupped his hands together in a lazy gesture of respect before sitting back down and making himself comfortable against his bus-sized animal companion. This caused Erlang Shen to shake his head in disapproval, but, instead of going out of his way to antagonize the legendary beast, he just looked towards Vahn and said, "Let's go." in a slightly exasperated tone.Though he was half-tempted to invite his Baihu out, Vahn just smiled and waved towards the lazy-looking God in passing. The man furrowed his brows in response, but, rather than saying anything, he just snorted through his nose while his tiger companion exhaled through his nose in a manner remarkably reminiscent of a sigh.........With Erlang Shen and the Howling Celestial Dog leading the way, it wasn't long before Vahn and Co found themselves in what appeared to be a completely different, extremely ancient world. They had been walking in a straight line, yet, as if they had stepped through time and space, the bridge led to a fantastical rock formation covered in glistening runes and lush vegetation."Once we pass through the Cavern of Reflection, we'll be at the western entrance to the Jade Palace. I should warn you. Those with malicious intents or wicked hearts will find themselves unable to pass the trials ahead. If you would like to return, now is your last chance..."To emphasize the severity of his words, Erlang Shen pointed to a few lines of runic text engraved in a nearby stone tablet. It was a little unorthodox, but, even at a glance, Vahn could recognize it as a type of Geass Roll. Instead of being a one-time use item, however, it was of the perpetual variety. In other words, entering the Jade Palace required consenting to and completing a Gift Game...------------------------------------------------&lt;Cavern of Reflection&gt;[Win Condition]Complete the trials within the Cavern of Reflection.[Hidden Conditions]None[Rules]1: Participants must enter alone.2: Participants are unable to lie within the confines of the Cavern of Reflection.3. Participants may forfeit the game at any time.[Restrictions]1: Participants cannot leave the Cavern of Reflection before completing its trials.2: The use of Gifts is strictly prohibited.3: Destroying the Cavern of Reflection is strictly prohibited.[Reward]1: Entrance into the Jade Palace.[Penalty]1: Expulsion from the Heavenly Domain.[Time Limit]Unlimited------------------------------------------------Though he wasn't fond of the idea of entering alone, Vahn had innumerable ways to get around it. Instead, he gave Mikoto a gentle pat, stirring the mouse-like Pokemon awake before asking, "Feel like participating in a Gift Game?"Poking her head out of Vahn's tunic, Mikoto briefly looked around before spotting the stone tablet. After reading the rules and restrictions listed out, she issued an adorable yawn before climbing out of his tunic and answering, "Sure. Now is as good a time as any to participate in my first game."With that said, Mikoto jumped off of Vahn's shoulder before scampering over to the Cavern of Reflection. Since the rules stated they would need to enter alone, she didn't see in point in idling around. She was also pretty competitive at times, so, with Fenrir lagging behind, Mikoto intended to be the first to complete the trial.Understanding Mikoto's intentions, Fenrir furrowed how brows before spontaneously transforming into her human form. This caught Erlang Shen and the Howling Celestial Dog by surprise, as, in preparation for the banquet, Fenrir had worn a rather stylish yet form-fitting gown that matched the sensibilities of the Eastern Gods. It left her shoulders and part of her thighs exposed but it was still an extremely tasteful garb that resembled white and black martial arts apparel accentuated by an ornate teal sash, detached sleeves that vaguely resembled flowers, and a stylish purple cape."I take back my previous statement. Human or not, you're a lucky man to have captured the heart of such a beautiful woman."After recovering from his brief stupor, Erlang Shen surprised Vahn with a toothy smile and a thumbs up while the Howling Celestial Dog adopted a remarkably human expression of regret. Both he and his wives also possessed human forms, but, compared to Fenrir, even his most beautiful wife would fall short.With an uncharacteristically haughty expression on her face, Fenrir's chest swelled with pride as she stared down at the Howling Celestial Dog. Before she could say anything unnecessarily antagonist, however, Vahn gently urged her forward by gently pressing his palm just above her tail. This caused her ears to twitch and her back to straighten as he said, "Go on ahead. If anything happens, be sure to contact me."Nodding her head in understanding, Fenrir cast one last taunting look towards the pouting pup before picking up her pace and dashing into the cavern's entrance. It didn't even take a full second for her figure to disappear completely, as, the moment anyone passed the invisible barrier covering the entrance, they were immediately teleported to an isolated dimensional space.Having followed Fenrir's departure with his eyes, Erlang Shen returned his attention to Vahn, asking, "Seriously, how did you tame a woman like that? She gives off the same impression as those high-brow women who seclude themselves in all-female sects. It's no wonder she caught the attention of Little Moon."(A/N: FYI, Xiao Yue and Little Moon mean the same thing.)Though he was tempted to say he hadn't tamed her, Vahn knew that wasn't exactly true. There had been a time when Fenrir was basically his pet, and, even to this very day, there were moments when he had to give her guidance in response to her behavior.Running his hand through his hair, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he chose to answer in the most honest manner possible, asserting, "I'm not gonna lie. I was, and continue to be, one of the luckiest men in the world. Fenrir is just the tip of a very large iceberg when it comes to my luck with women. In fact, I often have to go out of my way to avoid increasing the size of my harem..."Not expecting such a braggadocious remark, Erlang Shen stared at Vahn as if the latter was pulling his leg. With his Golden Eye of Truth, however, he could ascertain that Vahn was, indeed, telling the truth. This caused a bit of resentment to swell within the three-eyed God's chest, as, despite being one of the most famous Warrior Gods affiliated with the Jade Palace, his luck with women was truly abysmal. He had even started to assume that someone had cursed him, as, despite proposing to a total of 937 women, every single one of them had refused his courtship...Placing his hand on Vahn's shoulder, Erlang Shen's countenance became uncharacteristically serious as he said, "Brother...you must teach me your methods. Each of my brothers and sisters has already found a Daoist partner. I'm tired of eating dog food..."Blinking in surprise, Vahn stared Erlang Shen up and down before briefly exchanging glances with the Howling Celestial Dog. In response, the ivory-white canine explained, "This fool is beyond hope when it comes to romance. He believes normal courtship practices are too roundabout so he ends up proposing the first time he meets a woman he likes. I even attempted to set him up with one of my daughters but he ended up complaining about how everyone in the Imperial Court would make fun of him for settling down with a dog..."Turning a resentful gaze toward Erlang Shen, the Howling Celestial Dog adopted a gaze similar to a father who had all but given up on his son. In response, the three-eyed god nervously averted his gaze before softly muttering, "I at least want my first time to be with a beautiful fairy..."Though the man had spoken in a voice that was clearly meant to be inaudible, both Vahn and the Howling Celestial Dog were able to hear him. As a result, Vahn was genuinely surprised, as, despite the moderately oppressive aura that radiated from Erlang Shen's body, the man was actually very handsome. He was also the son of the Jade Emperor and possessed tremendous power. These two traits, alone, should have had women lining up from the Silver Bridge to the Jade Palace in an effort to become his wife...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn shifted his attention to the fiery third eye at the center of Erlang Shen's forehead. He suspected this was the true reason the God hadn't been able to find a partner. People didn't really like having all their secrets exposed, so, even if there were women who harbored intentions toward him, they would be too afraid of being seen through. As for the women he had proposed to...well, Vahn would have to see it to understand how the man had erred...Placing one of his own hands on the desperate-looking God's shoulder, Vahn returned a friendly smile as he said, "Sure. Once the banquet has come to an end, we'll discuss the matter over a few drinks. I can't promise my advice will ensure you a wife but I should be able to correct the mistakes in your approach. Just promise me you'll invite me to the wedding if things go well."Since he was always looking to increase his number of male companions, Vahn didn't mind offering Erlang Shen a bit of advice. The latter could also tell he was being sincere, so, despite feeling more than a little awkward, an excited smile developed across his face as he threw his arm around Vahn's shoulders and stated, "Of course!" before issuing a boisterous laugh.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Lazy tiger...','Fenrir being haughty-naughty (O w O)...','Howling Celestial Dog be like, "What's wrong with dog food...?"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2151: Frigid