Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

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

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

Chapter 2149: Favor