Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Erlang Shen leading the way, it wasn't long before Vahn found himself in a large antechamber connected to what he assumed to be the Jade Emperor's throne room. His senses were somewhat limited within the Jade Palace, and, while he could always expand his domain to get a grasp of the situation, he elected not to as it was remarkably rude to spread your perception through someone else's home. He would react hostilely towards anyone that attempted such a thing within the Sage Dragon's Hearth, so, as a matter of course, Vahn elected to keep his domain retracted while visiting the homes of others.Blocking the entrance to the throne room was an elderly man, who, despite the phenomenal aura exuding from his body, gave off a friendly and approachable vibe. His head was framed with ashen hair that formed a rather stylish beard while his eyes, glistening with a luminescent golden radiance, seemed to penetrate through everything despite his bespectacled, grandfatherly look.With an appreciative smile on his face, the man, garbed in a wrinkled white robe, black sash, and matching hanfu cloak, caressed his beard as he said, "Xiao Shen...welcome home. It's good to see you. And these must be the Jade Emperor's guests? Welcome to the Jade Palace. This old fellow's name is Huangdi but you're free to address me as Grandfather Huang. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."Though he didn't lower his head, Huangdi politely cupped his hands as he maintained a kind and grandfatherly smile. This surprised Vahn quite a bit, as, even before the man had spoken, he had already guessed his identity. After all, suppressing the aura of a Pure-Blooded Dragon, much less one on the level of Huangdi, the Yellow Dragon of the Center, was remarkably difficult.As someone who had been mistaken as the Yellow Emperor more than once, a smile naturally made its way to Vahn's face as he cupped his hands and stated, "The pleasure is mine. I'm not going to lie. My time in the Heavenly Domain has been far more pleasant than anticipated. Meeting someone of your status and seeing them behave humbly is like a breath of fresh air in a polluted world."Amused by Vahn's words, Huangdi issued a light chuckle as he reached into this sleeve to produce a red envelope. It was customary for Elders to bestow promising Juniors with gifts during their first encounter, so, while Vahn might not belong to the Jade Palace, Huangdi felt it was only natural he mark their encounter with a blessing."Contained within this red envelope is a series of talismans designed to ward away evil spirits. In the outside world, they would qualify as B-Rank Gifts. I hope you'll accept them."Without waiting for Vahn's response, Huangdi placed the red envelope into his hand before giving him a pat on the shoulder. Then, with the even more grandfatherly smile on his face, he shifted his attention to the duo flanking the large doors connecting to the Jade Emperor's throne room. Both had youthful appearances that resembled 12-13 year old children. What made them stand out was the fact that the girl on the left had subtly green skin that resembled jade while the boy on the right radiated a pale, golden glow."Yunu, Jintong, please allow our guests entry to the throne room. His Most Venerable Augustness has informed me that he is ready to receive them."Cupping their hands, Yunu and Jintong, better known as the Jade Girl and Golden Boy, bowed their heads low, replying, "Understood. Thank you, Venerable One." before promptly raising their heads and grabbing the two massive handles near the center of the set of doors. Their diminutive statures made it appear as if they wouldn't be able to open the massive golden doors, yet, as if they had no weight whatsoever, the duo managed to pry them open without producing a single sound.Stepping to the side, Huangdi gestured with his left hand before musing, "Please proceed. While the Jade Emperor is unparalleled in his kindness, Empress Xiwangmu can be temperamental. It's best not to keep them waiting."Raising his brow, Vahn shifted his attention to Erlang Shen, who, noticing his glance, adopted a wry smile as he said, "Hey, it's not like I lied. I just didn't tell you everything. Anyways...I'll see you at the banquet...!"Without waiting for Vahn's response, Erlang Shen bolted towards the exit. This elicited an amused chuckle from Huangdi, who, waiting until the younger god had departed, remarked, "That boy has only just returned and he's already digging himself a hole. It eases this old man's heart and mind to know there are some things that never change."With that said, Huangdi gave Vahn another light pat on the shoulder before departing in the same direction as Erlang Shen. It had been three years since he last saw the youthful god so he wanted to catch up before the evening's festivities.Following the elderly god's departure with his eyes, an appreciative smile developed across Vahn's face as he internally remarked, ("Even if I later find out this was all an act, I'm liking how drastically different things are compared to my expectations. I was genuinely expecting at least half a dozen Young Masters to appear...")(*Well, the Jade Emperor is known as the God of Benevolence. He may simply be an observer like Ouranos but his mentality has clearly rubbed off on those closest to him. Don't worry. I'm certain there will be plenty of young-master types during tonight's banquet.*)Nodding his head in response to Sis's words, Vahn took a moment to scratch the underside of Mikoto's chin before giving Fenrir a pat. He could sense that they wouldn't be able to bypass the transparent barrier between the antechamber and the throne room so they would need to wait outside. This might upset Empress Xiwangmu, but, in the grand scheme of things, Vahn was far more concerned with the happiness of his two companions than pandering to a goddess he had never met.........Seeing Vahn dawdle in spite of Huangdi's advice, a sigh escape the lips of a remarkably beautiful woman with fair features, snow-white hair, and pale pink eyes. At her side, a handsome man with similarly white hair and a body garbed in flowing jade robes couldn't help issuing a soft chuckle. This earned him a pointed look from the woman, but, rather than shy away, the man returned an affectionate smile as he said, "Xiwang...brazenness and youth are as inseparable as young lovers. Let's just enjoy what remains of our peace and quiet until Xiao Wu arrives..."Hearing her husband mention Sun Wu Kong, a smile promptly replaced the frown on Xiwangmu's face. Others might be disconcerted by Wu's behavior, but, ever since the changes introduced by Wu Cheng'en, she had always taken pity on the motherless monkey. Sure, Wu could be a troublemaker, but, unless they attempted to kill or confine her, she did her best to avoid maiming or crippling her opponents. She just wanted attention and Xiwangmu saw nothing wrong with that."You never informed me that Xiao Wu would be attending the banquet. I need to inform the faeries so they don't end up suffering too much when Wu attempts to steal the Peaches of Immortality..."Amused by the remarkably swift change in his wife's demeanor, the white-haired man, the Jade Emperor, adopted an even more affectionate smile as he extended his hand to gently caress the side of her face. This caused Xiwangmu's anxieties to instantaneously settle, a nearly indiscernible blush coloring her cheeks as she stared into her husband's eyes and muttered, "Darling..."Inspired by Vahn's actions, the Jade Emperor leaned over to give his wife a kiss. It had been years since he last exhibited his affection for her, so, after witnessing how close Vahn was with Fenrir and Mikoto, he felt compelled to demonstrate his own love. In response, Xiwangmu's cheeks flushed a color that resembled the peaches she guarded. She was unaccustomed to this kind of conduct from her husband, as, after countless eons, romance gradually lost its luster.Fortunately, like a gem that had accumulated dust, it only took a concerted effort to return its shine. The moment her husband's lips overlapped with her own, Xiwangmu felt as though the world had around them had spontaneously brightened. When they inevitably parted, she felt a bittersweet yet nostalgic wistfulness that caused a smile to develop across her face as she softly whispered, "I want another baby..."Unable to contain himself, the Jade Emperor issued a light-hearted laugh in response to his wife's words. They already had tens of thousands of children at this point so he didn't see any problems with siring another. He could even peer into the future to confirm that their next child was a girl, a beautiful young goddess with flowing white hair, golden eyes, and a moon-shaped imprint on her forehead.Though he could learn everything about his future daughter by tapping into his omniscience, the Jade Emperor, much like Vahn, enjoyed being surprised. Thus, the moment his daughter appeared within his mind, he promptly sealed away even her name as he leaned forward to say, "I'm looking forward to it..."......After thoroughly pacifying his two companions, Vahn entered the Jade Emperor's throne room to find two remarkably tall people seated atop golden thrones. He imagined they could change the size and shape, but, for the time being, both were more than 5m tall even whilst sitting.Though it was customary to bow and the waist or outright kowtow in the presence of the divine couple, Vahn cupped his hands together as a general courtesy before stating, "It's an honor to meet the Most Venerable and August Jade Emperor and his Empress, the Queen Mother of the West."As the duo had too many titles to count, Vahn decided to go with the simplest for both. The Jade Emperor was able to see through his intentions, so, with an amused smile on his face, he remarked, "Worry not. Though they can be remarkably useful at times, we care little for such titles. Sincerity is the greatest expression of politeness."Surprising even his wife, the Jade Emperor rose to his feet before promptly shrinking to Vahn's size. Others might not know the latter's true identity but he had heard Vahn referring to himself as the Sage Dragon Emperor. When he queried the Central Network, the Jade Emperor was able to learn that a Fragment of Origin related to the title had recently formed into existence. Vahn was the only person to refer to themself in this manner, so, after witnessing the moment when Fenrir obtained a fragment of her own, the Jade Emperor promptly decided to regard the recently arrived dragon as his equal.Not expecting the Jade Emperor to quite literally lower himself to his level, a pleasantly surprised smile developed across Vahn's face as he extended a hand towards the white-haired god. This time, it was the Jade Emperor's turn to be surprised as he had never, not even once, expected to receive an offer for a handshake...After a very brief moment of deliberation, the Jade Emperor extended his slightly luminescent hand to grasp Vahn's. Both immediately felt the power contained within the other's body. This caused a moderately surprised expression to appear on Vahn's face. As for the Jade Emperor, his eyes, for the first time in his life, had widened to the point they resembled saucers."Remarkable..."Finding himself at a momentary loss, that was the only word the Jade Emperor could think of to describe Vahn's power. It reminded him of the time he had made contact with the System Tree at the very heart of the Little Garden. There was simply no limit to the depths of Vahn's power, and, the further he probed, the more unfathomable it seemed. Thus, after a moment of silence, the Jade Emperor couldn't help remarking, "Your power... it's like coming into contact with the origin of all things. Just who...no, what are you...?"Amused by the Jade Emperor's reaction, Vahn's smile became marginally more prominent as he unhesitantly replied, "The name's Vahn Aldrnari Mason. To some, I'm known as the Sage Dragon Emperor. To others, I'm known as the Godhand. In this instance, my most important title would be the one I picked up prior to my arrival in the Divine Realm..."Letting his words hang for a moment, Vahn waited until the Jade Emperor looked like he was about to urge him to speak before adding, "I am the God of Infinite Possibilities."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Where are all the Young Masters...!?','Vahn has his priorities in order...','This is some giga-dick energy...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he was somewhat surprised by Vahn's words, the Jade Emperor just issued an amused chuckle before extracting his hand from the former's grasp. Then, with a relaxed smile on his face, he remarked, "It's unfortunate. I was sincerely hoping you would become an affiliate of the Jade Palace in the future. Now, it seems our positions have been reversed..."While other gods of his level might have been upset to discover someone was more powerful than them, the Jade Emperor wasn't known as the God of Benevolence without reason. He was also one of the few gods that carried the fate of being replaced at some point in the distant future, so, while others did everything in their power to remain relevant, he preferred to enjoy the time he had left.Unfortunately, even if he proposed the idea of an alliance with the Sage Dragon's Hearth, the Jade Emperor knew his court would never agree. Many within the Jade Palace shared the same mentality as gods in other pantheons. They genuinely believed they should rule over all other pantheons, so, while things were relatively peaceful in the present, there were always people pushing to take over and dominate the Little Garden.Understanding the futility of pursuing an actual alliance, the Jade Emperor adopted a faint smile as he removed a jade ring from his right ring finger. This caused a concerned expression to develop across the face of his wife as she was the only one, sans the Jade Emperor himself, that understood the ring's significance."Please, accept this gift as a gesture of fellowship. Circumstances make it difficult for me to openly address you as my equal so I hope this might serve as a physical representation of my desire for the Jade Palace and Sage Dragon's Hearth to remain on good terms..."As an Emperor himself, Vahn understood the Jade Emperor's circumstances better than most. The god's benevolence was actually his weakness, as, much like Ouranos, he was more of an arbitrator than a true ruler. His Empress, Xiwangmu, literally had more sway in the Imperial Court than he did as he left most decisions to his Ministers, Courtiers, and children.Accepting the ring, Vahn returned a smile as he placed it on his right index finger. The ring fingers of both of his hands were already occupied, and, while it was possible to wear more than one ring on a single finger, he preferred not to.Seeing Vahn don the ring without even questioning its function, the Jade Emperor's smile became notably more affectionate. Most Deities, especially those near the pinnacle of their pantheon, were extremely paranoid. It said a lot about Vahn's character that he was willing to both accept a don a gift without question. This was especially true in the East, as, compared to the other three Cardinal Districts, their mastery over seals was second to none.........As they didn't actually have anything to discuss, Vahn only spent a few minutes within the Jade Emperor's throne room before emerging to find Fenrir curled up in her wolf form while Mikoto used her inordinately fluffy fur as a pillow. They immediately noticed his presence and jumped to their feet while Vahn passed an amused gaze over the Jade Girl and Golden Boy. The peculiar duo had been eyeing his companions with a similar intensity to children in a pet store.Surprising the duo, Vahn summoned two Companions from the preserve located beneath the Sage Dragon's Hearth. The first looked like a pink rabbit with a white underbelly, sapphire-like eyes, and accents of pale green on the interior of its ears. The second resembled a relatively normal fox, but, similar to the pink rabbit, it was small enough to easily sit in the palm of one's hand.Proferring forth the two Companions, Vahn adopted a fatherly tone as he said, "I may not be able to give you my companions but I can provide you the opportunity to rear your own. So long as you treat these two well, they will become your most reliable allies in the future."Without explaining the powers and abilities of the pocket-sized partners, Vahn gifted the rabbit to Yunu while offering the fox to Jintong. The former, quite literally, squealed in glee while the latter, despite putting on a stoic front, couldn't help smiling when the diminutive fox pounced up to his shoulder and nuzzled against him like an affectionate kitten. This continued for the better part of a minute before the duo finally recalled they were supposed to show Vahn and the girls to one of the Jade Palace's many guest pavilions. There, they idled about for several hours until one of the Palace Stewards, an elderly man with white hair, bushy brows, a full beard, and jade-green clothing came by to respectfully inform them that the banquet would be commencing on the hour.........Though Zao Shin's Immortal Banquet was an annual event intended to determine the ranks of Gods in the Jade Palace, only the top 100, their guests, and people who had received an invitation from the Jade Emperor were allowed to attend.After being guided to a stadium-sized banquet hall, complete with an elevated platform that served as an arena, Vahn was shown to one of the tables nearest the steps separating the dining area from two magnificent thrones fashioned from jade and gold. This was noticed by nearly every God in the hall, and, as could be expected, they immediately began to talk amongst themselves when they saw him occupy one of the most coveted positions within the hall.Unlike the banquets Vahn was familiar with, every guest was given their own low-lying table to sit at. This was purely for hierarchal purposes, and, the closer you were to the Jade Emperor's throne, the higher your status in the eyes of others. As for why there were separate tables for every single guest, it was due to the fact that most Gods affiliated with the Jade Palace were extremely prideful and individualistic. They could not lower themselves to sharing a table with people they believed to be beneath them, so, with the exception of close family and friends, most Gods elected to sit alone.Noticing the gazes of nearly everyone in the hall focusing on him, Fenrir, and Mikoto, a relaxed yet 'hungry' smile developed across Vahn's face. The two girls had transformed into their human forms, and, as could be expected, their appearances garnered a substantial amount of attention. Fenrir, in particular, was receiving a number of greedy and possessive looks as every single person in the hall could sense her remarkable affinity with Yin Elemental Energy.One of the things Vahn had always disdained about cultivation novels and related media was the concept of a 'cultivation furnace'. Yin Elemental Energy was one of the most powerful supplements for a male cultivator's body, so, more often than not, the women in cultivation novels were reduced to little more than convenient tools by those seeking to increase their strength. There were very few stories with female main characters, as, unless they were born with tremendous power, it was simply impossible for them to ascend to the peak without the protection of a powerful sect.With Fenrir's recent breakthrough, the quality and quantity of her aura had increased by several orders of magnitude. Before, it would have taken someone with an inordinately high Yin affinity to sense the energy contained within her body. Now, due to her inexperience with controlling Divine Energy, she was basically a beacon that screamed 'my body was made for dual cultivation'.Fortunately, it was considered extremely rude and improper to leave your assigned table and pester the people at another. Thus, while Vahn, Fenrir, and Mikoto were garnering a considerable amount of attention, no one attempted to approach them. Instead, they remained at their seats, calculating and licentious looks on their faces as they bided their time until the second stage of the banquet...Suppressing the urge to unleash the Lightning of Tribulation on everyone gawking at her, Mikoto's ahoge twitched as she grumbled, "Why are men in power almost always perverts...?"As a man in power, Vahn couldn't help smiling wryly in response to Mikoto's remark. He had never even considered forcing himself on an unwilling partner, a stark contrast to nearly every other God present, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't a pervert. It was hard not to be when his harem was filled with remarkably beautiful women who could turn the heads of everyone in the Heavenly Domain..."Look on the bright side. It won't be long before you're able to teach them a very harsh lesson..."Hearing Vahn's assurance, the scowl on Mikoto's face gradually eased into an expectant smile. She would never admit it but everyone around her knew she was a battle junky. Vahn had brought her to the banquet for this exact purpose, as, in accordance with the regulations of the Imperial Court, challengers would need to prove themselves against a person's entourage before they could hope to challenge the person directly.As a Tier 5 entity, Mikoto was more than a match for nearly every God in the Heavenly Domain. The Jade Emperor could probably give her a run for her money, but, as a non-combatant, the odds they would face each other were astronomically small. After all, Mikoto would need to defeat every other God present just to gain the right to challenge him. She had more than enough power to do so, at least on paper, but there was no way of knowing what kind of tricks her opponents would pull out.Immortal cultivators, especially those that had ascended to Godhood, were extremely crafty.As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn's attention was drawn to the entrance along with nearly every other person in the hall. This included Fenrir and Mikoto, who, upon seeing the person that had just arrived, became extremely alert.With a height of 185cm and a body that emphasized her secondary sexual characteristics to the extreme, the newest arrival to the banquet hall was able to silence everyone in the room with her beauty. This included the females present, who, much like Fenrir and Mikoto, immediately shifted their attention to the woman's sizeable bust, long legs, and toned thighs. This was made easier by the fact that the woman was wearing a skintight bodysuit that left very little to the imagination...While everyone was gawking at her, the woman, possessing ashen hair and amber eyes was passing her gaze over each of every person present within the hall. When her gaze met Vahn's, a very subtle smile developed across her face before promptly disappearing a moment later. Then, at the behest of the Palace Steward escorting her, her inordinately long legs, accented by 10cm heels, carried her to one of the tables located on the opposite side of the path dividing the hall.Voicing the thought that had just crossed Vahn's mind, Fenrir muttered, "That woman came here to hunt you..."Nodding his head in confirmation, Vahn maintained a nonchalant smile as he commented, "She's quite powerful as well. If either of you ends up fighting her, make sure to go all out from the start. The aura she gives off is remarkably similar to Scathach. Don't underestimate her."Though Fenrir nodded her head in understanding, Mikoto nearly caused Vahn to do a spit take as she remarked, "That woman's body is absurd. Even without seeing it directly, I can tell she has an even bigger butt than Asuna. You better not go easy on her just because she has a big ass..."After sensing the power contained within the woman's body, Mikoto wasn't too opportunistic about her chances of emerging victoriously. In other words, it was only a matter of time before she and Vahn encountered each other in the arena. Mikoto didn't know why she was searching for him, but, seeing the woman's extraordinary physique, it wasn't difficult to imagine how things might turn out. After all, Vahn might be an amazing person, but he was still a pervert...Understanding Mikoto's thoughts, Vahn's smile gradually faded into a deadpan. The saddest thing about the situation was that he couldn't even refute her. The only person that knew him better than himself was Sis, and, as she could attest, there was no way he would be able to refuse the advances of such a remarkable beauty. With the exception of her hair color, the woman checked off each and every one of the preferences he had built over the past three hundred years. He may not add her to his harem, but, if she provided him the opportunity, he would readily sample what lays beneath her skintight bodysuit. His Sex Divinity hadn't exactly manifested out of thin air.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Jade Emperor is a pretty chill fella...','Swines coveting swan meat...','At least he's being honest with himself xD...')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

Chapter 2153: Acknowledgement