Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Following the departure of Chang'e and her entourage, one of the groups sitting nearest to Vahn could no longer contain themselves. Fortunately, unlike the vast majority of people within the hall, their leader, an androgynous man with flowing black hair framing green eyes and fair features, showed no obvious resentment as he remarked, "It would appear you possess quite the unique identity. My name is Tang Tianxia, the Immortal Bamboo Sovereign. These are my apprentices, Tang Dongxi and Tang Yaiba. We are pleased to make your acquaintance."Though he didn't recognize the man's name and title, Vahn was aware of the general structure of the Jade Palace and its affiliate Communities. The Tang Clan and its derivative Tang Sect were the most prominent organizations due to their prominence in both the Heavenly and Mortal Domain. The name Tianxia was also associated with the material plane and political sovereignty, so, even if the man hadn't included his title, Vahn could assume he was one of the Divine Courtiers ruling over the mortal world.Since the man hadn't gone out of his way to genuflect, Vahn maintained a relaxed and casual smile as he replied, "Vahn Aldrnari Mason, the Sage Dragon Emperor. It's a pleasure to meet three of the Tang Sect's Ancestral Gods."With a bit of assistance from Loi-chan, Vahn was able to grasp Tianxia's true identity. This seemed to surprise the jade-skinned man, but, other than curling the corners of his lips, he didn't show any particular signs of perturbation. Instead, he offered a slight nod before questioning, "Has the Sage Dragon's Hearth decided to affiliate themselves with the Jade Palace? If so, the Tang Clan is always looking to make new friends. I'm certain a partnership between our respective organizations can be mutually beneficial...""Hmmm..."Caressing his chin as if he were actually considering the man's words, Vahn was, in fact, listening to Loi-chan divulge some of the man's deepest and darkest secrets. He was a mortal who had risen to become a God after receiving the Mandate of Heaven. Though it was rarely touched upon in many of the novels he had read, it was the Mandate of Heaven that allowed many of the Main Characters in Cultivation Novels to overcome countless trials and tribulations to become a God. It was basically an advanced form of plot armor, and, no matter how many mistakes they made during their ascent, it was only a matter of time before those with the Mandate of Heaven became one of the strongest and most influential individuals in their world.Though Tianxia had converted to Buddhism after the proliferation of Wu Cheng'en's 'Journey to the West', his path to power was marred with rivers of blood and mountains of corpses. If they had met at some point in the past, Vahn probably would have killed him on the spot. Instead, he maintained a casual smile. After all, the path he had tread wasn't exactly built upon flowers and compromise."Your good intentions have been duly noted. If the opportunity presents itself, I'm sure we can work something out. For now, however, there are more pressing matters to attend..."Seeing Vahn shift his gaze to the numerous groups paying close attention to their conversation, a soft chuckle emanated from Tianxia's throat. He was tempted to assert that men should be brazen and unconcerned with the machinations of their adversaries, but, having experienced a number of setbacks in the past, he elected not to. He was one strongest Immortals, but, when it came to raw power, he lagged far behind the Heavenly Domain's highest-ranking deities. This had bothered him quite a bit in the past, but, after failing to rise above Rank 13 after thousands of years, he eventually gave up trying to become the strongest and instead focused on becoming the most influential.As that thought crossed his mind, Tianxia briefly focused his jade-green eyes on Fenrir and Mikoto. His intuition told him that he would be able to become much stronger with their "assistance", but, as someone who had once exhibited his lovers for the whole Heavenly Domain to see, Tianxia was well aware of Vahn's intentions. You didn't parade around remarkably beautiful women unless you were supremely confident in your abilities or specifically looking for trouble...Shaking wayward thoughts from his mind, Tianxia returned his gaze to Vahn before pulling out a band of creamy brown prayer beads and softly musing, "There is no fear for one whose mind is not filled with desires..."With Loi-chan revealing Tianxia's true thoughts, Vahn had to resist the urge to snort through his nose. He had never been particularly fond of people who played at being wise despite harboring thoughts and intentions that sharply contrasted their sayings. If Tianxia was confident he could get away with it, there would be nothing preventing him from taking everything he desired. Thus, while Vahn's initial impression of the man wasn't all that bad, Tianxia had effectively burned every bridge between them with his hypocrisy.Unfortunately for the effeminate man, Vahn was remarkably good at concealing his thoughts from people he didn't particularly care for. He was absolutely terrible at hiding the truth from his loved one, but, in front of someone like Tianxia, he may as well be an ancient tome bound with wax paper and chains. The man had no hope of reading his thoughts and intentions. Thus, with a relaxed smile on his face, he casually retorted, "An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind..."Surprised by Vahn's words, Tianxia opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He hadn't expected the former to counter his musings with another Buddhist saying, much less one carrying such implications. As a result, a nearly indiscernible glimmer of hostility flashed across his eyes as he internalized the notion that Vahn was an exceptionally dangerous individual.........With several other important and distinguished figures arriving, the atmosphere within the banquet hall became increasingly festive. There were still people gawking at Vahn and his entourage, but, for the most part, everyone began focusing on themselves and their cliques. This included Tianxia, who, following their brief conversation, excused himself to converse with a few of his fellow Immortals.Fortunately, not that he would have minded keeping the girls company, Vahn wasn't left without a conversation partner. Erlang Shen had eventually shown up, and, while they weren't seated next to each other, that didn't stop the two of them from conversing until Huangdi made an appearance to announce the imminent arrival of the Jade Emperor and Empress Xiwangmu. This caused everyone to return to their seats, and, moments later, the hall had become silent as the distant yet loud echo of a drum reverberated off the surrounding walls.Expecting the duo to make a grand entrance, Vahn was somewhat surprised when the Jade Emperor and his wife meandered into the hall without so much as an escort. Shortly thereafter, the duo took their seats before the Jade Emperor simply nodded towards a remarkably ancient-looking man with jade-green vestiments reminiscent of a court official from the Han Dynasty. He didn't even bother to give a speech. Instead, he just observed in silence with a serene, unperturbed smile on his face...Unsurprisingly, the ancient-looking old man was none other than Zao Shin, the host of the banquet and one of the most senior Gods in the Jade Palace. He was even older than the Jade Emperor, and, similar to Hestia, represented perpetuity, good health, family, and the hearth. He was also the God of the Kitchen, and, according to many, his culinary skills placed him among the ten greatest chefs in the Divine Realm. Some even claimed he could raise the recently deceased by merely wafting the aroma of his food in their direction...To Zao Shin's credit, the dishes brought out by the palace servants were among the best Vahn had ever tasted. Even Fenrir, who could be remarkably picky at times, was pleasantly surprised by many of the dishes brought out. It wasn't quite on the level of Rindo's cooking, but, considering the latter had a system that allowed her to exponentially and infinitely increase her proficiency in the kitchen, that wasn't too surprising. After all, she had functionally unlimited access to ingredients from other Records while Zao Shin was limited by the ingredients collected in the Heavenly Domain.Noticing the relatively relaxed expressions on the faces of Vahn, Fenrir, and Mikoto, it wasn't long before Zao Shin approached them directly, an incomparably kind smile on his face as he asked, "Is there anything this old man can do to make your meal more enjoyable? I pride myself on preparing meals that people will remember fondly for years to come. If these dishes do not suit your palette, I am more than happy to prepare something else."Though he was tempted to politely refuse, Vahn understood how prideful chefs could be when it came to the principles that guided their cooking. Thus, after a moment of consideration, he asked Sis to purchase a high-quality storage ring before filling it with rare ingredients and one of Rindo's personal cookbooks. He was curious to see what the elderly god could pull off if given the proper resources, so, with a relaxed smile on his face, he presented the ring and explained, "The quality of Zao Shin's food is beyond reproach. However, there are mountains beyond mountains and infinite expanses above even the Heavens themselves. This ring contains the records of the greatest Chefs in existence. There are also ingredients to prepare meals for more than three hundred people. I'm looking forward to tasting Lord Zao's version of these legendary dishes."While others might have been offended by Vahn's words, Zao Shin went as far as to cup his hands in respect before presenting both hands to accept the ring. Impeccable customer service was one of the foundational pillars of preparing delicious meals, so, even if someone were to spit his food back in his face, Zao Shin would maintain his grandfatherly smile as he prepared a second course. After all, hatred does not cease through hatred and vindictiveness. It ceases through compassion, love, and tolerance.........With the ingredients and recipes supplied by Vahn, it wasn't long before the banquet hall was filled with an intoxicating fragrance. Even the Jade Emperor couldn't help perking up as nearly every set of eyes followed the group of hungry-looking servants bringing Vahn, Fenrir, and Mikoto their meal. There were silver cloches covering each of the food items, yet, in spite of this, a subtle luminescence emanated from their surface as a powerful aroma followed the group through the hall.When the cloches were finally removed, an aromatic eruption comparable to the big bang spread through the hall in an instant. Everyone in the hall immediately became deathly still, as, for a brief moment, everything in existence seemed to revolve around the dishes atop Vahn's table. When he picked up a piece to sample it, they felt as if they were watching an essential portion of reality itself being consumed...Unsurprisingly, quite a number of Gods within the hall became offended when they noticed the disparity between the dishes they were being served and those being presented to Vahn. It didn't matter to them that he had provided both the ingredients and the recipe. They wanted a taste of the dishes he was being provided.Fortunately, just as a few of the more brazen individuals were preparing to protest, a veritable tidal wave of servants flowed into the hall. Zao Shin had realized Vahn's intentions the moment he sent his intent into the spatial ring. He had also sampled the dishes himself, so, understanding just how chaotic things would become once the dishes were presented, he made sure to prepare enough for everyone in the hall before sending out the servants with Vahn's meal. As for himself, he personally carried a tray to the Jade Emperor, who, for the first time in hundreds of years, appeared genuinely excited to try something new.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The appearance of the Immortal Sects...!','I can totally imagine Zao Shin bowing to Rindo as his Master xD...','Seraphina would be proud...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing how much everyone was enjoying Rindo's dishes, Vahn couldn't help smiling. He might not have the best impression of their society but that didn't prevent him from appreciating the festive atmosphere and the smiling faces of nearly everyone present. After all, it was far more gratifying to see people happy than upset."A single lit candle can kindle countless others. Happiness does not diminish by being shared..."Nodding his head in approval, Vahn looked to his left to find Tianxia staring at him with a far more respectful look. This was another benefit of delicious food. It was remarkably difficult to resent the person who had provided it.As Tianxia's words were yet another Buddhist proverb, Vahn decided to supply his own, stating, "If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would never allow a single meal pass without sharing it in some way. Kindness should be the natural way of life, never the exception."With an appreciative smile spreading across his face, Tianxia offered a curt nod of his own. At the same time, he made a mental note not to make an enemy out of Vahn. Anyone that could supply this many unique and precious ingredients without batting an eye wasn't simple. Thus, while a part of him wanted nothing more than to seize Vahn's treasures for himself, Tianxia, like many others in the banquet hall, had concluded that it was better to remain in his good graces.Understanding the man's thoughts, Vahn offered a polite yet noncommittal smile as he continued to casually caress the rabbit entrusted to him by Chang'e. Its pristine white fur was comparable to satin, and, similar to Fenrir's, cool to the touch. He also knew Chang'e was basically using it to spy on him, so, as a form of teasing, Vahn was using his [Godhand] to mold the befuddled bunny like mochi.........Though she very rarely slept, Chang'e was currently lying face-down atop a luxurious bed shrouded by soft golden canopies reminiscent of moonlight. What made this scene especially strange was the fact she had buried her face in a remarkably fluffy, cloud-like pillow. The tips of her ears had turned crimson, and, if anyone had been present to witness the peculiar scene, they would have been able to see an invisible force flowing across her body and leaving impressions in her impeccably pliable, smooth-as-jade skin.........With the first stage of the banquet slated to last an hour, it felt as though mere minutes had passed by the time the Jade Emperor raised his hand to announce, "Now that everyone has been given the opportunity to sample Zao Shin's delicacies, we will continue to the ranking competition..."The moment the Jade Emperor finished speaking, an ancient-looking Geass Roll exuding a vibrant golden hue unfurled out of thin air. Most of the guests were already familiar with the rules, but, in accordance with the Central Network's regulations, the Jade Emperor had no choice but to review them during each and every banquet.------------------------------------------------&lt;Heaven's Will&gt;[Win Condition]Defeat your opponent(s).[Hidden Conditions]None[Rules]1: Players can only challenge those of a higher Rank than themselves.2: Players without a Rank can be challenged by anyone.3. Players can designate a substitute to fight on their behalf.4: Substitutes cannot be Ranked higher than the Player being challenged.5: A match is decided when one opponent is rendered incapable of continuing or surrenders. If an opponent is rendered incapable of surrendering, the match is automatically concluded.[Restrictions]1: Killing, Crippling, and Cursing your opponent is strictly prohibited.2: Gifts related to sealing will have their effects annulled at the end of the match.3: Sexually assaulting or harassing your opponent is strictly prohibited.4: Outside assistance during a match is strictly prohibited.5: Gifts that adversely influence the audience in any way are strictly prohibited.[Rewards]1: Increase in Rank and standing within the Jade Palace.2: Variable[Penalty]None.[Time Limit]None.------------------------------------------------"Now, if there are no questions, we will proceed to the main event. As usual, the first match will be an exhibition match between a Senior and Junior member of the court..."After cupping his hands and bowing respectfully towards the Jade Emperor, Huangdi manifested a lottery wheel out of thin air. Then, after spinning it around a few times, he pulled the lever to have it produce a number of white and gold balls before grabbing the first of each.Seeing the names listed on the balls, a smile developed across Huangdi's face as he mused, "What a surprise. The Venerable God of Thunder, Lei Gong, will be giving pointers to one of the more recent additions to the Heavenly Domain, Faerie Qingtaun. If both participants consent, please proceed to the arena."The moment Huangdi finished speaking, the sound of a thunderclap echoed through the banquet hall as a humanoid eagle appeared within the arena. His head was evocative of an eagle adorned with the crown of a warlord while his hands, wielding a chisel and mallet, were evocative of talons. This, combined with the fact he had taloned feet and majestic wings protruding from ornate armor made Lei gong appear more beast than man."Come forth, child! Let this old man test your mettle...!"As one of the Gods assigned to punish the wicked and impose tribulations on cultivators who used their knowledge to harm ordinary people, Lei Gong was notorious as a battle-hungry individual. As for his opponent, nearly everyone in the hall was surprised when a young girl wearing a white tunic, grass-green trousers, and leaf-green slippers adorned with flowers leaped into the arena. Her long brown hair was fashioned into dango-like buns that framed the sides of her head before cascading to the backs of her knees in two loose twin tails. As for her eyes, they were a luminescent shade of green that perfectly complemented her child-like features and attire.Not expecting his opponent to be a literal child, a notably wry smile developed across Lei Gong's face as he asked, "Are you sure you don't want to send forth a representative? I can also substitute for one of my children if you'd prefer a fairer match."Surprisingly nearly everyone present, Qingtaun offered a smile in response to Lei Gong's words before cupping her hands together and softly musing, "Qingtaun would be honored to receive Senior Lei's guidance."Punctuating her words, Qingtaun adopted a stance reminiscent of the Mantis Style of Kung Fu. This caused Lei Gong's brow to subtly twitch, as, despite the drastic disparity between normal birds and mantids, the Mantis Style was considered a counter to the Crane and Eagle Schools of Kung Fu. The latter was something he had invented so he couldn't help feeling that Qingtaun was attempting to taunt him."So be it...!"Without any further hesitation, Lei Gong performed a quick spin that caused the tips of his wings to sweep across the arena before leaping high into the air and flaring them widely. At the same time, a tremendous amount of lightning elemental energy began to condense around his mallet and chisel as he shouted, "Taste the First Heavenly Tribulation - Penance...!"Smacking the base of the chisel with his mallet, Lei Gong sent bolts of azure lightning more than ten meters in diameter hurtling towards Qingtaun in a wild and uncontrolled manner. This caused the slight smile on the young girl's face to promptly vanish. After all, the lightning of the literal God of Thunder wasn't something to look down on. In fact, a single strike was usually more than enough to fell both Gods and Demons.Fortunately, Qingtaun wasn't without options. Her ascent may have been recent, but her presence at the banquet was a testament to her strength. Thus, the moment Lei Gong unleashed his attack, she produced what appeared to be a relatively simple paper parasol adorned with flowers. In spite of this, it was able to both shield against and deflect Lei Gon's lightning.Seeing his attack deflected, Lei Gong didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, he simply smacked his mallet against one of the drums strapped to his hips. Immediately thereafter, all the lightning on the battlefield vanished as he stared down at Qingtuan and remarked, "Well done. However, this next attack will be much stronger. Are you willing to continue...?"Rather than responding verbally to Lei Gong's question, Qingtaun chose to rest her parasol against her shoulder before smiling up at him. This caused Lei Gong's brow to twitch a second time, but, as one of the most senior Gods in the Jade Palace, he couldn't allow himself to lose his cool against a junior. Face was extremely important to the Gods of the Jade Palace, so, after affording Qingtaun a moment to reconsider, Lei Gong raised his violently humming mallet overhead and said, "This is the Second Heavenly Tribulation - Retribution...!"Though the attack produced yet another thick band of azure lightning, the difference between the First and Second Heavenly Tribulation became readily apparent when it began leaving black trails in the surrounding space. It was also much faster than traditional lightning, so much so that Qingtaun wasn't able to react by the time it had struck her body.While many expected some kind of explosion, an eerie silence spread through the hall as Qingtaun remained fixed in the position she had been in prior to receiving the strike. It was almost as though she had been frozen in time, and, were it not for the fact bands of electricity would periodically arc between her fingers, a few of the more inexperienced Gods might have assumed that was the case..."She got cocky..."Nodding his head in response to Mikoto's remark, Vahn's eyes emitted a faint golden glow as he observed the energy surging through Qingtaun's body and invading her Dantian. She was doing her best to try and resolve it but all her efforts had ended in vain. After all, unlike normal lighting, this particular variety had been infused with Lei Gong's intent. The more a person tried to dissipate it, the more obstinate it became...After nearly a minute had passed, blood began to pool at the corners of Qingtaun's eyes as a thin trail flowed from her nose. In response, Lei Gong promptly smacked one his drum while Huangdi, understanding the former could have ended the fight at any point over the last minute, raised his hand and said, "The match has ended. The Venerable Lei Gong is the victor...!"Though he raised his mallet triumphantly, Lei Gong didn't dawdle for too long before descending to the arena and asking, "Are you okay?" in a fatherly tone that didn't suit his appearance.Smiling wryly in response to Lei Gong's concern, Qingtaun finished wiping away the blood from her face using a handkerchief before answering, "Senior Lei is truly magnanimous. Showing concern for your opponent. This is Qingtaun's total and absolute defeat."Rather than attempt to console her, Lei Gong nodded his head in affirmation before placing his mallet and chisel in their holsters. Then, as was customary when an Elder met a Junior for the first time, he paused for a moment before plucking one of his feathers and saying, "Accept this as my gift. If you fashion it into a charm, it will provide protection against most forms of lightning. May it serve as a reminder of our encounter and aid you in your journey towards the pinnacle."Accepting the feather with both hands, Qingtaun forced a polite smile as she said, "Thank you, Senior. Qingtaun will cherish it for as long as she lives..."Though he was well aware of the fact she was forcing herself, Lei Gong still nodded in response to Qingtaun's words. It wasn't uncommon for new arrivals to have a bit of an ego. Rather, here in the Heavenly Domain, it was considered one of the foundational pillars of the strong. Thus, rather than chastise Qingtaun for her insincerity, Lei Gong was looking forward to how she would try to get her revenge.Daily life within the Jade Palace could be pretty boring.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The pitfall of linking senses~','Zapdos has entered the arena...!','The Elder Gods of the Jade Palace are remarkably chill')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Shortly after the arrival of the ashen-haired woman, several other notable figures began appearing one after another. This included an effeminate youth, who, contrasting nearly everyone else in the hall, appeared in relatively modern clothes that consisted of a black and white windbreaker, a white undershirt, green shorts, black leggings, and tennis shoes that had flames embossed on their sides. Their hair was done up in strange, almost horn-like twin-tails, and, were it not for the fact they had an open shirt, most people would readily mistake the youth as female.Though he wasn't sure what he had expected, Vahn was moderately surprised when he heard one of the youth's companions, another effeminate youth with snowy-blue hair and diminutive dragon horns, refer to them as Nezha. They were trying to tell Nezha not to cause any trouble, but, almost as soon as these words left their mouth, the androgynous teen's crimson eyes settled on the ashen-haired woman seated at a higher position than he was."Who the hell are you?"As everyone in the hall had been wondering the same thing, none of the Gods that would normally rein in Nezha bothered to say anything. In response, the ashen-haired woman gazed at him with an impassive, clearly false smile as she answered, "My name is Vor Valkyria. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nezha."Hearing the woman refer to Nezha as 'Lady', Vahn, for the first time in centuries, had to question his eyesight. He became even more confused when Nezha adopted a scowl before kicking the table in front of the woman and exclaiming, "I'm the Third Lotus Prince! How dare you refer to me as Lady!" with a visible flush on their cheeks. This caused the pale-haired youth standing behind him to palm his forehead while everyone else watched on with visible amusement in their eyes.Despite having a table kicked into her face, completely ruining the neatly organized spread of tea and entrees, Vor hardly reacted to Nezha's provocative actions. She didn't even blink when a bit of oyster sauce got in her eye. Instead, she just stared impassively at Nezha as she stated, "I apologize if my words have offended you. However, I must ask that you cease your hostility. There is no glory awaiting you at the end of this path."Rather than staring into Vor's eyes, Nezha's crimson gems were focused on the noodles and liquid pooling in the ashen-haired woman's rather ample cleavage. Her white bodysuit only covered the lower half of her chest. As a result, there was a rather deep line dividing the two sizeable mounds on her chest. A line that was now garnished with egg noodles and pork broth.With his/her left brow twitching, Nezha appeared as if they were moments away from trashing the entire venue. Before s/he could, a fiery pagoda manifested above them before slamming down and pinning Nezha to the floor. At the same time, a paradoxically heroic yet diabolical-looking man in obsidian-black armor reminiscent of a Chinese warlord appeared within the banquet hall, saying, "I take my eyes off you for ten minutes and you're already trying to start a fight..."As there were very few people that used a pagoda as their primary weapon, Vahn wasn't surprised when one of the servants cried out, "It's the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, Lord Li Jing...!"While numerous stories dedicated Li Jing as a mortal man who had cultivated his way to godhood, others depicted him as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, specifically Vaisravana. Said God shared an origin with Bishamonten, so, while he had later learned all about Chinese Folklore, Vahn had been aware of the existence of Li Jing since before his encounter with Kenshin...With flames appearing from their feet, Nezha thrashed about beneath the fiery pagoda, shouting, "You damned geezer! If you don't let me go this instant, I'll...I'll...I'll tell Sister Wu to beat you up...!"Hearing Nezha's threat, Li Jing could be seen visibly paling beneath their horned, multi-tiered war helmet. Despite this, his expression remained stern as he increased the sealing effect of the pagoda and said, "You are mistaken if you think you can threaten me in such a manner. Even if I must suffer a beating, I will do what I must to ensure you behave properly..."Though Nezha was legendary for their speed and power, the pagoda wielded by his father was one of the greatest sealing artifacts in the Heavenly Domain. It could capture any spirit, demon, or god within its walls, and, so long as the wielder possessed no ill will towards the imprisoned, it was nigh-impossible to escape without achieving enlightenment or vowing to change your ways.Having spent hundreds of years within the aforementioned pagoda, Nezha's expression darkened as they gradually ceased their struggling. They were far from calm, but, understanding they had no choice but to capitulate, they glared at the ashen-haired Vor and growled, "We'll settle this during the ranking competition..."Hearing Nezha's words, Vor ceased staring at the pale-haired youth who was standing a few meters away. She didn't really understand why the youthful-looking god/dess was antagonistic toward her, but, as a Valkyrie, she never shied away from a battle. Thus, with a hint of a smile, she stated, "Very well." in an indifferent-sounding yet audibly expectant tone.Snorting through their nose, Nezha waited until the fiery pagoda weighing them down disappeared before rising to their feet and dusting off their clothes. The pagoda was wholly incapable of causing harm, so, despite feeling as though it weighed more than a planet while active, it hadn't even left an indentation on the carpet.After flaring the collar of their windbreaker, Nezha turned towards their horned companion before pausing when they noticed how pale the latter had become."What's your problem? Need to take a shit...?"With a rather fierce blush, the blue-haired youth shouted, "Nezha!" with a fretful and remarkably embarrassed expression on their face. This caused a toothy grin to spread across Nezha's face, and, though they were missing one of their canines, they managed to appear friendly and approachable as they teased, "What? It's nothing to be ashamed of~"Balling their hand into a fist, the blue-haired youth, who Vahn assumed to be Ao Bing, appeared as though they were about to knock Nezha upside the head. Instead, they briefly cast their cerulean eyes towards Vor before promptly turning away and saying, "I'm going..." in a markedly cold tone.Realizing they may have gone too far, Nezha immediately barred Ao Bing's passage, saying, "Oh, come on, Bing-Bing! You know I was just playing around! Please don't pout...!"Huffing in response to Nezha's words, Ao Bing attempted to walk around them but Nezha kept blocking the way. Fortunately, just as the temperature around them began to decrease, yet another notable figure appeared in the hall. Ao Bing was among the first to notice their presence, but, soon after, nearly every person in the hall had shifted their attention to the ethereal beauty that had just entered alongside a veritable horde of fair-skinned maidens with hairstyles reminiscent of rabbits...With luminescent skin reminiscent of moonlight, golden eyes that seemed to draw in everything, and silvery-white hair fashioned into a hybrid style between an Empress cut and rabbit ears, even people unfamiliar with her would be able to identify this particular Goddess. She was considered to be the most beautiful woman in the Heavenly Domain, and, according to many, a candidate for the most beautiful in the entire Little Garden."Wow, she really is quite something, isn't she...?"Hearing Vahn's words, Mikoto was liberated from the momentary reverie she, and nearly everyone in the hall had fallen into. Then, despite knowing exactly who the Goddess was, she asked, "Is that supposed to be Chang'e? What's she doing here...?"Nodding his head in response to her first question, a smile spread across Vahn's face as he lightly mused, "I would think that's pretty obvious considering the people in her escort..."As if she had only just noticed the presence of others, Mikoto stared at the group surrounding Chang'e before palming her head and muttering, "Of course..."While most people in the hall were focused exclusively on Chang'e, one of the young girls standing next to her was searching around the hall. When she noticed Vahn, her face practically lit up as she tugged on Chang'e's sleeve before whispering something into the silvery-haired Goddess's ear. In response, Chang'e immediately looked over, a faint smile developing across her face as she and her entourage made a slow and graceful beeline towards the wryly smiling Vahn.Seeing the Goddess of their hearts approaching the man they were already envious of, nearly every male God in the hall radiated a not-so-subtle bloodlust. They seemed to have completely forgotten about Nezha, so, as could be expected, the boyish yet apparently female God immediately blocked Chang'e's path, asking, "What are you doing here, Chang'e? You aren't even ranked. This is no place for pacifists and children."As if only just noticing Nezha's presence, Chang'e briefly shifted her attention from Vahn to look down at the slightly shorter tomboy and answer, "Though I have never used it, the Most Revered and August Matriarch has given me the option to attend Lord Zao's banquet at my leisure. If Lord Nezha would be so kind as to step aside, this little one would greatly appreciate it..."Though they glared at Chang'e with an expression that resembled someone who had swallowed a bug, Nezha was well aware of the fact their father was currently glaring dagger at them. Thus, after a moment of hesitation, they muttered, "Whatever." before placing their hands in their pocket and walking past the group of rabbit-like girls. Ao Bing quickly followed suit, but, before stepping past the group of Goddesses, they politely cupped their hands and mouthed an apology.Returning a smile, Chang'e performed a simple curtsy that was emulated by each of the girls in her group before promptly continuing on her way. This caused the hatred of everyone God the room to immediately shift back to Vahn, who, in response to the approaching group, rose to his feet before casually cupping his hands and saying, "This is quite the pleasant surprise. It's a pleasure to see you again, Xiao Yue. And, if I'm not mistaken, I believe you are Chang'e? You are even more elegant and beautiful than the legends dictate."Having heard similar praises countless times, Chang'e offered a faint smile in response to Vahn's compliment while Xiao Yue, happy to be acknowledged before her mother, adopted a delighted smile as she politely cupped her hands and said, "I am pleased to see you again, Senior. I pray the fates have been kind to you since our last encounter."Resisting the urge to point out she was likely much older than him, Vahn offered a curt nod and a polite smile in response to Xiao Yue's words. This earned him an inquisitive look from Chang'e, who, even prior to her ascension as a Goddess, had been the center of everyone's attention. She found it odd that he was able to focus on other people when she was less than two meters away from him...Noticing the subtle change in Chang'e's countenance, Vahn's smile became noticeably wry as he asked, "To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting...?"Raising her brows ever so slightly, the curiosity in Chang'e's eyes increased as she remarked, "How peculiar...your words make it seem as though you're in a hurry to be through with this conversation. Does my presence...inconvenience you...?"Shifting her attention to Fenrir and Mikoto, a hint of surprise manifested within Chang'e's golden, moon-like eyes. She had already sensed Fenrir's Yin constitution, but, now that they were standing less than two meters apart, she could also sense the terrifyingly powerful aura hidden deep within Mikoto's body. It was so potent that, for a brief moment, she felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck her body...Noticing the shudder that ran through Chang'e's body the moment she made eye contact with Mikoto, Vahn's wry smile eased into one of amusement as he answered, "I would never say your presence is an inconvenience. It's just, this isn't exactly the best venue for a polite conversation..."Coming back to her senses in response to Vahn's words, Chang'e offered an appreciative smile, stating, "Perhaps not..." before soldering her hands over the center of her chest. A luminescent golden light immediately emerged from her bosom, and, moments later, a pristine white rabbit emitting a similar glow appeared in her embrace as she explained, "This is my beloved pet, Xiao Yu...please take her with you. Once you are available, you need not send anyone to inform us. We will come to you."As if it wasn't up for discussion, Chang'e handed over the little white rabbit whose name, despite sounding similar to Yue's, meant Jade. Then, without a single additional word, she smiled toward Fenrir and Mikoto before promptly departing the banquet hall with her entourage of rabbit-like girls following close behind.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Nezha is that sporty girl at an all-girls high school that everyone refers to as Prince xD...','Vor is going to fuck you up...','Now that I think about it, Vahn has a remarkable affinity with moon goddesses and rabbits...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2156: Pandering