Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

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

While Qingtaun returned to her seat, Lei Gong stayed in the arena to accept additional challenges. It was customary for the higher-ranked Gods to appear first, and, if no one challenged them, they would step down and keep their rank for another year. They also had the option of challenging a higher rank than themselves, but, as the Rank 9 God, Lei Gong's options were pretty limited."Well!? Is this the limit of your conviction!? Are none of you brave enough to step forward and challenge this old man!?"Glaring at a few of the Gods ranked between 10 and 20, Lei Gong's expression made it clear he was looking down on them. Unfortunately, none of the Gods beneath him were foolish enough to step forward. The only person who even considered it was Nezha, but, after their earlier altercation with Vor, they wanted to preserve their strength.Seeing none of his fellows step forward, a disdainful snort escaped Lei Gong's beak as he prepared to depart the arena. Before he could, however, a feminine voice excitedly declared, "If it's an open invitation, I wouldn't mind having a go."Like everyone else in the hall, Lei Gong's cerulean eyes promptly shifted to the person that had spoken. When he saw Mikoto rising to her feet, a look of confusion briefly flashed across his face before he ultimately adopted a smile and bellowed, "Very well, Faerie from a Foreign Land! Enter the arena! Let's show these cowardly louts what a bit of backbone looks like...!"Though a number of Gods expressed their dissatisfaction by glaring at Mikoto, any complaints they might have had were silenced when she flashed into the arena faster than most of them could blink. Even Lei Gong was surprised by this, as, the moment Mikoto flashed into the arena, he could detect a hint of the phenomenal energy contained within her body.With a far more serious expression on his face, Lei Gong reached for his holstered weapons before bellowing, "You stand before the Venerable God of Thunder, Lei Gong! Reveal your name, fearless one...!"Since Lei Gong had already drawn his weapons, Mikoto didn't see any reason to hold back. Vibrant bands of electricity began to dance around her body as she stepped forward, an action that caused most of the arena to tremble as she answered, "The name's Mikoto Mason...!"Punctuating her words, Mikoto's body exuded a brilliant light with the activation of her [REquip] system. In the next moment, the oriental garb she had been wearing was substituted by a black hoodie with accents of electric yellow. Beneath that was a black t-shirt, a pair of form-fitting black shorts, black leggings, and black tennis shoes with the same design as her hoodie. It was a modern yet fashionable look that caused people like Nezha to watch on with stars in their eyes and Mikoto stepped forward to send a veritable tidal wave of pitch-black iron sand towards Lei Gong.To his credit, Lei Gong wasn't caught off guard by Mikoto's sudden attack. He immediately leaped into the sky, and, thanks to the temperature from his own lightning, he was able to both melt and sweep away the encroaching iron sand with a wave from his mallet."Not bad! Not bad at all! I'm guessing you use this ability both offensively and defensively! Let's see how it holds up, shall we!?"Similar to when he had fought against Qingtaun, Lei Gong ascended high into the air as the mallet and chisel in his hands began to condense a tremendous amount of lightning elemental energy. At the same time, vibrant blue arcs of electricity danced around Mikoto's body as she raised her right hand and condensed the surrounding iron sand into a remarkably compact projectile resembling a coin.With the feathers on the back of his neck standing on end, Lei Gong's excitement was increasing at a remarkably fast pace as he shouted, "First Heavenly Tribulation - Penance...!"While others would try to evade or black Lei Gong's attack, Mikoto surprised everyone by standing her ground. Her AIM Diffusion Field, the medium through which her power manifested, was capable of encompassing entire stars, much less a single arena. Within its confines, she was the uncontested master of electromagnetism, so, the moment Lei Gong released his lightning, it arced back to strike him in the chest as she stated, "Mass Acceleration Cannon." in a calm and confident tone.Stunned by his own lightning, Lei Gong's pupils shrank to the size of pinholes the moment Mikoto unleashed the hyper-dense iron projectile gathered at the tips of her fingers. Its speed was reduced by the inordinately dense spirit energy that existed within the Heavenly Domain, but, even with this, its instantaneous acceleration exceeded Mach 800,000.Under normal circumstances, Lei Gong could easily evade even lightspeed attacks without any real difficulty. This time, however, the combination of his own lightning and Mikoto's flawless timing left him wholly incapable of responding. As a result, the projectile impacted the plating of his pauldron before passing through his right shoulder and wing in nearly the exact same moment.Seeing Lei Gong spontaneously lose an arm, many of the lower-ranked Gods gasped in surprise. Lei Gong, however, adopted a massive grin as he promptly grabbed his detached limb before spinning around and hurtling it towards Mikoto. To the latter's surprise, the appendage literally transformed into a golden spear with the chisel in his hand serving as the head.Choosing not to underestimate her opponent, Mikoto teleported behind Lei Gong long before the spear pierced through her previous position. Before she could unleash an attack, however, the silk hagoromo flowing around Lei Gong's neck and shoulders attempted to bind her. At the same time, Lei Gong spun around fast enough to leave a visible black trail through the void as his mallet aimed at her shoulder.Realizing that the avian god was trying to get even with her, an amused smile developed across Mikoto's face as her body promptly contracted to the size of an ordinary house cat. As a result, Lei Gong's mallet passed through her previous position as Mikoto, now in her Pikachu form, unleashed a cataclysmic thunderbolt instantaneously filled the arena. From the perspective of the observers, a vibrant blue cube had formed atop the battlefield. Many misunderstood this to be the result of the barrier surrounding the elevated platform, but, in reality, Mikoto had such an absolute mastery over lightning that she could freely shape it to avoid accidents.With the intensity of the light growing rather than dissipating, many within the banquet hall had to squint their eyes or look away. This continued for a surprisingly long seventeen seconds before the light faded to reveal Lei Gong, now resembling an eagle that had been struck by lightning, kneeling on the ground. His feathers were in disarray and his body was covered in burns, yet, in spite of this, he had a remarkably human smile on his face as he said, "Well done...this battle...is your win..."Unable to dissipate Mikoto's energy from his body, thick bands of electricity began to emerge from Lei Gong's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. Before it could fry him from the inside, however, the energy promptly dissipated thanks to the protections of the Gift Game. Immediately thereafter, a pale blue light enveloped his body before he subsequently appeared outside the arena with his arm attached. This was one of the primary benefits of a well-structured Gift Game, as, unless the rules specifically allowed death, defeated Players would simply be ejected from the Game Board without so much as a hair missing from their head.Flexing the talons of his right hand, Lei Gong's smile became even more prominent as he looked up at Mikoto and added, "Good luck, Mikoto Mason. I doubt-"Before Lei Gong could finish saying he doubted anyone would be willing to face her, a thunderclap echoed off the walls of the banquet hall as a woman with lavender hair and the largest breasts Vahn had ever seen promptly appeared at the center of the arena. This wasn't an exaggeration either, as, due to the revealing nature of her garments, her remarkably substantial cleavage was visible for the whole world to see."I do not possess a Rank but I hope you'll accept my challenge..."Though she was going to say she didn't mind, Mikoto found herself at a loss for words as her eyes zeroed in on the woman's chest. It had been years since she suffered from breast envy, but, seeing a pair of breasts large enough to swallow her head twice over, she couldn't help gawking like a fool.Taking advantage of Mikoto's momentary stupor, the woman unsheathed an inordinately large Jian-style longsword, shouting, "Defend yourself...!" as she charged forward with a speed rivaling spatial movement. At the same time, Lei Gong, having recovered from his stupid, shouted, "Leizi! What are you doing...!?"Ignoring Lei Gong's shout, Leizi, the Principle Goddess of Lightning within the Heavenly Domain, sliced towards the wide-eyed Mikoto's neck. Her skills were somewhat lacking, at least in Vahn's opinion, but, the moment she cut forward, a blinding light reminiscent of lightning instantly filled the center of the arena. There was also a sound evocative of a thunderclap, but, compared to the thunderous rumble produced by Lei Gong's drums, it sounded distant and muffled, almost like an echo.To the surprise of nearly everyone present, Leizi's sword passed through Mikoto's neck without the latter reacting. Even Leizi was somewhat surprised, but, after seeing her husband get his arm blown off, she couldn't help smiling at Mikoto's head spun through the air. Unfortunately, just as she was about to raise her sword in triumph, both the head and Mikoto's body disappeared as an unharmed version of the brunette appeared behind her.Though she could have ended the match then and there, Mikoto manifested a longsword from iron sand before surprising Leizi with a tap on the shoulder. The latter immediately spun around, but, as a result of her inordinately large bosom, her movements were, very noticeably, delayed as the fabric of her gown desperately attempted to preserve her dignity. As a result, Mikoto had nanoseconds to stare at the melon-sized mammaries in slow motion before casually deflecting Leizi's blade with her own.Clicking her tongue, Leizi retreated backward before running her index and middle fingers along the flat of her blade. Hundreds of electric-blue runes immediately lit up across its surface as pale golden electricity began to dance around its length. This ended up being a grave mistake, as, the moment she was preparing to unleash her attack, Mikoto offered an apologetic smile as the pale golden electricity immediately crawled up Leizi's arm.Sensing the inverse flow of electrical energy, Leizi's pupils contracted in much the same way as her husband's. Unfortunately, she had been gripping her sword tightly, so, the moment she sensed the change, extremely destructive lightning was already spreading through her body. The energy was so intense that her forearm immediately carbonized as painful golden cracks spread as far as her elbow.While a lesser Goddess might have dropped her weapon, Leizi managed to earn Mikoto's respect by absorbing the lightning into her body, ignoring the pain as she charged forward with clenched teeth. Her pride as the Goddess of Lightning wouldn't allow her to fall to her own element, so, with the aid of her Qi, she forcibly channeled it back into the blade as she unleashed a series of attacks that left visible scorch marks on the previously invisible barrier surrounding the arena.Unfortunately, no matter how desperate she was to 'avenge' her husband, Leizi was limited by her status as a Tier 4. Mikoto had gone toe-to-toe with Gods who could destroy universes with a wave of their hand, so, while she appreciated and respected Leizi's fervor, the outcome had been decided long before the match began. Leizi's only hope was for Mikoto to lower her guard, but, with a mind that could humble even the most exceptional supercomputers, the chances of that happening were beyond astronomical.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Lei Gong doesn't know it, but he's courting death...','Mikoto uses Reverse Card...it's super effective...!','All the nutrients intended for Leizi's brain went into her bust xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

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

Chapter 2157: Exhibition