Chapter 43: Invitation
They all had fun, that couldn't be denied. Tatsuya, Chu Xin, and the Dragon all basked under the festive atmosphere of the Divine Phoenix City. In the process, their relationships became closer to each other, and the Dragon managed to gradually blend in with Tatsuya and Chu Xin.
"Although, I have a lot of profound coins at my storage… I still haven't mined the Purple Veined Divine Crystal near the Floating Cloud City."
Tatsuya said to himself, while smiling wryly at the fact that Chu Xin did not even held back. She literally went to every stall that could be seen with naked eyes. But Tatsuya felt surprised when the foods that were served to them, are actually delicious. It had a unique scent and taste which the foods from Earth didn't possess, and it is probably because of the profound energy present in this universe.
"It would take at least a few months before we could go back into the Blue Wind Empire… The incantation of the Dragon God's subordinates will surely leave their divine sense for probing. It's already good that they only sent a few shallow divine senses in the Divine Phoenix Empire."
The incantations of the Dragon God's subordinates are practically stronger than Tatsuya in any kind of aspect. He couldn't even use his Demon Right to them, because they are not physical objects, but only incantations made of soul energy. This fact prevented Tatsuya from directly fighting them head-on. But he's still pretty confident that they can't capture him.
"…"
Tatsuya looked outside the window, and would occasionally glance at Chu Xin who is already sleeping. The Dragon is standing beside the door, acting like a bodyguard for the both of them. But it is just actually him showing his respect and veneration towards Tatsuya.
Right now, Tatsuya knew that he had a very fatal weakness. That weakness is Chu Xin, which made it harder for him to tread the cliff, because he had to make sure that Chu Xin would be unharmed and unaffected by his decisions and actions. The Dragon is one of their companions, and Tatsuya can confidently say that he wouldn't abandon the Dragon, unless Chu Xin's life is on the line.
"Now that I think about it, I have yet to give you a name yet, Dragon."
"No please. This Dragon is already grateful to be called with a nickname from Your Highness."
Tatsuya recalled the stares of the people while they were exploring the city. They all looked at Tatsuya or Chu Xin with weird stares, whenever they called the Scarlet Dragon with his nickname. The Dragon wasn't also spared with the stares, as the stares directed at him were heavier compared to the former.
"No, I insist. How about 'Fenlong'?"
"…This Dragon can't be anymore thankful than I am now!"
A dragon profound beast is the king of the forest. They don't live under the shadows of others, nor they act cowardly before their enemy. Furthermore, if ever someone was able to tame them, they would already be forever grateful for whatever that someone has done to them. As for receiving names from their masters, it would be huge honor and blessing. It is something that is worth celebrating for a few decades.
Fenlong slowly approached Tatsuya while emitting a serious aura. He then fluidly kneeled and kowtowed towards Tatsuya. Usually, Tatsuya would have stopped Fenlong from kneeling or kowtowing towards him, but this is currently not the case.
He already knew that if he ever stopped Fenlong from kneeling towards him, he'll be like rejecting the kindness and sincere appreciation of Fenlong towards himself. It might also cause some backlash, resulting into a distance between the two of them. This forced Tatsuya to endure the uncomfortable feeling, while seriously gazing at Fenlong.
"You can stand now, Fenlong. You have officially acknowledged me as your master. It wouldn't hurt to repeat, but you're one of my companions from today and onwards."
"Yes, Master Tatsuya."
"Err… Can you stop with 'Master' thing? Just call me Tatsuya."
"That cannot do, Master! We, dragons, once have acknowledged someone as our master will live our lives serving them!"
Seeing that Fenlong is seriously staring back at him, Tatsuya couldn't help but smile. He could sense the sincere feelings of Fenlong to seriously treat him as his master, as well as one of his companions. The idea of getting yourself a dragon never crossed Tatsuya's mind, but here Fenlong is, kneeling before him.
"Then, you may stand now."
"As you wish, Master."
As per as se, Fenlong immediately returned to the door and stood beside it. Someone of their species don't really need sleep even for a few thousand years. Tatsuya also didn't really need any sleep to regain energy and refresh his mind. He's only doing it because he had already become accustomed to such thing, and it is something that couldn't be easily removed.
"I didn't get the chance to meet Yuanba at all. But I already achieved my goal in the New Moon Profound Palace."
Tatsuya came back to the New Moon Profound Palace because of two reasons; to meet and check on Chu Xin, the same as to Xia Yuanba who treated him kindly. Even then, Tatsuya could sense the Yuanba is not in danger because he had registered Yuanba's profound energy flow to his senses. He could sense Xia Yuanba, as long as he willed to sense it.
"Mining the Purple Veined Divine Crystal for myself would produce a better result. It seems that the Divine Phoenix Empire is already mobilizing their troops to fight for the Purple Veined Divine Crystal."
Normally, the Divine Phoenix Empire wouldn't even meddle with the affairs involving the Seven Nations of the Profound Sky Continent. However, that is not always the case, because the Purple Veined Divine Crystal near the Floating Cloud City is so valuable that they were forced to act.
The amount of profound crystal stored up in the Purple Veined Divine Crystal is more than sufficient to increase the overall military strength of the Divine Phoenix City. It could also do the same to others, thus war is inevitable. The Seven Nations will undoubtedly attack, but only the Divine Phoenix Empire currently knows of this secret. Even the Blue Wind Empire is not aware of the existence of the Purple Veined Divine Crystal.
"Now that I recall it, I could sense a thread of Death Lightning in that place."
When Tatsuya went to the Purple Veined Divine Crystal, he still hadn't inherited the Divine Lightning Art from the White Tiger God. But now that he had gotten the absolute control over lightnings, he could sense the strong aura of the Death Lightning even from the Divine Phoenix City.
"I currently possesses control over the Tribulation Lightning and Death Lightning, as for the other lightnings, I have yet to reach the level where I can use them without suffering any backlash."
Tatsuya's Divine Lightning Art allowed him to put absolute control over any kind of lightnings. However, there are certain conditions where Tatsuya's strength must be at least sufficient so he could control a certain type of lightning. Based on the Divine Lightning Art, only ten kinds of lightnings do exist in the whole existence, and it just so happened that eight of those lightnings could be found in the Upper Realms.
The sole reason why Tatsuya could generate Death Lightning is because of his unusual attachment towards Life and Death. It must also because of his innate ability, Demon Right, who possesses a nearly-same attributes from the Death Lightning. A single strike from Death Lightning could kill you, as long as Tatsuya willed it, the same as the Demon Right that could erase your existence, as long as Tatsuya willed it.
He was already pretty lucky that he was able to suppress the Divine Realm Practitioner back then, using the Black Lightning without suffering any backlash. After all, that was his first time in controlling the Death Lightning. It is different compared to when he first used the Tribulation Lightning, because the White Tiger God was near back then, and also helped Tatsuya in controlling the lightning.
"Even then, I was already pretty confident that I could control it…"
It wasn't a hunch but it was an absolute confidence towards himself. Tatsuya already knew that as long as the profound skill, technique, or innate skill possesses the same attributes or characters as his original innate abilities, he would be able to control them easily. Furthermore, his State of Equilibrium allowed the already 'easily' process to become 'easier'.
"Master, I could sense a single presence quickly closing in."
Suddenly, Fenlong's closed eyelids opened. He quickly stared at a certain direction, with seriousness and killing intent showing from his eyes. He knew that the approaching party is far stronger than his current state, and it is pretty obvious that the approaching party is aiming for them. But Tatsuya signaled him to stay calm.
"As you will, Master."
Instead of rebutting Tatsuya's decision, Fenlong immediately accepted it without much questioning. He already swore to himself to absolute believe in Tatsuya at all times, whether it be life or death. This is how a dragon should conduct himself before its master.
*Swoosh*
Out of nowhere, a wind forcefully opened the window where Tatsuya previously looked at. The unusualness of the wind caused Fenlong to be more alert, as even Chu Xin woke up from her sleep and immediately put her guard up.
"…?"
Chu Xin and Fenlong couldn't help but stare at each other, because nothing came after the sudden burst of wind. They couldn't sense a presence outside the window, nor a trace of killing intent directed at them. But they are sure that somebody surely desired to approach them.
*Knock.Knock.*
The sudden knock towards the door, forced Chu Xin and Fenlong to direct their stares towards the door. Their muscles tightened because they weren't even able to sense the other party. But when they saw Tatsuya signal them to relax, they both loosened their bodies and sat on the chair.
"Please enter, Princess of Divine Phoenix Empire."
"What?"
Chu Xin and Fenlong felt shocked, as they looked at Tatsuya with surprise evident on their face. It seems that the little girl who they met at the Absolute Phoenix Cliff followed their trail. They both can't help but darken their faces, feeling angry towards Feng Xue'er.
"Both of you, don't worry. The reason why neither one of you sensed her is because of her lack of ill intent…"
Tatsuya explained to them and calmed both of them. He smiled at Chu Xin and praised her through his eyes, telling her how much he appreciated that Chu Xin could already quickly react against such situation even in her sleep.
"T-then, please excuse me…"
Slowly, the door into the room opened and there emerged a beautiful teenage girl that could rival Chu Xin's beauty. She possessed a different charm compared to Chu Xin which made her unique compared to others.
"Greetings, seniors."
Feng Xue'er quickly cupped her both her fists towards Tatsuya, Chu Xin, and Fenlong. Despite possessing strength better than Chu Xin and Fenlong, she still called them 'seniors' which surprised the three of them.
"Don't call me senior, Princess Feng. We're at the same age…"
Chu Xin couldn't stand Feng Xue'er calling herself a 'senior' in Tatsuya's presence. She felt like she had just been embarrassed by Feng Xue'er, but still didn't let this thought get ahead of herself. She still conducted herself nicely, and with composure benefiting of a maiden.
"Please excuse me then, Maiden Chu."
"It's nothing, Princess Feng."
Tatsuya can't help but look at the teenage girls with a weird look. He can't help but ask himself if this is how girls in this universe conduct themselves before their kinds. It seems pretty incomprehensible to him. He also glanced at Fenlong and felt surprised that the latter naturally accepted their exchange of words.
"Then, to our topic, what is Princess's business with us?"
Feng Xue'er was taken aback by Tatsuya's bluntness. Even though, she was pretty much spending all of her time in the Phoenix Perching Valley, she still knew far more things compared to other people of her age. She could already sense Tatsuya's kindness just from his sentence, and it made her relieved.
"I-I'm actually here to invite you senior to the Imperial Palace…"
"…"
The place descended into stillness, as Feng Xue'er felt nervous and anxious that she might've provoked or offended Tatsuya in a way. She already knew and is sure that Tatsuya is really someone of Divine Realm. When she mentioned it to her father, someone she really trusts suddenly interfered and asked her to invite Tatsuya into the Imperial Palace.
"Is this actually an invitation from the Phoenix God?"
Shudder. Feng Xue'er can't help but falter before Tatsuya's question. The young man before her, who seems older than her for a few years, could see through her motives and intentions with a single glance. This just proves how powerful the young man before her is.
"Y-yes…"
"I see…"
Tatsuya lifted his chin up, and fell into a deep thought. Although he has already fought and shown his power a few times, it shouldn't be that big yet to caught the attention of the Phoenix God. Moreover, the Phoenix God in the Divine Phoenix Empire is just the half-soul fragment of the Phoenix God, the other fragment lies within the Blue Wind Empire.
"Okay, we'll meet the Phoenix God. But I have a single condition."
"Thank you for your understanding, senior. What is your condition?"
"Me, my companions, the Phoenix God, and you, are the only people who should be in the meeting place."
"…"
Feng Xue'er felt surprised that Tatsuya actually wanted to avoid meeting her family. It seems that Tatsuya could already see how much the Imperial Family and the Divine Phoenix Sect wanted to get to know him.
"I…"
She couldn't make a decision at all, as to how to answer Tatsuya's condition. Chu Xin and Fenlong could see her hesitation, and concluded that this negotiation might fail because of her indecisiveness. Even then, a smile floated into Tatsuya's face.
"I agree with your condition, senior!"
"Wha-?"
Chu Xin and Fenlong was caught off guard, as they both stared at the confident Princess of the Divine Phoenix Empire. The indecisiveness that was once there, had already vanished into nothingness.
"Then, we'll expect your visit, senior! Goodbye!"
Feng Xue'er cupped both of her fists and instantly flew away from the inn where Tatsuya and his companions are staying. Chu Xin and Fenlong looked at each other, clearly confused as to how Feng Xue'er suddenly managed to muster her courage to accept Tatsuya's condition.
"Confused?"
Suddenly, they both heard Tatsuya's inquiring voice, as they both nodded their heads towards Tatsuya. They really wanted to know how she managed to do that, despite the fact that her family and sect also wanted to meet Tatsuya.
"The Phoenix God helped her make the decision…"
"…"
Once they heard Tatsuya's answer, they both felt like that pieces have started falling into place. It was right, because they could clearly sense the indecisiveness and hesitation of the Princess, but it suddenly vanished. The only viable reason is that someone interfered and vouched for her. The only person who possesses the rights to make such decision in an instant is the Phoenix God.
"Looks like my expectation was wrong…"
Tatsuya murmured to himself, as he looked outside of the window. His eyes seemed to pierce through the walls and barriers, directly landing on the fiery hot bird that has golden eyes…
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