章節 2155: Attention
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...
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(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...')
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章節 2156: Pandering
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...
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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...
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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...
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(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...')
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