(Author: Hello! The time for the feast has come at last, but the feast is just the playing field for the real purpose. Lu Shu, with his Snow Emperor Pearl awakened and Holy Beast Spirit named, he heads to the feast in the central plaza in front of the many pavilions of the palace. He is told of a thief with one of the living spirit techniques and Shu's subconscious confirms it as the living spirit technique within him resonates. What will happen in this grand feast? Hint: look at the title. Enjoy.)

-----------Chapter 20: Birth of Rivals----------------

"It's about time you showed up," Lu Mei whispered as Lu Shu appeared, walking behind her and his parents to get to his seat.

"Silence. You know not what happened," Lu Rong snapped as the delegates continued to arrive, many of them staring at a figure they seldom saw. Many of them had heard that the second prince was quite a powerful Practitioner and a true Archon. Seeing him now, he did not match the descriptions. The delegates, who saw him in the morning, were shocked as he seemed entirely different. They could tell he was at the ninth stage, his true power hidden by his headband, but something must have happened for him to look so different.

"Ooh! Kitty!" Lu Kui shouted and Shu hesitantly passed Hao over to her. "Kitty looks like a statue. So cool."

"Shush. Behave, Little Kui," Lu Mei whispered as she pat her excited sister's head as Kui bounced up and down her mother's lap with Hao in her arms.

"Father, the thief who stole one of the three stolen living spirit techniques is here," Shu whispered as he nudged his head at one of the delegates seating to their right. It was a pale youth with golden blonde hair and bright red eyes.

"Must be a descendant. Took quite a lot of generations for someone to bind the technique successfully," Lu Yi said, snapping his fingers. A member of the royal guard, wearing bright gold armor at the Spirit Master tier bent his head low as he stood behind the emperor.

"Prepare the others. My son is going to kill that thief. Make sure that, when the time comes, no one interferes," Lu Yi whispered.

"Yes, Imperial Majesty. Your will be done," the knight said and vanished.

"Wait for the opportune moment," Lu Yi said.

"Yes, father. If my living spirit technique resonated with him. He should know that we know. Look, he's looking at us," Shu grinned as the pale youth pales even more as the emperor and Lu Shu stared at him. He tried to get up but fifteen Spirit Masters appeared around him, causing some of the weaker delegates to cry out in shock.

"You will remain there, thief! Any who help you will die," Lu Yi growled, the entire plaza, once buzzing with excited guests and scheming delegates, became quiet.

"I am no thief!" the youth cried, standing up only to be slammed down on his chair by one of the royal guards.

"You and I both know you're wrong," Shu smiled, his killing intent manifesting into a visible, baleful aura of violet. Many powerful mages and Practitioners turned their head to him, knowing full well how many people one needed to kill to manifest killing intent.

"You dare question my honor! I challenge you to a duel!" the youth cried.

"A Spirit Knight of the first stage wants to challenge a Spirit Shaman of the ninth stage? You are even seven years older than he is," one of the delegates sneered. "It's a difference between tiers. Like Heaven and Earth. How pathetic."

"Alright," Shu said, shocking many people. "I'll play your game. What happens if you win?"

"Your empire must give my empire fifteen million gold!" the youth shouted, causing many others to roar in protest.

"And if I win?" Shu smirked. "I get your head. No questions asked. No political dispute made afterwards. Do we have a deal?"

"Hmph. We have a deal! Come! Let me show you the power of a Spirit Knight! You may be young for a Practitioner of the ninth stage, but I am far beyond your equal!" the youth mocked.

"What element is it? Fire? Lightning? Wind?" Shu asked, as he had the water living spirit technique while the ascended ancestor had the earth element.

"Of course, I am the lord of lightning!" the youth cried, lightning crackling around him, shaping into several serpents. People cried out as they believed the serpents were actually living creatures. Such power. Such control. The youth didn't even seem to expend any effort.

Shu walked toward the center of the plaza, all the people seating at the tables surrounding it, eager to see the power of the second prince. Lu Tian and Lu Qing looked at each other, reminiscing how they reacted as foolishly as the youth did. As the youth brought out a two-handed war hammer, Shu yawned as he motioned the youth to begin.

"You're not taking out your weapon?" the youth growled.

"No need. I don't see the point. You're not worthy," Shu scoffed.

"This bastard!" the youth yelled. "I, Gatral will cut off your head instead!"

The youth ran, raising his hammer and slamming it toward Shu. Shu merely placed his palm at the path of the war hammer and let it hit his palm. Everyone watched the gold robe incinerate, revealing his black armor. However, Shu's hand remained unharmed. Everyone's eyes widened as Shu seemed to suffer no damage. The youth twisted his body, doing a rising bash with his hammer at Shu's chest. Shu's other hand stopped the hammer again.

"What the fuck! It can't be! My lightning can kill Spirit Shamans like trash! Like vermin!" the youth cried as he rained a storm of lightning serpents at Shu with a wave of his hand as he jumped back. Shu held his arms out, like a boy leaning over the rails of a ship at sea to feel the breeze. Everyone watched, awed and terrified as Shu was not damaged at all. Shu smirked and used his Great Spirit Integration technique to make a sound wave, blasting the youth back. Gatral spat a mouthful of blood as he crashed against the ground twice.

"Immunity to lightning?" one of the powerful delegates brooded.

"It has to be. Damn. How did he achieve that? Resistance is one thing, but immunity?" another murmured.

"Wait, isn't that Miura Agemo?" a boy the same age as Shu frowned. It was Li Jiro, the mage from Sky Angel Academy who found the bead Shu hid in the root wall. "He's really Lu Shu, the second prince of the Yan Dynasty?"

"He's that Agemo you saw kill a humanoid Hyperion?" a man who seemed to be his uncle asked. "The rest of our ancient clans heard about him before. He's a true Archon, like your father. You're not a Practitioner so you were exiled from the clan, living with your mother and father. Luckily, I found you at Sky Angel Academy while picking up my son."

"Mages are everything to the ancient clans. They don't care to protect a mage child from a slaughter from the Hyperion," Jiro waved, not blaming his uncle as he tried to find Jiro before.

"That's Jiro, the mage novice I met a while back. He's wearing the bead necklace I hid?" Shu observed, not even looking at Gatral who kept throwing spears of lighting at him as Shu made sure his bead necklace was not showing out of his armor. "So I was right. Someone would find the bead and not the Hyperion. Now I know who has the other one. I wonder if the Hyperion know they're missing two?"

"Look at me when you fight me!" Gatral cried, despair creeping in his heart. "Look at me! Don't ignore me!"

"You only have one element?" Shu sighed. "How disappointing."

Shu nimbly dodged a strike from his hammer and high kicked him from beneath the chin. As Gatral's body lifted into the air, Shu spun and smashed his elbow into Gatral, sending him back as his chest burst with blood. Shu smirked as he put a palm on Gatral's head. Everyone paled as they saw a light purple flame, Shu's flames from his innate demon ability, burn all over Gatral's head. However, it burned Gatral's spirit energy and not his flesh. Gatral screamed as Shu's hand went inside Gatral, wrenching out the Mystic Stone.

"For the crime of stealing from the Imperial Lu Clan of the Yan Dynasty, I condemn to death," Shu said as he let go of Gatral's body, draining the Mystic Stone dry before tossing it aside like trash as he reached for the head. Shu closed his eyes and began draining the living spirit technique, his water spirit technique screaming with joy in his subconscious. As he already absorbed the essence of a Sword Immortal with the lightning affinity, it was easy to drain the living spirit technique. Now, Shu knew he could manipulate his lightning just as well as his water and ice.

"The criminal is dead. My generals, march to this thief's clan and slaughter them all. I, as sect leader, order the Gold Yan Guards!" Lu Yi roared. Fifty Spirit Masters and Mage Lords, a small portion of Lu Yi's sect, appeared and bowed before the emperor and his family before leaving to do the job. Gatral was a delegate so his identity and connections were already investigated and confirmed.

"Uncle Jang, there are so many," Jiro noted as the generals departed.

"Indeed. Most people think the Yan Dynasty is weak as they care little for how much land they rule. It is because the imperial family is one of elite Practitioners and mages nearly at the level of the ancient clans. However, their weakest Spirit Sage, Ancestor Lu Feng, is so powerful, he wiped out one of the strongest ancient clans and reduced their numbers to nine. He is only one of five and openly declared himself as the weakest. Just imagine the power the Lu Clan would have if they decided to invade and destroy the martial sects and academies within the nation," Jiro's uncle said. "Even the patriarch of our Li Clan is unsure if he can take on Ancestor Lu Feng alone with all of the elite of our clan."

"He will be my rival," Jiro said.

"You're a mage," his uncle said.

"In the Pantheon of Devils, mages are more valued and more likely to survive as Practitioners usually do all the fighting as mages offer support," Jiro said. "I'm sure the children, nieces, and nephews of the other delegates feel the same."

"What is this strange feeling?" Shu wondered as he spread out his spirit energy. He could feel as if the land were breathing, as if the planet was alive. He closed his eyes and could feel the vibrations of the ground beneath the tiles of the plaza. He could feel it move as he wished, as if he controlled the planet. His eyes widened as he could access the planet's life force more easily, as if the ground were barriers that just dissolved by his touch. His mind wandered deeper into the planet. As he saw the core of the world, Lu Shu cried out in shock.

"Don't say a word," Lu Feng said as he appeared behind him in a flash, startling all the people present as they could not even detect his movement or breathing.

"What is this?" Lu Shu asked, mentally communicating with his ancestor.

"You are a Golden Earth Fiend. You can now control the earth element. I suggest not using it at all in public, like a secret weapon. It will make it easier for you to escape. You sensed something in the core of the planet. The Great Ancestor's predictions are truly profound," Lu Feng replied.

"The heart of the planet is alive?" Shu asked incredulously. "That's impossible. The [Titan Creator] manual said..."

"It did not say that how the Titan died. It said how its body was divided and used to make the planet. The Titan really did die, but it was pregnant. That is what the Great Ancestor told me and why the Bone Demon, the Overseer of the planet, did not destroy or eat it to follow the other two Overseers. As a Practitioner connected to this planet's life force, and as a Golden Earth Fiend, it is no wonder you were able to detect it without being an immortal. If an immortal descended to the Mortal Realm and discovered the secret, all hell would break loose," Lu Feng answered. "Wait until your demonic body stabilizes before controlling the earth element. Wait until the Archon Phoenix tier, just like condensing to the eighth level."

"Who else knows about this?" Shu asked.

"No one but you, me, the Bone Demon, and the Great Ancestor. You three had the power to detect it. Me, I had my own method during my younger days. Come, you must meditate and start converting the human spirit energy into demonic spirit energy. The younger delegates will also gather in the throne room with you and your sister. You will sit at your father's throne. It is time you acted like a prince as those younger delegates will try to play politics with you. Your sister.....is a lazy human. At least Lu Kui is a demi-demon. She actually has the power," Lu Feng grinned as they left the plaza, the younger delegates and Lu Mei also doing so to allow the adults to drink and chat. "I will just be there to insure no one tries to take your life."

"While I am at the palace, can you teach me the way of the sword? I have experience killing beasts, but not much against humans my age. I also need tutoring in controlling my darkness and earth elements," Shu asked.

"Not to worry. I will teach you before you are sent, as a general, to combat the Hyperion with our forces and allies," Lu Feng smiled as Lu Shu sat on his father's throne, his sister sitting on his mother's throne to his left with Hao in her arms. Supaiku was in his full fifteen feet form and laid, on the ground, to his right. Lu Feng seemed to disappear, but Spook told him that Lu Feng was in the shadows, detecting the sentient, demonic ring Lu Feng wore.

"Greetings, Prince Shu. Long live Emperor Lu Yi. Long live Second Prince Lu Shu. The Yan Dynasty rules eternal," young members of the Lu Clan and the delegates greeted as they took their respective seats in the throne room. Shu had his eyes closed as he was regulating the human spirit energy. While waiting for him to start the feast, some delegates ate some of their food and began pondering about what they saw. The rumors from many years ago sprouted some doubts, but seeing Lu Shu rip out someone's Mystic Stone in front of their very eyes confirmed the rumor.

With his gold robe destroyed, people saw the Black Snake God leather armor Shu wore. He looked like a fallen warrior of the heavens. The white silver headband emitting small snowflakes around his head, a strong contrast to his absolute black hair and glowing tiger stripes under his eyes. Among the younger delegates, there were a five true Archons who were at the Archon Phoenix tier. These five were obviously members of the main branches of some of the nine ancient clans. Only those clans, with their many resources and knowledge about true Archons, could possibly have their descendants at the Archon Phoenix tier before the age of twenty or thirty. All the people in the throne room were below twenty and were mixes of Practitioners and mages. Besides the ancient clan representatives, the strongest Practitioner was at the eighth stage while the strongest mage was an Elite Mage. Mages grew in power more quickly as their development was dependent on their mana pools, spells, rituals, and knowledge on magic.

"It seems I kept you all waiting," Shu said as he relaxed on his father's throne, opening his eyes. "In place of my brother, currently leading an expedition in Hyperion lands, I will be presiding this feast for those below the age of twenty. Some of you mages are Elite Mages. Sister, you need to grow stronger. They are younger than you."

"Quiet!" Lu Mei snapped as she pet Hao.

"Pardon my intrusion, Your Majesty," a young man began. "Did you really rip out the Mystic Stone out of that man? May I ask what he stole?"

"His ancestor stole a spirit technique from the Lu Imperial Vault. He tarnished the honor of my ancestor who was foolish to believe no one could enter the vault, or so I believe. The result is that he was confirmed to own the stolen technique and I was ordered to silence him," Shu said. "His clan will be annihilated soon."

"Ah," the young man said. "Your Majesty, I am a Practitioner of the Shao Clan and at the beginning phase of the Archon Phoenix tier. My name is Ivan Shao, Shao Ivan in these lands. I believe you met my cousin, Shao Ivy. As I recall, you had blonde hair white fur fox ears, and no tiger stripes under your eyes. Perhaps Your Majesty went to the Spirit Road?"

"Oh? How did you know? I am at the ninth stage of Spirit Shaman cultivation," Shu lied, not surprised as the boy was from the ancient clans.

"Spirit Road? He went there? So soon?" some delegates whispered as the Lu Tian and Lu Qing said nothing. BY the order of their parents, they were forbidden from telling anyone else, in the Lu Clan, about their parents reaching the Spirit Master tier and about any knowledge on totems. Thus, they were the only Lu Clan members, present in the throne room, who knew Shu's true cultivation stage.

"That guardian lion, in Princess Mei's hands, is a Spirit Beast. According to the knowledge of my clan, there is no guardian lion magical beast," Shao Ivan bowed.

"As expected of the Shao Clan. Yes, Little Hao is a Spirit Beast and I do have a totem. However, I am forbidden from using it as I am at the ninth stage. If I use it and accidentally use the power of my spirit reactors, I might die. After all, I am at the ninth stage. If it wasn't for my clan's special method, I would have gone to the Spirit Road as soon as the tenth stage," Shu lied, shrugging as if he didn't care.

"Impressive. It does make sense to have a totem if you have a Spirit Beast, Your Majesty," one of the delegates cried, the others nodding as they believed Shu's lies.

"I believe Your Majesty has two magical beasts already bonded to your soul?" one of the delegates from the ancient clans asked. "Ah, pardon me. Your Majesty, I am Li Jiro. Do you remember me?"

"Jiro. Yeah, I remember you. I thought your town was annihilated by the Hyperion? To come from the ancient clan of Li, I see the truth now. Did you perhaps find out what the Hyperion were trying to find?" Shu asked, already knowing the answer to his own question as he guessed Jiro's status.

"Yes, mages are not valued much. Luckily, Uncle Jang found me at Sky Angel Academy. As for Your Majesty's question, we did find something."

"I see. As for your earlier question, I have two magical beasts. One is an Emerald Steel Dragon named Bahamut. He is free to devour any intruders, near my pagoda, alive. Supaiku, this tiger here, is a Gold-Eyed Lightning Tiger. I am embarrassed to say they are a tier above me, at the Spirit Knight tier. Such is the inevitability of a Saint level magical beast. Their growth rate and potential is too astounding," Shu said, although he was much stronger than they were.

"Oh. It is good that they are Saint level magical beasts. Otherwise, Your Majesty would be at a loss," Jiro grinned.

"Just call me Shu. I must admit, I used an alias when I met you as Miura Agemo," Shu said, shocking some of the delegates.

"He's that Agemo who won that Kasara tournament? The one where Spirit Sage or Spirit Master Julius went overboard?" some of the delegates muttered.

"Shu then," Jiro grinned. "I guess you did not know. At the Pantheon of Devils, there are more than spirit techniques, mage spells, and magical items. Some lucky people get to contract with magical beasts there. Even if they are not at the Saint level, each of them come from a different planet in the Mortal Realm. Thus, they are one-of-a-kind and obviously powerful to be placed in the Pantheon of Devils. I understand Emperor Lu Yi has no magical beasts as he intends to contract with three magical beasts there. It's a good thing, Shu, you only have two and at the Saint level."

"Dad really had no magical beast?" Shu asked Mei who nodded.

"Where is this guy going?" Mei pouted as Hao leapt from her lap and headed outside.

"Ah, right. I didn't get rid of the body outside," Shu laughed, chilling some of the people with fear. "That little kitten...I really need to find some way to control him."

"Your Spirit Beast won't look like what it did when it was killed, Your Majesty," one of the delegates of the ancient clans, another of the Archon Phoenix Practitioners, said. "When they are contracted, they lose all memories, save their powers and techniques, with the chance to gain new ones and grow into something else. It may be a guardian lion now, but it might also grow into something else, like a dragon."

"What?" Shu started, incredulous. "It is obviously a feline. How could it become reptilian? Moreover, turn into a dragon?"

"Spirit Beasts are creatures beyond any understanding. That is why no one really cares what Spirit Beast they contract, only caring about its attributes and current powers. I imagine Your Majesty is immune to lightning because of it," the delegate answered.

"No. I gained immunity from fire from it," Shu said darkly, scaring some people. "My lightning immunity came from a difference source. As I recall, Spirit Beasts often give high resistance, not immunity. The fact that I did is due to my clan's special method. What's your name?"

"My name is Matsuda Ken. Anyway, your Spirit Beast is at the infant stage. When people enter the Archon Phoenix tier, that is when it enters its juvenile stage, no matter how small it looks. They also enter their true form. It is because its very nature is changed due to the Practitioner and the item used to make the totem," Ken answered, with a slight bow.

"It appears there is more than I thought," Shu brooded aloud as Hao returned, smacking its lips as it hopped onto Shu's lap. "Pity. I rather like a guardian lion. They are awesome statues."

"Statues?" Ken asked, titling his head in confusion. "Ah, forgive me. Your Majesty, may I address you informally?"

"You gave me good information," Shu nodded. "Speak."

"The Pantheon of Devils opens in less than four years. As a true Archon, you are already stronger than a Spirit Knight of the first and second stage. People who judge based on a criteria are narrow-minded, like the delegate thief who died," Ken said. "May I ask what you plan to do now?"

"I plan to train under my ancestor, Lu Feng. I finally get to stay home, for once, without leaving before a full day has passed," Shu laughed incredulously. "I need more experience and could use his guidance. Why?"

"I was wondering if you were going to go on one of the expeditions to the Hyperion lands," Ken asked.

"He will," a voice said, paralyzing everyone with fear as they felt an incalculable spirit force descend on them. They looked at the direction it came from and immediately stood up and bowed their heads at Lu Feng.

"Greetings, Ancestor Lu Feng," they shouted.

"Oh, sit down. I didn't mean to scare you all," Lu Feng waved, the people sitting down with relief.

"I'm going on the expedition?" Shu asked.

"Yes. I was going to teach you, but going on an expedition in Hyperion lands is better," Lu Feng said.

"Also, you have a chance to look at the ruins that magical beast Spirit Sage talked about," Lu Feng added, mentally communicating the words.

"What about the tutoring?" Shu asked.

"You don't need it," Lu Feng said. "The best way to learn is through life-or-death situations. You will go to the expedition in three months. Until then, I will be teaching you."

"Oh. Okay," Shu grinned.

"You will also be in the expedition?" Lu Feng asked Ken and Jiro. "It would be good if you did. It is good to have friends and rivals. Friendly competition makes one stronger. I will personally lead the expedition. It is open to all mages and Practitioners who have my approval. We meet in three months. This feast is over. The adults outside should be done talking mortal politics. I don't get why they care about politics when it takes a swing of a hand to annihilate an army."