"Can I examine one of your water scales, Lord Demonhunter?" Pef asked with an innocent voice.

The red-robed man frowned for a second. "What for?"

"I want to test a theory." our hero answered truthfully. There could be no material in the universe able to withstand a direct hit from his Sword Soul. Not even the fabled Eternium was immune...thus something else was going on.

"Uhm. One minute, that's it. I feel uncomfortable if there is a scale missing from my scale suit." the ascended Golden Koi said in a vaguely threatening voice, and he handed over a glossy fish scale glinting with water drops.

Turning the scale over, Pef pressed it between his palms, coresenses running in overdrive. In less than a minute, he had a clue. A sandwich of transmuted water layers, likely a type of non-Newtonian fluid and some form of organic lattice resembling a conch shell.The liquid would harden instantly when struck, providing an extraordinary defense due to the fluid being an incompressible material.

Hundreds of diverse Daos and several Heavenly Laws were mixed into the scale as well, almost like a Formation array, yet all natural and organic. No artificial runes or patterns, the fish scale was grown not made in a forge.

In the final second of possession, Pef slapped the scale with an open palm, that hid his Nine Universe Gravity Array, creating an explosively-formed penetrator that bent the Void itself into a spike reaching directly onto the surface of the advanced fish scale.

Grinning widely, the Demonhunter recovered his scale. "You think a mere Bronze Realm can...what did you do?" the old carp exclaimed in a horrified voice, as he noticed his priceless scale had a white gouge almost a millimeter deep.

"Testing a theory, like I said. Nothing is indestructible. I am just too weak." Pef explained with a humble voice, then ran to open the courtyard and allow the next guest inside.

The Celestial Dean smiled widely at the flower-filled courtyard, and perhaps even more for the grimacing carp holding a damaged scale. "Little Brother, you never cease to surprise me! You advanced again." he offered in a kind voice, and offered Pef a small wooden box as a birthday gift.

"The environment of the Academy is quite fortuitous for cultivation, Senior Brother. You've done a great job arranging those Spirit Veins under the mountain." Pef answered in a calm voice.

The Dean ignored the praise and walked towards the Bee Queen. "Old Queen, we meet once more. This time, it is my place." he spoke in a strange tone. Perhaps there were subtle undertones in his words, but Pef wasn't sure.

"My starfield has been conquered by your student, and he became my Master. Your singing koi has also grown up, Fisherman." the Bee Queen answered with a glance at the Demonhunter.

"...Golden Koi." the Demonhunter muttered in displeasure. Surely it wasn't that hard to correctly identify his origin specie, was it?

"Still, I would say it is better to observe the impermanence of things by living them, Old Queen. Holding still for so long has not provided you with any advantage, did it?" the Celestial Dean mused in a warning voice, and sat beside his old carp.

Stolen novel; please report.

The Bee Queen couldn't find any clever words to retort, so she bowed and sat low among her flowers.

Before things could get more awkward, another pair of guests tapped the Formation and Pef rushed to receive them. Meili Feng and Gia Long, Pef's two friends from the class entered the courtyard and froze in astonishment.

Two Eminences were sitting at Pef's table, and even the strongest of them in the entire Heavens.

"Come in ladies, and sit down. That large bee over there is my battle mount, and these two gentlemen are our Celestial Dean and Steelord Demonhunter. Best if you don't attack them or such, they are quite strong." Pef added in a fake whisper.

The Celestial Dean smiled and grabbed the damaged scale from his old carp. "And such, the old gives way to the new. I think you were rather displeased with my new student?" he asked in a wry tone.

"He is still quite weak, Dean. But maybe not for long." the red-robed cultivator admitted with a sad voice.

As Pef took out a large teapot to begin serving his guests, the Formation chimed again. Pef set down his teapot and ran to open the entrance, to allow his glove goddess, Lady Kalima and a Steel realm Elf to enter his courtyard.

"Welcome to my birthday party, everyone. Wife, you look quite pretty." Pef spoke as he enveloped Kalima in a wide hug.

"I see you made quite a few new friends, hubby." Kalima answered and pinched his side at the sight of two new girls.

"Lady Meili and Lady Gia, this is my wife Lady Kalima. She is also now apprenticed to this Elf Steelsmith." he introduced the women, and nodded towards his new guest.

The Steelsmith nodded kindly, and threw a wary look towards the other two Eminences, both far stronger than himself. "I hear you're great cook, boy. Let's eat!" he proclaimed in dignified voice, and sat beside the Dean.

Soon, the table was filled with Pef's culinary creations, while the Bee Queen received a large tray of Silver Cookies just for herself.

The Eternium Knight took off her helm and sat at Pef's right side, then took out his new Eternium Heart Ruler. Pef glanced at her choice of face, finding it a mix from the General and Lady Lin, only with bright orange hair, filled with reddish Phoenix flames that chased each other as in a continuous loop.

"Good work, Lord Steelsmith!" Pef exclaimed with a grateful look towards the famous Elf smith.

"I would say so myself. Possibly the hardest thing I ever had to craft, along with that Eternium Armor." the Elf said in a proud voice.

"He boiled me alive..." the Heart Ruler whispered in a low tone towards his user. Pef sighed and stored the sword away. Forging a sentient artifact would be rather painful, for the artifact.

The Demonhunter examined the new sword with knowing eyes, then turned towards the Dean as the sword vanished. "Far better than your shoddy work from before."

"Of course. Everyone has things they are naturally suited for. The young Elf has a calling for Crafting, and you have a talent for hunting demons. Now, this Little Brother has a talent for Cooking." the Dean explained in a patient voice, then picked up a golden tempura-fried shrimp and dipped in sauce, before eating it with closed eyes. Close to perfection already, even if this wasn't a refined recipe. Mortals would likely Ascend directly into Divinity from a single bite.

"Lady Si, come and eat with us!" Pef called towards the house, making his new servant appear.

"Are you certain, Divine Cook?" she asked a bit timid. She was only a Saint Realm, basically an ant for everyone else at the table.

"Sure! Try these dishes." Pef offered generously, as he sat Si in between the glove goddess and himself.

As the Celestial Dean had predicted, the last mortal at the table did not remain one for long. Before she finished her plate, Lady Si already Ascended into Tier 2 or Perfect Divinity. Once upon a time, this would have been a glorious realm, enough to guarantee a Soldier rank in the Legion.

The orange glove immediately deduced Pef's point, but chose to ignore it anyways. Karma had a way to return all favors. She still had to pay more debts.