Mortals could neither look upon them nor welcome them. They could only bend at the waist and bow, sensing the Great Ones pass through the dense forest and arrive at the edge of the clearing.
The old man carrying a lantern walked at the front, followed by the youth in silver robes, with the lady in black robes bringing up the rear.
The Guardians wanted to rise from the end of the long table, but their bodies could not move either.
"I haven't attended a feast like this in several millennia."
The three gods took their seats by the table. The kindly old man placed his oil lamp upon the long table, and specks of fireflies appeared across both the tabletop and the forest. Their faint yellow light was not particularly bright, but it was enough to illuminate this place.
The black mud silently receded beneath the Sun's radiance. Green grass and flowers spread outward from the long table, and the earth temporarily returned to normal under the gods' power.
As for Shade, who was burning divinity, the power of that drop of divinity was nearly exhausted after his battle with the Stone Heart Demon just now. Therefore, rather than use divine power, he took out the ruby and flicked away his last Emperor's Banquet Copper Coin to obtain the finest possible feast.
"Next comes an unparalleled feast."
The coin and ruby clattered onto the tabletop. Spreading gold and silver tableware and lavish dishes soon filled the dining table. The fireflies gathered above the table, becoming golden candlesticks in the gaps between the plates. The dazzling candlelight gave everyone warm illumination as this night neared its end. This night had truly been far too long.
The lady in black said nothing. Her fingers trembled slightly a few times, and the