Mist rose slowly from the water beside the Jade Pool.
Countless long white jade tables stood in neat rows on either side of the Jade Pool, each laden with Jade Nectar and all manner of immortal fruit.
Fairy maidens danced gracefully among the clouds and mist.
Wen Zhong led the four of them through the final corridor, and the Jade Pool came into full view.
Lu Ming drew in a sharp breath.
Wen Ning was stunned too. The grandest banquet he had ever attended was a college reunion where the class president had reserved three tables at a hot pot restaurant.
"Wen Ning, look over there!"
Lu Ming pointed at the seats of honor floating amid the clouds directly above the Jade Pool. "Those are the Queen Mother's and the Jade Emperor's seats. Goddess Nuwa personally lit the lotus lamps above them all those years ago. They've been burning for tens of thousands of years and have never gone out."
Wen Ning looked where Lu Ming was pointing. Two enormous lotus lamps hung above the seats of honor, their flames a pale gold.
The Thunder Department's seats were toward the front on the left side of the Jade Pool, just below the seats of honor, with the Fire Department and Water Department beside them.
Wen Zhong took the foremost seat and gestured for the four of them to sit behind him in order.
Wen Ning sat immediately below Wen Zhong, with Bai Lu beside him. With Bai Lu between them, Lu Ming could only crane his neck to look over at Wen Ning.
Meng Jiang went to the Underworld's seats. Before leaving, she waved at Wen Ning, then mouthed "zongzi" at Lu Ming.
Lu Ming was furious, but he did not dare make a scene on such an occasion and