To honor the return of the Chaos King and the rebirth of the 3000 Rakshasa, the Immortal Emperor made an unprecedented gesture. He would personally fund the Celestial Tavern for an entire day, allowing every guest—immortal, god, or cultivator—to drink for free. Word of this decision spread like wildfire, and soon the realms buzzed with anticipation for the Grand Chaotic Banquet.
The Celestial Tavern, renowned across the Infinite Immortal Realms as a hub for gods, immortals, and mortals alike, was a place where no one ever questioned the wealth it generated. But for the Immortal Emperor, funding such an establishment for a single day, even with his vast coffers, was no small feat. He felt the weight of this decision in his bones, and a flicker of greed began to grow in his heart. The thought of the Celestial Tavern’s wealth, of how much it must make each day, crossed his mind more than once.
As he walked through the gilded halls of his palace, the Immortal Emperor couldn’t shake the thought. But deep down, he knew better than to have designs on the tavern or those who controlled it. The beings behind the Celestial Tavern—Zui Tian, Wujin Meng, and the Godly Manager—were far beyond his reach, both in power and influence. Still, the question lingered: How much wealth could this place truly be hiding?
The day of the Grand Chaotic Banquet arrived, and the Celestial Tavern was a sight to behold. Its towering structure gleamed with celestial light, and the air hummed with the energy of thousands of immortals, gods, and cultivators, all gathering to partake in the free-flowing wine. The tavern seemed to expand endlessly, accommodating everyone who came, no matter their rank or station.
The Immortal Emperor stood at the entrance, greeting guests as they entered. His face wore a mask of calm, but beneath it, he was silently calculating the costs. Every glass of wine poured, every jug emptied, seemed to take a toll on his mind. And yet, he smiled, knowing that this day would be remembered forever as a tribute to the Chaos King.
As the banquet reached its peak, the air was thick with celebration. Zui Tian, in his usual tattered robes, was laughing heartily with a group of his students. Wujin Meng sat gracefully at a table surrounded by her admirers, sipping her wine with quiet elegance. The Chaos Twins were already deep into their cups, sparring with some of the more daring guests in friendly matches of strength and skill.
But all eyes began to shift when the door to the highest room of the tavern, the one reserved for only the most powerful and influential beings, creaked open. The tavern’s usual lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent as a towering figure stepped out.
The Godly Manager emerged, his presence demanding attention like a silent storm. Dressed in his usual understated robes, there was an unmistakable air of ancient power about him. His eyes, calm and serene, surveyed the room before locking onto the Immortal Emperor, who stood frozen in place.
Whispers filled the room. Many of the patrons had never seen the Godly Manager in person, though they had heard the rumors of his unmatched influence. He was a being whose very existence seemed to transcend the realms. And tonight, as he stood before them, there was something different—something more.
The Immortal Emperor, who had been calculating the tavern’s wealth in his mind all night, suddenly found himself breathless. He had heard of the Godly Manager’s power, but now, standing in his presence, he felt a pressure he hadn’t expected. His fleeting thoughts of greed evaporated in an instant.
The Godly Manager approached the Immortal Emperor slowly, his eyes gleaming with knowing amusement. With every step, the aura of chaos, order, and creation swirled around him. And as he reached the Immortal Emperor, he spoke, his voice like the gentle rumble of a distant earthquake.
“Emperor,” he said, inclining his head slightly in greeting. “I appreciate your generosity in funding the tavern today. It is a rare and admirable gesture.”
The Immortal Emperor swallowed, trying to regain his composure. “It is… my honor,” he managed, his voice wavering slightly. “To honor the Chaos King and the Rakshasa… it is a small price to pay.”
The Godly Manager smiled, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his eyes. “Indeed. But there is something you should know, something that you and all those present deserve to understand on this night of celebration.”
The tavern was completely silent now, every eye on the Godly Manager as he stood before the Immortal Emperor. Zui Tian, Wujin Meng, the Chaos Twins, and even the First Darkness watched with quiet anticipation, knowing what was about to unfold.
The Godly Manager took a step back, raising his arms slightly as his aura intensified. The very fabric of reality around him seemed to tremble as he began to change. His form, once that of a simple, unassuming man, expanded. His robes shimmered with the colors of creation itself—chaos, order, light, and darkness. His body grew until he stood as tall as the heavens, his presence filling the tavern and the skies above.
Gasps echoed throughout the crowd as the realization hit them. This was no mere Godly Manager. This was Pan Gu, the very being who had split Heaven and Earth, the King of Chaos, the creator of the realms.
The Immortal Emperor, whose mind had earlier entertained thoughts of the tavern’s wealth, now stood in stunned silence, barely able to comprehend what he was witnessing. Pan Gu, the figure of myth and legend, the one who had created the foundation of existence itself, had been among them all along, guiding the tavern and the realms with his unseen hand.
As Pan Gu stood in his full form, towering above the crowd, he spoke, his voice reverberating through the tavern and beyond. “I am Pan Gu, the first of the 3001 Rakshasa, the one who gave life to Heaven and Earth. This tavern, this world, was built upon the chaos I forged. And now, as the realms ascend to new heights, I stand before you to guide the next era of power and freedom.”
The crowd, still in awe, bowed instinctively. Even the Immortal Emperor, one of the most powerful beings in existence, found himself lowering his head in respect. Any trace of greed or ambition he had felt earlier had vanished completely. He now understood the true scale of what he had been dealing with.
Zui Tian, standing in the back with a knowing smile, raised his flask to his brother. “Well, Pan Gu,” he said quietly, “I guess the secret’s out.”
Wujin Meng chuckled softly. “About time, too.”
The banquet continued, but now it was more than a celebration—it was a recognition of the return of the Chaos King, the creator of the realms. And as the guests drank their free wine, they did so with a new understanding of just how vast and unfathomable the powers at play truly were.
Pan Gu, in his celestial form, looked down at the gathered immortals, gods, and cultivators. “Drink and celebrate tonight,” he said, his voice echoing like thunder. “For tomorrow, the path ahead will be one of great challenges, and the realms will need each of you at your strongest.”
The guests raised their cups, toasting to the future, to chaos, and to the boundless potential that lay before them.
The Era of Chaos had truly begun.