As the evening set upon the Shrine Plane, the Central Pavilion of Fire Shrine was bustling with countless guests. Not only had the various Clans of the Fire Shrine coalesced, masters of the Wind, Earth, Water and Wood Shrines had also made appearances along with many others.
Aside from the bosses of Shrines, Guild leaders and Sect Patriarchs also attended. Alchemy Gods not seen for millions of years resurfaced, Formation Masters of ancient times left their dens, and even cultivation experts, after being in seclusion for countless years, had come to remind the world of their existence.
Many of these individuals hadn't even seen or heard of this "Ryu" before. After all, this was Ryu's thousandth birthday, a time that was a mere blink of an eye for these old men and women. Still, they came. The call of the Tatsuya Clan wasn't something that they could ignore.
At the head of the pavilion, a domineering roar of a laughter shook the foundation below their feet. Yet, the party continued as though the guests had heard nothing. They were too used to powerful experts like this involuntarily influencing their surroundings.
"My grandson did that? Truly me boy!" An older man who looked to be in his 50s roared with laughter. His head of hair was a fierce blue, shimmering with a lightning so powerful that it sometimes appeared white due to the blinding light. This man was none other that Priest Saint Kunan, Ryu's maternal grandfather. "Decisive and ruthless, just like his grandfather!"
An older woman of about the same age sighed. Her hair flickered with the embers of an undying fire, making her already red hair even more valiant and awe inspiring.
Despite her appearance, this older woman's demeanor was calm and serious, similar, yet, at the same time so very different from Mistress Kunan's calm and lovable demeanor. This woman was decidedly colder. However, there was clear love in her eye when she spoke of Ryu. She was none other than Ryu's paternal grandmother and current Priest Saintess of the Reincarnation Shrine, Old Mistress Tatsuya.
"This Third Grand Elder doesn't have a small background." Old Mistress Tatsuya spoke, trying to pour cold water over Kunan's party.
"You come from a mighty Phoenix Clan, yet you're worried about some inferior fire bird clan?"
A severe pinch contorted Priest Saint Kunan's facial expression. He wanted to rage, but the moment he noticed that it was his wife's hand to his side, he ducked down like an obedient child. Ever since that incident with Elena's grandmother, he had been practically begging for forgiveness for the last few billion years. Even after all this time, he didn't dare to go against his wife.
Mistress Kunan sent a look of disdain toward her husband, causing the quiet-until-now Old Man Tatsuya to chuckle lightly, but he too received a glare from his wife that forced him quiet once more.
"The Scarlet Clan isn't a normal inferior fire bird clan. Many ancient texts place them above the Phoenix among the Fire Bird species."
Old Man Kunan wasn't convinced although he remained quiet. The Scarlet Clan were the descendant of the Scarlet Sparrow. It wasn't that they were weak, he knew well that they were very strong. It was just that a Phoenix's wings could cover hundreds of miles at maturity while a Scarlet Sparrow would never be more than two palm lengths. It was difficult for someone with his personality to take such a creature seriously.
During ancient times, the Scarlet Clan once controlled the Blood Shrine. At that point, everyone had no choice but to take them seriously, despite their size. However, they hadn't birthed a descendant capable of taking the role of Priest Saint or Saintess for many generations, forcing their Legacy Shrine into being a Dormant Shrine.
They were quite amazing creatures. While Ice Phoenixes wielded Life and Fire Phoenixes wielded Reincarnation, Scarlet Sparrows were masters of Vitality. Their flames had the ability to bestow and take away bloodlines. They were no less important to the structure of the martial world in comparison to Phoenixes.
Now, however, the Scarlet Family was a subordinate clan of the Fire Shrine due to the fact their only remaining ancestral ability were their scolding hot flames.
"Look at you." Mistress Kunan frowned, reprimanding her husband. "Didn't your Kunan Clan lose the Tribulation Shrine? Just like the Scarlet Clan, you haven't birthed any descendants who can take it over. Why do you look down on the Scarlet Clan for a plight you yourself have?"
"But—"
"No buts." Mistress Kunan continued. "I know you want to say that Little Himari can gain the Tribulation Shrine's acknowledgement, but how is our little girl going to preside over four Shrines? Aren't you a little too useless?"
Old Mistress Tatsuya glared at her own husband as well. "What are you snickering for? I'm still not satisfied with the fact you handed your duties to Little Titus so soon. You're his father, you should have beared the burden for longer no matter how talented he is. But, all you Dragons are so lazy!
"You wanted to do what he did for Little Ryu, but you didn't want to bear the headache, so you passed of your duties on him. What kind of father are you?!"
In the distance, Mistress Tatsuya and her husband Priest Saint Tatsuya coughed awkwardly as they watched their parents bicker, not daring to get in the middle of it.
Even for experts of their caliber, billions of years of marriage wore on them. It would be impossible to find any couple that had been together for so long that weren't like this.
"You won't ever treat me like this, will you?" Titus looked toward his beautiful wife, but only received a mysterious smile. Still, it made his heart flutter.
"Will everything be okay?" Himari suddenly asked, changing the subject.
Titus snorted. "Since I've decided to give my son the Origin Flame, even the Sky Gods themselves can't stop me!"