The comet remained silent, only relentlessly unleashing heavenly tribulations.

Chapter 119 The Peach Banquet

The sensation was incredibly mysterious, as if an invisible force was calling to him and guiding him to a certain place.

After a moment's thought, Song Yi understood the source of this sensation.

Plain-colored cloud-patterned border flag.

This flag is one of the five primordial flags, also known as the Gathering Immortals Flag, a treasure guarded by the Queen Mother of the West in the Jade Pool.

Whenever the grand gathering at Yaochi takes place, simply hanging this flag high above the South Heavenly Gate and waving it gently will immediately evoke the feelings of the immortals and gods of the Three Realms, who will then flock to the gathering.

At this time of year, it should be the time for the Heavenly Court to hold the Peach Banquet.

Among the gods of Heaven, only those of the eighth rank or above are qualified to attend the banquet.

The Ten Kings of Hell in the Underworld are an exception. This is because the Peach Banquet is a joyous occasion shared by all three realms, and the presence of the gods of the underworld would always spoil the atmosphere. Therefore, the Heavenly Court never invites the gods of the underworld to participate.

This is the first Peach Banquet after the end of the Investiture of the Gods war.

After the Investiture of the Gods, the order of the Three Realms was restored, and the Heavenly Court's power greatly increased, making this Peach Banquet naturally of extraordinary significance.

The Great Celestial Venerable and the Queen Mother of the West will surely use this grand event to reward the immortals and gods of the Three Realms and demonstrate the majesty of the Heavenly Court.

Song Yi temporarily entrusted the affairs of Zhenjun Mansion and Yuhua Sect to Song Yu, and then set off for the Heavenly Court.

The rhinoceros with its sky-reaching floral pattern treads on clouds, carrying him soaring upwards, passing through layers of clouds, and arriving at the gates of the Southern Heaven.

Today, Nantianmen was many times more bustling than usual.

Looking around, one can see all sorts of immortals and gods rushing in from both the celestial and mortal realms.

There was a white-haired immortal who seemed to be walking on clouds, his sleeves fluttering, followed by several sword-bearing boys.

There was a female immortal riding a blue phoenix, dressed in feathered robes, her whole body radiating a clear light.

There were three Taoist masters riding a black Qilin, wearing lotus crowns and holding whisks, with calm expressions.

There were also those riding cranes, those wielding flying swords, and those riding dragons and tigers—a diverse array of forms and styles.

Song Yi urged the Heavenly Flower Pattern Rhinoceros through the South Heavenly Gate. The heavenly generals on duty recognized him, bowed, and stepped aside to make way for him.

He continued upwards until he reached the Jade Pool, where he saw celestial officials on the shore responsible for watching over the mounts of various immortals and gods.

Song Yi handed the rhinoceros to the celestial official to tie it up, then took a handful of blood bodhi seeds from his bosom and fed them to the rhinoceros. Only then did he straighten his clothes and step into the Jade Pool.

"The True Lord Who Delivers from Calamity and Misfortune Has Arrived!"

As the celestial official loudly proclaimed his name, Song Yi, led by a fairy attendant from the Jade Pool, slowly passed through layers of cloud palaces and headed towards the depths of the Jade Pool.

The water of the Jade Pool was as clear as a mirror, reflecting the starry sky. Mist rose from the surface of the pool, and fairy lotuses bloomed in abundance.

The banks are planted with magnolia trees, their branches laden with red fruits and jade-like berries, and a wonderful fragrance wafts through the air.

The thousand jade tables are arranged according to the stars in the sky. Each table is covered with silk brocade and topped with a gilded cup with nine phoenixes and entwined branches and an eight-treasure glass lotus leaf plate.

The central peach is as large as a large bowl, its skin translucent and glowing with the light of dawn, exuding the energy of Ren water.

Beside them, fine wine and jade dew were served in a green jade pot, and in a crystal dish, Ganoderma lucidum and red fruit were piled up like a tower, each containing the essence of the sun and moon, reflecting a precious light that soared to the sky.

At this moment, many immortals and gods had already taken their seats in the Jade Pool.

Some are true immortals of the three religions, some are righteous gods of the Heavenly Court, and many are highly accomplished immortals from blessed lands and grottoes.

The immortals, some longtime friends, others officials in the same palace, gathered in small groups to discuss profound mysteries and exchange cultivation experiences, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

As a sixth-rank deity, Song Yi's seat was located slightly towards the back.

The peaches on the table exuded a delicate fragrance and shone brightly.

The Primordial Ren Water Peach Tree is one of the Ten Primordial Spiritual Roots. Like the Chaos Green Lotus, it also suffered a calamity and transformed into three thousand six hundred peach trees.

The first 1,200 trees have small flowers and small fruits, ripening once every 3,000 years. People who eat them will become immortals and attain physical strength and lightness. The middle 1,200 trees have layered flowers and sweet fruits, ripening once every 6,000 years. People who eat them will ascend to heaven and live forever. The last 1,200 trees have purple-veined kernels, ripening once every 9,000 years. People who eat them will live as long as heaven and earth and be the same age as the sun and moon.

Although his current divine position is not high, he was appointed by the two saints and listed on the Investiture of the Gods, and is entitled to enjoy peaches of immortality for six thousand years.

The sacred seat above the Jade Pool is vacant.

Since the Six Sages disappeared into the chaos, no more sages have descended to the mortal realm for the Peach Banquet.

At this moment, celestial music filled the air, colorful phoenixes sang, and true dragons circled.

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother revealed themselves and took their places.

The Queen Mother of the West was dressed in a classical and elegant palace gown, her aura ethereal and unpredictable, exuding an air of majesty.

The Jade Emperor wore a nine-chapter robe and a twelve-tassel crown. His face was hidden in auspicious clouds, and he was surrounded by purple and golden mist. His majesty was natural and he fully displayed the appearance of the supreme ruler of the Three Realms.

The celestial bells and jade chimes rang out in succession, and seven princesses led a group of fairies from the Jade Pool, playing innate musical instruments such as the Yunhe Sheng, and playing supreme celestial music.

Within the Jade Pool, the immortals of the three religions and the righteous gods of the Zhou Tian all rose together to pay homage to the Jade Emperor and the Golden Mother of the Jade Pool.

Afterwards, many immortals toasted each other, and during the banquet, the Yellow Turban Warriors frequently poured imperial wine, while white cranes and colorful phoenixes presented spiritual fruits, and fair maidens with slender hands moved to offer wine, creating a scene of carefree bliss in the immortal realm.

Song Yi took out the peach full of spiritual energy, took a small bite, and immediately felt his mouth water, sweet and smooth. He felt lightheaded, and the sweet juice penetrated his internal organs and entered his body. His blood and qi surged, and it took him a while to calm down.

He is now a being of flesh and blood, and the six-thousand-year-old peaches of immortality can indeed bring a significant boost to his physical body.

Before long, only one peach pit remained on the table.

As the Peach Banquet progressed, many immortals from the three religions and the righteous gods of the heavens rose from their seats and, in twos and threes, presented the gifts and magical treasures they had prepared to the Jade Pool.

Just then, a figure stepped out from the crowd.

That was a monk with large ears, a wide jaw, a round face, a full belly, and a plump body, all smiles; it was none other than Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha who came from the East.

He held a scroll of Buddhist scripture in both hands, smiling broadly, and said, "This humble monk presents a scroll of Amitabha Buddha's handwritten scripture, wishing the Great Heavenly Venerable and the Empress a swift attainment of the Primordial Chaos!"

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother exchanged a glance, both slightly moved.

The Queen Mother raised her hand in greeting, and a fairy maiden in colorful robes stepped forward, took the scroll with both hands, and presented it to the Queen.

As the scroll of Buddhist scriptures, personally copied by Amitabha Buddha, was slowly unfurled, boundless Buddhist light poured out like a tide, enveloping the entire Jade Pool in dazzling golden radiance.

The scriptures are written on cloth with the eight treasures of the West. The cloth may look ordinary, but it is actually woven from the silk spun by the seven treasure silkworms nurtured in the Western Merit Pool. It is impervious to water and fire and will never be destroyed.

The characters of the scripture floated three inches into the air, transforming into eighty-four thousand golden talismans that spiraled and rose.

The prayer wheel is carved from Bodhi wood that has been around for millions of years. The wood is warm and smooth like jade, and it faintly exudes the light of wisdom.

The Mani jewels inlaid at both ends rotate on their own, each rotation reflecting the magnificent scenery of the Western Paradise, with its seven-jeweled lotus pond, eight-merit water, golden ground, and heavenly music, captivating all the immortals and gods.

A spiritual fruit in front of the Queen Mother's table, touched by the Buddha's light, spontaneously sprouted tender green shoots, and in an instant grew into a three-foot-tall spiritual peach seedling.

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