On the highest peak of Mount Sumeru, constantly shrouded in golden light, Zhunti turned toward Jieyin. "Senior Brother, what do you think Zhen Yuanzi is planning to invite all Earth Immortals at this time?"
"Daoist Zhen has been stuck in his current realm for too long. Sensing Tongtian's entry into the Primordial Origin Realm, Kong Xuan's creation of the Half-Saint Realm, coupled with the imminent war, the pressure must have caused him to take action," Jieyin analyzed. “It’s most likely to form a force in order to grab some Karmic Luck to aid in his comprehension.”
"I don't feel it's that simple. However, the concern now is to decide whether to personally attend or not," Zhunti said. "To increase the prestige of the Earth Celestial Banquet, Zhen Yuanzi will take out the Ginseng Fruits. We must bring out as many disciples as possible and take advantage of the situation."
Jieyin smiled. "Junior Brother is considerate. With Daoist Redcloud's relationship with Daoist Zhen, he will definitely attend. If we suggest a spar between our disciples, we can raise our prestige and attract a few talented Earth Immortals to supplement our Liberation Sect's foundation."
Zhunti released a smile full of mercy. "Senior Brother is right. We must release not just the western lifeforms from suffering but eastern life as well."
The two considered the possibility of the Three Purities attending, but they didn't think the Three Purities would personally attend. At most, they would send their disciples, and as long as the two didn't target the Three Purities' disciples too much, they would have free reign.
With two Saints like them present, Redcloud Ancestor didn't have a chance to suppress them.
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"Brother, hurry up," Jinchi said. Beside him, Kong Xuan stood atop a four-colored cloud that easily kept pace with the Golden-Winged Great Roc. "What do you think Zhen Yuanzi is cooking up? He's been so silent for so long, I almost forgot he was still alive."
Hearing no answer from Kong Xuan, Jinchi snorted. "Brother, why aren't you saying anything? Say, what do you think everyone's expression will be like when they see you?"
Kong Xuan finally turned toward his brother. "Why are you more excited than me? You act as if you're the one who reached the Half-Saint Realm. Also, this Earth Celestial Banquet is not simple, so keep your head low."
"Brother, you know what Zhen Yuanzi is planning? As expected of you!" To Jinchi's dismay, Kong Xuan turned silent again.
Despite Jinchi's efforts, he never got Kong Xuan to open his mouth again.
When the duo arrived, they were greeted by an attendant in the Great Firmament Realm. Jinchi couldn't help but comment. "He actually has a Golden Immortal of the Great Firmament as an attendant. When did that happen?"
Displeasure flashed across the attendant's face, but it quickly disappeared. He saluted the two as if he hadn't heard the rude remark. "Honored guests, please follow me."
Kong Xuan shot a look toward Jinchi, who sheepishly rubbed his neck. He followed up with a shrug as he followed the attendant up Longevity Mountain. Before following, Kong Xuan glanced at the outskirts of the mountain to see hordes of Earth Immortals congregating outside. His eyes narrowed.
The two were led into the central courtyard of Wuzhuang Temple, where the Ginseng Fruit Tree resides. Just breathing in the fragrance allowed Kong Xuan to feel vitality surge within him. He had to admit that in terms of life-extending and recovery, the Illumination Apricot Tree could not compare, but even so, he would not trade it for anything in the world.
The setup resembled the Zodiac Conference hosted by the Jade Emperor. The most elevated locations were directly under the Ginseng Fruit Tree. The second and third each were a level lower than the previous one, and the fourth was the lowest, with the only distinctions being the tables and chairs.
Kong Xuan's gaze turned toward the host's seat, directly in front of the Ginseng Fruit Tree. On his left sat Redcloud Ancestor, the only Saint of Heaven present. The other Saints must have received invitations, but they either didn't plan to come or have yet to arrive.
Jinchi snorted in displeasure after he was seated at the second level with Redcloud Ancestor's disciples. "Brother, that Zhen Yuanzi sure has a lot of face, making you sit lower than him even though your realm is higher than his."
"How many times do I have to tell you to be silent?" Kong Xuan rebuked. "If you want to blame anything, blame his close connection with a Saint of Heaven."
"Hmpf, so what?" Jinchi asked. "He isn't strong himself but has to rely on others, unlike you. I just feel that it's unfair towards you."
Still, Jinchi didn't speak anymore. He understood the principle of having friends in high places. Even if he was unwilling, he had to admit that Zhen Yuanzi didn't need to treat them as equals.
What was he going to do? Fight and kill Zhen Yuanzi? That was just a one-way ticket to extermination. Redcloud Ancestor would likely destroy his soul in anger and prevent him from reincarnating.
As the time for the Earth Celestial Banquet to start neared, more and more major powers appeared. It was quite a scene, as many hadn't shown their faces after Tongtian's Zodiac Conference. Jinchi couldn't help but comment, "Why are these old fellows all coming? Is Zhen Yuanzi's face really that big? Brother, how about we host a banquet too?"
"Quiet," Kong Xuan said. His brows furrowed. He had an inkling as to what Zhen Yuanzi planned, but his instincts told him that he was missing crucial information. However, his heart quickly returned to calm, resembling a rippleless lake.
Just as there were only a few minutes left, the attendant in the Great Firmament Realm entered the courtyard and loudly announced, "Presenting the honorable Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti from the West."
Kong Xuan had to visibly hold back a snort, but all amusement disappeared as golden light descended. Despite the radiance, he could clearly see Jieyin's and Zhunti's figures shrouded in gold. It was as if their very image was carved into his mind. In addition, he could feel his heart longing for the teachings of the West.
He snorted and suppressed the two Saints' bewitchment. Kong Xuan turned to Jinchi to see him visibly struggling to resist. He slapped Jinchi out of his enthrallment and thought, 'Don't think about converting us to the West now or the future.'
"Jieyin, Zhunti, aren't you being too disrespectful?" Redcloud Ancestor said. Carried in his voice was a spell that broke the effect of the two's golden lights.
"You misunderstand us," Jieyin said as he clapped his hands together, the very picture of innocence. "We saw too many lives embroiled in the sea of bitterness and simply showed them the way. Since Daoist Redcloud doesn't want us two brothers to free them for their suffering, then we stay our hands for the day."
Redcloud Ancestor snorted, deciding not to quibble with them over their word choice. Still, the scene of a few people still looking longingly at them despite the broken enthrallment made him gnash his teeth. He glanced at the two, especially Zhunti, who showed no outward triumph.
Still, he forced himself to calm down. Thinking about what faces the two would show by the day's end, he couldn't help but anticipate it. However, that anticipation was soured when he saw how many disciples the two brought. Altogether, they brought a total of one hundred and eight.
Did the two Saints of the West want to deplete all of Zhen Yuanzi's stock of Ginseng Fruits? That was his job, okay?
Before an argument could start, the attendant rushed back into the courtyard. "Presenting the revered Saints of the East, the Heavenly Venerable of Virtuous Way and the Heavenly Venerable of Numinous Treasures!"
The first to enter was Taishiang Laojun, Laozi's Saint Corpse, followed by Lingbao, Tongtian's Saint Corpse. Since the Three Purities always acted as one, Yuanshi's lack of presence was noticeable, and the three Saints present couldn't help but ponder if the Jade Purity had a Saint Corpse like the other two purities.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist," Taishang Laojun said. "To commemorate, I concocted one Nine Yang Arcane Pill, three Six Yang Arcane Pills, and six Three Yang Arcane Pills."
Aside from his status as a Saint of Heaven, Laozi was most famous for his alchemy, and the most famous of his pills were the Pure Yang Arcane Pills. The Pure Yang Arcane Pills were separated into three types: Nine Yang Arcane Pills, Six Yang Arcane Pills, and Three Yang Arcane Pills.
An immortal who ingested a Nine Yang Arcane Pill would ascend to a Golden Immortal of the Great Firmament. Ingesting a Six Yang Arcane Pill would create a Golden Immortal of the Great Unity, and ingesting a Three Yang Arcane Pill would result in a Golden Immortal. In the current era, even a regular Golden Immortal was as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, and Taishang Laojun practically gifted Zhen Yuanzi ten Golden Immortals.
The guests all sighed and watched in envy. However, Lingbao just shook his head a little. The people were too amazed by the pittance Taishang Laojun revealed.
Yes, pittance.
When Tongtian needed to speed up her cultivation, Laozi had directly given her thirty-three Nine Yang Arcane Pills, over a hundred Six Yang Arcane Pills, and three hundred Three Yang Arcane Pills. Perhaps this gift showed Laozi's true thoughts on Zhen Yuanzi and maybe even Redcloud Ancestor.
While Taishang Laojun's gift wowed the crowd, Lingbao stepped forward. "I don't have much, but I have compiled some formations I created related to utilizing earth veins. It's nothing much, but I hope you can accept it."
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"Brother, why did the Heavenly Venerable of Numinous Treasure give such a lackluster gift? Even gifting an acquired spiritual artifact would have been better than this," Jinchi muttered.
Kong Xuan didn't answer. Instead, he averted his gaze from Lingbao and narrowed his eyes. If he stared too hard, Lingbao might notice his attention. Still, he couldn't help but guess that Lingbao knew what was going to happen.
As Kong Xuan expected, Zhen Yuanzi stepped up from his seat and accepted both Taishang Laojun's and Lingbao's gifts, but it was evident that he placed more importance on the compilation of formations, confusing all those present. He personally led the two Saints to the highest level. The two didn't bring any disciples, unlike the two western Saints.
Speaking of the western Saints. The guest couldn't help but focus their gaze on the two golden-robed men. When Taishang Laojun and Lingbao arrived, they immediately revealed their gifts, but what about the two from the West?
As if to answer those inquiries, Zhunti spoke, "Since the time for the Earth Celestial Banquet to begin has arrived, allow me to present the gift from the West."
Zhunti waved his hand, and seven acquired spiritual artifacts appeared. All seven were top-grade but only because of the virtue of being created by Saints. The materials used to refine them were subpar at best. Compared to the Ginseng Fruits they would receive, they profited far more than these seven top-grade acquired spiritual artifacts.
Zhen Yuanzi thanked the two, but it was obvious that he didn't care for them as much as Taishang Laojun and especially Lingbao's gift.
Zhunti acted as if his gifts didn't have any problems and turned silent. At this time, Jinchi stood up. "Fellow Daoist Zhen, we two brothers also come bringing gifts. We don't have much, but please accept these ten Golden Enlightenment Apricots."
An uproar occurred among the guests. Compared to the ten Pure Yang Arcane Pills brought by Taishang Laojun, they were neither inferior nor superior. However, if you asked a Golden Immortal of the Great Firmament or Quasi-Saint, ten times out of ten, they would choose the Golden Enlightenment Fruit.
"Many thanks, Daoist Kong, Daoist Jin," Zhen Yuanzi said, a smile breaking out on his face.
Kong Xuan nodded, but he couldn't help but glance at the two western Saints. Even though they said nothing, he couldn't help but glance at his brother in worry. Jinchi, however, didn't see this and reveled in the limelight.
Jinchi's action opened the floodgates, and the other guests also started revealing their gifts. It took several hours for Zhen Yuanzi to accept them all. After that, he clapped his hands, and the servants came out and placed trays upon trays of immortal delicacies on the tables.
All the guests eagerly watched the plate come, but to their disappointment, most did not receive any of the famed Ginseng Fruit. Only those at the second level or higher received them. At the top, the Saints and Zhen Yuanzi each got a plate with nine Ginseng Fruits. For the second level, each immortal received a plate with a single fruit.
The third level, like the bottom level, received none. They couldn't help but stare resentfully at one hundred and eight western disciples. Since Zhen Yuanzi had three levels separated from the rest, he must have planned to present Ginseng Fruits to them, but that all changed due to the overabundance of western disciples. Whether that was true or not remained unknown, but those that sat on the third level pinned the blame on the West.
As the banquet commenced, Jieyin and Zhunti secretly discussed whether they should proceed with their plans or not. Although Taishang Laojun and Lingbao unexpectedly came, neither brought their disciples, so they didn't have to worry about the Liberation Sect fighting against them.
Zhunti glanced at his two prized disciples, Maitreya and Dishitian, and then he glanced at the Interception Sect's disciples. Compared to the number of Liberation Sect's disciples, they were pitifully few, but of those present, seven were Golden Immortals.
He recognized them, of course. The most noticeable were Redcloud's inner disciples: Daoist Duobao, Sacred Mother Jinling, Sacred Mother Wudang, and Sacred Mother Guiling. The rest were outer disciples: Zhao Gongming, Zhao Yunxiao, Zhao Qiongxiao, and Zhao Bixiao, the sole Profound Immortal from the Interception Sect Present.
Bixiao stared resentfully at the single Ginseng Fruit in front of her. Her second sister, Qiongxiao, noticed her displeasure and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Hmpf, I'm just unhappy that because of some people, the amount of Ginseng Fruit we got decreased." Bixaio stared pointedly at the western disciples as she said her words. As if that wasn't enough, she did not lower her voice.
A bubble of silence suddenly appeared around her. The guest on the third layer near her all glanced over, and their gazes drifted between the Interception Sect and the Liberation with interest.
"Bixiao, how could you blame Great Immortal Zhen?" Yunxiao rebuked, attempting to steer away from the incoming conflict. "He always gifts Master with more than enough, and Master shares them with us plenty of times.
"What are you talking about, Eldest Sister? Third Sister obviously meant those bald donkeys sitting over there." Completely oblivious of Yunxiao's intentions, Qiongxiao defended Bixiao and directly poured fuel to the fire.
At this time, Maitreya clapped his hands together and said, "All life is born equal. To deprive another for one's own selfish benefit is against the tenets of kindness."
This time, Yunxiao no longer bothered to hide her disdain. "Your words have merits, why don't you look in a mirror and say those words? The Ginseng Fruit is an object of the East. What does it have to do with you westerners?"
The tension between the two sects rose as either side stared unkindly at the other. At this time, Jieyin suggested, "Daoist Redcloud, Daoist Zhen, how about we set up an arena for the juniors to spar? Whoever loses will have to forfeit their Ginseng Fruit to the winner. How does that sound?"
Zhen Yuanzi didn't answer but glanced at Redcloud Ancestor. Redcloud Ancestor nodded. He didn't believe that his disciples were inferior to the ones taught by Zhunti or Jieyin. Not to mention that compared to the barren West, the East had more resources.
"Since that's the case, then I'll listen to fellow Daoist's suggestion," Zhen Yuanzi said. Under his control, the center of the courtyard opened, sliding the guests away to reveal a hole and a stone arena arose.
Bixiao didn't wait and jumped onto the arena first. "The Green Sky Lady, Zhao Bixiao. I ask of you, who dares to come and face me?"
Hearing her arrogant words, the disciples of the Liberation Sect couldn't stand it anymore. The first to step up was Budong, a disciple of Jieyin. He carried a noose in his left hand and a short sword in his right.
"Have a taste of my western techniques!" Budong shouted as he began to unleash the spells taught to him by Jieyin.
Bixiao snorted and didn't reply. She, too, unleashed her spells. As the two's spells clashed, it became evident that Bixiao held the upper hand. Although the two were both Profound Immortals, Bixiao was at the Peak Profound Immortal Realm, while Budong was only at the Intermediate Profound Immortal Realm. Not only did she have more qi than him, but her qi was more robust too.
Budong didn't show any surprise at his disadvantage, as if he had already expected it. He ceased his spells and attacked, throwing his noose toward Bixiao. Even if Bixiao had a higher cultivation base than him, it didn't mean her body was stronger than his.
A sword appeared in Bixiao's hand, and she used it to knock the noose away from her. However, Budong was already charging toward her with his short sword. She replied in kind.
The two blades screeched as they clashed against one another. Budong fell to a disadvantage. It was true that he possessed stronger flesh than Bixiao, but she simply compensated by pushing more qi through her body. Given time, victory was all but assured.
However, Bixiao didn't think so. She wanted her victory to be absolute. Mysterious runes lit up across her sword, and with a single slash, Bixiao knocked Budong out of the arena.
From the second level, Kong Xuan narrowed his eyes. Bixiao had relied on the strength of her spiritual artifact to attain such a resolute victory. Still, it was only after she displayed her superiority in ranged and close combat that she unleashed it, so he didn't see anything wrong.
After Budong lost, the next to go up was Yecha. Like Budong, Yecha was a Profound Immortal. However, he was originally a shura, so he possessed three heads and six arms, meaning he had a stronger body than Budong.
Yecha didn't attempt any spells and directly engaged in close combat with Bixiao. Thanks to his six arms, he could attack faster than Bixiao, although her attacks were stronger. He also utilized the powers of his spiritual artifacts, a goblet, a wheel, a bow and arrow, a bludgeon, and a short sword like Budong.
Still, despite his best efforts, Bixiao defended against his attacks seamlessly. Yecha was expending his qi at an expedited rate while Bixiao conserved her qi. Without any accident, Bixiao would be the winner. However, like with Budong, she wasn't satisfied with such a win and activated her spiritual artifact, knocking her opponent out of the arena.
"Next," Bixiao called out to the fury of the Liberation Sect's disciples.
The next step up was Juntuli. Like Yecha, he was also a shura with six arms, but he only had one head instead of three. He chose a conservative tactic in his battle against Bixiao. Although it was clear that she overpowered him, she could not land a finishing blow.
Frustrated, Bixiao activated her spiritual artifact once more. This time, it took five strikes before Juntuli was forced out of bounds. She steadied her breathing and shouted, "Next!"
Although some spectators didn't like that she relied on her spiritual artifact, they had to admire her bravery. She had already defeated three opponents and was starting to fatigue, but she still asked for the next opponent without any hesitation.
Her fourth foe was Jiangsanshi. Unlike regular shuras, he had four heads and eight arms, equipped with a bell, a hook, a sword, a bow and arrow, a disc, and a rope. He didn't have Juntuli's defense or Yecha's offense, but he had no weaknesses.
Of all her opponents, Bixao needed the longest time to defeat him, and it required three strikes from activating her sword. By the end, Bixiao couldn't hide her weariness no matter how hard she tried.
"Next!" Bixao shouted. It was as if she wanted to defeat all of the Profound Immortals of the LIberation Sect all by her lonesome.
Her fifth opponent stepped up. Daweide was a shura, but unlike the previous three, he stayed in a human form with two arms and a single head. His gray robe shifted as he clapped his hands together. "Daoist Bixiao, please forfeit. You are no longer my opponent in your current state."
"Utter nonsense!" Bixiao shouted, pointing her sword at Daweide. "You're just an advanced Profound Immortal!"
"If that is your will," Daweide said. When he split his palms apart, extra appendages appeared. Now gray-skinned, Daweide sported three heads, six arms, and six legs.
Before Bixiao could react, Daweide was already on her. His strikes moved in an irregular rhythm that she couldn't grasp. His strikes would slip through her defenses, weakening her further.
From her seat, Yunxiao gripped her fist so hard that her knuckles turned white. She wanted to intervene, but that would only sully the name of the Interception Sect and demean Bixiao's efforts. As she expected, Bixiao was knocked out of the arena. She disappeared from her seat and caught Bixiao.
After feeding Bixiao a pill to restore her qi and heal her injuries, Yunxiao appeared on the stage with fire in her eyes. "It's my turn. Who will be my opponent?"
She didn’t pay attention to Daweide; it would be bullying if she, a Golden Immortal, fought a Profound Immortal. Only three disciples of the Liberation Sect could heed her challenge unless they wanted a guaranteed loss: Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, and Dishitian.
Maitreya moved to stand up. He was weaker than both Ksitigarbha and Dishitian. It would be a pity to waste their stamina on an outer disciple when they should be facing inner disciples to strengthen the prestige of the Liberation Sect.
However, a hand held him back.