"By His Majesty's oral decree, the Dharma Banquet begins!"
As the herald immortal official's cry rang out, rows upon rows of Yaochi maidservants entered the hall in single file, each carrying a tray.
Their hair was piled into cloudlike chignons, palace hairpins set at an angle with tasselled lotus ornaments hanging from them. They wore green skirts and pink robes, white cloud sleeves and crimson rosy sashes, pleated palace skirts and delicately embroidered pink shoes. Young and beautiful, they possessed an ethereal, unworldly grace.
Upon the trays the maidservants carried sat jugs upon jugs of fine Heavenly Court wine, imperial tribute liquor reserved for grand Heavenly Court celebrations.
As the jugs of fine wine were set upon the tables, the female officials attending the Immortal Monarchs, Imperial Lords, Demon Venerables, and Wisdom Kings immediately filled the cups of the immortals, gods, demons, and Buddhas. Still more maidservants brought all manner of delicacies from land and sea: dragon livers and phoenix marrow, flood dragon hearts and Green Phoenix wings, along with spiritual fruits and rare treasures. Tribute from All Heavens and Myriad Worlds was delivered to the tables of the immortal, Buddhist, divine, and sacred guests tray after tray, dazzling the eye beyond all count.
Fuyun Immortal Monarch watched the exquisite, lovely maidservants flutter like flower butterflies between the banquet tables, delivering countless delicacies and fine wines. Stroking his beard, he could not help but laugh. "Good, good!"
Jiang Sheng sipped the imperial wine and looked around at the immortals, gods, demons, and Buddhas. The immortals and gods drank freely, the monks and Buddhas devoured hearts and livers, while the Demon Race stared at the various spiritual fruits and ate without pause. It stood in stark contrast to the widespread tales throughout All Heavens and Myriad Worlds of immortals and Buddhas