Forty-one thousand years into the origin cycle: the Ten-Thousand-Chariot Banquet at Qingqiu in Jurong

Year 870 of the Three Realms Calendar.

It was also the forty-one-thousandth year of the current origin cycle.

The fox immortals of Qingqiu held a ceremony to pray to Heaven. As the Awakening of Insects thunder rolled through Jurong World, heavy rain began washing all creation, scouring the dust of the mortal world.

On Thunder-Gathering Mountain in the Western Extremity, Kui Yue and Lingyin had already prepared their ceremonial procession, ready to meet Lin Fan and head to Qingqiu together.

After the three met amid the ruins of Yellow Sand City, Lingyin asked curiously, "Ling Zhao, where is Daoist Lingyuan? Isn't he coming with us?"

Lin Fan smiled. "Him? He had to set out ahead of us. He has far more to attend to than we do."

After Qingqiu prayed to Heaven for rain and offered sacrifices to Heaven and Earth,

bright sunlight shone over its lands, amid rosy clouds and auspicious mists. Drifting clouds stretched into the distance, and pure spiritual energy lingered everywhere.

Within Qingqiu, lakes and marshes stretched endlessly, and forests covered the mountains like a sea. Pavilions and towers nestled amid the scenery, veiled in mist and shimmering radiance. Fox maidens came and went, singing softly and dancing gracefully. It truly was an immortal paradise, enough to leave anyone spellbound.

The ten-thousand-chariot banquet was scheduled for the Spring Equinox.

All things were awakening, and spring flourished everywhere. Fresh and natural after the rain cleared, Heaven and Earth had shed their demonic miasma and sinister energy, gaining an air of immortal elegance.

Since the heavenly prayer and sacrificial ceremony on the Awakening of Insects, more and more guests had arrived at Qingqiu. Its princes and princesses waited at the various mountain gates to welcome honored visitors from All Heavens and Myriad Worlds.

Five great thousand worlds across