Five days later, the Yaochi Grand Gathering officially began. The Pure Land bustled with activity as mighty lords arrived from every direction. The world's powerful figures gathered here, and all manner of extraordinary recluses emerged.
The Yaochi Grand Gathering, also called the Peach Banquet, was held once every five hundred years or so, and numerous powerful figures attended each time.
"This is practically a gathering of immortals!"
Before them floated magnificent jade palaces, surrounded by lotus ponds, flowers, and trees. Clouds and mist swirled beneath their feet, as though they stood in the celestial realm.
People kept arriving on clouds, all of them figures of standing, truly resembling immortals coming to a banquet.
"The imperial uncle of Great Xia from Central Province has arrived."
"The patriarch of the Golden Family from the Northern Plains has arrived."
"Divine Monk Du'e from the Western Desert is visiting."
"The War King of the War God Hall from the Southern Ridge has arrived."
One great figure after another appeared. Divine carriages shone with dazzling light as they streaked across the sky, like the chariots of the gods.
From afar, they could see flood dragons pulling carriages and descendants of phoenixes flying, every exotic beast extraordinarily powerful.
Countless people discussed the spectacle. Great figures continued to arrive from all over the world, with no shortage of extraordinary individuals among them.
Immortal music drifted through the air, and all kinds of spirit birds and auspicious beasts appeared.
Above the white clouds, palace after palace stretched into the distance. Rare flowers competed in bloom, wondrous grasses carpeted the ground, and immortal mist drifted lazily, rising only to knee height. Many immortal cranes and luan birds danced through the sky, while longevity apes carried peaches and poured fine wine.
Jiang Zhu had also been invited into the