The Jade Pool Pure Land, is shrouded in celestial mist.
It was late autumn, but the Pure Land was like spring all year round, with ancient trees reaching the sky and the clear spring gurgling.
Golden carp leap in the lotus pond, splashing up colorful rays of light; orchids bloom in the medicinal herb field, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance.
The floating palaces and pavilions appear and disappear in the sea of clouds, like a celestial palace from mythology descending to earth.
Today, the gates of Jade Pool Mountain are open.
The forty-nine days passed in the blink of an eye, Flat Peach Gathering was held as scheduled.
The Immortal Bell tolled nine times, its melodious sound cleansing the pure land for three thousand miles. Its Daoist charm spread like ripples, startling flocks of cranes and causing phoenixes to sing in harmony.
A crystal-clear avenue descends from the heavens, with clouds and mist as steps and rosy clouds as railings, connecting the ground with the floating palace.
This is the highest-level welcoming path in Jade Pool, which only holy lords are allowed to set foot on.
" The Ji Family Holy Lord of the Eastern Wasteland has arrived!"
" The Jiang Family Holy Lord, accompanied by three elders, celebrates the Yaochi Grand Gathering!"
"The Imperial Uncle of the Great Xia Dynasty of the Central Continent has personally come and offered three drops of Dragon Marrow!"
The sounds of singing rose and fell, echoing among the mountains.
Streaks of Divine Rainbow tore through the sky, or rode golden ancient chariots pulled by nine dragons, crushing the Void with a thunderous roar;
Or they might travel on bronze warships, their banners fluttering, their hulls covered with ancient runes;
Even more Mighty Figure tore through the Void and arrived, taking a single step to reach the gates of Jade Pool Mountain.
These powerful rulers, rarely seen on ordinary days, have gathered here today.
The Ji Family Holy Lord was the first to land. This renowned overlord of the Eastern Wasteland was clad in Void battle suit, with hazy Dao patterns flowing around his body, as if he had merged with heaven and earth.
Behind him, Ji Haoyue, the Divine Body of the Ji Family, followed, her purple robes fluttering, her eyes revealing the strange phenomenon of the Bright Moon Rises over the Sea.
"The presence of the Holy Lord Ji brings great honor to our humble abode, Jade Pool." A Tai Shang Elder of Jade Pool personally greeted her.
" The Yaochi Grand Gathering a once-in-five-hundred-years event; how could we miss it?" The Ji Family Holy Lord returned the greeting with a smile, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the direction of Qingwei Blessed Land. "I've heard that the Eastern Exalt has recently emerged from seclusion; may I pay him a visit to his Daoist temple, Qingwei Blessed Land?"
"As the Eastern Exalt had previously said, those of you who have come from afar are welcome to visit the Qingwei Blessed Land."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the various powerful figures who arrived later all subtly shifted.
The name Li Qingshan, the Eastern Exalt, has spread throughout the Five Regions in recent years.
The stories are like myths, leaving people speechless.
Now that he sits in charge of Jade Pool, holding a position equivalent to the master of Jade Pool, his attitude will influence the entire Big Dipper pattern.
Outside the Qingwei Blessed Land, ancient trees stand tall.
Li Qingshan did not set up a high platform or jade throne, but simply stood casually under an ancient tree.
Although this tree is not a peach tree, it is still thousands of years old, with branches like dragons, crystal-clear leaves, and a faint fragrance.
Today he was dressed in a black robe. The fabric appeared simple, but upon closer inspection, there were subtle star patterns embroidered within, which flowed with the changing light.
Her long hair was simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling over her shoulders, adding a touch of leisure.
The Jade Pool Holy Maiden, Lin Qingyao, stood quietly to the side, her plain white dress trailing on the ground, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, adorned only with a white jade hairpin.
She held the jade slip in her hands, occasionally reporting information about the visitors in a soft voice, as gentle as spring water striking stone.
This casual attitude, ironically, makes him appear even more detached.
"Greetings, Your Eastern Exalt."
The Ji Family Holy Lord stepped forward first. This powerful lord, who ruled over an extremely powerful family, concealed all his brilliance and bowed respectfully.
Behind him, Ji Haoyue also bowed, but a complex expression flashed in her eyes!
Once upon a time, the younger generation vied for supremacy; now, those before us require the respect of the older generation.
Li Qingshan nodded slightly. "You're too kind, Holy Lord Ji."
His gaze swept over Ji Haoyue, pausing briefly. " Your Divine Body has reached the Dragon Transformation. How is your comprehension of the fourth volume of the Void Scripture?"
" The Eastern Exalt's insight is truly remarkable," the Ji Family Holy Lord replied on behalf of Ji Haoyue, while simultaneously gesturing for the Tai Shang Elder behind him to present the gift list.
The jade slip unfolded, its precious light shimmering.
A single medicinal herb, aged 100,000 years, can extend one's lifespan by two hundred years;
One hundred catties of Nine Heavens Crimson Jade, a sacred object used to refine the rough prototype of King's weapon; finally, three yellowed ancient scrolls, the paper neither gold nor jade, with blurred Daoist patterns on them.
"This ancient scroll was obtained by our ancestor, the Void Emperor, during his travels through the starry sky, at a mythical relic," explained the Ji Family Holy Lord. "The text is incomplete, with only three pages remaining. Our Ji Family has pondered its meaning for ten thousand years without success. It is suspected to be related to a certain Celestial Venerable from the Mythological Era. We have specially presented it to the Eastern Exalt, hoping that he may be able to glimpse a trace of heavenly secrets."
Li Qingshan's gaze lingered on the three pages of the ancient scripture for a moment.
While others saw only a blurred scripture, he saw within the depths of the characters a phantom of the long river of time flowing.
This is not a script of this era, nor even a rune from the Desolate Antiquity or Primordial Era; its origin is much older than one might imagine.
"That's thoughtful." Li Qingshan finally smiled and turned to Lin Qingyao, saying, "Senior Sister, in return, take two thousand-year-old peaches from Jade Pool and present them to the Ji Family."
Lin Qingyao responded softly and waved her hand gently.
Two female disciples from Jade Pool stepped forward, carrying a jade box.
The moment the box was opened, a rich peach fragrance filled the air, and the plants within a ten-foot radius sprouted and budded at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The peach was as big as a fist, its skin as red as blood, yet it had golden patterns that naturally formed a Daoist image.
"A thousand-year-old peach!" a bystander exclaimed.
Although not as precious as the immortal fruit produced by the mother plant, it is still a rare and valuable fruit for prolonging life, as even one fruit can extend one's life by a considerable number of years.
More importantly, the peaches contain the essence of the Jade Pool, which has a remarkable effect on breaking through bottlenecks.
The Ji Family Holy Lord solemnly accepted it, secretly delighted.
This return gift is of great value and represents the Jade Pool!
Or rather, it represents Eastern Exalt's approval and goodwill.
In this sensitive period when the Primordial Royal Clan is about to be born, this kindness is more precious than Divine Source.
" Eastern Exalt." The Ji Family Holy Lord bowed again and stepped aside.
Upon seeing this, the other guests each had their own thoughts and concerns.
The Jiang Family Holy Lord stepped forward. This overlord, who controlled the Hengyu Furnace, had fiery red hair and an aura of dominance.
What he offered was a jar of Divine Phoenix Blood! Not the True Phoenix, but the essence blood of the fire phoenix descendants cultivated by the Jiang Family generations, which had miraculous effects on cultivating fire-based techniques.
Li Qingshan accepted the gift and reciprocated with a thousand-year-old peach, adding a word of advice, "At the place where the extreme of Hengyu Scripture rise to Yin, one can observe the Taiyin star for three years."
The Jiang Family Holy Lord trembled violently, stood frozen in place for a long time, and then bowed deeply to the ground. "Thank you for your enlightenment Eastern Exalt!"
He has been stuck at the Immortal Platform Second Layer Peak for a thousand years, unable to break through that barrier.
Li Qingshan's words are of immeasurable value; such guidance from a contemporary King is a rare and invaluable opportunity.
This scene was witnessed by everyone, and an uproar immediately broke out in front of the Heavenly Palace.
"A single word awakens the Holy Lord!"
Amidst the discussions, the guests became even more respectful.
The four great dynasties of the Central Continent arrived together.
The Great Xia Imperial Uncle presented the Nine-Aperture Dragon Marrow, a substance born from the core of the dragon vein, taking millions of years to form a single drop, containing the Imperial Dragon Qi;
The Jiuli Divine Dynasty an ancient mirror, which had lost its divine power, but the frame was made of Chaos Stone.
The Divine State Dynasty brought a Destiny Stone, which can help people understand their destiny.
Three old monks arrived from the Western Desert. The one in the lead had nine divine halos behind his head and was the contemporary successor of the lineage of the Divine Monk Du'e.
They offered a Bodhi Seed, which, though shriveled, still retained a faint fragrance of Zen.
"This child was obtained from the Mount Sumeru, falling from the ancient Bodhi tree three thousand years ago." The old monk clasped his hands together, "Buddhism and the Eastern Exalt are destined to be together; may good karma be formed."
Li Qingshan took the Bodhi Seed, and the moment his fingertips touched it, he heard a faint chanting sound.
This Bodhi Seed, though not Immortal Divine Medicine the Bodhi tree itself, is still quite remarkable.
" The Western Desert is very kind," Li Qingshan reciprocated with a thousand-year-old peach. "If I ever visit the Western Desert again, I will certainly pay my respects to Mount Sumeru."
The old monks looked pleased and bowed as they withdrew.
A demon king arrived at the Demon Emperor Hall in Southern Ridge. He had a bull's head and a human body, and was over three zhang tall. Every step he took made the ground tremble slightly.
He offered a Demon Saint Blood Crystal, which, though only a wisp of its aura remained, was left behind by an ancient Demon Saint upon his death, making it an unparalleled sacred object for the demon race.
The chariot of the Northern Plains Golden Family arrived last, pulled by nine dragons, gleaming with golden light.
The Golden Clan arrived in person, accompanied by Jin Chixiao.
"The journey to Northern Plains is long and arduous; you must be tired," Li Qingshan said casually, his gaze lingering on Jin Chixiao for a moment.
With just one glance, Jin Chixiao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, as if all his secrets had been seen through.
The Golden Clan presented a gift: a piece of ancient divine iron, weighing three thousand catties, with natural Sun -shaped patterns on its surface.
This is the main ingredient for forging the Holy Lord's Weapon, and it is priceless.
As the sun dipped low in the west, the guests gradually thinned out.
Lin Qingyao said softly, "Junior brother, it's time to move to the Heavenly Palace. The Peach Banquet is about to begin, and the Queen Mother has already arrived."
Li Qingshan nodded, turned around, and rode away on the clouds.
Lin Qingyao naturally followed, and the two of them, their clothes fluttering, looked like a divine couple in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Behind them, the powerful leaders from all sides followed in turn, none daring to take even half a step ahead.
The Jade Pool Heavenly Palace floats directly above the Immortal Pool.
The palace gate is nine zhang high and is carved from a single piece of white jade, with a picture of the Queen Mother of the West guarding the world carved on it.
At this moment, the palace gates swung open, and celestial music drifted out—the " Immortal Melody of World Purification," a secret tradition passed down from the Jade Pool, which could calm the mind and soothe the spirit.
Inside the hall, the floor was paved with white jade, so smooth it could reflect a person's image;
Thirty-six golden pillars with coiled dragons support the dome, each pillar inlaid with a luminous pearl, arranged like stars in the sky.
In the center of the dome, the phantom image of an Ancient Peach Tree was projected downwards!
That was the manifestation of the mother plant's Daoist aura. The three celestial fruits on the tree were bright red and dripping with juice. Although it was just an image, the fragrance it emitted was real and authentic, making people feel comfortable and relaxed.
Li Qingshan's position is at the head of the east section.
That was decided by the Queen Mother of the West's mother herself! The position of the Eastern Exalt is equivalent to that of the Lord of the Jade Pool.
The jade throne is carved from the warm jade of the Nine Heavens, with dragon heads on the armrests and Mountain River Diagram on the back.
On the jade table in front of him, a glass cup and a white jade pot were already set out, the aroma of the celestial wine in the pot filling the air.
When he stepped into the Heavenly Palace in his black robes, the previously noisy hall fell silent instantly.
Hundreds of eyes were focused on it.
Those present were at least emperors of a nation or leaders of a major sect, and many more were lords of holy lands, heads of the Desolate Ancient Family clans, or uncles of Ancient Emperor.
Each of them had once been a powerful figure in their own right, but now they were all holding their breath in concentration.
Li Qingshan seemed oblivious, walking straight to the jade throne at the east end and calmly taking his seat.
Lin Qingyao stood by his side and poured him the first cup of wine.
The Queen Mother of the West sat in the main position in the due north direction, wearing a nine-phoenix crown and a seven-colored robe, dignified and holy like the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens.
Seeing Li Qingshan take his seat, a hint of relief flashed in her eyes, and then she rose and raised her glass:
"Today, at this Flat Peach Gathering, fellow Daoists from the Five Regions gather, bringing glory to our humble abode at Jade Pool. I, the Palace Master, would first like to offer you all a toast, wishing for the eternal prosperity of humanity and the everlasting flourishing of the Great Dao."
May humanity prosper forever, and may the great path flourish eternally!
Everyone raised their glasses in unison, their voices resounding throughout the hall.
The wine is a thousand-year-old celestial brew from Jade Pool, made with a hundred kinds of spiritual herbs and nine kinds of Divine Spring, and buried under the peach tree for three hundred years to be ready.
It tastes sweet and mellow upon entry, then transforms into a warm and gentle Daoist aura, nourishing the meridians. Many cultivators who were stuck at their bottlenecks even felt a slight loosening of their energy.
The glass was finished, and the atmosphere eased slightly.
Celestial music resumed, and the fairy maiden from the Jade Pool gracefully entered.
They tread barefoot on clouds, their robes fluttering, and lotus blossoms spring forth beneath their feet as they dance, each golden lotus blooming and withering, embodying the Great Dao.
This is the secret dance of Jade Pool, the " Dance of Longevity," which subtly aligns with the true meaning of the Western Emperor Scripture.
As the dance reached its climax, auspicious birds appeared outside the palace to offer their blessings.
Cranes carry lingzhi mushrooms, white apes offer peaches, phoenixes sing in harmony, and auspicious clouds cascade down like a waterfall.
Fish and dragons leaped and swirled in the lotus pond, stirring up a rainbow of colors;
In the medicinal herb field, rare flowers burst forth like smoke and clouds, shimmering with golden hues. This scene is truly like a grand feast in the Heavenly Court of mythology.
However, most people's thoughts were still on the east side.
Li Qingshan was content and occasionally whispered to Lin Qingyao.
Seeing the slight upturn of her lips, he also smiled slightly.
This relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with the undercurrents of tension within the hall.
The younger generation, who were seated in the outer hall, also gathered at the entrance to listen.
Ye Fan, the Holy Prince, Ji Haoyue, the Yaoguang Holy Son, and others were all present.
As they were discussing this, a strange cawing of crows suddenly came from outside the hall.
The sound was initially extremely distant, as if it came from the depths of the netherworld, carrying a penetrating power that disturbed the mind. Immediately afterwards, a dark light tore through the clouds above the Jade Pool and crashed down in front of the palace like a falling meteor.
"Hahaha! What a Yaochi Grand Gathering! I'm late!"
As the dark light dissipated, an old Daoist priest appeared, dressed in a tattered feathered robe. He was hunched over, his hair was so sparse that his scalp was showing, his eyes were sunken like a skull, and when he smiled, he revealed a full set of teeth, giving him a rather unruly appearance.
But the hall fell silent instantly.
" The Crow Daoist!" An elder gasped in astonishment. "He's still alive?!"
This is a powerful figure among the demon race, of the same generation as the Red Dragon Daoist, who is said to have lived for over three thousand years.
A thousand years ago, he suddenly disappeared without a trace. It was said that he failed to reach the King Realm and passed away in some forbidden land. Who would have thought that he would reappear in Jade Pool today?
The Crow Daoist swaggered into the hall, casually cupped his hands to the Queen Mother of the West, and then brazenly scanned the hall, finally fixing his gaze on the figure in black robes at the east end.
"So you're Eastern Exalt?" He grinned, a playful smile on his face. "Tsk tsk, so young, yet you know how to create hype."
Upon hearing this, the temperature inside the hall plummeted.
Many people secretly shook their heads! This old demon has been in seclusion for a thousand years; he probably has no idea what's happening in the outside world.
Li Qingshan slowly raised his eyes.
Just one glance.
The smile on Crow Daoist's face froze instantly.
In his eyes, the young man in black simply glanced up casually, without even releasing his aura.
But in that instant, the Crow Daoist felt as if the sky had collapsed!
It's not a metaphor.
It was a truly tangible feeling that the entire sky had transformed into an ancient Demon Mountain, crashing down with a deafening roar!
The Demon Mountain was boundless, its surface covered with ancient Dao patterns he couldn't understand, each pattern as heavy as a star.
He was nothing more than an insignificant mayfly at the foot of the mountain.
"This... this is!"
At this moment, the Crow Daoist's three thousand years of Dao heart frantically issued a warning. His primordial spirit felt as if it were being pierced by billions of steel needles, and every inch of his flesh was screaming to escape.
He subconsciously tried to circulate his magical power, but found that his divine power was frozen, and he couldn't even lift a finger.
Even more terrifying, he saw a hallucination!
No, it's not an illusion.
That was a real scene manifested by the Dao; he saw himself standing on a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with his own head under his feet.
He saw the river of time rushing by, his own figure disappearing time and time again within it;
He saw in the depths of the universe, a pair of indifferent eyes watching him through the endless Void, and the owner of those eyes!
It is indeed the Eastern Exalt before us!
"Puff!"
The Crow Daoist suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, caused by the severe impact on his Daoist heart and the resulting reversal of his Qi and blood.
He staggered back three steps, each step leaving deep cracks in the white jade floor.
The hall was completely silent.
Everyone saw it! Li Qingshan merely glanced at the Crow Daoist, and this infamous demon king coughed up blood and retreated violently!
What level of cultivation is this? What kind of technique is this?
" Eastern Exalt!" The Crow Daoist's voice was hoarse, feeling closer to death for the first time in three thousand years. "I, this junior, have come to offer my congratulations!"
He dared not be presumptuous again, and even changed his self-reference from "this old man" to "this junior."
As he spoke, he hurriedly pulled something from his pocket and presented it with both hands!
It was a jet-black raven feather, with naturally occurring flame patterns on its surface, exuding an aura of Nirvana.
"This is my natal feather, only shed once every three thousand years. It contains a trace of the true meaning of Nirvana, capable of helping one to break through and rise again." The Crow Daoist bowed deeply, his posture extremely humble. "I offer it to the Eastern Exalt as a token of my gratitude."
Li Qingshan glanced at the crow feather, but didn't take it. He simply said, "Leave it."
Lin Qingyao understood and gestured for the female disciple from Jade Pool to step forward and accept it.
The Crow Daoist felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He took seven steps back and found a seat at the very edge of the room.
When he sat down, the back of his feathered robe was soaked with cold sweat and clung to his body, feeling icy cold.
After this scene, the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Unexpectedly, the Crow Daoist who made this appearance was so flexible and adaptable.