https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-367-A-Grand-Gamble-for-the-Nine-Thousand-Year-Old-Pan-Peach-Li-Demi-Saint-s-Bold-Move/12953162/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-368-The-Peach-Blossom-Banquet-a-Resonance-of-Temple-Deities-and-Xi-Xi-s-Direct-Encounter/12953164/
Chapter 368: The Peach Blossom Banquet, a Resonance of Temple Deities, and Xi Xi's Direct Encounter
Chapter 368: The Peach Blossom Banquet, a Resonance of Temple Deities, and Xi Xi's Direct Encounter with the First Divine Sect, the Purple Mansion Divine Sect's Young Dragon (Part 1)
The ancient and heavy-sounding bell tolled, its deep and solemn tone reverberating through the air.
The sound emanated from the first city of the Divine Capital, filling the ears of everyone present.
Following the bell, various melodies and tunes played, like celestial music, stirring the divine nature and causing ripples in the heavens and earth, sweeping across the entire White Jade Square.
The Peach Blossom Banquet, the grandest event of the Great Jing Dynasty, was about to commence, relying on the suppression of the Three Pure Ones rank West Queen Mother's Mysterious Temple and its immortal peach.
Rumors abound about the mysterious temple's entrance, shrouded in secrecy. Its exact location remains unknown.
Even the Ghoulish Quarters of the temple cannot perceive its whereabouts, only knowing that to enter the temple, one must possess a branch of the immortal peach.
This branch is distributed solely by the queen who presides over the Peach Blossom Banquet.
Where the queen obtains these branches is another closely guarded secret.
Li Che had been in the Divine Capital for some time now.
Even with his Star Plucking Eye activated, he couldn't discern the location of the mysterious temple of the Three Pure Ones rank!
Thus, Li Che was eagerly anticipating this Peach Blossom Banquet, hoping to witness the location of the West Queen Mother's Mysterious Temple.
Of course, Li Che, possessing the peach branch and triggering the resonance of the West Queen Mother's divine nature, could sense the immense pressure.
Li Che had also left a Flying Thunder Chess Piece in the temple's shrine, allowing him to secretly enter the mysterious temple even without the branch.
Sitting beside Li Che, Xi Xi stood on her tiptoes, her big eyes wide with curiosity, taking in the bustling scene.
Xi Xi was always drawn to lively events, a young girl who loved to join the excitement.
Additionally, Xi Xi was curious about the Great Jing Emperor, as she had once studied the Divine Symbol Path under the guidance of the sect leader's wife, Xuan Qisha, who was like a mentor to her.
Xuan Qisha's mother was the Great Jing Emperor's elder sister, making the emperor her uncle.
However, when the sect leader's wife spoke of the Great Jing Emperor, her eyes showed little emotion, indicating a lack of familial affection.
As the Daoist Temple's high-pitched call echoed, celestial music filled the air.
A magnificent procession emerged from the first city of the Divine Capital, moving slowly through the grand city gate, treading upon the white jade bricks, and heading towards the White Jade Square.
Two extremely luxurious carriages, adorned with gold inlays, were sheltered by grand canopies. The lead carriage bore a majestic figure, exuding an aura of grandeur.
Without uttering a word, the figure sat in the carriage, allowing the Golden Dragon Horses, larger than ordinary ones, to pull it forward, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure.
The Great Jing Emperor, adorned in a golden robe embroidered with Four Seas Dragons, sat upright in the carriage, his posture tall and sturdy, his features obscured by a haze of divine nature and vital energy.
His entire aura made it impossible to discern strength or weakness, height or depth.
In that moment, all eyes turned towards the figure who had sat on the Great Jing Emperor's throne for hundreds of years.
The sky above the Divine Capital's second city was drizzling.
The entire second city fell silent.
The sect leaders, including Lu Tai Bai, Gu Chang Qing, Ning Caishen, Xuan Jiuzhan, and Bai Buyi, all fixed their gazes upon the emperor.
Additionally, a few vassal kings, like the Peace Restoring King Ji Moli, directed their complex gazes towards the emperor.
The Temple Guard Command, the Heaven-forecasting Bureau, the heads of the three great families, and other renowned noble families near and far in the Divine Capital, along with officials, generals, and noblemen, all stood up, offering respectful bows and gestures.
Following the emperor's carriage was the queen's carriage, accompanied by countless graceful and well-trained palace maids, walking like blooming lotuses in the spring rain.
The queen, with her dignified and elegant appearance, wore luxurious garments, her face painted with exquisite makeup, her eyes and brows like a painting, her lips curved in a smile, and her gaze, though gentle, carried the authority of a ruler. She scanned the crowd in the White Jade Square.
It was as if she was expressing her joy at everyone's attendance at the Peach Blossom Banquet she presided over.
Behind the queen were the plump and noble concubines, dressed more simply, though still beautiful. The emperor, despite his advanced age, clearly appreciated beauty.
Further back in the procession were the princes and princesses...
The first prince, Lu You Sheng, wore a dragon robe and had long hair and a white beard. His eyes were cloudy.
The second prince, Lu Heng Yi, was much younger, with bright and sharp eyes and a commanding presence.
The third prince, Lu Li Tong, also wore a dragon robe, but his face carried a hint of sorrow, still grieving over the death of his mother, Concubine Ji.
The fourth prince, Lu Chi, did not join the procession but quietly followed the National Tutor, his head bowed.
Not all princesses were present, as some were too young to attend.
The procession made its way from the direction of the palace and shrine in the first city.
At the rear of the procession, eunuchs and palace maids carried trays filled with tributes, offerings, and various artifacts...
The variety and quantity were impressive.
In the Divine Capital's First City, a variety of delicious wines, cuisines, and delicacies were steaming, as if isolated by an invisible aura, untouched by the cool spring rain.
Li Che's gaze swept across, but he didn't spot a single peach branch.
At the Peach Blossom Banquet, there were no peaches in sight.
As the Emperor and Empress's procession arrived at the White Jade Square, two figures descended from their carriage and slowly took their seats at the main table.
A purple-robed eunuch began directing the maids and eunuchs, who started bustling about.
The items brought from the palace temple were distributed to each table, and various delicacies were arranged on them.
There was wine, meat, and dishes on every table, and in the silence of the eunuchs and maids, they were quietly set up.
Li Che held Xi Xi, while Zhang Ya shared a table with him.
Technically speaking, Zhang Ya hadn't received an invitation to the main banquet, but the banquet at the White Jade Square was not the main event.
The main banquet was held within the Mysterious Temple of the West Queen Mother.
So, Zhang Ya was brought by Li Che, and not just her; many others had brought their families as well.
Xi Xi's eyes sparkled as she gazed at the increasing array of delicacies.
"Daddy, can Xi Xi start eating now?" Xi Xi swallowed her saliva.
The dishes prepared by the top chefs of the First City exuded an enticing aroma and allure.
Although they couldn't compare to the boss's cooking, they were still tempting enough to whet Xi Xi's appetite.
Thinking of the boss, Xi Xi couldn't help but reminisce. She hadn't seen the boss or Doggy in a long time and missed their cooking.
A hint of nostalgia filled her heart.
"Go ahead and eat," Li Che said, rubbing Xi Xi's head.
His gaze swept past, and he noticed that many people had already started eating.
Xi Xi didn't hesitate and returned to her own table, indulging in the feast.
As a participant in the main banquet, Xi Xi had her own table and the qualification to enjoy it alone.
Li Che smiled and savored the delicacies with his wife, Zhang Ya.
As for the pressure of the Peach Blossom Banquet, Li Che wasn't overly concerned, even though he had a bet with the Golden Mane Roarer.
Even without the bet, Li Che would still strive to win the Nine Thousand Year Peach, so adding a bet with the Golden Mane Roarer was just an extra challenge.
The Golden Mane Roarer sat at a distant table, also enjoying the feast, but his gaze was sharp as he looked towards Li Che and the Golden Year, who represented the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect. His face contorted with anger.
A useless fool who lost face for Witch Mountain!
The Golden Mane Roarer took this bet very seriously and was determined to take back the Golden Year, who had lost face.
After three rounds of wine.
The Great Jing Emperor slowly put down his golden chopsticks, his pressure overwhelming. The veiled face, hidden from view, turned and glanced at the Empress.
The graceful and beautiful Empress nodded in understanding, then instructed the aged purple-robed Daoist Temple, who stood with his hands clasped in front of him, to listen attentively.
A moment later, the purple-robed Daoist Temple straightened his back, his divine nature and blood energy surging. His voice boomed like a bell.
"Ladies and gentlemen, at this Peach Blossom Banquet, after savoring the flavors, the Empress has a decree. The banquet is officially opened."
His voice echoed throughout, causing the expressions of the various cultivators to change.
"The first round is the Dragon Cub Banquet."
"Now announcing the rules of this Dragon Cub Banquet established by Her Majesty the Empress."
"There are sixty Dragon Cubs in the main banquet, and in the first round, each Dragon Cub will consume a branch of the West Queen Mother's divine nature peach... They will be matched with an opponent. If victorious in the first round, they will obtain a one-thousand-year peach."
"The victorious Dragon Cubs can choose to continue or withdraw. If they continue, the one-thousand-year peach will be offered for promotion, transforming into a three-thousand-year peach. If victorious in the second round, they will obtain the three-thousand-year peach. If defeated, they will lose even the one-thousand-year peach."
"If they choose to withdraw, they will receive the one-thousand-year peach, ending their participation in the Dragon Cub Banquet."
"Similarly, the victors in each round can choose to continue challenging, and the peach's age will increase accordingly."
"The final winner will obtain a single Nine Thousand Year Peach."
"Each Dragon Cub match will be random."
The purple-robed Daoist Temple spoke loudly.
As his words fell, many Dragon Cubs who were enjoying the delicacies suddenly lost their appetite. They narrowed their eyes, deep in thought about these rules.
Such tempting rules...
A test of whether the Dragon Cubs knew when to advance or retreat, and when to be content!
Xi Xi's mouth was stuffed, her eyes wide.
She continued to bury her head in her food, her goal being the Nine Thousand Year Peach! Xi Xi the Great Emperor, just go for it!
No need to overthink it!
Li Che put down his chopsticks, and Zhang Ya beside him also stopped savoring the delicacies.
"In the first round, sixty Dragon Cubs will compete for thirty spots. In the second round, thirty Dragon Cubs will fight for fifteen spots. In the third round, fifteen Dragon Cubs will vie for eight spots, with one advancing without a match. In the fourth round, eight Dragon Cubs will compete for four spots. In the fifth round, four Dragon Cubs will fight for two spots..."
"In the sixth round, the final two Dragon Cubs will compete for the top position in the Dragon Cub Banquet and the Nine Thousand Year Peach."
He paused, and his voice echoed throughout the Second City of the Divine Capital.
In the Third City, the eagerly awaiting martial artists let out exclamations.
So, they're testing the kids with this?
The Dragonlet may be a child prodigy, but they are still children, and their mental maturity might not be as advanced as imagined. As the competition progresses, the psychological pressure on the Dragonlets intensifies.
If they win the previous round, should they use the Immortal Peach to challenge the next round? What if they challenge and get matched with a powerful Dragonlet, effectively wasting the peach? What about the level of their own consumption and the possibility of being matched with other Dragonlets who haven't expended their strength?
Considering these questions only adds to the confusion, making it harder to decide whether to continue or withdraw.
This is not just a Dragonlet Festival; it's also a test of one's decision-making will.
Many people had the same thought.
Lu Tai Bai's silver hair fluttered, and his eyebrows arched slightly.
"This is quite interesting... For these Dragonlet children, it's a mental tempering experience. If they can win all the way and obtain the Nine Thousand Year Immortal Peach..."
"Their mental fortitude must be extremely resilient, and they must have great confidence in their cultivation."
In the distance, at the banquet table, the Golden Mane Roarer put down his chopsticks and narrowed his eyes.
"Gonggong Lian, I wonder if the rules of the Hero Festival are the same?" the Golden Mane Roarer asked.
In response to the Golden Mane Roarer's inquiry, Eunuch Lian Gonggong shook his head. "They're different."
"The rules of the Hero Festival were discussed by the Queen Mother and His Majesty. With different rules, the tests are also different, but the final reward is the same—the Immortal Peach."
Many of the heroes in the room couldn't help but breathe faster at the mention of the Nine Thousand Year Immortal Peach.
The Nine Thousand Year Immortal Peach...
Who wouldn't want to obtain it?
Even if it's said to be more effective for mortals, before achieving Martial Saint or Divine Embryo, everyone is still considered mortal. In other words...
This Immortal Peach can significantly increase their chances of attaining Martial Saint or Divine Embryo in their mortal bodies!
Eunuch Lian Gonggong continued in a shrill voice, "Now, please ask the main banquet Dragonlets to take out the Immortal Peach branches and draw upon the Queen Mother's Divine Nature to begin the first round of the Dragonlet Festival, matching them with their opponents."
After Eunuch Lian Gonggong's words, Xi Xi wiped her mouth and took out her Immortal Peach branch.
Other child prodigies, like Lu Qing Xuan, Yang Yi, the first Dragonlet of the Heavenly Pill Divine Sect, Gu Jiang, and Shi Ming, the Dragonlet of the True Martial Sect, also took out their Immortal Peach branches.
In the first round, no one would forfeit, as doing so would mean missing out on even a thousand-year Immortal Peach.
Xi Xi's divine consciousness stirred, and her divine form trembled, instantly drawing out a strand of the Queen Mother's Divine Nature from the Immortal Peach branch.
(End of Chapter)
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