Immortal Banquet

Immortal Banquet . . .

The moment had arrived, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the gathered participants. It was over, finally over. The names of the 160 participants who had withstood the grueling tests were now set in stone. For many, reaching this point was an achievement in itself, a testament to their strength and determination. But for those who aspired to climb even higher, the competition was far from finished.

Among the crowd, a steady stream of people approached Qin Wentian, gratitude etched across their faces. They knew that without him, their journey might have ended prematurely. Following Qin Wentian had been a wise choice, and it had paid off in spades.

However, not all looks were filled with gratitude. Some eyes gleamed with sharpness, like Blackpeak's. Qin Wentian's survival and ascent to core disciple status couldn't have pleased him less. It was clear that Qin Wentian's continued existence was a thorn in his side.

Su Feng and Lu Longcloud also cast probing glances at Qin Wentian, their curiosity piqued. How had he and his group managed to survive and even thrive in such a chaotic and dangerous environment? Their interest was piqued, and they couldn't help but wonder about the secrets behind their success.

But as the immortal king from the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect scanned the crowd, he noticed something unusual. There were an unexpectedly high number of fifth-level ascendants among the participants. This deviation from the expected numbers didn't go unnoticed, but the immortal king chose not to delve further into it. The rules were clear: those who survived were qualified to become core disciples, regardless of how they achieved it. Whether they actively hunted or simply survived, they had earned their place.

With a reminder about proper etiquette for the upcoming immortal banquet, the immortal king led the 160 participants deeper into the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. The journey took them through a breathtaking landscape of majestic buildings and formidable guards. The sect's strength was awe-inspiring, with even ordinary guards possessing impressive power at the immortal-foundation level.

As they ventured deeper, the guards became increasingly formidable, some even possessing the might of immortal kings. The atmosphere was charged with an air of authority and power that left a profound impact on the participants.

Eventually, they reached a place where the participants were instructed to descend from the sky. Ancient palaces exuded an imposing aura, and it was clear that they had arrived at a place of great significance. Several experts, supreme existences from the thirteen prefectures, observed them.

The Idlecloud Immortal King, representing the Cloud Prefecture, couldn't hide his delight. "There's actually ten people who passed from my Cloud Prefecture. Excellent!" His smile was warm, and his gaze rested on those participants from his homeland. It was a moment of pride for the Cloud Prefecture.

As the 160 participants were distributed among the thirteen prefectures, the Idlecloud Immortal King couldn't help but marvel at the results. In theory, each prefecture should have approximately 12 successful participants. However, this straightforward calculation didn't account for the nuances. Prefectures like Eastern, Qian, and Li, known for their top-tier geniuses, naturally had more qualifiers. On the other hand, the border prefectures, such as Blazing Sun, Supreme Moon, Western Desert, and Underworld, expected a smaller number of qualifiers. As the prefecture lord of Cloud Prefecture, the Idlecloud Immortal King had initially set a modest goal of 7 to 8 qualifiers. Yet, to his pleasant surprise, a total of 10 individuals from his prefecture had passed the selection test.

This was indeed a remarkable achievement, and among those successful participants were Qin Wentian, Zi Qingxuan, and Jun Mengchen, his fellow sect members. Gu Zhantian, Cloud Prefecture's top ranker, naturally secured a spot as well. The list continued with Mu Yun, the descendant of Gu Zhantian, Zuyu from the Battle Heavens Immortal Manor, Yi Changfeng of the Myriad Sage Academy, Xia Dongjiang from the Cloud Tower, Pang Shanyue from the Immortal Suppression Sect, and Ghost Saber Mu Yan, a disciple of the Saberlord of Death. All of them had performed exceptionally well and made their respective sects proud.

The major powers of the Cloud Prefecture couldn't hide their happiness. The immortal kings from the Battle Heavens Immortal Sect, Myriad Sage Academy, and others couldn't help but smile. Their disciples had not disappointed them; they had truly nurtured extraordinary talents.

Similar scenes were unfolding in the other prefectures. The prefecture lords and elders from successful sects were beaming with pride, while those whose disciples hadn't qualified wore dark expressions, clearly embarrassed by the situation.

The Eastern Prefecture's lord, however, couldn't resist a smug remark. He looked at Gusu Tianqi, an unparalleled genius, and said, "Even the Cloud Prefecture managed to produce 10 qualifiers. Quite interesting." His tone carried a hint of disdain. With 17 qualifiers from the Eastern Prefecture, including the likely inclusion of Gusu Tianqi in the top three, their pride knew no bounds. If they could secure one more spot among the top three, it would be a remarkable achievement.

"Let's continue our conversation inside the banquet hall," the leading immortal king suggested with a smile. The crowd agreed, and they entered a gate behind the monumental structure, following an ancient pathway that led to a vast space. Here, ancient battle platforms and long corridors stretched out before them. At the end of this grand path stood an enormous hall, reaching into the heavens, with the words "Greencloud Hall" carved atop it, exuding an aura of supreme might.

A grand staircase led to the hall's entrance, where numerous seats awaited immortal kings and other esteemed guests. Sumptuous delicacies adorned the tables, and beautiful female servants stood by, ready to assist the arriving guests.

"This wine is of the highest grade, and the food here rivals the nutritional value of immortal pills," a female servant explained as she led the Idlecloud Immortal King and his ten participants to their designated seats. The immortal kings from their prefecture naturally surrounded them.

The experts from the thirteen prefectures took their seats one by one, and soon, the entire hall was filled with guests, all eager to partake in the immortal banquet.

The second level of the gathering was nothing short of extraordinary. One by one, experts emerged, each emanating an aura of profound power. As they settled into their seats, their gazes swept over the crowd. These were no ordinary individuals; they were immortal kings, distinguished figures within the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect.

"It's finally over. This selection test had us old folks waiting for far too long," a voice echoed through the air, drawing the attention of many. Flying through the air were special guests invited by the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect, all of whom held the prestigious rank of immortal king. Only they possessed the authority to soar through the sky in this manner.

"Indeed, I wonder what kind of exceptional talents will emerge from this selection test and whether they will capture the favor of His Majesty, becoming his personal disciples," another voice chimed in. Several immortal kings leisurely glided through the air, discussing the event while casting their eyes over the participants. Qin Wentian keenly sensed the probing gazes of these powerful immortal kings, a behavior considered quite rude among individuals of the same level. However, when it came to immortal kings evaluating Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants, who would dare to object?

"Have you heard of Gusu Tianqi from the Eastern Prefecture? He's said to be incredibly powerful and stands a good chance of becoming a personal disciple of His Majesty," one of the immortal kings remarked.

"Yes, I've heard of him too. Gusu Tianqi is renowned as the number one heaven-chosen talent in the Eastern Prefecture among those below the immortal-foundation realm. He hails from the Gusu clan, with nine generations of immortal kings. Rumor has it he possesses an immortal-king physique and even the potential to become an immortal emperor," another immortal king added, his words drawing the attention of many toward Gusu Tianqi.

However, Gusu Tianqi remained composed, as if the discussion didn't concern him in the least.

The invited immortal kings also made their way to the second level, extending greetings to their Eastern Sage Immortal Sect counterparts.

"I've heard that the personal disciple of the Deepflame Immortal King participated in the selection test. To avoid any suspicions, the Deepflame Immortal King had his disciple compete from the first test. Given his talent, he has a strong chance of ranking among the top three as well," an immortal king said, subtly praising the Deepflame Immortal King. Blackpeak, hearing this, stood and bowed to the immortal kings. "Junior Blackpeak greets the seniors."

"Excellent, it's rare to see a junior so respectful," an immortal king replied with a polite smile. Little did they know that Blackpeak's journey through the selection test had been far from smooth; he had suffered humiliation and only survived because his opponent chose not to take his life. Naturally, Blackpeak kept these details to himself.

"The competition to be among the top three rankers is exceptionally tough. Some personal disciples of other immortal kings will also participate directly in the final test. Although they won't join the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect even if they rank in the top three, their presence will pose a significant challenge to other participants in the final test," the immortal kings continued their casual conversation.

From afar, more immortal kings continued to arrive.

"There are so many experts here, it's almost overwhelming," participants couldn't help but marvel at the sight of so many immortal kings. This truly was an immortal banquet, attended by the majority of powerful figures from the thirteen prefectures. Additionally, a substantial number of immortal-foundation characters had arrived, although they lacked the qualifications to secure seats and could only stand in designated areas. Clearly, only immortal kings were entitled to sit at this grand banquet.

As time passed, the grand hall swelled with the presence of numerous experts, reaching its capacity in no time. Yet, in this sea of remarkable individuals, a few extraordinary figures made their entrance.

"Look, it's the Scarce Moon Immortal King and the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King. Two supreme immortal kings have graced us with their presence," exclaimed several immortal kings as they rose from their seats, offering their deep respect. Beside each of these revered immortals stood a member from the younger generation.

"Is that Que Tianyi? He's the personal disciple of the Eastern Sage Majesty. The Scarce Moon Immortal King has high hopes for him."

"And there's Hua Taixu, accompanying the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King. Just as the rumors suggest, he's a truly exceptional individual, radiating an aura of magnificence that spans generations."

With respect and admiration in their hearts, the crowd extended their greetings to the Scarce Moon Immortal King and the Myriad Incarnations Immortal King, bowing respectfully. The two immortals in the air acknowledged the gestures with nods of acknowledgment. Qin Wentian, too, turned his gaze toward the quartet in the air. He recognized each of them—they had all crossed paths before!