Mount Ling truly lived up to its name. The innate spiritual vein within Solitary Summit was not only larger than the one beneath Xuanhuang City, but it also exhaled even richer Heaven and Earth spiritual energy. It directly absorbed the forces of nature from the endless void, generating innate primal energy. The lush orchards thrived precisely because of this nourishment, growing with divine vitality and exotic splendor.
There was no doubt that using these spiritual fruits as the main delicacies of the banquet would raise no objections from any of the proud geniuses attending. To host a feast featuring such an abundance of spiritual fruit was an extravagant move seen only a handful of times. It was fitting for the status of the Heaven's chosen. Their presence here was not in vain; none would lose face by attending.
If ordinary fruit had been served instead, the arrogant elites would never even touch them. Only treasures such as these spiritual fruits could be worthy of such an event, and of their exalted identities.
One by one, flower fairies flitted across the eight orchard mountains, baskets in hand, harvesting the ripe spiritual fruits.These flower fairies had no fondness for battle or conflict, preferring instead to tend to flora, spiritual trees, and herbs. Their affinity for nature was much like that of the Elves—one could say they were a unique kind of forest spirit.
...
Time passed swiftly, and before long, the three-month deadline promised by the Stone Emperor had arrived.
This day marked the official commencement of the Spiritual Fruit Banquet.
As the darkness faded and the rising sun cast its first ray of golden light, atop the summit of Solitary Peak stood a figure both unassuming and immensely powerful. He exuded the aura of one who overlooked all beneath him. With one sweeping glance, his eyes seemed to pierce the entire realm. An invisible force radiated from Solitary Peak and merged with his being, granting him an almost divine presence, allowing all life upon the battlefield to see him clearly.
"The Spiritual Fruit Banquet begins today. I, the Stone Emperor, welcome all Heaven's Chosen from across the races to this gathering atop Mount Ling."
His gaze swept the horizon, and the pressure he emanated was as mighty as mountains, as immovable as a divine presence ruling heaven and earth. His voice, empowered by a mysterious force, echoed across the battlefield, reaching the ears of every cultivator present.
By his own power alone, he clearly couldn't have achieved such a feat—this was evidently the strength of Solitary Peak beneath his feet.
With this proclamation, the Spiritual Fruit Banquet—three months in the making—had officially begun.
On this day, Heaven's Chosen from all over the world were free to attend.
Atop Solitary Peak stood a grand throne at its highest point. No words were needed—this throne was exclusively for the Stone Emperor as host. Below it, arranged in a pyramid-like formation, rows upon rows of seats descended down the mountain. The higher the seat, the higher the status of the guest.
Directly below the Stone Emperor's throne were nine additional thrones, arrayed in a straight line to the left and right. Though they sat slightly lower than the main throne, they clearly stood above all the others. These were reserved for the top nine Heaven's Chosen, a testament to both their identity and strength.
From the summit all the way to the foot of the mountain, seating and banquet tables spread out like a sea of stars. The number of seats easily surpassed ten thousand. While the display was grand, the logistics behind it were staggering—just providing enough spiritual fruit alone would bankrupt most wealthy cultivators.
It was no exaggeration to say:
Even a mighty tycoon would be ruined by a single day of this feast.
Only a place like Solitary Peak, with the overwhelming foundation of Mount Ling, could sustain such a massive undertaking. Even so, the cost of this banquet had consumed more than half of Mount Ling's spiritual reserves.
After making his announcement, the Stone Emperor took his seat atop the throne, sitting like a divine king overlooking the world. His gaze was filled with unmatched authority and power.
He sat in silence, awaiting the arrival of Heaven's Chosen from every race.
...
The Stone Emperor's proclamation instantly stirred the entire battlefield.
In every corner of the realm, countless eyes turned toward Mount Ling. Although the distance made it impossible to see clearly, the mere act of looking in that direction filled many with a sense of awe and excitement.
"Excellent! The banquet has finally begun! Our Minotaur clan is full of Heaven's Chosen—Chief Alistar, the Savage Bull King, the Iron Ox King—all of them Totem Mirror realm (Life map realm) cultivators. They'll surely shine at the banquet and bring great honor to our people!"
In one of the war cities, Minotaur warriors burst out in boisterous laughter, filled with pride and anticipation.
"This is our chance to prove ourselves. Our Behemoth race has always ruled the battlefield. When we fight, no enemy can stand before us!"
The Behemoth clansmen stared toward Mount Ling with fire in their eyes. This banquet was their opportunity to prove to all the races that they deserved their title as the kings of the beast clans—absolute rulers of the battlefield.
"Hahaha, I'm really looking forward to this. With Heaven's Chosen from all races gathered, who knows what kind of brilliance will explode from their clashes? What a shame… the Evernight Legion and the Insect Clan have locked down the battlefield. We can't leave the war cities. If we could, I'd love to witness this event in person. Even if I didn't get a seat, just being there would be worth it. Who will dominate the crowd?"
"It's tragic. Truly tragic. If only I were a Heaven's Chosen—I'd take part in this glorious gathering. This might be the golden generation born of chaos!"
"I heard the Stone Emperor personally invited the Human Race. Will any humans dare show up? If they don't, what right do they have to keep holding the top spot on the Primordial Rankings? It's about time they learned what it means to behave properly."
Voices filled with excitement and disdain spread across the battlefield. Everyone eagerly awaited the event.
In Sunset City,Jia Xu and the other generals stood atop the city walls, gazing toward Mount Ling, their expressions solemn. This banquet was critical for the Human Race—it was the grandest stage on the Eternal Continent. Here, the true Heaven's Chosen would be revealed, and others would be trampled as stepping stones. Which race would emerge victorious? That answer might be decided here.
The humans, unfortunately, were at the most awkward, most perilous moment in their journey.
No one knew how many humans would attend. Could they withstand the challenges from alien races? Could they earn the respect they deserved?
"Strategist, do you really think we humans can win this?"Cheng Yaojin asked Jia Xu with some hesitation.
"Have faith in the King. And trust that our Human Race still has heroes with burning blood."Jia Xu replied calmly. No one could predict the course of the banquet. The Stone Emperor's overwhelming presence alone was enough to show that the alien Heaven's Chosen would be anything but weak.
"I believe in our King. He's never let us down. Even when we were just a small village, a bunch of commoners, we still made it here—billions of civilians, millions of soldiers. We've conquered thousands of miles of land and forced the other races to retreat. This time will be no different."
Yang Ye took a deep breath, his eyes full of conviction.
"I believe too."Xue Kunlun nodded. He had once seen Yi Tianxing fight in the Golden Sand Desert. That godlike figure in the black storm was forever burned into his memory. And now, Yi Tianxing felt even more unfathomable, growing stronger by the day.
Ever since entering the Battlefield of Gods and Demons, this feeling had only intensified.
He no longer knew what level of power Yi Tianxing had reached.
"Believe in the King. The Human Race won't be trampled so easily."Wang Dahu said with certainty.
...
At that moment, the void of the battlefield erupted with divine radiance. Without warning, light burst forth, celestial music rang out, and the sound of great horns resounded across the sky. A massive ranking board appeared in the sky, glowing with purple divine light. Below it, a floating platform emerged—and on it stood two large eggs.
Bathed in divine light, the platform was visible to everyone across the battlefield, regardless of where they stood.
"Greetings to all cultivators of every race in the Battlefield of Gods and Demons! Isn't it a surprise to see your beloved Brother Handsome at a time like this? I've missed you all so much. Even though it's only been a few months, every day without you felt like three years. That's a lot of years!"
Xiaosa Ge struck a dramatic pose and declared:
"I love you all!"
"According to Boss's orders, a great event is upon us! The Stone Emperor is hosting the Spiritual Fruit Banquet, gathering Heaven's Chosen from across the Eternal Continent. This is the greatest feast in the history of the world. And though many of you can't attend, don't be sad. Boss has graciously arranged for all of you to watch the banquet unfold. You'll witness every glorious moment!"
Hei Dashuai added excitedly, though trying to keep his cool.
"Yes! And after the banquet ends, the Battlefield of Gods and Demons will close once more. All survivors will return to the Eternal Continent!"
Xiaosa Ge concluded.