In the Great Yi Dynasty, officials from various immortal cities rarely had opportunities to interact, as each governed their own region like feudal lords. Thus, gatherings such as this banquet—the Immortal Delicacy Banquet (仙珍宴)—served not only to strengthen personal bonds but also to facilitate the exchange of governance strategies.
These banquets also fostered a greater sense of unity and belonging among the officials.
Among the people, tales of the Immortal Delicacy Banquet had long circulated. The feast, hosted by the Palace of Culinary Arts, featured glowing delicacies, Du Kang Immortal Brew crafted by the Ancestral Brewer, and all sorts of folk treats, desserts, and spiritual fruits from across the Great Yi Dynasty. It was said that at this banquet, one could savor the full culinary essence of the realm.
It was a joyous feast for monarch and ministers alike.
The first banquet had been held the previous year and caused a sensation throughout the empire. Those fortunate enough to attend were envied across the land. Now came the second Immortal Delicacy Banquet, larger in scale and grander in spirit.
"His Majesty arrives!!"
A sharp cry rang out. Immediately, everyone in the lakeside pavilion stood and looked up.
At the center of the floating garden stood an enormous pavilion that resembled a floating palace. Upon a round jade table were delicacies of every kind. Yi Tianxing entered, accompanied by Cai Yan and the other consorts.
Holding his hand was a young girl, her features delicate as carved jade. She was clearly destined to be a great beauty when she grew up. Her eyes, full of spirit, scanned her surroundings with glee—Princess Yi Xianhuang, also known as Princess Anning of Great Yi.
Cai Yan and the other consorts were exquisitely dressed, their beauty dazzling enough to move the heavens and cause the stars to pale. Any one of them, if seen outside, would drive countless men mad with admiration. But here, even the highest officials dared not gaze directly upon them—for these were the Empress and Royal Consorts of Great Yi, their status sacred and untouchable.
The Serpent Empress also appeared, her belly clearly showing signs of pregnancy.
She had been with child for two to three years already. Recently, signs of labor had begun to manifest. Yet no one found this strange. In fact, in the Great Yi Dynasty, it was considered auspicious—the longer a fetus remained in the womb, the more innate energy it could absorb, resulting in greater talent and potential.
This was not a mundane pregnancy. For cultivators, true essence and mana nourished the fetus, producing innate qi. The longer this process lasted, the more profound the transformation. The entire court eagerly anticipated the birth, hoping for an extraordinarily gifted royal heir to strengthen the imperial bloodline, which remained quite sparse.
"Greetings to His Majesty! Long live the Emperor!!"
"Greetings to Her Majesty, the Empress, and the Royal Consorts!!"
All officials stood and bowed respectfully. Their loyalty was genuine—after all, it was under Yi Tianxing's rule that they had survived years of natural disaster and continued to flourish.
"You may rise."
Yi Tianxing nodded with a warm smile. "Tonight is New Year's Eve, a time to send off the old and welcome the new. This Immortal Delicacy Banquet is our chance to dine as one family—so we may celebrate our achievements this year and look forward to a brighter future. Tonight, there is no monarch or minister—only friends sharing food and joy. Come, let us eat and drink to our hearts' content!"
The crowd responded cheerfully, "Thank you, Your Majesty!!"
"Begin the feast!!" cried Cao Zhengchun.
At once, the ministers raised their wine cups and bowed to Yi Tianxing: "Our first toast—to His Majesty!"
"To His Majesty!"
Yi Tianxing returned the gesture with a smile, then toasted Empress Cai Yan and the royal consorts. With that, the Immortal Delicacy Banquet officially began.
Elegant maids moved like butterflies through the garden, bringing plates of dazzling dishes to every table and clearing the empty ones. The aroma alone was enough to stir the soul. Everyone dug in with gusto—after all, this once-a-year event was not to be wasted.
These dishes weren't merely delicious—they replenished essence and spirit, while the Du Kang Immortal Brew could lift any burden from the heart. The experience was so delightful that many lost themselves in its joy.
The banquet followed a flowing table format, with food served continuously, including spiritual fruits, exotic treats, milk tea, coffee, and more.
Laughter and chatter filled the air. Some even experienced sudden breakthroughs in cultivation during the feast—such was the richness of the gathering's spiritual energy. The banquet itself was a rare opportunity and blessing.
Although the atmosphere was lively, none disturbed Yi Tianxing's central table, allowing him and the consorts a quiet, family-like space to eat and chat softly.
"Darling," Cai Yan said, glancing skyward, "will the snow calamity finally end tomorrow? The weather seems to be stabilizing."
The snowstorm had lasted over two years, a deeply trying period. Its end would be a welcome relief.
"Most likely, the climate will begin to return to normal tomorrow," Yi Tianxing replied. "However, with natural disasters plaguing the Eternal Continent, true peace will only return once the Heavenly Dao completes its merger with the wills of all worlds and undergoes its final transformation."
In other words, a full return to normalcy was not yet possible.
For the past two years, the Heavenly Dao had focused entirely on devouring the wills of the myriad realms. Once that process was complete, all catastrophes across the Eternal World would cease. Even if the cost was immense, the outcome would justify it.
According to intelligence reports, all parts of the Eternal World were in chaos. Not only the human race, but even other species were suffering bitterly. The entire realm was engulfed in turmoil.
Boom—!!
As the night passed and midnight approached, the final bell of the old year rang out.
Suddenly, without warning, thunder crashed through the sky—dense as a rainstorm. The entire void seemed to become a sea of lightning.
"What's happening?! Why is there so much lightning?"
"We've just entered the eighth year of the Eternal Era. Could this be a sign of another catastrophe?"
Officials turned to the skies, expressions solemn. This was no ordinary phenomenon—it was a cosmic omen.
"Dear…" Cai Yan instinctively held Princess Anning close, anxiety written across her face.
"The Celestial Observatory detected nothing unusual," Yi Tianxing muttered, frowning deeply.
If even the Celestial Observatory could not predict this, then the situation was clearly beyond their control—a force outside of Great Yi's grasp.
Then, amid the lightning, a single, massive golden eye appeared in the sky. Within that eye, one could glimpse countless mystic chains of law, flickering and merging. The pressure it exuded was immense—an invisible shackle weighed upon every living being.
An overwhelming sense of awe took hold. Even amidst the thunder, its majesty was impossible to ignore.
"The Eye of the Heavenly Dao!!"Yi Tianxing looked up and murmured, his heart shaken.
This was indeed the Heavenly Dao's Eye—witnessed years ago when the Dao began suppressing the will of all realms. But compared to that time, its power now was dozens or even hundreds of times greater. Just the pressure it radiated was enough to freeze the very laws of the universe.
Clearly, the Heavenly Dao had completed its devouring of the myriad wills.
Looking closely, one saw no more light spheres of the world-wills in the surrounding space. Only countless laws flashing and colliding within the eye—signs of final fusion and evolution.
"Is the era of natural disasters finally coming to an end?"Yao Yue whispered, eyes shimmering.
There was no doubt—the Heavenly Dao had gained tremendous benefits from consuming the wills of the realms.