"This is wonderful news! The Destiny Peach of Longevity can extend one's life span! The elders of our sect who gave up reincarnation all those years ago may finally be saved. They've sealed themselves away inside their cave abodes, waiting silently for death, their lifespans nearly spent. Now, with the Destiny Peach, they could live on and witness the future!"
"Incredible! My son's innate talent is mediocre. Even with all our resources, the best he could achieve is the Dharmic Aspect Realm. Condensing a Nascent Soul was nearly impossible. But if he could eat a Bridal Peach, his potential would rise dramatically, breaking through his limitations and stepping into the ranks of the elite. Even if his future advancement slows down, he'll be far better off than before."
As news of the Immortal Peach Banquet spread, even the cultivation sects were shaken. The peaches offered were truly tempting.
Whether it was the Destiny Peach that increased lifespan and fortune, or the Bridal Peach that allowed one to transcend their innate limitations, they both addressed the most urgent desires of every cultivator.
Even many top-tier experts were moved—after all, the Bridal Peach could help one break through a lifetime bottleneck and achieve a realm once thought impossible. Even if future progression became difficult, the immediate leap in power was worth any cost.
Each invitation letter also allowed the recipient to bring one family member or close companion to the banquet. However, the Immortal Peach portion of the banquet remained fixed—only one peach per invitation, no matter how many people came.
Any additional delicacies or benefits were not restricted. If the main guest chose to gift their peach to their companion, that was their personal decision—no one would interfere.
This policy actually made the invitation more attractive to the powerhouses. After all, not every treasure was useful to a high-level cultivator. But these peaches could benefit friends, family, disciples, and create strong karmic ties.
Some of the old hermits who had refused to reincarnate during the fusion of the myriad worlds—those who had remained in seclusion with dwindling lifespans—now looked forward eagerly to this banquet.
The Destiny Peach could increase lifespan by 5,000 years in one dose. If it came from the original mother tree, and contained the full blessings of fortune, prosperity, and longevity, it could extend life by 10,000 years.
Even the offspring peaches had half the potency, which was still astoundingly powerful.
Countless people were now desperate to attend.
The news of the Immortal Peach Banquet spread like wildfire—across the Great Yi territories, through the Vast Sea Realm, and even beyond.
Vast Sea Realm
Sea Region – Vast Sea Dragon Palace
Today's Vast Sea Dragon Palace was no longer as mighty as it once was.
The former Dragon King had already left with the main Dragon Tribe forces to the God-Demon Battlefield to fight the forces of Eternal Night. The current Dragon King was his eldest son—Ao Lie.
Naturally, the power of the Dragon Palace had been reduced by more than half. Its army was now much smaller. Yet even so, its remaining strength ensured that no force would dare disrespect the Dragons.
"Your Majesty."
The Turtle Prime Minister, carrying his shell on his back, approached Ao Lie.
"Prime Minister, is there important news?" Ao Lie asked warmly.
Though now king, Ao Lie still respected the old Turtle deeply. His tone was kind and even.
His father had once warned him never to underestimate the Turtle Prime Minister. No one, not even the old Dragon King, knew just how long the Prime Minister had lived—only that he had always been there, unchanged in appearance or strength.
He had never fought, but his aura was like deep waters—impossible to fathom. To Ao Lie, he was more a family elder than a mere advisor.
"Your Majesty," the Prime Minister said slowly, "the Vast Sea Realm has been completely unified under the Great Yi Celestial Court. The Iron-Blooded Great Wall now spans the realm. To celebrate, Great Yi will host the Immortal Peach Banquet, offering the Destiny Peach and Bridal Peach to attendees."
"The invitations are of two types: Named Invitations and Anonymous Invitations."
"Today, Great Yi has sent two invitations to the Dragon Palace—one for Your Majesty, and one for this old minister. Please see for yourself."
He handed over the invitation.
It was made of jade-like material, shining with a metallic luster, radiating a cool and refreshing aura. Only a few characters adorned its surface:
Immortal Peach Banquet
Inside, the invitation had the recipient's name. Ao Lie's read: Vast Sea Dragon King.
This was a named invitation—it would only admit the exact person listed. Even if someone else held it, they could not enter.
Impersonation was strictly forbidden and would incur severe consequences.
Anonymous invitations, on the other hand, could be used by anyone who held them.
"Great Yi moved fast," Ao Lie muttered. "The Great Serpent Dynasty and the Hundred Clans Alliance didn't even slow them down. They were crushed effortlessly. Great Yi truly deserves its reputation from the Eternal Night War Zone—it's a power unlike any other."
"If our Dragon Tribe elites were still here, we wouldn't be intimidated. But now... we must acknowledge their strength."
"Still, this banquet is worth attending. I should meet this Yi Emperor in person. After all... I'm his brother-in-law."
He took a deep breath.
Ao Lie was Yi Tianxing's brother-in-law, and that relationship could not be erased.
Attending this banquet was a matter of both politics and family. The Dragon Palace was now under Great Yi's rule—it was only proper to pay their respects.
"Indeed, Your Majesty should attend," said the Turtle Prime Minister. "The princess is also at the Imperial Palace. You may see her again."
"With Great Yi occupying the Vast Sea, this is the natural course of fate. And Yi Tianxing's ambition will not stop here. Great Yi's foundations are terrifyingly deep."
"From a few trillion, their population has jumped to over twenty trillion. No one knows where these people came from—but they are real. With this foundation, Great Yi's growth will only snowball."
This fact alone shocked the world.
Previously, all races believed that Great Yi's population would limit their expansion. Without people to govern the conquered lands, their advance would stall. But somehow, Great Yi had conjured an endless tide of citizens.
"Yes," Ao Lie nodded, "this will be the grandest gathering in the Vast Sea Realm's history. It would be a shame to miss it."
Elsewhere in the Vast Sea Realm, messengers from Great Yi visited many sects, delivering invitations.
Those who received them were ecstatic.
Those who didn't... could only feel jealousy and resentment. But they dared not protest. Great Yi was now a colossal behemoth—no one could afford to offend them.
"If they won't invite us... we'll just steal an anonymous invitation!"
That became the motto of many small sects who had been overlooked.
Meanwhile, outside the Vast Sea Realm, just a step away in the Bohai Realm, near the great Bohai Ocean…
A massive continent stretched across the sea, its landmass rivaling an entire province of Great Yi. Its geography was diverse, with towering ancient trees and dense forests.
But the air here carried a sinister chill, and demonic qi lingered.
Deep within this shadowy territory, a massive ancient city stood…