Chapter 561: The True 'Yaochi' (4K)

Not only those few goddesses and fairies who heard Zhang Jian's words, but even several immortals nearby couldn't help but frequently cast their gazes over.

Zhang Jian sensed these gazes, yet he paid them no mind.

He indeed spoke no falsehood.

The voice of the Celestial Official Emperor also came from beside his ear.

"Zhang Daoist, I never expected your ancestors to actually have ties with the Yaochi Holy Land, and moreover, to be connected to Qingxia Fairy!"

Facing the slightly astonished gazes of the Celestial Official Emperor and the Terrestrial Official Emperor, Zhang Jian merely maintained a calm expression.

Having a wealthy ancestor is nothing!

I have always relied on myself!

At that moment, Zhang Jian directly found his seat at position 158 according to the numbering on the Yaochi banquet invitation.

That seat was located at the forefront of Yaochi, near the Bright Hall Pavilion where the Queen Mother received distinguished guests, allowing a faint view of part of the scenery within the pavilion.

On both sides, thin mist enveloped the area, immortal lotuses bloomed, and within, golden lotuses blossomed one after another.

These were the Yaochi Golden Lotuses, a heavenly and earthly rare species of the Yaochi Holy Land.

Zhang Jian had previously consumed the seeds of the Yaochi Golden Lotus, even the entire flower.

From this place, one could easily behold the endless splendid scenery within Yaochi; vaguely, the depths of Yaochi seemed to form a unique realm of its own, where countless heavenly, earthly, and watery spiritual species dwelled, not lacking dragon species and strange beasts.

There were also black tortoises and giant whales, among others, fully embodying the profound marvels of the Grand Dao of Water and Marsh Ancestral Qi.

Taking advantage of the banquet not yet having begun, Zhang Jian at that moment immersed a portion of his mind and spirit into it.

Many immortals and gods acted no differently; numerous immortals and gods came to participate in the Yaochi banquet, not truly just to freeload food and drink, for the boundless heavenly and earthly Grand Dao mysteries contained within the Yaochi Holy Land were likewise products of heavenly and earthly creation, not to be missed.

Every blade of grass and tree, every mountain and stone here seemed to harbor some hidden mechanism.

Similar to the Yaochi Golden Lotus, it contained profound mysteries of various heavenly and earthly Grand Dao laws—spatial, water-related; when combined, they could conceal one's own qi mechanism, profound and unfathomable.

With diligent contemplation, one could fully cultivate an innate divine ability.

Moreover, within those marshes lay hidden numerous water-path Dao qi, ancestral qi attributes ever-changing; upon comprehension, one could likewise enhance one's own Dao cultivation and foundation.

However, most immortals and gods still divided their attention—partly contemplating, while reserving a portion of mind and spirit to communicate with the numerous great immortals present from the Four Extremes and Eight Directions.

Zhang Jian's Terrestrial Emperor Primordial Spirit was vast; as his primordial spirit swept over the profound depths of Yaochi, passing numerous heavenly and earthly Grand Dao laws, he locked onto a central, large, seven-colored golden lotus.

That Yaochi Golden Lotus was exceptionally distinct—its petals were large, and the golden radiance shimmering within its color was noticeably richer than that of other Yaochi Golden Lotuses.

Furthermore, Zhang Jian had also consumed Yaochi Golden Lotus and sensed its innate imprint; regarding this, he possessed an especially keen intuition.

He also felt from it a strong innate rhythm.

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered.

He had once comprehended the innate divine ability Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique from the Yaochi Golden Lotus, which had helped him survive many tribulations and brought him many benefits; he had continually been evolving and deducing it.

Now it was also a fifth-rank immortal method.

However, if one wished to advance further, to evolve from it the mysteries of Ancestral Qi and elevate it to an eternal immortal method, the difficulty would be extremely great.

If it were the mysteries of the Spatial Grand Dao laws, it would still be manageable.

The mysteries of the Water-Attribute Grand Dao laws were his weakness.

Now, this special Yaochi Golden Lotus, in Zhang Jian's eyes, was nothing less than the birth of the Grand Dao, fully displaying innate divine marvels.

Deep within his primordial spirit's space, he saw that the structure of the seven-colored golden lotus formed by the transformation of the Innate Divine Ability Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique was continuously changing; an invisible, intangible water-marsh mystery gradually merged into the Yaochi Golden Lotus, combining with spatial-type Dao qi.

Two heavenly and earthly Grand Dao laws intertwined, continuously transforming into radiant Ancestral Qi.

Deep within his brow, the Golden Lotus Hidden Breath Technique at this moment gradually emitted an aura of great completion, and additionally stained with a trace of eternal, undying qi mechanism.

Zhang Jian's brow glowed with a faint, flowing seven-colored golden light.

Beside him sat the Celestial Official Emperor and the Terrestrial Official Emperor; these two emperors were also dividing their attention, and at this moment they sensed the change in Zhang Jian's brow, secretly astonished in their hearts.

Evidently, in a short time, Zhang Jian had gained something; such comprehension truly amazed people.

At Zhang Jian's side was a goddess dressed in splendid attire; before her appeared a peculiar, enormous pearl, surrounded by misty vapor, as if she were a powerful immortal goddess born from the Water Mansion Immortal Class, her person also bearing dragon aspects.

She sat upright upon the divine throne, as if the Heavenly and Earthly Water Path Grand Dao had descended, divine light shining in myriad ways; she also appeared to be a sovereign of the Dao.

At this moment, this female immortal also noticed the seven-colored immortal light deep within Zhang Jian's brow; her eyes held a hint of curiosity, then she glanced again at the many lotuses in the depths of Yaochi, and the corner of her mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.

The Yaochi Golden Lotus is indeed a highly representative heavenly and earthly rare species within the Yaochi Holy Land; comprehending its mysteries would bring great benefit.

However, the heavenly and earthly Dao rhythm it contains is not the most profound.

Within the Yaochi Holy Land lie many innate divine treasures and earthly marvels; to obtain their true imprint and comprehend their mysteries still requires one to rely on one's own Dao cultivation and insight.

The female immortal then fixed her gaze upon the depths of the Yaochi Holy Land, upon a great water-marsh spiritual vein, which seemed to have been formed when heaven and earth were opened, containing a profound heavenly and earthly imprint.

After pondering, this female immortal at that moment diverted a portion of her mind and spirit and first spoke.

"The Water Official Emperor likely is attending the Yaochi banquet for the first time, seemingly not fully understanding the mysteries of the Yaochi Holy Land?"

Upon hearing the voice, Zhang Jian opened his eyes; at this moment, a portion of his mind and spirit, as it merged into that Yaochi Golden Lotus, gradually came into contact with the lotus's most profound marvels.

It was a lotus that had blossomed since the primordial beginning, a heavenly and earthly spiritual seed; he even caught a glimpse within it of a scene of primordial evolution.

"I do not know how to address you, fellow Daoist?"

He had also long noticed the presence of this female immortal.

The female immortal's smile was faint, as she announced her name.

"I am the Black Dragon Spirit Marsh King!"

"The Black Dragon God among the Five Dragon Gods..."

Zhang Jian's heart stirred secretly; the number of water department gods in heaven and earth is extremely great, not lacking those of immense divine power; among them are the Four Sea Dragon Kings, also the Five Direction Dragon Gods, Five Lake Dragon Kings.

The Five Dragon Gods are the Azure Dragon God, the Red Dragon God, the Yellow Dragon God, the White Dragon God, and the Black Dragon God.

These five dragon gods guard the five directions.

Of course, in rank they cannot compare to the Five Direction Five Elders, but they are also of exalted status; their rank is on par with the Five Peaks Emperors, the Four Sea Dragon Kings, and the Yellow River River Earl.

This is a great dragon king of the dragon race.

"Since the Black Dragon God is present before me, what exactly did the Dragon Lord mean by his earlier words?"

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon him, yet in his eyes there was only pure, innocent sincerity, utterly free of any impurity.

"This deity is indeed attending the Yaochi banquet for the first time, unfamiliar with its intricacies; I humbly ask the Dragon Lord for guidance!"

The Black Dragon God smiled and said.

"Guidance may be too strong a word, but having attended such gatherings many times, I have gathered some scattered insights—feel free to listen as mere amusement, fellow cultivator!"

"In this Yaochi, the seats are arranged with the highest place at the forefront; that foremost position holds the greatest abundance of heavenly and earthly treasures and innate marvels. Since we seek to comprehend them, we must naturally seek those most suited to ourselves, as well as treasures bearing the imprint of the great Dao of heaven and earth—only then can we avoid wasting the opportunity of this feast!"

"As for those heavenly and earthly treasures whose Dao imprints are too profound to comprehend easily, there is no need to worry about exhausting one's spirit. Once the banquet begins and we partake of the divine nectar and jade fluids, even the Peach of Immortality, our cultivation and mana will be replenished, allowing us to ascend further!"

In short, after entering Yaochi, it is simply a matter of seeking heavenly and earthly treasures with the richest Dao resonance, and contemplating divine objects.

Zhang Jian silently mused to himself.

Indeed, this is the correct reasoning.

Having come all this way, it is rare to enter such a blessed realm—we must seek the ultimate insight to make it worthwhile.

After pondering, Zhang Jian spoke again.

"Thank you, Dragon Lord, for your guidance—but I wonder, in the depths of Yaochi, do those divine objects truly possess a strong imprint of the great Dao of heaven and earth?!"

The Black Dragon God glanced at Zhang Jian, then smiled and said.

"In the sacred Yaochi, heavenly and earthly treasures are myriad, and those of immense value are countless. Legends speak of traces of innate spiritual treasures in its depths—but to find them, one must test one's discernment!"

"Those with affinity shall see them; those without, even if standing face to face, may never recognize them!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian nodded slightly—exactly so.

But then, would this feast not be a severe test of the discernment of ordinary immortals and gods?

Zhang Jian silently mused, a thought flashing through his mind.

"No, there should also be fate!"

Sufficient fate can directly provoke the affinity of those heavenly and earthly treasures, as well as innate spiritual treasures.

Heavy misfortune above one's head causes those innate divine objects, being sentient, to flee at sight.

This is a matter of innate affinity and charm.

Fate upon these heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures, or divine objects, is the most discernible mark.

Whoever has more fate is justified.

Whoever has less fate proves this person is 'utterly wicked and evil'!

Speaking of fate, this holy one of mine is in no way inferior to any celestial immortal of the Heavenly Court—indeed, I may even surpass them.

My holy nature inherently possesses fate unlike ordinary people, and having just participated in the ascension of the Eastern Hua Heavenly Realm, my fate is intensely strong.

Of course, even more crucial is that I possess an innate spiritual treasure—the Third-Grade Creation Green Lotus—capable of suppressing fate.

Having grasped the crux, Zhang Jian did not mobilize his great fate, but instead directly contemplated and completed the comprehension of the Primordial Dao Seal contained within the depths of the Yaochi Golden Lotus.

The Yaochi Golden Lotus he selected is no ordinary golden lotus; within it lies the trace of the Primordial Dao.

This is necessarily a divine object of the rank of heavenly and earthly treasure.

It may well be one of the sources of this Yaochi Golden Lotus pool.

It absolutely deserves the title 'precious'.

However, Zhang Jian did not say this aloud—after all, one cannot claim to have instantly taken a liking to a heavenly and earthly treasure without needing your reminders...

At this moment, the Black Dragon God spoke again.

"But now, Yaochi has not yet opened—this is merely the beginning!"

"Yaochi has not yet opened?"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred; he gazed toward the Black Dragon God, intending to ask, yet heard the Black Dragon God laugh and say.

"Fellow cultivator, you shall know soon enough—after experiencing this, you will suddenly comprehend the true marvels of Yaochi!"

She sold a mystery.

Zhang Jian's heart secretly stirred with strangeness.

It seems this Yaochi banquet is not merely what the outside immortals and gods have rumored—a simple gathering, just eating and drinking.

Shortly afterward, Zhang Jian completed his contemplation of the Yaochi Golden Lotus.

At this very moment, Zhang Jian's mind stirred; his gaze suddenly fell upon the Hall of Light Pavilion.

But in the next instant, within the Hall of Light Pavilion, countless unknown Dao fruits and Dao resonances burst forth, magnificent Dao resonance radiating light, beams of light transcending fate and the bonds of the great Dao of heaven and earth. At this moment, they suddenly collided, within which seemed to echo the sound of endless thunderclouds.

From within, Zhang Jian saw various kinds of Dao resonance—unique immortal light, divine light, demonic aura, Western Buddhist relic golden light, each displaying supernatural powers.

But it did not seem as if they were fighting.

Only seen: before the central seats, many immortals and gods seated near the upper places turned their gazes toward the Hall of Light Pavilion, their brow centers revealing threads of Dao seal immortal light, or Dao fruit symbols, yet they were fully focused, sensing and contemplating the collision of immortal light within the Hall of Light Pavilion.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian silently thought to himself.

"It seems this is also one of the appetizers of the Yaochi banquet!"

Zhang Jian silently thought, seeing before him one after another heavenly sovereigns, heavenly emperors, even actively setting aside their contemplation of Yaochi's heavenly and earthly treasures, directing their attention into the Hall of Light Pavilion.

Including the heavenly officials, imperial officials, and even the Black Dragon God's Spirit Marsh Dragon Lord beside him—Zhang Jian followed suit, directing his attention into the Hall of Light Pavilion.

Upon contact with the Earth Emperor's primordial spirit, Zhang Jian immediately felt his Dao heart violently tremble.

Only seen: deep within the 'Dao Resonance Lake' ahead, as if a hundred terrifying dragon serpents were constantly colliding and battling, stirring up ten-thousand-zhang Dao momentum like a heavenly flood.

Fortunately, this is not true combat—it should merely be pure Dao fruit collision, comparing one's transformation and cognition upon the Dao path.

Of course, such pure collision also reveals clear superiority and inferiority.

For example, the nine dragon shadows in the center and the countless phoenix cries filling the sky steadily occupy the lake's center; the immortals unite in force to oppose these two supreme beings, yet are found wanting. Countless peach blossoms and dragon patterns burst forth from the center, those petals and golden dragon patterns seeming to cover heaven and earth.

A single expanse of peach blossoms is enough to shroud myriad heavens and earths, to drown boundless Dao realms—truly awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Yet behind this seemingly, if one sets aside all distractions, one might perceive the countless mysterious traces of the intermediate Dao fruits.

The ancestral Qi Dao fruits were like eternal blazing suns, impossible for the great Dao of heaven and earth to erase, and they could freely shuttle between heaven and earth.

All the immortals understood the principle that those who learn from me live, those who imitate me die, so they dared not mimic the power of these Dao Lords' Dao fruits, merely contemplating purely the structure contained within the ancestral Qi Dao fruits and the operation of heavenly and earthly laws, even reaching the perspective of the Dao Lords.

Actually, for Zhang Jian, the most important thing was still learning to contemplate heaven and earth from the perspective of a Dao Lord.

The innate divine perspective was already extremely lofty, but Zhang Jian felt that the Dao Lord's perspective would be somewhat more unique.

Their use of the eternal immortal arts was nearly akin to the Dao.

Therefore, the eternal immortal arts could actually be called true Dao arts.

Containing the power of the great Dao.

At this moment, the Black Dragon God suddenly spoke: "The Jade Pool is about to open!"

"Zhang Daoist, get ready!"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred.

Only a moment later, an abrupt change occurred.

Zhang Jian clearly felt countless changes suddenly arise between heaven and earth.

Among those hundreds of terrifying auras, Zhang Jian sensed his own primordial spirit and Dao heart being involuntarily drawn in.

His Earth Emperor primordial spirit suddenly turned into a tiny little fish, darting in and out.

Not only him, Zhang Jian noticed many more tiny fish appearing in the depths of the Jade Pool, their bodies emitting bright spots of colored light.

The colored light spots varied in depth and intensity.

In the depths of the Jade Pool, waves surged tumultuously, and even more layers of magnificent divine light descended from the azure heavens, upon which a majestic voice sounded.

"Everyone, we still follow the old rule: in the Jade Pool, the last one standing is king, and the final remaining immortals and gods must surely be those possessing great fortune, great wisdom, great courage, or those skilled in slaughter.

The last ten remaining immortals, gods, and heavenly sovereigns will surely receive great rewards from this palace—either immortal offices, or great treasures, or heavenly and earthly rarities, or even this palace can grant them an additional condition; if unwilling to participate, they may withdraw on their own!"