Daojun, start from Penglai foundation building

Beneath the immortal tree, heroes vie for supremacy; atop the banyan tree, they contend for fruit.

On the immortal banyan tree, on its thousands of wide, interconnected branches, a group of prodigies have begun a fierce battle over the banyan fruits.

One could see the banyan fruits hanging quietly on the branches, their bodies a pale golden color, shimmering with starlight, with chaotic and colorful patterns flowing on them, vaguely revealing various strange phenomena.

That is the majestic Kunlun and Buzhou Mountains, that is countless birds and beasts, that is the magnificent Jade Pool and Jade Terrace, that is the vast expanse of starry sky...

This is the Banyan Fruit, also known as the Immortal Fruit, which can revive the dead, restore the body to its original state, unite prosperity and decay, and allow one to comprehend the way of life and death and to comprehend the source of all immortals.

At this moment, although there were 108 fruits hanging high on the Banyan Tree, the competitors were fighting endlessly around the outer ring of fruits.

It's not that the banyan fruits inside are untouched, but rather that they are still shrouded in a dazzling light and cannot be picked.

If someone were to look from a high vantage point, they would see that the 108 Banyan Fruits on the Banyan Immortal Tree are distributed in three layers, with the outermost layer containing the most, totaling 72 fruits. Each fruit is about the size of a fist, and countless spiritual traces of laws surround it, making it shine like the morning stars.

These seventy-two banyan fruits adorn the outermost edge of the banyan tree's canopy, resembling seventy-two celestial stars surrounding the tree. These are the fruits that the group of prodigies are currently vying for.

In the center of the banyan tree's canopy, surrounded by seventy-two banyan fruits, are twenty-four banyan fruits the size of melons and gourds. These banyan fruits are also entwined with Dao traces and spiritual patterns, manifesting various laws and phenomena. One can see that silvery-white moonlight flows around them, and their radiance is as bright as the moon.

These twenty-four moon-shaped banyan fruits were not the largest. In the core area of ​​the banyan immortal tree's canopy, surrounded by the seventy-two stars and twenty-four silver moons, were twelve banyan fruits that shone brightly, as radiant as the golden sun. The radiance of these banyan fruits illuminated thousands of miles, with starlight, moonlight, and golden brilliance swirling around them. There were also strange phenomena of ten thousand immortals paying homage and the cycle of life and death, prosperity and decline. It was truly a magnificent and extraordinary sight.

There are seventy-two outer fruits, twenty-four middle fruits, and twelve inner fruits, each layer distinct. Various unusual phenomena also differentiate their ranks. Which immortal fruit one should compete for to pass the test depends entirely on the individual.

The reason why the competition among the seventy-two Morning Star Banyan Fruits on the outer perimeter was so fierce was that the geniuses from all sides knew that the Moon Fruits and even the Sun Fruits were simply beyond their reach.

That is where the Mahayana Realm experts at the peak of the ninth realm of cultivation fight, and it is also where the Daoists from various holy lands and the luck-bearers who possess the fortune of a world compete in their luck and supernatural powers.

Inside the Lingxiao Palace of the Dou Niu Palace, the Lord of Kunlun, the former Golden Mother Yuanjun, and now the Queen Mother of Yaochi, is smiling as she watches the various races' prodigies compete on the Banyan Tree of Immortality.

"Seventy-two on the outside, twenty-four in the middle, and twelve on the inside, totaling one hundred and eight fruits, are both a test of supernatural powers and a test of one's moral character."

"Do what you are capable of. If you are clearly not strong enough but still greedy, then it is only natural that you will fail."

"However, this trial is not a matter of life or death. All the losers will be protected by the banyan tree and leave safely."

Listening to the Golden Mother's eloquent speech, all the immortals, Buddhas, and deities nodded in agreement:
First, they used the collection of celestial fruits as an entrance fee to test their competitive spirit and unwavering determination; then, they differentiated the fruits into three grades and three types to see if greed would sway their Dao hearts and taint their spiritual clarity when faced with enormous profits; each test was interconnected, and the entire process was protected by a pure Yang-level Panrong Immortal Tree, ensuring that these talented Daoists from all the heavens and myriad realms would not perish, and would still have a chance to obtain the Panrong Fruit…

The test was designed by the Golden Mother Goddess with utmost care, serving both as a test and a means of protection, and truly satisfying all parties involved.

Maitreya Bodhisattva laughed and said, "The obstacles set up by the Queen Mother of the West are truly extraordinary, embodying great compassion and wisdom."

The Golden Mother Yuanjun smiled calmly, seemingly quite pleased with herself.

Qiongyun Daojun looked left and right, then asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist Queen Mother, how many of these 108 banyan fruits are pure yang banyan fruits nurtured by this ancestral tree?"

There are many immortal banyan trees, but there is only one ancestral tree in Kunlun, located in the Yaotai of Kunlun Mountain, which is the landmark of the place where the Golden Mother Yuanjun attained enlightenment.

This immortal banyan tree possesses the pure Yang rank and is the root of all immortal banyan trees in the myriad realms. The banyan fruit it nurtures is the pure Yang banyan fruit.

The fruits produced by other immortal banyan trees, no matter how high their grade, can never reach the level of the fruits born from the ancestral tree.

However, there is only one ancestral tree of the Banyan Immortal Tree. Even if it nurtures itself for thousands of years, it may not bear a single fruit. When it will bloom, when it will bear fruit, and when it will ripen all depend on the mood of this ancestral tree, and the Golden Mother Goddess will not care much.

Therefore, the Banyan Fruit circulating in the myriad realms is mostly the fruit nurtured by the seed plants. These seed plants are differentiated according to their quality, ranging from those that flower once every thousand years, bear fruit once every thousand years, and mature once every thousand years, to those that flower once every two thousand years, and then to those that flower once every three thousand years.

It takes three thousand years to mature, and the star fruit is surrounded by star marks; it takes six thousand years to mature, and the moon fruit is surrounded by moon marks; and the sun fruit takes nine thousand years to mature, and is shrouded in celestial mist and golden light.

What Qiongyun Daojun was curious about was whether any of the 108 Banyan Fruits were Pure Yang Fruits nurtured by the Ancestral Tree.

As soon as Qiongyun Daojun asked this question, it received the support of many immortals, Buddhas, and saints. It seemed that the Chunyang people were also curious whether Jinmu Yuanjun had taken out the fruit of the ancestral tree.

Faced with the curiosity of the Pure Yang beings, Jinmu Yuanjun said helplessly, "When the Ancestral Tree blossoms and bears fruit depends entirely on its mood. The Pure Yang Fruit is even more difficult to preserve. Even if I take it out, once it falls onto the Ancestral Tree, it will leave me to its own devices."

"However, I am not afraid to tell you fellow Daoists that of the 108 Banyan Fruits, 72 Star Fruits, 24 Moon Fruits, and 12 Sun Fruits that I have taken out this time, I do not know whether the Ancestral Tree itself has replaced one or two of them."

Having said that, the Golden Mother Goddess said no more, but simply savored the jade liquor, while the assembled immortals, Buddhas, and saints seemed to be deep in thought: Judging from the Golden Mother Goddess's words, there might be one or two true pure yang fruits hidden among these one hundred and eight fruits!

For a moment, the powerful Pure Yang cultivators felt a pang of envy towards the younger generation still battling in the Banyan Garden: the Pure Yang Immortal Fruit nurtured by the ancestral Banyan Immortal Tree—such an opportunity was truly enviable for these juniors…

...

On the immortal banyan tree, geniuses from all sides engaged in continuous battles. Some acquaintances had already chosen to join forces, while others, confident in their supernatural abilities, charged recklessly. As these geniuses competed for supremacy, their true strengths were revealed through a display of their supernatural powers. At this moment, the contest of the Fruition Law Banquet finally became truly exciting.

"You old scoundrel! Get out of here!"

"Hand over the banyan fruit!"

The roar was like thunder, and a burly figure shrouded in lightning could be seen moving like a raging thunderbolt, chasing after a figure as ethereal as the wind.

The figure ran while constantly looking back: "Stop chasing me! Stop chasing me! Why are you fighting with me for a fruit that looks like it's three thousand years old?"

"Look inside, these are all fruits that are at least six thousand years old, and some are even nine thousand years old. With your thunder magic and supernatural powers, why don't you compete with those geniuses and Daoists from the holy lands for a ranking, instead of making things difficult for this old man?"

Despite his earnest and heartfelt persuasion, Lei Guang behind him turned a deaf ear: "Old thief, stop talking nonsense. If you don't hand over the fruit, when I catch up with you, see if my iron hands won't squeeze the shit out of you!"

Clearly, the burly man amidst the surging lightning was in a state of rage and no longer cared about anything else.

Seeing this scene, the old man withered and aged, who was being chased, felt helpless. The barbarian Lei behind him was too reckless and as stubborn as an ox. He couldn't understand any good advice. How did such a brute manage to get through this level?

The withered old man was unaware that the creature relentlessly pursuing him was indeed an ox. On another branch, as thick as a thousand miles, the demon lord Yingtian had just plucked a star fruit.

As a renowned figure throughout the myriad realms, Ying Tian Demon Lord's performance in this Fruit-Ranking Banquet was truly outstanding. Faced with such a powerful figure, naturally no one dared to compete with him for a mere Star Fruit.

Firstly, those who compete for the Star Fruit are basically no match for Yingtian Demon Lord, while those who can defeat Yingtian Demon Lord disdain the Star Fruit. Therefore, Yingtian Demon Lord was able to calmly pluck the fruit as proof of passing the test.

Just as Yingtian Demon Lord picked the fruit, a thunderous roar was heard, followed by a vast expanse of raging lightning. Gazing at the imposing figure that was rampaging and sweeping across three thousand miles of lightning waterfall, Yingtian Demon Lord couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "That's... Kui Fang from Jilei Mountain? Who has angered this brute?"

Jieji Leishan in Jurong is a sacred site of thunder magic and also the ancestral home of the Kui Niu.

Even in Jilei Mountain, Kui Fang was known for his recklessness and straightforwardness. His thunder magic was unrestrained, rough, and ferocious, and his thick skin made him a formidable opponent. Anyone who crossed him would have a headache.

The old man withered years didn't know Kui Fang, but he now knew he had messed with the wrong person, and he couldn't help but secretly lament: I should have known better than to provoke this Lei Mangzi.

At this moment, the withered old man had no time to regret it. Looking at the rampaging demon lord Kui Fang behind him, the withered old man raised his finger and a beam of mysterious light shot out.

"A thousand years of flourishing and decay, a mysterious light that extinguishes the soul!"

The beam of light, signifying withering and flourishing, rushed straight towards Kui Fang, leaving everything along its path withered, decayed, and lifeless, demonstrating the power of the Law of Withering and Flourishing.

Faced with this beam of light, Kui Fang neither dodged nor avoided it. His body crackled with lightning, transforming into a thick, scorching lightning armor that covered his entire body. Kui Fang propelled himself forward on the branches of the Banyan Tree, and as the surging lightning roared, a thousand-foot-tall thunder bull dharma image vaguely formed behind him.

The old man withered and aged should have kept quiet until he saw it, at which point his heart skipped a beat: "The Kui Niu Dharma Image of Jilei Mountain? You're from Jilei Mountain?"

"No! You're that brute Kui Fang!"

The withered old man finally realized who was chasing him, but it was too late. Kui Fang roared and smashed through layers of space. The beam of withered and flourishing light that landed on him only shaved off half of his thick lightning armor, without harming Kui Fang's true body.

But at this moment, the withered old man didn't have time to unleash a second beam of withered glory, because Kui Fang had already smashed through space and rushed in front of him.

Gazing at the towering figure, crackling with lightning and shimmering with energy, the withered old man felt a chill run down his spine. Just as he was about to speak, a massive iron hand, as large as a door panel, swept across and gripped him tightly. Instantly, thunder and lightning surged, causing the withered old man's entire body to go numb. His magical power was unable to gather under the stimulation of the lightning penetrating his body. At this moment, the withered old man was truly like an old, powerless man, without any strength to resist.

Kui Fang grinned, his front teeth gleaming with lightning: "I told you, if I catch you, I'll squeeze the shit out of you!"

Having said that, Kui Fang clasped his hands together and, with the powerful force of the bull, squeezed them tightly!
Watching this scene from afar, the Demon Lord Yingtian frowned and said, "That withered old man, why did he provoke this thunderous brat? Now look what's happened, he ruined our sure passage."

This scene was also witnessed by other observant people. Looking at Kui Fang, who exuded the rough and barbaric style of the demon race, everyone shook their heads. It wasn't worth it to compete with such a reckless brute...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the branches, the Golden Lion Demon Lord and the White Armor Demon Lord were working together to pick the second star fruit.

Faced with the combined might of two fifth-level demons, those around them dared not speak out in anger.

The White-Armored Demon Lord possesses formidable defense, unfazed by swords, spears, halberds, wind, thunder, water, or fire. Even when facing the Golden-Haired Hou in the third level, his defense remained unbroken, making him arguably the best in defense.

The Golden Lion Demon Lord possesses formidable supernatural powers and extraordinary skills. With his golden flames, he can burn all things, and with his golden bow, he can shoot down the sun and moon.

Faced with the tacit cooperation of these two, one offensive and one defensive, no one wanted to provoke them. After all, there were still many Banyan Fruits to be had, and there was no need to make things difficult for the strong. It would be better to use this time to pick on the weak.

Soft persimmons are not only easy to handle, but also sweet and not gritty...

At the same time, Spring and Autumn God, Hundred Flowers True Lord, Heavenly Fortune God, and True Light Fairy also each found a Star Fruit and picked it. The opponents they encountered were not particularly strong, and after a brief contest, knowing they could not win, they retreated to find fruits elsewhere.

After all, there are 108 fruits on the banyan tree, including 72 star fruits. There is no need to fixate on one place. Only a few people like Zhen Kuifang are so fixated on one person.

As each Star Fruit found its owner, and half of the Star Fruits were claimed by the various prodigies, an invisible ripple swept through the entire Banyan Garden, invigorating all the prodigies and disciples. Whether they were the prodigies vying for the Star Fruits or the powerful figures patiently waiting, they all looked towards the central area of ​​the Banyan Tree's canopy. There, twenty-four beams of moonlight shattered the radiance protecting the Moon Fruits.

In an instant, an indescribable fragrance spread, and the moon fruit became a prize to be fought over!
In an instant, Bai Ming Demon Lord soared into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he rushed toward a moon fruit. His innate divine divine form, the Chongming Bird, manifested, its bright daylight radiating in all directions, causing the various races' prodigies who were fighting along the way to retreat.

Then, Venerable Miyin and Venerable Mijian left together. These two Venerables of the Lapis Lazuli Path from the Floating Pagoda Realm were clearly joining forces to compete for the two Moon Fruits.

Seeing this, Demon Lord Qingyu looked at Venerable Pushe and asked, "Venerable, Miyin and Mijian from Futu Temple have gone to compete for the Moon Fruit. Aren't the two from Shaoguang Realm going to set off yet?"

Venerable Pushe looked at Putai and Puhua beside him, and then laughed, "Our Shaoguang Realm and the Futu Realm have no competitive relationship. What does it have to do with us if Miyin and Mijian set off?"

"However, the Demon Lord's reminder is also true. There are only twenty-four Moon Fruits. If we don't compete for them, it will only make our Light Realm look weak. Junior Brother Putai and Junior Brother Puhua, what do you two think?"

Venerable Putai smiled, with a hint of arrogance: "It's just a moon fruit, no need for you to take action, senior brother. Puhua and I can take it back ourselves."

Pu Hua also said, "Two moon fruits are nothing more than a matter of a little effort."

Before he finished speaking, Venerable Puhua took a step forward, and as the lotus blossomed, he vanished without a trace.

Immediately afterwards, Venerable Putai chanted a Buddhist mantra, raised his finger and pointed, causing the void to ripple like water. He stepped into the ripples and instantly appeared on the canopy of the Banyan Immortal Tree.

At this moment, the sound of Buddhist chanting resounded, and two Buddhist images manifested:
"Pure Lotus - Observing the Waves and Listening to the Tide!"

"Bright light, universal salvation, and radiant light!"

Venerable Pushe looked at the canopy of the Banyan Immortal Tree and smiled calmly: "I have no intention of concerning myself with the others, but of these twenty-four Moon Fruits, my Shaoguang Realm must take two of them."

Qingyu Demon Lord glanced around. The great Mahayana level beings, including Liuyuan Emperor, Fuyun Immortal Lord, Wangsheng Mingwang, Xingyue Venerable, and Tianyun Emperor, had not yet set off, while Jiang Sheng and Fahui, the two prominent figures of the Eastern Heaven Taoism and Western Heaven Buddhism, remained unmoved.

And they knew that their target, Qingyu Demon Lord, must be the unborn Riguo.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on the lips of Demon Lord Qingyu: This is going to be quite a show... (End of Chapter)