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Chapter 89 The Peach Banquet, Guanyin's Journey to the West! (Please subscribe)

The Peach Banquet is held on the third day of the third lunar month!
On this day, the Jade Pool opened wide, and gods and immortals from all directions flocked to celebrate the Queen Mother's birthday.

Niu Jun rode the clouds to the fairy island of Yaochi.

Looking around, one could see the venue filled with fragrant incense, auspicious clouds, and rising ethereal mist.

Colorful ribbons adorn the fairy island, purple mist rises from the palaces and pavilions, phoenixes and luan birds sing in the sky, and golden flowers and jade calyxes float in the pond.

One after another, immortals and gods arrived from all directions, riding the clouds and mist, each with an excellent demeanor and an air of otherworldly grace.

Even more so, Bodhisattvas sit serenely on lotus thrones, and Arhats ride dragons and tigers, with the Buddha's light illuminating the entire world.

In comparison, Niu Jun, not dressed formally, looked somewhat less impressive.

"Yaochi!"

Before arriving at the floating island of Yaochi.

Looking at the grand spectacle of all the immortals, gods, and Buddhas gathered before him, Niu Jun smiled slightly and stepped into the Jade Pool.

It must be said that, in terms of sheer grandeur, even though Niu Jun had seen many grand occasions, he was still amazed by the magnificent and luxurious scene in Yaochi.

Above are arranged a nine-phoenix red-cloud screen, an eight-treasure purple-rainbow stool, a five-colored gold-painted table, and a thousand-flower jade basin.

On the table are dragon liver and phoenix marrow, bear paws and orangutan lips, and a hundred delicacies, all carefully prepared by the God of Food; there are jade dew and fine wines, and divine brews specially made by the God of Wine; there are also a hundred kinds of rare fruits, divine teas and candied fruits, etc., with fragrances wafting in the air.

"Your Excellency, please take your seat!"

The fairy maiden from Yaochi, who was in charge of receiving him, smiled and led Niu Jun to the seat on the Yaotai platform.

Niu Jun nodded with a smile and soon followed the female fairy to her seat.

At the Peach Banquet, the seating arrangement was clearly defined, forming a tiered structure.

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother sat at the head of the table.

Below are the seats for the Three Pure Ones and Four Emperors, the Five Elders of the Five Directions, the Eastern Emperor, the Emperor of Fengdu, Zhen Yuanzi, the Old Mother of Lishan, Doumu Yuanjun, the Demon Master Kunpeng, and other great supernatural beings of the Hunyuan Realm.

Then came the positions of immortals and gods such as Puhua Tianzun, Zhenwu Dadi, Wuyue Dadi, Lita Tianwang, the Four Heavenly Masters, and the Barefoot Immortal.

Finally, there was a group of immortals and gods from all corners of the world, some famous and some unknown.

Most of those who came to the gathering were Golden Immortals.

Those with lower cultivation levels are at least at the Xuanxian realm, and most of them are disciples of major sects and clans.

Niu Jun's rank was below that of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother.

He stood alongside the Three Pure Ones, the Four Emperors, the Five Elders of the Five Directions, and other powerful beings at the Primordial Chaos Realm.

Of course, those with great supernatural powers at the Primordial Realm, such as the Three Pure Ones, the Four Emperors, the Five Elders, and others, rarely come to the Peach Banquet.

Especially the Three Pure Ones, the Boundless Buddha, and so on.

Apart from the first Peach Banquet after the establishment of the Heavenly Court, no one else has ever come in their true form.

Therefore, although there are many Taiyi Realm experts in the Journey to the West world, very few of them actually come to participate in the Peach Banquet.

Only those who have just attained enlightenment, such as Niu Jun, or those who are not strong enough at the Hunyuan Realm, would come in their true form to participate, as a way of paying respects to the powerful figures.

Niu Jun glanced around and found that, including himself, there were only sixteen figures of Hunyuan Realm Great Divine Powers, and most of them were avatars or dharma bodies, with fewer than five people coming in their true forms.

Even the Jade Emperor, who sat on the high platform, did not come in his true form.

This shows just how undeserving the name of the Peach Banquet is.

"The Queen Mother of the West has arrived!!"

Not long after Niu Jun took his seat, the celestial officials announced his name.

A graceful, elegant, and majestic female immortal, surrounded by numerous other fairies, arrived at the Jade Pool.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Queen Mother, many immortals and deities rose to their feet and offered their praises: "Honoring the Supreme Holy White Jade Tortoise Platform, the Nine Spirits Supreme True Infinite Holy Mother, the Great Sage of Yaochi Western Queen Mother, the Supreme Pure Spirit Primordial Sovereign, the Great Heavenly Venerable Who Commands All Immortals!"

"No need for such formalities, fellow immortals!"

The Queen Mother nodded, sat at the head of the table, and smiled faintly: "There are many trivial matters at the Peach Banquet. As the host, it is truly inappropriate for me to be late. I hope all the immortals will forgive me!"

All the immortals and gods exclaimed that they dared not.

After the Queen Mother took her seat, her gaze immediately fell on Niu Jun, her eyes flickering slightly, and she praised, "This must be the Nine Heavens Profound Origin Mighty Myriad Laws Heavenly Venerable, indeed his cultivation is extraordinary!"

"Your Majesty flatters me!"

Niu Jun responded with a smile, his eyes reflecting her image.

The person before us is no mere figurehead, but a truly ancient and powerful being, who, like the Jade Emperor, has witnessed countless cataclysmic destructions of worlds.

Most importantly, the names of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother spread throughout the heavens and myriad realms.

Even if the person in front of him is just an incarnation of the real Queen Mother of the West, or even just a projection of her, he is still not someone he can afford to provoke.

"This is no compliment!"

The Queen Mother smiled faintly, a smile appearing on her face: "I have long heard of your reputation, Fellow Daoist. Meeting you today, I can confirm that you truly live up to it. It is a fortunate thing for the Heavenly Court to have you join us!"

"Thank you for your high regard, Your Majesty and Empress. I will live up to your expectations!"

Niu Jun bowed slightly and said.

Although he was merely a figurehead in Heaven, he was subject to orders but not summons.

But some polite words should definitely be said in a more pleasant way.

After all, these two people in front of him are his bosses who pay his salary.

"Very well!" Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor smiled and raised his wine cup: "All immortals, let us toast the Heavenly Venerable of Myriad Laws!"

"Homage to the Heavenly Venerable of All Laws!"

The Queen Mother and the Jade Emperor raised their cups together.

No one present dared to refuse, and they all raised their glasses to offer their congratulations.

Niu Jun picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp in response.

For a time, the atmosphere in the venue was harmonious, and the immortals and gods chatted happily.

"Play music and dance!"

As the banquet reached its climax, the Queen Mother smiled and ordered the female immortals of the Jade Terrace to play music and dance!

Zheng~zheng~
The zither resonated, celestial music began, and instantly, celestial mist filled the Jade Pool.

Several stunningly beautiful and elegantly dressed female immortals stepped out and began to dance gracefully. Their movements were like those of a startled swan, and their steps were like those of a treading wave. They seemed to be in harmony with the Great Dao, which attracted the attention of all the immortals and gods present. The noise in the arena immediately dissipated.

at the same time.

Fairy maidens walked before the many immortals and gods, offering them peaches of immortality.

Niu Jun could see clearly that in front of the many immortals and gods on the high seats, there was a purple peach, which must be the innate peach that "bears fruit once every nine thousand years".

Before the immortals and gods seated in the central seat was a golden peach, which, unsurprisingly, was the peach that "bears fruit only once every six thousand years."

Finally, before the many immortals from all corners of the world, there was a red and gold peach, naturally the peach that ripens only once every three thousand years.

With the appearance of the peaches.

Instantly, a wonderful fragrance filled the entire Jade Pool, causing the immortals who were watching the dance to shift their gaze from the graceful fairies to the peaches in front of them.

obviously.

We are all pragmatic people.

They valued natural treasures like peaches more than beautiful women.

Seeing this, the Queen Mother smiled gently and said, "All the immortals are eating the peaches of immortality to enhance their cultivation and prolong their lives!"

"Honoring the Supreme Sage White Jade Tortoise Platform, the Nine Spirits Supreme True Infinite Holy Mother, the Great Sage of Yaochi Western King Golden Mother, the Supreme Pure Spirit Primordial Sovereign, the Great Heavenly Venerable Who Commands All Immortals!" the immortals said in unison.

Click!

Niu Jun took a bite of the purple-gold peach.

The peaches melt in your mouth, bursting forth with pure, life-giving energy that permeates your entire body, cleansing your flesh and soul, and replenishing your vitality.

Furthermore, a complete power of the Water Element Law permeated his entire body, gentle to the extreme.

Even an ordinary person could easily refine it.

"No wonder these nine-thousand-year-old peaches can make people live as long as heaven and earth, and be the same age as the sun and moon."

"It turns out that the peaches of immortality contain a complete law of water, and mortals who eat them can directly become immortals."

"The physical body and soul of a Xuanxian have been completely transformed by the laws, so they can naturally live as long as heaven and earth and be as old as the sun and moon."

After Niu Jun ate a purple-gold peach, he immediately understood the mystery of this peach.

Three thousand years old peaches, six thousand years old peaches, nine thousand years old peaches.

The reason why these three types of flat peaches are different is...

This is likely due to the difference in the completeness of the laws governing the peaches.

However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. If one were to truly become an immortal by eating peaches of immortality, one would inevitably follow in Nezha's footsteps and have no hope of achieving the Great Dao.

wrong.

The immortals created by the peaches of immortality are completely incomparable to Nezha.

No matter how difficult Nezha's path was, his lotus root body was still part of his innate spiritual root, giving him the cultivation and combat power of a Golden Immortal. And the immortals created by the peaches of immortality...

Even a Xuanxian created from a peach of immortality that has been ripened over nine thousand years.

In front of Nezha, he was nothing more than a slightly larger ant, which could be destroyed with a flick of his finger.

……

The Peach Banquet at Yaochi is very lively.

Celestial musicians played instruments and sang, while celestial maidens from the Jade Pool danced gracefully.

The immortals toasted each other, sharing anecdotes from the Three Realms, their laughter filling the air with joy.

Later in the banquet, there were many more events, including a competition among the younger generation, performances by immortals, and sermons by great masters.

The event was full of wonderful performances and laughter.

The entire Peach Banquet lasted for nine days.

The song ends and everyone disperses.

All the immortals returned to their palaces.

"Please, Venerable Ten Thousand Laws, wait!"

As soon as Niu Jun left Yaochi, he heard a compassionate voice behind him.

The one who spoke was none other than the Greatly Compassionate and Merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva, who saves people from suffering and distress.

"I have seen Guanyin Bodhisattva. May I ask why the Bodhisattva has addressed me?"

Looking at the tall, dignified white-robed bodhisattva before him, with a halo of merit emanating from the back of his head and holding a jade vase in one hand, Niu Jun looked puzzled.

He asked himself if he had been honest and law-abiding since his transmigration, and had no contact with the Buddhist sect of Lingshan.

But somehow they attracted the attention of Guanyin, the great Bodhisattva of the Lingshan Buddhist sect.

After all, this legendary Bodhisattva is a truly ancient being.

She attained enlightenment much earlier than the present Buddha, and although she only holds the rank of Bodhisattva in the Buddhist community of Vulture Peak, anyone who actually regards her as a Bodhisattva in Buddhism would not even know how they died.

It should be noted that among the Five Elders appointed by the Heavenly Court, there is this Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who is compassionate, merciful, and savior from suffering, whose celestial rank is equal to that of the World-Honored One, Tathagata.

This only reveals the extent of Guanyin Bodhisattva's power and status.

"This humble monk greets the Venerable One of Ten Thousand Laws!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva, her eyes filled with compassion, slowly offered a half-bowing.

Niu Jun returned the greeting and asked calmly, "Bodhisattva Guanyin, you are too kind. Is there something you wish to instruct me on, Bodhisattva?"

"The Celestial Venerable has misunderstood!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva smiled and said, "This humble monk has long admired the Heavenly Venerable. It is a rare opportunity to meet you, so I am overjoyed. I would like to invite you to the South China Sea to enjoy tea and discuss the Dao. I wonder what the Heavenly Venerable thinks?"

"It's my wish, but I don't dare to ask for my ear!"

Niu Jun nodded and readily agreed.

Although he didn't have a good impression of the Buddhist monks in the Journey to the West world.

However, I have little ill will towards this compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Therefore, Niu Jun readily agreed to Guanyin Bodhisattva's invitation.

Furthermore, he had many questions in his mind that he wanted to find an ancient person to answer, and since he had the rare opportunity to be invited by Guanyin, he naturally would not miss it.

……

South China Sea, Purple Bamboo Forest!

After they were both seated, a dragon maiden quickly served them tea.

Guanyin paused for a moment, then asked with a smile, "Does the Heavenly Venerable know about the Journey to the West?"

"I know a little bit, but not much. I hope the Bodhisattva can enlighten me."

Niu Jun nodded and answered truthfully.

Just as he said.

Although I had read the original Journey to the West in my previous life, and had also watched many films, TV series and novels based on the Journey to the West, as well as read explanations from marketing accounts, etc.

However, Niu Jun still only had a superficial understanding of Journey to the West, and many doubts remained in his heart.

Or perhaps he had too many questions about this world of Journey to the West and needed an ancient being to explain them to him.

Guanyin Bodhisattva's smile remained unchanged as she calmly said, "You should know, Heavenly Venerable, that this world was created by the Supreme Dao Ancestor. After creating heaven and earth, the Dao Ancestor first clarified Yin and Yang, and then spread the Dao to heaven and earth."

"When this world is stable, one will merge with the Great Dao, and thus the Heavenly Dao will be born!"

"This Journey to the West was decided before the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao, and it should be the general trend of the Heavenly Dao!"

Guanyin Bodhisattva spoke eloquently, recounting the origins of the Journey to the West.

The reason for this is not a conflict between Buddhism and Taoism, nor is it a joint effort by the Heavenly Court, the Buddhist sect, the Taoist sect, and other major forces to seize the human fortune of the Earthly Immortal Realm. Rather, it was established before the Supreme Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao, and it is the true trend of the Heavenly Dao.

The underlying meaning is that anyone who dares to disrupt the Journey to the West is going against the will of Heaven and going against destiny.

As the saying goes: Even divine power cannot overcome destiny!
Unless you can truly stand against the entire world.

Otherwise, according to the will of Heaven, they will surely perish and vanish like smoke.

Niu Jun nodded, indicating that he understood.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "May I ask, Bodhisattva, how does the Supreme Dao Ancestor compare to the Great Heavenly Venerable?"

The Supreme Dao Ancestor created heaven and earth and established the great order of the heavens.

However, the Jade Emperor, who has undergone 1,700 tribulations, each lasting 129,600 years, is not someone to be trifled with.

Niu Jun asked this question in order to verify whether a certain guess in his mind was correct.

Guanyin was clearly surprised that Niu Jun would ask such a question. She paused for a moment, then carefully said, "The Great Heavenly Venerable is indeed boundless in his magical power, but the Great Heavenly Venerable of this world is below the Heavenly Dao."

Upon hearing this, Niu Jun understood.

understood!

In this world, the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Venerable, is subordinate to the Supreme Dao Ancestor, who is the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao.

It means there are other supreme beings from other worlds!

Or, to put it another way, the Jade Emperor in the Journey to the West world today is merely an incarnation or manifestation of the Jade Emperor from beyond the realm, and his true form has not entered the Journey to the West world.

And so on.

The true form of the Jade Emperor did not enter the Journey to the West world.

What about the Queen Mother of the West?

And what about the great supernatural beings like Yuanshi Tianzun, Tongtian Jiaozhu, Wuliang Fo, Siyu Wulao, Doumu Yuanjun, and Yaoshi Kunpeng? Did they also only have one incarnation or manifestation that entered this world?

Is even the Guanyin Bodhisattva before us just an incarnation?
But this is understandable.

Harmfulness is not allowed, and defensiveness is indispensable.

Even if the many powerful beings in the Journey to the West universe cooperate sincerely to find the path to transcendence, none of them would be foolish enough to enter someone else's Dao Fruit universe.

Or rather, even if the Supreme Dao Ancestor were extremely arrogant, he wouldn't dare to let so many powerful beings enter his Dao Fruit Universe.

Each great master only needs to send out an avatar; even if the avatar perishes, it will not affect the original master.

Upon considering this, Niu Jun suddenly thought of a possibility and asked in a deep voice, "Then may I ask the Bodhisattva, once this world ends at Hai hour, all things perish, and immeasurable calamities erupt, what will become of us Hunyuan Realm cultivators?"

But then a possibility suddenly occurred to him.

Heaven created all things and gave them to humankind; humankind then takes itself in relation to Heaven.

Once the immeasurable calamity erupts, it will be the time for the Heavenly Dao to reap the rewards of all living beings.

Would the Supreme Dao Ancestor really let these Primordial Taiyi Realm cultivators leave?
Especially the Hunyuan Taiyi Realm, which was born in the Journey to the West world.

Each of them is the most fragrant fruit nurtured by this world, the greatest crystallization of the Supreme Dao Ancestor's own will. Letting these Hunyuan Taiyi Realm cultivators leave, he did not hesitate to directly split himself and sever his own will.

Anyway, even if Niu Jun were the Supreme Lord, he wouldn't let these Hunyuan Taiyi Realm cultivators go free.

Just as he could not allow any being in his Dao Fruit Universe to transcend the Dao Fruit Universe and leave, escaping his control.

It's not that it's cruel.

Rather, the causal relationships between them are too deep, and a slight misstep could lead to a backlash.

People like the three brothers of Hongmeng are ultimately a very small minority.

More often than not, it's like the Heavenly Dao in the Tomb of the Gods world—grabbing everything at once and refining it all.

Upon hearing this, Guanyin Bodhisattva gave Niu Jun a meaningful look and said with a smile, "The Great Dao is fifty, and the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine. All things have a glimmer of hope, and the same is true for countless eons!"

The meaning is very simple.

There is indeed a chance to break free.

Whether you can seize the opportunity depends on your ability.

(End of this chapter)