The unexpected truce with the hiker, whom Li Wei had once seen as a mocking rival, had left him with a quiet sense of victory, not in combat but in understanding. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his trials. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a celebratory yet enigmatic challenge: "The Immortal Banquet, where the cultivator feasts with the spirits, sharing the bounty of the Dao to honor the path."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, immortal banquets were lavish gatherings—celestial feasts where cultivators dined with gods or ancient masters, their meals infused with spiritual essence to enhance qi. The scroll's description was less grandiose but equally compelling: "Gather the earth's gifts, offer them to the heavens, and partake in communion with the Dao. The feast purifies the spirit, but greed clouds the heart." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, saw this as a chance to celebrate his progress and deepen his connection to the valley's energy. His body, weakened by hunger, fever, and the recent wound from the deer horde, ached, but the scroll's promise of a spiritual feast fueled his determination.
The valley's lush flora seemed the perfect source for such a banquet. Li Wei resolved to gather its bounty—moon berries, golden ferns, and the sweet water of the shimmering pool—to create a meal worthy of the immortals. With Azure Dragon limping at his side, he foraged through the valley, his senses attuned to the plants that glowed faintly in the twilight. He collected a handful of moon berries, their luminescent skins pulsing like tiny stars, and plucked golden ferns, their tips radiant with what he believed was spiritual essence. He also found wild mushrooms, their earthy scent mingling with the valley's mist, which he hoped would add depth to the feast. The scroll emphasized reverence, so Li Wei treated each item as a sacred offering, whispering thanks to the valley's spirits.
Back at his altar, Li Wei prepared the banquet with care, using his battered tin pot to boil the valley's water, into which he added the berries, ferns, and mushrooms. The scroll suggested "offering the feast to the heavens," so he arranged a small portion on a flat stone, placing it at the altar's center alongside the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet. The glowing blossoms of the ancient tree cast a soft light, as if the valley itself was joining the celebration. Azure Dragon watched, tail wagging, his nose twitching at the sweet aroma rising from the pot. Li Wei chanted the scroll's incantations, visualizing his qi infusing the meal, his Golden Core pulsing to honor the Dao.
As night fell, the valley cloaked in starlight, Li Wei began the feast. He sipped the broth, its taste a strange blend of sweetness from the berries, earthiness from the mushrooms, and a bitter tang from the ferns. The warmth in his dantian surged, and he imagined the spirits of ancient cultivators dining with him, their qi mingling with his own. He ate slowly, savoring each bite, visualizing his Nascent Soul glowing brighter with each swallow. The scroll had warned against greed, so he shared a small portion with Azure Dragon, who lapped it up eagerly, his tail wagging furiously. For a moment, Li Wei felt a profound connection—not just to the valley, but to the timeless path of the Dao, as if the immortals themselves were present.
The effects were subtle but powerful. The warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, clearer, as if the feast had purified his qi. No visions came—no radiant figures or cosmic fireworks—but a quiet joy settled over him, a sense of communion with the valley's spirits. His fever, ever-present, seemed to ease slightly, though his body ached from the strain of foraging. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Immortal Banquet held. Earth's bounty shared, qi purified. Spirits honored, path celebrated." The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, their murmurs blending with the night breeze.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the banquet, describing the glowing berries and the valley's sacred aura. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine feast," urging him to refine the recipe into an elixir. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, praised his reverence but warned: "The body needs mortal food too." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, inspired, shared their own rituals, though their debates hinted at ongoing tensions. Li Wei hid the lingering pain in his body, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the altar, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Immortal Banquet strengthened the spirit, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's glowing blossoms seemed to nod in approval, their light a beacon of his progress. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready to face the next challenge, his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as testaments to his unyielding pursuit of immortality, one sacred feast at a time.