"Is this the third level of the Immortal Mansion?"
Zhang Fan stood in the center of a garden, looking at the exotic flowers and plants growing around him and inhaling the refreshing floral scent in the air, he couldn't help but be taken aback.
He hadn't expected that the third level of the Immortal Mansion would be completely different from the previous two. The first and second levels were merely two somewhat spacious halls, while the third level was a garden filled with various spirit flowers.
Within the garden, a group of strange small birds darted about, chirping noisily.
"Are those Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots?"
Zhang Fan stared at the flock of small birds darting around the garden above his head. The birds were only palm-sized, their bodies a vibrant array of colors, and their beaks were long and slender, nearly half the length of their bodies, appearing extremely peculiar.
Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots were considered a relatively rare species of bird. Where they gathered, rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures, as well as spiritual medicines, were sure to be found.
Although Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots were gentle by nature, anyone who dared to touch the spirit medicines they guarded would inevitably face the most ferocious attack from the flock.
In terms of individual combat power, Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots were not particularly strong. An adult Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot was only comparable to an ordinary second-rate, high-grade Golden Core cultivator, at the same level as Dao Venerable and others. Only the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King among them possessed combat power even greater than that of a typical Heavenly Ranking expert.
Of course, to True Immortal Zi Wu, these Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots were no different from ordinary small birds; no matter how numerous they were, he could kill them all with a single palm strike.
Zhang Fan scanned his surroundings and observed carefully. He noticed that the exotic flowers and plants cultivated in the garden were all rare spirit flowers.
Their lowest grade was Earth-grade spirit flowers, and even then, they were the most prized among Earth-grade spirit flowers. The vast majority were Heaven-grade spirit flowers. He surmised that with True Immortal Zi Wu's discerning eye, these spirit flowers were likely deemed unworthy, hence they were left here.
In the center of the garden, there was a circular pond with a diameter of nine Zhang. A faint mist permeated the water's surface. Within the mist, Zhang Fan saw a pure white flower.
The flower floated on the water, its leaves full and plump, with nine petals in total. It was enveloped in a hazy, silvery white light, and a faint fragrance wafted from it.
"Zi Wu Yuan Fruit's companion flower!"
Zhang Fan whispered softly, a tremor of excitement rising in his heart.
Zhang Fan's gaze moved upwards. Directly above the pond, a fruit as white as jade floated, with mist gathering around it and slowly being absorbed by the fruit.
"This is the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit."
"After consuming it, even if you have already condensed a Golden Core, you will be able to inscribe three more Golden Core Dao patterns upon it," the Golden Light Artifact Spirit said with a hint of pride, staring at the fruit as white as jade.
Zhang Fan nodded slightly. He understood the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit even better than the Golden Light Artifact Spirit.
"With your talent, you are naturally qualified to receive the opportunities left by the master. However, I must remind you that the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit is extremely precious, and even Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortals covet it greatly. You should refine it completely within the Immortal Mansion to enhance your strength," the Golden Light Artifact Spirit said solemnly.
Although consuming the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit held little significance for a Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortal, it could fetch a sky-high price at auction.
This was precisely Zhang Fan's intention. The Immortal Mansion was filled with abundant spiritual energy, far more potent than the outside world. Moreover, his current strength had reached a bottleneck, and he could only advance further by condensing a Golden Core. Upon obtaining the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit, he would refine it immediately within the Immortal Mansion to condense his Golden Core.
With a single step, Zhang Fan appeared beside the pond. Just as he was about to step into the pond to retrieve the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit, Zhang Fan suddenly felt a powerful threat approaching.
"Riiip!"
A palm-sized Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot attacked Zhang Fan with extreme speed, as if it had surpassed space, instantly appearing before him. Zhang Fan, unable to dodge, felt the sharp beak strike his body…
Boom!
The palm-sized Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot actually sent Zhang Fan, whose divine body had fully reached minor completion, flying backward. On his chest, there was a finger-sized bloody hole.
After steadying himself, Zhang Fan saw clearly that the small bird that had sent him flying was a Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot with a body covered in colorful patterns. Its size was considerably larger than that of ordinary five-colored Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots.
This made Zhang Fan realize that this seven-colored Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot was likely the leader of this flock, the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King.
The normally gentle eyes of the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King now flickered with ferocity. The flock of Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots flying in the sky above the garden sensed it as well. They all flew to the rear of the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King, staring at Zhang Fan with fierce eyes and chirping noisily, as if only waiting for a command to tear Zhang Fan to shreds.
"Alright, you little fellows, disperse."
The Golden Light Artifact Spirit appeared beside Zhang Fan and waved a hand at the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King, saying.
Upon seeing the Golden Light Artifact Spirit, the ferocity in the eyes of the flock of Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots slowly receded. They then dispersed, scattering to various parts of the garden.
"This Zi Wu Yuan Fruit has always been guarded by the Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrot King. If you wish to collect it, it naturally won't agree," the artifact spirit said with a chuckle.
Zhang Fan cast a helpless glance at the artifact spirit. He realized he had been tricked by this Golden Light Artifact Spirit. Fortunately, his physical body was strong, and he had only sustained minor injuries. In just a few short breaths, the small blood hole on his chest had almost healed.
"To collect the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit without hindrance, you need to refine the Immortal Mansion and become its master. At that point, this flock of Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots will also be under your control and will naturally not obstruct you."
The Golden Light Artifact Spirit casually tossed a bead emitting a dazzling golden light towards Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan snatched it and held it in his hand. A cool sensation emanated from the golden bead, spreading throughout Zhang Fan's body, making his will tremble slightly.
Having obtained the core that controlled the Immortal Mansion, Zhang Fan began the path of refinement.
This Immortal Mansion was a high-grade heavenly treasure, something that most Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortals did not possess. It was only after Zi Wu cultivated into a True Immortal that he dared to be so extravagant as to casually place one on Earth.
Although Zhang Fan had not yet condensed a Golden Core, he had inscribed nine Golden Core Dao patterns. The purity of his magic power was higher than that of ordinary Golden Core realm cultivators. Refining a high-grade heavenly treasure for him was merely a matter of time and not troublesome.
Casually sitting cross-legged by the pond, he gently inhaled the air filled with the fragrance of spirit flowers, the calls of Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots occasionally reaching his ears. Zhang Fan soon entered a state of focus.
With Zhang Fan's current strength, refining a high-grade heavenly treasure using the normal method of slowly eroding the Immortal Mansion's core with magic power would likely take at least a year and a half.
However, he was fortunate to know several special refining methods, and the Golden Light Artifact Spirit was also very cooperative, allowing Zhang Fan to save a considerable amount of time.
After meditating cross-legged in the garden for over a month, when he stood up again, he found that the entire Immortal Mansion had become different.
He could go anywhere within the Immortal Mansion, he could take any treasure within the Immortal Mansion, and even the flock of Rainbow-Eyed Sky Parrots had become much more affectionate towards Zhang Fan.
"It's time to collect the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit."
Zhang Fan's gaze fell upon the Zi Wu Yuan Fruit floating above the pond, a glint of brilliance flashing in his eyes.
…