"It's not that difficult. After this teleportation array is set up, the lake island will be in need of a guardian. Are you willing?" Zhang Fan asked.
"This junior is willing," Ancestor Tianhai quickly nodded, and immediately made a Heavenly Dao oath, vowing to guard this place for his entire life to show his loyalty.
Ancestor Tianhai was obedient, and Zhang Fan was in a good mood. He had been troubled about who would guard the teleportation array after it was built, and Ancestor Tianhai had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
After all, this task was incredibly tedious and boring. No powerful cultivator would want to waste their life on it. After Ancestor Tianhai made his Heavenly Dao oath, he had indeed solved a problem for Zhang Fan.
"Tianhai, you are a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Three Tribulations stage. Why would you come to such a barren place instead of the Realm Heart Continent?" Zhang Fan asked curiously.
Ancestor Tianhai could only force a bitter smile and shook his head, saying, "The Milky Way Galaxy is too far from the Realm Heart Continent. This junior doesn't have a star map, so I can't find the direction to the Realm Heart Continent."
Zhang Fan suddenly understood. The starry sky was too vast, and it was easy to get lost without a star map. He himself had only managed to reach the Wushan Star Domain back then because Tian Hua had guided him, and he didn't need to worry about anything.
Ancestor Tianhai was born on Tianhai Star in the Milky Way Galaxy. He was currently the most powerful cultivator on Tianhai Star. Without the support of any background, even if he cultivated to the Three Tribulations stage, he couldn't leave the Milky Way Galaxy. A few years ago, he had only managed to find Earth by following the fluctuations emanating from it.
"Go, settle down your disciples and grand-disciples. Send away those who are leaving as soon as possible, and properly teach the rules to those who are staying. Come to the lake island to see me in ten days," Zhang Fan said to Ancestor Tianhai.
Upon receiving Zhang Fan's command, Ancestor Tianhai obediently retreated from the lake island. He looked at his disciples and grand-disciples standing in neat rows outside Bibo Lake and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
He had originally come in search of an opportunity for breakthrough, but he never expected to end up being left behind as a doorman.
However, when he thought of the fate of his old rival, he felt a slight sense of comfort. Moreover, the lake island was rich in spiritual energy and covered with spiritual herbs. If he could cultivate there for a long time, it didn't seem like a bad thing.
With this thought, Ancestor Tianhai quickly led his disciples and grand-disciples back to Tianlong Island and gave them serious instructions. If they accidentally angered Zhang Fan, he feared he would be implicated as well.
At the same time, what happened on Bibo Lake quickly spread across Earth, causing a huge stir. Many of Zhang Fan's old friends also learned of his return and came to visit one after another.
Zhang Fan ignored the outside clamor and stayed quietly on the lake island, occasionally guiding others in their cultivation. Besides Lin Yun, other old friends also came to visit.
Ten days passed quickly, and the teleportation array to the Realm Heart Continent was completed on this day. Lin Haotian rushed back to the lake island upon receiving Zhang Fan's summons, and Ancestor Tianhai also arrived on time to wait for orders.
"Once this formation is activated, you can reach the Six Royal Cities of the Realm Heart Continent in a very short time. If you wish to return in the future, you can do so at any time." This time, Zhang Fan planned to take his parents and Lin Yun to the Realm Heart Continent to broaden their horizons.
As Zhang Fan spoke, he threw a pre-refined token to Ancestor Tianhai. "Refine this token, and you will be able to control this teleportation formation."
As the dark, rhombus-shaped token entered his hand, a cool sensation spread throughout his body. Ancestor Tianhai was startled. With his knowledge, he could naturally see the extraordinary nature of this token. It was likely a high-grade spiritual treasure. He channeled his spiritual power, pouring it all into the token.
"This..." After fully refining the token, Ancestor Tianhai was so shocked that he froze on the spot. By controlling this token, he could control everything on the lake island's formations.
What surprised him most was that the seemingly unremarkable mountain protection formation contained multiple interconnected formations for illusions, attacks, and defenses. Let alone himself, even a Nascent Soul cultivator at the Seven Tribulations stage would find it difficult to escape death if they intruded.
"Tianhai, activate the teleportation array. From now on, you will be responsible for managing the spiritual herbs on the lake island. I permit you to pick one spiritual herb every ten years to aid your cultivation," Zhang Fan said.
"Thank you, senior!" The happiness came too suddenly. Ancestor Tianhai could hardly believe it.
Zhang Fan and his group stepped into the teleportation array. As the formation was activated, brilliant light enveloped them, and then they slowly disappeared from the lake island.
Watching Zhang Fan and the others disappear, Ancestor Tianhai couldn't help but laugh to the heavens. "My ancestors are hopeful of transcending tribulation."
Although the lake island was small, it was planted with all sorts of high-grade spiritual herbs, each emitting an alluring fragrance. Ancestor Tianhai suppressed his greed with all his might. Treasures were tempting, but the prerequisite was to preserve one's life first.
Although his freedom was restricted, it was also an opportunity for him. Receiving a high-grade spiritual herb every ten years filled Ancestor Tianhai with beautiful aspirations for his future life.
...
When Su Yun and Zhang Xing'an saw the scene before them again, they were completely stunned.
Towering city walls reached into the clouds, stretching for thousands of miles without end, as if separating the world. On the wide streets, Golden Core stage cultivators were as numerous as ants, and Nascent Soul stage cultivators were not uncommon.
"Let's go, I'll take you around first," Zhang Fan said, leading the group towards the Panlong Mountain Range, explaining as they walked.
"This is the Six Royal City, one of the largest cities on the Realm Heart Continent. The owner of the Six Royal City is the Six Royal Mansion."
"There are three top forces on the Realm Heart Continent: the Canghai Palace, the Six Royal Mansion, and the True Fire Grotto-Heaven. These three top forces are all brimming with experts, with countless Nascent Soul cultivators, and each has a Half-step to God Transformation stage cultivator guarding it."
"Half-step to God Transformation?" Su Yun and Zhang Xing'an didn't understand what realm that was.
Even Lin Yun's eyes were full of confusion.
"You don't need to understand it. Just know that a Half-step to God Transformation cultivator is several times, or even tens of times, more powerful than a peak Nascent Soul cultivator," Zhang Fan said with a smile.
"Then what is your current realm?" Zhang Xing'an asked with great curiosity.
"Half-step to God Transformation."
Zhang Xing'an and Su Yun didn't react much, as they hadn't been cultivating for long and didn't have much of a concept. However, Lin Yun stared at Zhang Fan with shock. He knew Zhang Fan's strength would be immense, but he hadn't expected him to reach this realm in just a few years.
"What is Half-step to God Transformation? My master has killed more Half-step to God Transformation cultivators than he has fingers," the Blood Demon Flood Dragon said proudly, patting its round belly.
"In that case, can't I just roam freely on the Realm Heart Continent?" Zhang Xing'an suddenly declared with great valor.
"Crabs roam sideways," Su Yun said.
Since it was their parents' first visit, everyone walked at a slow pace. Along the way, they saw many things they had never seen on Earth. Even though they were past the age of curiosity, they still seemed quite excited.
...