Although Zhang Fan did not notify the Sixth Prince's Manor upon his return, given his current status, he was the focus of attention wherever he went. Ling Xiu and the others naturally received the news quickly.
"Brother Zhang Fan, I didn't expect you to return so soon. You didn't even let us know in advance." Ling Xiu, accompanied by Xiao Yi, personally descended the mountain to greet him.
"Brother Ling Xiu, there's no need for such formalities." Zhang Fan introduced his parents: "This is the Manor Lord of the Sixth Prince's Manor, Ling Xiu."
"Brother Ling Xiu, these are my father, Zhang Xing'an, and my mother, Su Yun."
"Greetings, Uncle and Aunt. I am Ling Xiu." Although Zhang Xing'an and Su Yun were much younger than him and their cultivation was insignificant, they were Zhang Fan's parents. Ling Xiu quickly bowed respectfully.
"Manor Lord Ling Xiu is too kind. We are new to the Boundary Heart Continent, and we will likely trouble you for much care and assistance in the future," said Zhang Xing'an.
"That is our duty."
Under Ling Xiu's guidance, the group arrived at the Panlong Mountain Range. Looking at the endless city walls below, Su Yun and Zhang Xing'an were filled with emotion. The size of a single city was larger than the land area of the largest country on Earth; it was beyond imagination.
Lin Yun, however, appeared much calmer, having been from the Wushan Star Domain before.
After a sumptuous banquet, everyone dispersed. They rested for a night at the Golden Light Immortal Mansion. The next day, Zhang Fan, with his parents, left Sixth Prince City, preparing to accompany them on a tour of the Boundary Heart Continent before departing the Wushan Star Domain.
Originally, Zhang Fan had intended to bring Lin Yun along on this trip, but he refused, stating he wished to see his homeland. Zhang Fan did not press the matter further.
Before leaving, Zhang Fan specifically gathered information about various peculiar places on the Boundary Heart Continent, as he had not been here for long and was not very familiar with it.
Their first destination was the northern part of the Southern Desolation Domain. This area was filled with numerous mountains and ancient trees stretching for hundreds of miles, serving as a gathering place for demonic beasts. The group, seated on the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, overlooked the dense jungle below, occasionally spotting strange birds and beasts flying through the canopy – species Su Yun and Zhang Xing'an had never seen before.
Greenery met their eyes everywhere, an idyllic scene that felt like a return to ancient Earth, devoid of any modern traces. This offered a profound sense of comfort to the couple who had lived on Earth for so long.
Here, Zhang Xing'an comprehended the sixth Dao True Meaning and broke through to the Golden Core realm.
Their second stop took them out of the Southern Desolation Domain and into the territory of the Western Extreme Imperial Domain. Here lay an endless ice plain, where the world was a sheet of white, seemingly capable of purifying the soul.
Su Yun particularly enjoyed the scenery, so Zhang Fan decided to place the Golden Light Immortal Mansion on the ice plain and live there for some time.
During this period, under Zhang Fan's guidance, Su Yun successively comprehended several Dao True Meanings, her悟性 (wùxìng - comprehension/aptitude) so strong that even Zhang Fan was surprised.
Along the way, they paused frequently, not only to admire the beautiful scenery and wonders but also for Zhang Fan to guide their cultivation.
Their footsteps virtually covered all five domains of the Boundary Heart Continent. In the span of a year, with Zhang Fan's guidance and the aid of spirit pills, Zhang Xing'an successfully condensed the peak silver Nascent Soul, while Su Yun's talent was astonishing. Though she had not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage, she had condensed a high-grade Golden Core.
During this time, Zhang Fan's divine soul power also grew. Upon their return to the Panlong Mountain Range after their travels, his divine soul had merged with the laws by sixty percent, bringing him a step closer to the Soul Transformation stage.
…
"Dad, Mom, you should cultivate well on the Boundary Heart Continent. When my strength improves in the future, I will return to take you to see a more expansive world. The Boundary Heart Continent is vast, but compared to the boundless expanse of the starry sky, it is as insignificant as a grain of sand," Zhang Fan said with utmost sincerity.
"Go, find my daughter-in-law soon and continue the lineage of our Zhang family," Zhang Xing'an couldn't help but remind him.
"Although you are very powerful now, be careful when you are out and protect yourself," Su Yun exhorted with reluctance.
A mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles. Moreover, Zhang Fan was heading to another star domain, separated by billions of miles. Naturally, Su Yun felt immense reluctance. However, as her own strength improved, she gradually understood that while the Wushan Star Domain might seem vast to them, it was too small for Zhang Fan. Staying here would only hinder his growth.
"Brother Zhang Fan, we eagerly await your swift return." Ling Xiu, Shen Feichen, Xiao Yi, and others bid farewell to Zhang Fan.
Zhang Fan nodded, gave everyone a carefree smile, tore open the void with his hand, and a spatial rift appeared before him. He then stored Lin Haotian, Liu Mu, and others into the Golden Light Immortal Mansion and stepped alone into the dark space.
For the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, the Unfettered Sword Immortal, and the Heavenly Splendor Heavenly Monarch, the Boundary Heart Continent held nothing they cared to linger for. The prospect of traveling to other star domains filled them only with curiosity about the unknown.
Before departing, Zhang Fan requested a star chart of the Shattered Star Domain from Ling Xiu. Following the map's guidance, Zhang Fan journeyed alone through the endless dark space, tireless.
Cold, desolate, and vast.
This was the true face of the dark space. If one's Dao heart were not firm enough, prolonged exposure to this endless darkness could lead to mental collapse. However, for Zhang Fan, there was nothing to fear.
Although the Shattered Star Domain was the closest star domain to the Wushan Star Domain, the distance between them was at least tens of millions of light-years. Traveling by star domain flying boat would take tens of thousands of years to arrive.
Zhang Fan's journey to the Shattered Star Domain was primarily to accomplish two tasks.
The first was to fulfill the request of Half-Moon Immortal, delivering a jade talisman containing Half-Moon Immortal's residual thoughts to the Ten Thousand Mountains Sect. If the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind avenging the deceased Half-Moon Immortal.
After all, he had received a favor from Half-Moon Immortal, and the Giant Spirit Hall also had some enmity with Zhang Fan. Although the Soul Transformation experts from the Giant Spirit Hall had not come to the Wushan Star Domain, Zhang Fan did not wish to leave a hidden threat to the Boundary Heart Continent.
As for the second task, it was to search for immortal herbs that aided divine soul cultivation in the Shattered Star Domain. Only by advancing to the Soul Transformation stage as soon as possible could Zhang Fan travel to the Purple Cloud Star Domain and join the Starry Sky Battlefield, fulfilling his promise to the Grand Dao Artifact Spirit.
The Shattered Star Domain was named for its central continent, which comprised countless massive continental fragments scattered like floating islands.
Due to the varied environments, the distribution of powers in the Shattered Star Domain was more fragmented. Sects flourished here, and conflict was constant. New forces rose every day. However, without a doubt, the two most powerful forces remained the Giant Spirit Hall and the Ten Thousand Mountains Sect.
The Giant Spirit Hall occupied a super-continent fragment. Although called a fragment, its size was comparable to an entire domain on the Boundary Heart Continent, making it exceptionally vast. Legend had it that this continental fragment was formed from the fallen body of an ancient Giant Spirit clan powerhouse. The rapid rise of the Giant Spirit Hall owed much to this blessed land.
…