With one step, Zhang Fan appeared beside the Zi Wu Yuan Guo. The Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King, adorned with seven-colored feathers, circled and cried above the fruit, its calls filled with reluctance, yet it did not obstruct Zhang Fan.
By guarding the spiritual fruit, the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King could also receive feedback from it, absorbing a trace of its spiritual energy to enhance its own strength.
If the Zi Wu Yuan Guo were to be plucked, its future strength enhancement would become extremely slow, as it was the most potent spiritual fruit within this immortal mansion.
"Don't worry, I will compensate you."
Zhang Fan looked up at the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King and said softly.
Then, Zhang Fan grasped the Zi Wu Yuan Guo and gave a gentle pull...
Instantly, countless transparent light threads appeared, coiling around the Zi Wu Yuan Guo as if countless shackles were binding it. Zhang Fan exerted ten percent of his strength, yet could not move it, which surprised him.
After his Divine Body reached minor completion, Zhang Fan's full strength was enough to move a hundred-zhang tall mountain. Even ten percent of his strength was terrifying, yet it could not budge the Zi Wu Yuan Guo in the slightest.
Just as Zhang Fan was about to increase his strength, the voice of the golden light artifact spirit echoed in his ear.
"Master, this is the core of the封禁阵法 (fengjin zhenfa - sealing formation). The old master utilized the Zi Wu Yuan Guo as the core to seal the entire Milky Way, preventing Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortals from entering. To retrieve the Zi Wu Yuan Guo, you must first dismantle the great sealing formation."
"However, Master, you must understand that the moment you dismantle the sealing formation, Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortals from outside the Milky Way will be able to freely enter. While some powerful Nascent Soul Heavenly Immortals might not care about the opportunities left by the old master, it is inevitable that some greedy ones will covet them. Master needs to carefully consider when to dismantle the sealing formation."
The golden light artifact spirit descended beside Zhang Fan and spoke solemnly.
"I have already decided."
Zhang Fan, controlling the immortal mansion and its power, instantly dismantled the sealing formation. The countless shackles entwined around the Zi Wu Yuan Guo slowly dissipated.
Concurrently, the invisible sealing formation that shrouded the entire Milky Way vanished into nothingness.
...
Three light-years away from the Milky Way, there was a planet named Black Flame Star. This planet was tens of times the size of Earth. Lava flowed endlessly across its surface, and volcanoes erupted without cease. From afar, Black Flame Star resembled a planet shrouded in flames.
On Black Flame Star, the demon race reigned supreme. The entire planet was ruled by a Black Flame Eagle that called itself the Black Flame King. Human cultivators held a generally low status. Unless their strength reached the Golden Core realm, they were enslaved. Only upon cultivating a Golden Core did one qualify to become a general under the Black Flame King.
The Black Flame King was a powerful demonic beast that had endured four Nascent Soul Tribulations. It was not listed on the Heavenly Rankings of the Wu Shan Star Domain not due to a lack of power, but because it acted with discretion and rarely revealed its strength to the outside world.
With such immense power, it chose to remain in a corner for one reason: the opportunities left behind by the Zi Wu True Immortal.
When the news of the Zi Wu True Immortal leaving an opportunity within the Milky Way spread, many cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage from the Wu Shan Star Domain came to investigate. Although they knew they could not enter the Milky Way after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, they were unwilling to not check for themselves.
The Black Flame King was among the first Nascent Soul powerhouses to investigate. However, after failing to enter the Milky Way, it did not leave but chose to wait.
Nascent Soul cultivators already had extremely long lifespans, and as a demon, the Black Flame King's lifespan was several times longer than that of human Nascent Soul cultivators, so it possessed great patience.
The Black Flame King occupied a planet three light-years away from the Milky Way, naming it Black Flame Star. Here, it cultivated its own forces, patiently awaiting the dismantling of the sealing formation.
It always believed that no matter how heaven-defying the Zi Wu True Immortal's methods were, the sealing formation would eventually disappear. Even if the formation did not disappear, Black Flame Star was a necessary path back to the Wu Shan Star Domain. If anyone obtained the opportunity and returned, it could intercept them here.
In the outer regions of the Milky Way, several teams of Golden Core cultivators were stationed, comprising both demons and human cultivators, all belonging to the Black Flame King's subordinates.
The Black Flame King did not dispatch them to search for opportunities but chose to wait. It understood that when it came to contending for opportunities, the cultivators it had cultivated were far inferior to the elites from the Wu Shan Star Domain.
Therefore, it was better to wait here and catch the prey.
In the edge region of the Milky Way, there was a debris belt formed by countless asteroids, flowing through the star river like a river. Within this debris belt, a team of Golden Core cultivators under the Black Flame King was stationed.
"Seven hundred years have passed. I still have to guard here for another three hundred years before I can leave this place. I truly don't know when this sealing formation will be dismantled."
A human Golden Core cultivator, carrying a battle axe on his back, sighed. Ever since becoming a Golden Core cultivator, he had been assigned to this debris belt. Besides monitoring the sealing formation, they also had to check on any cultivators leaving the Milky Way.
A transparent film stretched across the sky. He could freely pass through it, and the film offered no resistance.
"The Zi Wu True Immortal's methods are truly miraculous. A mere film can block powerful Nascent Soul cultivators, and it encompasses the entire galaxy."
A demon with a tiger-like head beside him exclaimed. Although they were different races, here, strength was what mattered. With strength came respect.
In the debris belt, there was no day or night, only the boundless star river. They had been stationed here for hundreds of years, their lives consisting of cultivation and sparring with companions. If not for their strong mental fortitude, they would have long ago gone mad and suffered mental breakdown.
In the quiet expanse of space, a clear sound suddenly rang out, like a bubble bursting. Though the sound was faint, all the Golden Core powerhouses present heard it clearly.
Just as they were about to investigate the source of the sound, the human cultivator carrying a battle axe on his back suddenly noticed that the film spanning the sky had disappeared.
"The sealing formation is gone!"
The human cultivator transmitted his thoughts telepathically, the sound echoing in the minds of each of his companions. Immediately, their faces lit up with excitement. They quickly took out their mirror stones and communicated with their companions far away on Black Flame Star.
In less than half an hour, this news was relayed through several layers and reached the Black Flame King's ears.
"Hahaha, a thousand years of waiting, and this sealing formation has finally dissipated. This opportunity is mine, the Black Flame's!"
The Black Flame King's true form was a Black Flame Eagle. Its jet-black feathers, like steel, were tinged with wisps of burning flame, further intensifying the already high temperature around it. Its sharp, roaring cry echoed throughout Black Flame Star, causing the demons under its command to unleash excited roars as well.
...