"Is this the third level of the Immortal Abode?"
Zhang Fan stood in the center of a garden, gazing at the exotic flowers and plants surrounding him, inhaling the refreshing floral scent. He was taken aback.
He had not expected the third level of the Immortal Abode to be designed so differently from the previous two. The first two levels were merely spacious, somewhat bare halls, while the third level was a garden filled with various spiritual flowers.
Strange little birds flitted about in the garden, chirping noisily.
"Are those Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots?"
Zhang Fan's gaze fixed on the flock of small birds darting around the garden. Each bird was only palm-sized, their bodies a riot of five colors. Their beaks were slender and elongated, nearly half the length of their bodies, making them appear quite peculiar.
Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots were considered a relatively rare bird species. Where they gathered, there would invariably be heavenly treasures and spiritual medicines.
Although Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots were generally docile, anyone who dared to touch the spiritual medicines they guarded would face their most frenzied attack.
Individually, Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots were not particularly powerful. An adult could only rival a cultivator at the peak of the second-grade Golden Core realm, similar to Dao Venerable and others. Only the King of Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots possessed combat strength superior to that of an ordinary Heavenly Ranking expert.
Of course, to Zi Wu Zhen Xian, these Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots were no different from ordinary birds. No matter their numbers, he could have exterminated them with a single palm strike.
Zhang Fan surveyed the area, observing closely. He discovered that all the exotic flowers and plants cultivated in the garden were rare spiritual flowers.
The lowest grade was Earth-grade spiritual flowers, and even then, they were prized varieties. The majority were Heaven-grade spiritual flowers. It was likely that these spiritual flowers were beneath Zi Wu Zhen Xian's notice, hence their presence here.
In the center of the garden was a circular pool, nine Zhang in diameter. A faint mist permeated the water's surface. Within the mist, Zhang Fan spotted a pure white flower.
The flower floated on the water, its leaves lush. It had nine petals, enveloped in a soft, white, silver light, emitting a faint fragrance.
"Zi Wu Yuan Guo Companion Flower!"
Zhang Fan spoke softly, a tremor of excitement stirring within him.
Zhang Fan's gaze then shifted upwards. Directly above the pool, a fruit as white as jade floated in the air. The surrounding mist gathered and was slowly absorbed by the fruit.
"This is the Zi Wu Yuan Guo."
"After consuming it, even if you have already condensed a Golden Core, you can engrave three more Golden Core Dao Patterns onto it," the Golden Light Artifact Spirit stated proudly, its eyes fixed on the jade-white fruit.
Zhang Fan nodded slightly. He understood the Zi Wu Yuan Guo 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 still remind you, the Zi Wu Yuan Guo is incredibly precious. Even Nascent Soul Celestial Immortals covet it greatly. You should fully refine it within the Immortal Abode to enhance your strength," the Golden Light Artifact Spirit said solemnly.
Although the Zi Wu Yuan Guo would have little significance for a Nascent Soul Celestial Immortal, it could fetch an astronomical price at auction.
This was precisely Zhang Fan's intention. The Immortal Abode was rich in spiritual energy, far more concentrated than in the outside world. Furthermore, his current strength had reached a bottleneck. He could only advance further by condensing a Golden Core. Upon obtaining the Zi Wu Yuan Guo, he would immediately refine it within the Immortal Abode to condense his Golden Core.
With a stride, Zhang Fan appeared by the pool. Just as he was about to step into the water to retrieve the Zi Wu Yuan Guo, he suddenly felt a powerful threat surge towards him.
"Riiip!"
A palm-sized Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot attacked Zhang Fan with astonishing speed, seemingly bypassing space to appear instantly before him. Zhang Fan had no time to dodge, and its slender beak struck his body...
Boom!
The palm-sized Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot sent Zhang Fan, whose divine body had reached minor accomplishment, flying backward. A finger-sized bloody hole appeared on his chest.
After regaining his balance, Zhang Fan saw clearly that the small bird that had struck him was a Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot of vibrant, seven-colored plumage, noticeably larger than the ordinary five-colored ones.
This made Zhang Fan realize that this seven-colored Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot was likely the leader of the flock, the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King.
The normally gentle eyes of the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King now flashed with ferocity. The flock of Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots circling above the garden sensed the disturbance and flew to the King's side. Their eyes fixed menacingly on Zhang Fan, chirping incessantly as if ready to tear him to shreds at the slightest command.
"Alright, you little fellows, disperse now."
The Golden Light Artifact Spirit appeared beside Zhang Fan and waved its hand at the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King, saying,
Upon seeing the Golden Light Artifact Spirit, the ferocity in the eyes of the flock of Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots slowly subsided. They then dispersed, scattering throughout the garden once more.
"This Zi Wu Yuan Guo has always been guarded by the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrot King. If you wish to take it, it naturally will not agree," the Artifact Spirit chuckled.
Zhang Fan cast a helpless glance at the Artifact Spirit. He knew he had been tricked by this Golden Light Artifact Spirit. Fortunately, his physical body was powerful, and he had only sustained minor injuries. In mere moments, the small bloody hole on his chest had almost healed.
"To collect the Zi Wu Yuan Guo without obstruction, you need to refine the Immortal Abode and become its master. Then, this flock of Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots will also be under your control and will naturally not hinder you."
The Golden Light Artifact Spirit casually tossed a bead radiating a dazzling golden light into the air. Zhang Fan caught it. A cool sensation spread from the golden bead throughout his body, making his will tremble.
Having obtained the core that controlled the Immortal Abode, Zhang Fan embarked on the path of refinement.
This Immortal Abode was a High-grade Celestial Treasure, something most Nascent Soul Celestial Immortals did not possess. Only after Zi Wu cultivated to True Immortal status would he have dared to be so extravagant as to casually leave one on Earth.
Although Zhang Fan had not yet condensed a Golden Core, he had engraved nine Golden Core Dao Patterns. The purity of his magic power surpassed that of ordinary Golden Core realm cultivators. Refining a High-grade Celestial Treasure for him was merely a matter of time and not troublesome.
Casually sitting cross-legged by the pool, breathing in the air filled with the fragrance of spiritual flowers, and occasionally hearing the calls of the Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots, Zhang Fan soon entered a state of focus.
With Zhang Fan's current strength, refining a High-grade Celestial Treasure using conventional methods, by slowly eroding the Immortal Abode's core with magic power, would likely take at least a year or two.
However, he knew several special refinement techniques, and the Golden Light Artifact Spirit was also very cooperative, allowing Zhang Fan to save a considerable amount of time.
After meditating in the garden for over a month, when he stood up again, he found that the entire Immortal Abode had transformed.
He could now access every part of the Immortal Abode, take any treasure within it, and even the flock of Rainbow-Eyed Heavenly Parrots regarded him with greater familiarity.
"It's time to collect the Zi Wu Yuan Guo."
Zhang Fan's gaze fell upon the Zi Wu Yuan Guo floating above the pool, a glint of brilliance flashing in his eyes.
...