After Zhang Fan waved the Myriad Beast Cauldron back, his gaze fell upon the giant dark primal crystal at the edge of the valley. This dark primal crystal was their original target, but they had unexpectedly acquired a supreme treasure.
The dark primal crystal was immensely heavy. Zhang Fan transformed into a three-zhang tall giant to barely lift it, feeling as if he were holding a star.
"Hmm?"
After storing the dark primal crystal, Zhang Fan noticed a black flower blooming behind it.
"Is this a Dark Dao Infant Flower?" Zhang Fan was surprised to encounter such a rare flower here.
The Dark Dao Infant Flower was a rare blossom in the universe, extremely demanding in its growth environment, only appearing in places like the Dark Forest. The Dark Dao Infant Fruit it produced was even more precious than a dark primal crystal for cultivators of the dark path, as it could help condense Dao origin. This alone was enough to drive any dark path cultivator to madness.
Zhang Fan waved his hand and released Fairy Zi Ling from his immortal mansion. Before Fairy Zi Ling could survey her surroundings, her gaze was drawn to the blooming Dark Dao Infant Flower.
Her knowledge was evidently profound, as she recognized it immediately, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment.
"How do you plan to handle this Dark Dao Infant Flower?" Fairy Zi Ling asked, looking at Zhang Fan.
While precious, the Dark Dao Infant Flower, like the dark primal crystal, could only be used by cultivators of the dark path. To her, it was merely a massive amount of military merit.
"Besides this Dark Dao Infant Flower, there's also this ancient bronze bell!" Zhang Fan revealed the ancient bronze bell.
"A supreme treasure?" Fairy Zi Ling exclaimed. Even with her current strength, she had never obtained a supreme treasure. Yet, Zhang Fan possessed two. How could one not be envious?
"I obtained this supreme treasure by killing the leader of the dark otherworldly beast. This Dark Dao Infant Flower is mine, and you can have this supreme treasure," Zhang Fan casually tossed the bronze bell to Fairy Zi Ling.
"No," Fairy Zi Ling refused such a generous gift. Although the Dark Dao Infant Flower was precious, it was still inferior to a supreme treasure. Moreover, she had contributed very little during this expedition, and receiving a million military merits was already a tremendous fortune.
"Take it. For me, this Dark Dao Infant Flower is far more precious than this supreme treasure," Zhang Fan insisted, looking intently at Fairy Zi Ling.
Seeing the sincerity in Zhang Fan's eyes, Fairy Zi Ling blushed slightly and asked, "Are you trying to pursue me? Otherwise, who would be this generous?"
Zhang Fan playfully slapped Fairy Zi Ling's head and said, "I already have a Dao companion. What are you thinking?"
"Do you want it or not? If not, I'll keep it myself."
"Yes, only a fool wouldn't want it." Hearing Zhang Fan's words, Fairy Zi Ling felt a sense of relief, but also a flicker of unexplainable disappointment. Did he already have a Dao companion?
"Let's go. The commotion from the battle was immense. It might attract other powerful dark otherworldly beasts. We need to leave here quickly," Zhang Fan said.
After some twists and turns, Zhang Fan and Fairy Zi Ling finally emerged from the Dark Forest. Looking at the vast starry river outside, the Immortal Venerable Dao Field above the Dark Forest still shone brightly. Fairy Zi Ling asked, "With your strength, you no longer need to venture into the Starry Sky Battlefield. What are your plans next?"
Zhang Fan looked up at the Immortal Venerable Dao Field in the sky and replied, "Next, I will break through to the Void Returning stage, open up my internal world, condense my Dao origin, and then I will venture into this Immortal Venerable Dao Field."
Fairy Zi Ling was speechless. Everything Zhang Fan mentioned was incredibly difficult. Yet, he seemed determined to achieve it all in one go, aiming to reach the peak of the Void Returning stage?
The Void Returning stage had three major realms: Dao Realm, Opening Realm, and Dao Origin Realm. Each step had thwarted countless geniuses. It was virtually impossible to reach the Dao Origin Realm in one leap.
"Have you always cultivated like this?" Fairy Zi Ling asked playfully.
Zhang Fan shook his head and said, "In the early stages of cultivation, of course, one must proceed steadily and lay a solid foundation. That's why it took me decades to cultivate from Foundation Establishment to my current Great Dao Body. My foundation is very solid now. Mastering the Great Dao and condensing Dao origin will be a natural progression."
"Decades?" Fairy Zi Ling pouted, finding Zhang Fan's claim unbelievable. Her cultivation talent was considered top-tier in the Purple Firmament Star Domain, yet it had taken her over a thousand years to reach her current level. To achieve this in mere decades was akin to a pipe dream.
Zhang Fan smiled without explaining Fairy Zi Ling's doubt. The two then flew away from the Dark Forest, heading towards the war base.
"We're almost at the war base. What treasures are you planning to exchange for with the vast amount of military merit you've earned this time?" With only a few more hours until they reached the war base, Fairy Zi Ling felt an inexplicable sense of ease and asked.
"Over twenty million military merits. I'm not sure how to spend them yet. I'll keep them for now, maybe they'll be useful later," Zhang Fan replied. Although he needed many spirit pills for his breakthrough, they were a mere drop in the ocean compared to his enormous military merits.
Furthermore, these military merits weren't exclusive to the war base. Even if Zhang Fan broke through to the Void Returning stage and returned to the Purple Firmament Star Domain, he could still exchange them.
"Ten Absolute True Immortal!" A furious roar suddenly echoed through the void. Zhang Fan and Fairy Zi Ling were instantly imprisoned in space by a powerful force, as if they were petrified, only their eyeballs able to move.
"It's a Dao Integration Immortal King!"
This thought flashed through both Zhang Fan and Fairy Zi Ling's minds simultaneously. Fairy Zi Ling was deeply shocked. With their strength, how could they be targeted by an Immortal King-level expert, especially when they were only a few hours away from the war base in the Purple Firmament Star Domain?
A man whose body resembled glazed glass emerged from the void. His long hair flowed, and his eyes were as dazzling as divine stars. Just a glance at Zhang Fan made him feel an irresistible force.
"Glazed Immortal King." Although Zhang Fan and Fairy Zi Ling had never seen him before, his name surfaced involuntarily in their minds.
"Release the Thousand Spirits King and Mangya True Immortal," the Glazed Immortal King said calmly.
"Can't. I've already refined them to death," Zhang Fan replied calmly, his body still restrained.
Fairy Zi Ling wanted to glance at Zhang Fan, wondering why he was so audacious, showing no fear even when facing a Dao Integration Immortal King.
"You are courting death!" As soon as the Glazed Immortal King finished speaking, Zhang Fan felt the surrounding space constricting. Cracks began to appear on his Dao body, and his primordial spirit was being erased by a tremendous force.
...