Liu Nanfeng carried Little Jinxiu through the dense jungle, heading towards the innermost part of this level.
In his arms, Little Jinhua’s small hands restlessly fumbled around. Leaves, branches, vines – anything within her sight, she wanted to reach out and grab, to tug.
“Don’t touch things carelessly,” Su Jinxiu gently patted her little paws.
Little Jinhua froze, quickly retracted her hands, then turned to see Liu Nanfeng. Her small mouth pouted, and she began to whimper.
Her tendency to act differently depending on who she was with amused everyone, and they burst into laughter.
“Alright, don’t cry, don’t cry…”
Liu Nanfeng patted her back gently. The little one whimpered twice and then stopped crying, her large, bright eyes beginning to look around curiously again.
At this moment, they passed a place where vines gathered, countless vines hanging down from the high treetops like a giant curtain. Some of the vines were covered in green leaves, while others bloomed with small purple flowers, creating scenes of wonder. m..oΓg
Little Jinhua finally couldn’t help herself. As they passed a patch of vines, she, unnoticed by the others, quickly reached out and plucked one.
Then, the vine suddenly came alive and began to creep up along Little Jinhua’s arm.
“Wow…” Little Jinhua’s mouth pouted, and she started crying loudly.
The speed was so great that everyone, including Liu Nanfeng, couldn’t react in time.
But when they focused, they realized it wasn’t a vine at all, but a red ribbon.
The red ribbon was like a burning flame, and it seemed to have a spirit. Instead of harming Little Jinhua, it began to playfully interact with her.
Now appearing on Little Jinhua’s left, then on her right, it played hide-and-seek with her.
Seeing this, everyone was amazed.
Especially Su Huamei, who used silk brocade and streamers as her weapons. Such a spirited red ribbon was like adding wings to her prowess.
“Is this the fortuitous encounter you mentioned earlier?” Dun Dun asked enviously from the side.
Liu Nanfeng nodded, “You can all pay more attention and see if you can find any fortuitous encounters.”
Upon hearing this, everyone began looking around with great interest. Even Little Carp struggled out of Zhu Yin’e’s embrace, wanting to search for her own fortuitous encounter.
However, it was only a momentary whim, and she quickly forgot about it.
First, she picked a small flower and gave it to Little Jinhua. Then she picked up a branch and pretended to chop with it. Later, she picked colorful flowers and wove a flower crown.
“Does it look good? Does it look good?”
Little Carp wore the flower crown she had woven on her wrist and held up her arm to show everyone.
But—
There was no flower crown on her hand, only a metal bracelet covered in intricate patterns.
Little Carp herself was stunned. Where was her flower crown? Who stole her flower crown?
She lowered her head and searched everywhere, thinking it had fallen on the ground. Her adorably naive appearance made everyone laugh.
Zhu Yin’e, a little worried her daughter might get hurt, looked towards Liu Nanfeng.
“It’s fine, it belongs to Little Carp now,” Liu Nanfeng said.
His eyes were constantly using their analytical abilities, but these things were hidden miraculously. Information that had no connection instantly underwent earth-shattering changes, transforming into something else. Even different pieces of information combined to create new things.
Therefore, even with his analytical ability, Liu Nanfeng couldn't discover where these things were hidden.
Hearing Liu Nanfeng say this, Zhu Yin’e felt reassured.
Curious about the abilities of the bracelet on Little Carp’s hand, she wanted to take it off and examine it, but found that she couldn't remove it no matter how hard she tried.
“Mother, do you want to take it off?” Little Carp asked blankly.
“Yes.” Since she couldn’t take it off, Zhu Yin’e was getting a bit anxious.
Upon hearing this, Little Carp reached out, gave a gentle tug, and it came off. She then handed it to Zhu Yin’e.
“Here you go.”
Zhu Yin’e: …
So all her efforts were in vain.
Zhu Yin’e took it and examined it carefully. The bracelet was exquisite, with intertwined branches and clearly visible flower cores, as if alive, seemingly able to sway in the wind.
The entire bracelet was gilded, looking very dazzling and noble.
However, after a careful examination, she couldn’t discern anything special, so she handed it back to Little Carp.
Little Carp took it and placed it on her head.
“How can such a small bracelet be worn on the head?” Zhu Yin’e said with a touch of amusement.
But she was immediately proven wrong. The bracelet instantly enlarged and then clasped around Little Carp’s head, forming a golden floral crown.
But Little Carp was still not satisfied. She reached down and tugged, and the bracelet immediately transformed into a collar and was placed around her neck.
This scene made everyone even more envious.
“Why do only the two little ones get fortuitous encounters, while we get nothing?” Su Huamei said with a hint of sourness.
Liu Nanfeng pondered, “Perhaps it’s due to their simple hearts, or perhaps it’s their state of mind, free from desire. In short, if one’s heart is too heavy with thoughts or desires, it might be counterproductive.”
“Is that so?”
Everyone listened thoughtfully, but the more one tried not to think, the more they would. It wasn't easy to empty one's mind.
Even for cultivators, truly achieving a state of being free from attachments was very difficult, and it didn't necessarily mean that fortuitous encounters would naturally come.
The group traveled at a very rapid pace. Even though this level was like a world in itself, with dense trees and various obstacles, after several hours, they finally reached the very center of the first level of the giant tower.
Among the group, only Hu Mengyao obtained a fortuitous encounter, which was something no one had expected.
As they passed a patch of woods, a tree fruit blocked her path, so she casually picked it.
Unexpectedly, the two tree fruits transformed into two lion-head bells. Their sounds were clear and melodious, with a tinkling that could calm the mind and dispel illusions.
In the center of the giant tower stood a colossal stele, one end touching the ground and the other touching the sky. The stele was densely covered with text.
These texts narrated the origin of the giant tower and the workings of the Heavenly Palace. Additionally, they stated that this giant tower was also the burial ground for the spirits of the Heavenly Palace. On each level, countless gods who had died battling monstrous beasts were interred.
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood. So, this giant tower was not only a hub for defending against monstrous beasts but also a tomb for burying gods.
And the treasures they had obtained were actually the possessions held by these gods during their lives.
Besides these records, in the middle of the stele, there was a peculiar eye-like pattern.
Such a pattern would not appear on the stele without reason, but everyone was puzzled about its specific function.
“This is the gateway to the second level,” Liu Nanfeng explained.
“Then how do we open it?” Su Jinxiu and others asked.
Liu Nanfeng shook his head. He wasn't sure either. This stele was integrated with the giant tower and contained immense information. He couldn't figure it out immediately.
Seeing everyone staring at the stele and discussing, Little Carp nearby also tilted her head up curiously.
She looked at the recessed part in the middle of the stele and felt it was somewhat of an eyesore.
So, the mud monster quietly crawled out of her collar, preparing to fill in the sunken area.