Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Chen Nan still hadn't found a way to break the ancient immortal's restriction, lingering outside Hundred Flowers Valley. During these days, the four strange monsters appeared frequently, either secretly observing him from outside the valley or openly staring at him. This baffled him; he couldn't understand why these monsters were behaving this way.
However, through Long Baobao's relentless pursuit and Chen Nan's occasional provocations, Princess Myna finally revealed some useful information, though it was all accidentally let slip by her. The snow-white rabbit, the plump wild boar, the robust sika deer, and the myna with its glossy black wings are the leaders of the new generation of spirits in the vast Kunlun Mountains. There are also several other monster leaders, but they are not present here.
This surprised and delighted Chen Nan. He hadn't expected these creatures to be so powerful. It was obvious they had cultivated in the Kunlun Mountains for over a thousand years, and their knowledge of the ancient immortal ruins far surpassed that of others. He tried every possible method, using all sorts of sweet talk, hoping to glean some secrets from these demons. But they seemed determined, remaining silent on the matter, only coming to observe him daily.
Two days later, Chen Nan suddenly remembered that Yang Lin, the old teacher in purple robes from Shenfeng Academy, had reminded him to return within five days and not to delay too long, as the warm-up matches between the four major academies were about to begin. Counting the days, today was indeed the fifth day; the warm-up matches between the four academies, where they would test each other's strengths and weaknesses, were today.
"I can't worry about that anymore. Whether Shenfeng Academy suffers a crushing defeat is none of my business. Let the vice-dean cry. Even the most important matters can't compare to any news about Yuxin."
For five days, Chen Nan had tried every possible method, but still couldn't find a way to enter Hundred Flowers Valley. Looking at the stream flowing slowly out of the valley, his brows furrowed deeply. Fish in the water couldn't freely enter and leave Hundred Flowers Valley, but the water could. This seemed to indicate that this ancient immortal's ruin contained a Five Elements Grand Array, at least containing the element of "water."
Although he had some knowledge of formations, he was not very proficient in them, and he had no way to deal with the restrictions of Hundred Flowers Valley.
The Valley of a Hundred Flowers was shrouded in ethereal mist, casting a mysterious veil over its scenery. Chen Nan gazed at the valley and sighed. The secrets of ten thousand years ago lay within its walls, only a few dozen steps away, yet he could not enter and thus could not know the truth.
Since ancient times, beautiful women have often met tragic ends. The kind and innocent Yu Xin, in order to survive, was forced to remain secluded in the Valley of a Hundred Flowers. Thousands of years have passed, the Valley of a Hundred Flowers remains, but what of the beautiful woman?
In truth, Chen Nan understood that even if Yu Xin had survived, the two would never have met again. Who in the world could withstand the relentless passage of time? His pursuit here was perhaps merely to uncover the truth and find a sliver of solace. Even with Chen Zhan's extraordinary martial arts, the seal placed on his heart could not stop his longing for Yu Xin. Whenever his emotions fluctuated, he would recall every detail of the past, and everything from ten thousand years ago would resurface in his mind.
Yu Xin's intermittent, poignant words on her deathbed left a deep impression on Chen Nan, seemingly rooted in the deepest part of his soul. This was the main reason why the seal Chen Zhan had placed on his heart could not have much effect.
"Is there really no way to get in?" Chen Nan pondered.
Back then, Chen Zhan used his unparalleled power to guide the lightning of the heavens, sealing Hundred Flowers Valley with the power of heaven and earth. It can be said that Hundred Flowers Valley was forcibly sealed by Chen Zhan after triggering the ancient immortal's restriction using heaven-defying power. To open it, there are only two ways: First, know how to break or enter the formation and calmly enter. Second, possess unparalleled power to destroy the formation and forcefully break in.
Neither of these methods is realistic for Chen Nan. First, he is not very proficient in formations, and second, he does not have the strength to reach the initial stage of the Immortal Martial Realm.
"Do I really have to wait until the day I break through the void with my martial arts before I can enter?" Chen Nan sighed helplessly.
These past few days, Little Dragon has either been chasing after those monsters to fight, or staring blankly at the strange fruits in the valley, drooling. While Chen Nan was lost in thought, it twisted its fat dragon body, wobbled over to him, and started making "ee-yah-yah" noises at him.
At first, Chen Nan didn't pay attention and gently pushed him away, continuing to ponder how to break the formation. Later, the little dragon kept barking and even opened its mouth to grab one of his sleeves, tugging at it and shaking it, which finally drew his attention.
Helpless, Chen Nan stopped thinking, patted Xiaolong's head, and said like coaxing a child, "What's wrong now? Did you defeat another monster? Hehe, I knew you were the best."
The little dragon puffed out its chest with a self-assured air, looking incredibly smug. Then, it shook its enormous head and gestured repeatedly towards the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.
Chen Nan looked in the direction it indicated and was immediately stunned. He didn't know when, but the Valley of a Hundred Flowers was filled with myriad rays of light and auspicious colors. Countless colorful rays emanated from the valley, and the air was filled with celestial energy. The holy radiance filled every inch of the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.
A riot of blossoms, dazzling and vibrant, a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a poem or a painting. Amidst this profusion of colorful flowers, slender, uniquely shaped trees, sculpted like jade, sway gently, dancing with the blooms. The fragrance of flowers and fruits mingles, drifting gently through the air, refreshing and intoxicating.
Multicolored light flowed slowly among the flowers and trees, and holy radiance permeated the entire Valley of a Hundred Flowers. The ethereal atmosphere rippled in the wind, like a dream.
At that moment, a delicate fragrance, like orchids and musk, drifted from the valley on the wind. This fragrance was different from the floral and fruity scents in the valley; it gave people an indescribable feeling. Simple, hazy, harmonious, and tranquil, the faint fragrance seemed to create an ineffable poetic realm, making people relax involuntarily and feel a sense of emptiness in their hearts.
Chen Nan was deeply captivated. He felt as if he had forgotten all his worries, and his heart was filled with peace. He was immersed in a wonderful spiritual world.
The baby dragon seemed to be deeply engrossed, no longer drooling over the strange fruits in the valley. At this moment, it closed its big eyes and immersed itself in a peaceful world.
The snow-white rabbit, the plump wild boar, the robust sika deer, and the glossy black-feathered myna no longer hid in the shadows, and involuntarily came to the outside of Hundred Flowers Valley. They glanced at each other, seemingly exchanging a message, each monster's eyes filled with excitement, as if celebrating some kind of surprise. As the delicate fragrance wafted into their mouths and noses, the four monsters were also deeply intoxicated. Outside Hundred Flowers Valley, all was peaceful. One person and five beasts stood quietly at the valley entrance, their eyes slightly narrowed.
The unique fragrance within the Valley of a Hundred Flowers grew stronger and stronger, and the radiance within the valley became increasingly dazzling, creating a peaceful atmosphere as if bathed in divine light.
However, at that very moment, something unbelievable happened. In the very center of Hundred Flowers Valley, surrounded by exotic flowers and jade trees, a dazzling light erupted. The intense light shone like ten suns in the sky, eclipsing all other scenery in the world. This mysterious light became the "only one" in the entire universe.
The rich fragrance intensified with the appearance of the light, permeating the surrounding area for miles. The eyes of the man and the five beasts were fixed on that mysterious light, their gazes fixed on it without blinking.
The dazzling light gradually faded, and the radiance softened from its intense intensity, slowly becoming peaceful. A sacred glow that brought tranquility and serenity enveloped the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.
At the very center of the sacred light source, guarded by exotic flowers and trees, a crystal-clear bud sways gently, its seven-colored light flowing slowly, and its dazzling brilliance is the blossoming of that rare flower about to bloom.
The crystal-clear flower buds are a foot and a half in diameter, with nine crystal-clear jade leaves growing beneath them. The entire plant is like a piece of divine jade, embodying the ultimate beauty and the essence of heaven and earth.
The source of all fragrance lies in this extraordinary flower, its rich and fragrant aroma emanating from it. Seven-colored light shines through the buds, transforming the Valley of a Hundred Flowers into a scene of ethereal beauty.
"What... what's going on?" Chen Nan muttered to himself, this was beyond his imagination.
The little dragon twisted its fat body, excitedly shouting and jumping, as if celebrating some kind of surprise.
The myna princess beside her murmured to herself, "The fairy is about to be born, and the gates of Hundred Flowers Valley are wide open at the same time. We can go in and see what the fairy looks like."
The wild boar also started grunting, seemingly overjoyed. The snow-white rabbit excitedly darted and jumped, eventually landing on the back of the sika deer.
The sika deer swung its body, throwing the white rabbit off, and then stood up straight, transforming into a monster with a deer's head and a human body.
This change really startled Chen Nan. Although he knew that these monsters had extraordinary supernatural powers, he still did not expect that they could already take human form.
Princess Myna scolded, "Little Deer, you've become too smug. Have you forgotten the teachings of our ancestors? You must not transform in front of humans until you have fully transformed into human form."
Upon hearing this, the sika deer quickly lay down and transformed back into its deer form. However, the transformation was enough to leave Chen Nan dumbfounded, and he stared at the four monsters in a daze.
Princess Myna said, "Don't be afraid. Demons are demons, and we are not those evil demons. We would never harm the innocent."
Chen Nan shook his head and muttered to himself, "The world is truly full of wonders. I'd only ever heard rumors about monsters before, but I never imagined I'd actually see one transform today. Hmm, if I could catch one and train it as a mount, that would be really great!"
Princess Myna was so angry she almost fell off the sky. She yelled, "You bastard! You're so despicable! I saw you standing there blankly and thought you were scared, but I never imagined you were having such filthy thoughts. Humph, utterly despicable! Don't even dream about it!"
The four demons seemed very dissatisfied with Chen Nan's filthy thoughts, and all looked at him with strange expressions. At this moment, only the little dragon was detached from the matter. It was drooling over the strange flowers in the valley while constantly shaking its dragon body and jumping around.
Princess Mynah shouted angrily, "You big dummy bird, stop thinking such nonsense! That fairy flower is carrying a fairy inside, it's not what you imagine, and it's not some edible fruit. Can't you be a little more sensible? Stop thinking about eating it!"
Little Dragon stopped, staring at the four monsters with a look of astonishment. The five beasts had clashed quite a bit over the past few days, and their strength seemed roughly equal. Through their time together, they seemed to have developed the ability to communicate—the special communication methods between high-level beasts, of course.
"Don't look at me, I'm telling the truth. The strange fruits in the valley are edible, but that fairy flower is not as simple as you imagine. It's not just a simple flower; it's a life nurtured by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."
Chen Nan was utterly shocked and couldn't help but ask, "How did you know?"
"Because our ancestors sensed the existence of this life long ago. They often came here to teach the life in the fairy flower to speak. They said it was a lost fairy."
"A lost fairy...a lost fairy..." These words echoed in Chen Nan's ears, and a tidal wave surged within him. For some reason, he immediately associated this fairy with Yu Xin; it was a completely subconscious act.
"This...how is this possible? Is this...really?" Chen Nan was somewhat dazed, his mind in turmoil. He only came to his senses when the four monsters gradually disappeared into the distance.
Chen Nan silently recalled what Princess Bajiquan had said earlier; it seemed that her brief words had revealed a lot of useful information:
Hundred Flowers Valley seems to have opened its doors wide these past few days...
Even monsters have certain rules of conduct; at the very least, they cannot harm people without cause...
There seem to be even more ancient and powerful monsters hidden in the vast Kunlun Mountains...
A life was being conceived within that peculiar flower, and the old monsters valued it highly, often coming here to teach the life about to be born…
"In a few days I'll be able to enter Hundred Flowers Valley, but...I don't know..." Chen Nan's heart was in turmoil. In truth, he already knew that after tens of thousands of years, the past was already set in stone; he had come here merely to seek a sliver of psychological comfort. But at this moment, his heart was filled with turmoil and pain...
At night, the moonlight, like water, gathered into beams of light, converging towards the Valley of a Hundred Flowers. A dazzling radiance enveloped the valley, and the light finally rushed towards the unique flower in the valley.
Chen Nan was utterly astonished. Although he had been able to sense that Hundred Flowers Valley seemed to be able to condense the primordial energy of heaven and earth and gather the essence of the sun and moon these past few days, he had always thought that this was the result of an ancient immortal's restriction. Only now did he realize that everything was due to that crystal-clear flower bud, and all the spiritual energy was actually condensed from it.
Previously, it was in the process of slow growth and perhaps didn't need much spiritual energy. But now that it's about to bloom, it seems to require a large amount of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as well as the essence of the sun and moon.
Over the next three days, the area outside Hundred Flowers Valley gradually became lively, with all sorts of monsters appearing one after another, constantly circling around the valley and closely watching the strange flower bud inside.
Chen Nan felt a chill run down his spine. This place was practically a gathering place for monsters. Although the monsters' abilities were far inferior to Princess Myna and the others, each one was a rare and unique species: a giant snake with horns, a two-headed monkey, an enormous ant, a flying centipede…
Through Princess Myna's explanation, Chen Nan finally understood that these monsters had all come on a pilgrimage. The celestial flower within Hundred Flowers Valley had been nurtured for three thousand years, only recently developing consciousness. For nearly a thousand years, an ancient legend has circulated in Kunlun Mountain: a lost fairy is conceived within the celestial flower, and this being is highly likely to become the future king of the demon realm of Kunlun Mountain.
This rumor originated from the mouths of the oldest demons, making it highly credible. This is why the Ancient Immortal Ruins are considered a sacred place by many demons; several new generation demon leaders guard it daily, and ordinary beasts and monsters are not allowed to approach freely.
That night, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and under its pure light, countless beastly shadows swayed, densely packed across the mountains and plains. Chen Nan didn't know exactly how many beasts and monsters lurked here, but one thing was certain: almost all the monsters that could come had arrived—this was something Princess Myna had said herself.
On this full moon night, although the Valley of a Hundred Flowers was surrounded by countless monsters, it was unusually quiet. All the beasts and monsters stopped moving, and every pair of eyes stared intently into the valley.
The moonlight, like a shower of light, converged into the valley, making the celestial flower, which radiated seven-colored light, even more dazzling.
With a deafening roar, the moonlight converged into a pillar of light, and it seemed as if a band of light connected the full moon to the fairy flower.
Outside the Valley of a Hundred Flowers, a chaotic scene of demons and monsters filled the air with their cries and howls.
This was, after all, the place where Yu Xin had secluded herself in seclusion years ago. Chen Nan paid more attention to this extraordinary individual than to any other oddity. A life was about to be born, but what about Yu Xin? His vision blurred, and he murmured, "Yu Xin..."
Suddenly, the seven-colored fairy buds in the valley shone with countless rays of light and auspicious colors, illuminating the Hundred Flowers Valley as if it were daytime.
With a soft "pop," a petal gently unfolded, and auspicious rays of light emanated from within the flower.
"Pop," "Pop," "Pop," "Pop," four more soft sounds, and four more petals gently bloomed, illuminating the sky with seven-colored light. This extraordinary phenomenon could be seen for miles around.
The Seven-Colored Fairy Bud has nine petals, five of which have already bloomed, while the remaining four are shrouded in rosy light and remain still. The five blooming petals gently caress the life within the fairy bud like a tender hand.
That night, the Valley of a Hundred Flowers was filled with celestial energy, and seven-colored light surged out of the valley like water. Thousands of beasts and monsters were mesmerized, praying devoutly and silently watching the celestial flower.
Chen Nan didn't close his eyes that night either. He knew that the life inside the flower was about to be born, and the gates of Hundred Flowers Valley would soon be wide open. He had to rush into this ancient immortal land as soon as possible.
Dawn finally passed, the sun rose in the east, and rays of light shone in all directions. A huge and dazzling ray of light shone from the rising sun into the Valley of a Hundred Flowers.
With four soft "pops," the last four petals of the fairy flower bloomed almost simultaneously. A rich fragrance filled every inch of space, and seven-colored light shot straight into the sky, making the rising sun pale in comparison.
Nine thunderous booms resounded in succession, and the gates of the Hundred Flowers Valley, the ancient immortal ruins, finally opened wide, temporarily disabling the ancient immortal's restrictions.
The sky was ablaze with rosy light, and the earth shone with colorful rays; at this moment, the world was filled with auspicious radiance and a peaceful atmosphere.
After a long time, all the brilliance gradually faded, and the world returned to tranquility.
"Hehe..." A child's innocent laughter rang out in Hundred Flowers Valley, breaking the tranquility. A little girl of about three years old was happily laughing and jumping on that fairy flower, her pure smile so genuine! So genuine! So genuine!
All smiles in the world seem hypocritical and pale in comparison to this little girl's smile. Her smile is so natural and so innocent that anyone who sees it will forget their past sorrows and unhappiness. This infectious smile seems to belong to another world.