The divine kingdom had expanded, almost to the size of a small town.
The fireball in the sky resembled the sun more than ever, and the plants in the divine kingdom flourished more vigorously due to the heat from the fireball, bringing the kingdom to life.
In the distance, the small hills had taken on the shape of real mountains, and the stream flowing from the distant spring was the outermost source, beneficial for the growth of plants.
Thanks to the flower fairy, the area was now covered with a variety of flowers, and the air was thick with their fragrance.
This was a world of flowers, and at the same time, a world of other plants. Among the vast sea of flowers, trees dotted the landscape, creating a perfect, harmonious view from above.
All of this was thanks to the flower fairy. Now, Aiya had become the planting expert of this divine kingdom, overseeing all matters related to plants.
"Aiya, here are some plant seeds. Please plant them farther apart, preferably with some distance from the flowers," Zhao Lun said, handing her the seeds he had bought from Diagonal Alley.
"Ailan is such a good person, bringing Aiya more seeds," Aiya exclaimed with joy, flying up to his face to kiss him before she got busy.
"Uh? Well, as long as you like it. But if I want to pick some flowers, you can't stop me, okay?" Zhao Lun said.
"Hmph!" Aiya pretended not to hear, immediately flying off with the seeds.
Zhao Lun continued his study of the area.
The spring at the center of the divine kingdom was the source of water for this world. Originally, there had been two separate springs, but they were now starting to merge into one. Without him, no one would have noticed that there were two springs hidden there.
No plants were allowed to grow around the spring. This was a protective measure by the divine kingdom to safeguard its water source. No living creature could approach the core, unless granted permission by the ruler of the kingdom. Therefore, the area around the spring was dry, with no moisture, and no plants could thrive there.
The divine treasure chest was placed nearby, alongside the items he had purchased the previous day, including a cage with an owl inside.
When the owl saw Zhao Lun approaching, it immediately began flapping its wings, hooting eagerly, asking for food. It had been starving since the previous afternoon.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot to leave you food," Zhao Lun said, opening a pouch and taking out special owl food, offering it to the little soldier owl. It happily began eating.
Zhao Lun watched it for a moment, then drew water from the spring and brought it over, pouring the owl a drink. After eating its fill, the owl drank the spring water and became full of energy, like it had been given a stimulant.
Leaving the divine kingdom, Zhao Lun opened the cage and let the owl fly out. It was still a young owl, playful and lively, and once released, it flew non-stop, exploring the surroundings. Two snow sculptures, which considered this their territory, were not pleased. If not for Zhao Lun's order, they would have shown the little owl who was in charge.
Zhao Lun returned to the divine kingdom, tried on the wizard's robe, and found it to be wrinkle-free, stylish, fitted, and comfortable. He was very pleased with it.
He then took out the Glowing Wheel 2000 flying broomstick and tried it. It was capable of flight, though not yet smooth, and it was much faster than he was accustomed to. It didn't have the same ease as the divine kingdom's powers, but once he got the hang of it, it felt quite good. However, the protection from the kingdom's power prevented him from fully experiencing the broom's abilities.
After satisfying his curiosity, he put the broom down and examined the other tools he had purchased, going through them one by one. He then opened a book and began flipping through it, using his optical brain to record the content.
Eight books were quickly recorded, and he could now look up the knowledge within them directly through the optical brain.
Finally, he opened a delicate box and took out the magic wand. A warm power flowed from it, exuding a joy that felt as though it were a playful, innocent child trying to get close. The magic's energy flowed through him and returned to the wand, creating a cyclical connection that felt as natural as an extension of his arm. He felt increasingly skilled with it.
The blood in his heart seemed to respond, becoming more active, giving him even greater confidence in wielding the wand.
Suddenly, a crisp sound came from the fireball overhead. Zhao Lun recalled the egg he had almost forgotten, using the power of the divine kingdom to protect himself before flying toward the fireball.
The fireball was hotter than before, but with the divine kingdom's protection, its heat didn't harm him in the slightest. Even through the blinding light, he could see that the egg was hatching, and the life inside was growing stronger.
The flames surged, the temperature rose, and a wave of intense energy was absorbed by the life within the egg.
"Hmm? It will take a few years for it to hatch?"
A message from the kingdom informed him that the life within the egg was gathering strength and would need a few years before it could break free.
Zhao Lun checked the time and descended after a quarter of an hour.
Leaving the divine kingdom, he opened his textbook on "Magical History" and began recording notes by hand, analyzing the material as he went. When he didn't understand something, he made a note of it. He had barely gone through a few pages when he heard Maria calling out to him.
"Brother, it's time for lunch."
"Oh, it's already noon? It's time for lunch," Zhao Lun responded.
Maria, having received a new toy, had been playing outside all morning. Her little face was flushed with excitement, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her violet eyes sparkled, and her joy was contagious.
"Okay," Zhao Lun said, putting down the book. He helped her wash up, and they went to the dining room.
Zhao Lun had always been particular about the environment when it came to meals. He believed that a good environment could enhance a person's mood, especially when eating. A positive atmosphere could inspire a person's spirit. Therefore, whenever possible, he always made sure to maintain a pleasant dining environment.
Today's lunch was served in the newly built exercise room. The sky had grown overcast, but rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining through the glass windows and creating a clean, bright atmosphere.
Looking outside through the window, the view felt refreshing. The environment lifted everyone's spirits, and they ate more than usual.
With summer vacation now in full swing, Maria continued to play with her flying broomstick while Monica watched over her with the snow sculptures and several dogs, ready to catch Maria if she fell.
Monica, in the meantime, was preparing for work, with Athena's assistance. The intelligent housekeeper made her job much easier.
Zhao Lun immersed himself back into the book on "Magical History."
The history seemed a bit dry, but Zhao Lun had his own way of reading. He treated it like a story, and this approach made the book more interesting. After finishing, he would verify the accuracy of the recorded content and assess the author's perspective on past events.
The author was fairly decent, though the book was written from the perspective of a wizard.
He made good progress with the books, and by evening, he had completed half of them.
In the afternoon, the sky became gloomy again, and dinner was served in the bright living room.
"Boss, Nicole and Hodar are coming back tomorrow," Monica told Zhao Lun after dinner.
"Angela and Ada are coming back too?" Zhao Lun asked.
"Yes, boss," Monica replied.
"That's great. It's been so long since I've seen Nicole and Angela," Maria said, excited to show off her new toy to the few people she truly admired.
"It's only been a few days, Maria. What about Hodar?" Zhao Lun asked, reminding Maria and asking about Hodar's return. The previous visit had only been a few days ago, and he wasn't sure if this would interfere with their plans.
"It seems like they've found a lead on Anton Wanko," Monica replied, and Athena immediately opened the task record—Find Anton Wanko (Task Level: S). Task Progress: 20%.
"Really? That's great," Zhao Lun said. "But everything must be done carefully. Keep a low profile."
"Yes, boss," Monica recorded his words.
"By the way, I promised someone a meal. Since he doesn't have time, I'll send it over tomorrow. Have the chef prepare a hearty meal, pack it in a sealed container, and send it to him."