Night, tranquil and silent.
At the Zhao Manor, apart from the security staff, almost everyone has fallen into a peaceful slumber.
After nearly two hours of intense gameplay, Zhao Lun finally wore out Maria, leaving her too exhausted to move, and quickly fell asleep, granting him some space of his own.
He turned on the surveillance cameras. The manor appeared calm and serene, with the gentle chirping of crickets echoing through the air.
The town, save for the streetlights, was equally quiet, devoid of any presence.
Zhao Lun relaxed, and in the next moment, he vanished from the room.
In the Divine Realm, Zhao Lun reappeared.
Under a brilliant blue sky, a warm "sun" bathed the land, while a gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of blooming flowers. This was the world of the Divine Realm.
Shifting from night to day was but a step for him.
On the ground, the fresh green grass and vibrant flowers flourished, mist swirling softly around them, and colorful butterflies danced, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.
Amidst a cluster of orchids, on a mutated king-class orchid, a tiny fairy sat on the petals, dangling her white, delicate feet as she leaned forward, intoxicated by the fragrance of the golden-yellow flowers, her face lit with a satisfied, silly smile.
This was the flower fairy, Aya.
Not far from her, a small creature, its fur pure white, bright as the moon, with budding tiny horns, lay peacefully beneath the flowers, its large innocent eyes watching Aya, filled with wonder.
It was a young unicorn.
Unicorns are drawn to the aura of pure girls, and flower fairies, among the purest, are their greatest attraction. Since coming here, this unicorn had followed Aya wherever she went, almost never leaving her side.
Unicorns are naturally imbued with a charming aura, their presence profoundly affecting female beings. Aya was no exception, and upon meeting it, she was immediately smitten.
The two had become inseparable.
Nearby, a spring bubbled with clear, sweet water, the source of life. The spring itself radiated vitality, constantly bubbling, its life force pulsating through the air.
Approaching the spring, outsiders would feel an irresistible hunger, unable to quell it unless they drank from its waters.
The spring was protected by a layer of force, allowing only viewing from afar.
Beyond the spring lay a series of rolling hills, encircling the spring, protecting it like a sanctuary.
On the opposite side of the spring, a hidden stream slowly carried the spring water outward.
This water, though filled with life force, was not as potent as that of the spring, but drinking it could still alleviate the hunger.
The spring was the heart of the Divine Realm, its lifeblood nourishing the entire world through its "blood vessels," a network of streams that kept the land alive.
With the awakening of the realm's vitality, the land was growing more rapidly, and in the distance, a barren expanse lay—an area the flower fairies were struggling to manage.
Looking from afar, it seemed like a wilderness.
The fairy Aya, wise beyond her years, began searching for help.
At the farthest edge, a swarm of bees buzzed, their bodies mutated. Following Aya's instructions, they were busy dispersing seeds of plants.
Close to the spring, a treasure chest lay waiting. Zhao Lun approached it and began piecing together the puzzle.
The two fairies, seeing him, gave a cursory glance before continuing their playful antics. They were familiar with him now, no longer startled as they once were.
As the puzzle neared completion, it seemed to gather an incredible amount of energy, becoming increasingly extraordinary. Each turn created an otherworldly hum, and the scene appeared as if it were a vast universe in itself.
Zhao Lun remained undistracted, diligently moving the pieces toward their designated positions.
The Divine Realm was expanding on its own, requiring little effort from him, but opening the treasure chest had become a daily ritual. Now that it was a critical time, Zhao Lun focused more on this.
After his energy was exhausted once more, Zhao Lun departed.
A day passed, and a new one arrived.
After breakfast.
Knock, knock! Something tapped on the window. Zhao Lun looked outside and saw an owl carrying a message.
This owl was old. Zhao Lun opened the window, and it flapped clumsily inside, then rested on the sill.
"Oh, it's Errol," Zhao Lun recognized the owl, immediately offering it a drink infused with a hint of the spring's energy to help it recover.
The letter was from Fred.
"Dear Allen,
Hello! How does it feel to be home? It must be nice, right? This week we have some things to handle, but George and I have decided to visit you next week. Haha, I bet you'll be thrilled to see us! Don't forget to prepare some delicious food for us.
Your friend, Fred Weasley George Weasley"
Zhao Lun read the letter and, finding no additional information, began writing his response.
"Dear Fred,
I'm happy to hear from you! Of course, next week is fine. I'll make sure to have some tasty treats ready for you both.
Your friend, Allen Zhao"
Receiving a letter from his friend in the morning lifted Zhao Lun's spirits.
At the manor, decorations were being put up, preparing for the celebration, not only for his return but also for their own festivities.
Monica had been promoted from assistant to CEO, and now she was busy directing the maids around the manor.
Maria, on the other hand, was leading Sandy around, checking on various areas. The two of them would occasionally let out gasps of surprise. As for the dogs and raptors, they had long since hidden themselves, avoiding being around when Maria was present.
They were smart enough to know that the more chaotic it got, the more troublesome it was around Maria. After a few encounters, they had learned to steer clear of these disturbances.
Zhao Lun understood and allowed them to play hide and seek with Maria.
The manor was filled with a festive atmosphere throughout the day.
The town was even more bustling, with every street and corner adorned in preparation for the celebration, its people dressed as if for Christmas, creating a cohesive festive spirit.
The next day, the manor's celebration began.
Before the official festivities, there was a brief moment of reminiscing and reflection, followed by speeches about life, the importance of a correct worldview and values, and then rewards based on their achievements. The event concluded with entertainment.
While there were some educational elements, overall, the mood was lighthearted.
The garden, full of flowers, was teeming with bees, and the world of flowers enveloped everything.
Everyone was either taking photos or sipping divine realm beverages, forgetting their troubles.
Time flew by, and after a brief half-hour at the manor, they headed into town.
The town was also in full celebration, marking the progress of recent times.
The streets were alive with revelers, and alongside them were police officers maintaining order.
At the intersection of the new and old parts of the town stood a grand building, resembling a cut diamond—a symbol for the new town. Today marked its ribbon-cutting ceremony, drawing everyone to participate.
Surrounding this new building was a wide square, filled with stages, and spots brimming with flowers.
Many gathered around, but the most prominent were the cameras and reporters.
As Nicole and the others appeared, the flashes from cameras went off incessantly. Reporters thrust microphones toward them.
Seeing this, Zhao Lun was convinced they had truly become stars.
They waved gracefully, smiling with ease as they made their way through the crowd.
By 10 AM, the ribbon-cutting ceremony commenced, and the building, the "Diamond Star," revealed itself, dazzling the crowd.
From that day onward, the town had a new landmark, the Diamond Star.
The crowd fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into cheers. The flash of cameras continued without pause.
"Such excitement," someone commented from above, watching the scene below in awe.
"By the way, Nicole, Monica, why aren't you joining the ribbon-cutting?"
"Cutting the ribbon? Let others do it. We'll avoid adding to the chaos."
"Yes, they're stars now. The reporters have been pestering them."
"Oh, I almost forgot, you're both still celebrities."
At home, they rarely thought about it, but now, back from their trip, they found themselves making small mistakes.
"Alright, we should be going now."
These celebrations were mainly for Monica and the others to host. The real festivities would continue at the manor, where the company staff would be kept away to allow for a more private celebration.
Suddenly, rhythmic drumming filled the air.
"Oh? A performance," Zhao Lun paused, curious to see what was unfolding.
A decorated ball appeared, followed by people carrying lion heads, chasing after it. As they caught up, the lion performers surrounded the ball holder, causing them to drop the ball in panic. The lions then leapt to grab it, with a white lion eventually catching it.
The lion, refusing to give up, began to "climb" the mountain.
This acrobatic dragon dance was mesmerizing, even the foreign spectators applauded in delight.
Afterward, the dragon dance followed, with the performers moving with such grace and freedom, it seemed like the dragon was soaring through the sky.
The dragon dance ended, followed by acrobatics, and before they knew it, it was noon.
Satisfied, the crowd began to leave, heading back to the manor. They all kept a low profile, leaving the remaining celebrations in the hands of reliable subordinates.
"Sir, there is an anomaly. Mr. Hodar is dealing with it."
Upon arriving home, Zhao Lun received this message from Athena. He instructed her to show him Hodar's location and projected the scene through the holographic display.
At that moment, Hodar, along with his assistant Baro
, was surrounded by the notorious business competitors from the former "Diamond Star" conglomerate, planning something unexpected.
Zhao Lun frowned. The story was far from over.