The mud monster crawled upwards slowly, like a small snake.
Liu Nanfeng saw it but did not stop it.
He prepared to hand the little Jin Hua in his arms to Su Jinxiu, but was intercepted by Su Huamei.
"Come, little darling, auntie wants a hug."
Su Huamei smiled as kindly and brilliantly as she possibly could.
"Auntie."
Little Jin Hua's chubby little mouth moved to Su Huamei's cheek and gave a loud smack, covering her face with saliva. She could only babble "yiyi" for now and not say much else.
However, even so, her growth rate had astonished many.
"Come, show auntie the red ribbon in your hand, okay?"
Upon hearing this, little Jin Hua's eyes widened, and she clutched the red ribbon tightly. The red ribbon, as if alive, slowly burrowed into little Jin Hua's clothes, peeking out from her collar.
"So stingy."
"Mmm mmm…"
Little Jin Hua's eyes widened, as if to say, don't think I'm easily fooled just because I'm small.
"Alright, I won't look then, okay?" Su Jinxiu pouted.
"Mmm mmm…"
Little Jin Hua didn't understand what she was saying, only glaring with a "fierce" expression, as if to scare Su Huamei away and prevent her from eyeing her possessions.
The crowd was thoroughly amused by the little one.
However, seeing no immediate gains, everyone prepared to search the surroundings for their own opportunities.
Liu Nanfeng, meanwhile, activated his Eye of Analysis, preparing to see how to enter the second level of the giant tower.
Only Little Koi, still controlling the mud monster, was still huffing and puffing as it climbed upwards. The giant monument was simply too large and too tall.
Time trickled by, and indeed, a few people found their own fortuitous encounters. It was evident that the closer one was to the stone monument, the greater the opportunity.
The most amusing was when Dundun obtained a five-string pipa, each string a different color and serving a unique purpose. He gently strummed a string.
Instantly, the world darkened, and thunder, lightning, wind, and fire erupted simultaneously, possessing a certain imposing aura.
Just then, the runes on the giant monument suddenly came alive, radiating golden light as if leaping from the stone, floating in the air, forming a massive screen of light.
Little Koi, standing before the monument, was startled and ran away, crashing into Liu Nanfeng's arms.
Liu Nanfeng also picked up Little Koi with a look of surprise.
The "door" had been opened, or rather, opened by the mud monster.
The mud monster had no specific form, so when it climbed to the eye pattern in the center of the giant monument, it automatically changed its shape according to Little Koi's will, ultimately filling the void of the eye pattern.
Was the mud monster the key to opening the giant tower?
Liu Nanfeng had this thought, but he dared not be certain. Perhaps it was merely due to the mud monster's inherent characteristics that it activated the giant tower. However, he felt this possibility was very slim.
After all, the builder of the giant tower possessed abilities that could govern heaven and earth, and would not make such a minor mistake.
Regardless, entering the second level was the priority.
At this moment, the others also returned. Liu Nanfeng led the charge, crashing into the floating runes, followed closely by the rest of the group.
"Mud monster."
Little Koi was a bit anxious and quickly called out.
Unfortunately, as soon as the words left her mouth, they had already arrived at another place. The mud monster had, at some unknown time, returned to Little Koi's wrist.
If the first level of the giant tower was a primitive world teeming with plants,
Then the second level perfectly replicated the heavenly palaces outside, but this heavenly palace was truly like a fairy realm. White clouds drifted, rosy clouds emitted myriad rays of light, countless auspicious signs galloped through the air, and immeasurable treasures shot beams of light towards the heavens. Moreover, this world seemed to be much larger than the first level.
"This is the true heavenly palace, isn't it?" everyone exclaimed in surprise.
"Possibly."
Liu Nanfeng couldn't be entirely sure. It resembled the legendary heavenly palace too much, making the outside seem more like a primeval, savage land.
"Let's go," Liu Nanfeng led the way inward.
Everyone followed suit. Clouds and mist billowed around them. As everyone took a deep breath, they immediately felt refreshed and clear-headed. It turned out these were all formed from spiritual energy.
Even the gurgling river beside them was formed from spiritual energy, its density so high that it was beginning to solidify.
Just then, a strange beast descended from the sky, its feathers emitting divine light. It resembled a phoenix, yet was not a phoenix. Its entire body shimmered with flowing colors, making it extremely beautiful. It tilted its head, observing everyone curiously.
Everyone stopped in their tracks, cautiously on guard, unsure if the beast was friend or foe, or what abilities it possessed.
Only little Jin Hua understood none of this. Seeing the beast's beautiful feathers, she wanted to tug at them.
So, she extended her arm, calling out "yiyiya" incessantly.
At this moment, Chu Yang emerged from the crowd and walked directly towards the beast opposite.
"Rosy clouds?"
Chu Yang stepped out from the crowd and approached the beast.
The beast extended its beak and gently pecked at Chu Yang's brow. Myriad rosy clouds immediately erupted from Chu Yang's brow, and before everyone's eyes, Chu Yang's body rapidly ascended. From an innocent child, she instantly transformed into a graceful and elegant woman.
This was the second form of the divine statue they had seen in the temple that day.
Chu Yang had grown, and her mind seemed to have matured considerably. She turned back and gave everyone a slight smile.
Then, she mounted the beast's back.
Little Koi looked on with envy; she also wanted to try riding it.
"Follow me," Chu Yang said with a smile.
The beast, named Rosy Clouds, soared into the sky, then sprinkled a beam of rosy clouds onto the ground beneath everyone's feet, forming a shimmering path of light.
The crowd did not rush onto it, their gazes collectively turning to Liu Nanfeng.
Liu Nanfeng's gaze shifted, and he stepped onto it. Only then did everyone else follow.
They then discovered the marvel of this path of rosy clouds. They felt the scenery before them constantly changing. After only a few steps, they arrived before a massive altar. On the altar, a giant stone monument stood, identical to the previous one. It was also inscribed with countless characters, and in the center was an eye-like pattern.
"Little Koi, up," Liu Nanfeng called out to Little Koi with a smile.
Little Koi was very pleased upon hearing this and immediately stepped forward, calling for the mud monster to climb up. It seemed it would still take some time.
So, everyone dispersed in all directions, searching for new opportunities.
This time, Liu Nanfeng did not intend to analyze the giant monument, but he did not leave. Instead, he kept an eye on Little Koi, preventing any accidents, as who knew what dangers might lurk within this giant tower.
Besides him, Zhu Yin'e also stayed, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, watching over Little Koi.
Su Huamei, who had walked a short distance away, turned back and glanced, then pouted. She turned to Su Jinxiu and said, "You're not keeping a good eye on your husband either."
Su Jinxiu glared at her but remained silent, instead looking at a nearby wall.
"What's so interesting about this wall?" Su Huamei asked, somewhat confused.
Then, she also looked at the wall and noticed that there was a painting on it, and the scene depicted in the painting was alive.
Fertile fields crisscrossed by paths, men plowing and women weaving, dogs barking and poultry scurrying – a true scene of idyllic paradise.
This was Su Jinxiu's fortuitous encounter. What the heart yearned for would be answered. It turned out her greatest aspiration was to live in seclusion in a valley with the one she loved, plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence.
Just then, the giant monument suddenly emitted a brilliant radiance. Having gone through it once, Little Koi was much more adept this time, and her speed was naturally much faster.