The harvest that Han Zhan gained from Taishang Laojun at the Douluo Palace cannot be simply described as bountiful.

Neither the unparalleled Supreme Physique that astounds the ages, nor the first Level Nine Armor, the Mixed Treasure Armor, are opportunities that can be easily found.

Opportunities are like ever-flowing water; some people exhaust their strength and can only hold a handful with their hands. Others, a bit more fortunate, just happen to have tools to scoop the water, managing to fill a ladle.

But when it comes to Han Zhan, he is exceedingly extraordinary. He directly built a dam in the midst of the surging river, holding all the opportunities flowing like water in his grasp, leading to his vast rewards today.

Not everyone can be like Han Zhan.

As Taishang Laojun mentioned, only two people could walk out unscathed from the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

With a thought, the Mixed Treasure Armor automatically donned onto Han Zhan, fitting him perfectly.

In contrast to the previous Western Knight Armor appearance, the Mixed Treasure Armor has drastically changed.

It is entirely black, where depth seems to flow with ripples, the fluid black resembling a primitive state of undivided chaos.

One wonders what rare materials Taishang Laojun added into the Eight Trigrams Furnace to create such Treasure Armor.

There are vortex patterns on its surface, symbolizing the mysteries of the cosmos and energy changes, akin to the unique cloud patterns of Daoism.

Compared to the previous Silver Armor, it caters more to Han Zhan’s Great Xia aesthetics.

The Mixed Treasure Armor provides thirty percent damage reduction, plus a ten percent weakening from the Xuanyuan Sword’s Innate Overpowering,

One can imagine the kind of painful expressions Tier Nine Ultimate Powerhouses would wear when facing Han Zhan.

"Well, it’s getting late, my young friend can leave on your own."

"I still need to meticulously sort through the insights of the Golden Core Dao, so I won’t see you off."

Taishang Laojun said with a smile. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

This was a way of seeing off the guest.

At Taishang Laojun’s level, not sending Han Zhan off immediately is already quite courteous.

Han Zhan nodded, thanking Laojun once again.

As he was about to turn and leave, the scene of Taishang Laojun’s head appearing on the Flat Peach Tree in the Peach Garden suddenly reappeared in his mind.

He paused slightly.

"What’s wrong? Do you still have something, young friend?"

"Laojun... what realm are you in now?" Han Zhan couldn’t help but ask another question.

Taishang Laojun paused for a moment, not understanding why Han Zhan asked this.

But due to Han Zhan’s earlier help, he answered truthfully:

"Previously, I was at the Tier Nine Peak, searching for the Dao to no avail. However, with your great assistance, the path of my Golden Core Dao has finally become clear."

Seeing the clear path means that there’s now a possibility of breaking through the Tier Nine Peak and stepping into the Realm of Transcendence.

"How do you compare with the Queen Mother?"

"Well..." Taishang Laojun hesitated, "The Queen Mother has long since comprehended the Dao, achieving the status of a Supreme Saint."

The Queen Mother of the West is really that formidable?

It seems a bit different from the legends he was familiar with, but this is the Fruit World, and differences are normal.

In this context, the scene in the Peach Garden is not entirely impossible.

The Queen Mother of the West is an expert in the Transcendence Realm, while even a strong one like Taishang Laojun is only at the Tier Nine Peak.

The strength of someone in the Realm of Transcendence can be glimpsed from the last battle of Teacher Li Shutong.

"The Queen Mother comprehends the Celestial Heart and uses the Original Daoist Soldier Kunlun Mirror to view time, the past and future within her gaze," Taishang Laojun praised sincerely.

His words made Han Zhan’s heart skip a beat.

Immediately, a chill climbed up his spine.

He nearly forgot, this is the Kunlun Twin Fruit World, the world of the Kunlun Mirror.

Each Fruit World is associated with a figure connected to Ancient Divine Soldiers.

And the associated figure with the Kunlun Mirror is the Queen Mother of the West?!

This explains why even the Dao that Taishang Laojun couldn’t comprehend, the Queen Mother of the West could surpass first.

Because the Original Dao Soldiers eliminated the barrier for her to break through to the Realm of Transcendence!

Another overlooked detail was that Han Zhan had just used the Time Reversal of Flowing Light and Shadow but did not incur the punishment of the River of Time.

This, perhaps, is also related to the Kunlun Twin Fruit World.

"Thank you, Laojun, for resolving my doubts." Han Zhan withdrew his thoughts and thanked him again.

Taishang Laojun shook his head, indifferent.

Han Zhan didn’t say much more and bid farewell to Taishang Laojun.

Upon understanding that the Queen Mother of the West is a formidable expert in the Realm of Transcendence and associated with the Kunlun Mirror, Han Zhan became more cautious.

The Kunlun Mirror can ascend the River of Time against the current, yet Han Zhan remains unsure of the extent of the Queen Mother of the West’s capabilities.

But dealing with those who manipulate time, like those who can foresee the future, cannot be overly cautious.

...

"I feel the scent of manipulating time upon you."

The unremarkably plain-faced middle-aged man before her is hard to connect with the Beidou Star Monarch.

Nuannuan looked at the middle-aged man before her, starting to recall Han Zhan’s earlier descriptions about the Beidou Star Monarch.

The Beidou Star Monarch, often deemed to govern life and death, fortune and demise in the mortal realm, possesses the ability to mitigate catastrophes and extend life, while also being associated with death.

Thus, the saying "Beidou decrees death" exists.

And there exists an inseparable link between death and the River of Time.

Death is like stones sinking to the riverbed of the River of Time, freezing in moments, akin to anchors, stabilizing the "riverbed" of the River of Time.

This is why the Beidou Star Monarch is most familiar with the aura of the River of Time.

"You and the Queen Mother seem to share the same origin." The Beidou Star Monarch said as he looked at Nuannuan who brought the invitation to the Flat Peach Banquet.

"Since you brought the invitation, I should offer you a token of thanks. You also share some connection with me..."

The Beidou Star Monarch mused for a moment,

"How about this, I can give you a treasure to immerse in your River of Time for nurturing, which could reduce the punishment from the River of Time, how does that sound?"

Using the Time Reversal of Flowing Light and Shadow to manipulate time does incur punishment.

It seems the Beidou Star Monarch is aware of this, hence his proactive offer of the treasure.

This should be the most valuable treasure suitable for Nuannuan.

Yet unexpectedly, Nuannuan shook her head.

"Thank you for your generosity, Star Monarch, but I probably don’t need this item. With the punishment from the River of Time, sometimes when you’re tired of it, you can change the flavor, it isn’t so bad."

Beidou Star Monarch: "???"

The words of Nuannuan utterly bewildered him.

What does being tired of it mean, what does changing the flavor mean, how does this relate to the punishment from the River of Time?

Nonetheless, since Nuannuan persisted, he decided not to insist.

As the Beidou Star Monarch, he indeed holds a natural fondness for Nuannuan, who can enter the River of Time.

Thus, he asked again, "So, what would you like as a return gift, feel free to tell me?"

"They say that death is the anchor of memory, the unwavering bedrock at the bottom of the River of Time’s riverbed."

"I wish to ask the Star Monarch for help, to see if there’s any issue within my River of Time."