afternoon.

Lin Feng leaned lazily against a poolside lounge chair carved from a single piece of "Lantian warm jade".

That face, once slightly thin from long hours of travel, is now sharply defined, and its brows exude a composure and authority befitting someone who has long held a high position.

His skin has an impeccable texture, showing no trace of the sun and wind of yesteryear.

Living a life of luxury and ease—these four words seem tailor-made for him, deeply ingrained in his very being.

A strangely shaped cat silently leaped onto his chest.

It is entirely black, without a single stray hair, but its fur is not the usual downy texture; instead, it is like the smoothest black silk, flowing with a dark luster under the light.

Its body was more slender than the cats of Blue Star, with elegant limbs. Its most peculiar feature was its eyes, which were as clear as amethyst, without pupils, only a deep purple that contained starlight.

This is the alien spirit beast, "Phantom".

Lin Feng opened his eyes, his amethyst-like cat-like pupils meeting his deep black eyes.

He reached out, his long, slender fingers casually scratching the "Phantom's" chin. The latter comfortably narrowed its eyes, its tail swaying gently in the air.

Once upon a time, let alone such a top-tier spirit beast, even keeping an ordinary stray cat in a rented room was a luxury for him.

Food, cat litter, vaccines... every expense is enough to overwhelm the delivery guy who is still struggling to make ends meet.

"Your Majesty." Su Wanqing was dressed in an impeccable court uniform, as if she were not the leading lady of last night.

Holding a holographic screen, she walked over with light steps and stopped just three steps away.

"Were you satisfied with last night's banquet?" she asked softly, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible concern.

"It's acceptable." Lin Feng's answer was as concise as ever.

"What are the plans for today?" Lin Feng asked, his fingers still tracing the silky fur of the "Phantom".

A densely packed schedule immediately appeared on Su Wanqing's holographic screen.

She quickly screened the materials and then reported: "'Tiangong Kaiwu Yuan' has sent the latest design drawings for a floating bath, which can simulate the feeling of bathing in a nebula; 'Zhiyun Fang' has presented a new batch of robes woven from 'ice silkworm silk' and 'light feathers,' totaling seventy-two styles; in addition... Director Wang of 'Wanling Yuan' reported yesterday that a new batch of animals that have traveled from Earth have adapted to their new environment. Among them are several golden monkeys and a pair of giant pandas."

Upon hearing the last two names, Lin Feng paused slightly as he stroked the "Phantom" finger.

Giant panda.

This word was like a key, instantly unlocking a long-sealed corner of his memory.

He recalled the Blue Star era, watching the black-and-white, endearing creatures on television through thick glass—the treasures of the entire nation.

For him at the time, pandas were unattainable symbols that existed only in news reports and online images.

And now... they've become pets in their own backyard.

It's a wonderful feeling, an ultimate sense of satisfaction that comes from having trampled past desires underfoot.

“Let’s go check out ‘Wanling Garden’.” Lin Feng sat up, and “Phantom” leaped lightly, turning into a wisp of black smoke and disappearing.

“Tell them to get ready too,” he added.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Su Wanqing bowed and accepted the order, immediately transmitting it to every corner of the harem through the internal communication system.

...

Half an hour later, the special motorcade for the palace slowly drove towards the "Garden of Spirits".

Leading the way was not any mass-produced vehicle, but a mobile aerial jade platform.

The jade platform is made of an unknown white crystal, with a warm and smooth texture. It floats three meters above the ground, surrounded by a light mist, like a celestial being's vehicle.

The jade platform was incredibly spacious, enough to accommodate dozens of people. It was covered with a carpet woven from the fur of "snow foxes," and set with exquisite low tables and soft couches. On the low tables were rare and exotic fruits and fine wines from another planet.

Lin Feng leaned back in the central seat, surrounded by six concubines, each with their own unique charm.

They had all changed into magnificent palace attire, their hair piled high and adorned with pearls and jade, exuding an even more dignified and noble air than their charming seduction of the previous night.

"Your Majesty, are we really going to see the pandas? I heard that pandas actually have a bad temper." Ruan Mengtian blinked her innocent big eyes, taking small bites of a crystal-clear "purple grape," and asked curiously.

“Pandas aren’t fierce, but they are…lazy.” A rare, genuine smile appeared on Lin Feng’s lips.

"Lazy?" Qian Xiaoxiao, dressed in a fiery red palace gown that accentuated her snow-white skin, chuckled and said, "How lazy can I be? Could I possibly know how to enjoy life better than Your Majesty?"

This compliment elicited a chuckle from the concubines.

Lin Feng remained noncommittal, simply picking up a glass of wine made from the nectar of the "Morning Dew Flower," taking a small sip, and gazing into the distance.

The convoy passed through gardens filled with exotic flowers and plants, and around magnificent palaces, finally stopping in front of an incredibly grand gate.

The giant gate is formed by two towering trees that seem to be alive, with thousands of animal reliefs carved on the trunks. Above the gate are three large, gilded characters written in a vigorous and elegant style: "Wanlingyuan" (Garden of Ten Thousand Spirits).

This is Lin Feng's private zoo.

Its vast territory and diverse species are enough to drive any biologist crazy.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a dark green official robe, was already waiting there.

He is Wang Dehai, the director of "Wanlingyuan". Behind him are dozens of zookeepers and researchers in uniform.

"Welcome, Your Majesty! Welcome, Your Highnesses!" Wang Dehai led the crowd in kneeling and bowing.

"Rise," Lin Feng's voice came from the jade platform in the air, carrying a hint of nonchalance. The jade platform slowly descended, and Lin Feng, supported by a maid, stepped down.

"Director Wang, I heard a new batch of little ones has arrived?" Lin Feng asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wang Dehai quickly stood up, bowed slightly, and respectfully replied, "Half a month ago, a zoo traveled to another planet. Among them were five golden monkeys and a pair of healthy adult giant pandas. They have now fully adapted to the simulated ecological environment in the zoo."

"Very good, lead the way." Lin Feng nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty, please follow me."

Wang Dehai dared not neglect his duties and personally led the way.

As the group entered the "Garden of Ten Thousand Spirits," it felt as if they had stepped into another world.

Their first stop was the Alien Wonders Zone.

The enormous crystal dome simulates the sun, below which lies a vast grassland.

A group of "Starlight Qilin," resembling deer but with crystal antlers on their heads and scattering starlight as they run, are leisurely munching on a luminous plant.

The concubines gasped in amazement.

"Wow, so beautiful! Their horns look like they're made of real stars!" Liu Yanxi covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Your Majesty, may I have one as my mount?" Qian Xiaoxiao was already imagining herself riding a Qilin through the palace.

"This beast is docile, but it only eats 'starlight grass'. If it leaves this simulated environment, it will die within three days."

Lin Feng explained calmly, without any boasting in his tone, simply stating a fact.

His knowledge far surpassed the imagination of these concubines.

Then, they saw the "Void Carp," a hundred meters long with scales as dazzling as glass, swimming in a suspended water sphere. They also saw the "Ice Crystal Fox," whose entire body was made of ice, chasing and playing in the ice crystal forest.

Each and every one of them is a rare and exotic animal. But in Lin Feng's "Ten Thousand Spirits Garden," they are just one of many collections.

The exclamations of the concubines never ceased from beginning to end.

Lin Feng simply watched calmly; he was already used to these things, and they no longer stirred much emotion within him.

Finally, after passing through a connected area, the scenery suddenly changed.

The towering, strangely shaped plants have disappeared, replaced by the lush green bamboo forest that Lin Feng remembers so vividly.

The air was moist and fresh, carrying the fragrance of earth and bamboo leaves. The path underfoot had been transformed into a flagstone road.

"It's so comfortable here," Shen Jiaqi, who had been quiet all along, couldn't help but whisper. Compared to those bizarre alien environments, this bamboo forest, full of natural vitality, gave her a sense of inexplicable familiarity and peace.

"This is a one-to-one replica based on the ecological environment of the Sichuan region of Blue Star," Wang Dehai explained from the side. "The temperature, humidity, air pressure, soil composition, and even the microbial community are completely consistent with the data in the database."

The concubines were astonished, wondering how much manpower and resources it would take to replicate Earth's environment. This was the power of the imperial family—they could freely dispose of all resources.

Money is utterly insignificant.