The Princess's Smile (16)
The mechanical bird replied, “Yes, my beak is very sharp, but the diamonds in Diamond Mountain are much harder to peck open. Every year, I come to Diamond Mountain and it takes me ten days to peck off just one diamond, but my beak gets injured and needs a year to heal.”
So I only come to Diamond Hill once a year. I love the diamonds here so much that if I could get ten pounds of them at once, I wouldn't have to come back to peck at them anymore.
So, if you can get me ten pounds of diamonds, I can help you obtain the Eye of the Sun.
Jian Tanxi exclaimed in surprise, "Ten jin? Isn't that a bit too much?"
"Ten pounds of diamonds is nothing compared to this mountain of diamonds. If you can't get them for me, I'm leaving now."
"Wait, of course I can help you dig for diamonds, but I'm not sure if it's possible. I'll have to ask the mountain guardian first."
"Mountain Guardian?"
"Yes, that's the old man."
To everyone's surprise, the old man said, "I am not the guardian of this mountain, nor does this mountain belong to me. In fact, Diamond Mountain does not belong to anyone, and no one will care how many diamonds you take away."
Jian Tanxi asked in surprise, "What? You're not the mountain guardian? Then why are you here?"
“I’ve forgotten why I came here. I only remember that when I first saw Diamond Hill, I was lost. I forgot my name, my origins, and my purpose in coming here. My heart and eyes were filled with nothing but Diamond Hill. I fell in love with Diamond Hill, so I’m stuck here and can’t get out. I gave myself a name: The Lost One.”
"The lost..."
"Yes, I don't remember anything. But if you want the diamonds, feel free to take them."
Now that the diamond mountain was unclaimed, Jian Tanxi felt relieved.
She took out the interstellar triangular pyramid, struck it hard, and knocked off many diamonds.
After about an hour of hammering, all ten pounds of diamonds were removed.
These diamonds are very hard inside, so they cannot be easily broken. Jian Tanxi's triangular pyramid only separated a few diamonds and did not cause any damage.
The mechanical bird was overjoyed and opened its personal space, hiding all ten pounds of diamonds inside.
Then, it said to Jian Tanxi, "Now, I can take you to find the Heart of the Sun. However, with such a powerful triangular pyramid, why not consider digging up more diamonds? I only need ten pounds; no matter how much you dig up after that, I won't take it."
Jian Tanxi thought for a moment and said, "I only need one."
As she spoke, she used a triangular awl to carve out a smaller diamond and put it away.
The mechanical bird exclaimed in surprise, "You really only want one? Getting into Diamond Mountain isn't easy."
Even the old man was surprised and asked, "Even if you moved the entire Diamond Mountain, it wouldn't really matter."
Jian Tanxi said, "Diamond Mountain is so big, I can't move it. There are so many things in the world, I can't take them all. So, one is enough."
The old man seemed to be deep in thought.
Suddenly, he said, "Little girl, thank you. I am no longer lost. I have remembered my identity and mission. Now, I must leave."
Jian Tanxi asked, "What is your identity? And what is your mission?"
"It's a secret for now. If we meet again, I'll tell you about my past. You helped me break through the illusion, so I'll give you this cane. It's a powerful tool. With this cane, you can walk on steep mountain walls without falling. You can also ride on the backs of various animals; as long as you put the cane on their backs, they can't shake you off."
Jian Tanxi took the cane and thanked the old man, "Thank you... but I didn't help you just now."
The old man said, "What you just said has cleared up my confusion. This matter is complicated in some ways, and simple in others. There's no need to explain it, because explaining it would only make it harder to express the meaning accurately. In short, you deserve this cane. I wish you all the best in the future."
Then, a glass walkway appeared in front of the old man.
He walked up and gradually moved away from Diamond Hill.
With each step he took, a section of the glass walkway behind him disappeared, as if the walkway was prepared just for him. Once he passed through, the path disappeared, and no one else could walk on it.
However, Jian Tanxi no longer needs to find her way; she's going to find the Heart of the Sun with the mechanical bird.
The mechanical bird said to her, "The Heart of the Sun is in the Sea of Sharks. There lives a powerful witch in the sea named Ophelia, who keeps the Heart of the Sun. I have visited her many times, but she will not see me. I want to take the Heart of the Sun away, but I can't beat her."
Jian Tanxi nodded: "Let's find her first."
The mechanical bird carried Jian Tanxi for three days before arriving at the Sea of Sharks.
Just like its name suggests, this place is frequented by many sharks, making it look quite terrifying.
There were few people or boats nearby; it seemed no one dared to cross this stretch of water.
Jian Tanxi asked, "Where is the sea witch?"
The mechanical bird said, "We have to wait until sunrise. The first ray of sunlight that shines on the sun is the sea witch's dwelling. She comes out to sunbathe every morning, and she is protected by many sharks. Ordinary people can't get close to her."
Jian Tanxi nodded: "Then let's wait by the sea and rest here tonight."
Although she said she was resting, Jian Tanxi didn't dare to sleep too soundly.
She only slept for a few hours before waiting for dawn.
At the moment of sunrise, as the first rays of sunlight shone on the sea, the sea witches rose to the surface to bask in the sun.
She was surrounded by dozens of sharks, who all bowed to her as if she were their master.
Taking this opportunity, Jian Tanxi called out, "Ophelia, I am just a passerby, and I pay my highest respects to you. I have heard that you possess the Heart of the Sun. Could you transfer it to me? You can name your terms."
The sea witch saw Jian Tanxi and the mechanical bird and angrily said, "Are you here to steal my gem for that wicked bird? Let me tell you, I will never give you the Heart of the Sun."
“You’re mistaken. The mechanical bird doesn’t want the Heart of the Sun; it just came with me.”
"So you wanted it yourself? What do you need it for?"
"I have my uses, you can name your terms."
"Hmph, even if you gave me the antlers of the Sika Deer King and the feathers on the head of the Bar-headed Goose King, I would never trade them with you."
Jian Tanxi's heart skipped a beat: "I happen to have these two things."
Then, she took out the antlers of the sika deer king and the feathers on the head of the bar-headed goose king and showed them to the sea witch.
The sea witch's eyes lit up; she seemed to really like the two items.
However, instead of offering to exchange, she commanded the sharks to attack Jian Tanxi.
Although those sharks cannot come ashore, they can jump up and bite people; they just need to return to the water within a certain time.
Faced with an attack from a group of sharks, Jian Tanxi used the interstellar triangular pyramid to fight them, while the mechanical bird also waved its mechanical wings to help repel the sharks.
After a while, the sharks realized how powerful the triangular pyramid and mechanical wings were, and they stopped attacking.
Seeing that the situation was not good, the sea witch wanted to dive into the sea.
Jian Tanxi said, "I originally wanted to exchange with you, but not only did you not exchange, you also tried to take my things. I think you don't actually have the Heart of the Sun. You say you have it, but it's just for the sake of saving face."
The sea witch was a little angry: "Who said I don't have the Heart of the Sun? I'll show you right now!"
As she spoke, the sea witch took out the Heart of the Sun.
The gem was enormous, emitting a dazzling and intense light, like a small sun.
Of course, the light and heat it emits are far less intense than the sun, otherwise it would burn everyone and the sea to ashes.
It is more beautiful than the Moon Soul, and it is so beautiful that you can't take your eyes off it at first sight.
Jian Tanxi whispered to the mechanical bird, "Once the Heart of the Sun leaves the witch's palm, go and fetch it."
The mechanical bird said, "The sea witch values this gem very much and will never let it out of her sight."
"No, I have a way to get rid of her. You fly quietly to her side first."
The mechanical bird nodded.
It first flew behind a tree, then gradually made its body transparent. This was its special ability.
Then it flew toward the sea witch and hovered above her head, but the sea witch did not notice it.
At this moment, Jian Tanxi whispered, "Modify the script's ability activation: 'The sea witch grabs the heart of the sun.' Change 'grab' to 'throw,' so it becomes 'The sea witch throws the heart of the sun.'"
The supernatural power took effect, and the sea witch suddenly started tossing the Heart of the Sun around to play with it.
As the Heart of the Sun was tossed high into the air, the mechanical bird swiftly caught it in its beak and flew rapidly towards the shore.
The sea witch was furious and threw out a long rope, trying to catch the mechanical bird.
At this moment, Jian Tanxi shouted, "I'll allow you to run 39 meters first!"
Her forty-meter-long sword appeared, cutting the witch's rope, and the mechanical bird successfully flew back to Jian Tanxi's side.
Without hesitation, Jian Tanxi immediately took out the magic carpet and took herself and the mechanical bird with her—because the magic carpet was faster than the mechanical bird, they had to ride the magic carpet.
Before leaving, Jian Tanxi threw down the Deer King's antlers and the Goose King's head feathers, as if exchanging these two items for the Eye of the Sun.
After flying for a while, the mechanical bird said, "The sea witch shouldn't be able to catch us now. I'm going back to my nest. Let's part ways here. Anyway, I can fly."
Jian Tanxi nodded: "Okay, do you know where Star Dream is?"
"I don't know, you should ask someone else."
Jian Tanxi and the mechanical bird parted ways.
Jian Tanxi did not continue flying, because what she needed to do now was to find the Dream of the Stars, and there was no point in flying around aimlessly.
So she spotted a bustling city and flew down.
She set up a stall in the busiest market, not selling anything, but simply displaying the diamonds she had dug from Diamond Mountain, and then called out, "Whoever can tell me about the Dream of the Stars, this diamond is his."
For a time, many people gathered around to watch the spectacle, but no one knew where Star Dream was.
After setting up her stall for five days, an elderly farmer came and said to Jian Tanxi, "I've heard of Star Dream... I've heard that in the distant Mushroom Mountain, you can see the brightest star in the world. The place illuminated by the brightest star when it first rises is where Star Dream is located."
Jian Tanxi asked, "Is it true?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
