At that moment, in the smallest guest room of the Immortal Delicacies Inn, the parrot was perched on the room's only wooden table, staring wide-eyed at Jian Dan—who returned the stare with an equally intense gaze.
The parrot fluffed the few remaining feathers on his nearly bald head with his wings, then opened his beak with flair:
"Beauty, don't look at me like that! I know I'm devastatingly handsome, but if you keep staring like that, this parrot's gonna get shy."
"Pfft—" This time, Jian Dan couldn't hold back her laughter. She reached out and poked the parrot's round belly, sending it toppling onto the table.
"Hey! Are you trying to murder the most magnificent parrot in existence?!"
"Alright, enough. I've never seen such a narcissistic bald bird!"
"Hmph! This lord—"
"Save it. No tall tales. Just talk—where are you from?"
The parrot stretched out a claw, waddled a small circle on the table, and then sat down like a little old man. He even rubbed his face with a wing, sighing.
"Ai, it's a long story—"
"Skip to the point." Jian Dan tapped her knuckle firmly on the table.
"This parrot has principles, you know. I won't lie to a beauty. But… there are some things I can't tell you," he said, turning around with his back to her in a haughty little huff.
"Fine. I'll speak. You just answer yes or no."
He didn't refuse this time. He turned back around to face her properly.
"You're from Qianwen Pavilion. Born of the main line?"
"Ahem... more or less."
"And that pawnshop you brought me to—you know them well too."
This time, the parrot scratched his head with his claw and finally answered:
"I didn't expect that old geezer to be at the counter personally. Scared me half to death! I just thought if I brought you along, we might squeeze out some more spirit stones. Make life easier for both of us."
Jian Dan rolled her eyes, then gave his belly another merciless poke.
"Let's cut to it. Why are you tagging along with me?"
"And that pawnshop—you're familiar with them too."
The parrot scratched its head.
"I didn't know that old man would be at the counter today! Scared the feathers off me! I just wanted to take you there to scrape up some spirit stones and make our lives easier."
Jian Dan rolled her eyes and poked its belly again.
"Cut the nonsense. Why did you latch onto me?"
"My ancestor said I'd never be able to cultivate. Then the Great Crow Immortal of the beast clans divined my fate—said when the Purple-Grade Secret Realm appears, a destined person would take me inside. That's my chance to rise to greatness!"
"And I'm this 'destined person'?"
"Dunno. I just liked your vibe. Didn't want to rot in that cage anymore."
"Purple-Grade Secret Realm?"
The moment she heard the term, Jian Dan felt a flicker of recognition. After digging through her memory, she finally recalled—it was this very Secret Realm that had given her and Du Yanran the chance to enter the cultivation world. As unaffiliated cultivators, they'd gotten into a sect solely because of it.
Its emergence had drawn elites from immortal, demon, and beast factions, decimating the sects' core forces. The resulting shortage led to mass recruitment of rogue cultivators—a backdoor she'd exploited.
Now, arriving in the cultivation world earlier, she'd stumbled upon the same opportunity.
"Tell me more about this Purple-Grade Secret Realm."
"Oh, this parrot knows plenty! Listen closely."
The Purple-Grade Secret Realm was the highest-tier realm in the cultivation world, also called the "Omni-Realm." From Qi Refiners to Mahayana experts, all could enter—but each would be transported to a subspace matching their cultivation level.
Each subspace was isolated. Low-level cultivators could ascend via teleportation arrays, but high-level ones couldn't descend—a protective measure.
The realms varied in danger and rewards. Whether one encountered spirit beasts, rare herbs, traps, or treasures depended entirely on luck.
Most crucially, the realm appeared only once every ten thousand years, at random locations. Its entrance manifested just three days prior, remaining open for three hours. Catching it was a matter of fate.
For high-level cultivators, this wasn't an issue—unless they were in seclusion. For the weak? Pure luck.
"And that's what you call 'knowing everything'?" Jian Dan asked dryly.
"That's just the appetizer! I know the exact location it'll appear this time."
"Oh? Do you now?"
"Of course! But if I take you there, you have to promise to take me inside with you."
"Deal."
Once their partnership was sealed with mutual nods and zero ceremony, Jian Dan brought the conversation back around.
"What about that pawnshop's old man?"
"He's… unique. Word is, he walks both the righteous and unrighteous paths."
"You even understand that concept?"
"I overheard some friends talking. I asked my older brother too—he said Grandpa Yin has pull across the Human, Demon, and Beast clans. His network is insanely wide."
"So in other words—not someone to offend. And his cultivation?"
"Insanely strong. Even my brother straightens up when he sees him."
"Your brother's impressive, then?"
"Of course! He's the next head of the White Hong Crane Clan!"
"Then why are you a five-colored parrot?"
"..."
This time, the parrot didn't respond right away. His little head drooped in sudden melancholy, and even the few tufts of feathers on top of his head wilted.