Chapter 10 Spirit Spring
No other reason.
Beside the springhead stood a stone stele, on which three large characters were crudely inscribed in small seal script: “Spirit Spring Stele.”
Below these large characters, densely packed smaller text detailed its origins.
The general meaning was that this Space was a fragment that had fallen from a higher-dimensional plane, and its original form could no longer be traced.
However, it was certain that the Black Soil Land outside the courtyard could grow any plant, and the river flowing around it would provide an endless supply of water.
What gushed from the springhead beside the Spirit Spring Stele was Spirit Spring Water, but it was limited to flowing within a half-meter radius around the springhead.
The Spirit Spring had miraculous effects.
Not only could it accelerate wound healing and improve physical fitness, but it could also make one’s skin fairer and features more beautiful.
Additional small text noted that it was also highly effective for attracting animals or accelerating the growth of plants in the Black Soil Land.
The last line of the inscription read: “Obtained by those destined.”
And that was it!
Reading this, Shen Yi’an suddenly felt the urge to curse.
Grass… is a type of plant!
If she had known earlier that there was a Spirit Spring in the courtyard that could save her, she wouldn’t have coughed up blood until death in her previous life.
However, it was fortunate that she hadn’t discovered the Spirit Spring.
Otherwise, this life of hers wouldn’t have ushered in a new beginning.
Setting aside her inner relief, Shen Yi’an’s first action was to crouch down, scoop up some Spirit Spring Water, and drink several mouthfuls.
Indeed, it lived up to its reputation as life-saving and beautifying Spirit Spring Water.
Sweet and smooth, with a subtle lingering sweetness.
As it flowed down her throat, it seemed to dispel the internal heat, relaxing her body and mind completely.
The tearing pain she had experienced earlier in the private room of the dance hall was also alleviated by the rapid restorative effects of the Spirit Spring Water.
Shen Yi’an, immersed in this state of bliss, was snapped back to reality by a strong, foul stench wafting past her nose.
Opening her eyes and seeing the brown, sticky substance on her arm, she guessed it was likely toxins expelled from her body after drinking the Spirit Spring Water.
Without overthinking, she immediately ran out of the blue-brick courtyard and headed toward the river encircling the Black Soil Land.
After washing and scrubbing for over half an hour, she finally stepped ashore, certain that no more impurities were being expelled from her skin’s surface.
The muddied river water gradually cleared as it flowed ceaselessly.
Her clothes, freshly washed, were still wet, so Shen Yi’an hung them on the wooden fence surrounding the courtyard, covering her vital areas as she continued to explore the courtyard.
Besides the Spirit Spring, she also discovered a Luopan (Compass) in the center of the main room.
The Luopan was bluish-green, inlaid with gemstones of various sizes and colors around its edges. Judging by their appearance, any single one of them could fetch an astronomical price if pried off.
However, Shen Yi’an didn’t entertain such thoughts.
She simply walked around the Luopan, which was about a meter in diameter, and finally stopped on the side facing the main gate.
As soon as she placed her palm on the largest ruby at the center of the Luopan, a multicolored light shot into the air.
As the multicolored light faded, a pale blue light screen slowly appeared.
Before long, several lines of text appeared on the blue light screen.
The meaning was easy to understand:
The current Space was only in its initial state and could be upgraded by absorbing energy.
Since the current plane lacked the energy required for Space upgrades, energy could only be accumulated by absorbing the essence of plants grown in the Black Soil Land.
Once the energy reached the required level, the Space would immediately upgrade.
Of course, absorbing Spirit Spring Water would undoubtedly accelerate the upgrade process.
But without the permission of the space owner, the space itself cannot absorb energy from the Spirit Spring.
There was also a final line of small text noting that at the current interface, the space could only be upgraded to the second level at most.
After reading the information on the light screen, Shen Yi’an’s mind began to race.
The space could still be upgraded.
Although one upgrade was already the ultimate state, the upgraded space would definitely have new functions.
Moreover, only with the permission of the space owner could the space absorb energy from the Spirit Spring to upgrade.
Lastly, any crops grown on the Black Soil Land could provide energy for the space, though the speed was not as fast as absorbing the Spirit Spring.
Interpreting this information, the joy on Shen Yi’an’s face was unmistakable.
Although it was still unclear what new functions the space would have at the second level, it would surely be better than the current state.
Thinking about the still barren Black Soil Land, it was clear that it couldn’t provide the energy for an upgrade for now.
To upgrade the space faster, she would have to absorb some of the Spirit Spring Water first.
After all, the stone tablet had stated that the river surrounding the Black Soil Land and the Spirit Spring would never run dry.
Upgrading the space would only increase her advantages, so using the Spirit Spring Water to speed up the process wasn’t a bad idea.
With this thought, Shen Yi’an immediately left the room where the Luopan was placed and went out into the courtyard.
The light screen had said that the space absorbed the Spirit Spring Water through the will of the space owner.
As long as she willed it, the Spirit Spring Water would automatically merge into the space.
Once she stopped the thought, the connection between the Spirit Spring Water and the space would automatically break.
To test this, Shen Yi’an silently thought, “Allow the Spirit Spring Water to merge into the space.”
The moment the thought appeared, she clearly saw the spring bubbling more vigorously with a louder “gurgling” sound.
Accompanied by a rhythmic pulsation, the atmosphere in the entire space underwent a noticeable change—the most direct sensation was a significant increase in humidity.
Confirming this change, she silently thought again, “Stop the Spirit Spring Water from merging.”
Instantly, the previously bubbling Spirit Spring quieted down considerably, and the mist that had filled the surroundings gradually dissipated into the air.
Before long, the humidity in the air returned to its original state.
Sensing these changes, Shen Yi’an knew the information on the light screen was accurate.
The energy required for the space to upgrade was immense.
If only a small amount of energy were needed, the Spirit Spring wouldn’t have reacted so dramatically.
After confirming the situation in the space, she felt that several hours had passed.
Thinking that it would soon be dawn outside, Shen Yi’an put on her already dried clothes and slipped out of the space.
The moment she reappeared in her bed, she realized the dormitory was still pitch black, and the moonlight blocked by the curtains was no different from what she had seen before entering the space.
Could it be that time flowed differently in the space compared to reality?
With this thought, Shen Yi’an retrieved the watch from under her pillow and checked the time by the moonlight. It showed 23:55.
To confirm the time difference between the space and reality, she noted the current time on the watch and then stored it in the space.
When the moonlight outside the window had noticeably shifted, she took the watch out of the space again.
It was confirmed: there was indeed a difference in the flow of time between the space and reality. One hour in the outside world was equivalent to ten hours in the space.
The tenfold difference in time flow made Shen Yi’an’s little heart beat faster and faster.
What does a one-to-ten ratio mean?
It means that while crops outside have just been sown, those in the Space have already been harvested twice.
It’s truly unimaginable what kind of surprise would appear if the Space were to upgrade again.
Carrying beautiful aspirations for the future, Shen Yi’an gradually fell into a deep sleep, breathing in the familiar scent on the quilt and pillow.
When he opened his eyes again, it was because he was awakened by the rustling noises in the dormitory.