“This place was once just a barren mountain.”
Walking through the woods outside the manor, Lady Catherine’s melodious voice echoed continuously.
“Luo Xiya was conferred the title of Count and insisted on choosing this place as her territory. At that time, I was uneasy and followed her here, saying I’d pioneer it myself.”
“Later, I still felt uneasy about Luo Xiya being the lord here, so I just stayed with her. Unexpectedly, a few years passed in the blink of an eye.”
“Good child, did you know there was once a Domain-level Monster hidden here?”
Lady Catherine suddenly changed the subject.
“Ah?”
Roman was startled.
“It was a Winged Serpent. But I already defeated it.”
“A snake…”
Just hearing the word made Roman shiver uncontrollably, his face inching closer to Lady Catherine’s snowy peaks, his steps growing unsteady, terrified that a cold little snake might slither by his feet.
Lady Catherine naturally noticed Roman’s reaction.
She quickly pressed her heart against him to comfort him.
“It’s okay, it’s okay.”
She said reassuringly.
“Besides, during the initial pioneering, I eliminated all the extraordinary creatures from the territory. The Patrol Guard regularly cleans and patrols places like this, so except for animals like squirrels, anything even slightly aggressive won’t be left alone.”
“I also specially cast an Expulsion Spell in the vicinity. Rest assured.”
After Lady Catherine’s repeated explanations, Roman finally relaxed.
Seeing him calm down, Lady Catherine leaned in mysteriously and whispered in his ear.
“Do you know why such a remote place would have a near-Domain Winged Serpent?”
“I don’t know.”
Roman replied honestly.
“Come with me, and you’ll understand.”
Lady Catherine took Roman’s small hand, leading him in a certain direction.
The two followed the forest path deeper and deeper, and the environment shifted from lush to increasingly quiet.
Roman’s beautiful eyes glanced left and right, his earlier unease gradually fading with the changing surroundings.
The Peach Blossom Spring Chronicle-like experience unfolding before him made his gaze shine with splendor.
As they ventured further, Roman realized they had entered a cave.
Lady Catherine beside him looked entirely at ease, as if she’d been here many times.
“We’re almost there.”
She said softly.
Just like the record in the Peach Blossom Spring Chronicle, at first the path was narrow, barely fitting a person, but after walking dozens of steps, it suddenly opened up.
At the cave’s end, Roman saw a new world.
Compared to the previous passage, it was much brighter, with glowing Crystal Stones everywhere.
As the space widened, his vision cleared.
Seeing the gem-like objects scattered above and below, Roman realized it was a Mine Shaft.
“These are the purest Source Crystals.”
Lady Catherine said.
“Source Crystals?”
“Yes. Even a single one from here can forcibly raise the magic power of a Lower Transcendent to Middle Rank. Middle Rank Transcendents can also pile up enough to reach Upper Transcendent. But for Upper Transcendents, these are meaningless.”
Lady Catherine opened her palm, and a Source Crystal fell onto it.
“Only in a place like this could such a high-level Winged Serpent exist. Normally, the limits of that species are low—they can’t possibly reach such magical power levels.”
“It seems useful, but you must never use it!”
Lady Catherine warned.
“Because this is Overfishing the Pond for the Fish. Some people with poor talent don’t care, but you absolutely cannot.”
As she spoke, Lady Catherine noticed how the Source Crystal’s light shone beautifully on Roman’s face.
These things could be made into ornaments for Roman to wear.
She thought whimsically.
Roman’s mind was pure.
He simply thought Lady Catherine was showing him the colorful sights.
So, as he gazed at the brilliant scenery, his eyes were full of wonder, his mood relaxed.
However, as he continued following Lady Catherine, he suddenly saw a faint mist rising ahead.
“What’s that?”
Roman asked in confusion.
“That’s a Hot Spring.”
“Hot Spring?”
“Yes, a naturally formed Hot Spring.”
Lady Catherine pulled Roman closer, and a wave of fresh, pleasant steam enveloped them.
“It smells so nice…”
Roman couldn’t help but sigh with narrowed eyes.
“This place is unusual.”
Lady Catherine patiently explained.
“When I first found it, I had no idea how a Hot Spring could form here. After all, there’s no heat source under the mountain. Could it be related to the nearby Source Crystals?”
“Later, I realized I was thinking backward. It’s not that the Hot Spring was created by the Source Crystals, but rather that only near this Hot Spring could such pure Source Crystals form.”
“Sister Luo Xiya must have sensed something back then, which is why she resolutely chose this place.”
Roman said without thinking, admiration on his face.
“Mm…”
Lady Catherine suddenly turned to look at Roman.
“I often come to study this Hot Spring when I have time. Gradually, I began to notice something.”
“What is it?”
Roman asked curiously.
“This Hot Spring doesn’t seem entirely natural, but rather artificially created. Over time, it came to feel natural.”
“Artificially created?”
Roman asked, puzzled.
A man-made Hot Spring, yet after so many years, the magic hadn’t dissipated, instead forming a vein of pure Source Crystals nearby…
“In my understanding, no extraordinary being, not even a Domain-level one, could accomplish such a feat.”
Lady Catherine stated firmly.
It was true.
Otherwise, with such an ability, one could artificially create an army of extraordinary beings—an ability like a cheat.
What she said was unbelievable, but Lady Catherine just shook her head and said nothing more.
“In any case, I brought you here because of this Hot Spring.”
Lady Catherine held Roman’s hand, drawing closer to the Hot Spring.
Roman remained pure and curious, not even realizing what Lady Catherine intended to do next.
“Such places are rare and impossible to seek out.”
Lady Catherine began to lay the groundwork.
“Good child, do you know? Though I haven’t reached the Domain, my mastery of magic is unparalleled on the Continent.”
“Achieving 80% magic efficiency is already rare. I can easily reach 95%.”
“No one knows how I do it. Today, I’ll teach you. Aside from Luo Xiya, you’ll be the second person to possess this power.”
Roman only thought Lady Catherine was amazing, without any other thoughts.
“So,”
Lady Catherine leaned in to Roman’s ear, speaking softly.
“Next, I’ll use this Hot Spring to help you. Good child, you must be prepared.”