C8 The Space in the Gourd

While seeds tend to sprout more quickly in warmer temperatures, the sprouts that emerged the very next day were undoubtedly the result of the Immortal Dew. Moreover, the vegetables that sprouted showed promising growth, reaching an inch in height in just a couple of days. The vegetable patch was a vibrant green, bringing joy to all who saw it.

The leafy vegetables had already sprouted three or four tender green leaves. At this pace, they could be harvested in just a month. The growth of fruit-bearing vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers was a bit slower; they would likely be ready for harvest come fall.

Yet, Zhao Lei was more than pleased with this progress. Considering the sweltering heat was far from ideal for seedling growth, the current state of affairs far exceeded his expectations.

At that moment, the Purple Gold Gourd was ready to produce another drop of Immortal Dew. Zhao Lei chose to consume it himself rather than use it to water the vegetables.

His decision was not without reason. The seedlings were thriving remarkably well, and further use of the Immortal Dew might draw unwanted attention.

Should the secret of the Purple Gold Gourd be revealed, Zhao Lei risked not only losing this precious item but potentially his life as well. It was wiser to remain discreet.

Zhao Lei carefully ingested the Immortal Dew, feeling the familiar warmth spread throughout his body. His strength noticeably increased, and his senses became acutely sharp.

A mosquito buzzed by, yet without looking, Zhao Lei could pinpoint its flight path by sound alone. With a swift motion, he captured the insect between two fingers.

After flicking the dead mosquito away, Zhao Lei admired the Purple Gold Gourd, whispering, "What a remarkable treasure indeed!"

He examined the gourd affectionately, his eyes eventually settling on the Tai Chi Pisces pattern. This symbol had initially startled him with its peculiarity.

Now, aware of the gourd's value, Zhao Lei's curiosity intensified. He bravely studied the Tai Chi Pisces again, eager to unlock its secrets.

As before, he quickly became entranced, feeling an immense pull from the pattern, as if it were trying to absorb him completely. This time, however, Zhao Lei did not avert his eyes, keeping his focus intently on the Tai Chi Pisces.

Zhao Lei only managed to hold on for a short time before the world seemed to spin around him. When he regained his composure, he was astonished to find that he was no longer at home but had been transported to a strange place!

Though the sun was nowhere to be seen in the sky, a bright light illuminated his surroundings, allowing Zhao Lei to take in the details of this new environment.

The first thing Zhao Lei noticed was a Tai Chi Pisces pattern beneath his feet, as large as a round table. Surrounding the pattern, eight jade tablets stood tall, each positioned according to the eight directions of the Bagua.

Each jade tablet was over a meter wide and nearly three meters tall. They were made of a material that was smooth and lustrous, with a pristine whiteness unlike any ordinary stone. Even though Zhao Lei was no connoisseur, he recognized that this material was not mere stone, but rather top-quality white jade! However, the jade tablets were blank, bearing no inscriptions, leaving their purpose a mystery.

Zhao Lei gently tapped on one of the jade tablets, whispering to himself, "Such a large jade tablet could fetch a handsome price."

The jade tablets were encircled by a lush meadow, with grass reaching up to his ankles that was incredibly soft to the touch. Walking on it felt as comfortable as strolling across the finest carpet.

In the midst of the meadow lay a crystal-clear spring, its waters so transparent that the source could be seen bubbling up from the bottom. Remarkably, despite having no apparent outlet, the spring maintained a constant water level without ever overflowing.

The meadow wasn't very large, in fact, it was smaller than Zhao Lei's own yard. A dense fog shrouded the area, obscuring any view beyond its confines. Zhao Lei attempted to penetrate the fog but was gently repelled by an unseen force, leaving the world beyond the mist a secret.

Returning to the edge of the spring, Zhao Lei cautiously sampled the water. It was crisp and cool with a subtle sweetness, surpassing even the finest bottled mineral water available on the market.

But what was truly astonishing was the effect the water had on him. After drinking it, Zhao Lei felt invigorated, as if he possessed boundless energy. He realized that the spring water was far from ordinary. Although it might not rival the Immortal Dew from the Purple Gold Gourd, it was certainly extraordinary.

After quenching his thirst with the spring water, Zhao Lei began to ponder his whereabouts.

He remembered that it was after gazing at the Pisces pattern on the Purple Gold Gourd that he had arrived at this place. He surmised there must be a significant connection between this location and the Purple Gold Gourd.

As he observed the Pisces design on the ground nearby, a sudden epiphany struck him. He smacked his thigh with force and exclaimed, "I've got it! I must be inside the gourd right now!"

The notion seemed ludicrous; how could the tiny Purple Gold Gourd contain such an expansive space, defying the very principles of modern science? Yet, the Purple Gold Gourd was an object that challenged the heavens, and modern science certainly couldn't account for the miraculous properties of the Immortal Dew. Thus, Zhao Lei was confident in his hypothesis.

With a clearer understanding of his location, Zhao Lei felt somewhat relieved and began to devise a plan to leave. Standing on the Pisces design, he closed his eyes and silently repeated in his mind, "I want to get out, I want to get out!"

Curiously enough, as soon as Zhao Lei entertained this thought, he felt a dizzying whirl. When he reopened his eyes, he discovered he had returned to his room.

Zhao Lei was ecstatic. He had not anticipated discovering such an extraordinary place within the Purple Gold Gourd. It appeared that there were even more secrets within the Purple Gold Gourd waiting to be uncovered.

Now that he had mastered the technique of entering and exiting the Gourd Space, Zhao Lei began experimenting with whether he could bring other objects into it. He was thoroughly pleased with the results; both inanimate tools and living organisms could be transported smoothly in and out of the Gourd Space at his command.

Having familiarized himself with the Gourd Space, Zhao Lei started to contemplate how to utilize it effectively. Given its magical nature, it would undoubtedly yield excellent results for cultivating plants.

However, considering the limited area of the Gourd Space, it would be imprudent to grow common vegetables. Cultivating high-value plants would be more economical.

When it came to valuable plants, Zhao Lei immediately thought of the medicinal herbs found on the mountain behind his village. Among them, the Iron Sheet Stone斛 stood out as the most renowned, hailed as one of the "Nine Great Immortal Herbs of China" and a coveted medicinal ingredient. Particularly, wild Iron Sheet Stone斛 was highly prized; freshly harvested, it could fetch upwards of a hundred yuan per jin, while the dried flowers commanded prices of several thousand yuan per jin, with demand far outstripping supply.

Early the next morning, Zhao Lei set out into the mountains with a bamboo basket on his back. His primary goal was to gather some wild Iron Sheet Stone斛 and experiment with planting them in the Gourd Space, eager to discover the surprises they might yield.