"Master, the Well of Earth is a magical spring where earth and water elements converge," Alana began patiently. "Once every year, it produces a single drop of a divine-grade treasure known as Earth’s Divine Water."

"Divine-grade treasure? What exactly does it do?"

Marcus stared across the pond toward the pavilion, eyes gleaming with naked greed while his mind raced through every possible method of reaching it alive.

"Earth’s Divine Water accelerates plant growth, flowering, and fruiting," Alana explained. "It can even revive plants that have completely died. There is an old legend from a thousand years ago. A master archer once obtained a fragment of Phoenix Wood and wished to forge a divine bow, but the material was insufficient. He used two drops of Earth’s Divine Water to nurture the Phoenix Wood, allowing it to grow further, and eventually crafted a super divine artifact known as the Phoenix Divine Wood Bow."

"It can grow divine-grade plant materials?"

Marcus’s jaw nearly fell open. He swallowed hard, feeling his mouth go dry. That ability was absurd. It was practically equivalent to multiplying divine treasures themselves. Then another thought struck him immediately.

"Alana, does that mean I wouldn’t need energy-rich land to cultivate high-grade herbs if I had Earth’s Divine Water?"

A trace of guilt crept into his voice. He still had not fulfilled his promise of finding proper cultivation land for Alana’s herb garden, and the matter had been quietly weighing on him.

"Master, using it that way would be an enormous waste," Alana replied without hesitation. "One drop of Earth’s Divine Water could only transform about ten square yards of ordinary land into energy-rich soil, and the effect would last merely three to five months. That is far too short to grow anything truly valuable. The true power of Earth’s Divine Water only reveals itself when used on land that is already rich in energy."

Marcus sighed inwardly.

So the search for suitable land remained unavoidable.

Still, the more he learned about the water, the more unbelievable it sounded. Another thought surfaced almost immediately.

"Alana, could Earth’s Divine Water restore the Three-Star Sacred Lotus?"

This time she fell silent for several seconds, clearly considering the question carefully before answering.

"Master... in theory, yes. However, the Three-Star Sacred Lotus is a Saint-tier herb, which ranks above divine-grade materials. Restoring it would likely require at least five drops of Earth’s Divine Water."

Marcus’s eyes lit up.

"Seriously? That’s perfect!"

Excitement surged through him. According to Alana, the Starlight Frost-Bloom was already extinct, and he had believed the Three-Star Sacred Lotus could never be restored. Now, for the first time, there was genuine hope.

"Sweetheart, just wait," he said with renewed confidence. "Your master is going to steal that Earth’s Divine Water and bring it back to revive the Three-Star Sacred Lotus."

He felt energized just thinking about it.

Liam Windrunner had entered the Mystic Turtle’s Tomb more than ten years ago. If the well produced one drop annually, then at least ten drops should have accumulated by now. More than enough for his plans.

"Master, wait!"

Alana’s voice rose sharply, panic slipping through her usually calm tone.

"What’s wrong?"

"Master, a divine-grade treasure like that will absolutely be guarded by at least a Mythic Beast. How are you planning to steal it?"

Her worry was unmistakable. Marcus could almost picture her frowning anxiously.

"Mythic Beast?"

The fire in his chest cooled instantly.

"You’ve got to be kidding. Why are Mythic Beasts everywhere lately?"

He rubbed his forehead, suddenly feeling very mortal. A moment ago he had been planning to sneak in using the Pure Mist Cloud Cluster. Now that idea sounded suicidal.

"Master, more than half of monsters above level eighty-five possess Mythic Beast-level strength," Alana continued urgently. "Even those that are not true Divine Beasts are still extraordinarily dangerous."

"Yeah... I get it."

He answered casually, but his gaze never left the pavilion at the center of the pond. Retreating completely was not in his nature. He would at least investigate before giving up.

"Master, the Stone Milk Sacred Cave should be the same," Alana added. "It produces one drop each year as well, so powerful guardians are inevitable. Stone Milk Nectar forms deep within stalactites, which makes obtaining it extremely dangerous."

Her tone softened after that, almost pleading.

"Master... please be careful. Don’t make Alana worry."

Marcus smiled faintly.

Being worried about by a woman felt strangely comforting. At the same time, that concern could dull a man’s edge, wrapping around his resolve like silk threads tightening around steel. Still, he could not allow fear to dictate his choices.

"Alright. I won’t rush in."

He decided to reassure her first and shifted the topic before she could worry herself sick.

"Alana, do you know what a Bodhi Stone is?"

"Bodhi Stone?"

She paused again, searching her memory.

"I only know of the Bodhi Tree," she said at last. "It blooms once every five thousand years, and its fruit ripens another five thousand years later. Each tree bears only a single Bodhi Fruit. The fruit grants profound enlightenment. It can greatly enhance one’s abilities and even allow a person to learn a second class."

She hesitated.

"As for a Bodhi Stone... I have never heard of one, Master. Perhaps it is something similar to the Bodhi Fruit? A treasure capable of granting enlightenment or allowing someone to learn a second class?"

"Second class..."

Marcus’s heartbeat quickened.

Liam Windrunner had once told him that he could not inherit archery techniques because he was not an archer. At the time, Marcus assumed that was simply the end of the matter. But now a new possibility surfaced.

Was that old man actually preparing a second class for him?

"Holy crap..."

He rubbed his hands together, excitement bubbling up uncontrollably. Liam had always appeared quiet and indifferent, yet behind that calm demeanor might have been astonishing generosity.

He sincerely hoped that was the truth.

Then Alana’s anxious voice broke in again.

"Master, if the Bodhi Stone truly has effects similar to the Bodhi Fruit, then it would be a Saint-tier treasure. There will definitely be a Divine Beast guarding it. Please don’t..."

Her words trailed off mid-sentence.

She suddenly realized the problem. Obtaining the Bodhi Stone was not optional. It was his quest objective. Telling him not to pursue it was impossible.

"Master..."

Her voice trembled slightly, thick with worry.

Marcus softened immediately.

"Hey. Don’t worry."

Hearing genuine fear in her voice warmed him unexpectedly.

"Your master isn’t reckless. I’ll act within my limits. If it’s truly impossible, I’ll retreat."

"Master... please be careful."

At last her tone calmed.

Marcus released a long breath and chuckled quietly after ending the conversation.

"Comforting a woman really is more exhausting than fighting a war."

He stretched slightly, refocusing his attention on the courtyard.

Before him lay three locations: the Stone Milk Sacred Cave, the Bodhi Grove, and the Well of Earth. Each one hid treasures powerful enough to reshape a player’s future, and each one was guarded by monsters capable of ending his journey instantly.

It was a paradise of opportunity and a graveyard waiting to happen.

Marcus looked around slowly, feeling both excitement and caution rising together. If the Mystic Turtle’s Tomb were ever opened to the public, this place alone would likely become a battlefield soaked in blood, its treasures bought with countless lives.