The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Chen Mengyao carefully handed the thick stack of silver notes to Xiaobai, her eyes filled with expectation and trust. Xiaobai took the notes and nodded gently, indicating that she understood Chen Mengyao's request.

Immediately afterwards, Xiaobai began to operate methodically, following the previous steps. He first carefully checked the current space's level and various data, and then skillfully used the techniques and methods he had mastered to gradually advance the space's upgrade process.

Meanwhile, everyone around stared wide-eyed, intently watching every subtle change occurring within the space. They held their breath, afraid of missing any crucial moment. As time ticked by, they were astonished to discover that, just as Xiaobai had said, each time the space successfully advanced to the next level, its area would noticeably increase, and the previously limited land resources would become increasingly abundant.

And so, with Xiaobai's focused and meticulous efforts, after about half an hour, an exciting notification sound finally came – the space had successfully leveled up to level six! Instantly, cheers and applause erupted on the scene, and the Crown Prince and the others expressed their sincere admiration and praise for Xiaobai's superb skills.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the suddenly appearing well, from which spring water gushed forth ceaselessly. Surrounding the well was a lush, verdant forest, its dense foliage intertwining to form a green barrier, compelling everyone to explore and discover what treasures and secrets this mysterious place held.

However, despite their curiosity, no one dared to act rashly. After all, no one could predict the dangers lurking in this unknown territory. So, after a brief discussion, they decided it would be best to ask Xiaobai for details about what lay inside.

At this moment, Ouyang Han spoke first, asking, "Little Bai, could you tell us what kind of magical functions that spiritual spring water has?" He looked at Little Bai expectantly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Xiao Bai smiled slightly and replied unhurriedly, "The functions of this spiritual spring water are countless! First, it can significantly enhance a person's physique, making the body stronger and healthier; if someone who already possesses internal energy drinks this spiritual spring water, their skill will be greatly enhanced, making it a treasure that martial arts practitioners dream of; secondly, for women, this spiritual spring water has excellent beauty and skin-nourishing effects. Just a small sip can make one radiant, with smooth and delicate skin, making one look several years younger than their actual age; finally, this spiritual spring water has another very important function—detoxification. No matter what kind of poison one has been poisoned by, just one sip of this spiritual spring water will immediately dissolve the toxins."

Hearing of the drink's powerful effects, everyone was filled with curiosity and eagerness to try it. However, they still harbored doubts about the mysterious forest and wanted to learn more about its potential dangers and what might be there. At this moment, Ouyang Han spoke first, asking, "Xiao Bai, what kind of dangers are hidden in that forest? What kind of creatures might roam there? Would you be willing to lead us to find out?"

Little White excitedly flapped its wings and cheerfully replied, "Of course, no problem!" With that, it flew ahead like a light white lightning bolt to lead the way. Chen Mengyao, Ouyang Han, the Crown Prince, and the rest of the group quickly followed, filing into the unknown forest.

Upon entering the forest, everyone was stunned by the sight before them. It was a natural treasure trove, overflowing with rare medicinal herbs. The legendary thousand-year-old ginseng grew silently, almost human-shaped; the hundred-year-old lingzhi mushrooms radiated a captivating luster, seemingly whispering tales of time's passage; and the he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum) came in a variety of forms, each more wondrous than the last. Besides these, many other precious herbs, whose names they didn't know, lay hidden among the grasses or beneath ancient trees, awaiting discovery by those destined to find them.

Xiao Bai introduced the plants to them one by one. Stopping in front of a purple-leaved plant, Xiao Bai said, "This is Purple Star Grass, extremely rare. Its leaves can be used medicinally; crushed and applied externally, it can treat external injuries, even severe ones, quickly stopping bleeding and relieving pain, promoting wound healing. If taken internally in small amounts, it can enhance internal strength and stabilize the meridians." Then, it flew to a tree and pointed to a small blue flower at the tree's roots, "This is Blue Ghost Flower; where it grows, there are always spiritual beings accompanying it. This flower itself has the effect of calming the mind and spirit. For cultivators, if taken when inner demons invade, it can keep the mind clear and increase the chances of breaking through bottlenecks."

Further on, Xiaobai landed beside a rock, next to which grew several coral-like yet crystal-clear plants. "These are Jade Coral Grasses," Xiaobai explained. "They must absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to grow. Consuming them can cleanse the marrow and bones, rebuilding one's foundation. However, each person can only take them once in their lifetime; taking more is ineffective and harmful." Xiaobai then led everyone to a damp place where a patch of moss-like plants shone with a pale gold hue. "This is Golden Moss," Xiaobai introduced. "It looks unremarkable, but it's a supreme antidote. No matter the type of poison, as long as there's still a breath left, consuming Golden Moss can completely eliminate the toxins. However, it must be used immediately after harvesting, otherwise, most of its medicinal effect will be lost."

Everyone listened with astonishment. Then, Xiao Bai hopped over to a spot where vines were entwined, with some red fruits hanging on them. "Look, these are Blood Spirit Fruits. They only grow in special areas where the yin energy is heavy but nourished by yang energy. Eating one Blood Spirit Fruit can instantly restore a large amount of physical strength, and if cultivators consume them for a long time, it can improve their physique, making their bodies more suitable for absorbing spiritual energy."

Xiao Bai hopped to a patch of flowers emitting a strange fragrance. "These are Murraya paniculata flowers. The scent is strong but not pungent. Its greatest use is resisting bewitching spells. If you're in an environment filled with bewitching spells, as long as you carry Murraya paniculata flowers or smell their fragrance, you can stay conscious." Then, Xiao Bai darted into a secluded corner where several oddly shaped grasses grew. Their leaves were thin and needle-like, but their stems were thick and sturdy. "These are Gu-breaking grasses, specifically designed to counteract various Gu worms. Once a Gu worm gets close, it will become slow and its strength greatly reduced. If a person accidentally ingests a Gu worm, taking Gu-breaking grass can neutralize and expel it from their body."

Finally, Xiaobai stood beneath a massive rock, at the base of which grew a white fungus. "This is a White Spirit Mushroom. Within a hundred meters of it, no evil spirits will exist. Not only can it resist mental attacks—methods like charm have no effect on those within its range—but it's also an excellent remedy for repairing damaged souls." As everyone listened to Xiaobai's explanation, they carefully observed these miraculous herbs, their hearts filled with awe.

Everyone nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with amazement, and their hearts filled with even greater awe for this mysterious space. Chen Mengyao was overjoyed, thinking that if these medicinal herbs were used properly, they could definitely save many people and greatly increase the strength of those around her.

As her gaze swept across the ground, Chen Mengyao was pleasantly surprised to find a multitude of fungi growing there. The plump monkey head mushrooms resembled fluffy little heads; the termite mushrooms stood tall and elegant, like delicate little umbrellas; and the morel mushrooms were uniquely shaped like honeycombs. Besides the common monkey head, termite, and morel mushrooms, there were also brightly colored matsutake mushrooms, emitting a distinctive aroma, like spirits of the forest. Red mushrooms, like clusters of burning flames, dotted the landscape, their vibrant red seemingly proclaiming their extraordinary medicinal properties. Then there were porcini mushrooms, their thick caps resembling beef liver, exuding a rustic charm.

Even more peculiar was a pale blue mushroom, shimmering with a faint fluorescence. Xiaobai explained that this mushroom was called the Star Blue Mushroom, which only grew deep within the Space Forest. It possessed powerful healing abilities; even a near-death person could be brought back to life with just a small amount. However, it was extremely difficult to harvest, as the surrounding area was riddled with spatial traps. There was also a crystal-clear mushroom, transparent as crystal, which could purify a person's magical energy source and enhance a cultivator's aptitude, but only one would grow each year. Chen Mengyao was dazzled by the sight. She knew these mushrooms were incredibly valuable, and carefully collected them one by one, preparing to research more ways to benefit others. At the same time, she felt deeply grateful for this Space Forest. Everyone, having heard about the efficacy of these medicinal herbs and the blue mushroom, decided to pick more on their way back.

Moreover, wild animals can be seen leisurely moving around in the forest from time to time.

Ouyang Han couldn't help but feel worried. What if those wild animals suddenly rushed out? His concerns seemed to spread to his companions, who all looked worried and anxiously asked Xiaobai, "Xiaobai, are there any ferocious beasts like tigers in this forest? What if they accidentally run off towards the supermarket?"

Xiao Bai smiled and nodded, answering slowly, "Well... there are indeed large carnivorous animals like tigers and lions. But don't be too nervous. They can only roam freely within the forest area, because there's a powerful barrier outside the forest specifically designed to isolate them! Moreover, all the animals in this mysterious space will not only not cause any harm to the humans here, but will even obediently follow the commands and orders of the space's master. If you give them a few sips of that magical well water, hey, these guys will immediately open the door to wisdom, becoming clever and quick-witted, easily understanding and executing any instructions given by their master! All of this is determined by the rules pre-set by the space, the purpose of which is to ensure that the wild beasts will absolutely not harm anyone."

After hearing Xiaobai's detailed explanation, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, this wasn't just about their own safety; more importantly, it directly affected whether their lovely younger sister or gentle third sister-in-law would be safe and sound!

After exploring the forest, they headed back. They all found Xiaobai's introduction of the medicinal herbs very useful and picked quite a few. Surprisingly, the herbs immediately regenerated after being picked. Xiaobai quickly explained, "Don't be surprised. All the herbs here can regenerate; they will never wither or die, and you can never finish picking them all. That's the magic of the spatial forest. You can pick as many as you can to make pills or powder for self-defense." Hearing this, they were all relieved. They had thought that once these rare herbs were picked, they would be gone. So they picked frantically, thinking of providing some for their guards, soldiers, and generals, and taking as many as possible back to have the imperial physicians make pills or powder for easy transport. Chen Mengyao used her mind to summon many large boxes for them to fill, and she also picked some to put in the medicine warehouse for later use when needed.

After a flurry of activity, countless boxes of all sizes were filled before they finally stopped. Their first consideration was for their closest relatives, including their esteemed father, mother, and concubines. Not only that, but even the guards protecting them were not forgotten. Even the hidden secret guards, and numerous palace personnel, were all included in the distribution list. The purpose was obvious: to ensure that everyone closely connected to them received adequate protection, lest they fall victim to the machinations of those with ulterior motives from enemy nations. As for the army, the plan was to procure the necessary supplies at a more opportune time to meet their enormous needs.

Everyone agreed that this assistance in upgrading the space was absolutely worthwhile! After all, obtaining such practical and precious medicinal herbs was something that could not be bought for a mere one million taels of silver! These herbs were not only of superior quality and had remarkable medicinal effects, but were also rare and precious varieties rarely seen in the world.

They all secretly thought to themselves, "Next time, we must help her upgrade this space to its highest level! Then, the space's functions will become incredibly powerful and extremely practical. In that case, we will no longer need to fear invasions from enemy countries. After all, we will have all sorts of advanced communication tools at our disposal. Communication with the border regions will be much faster and more convenient, and we can even monitor their every move anytime, anywhere." Thinking of this, the corners of their mouths turned up slightly, as if they could already see the dawn of victory in sight.

They felt genuinely fortunate and grateful that the royal family possessed such a lucky star as Chen Mengyao. It was thanks to her existence and assistance that everyone was fortunate enough to obtain such a precious resource. Therefore, everyone resolved that no matter the enormous price they might have to pay in the future, they would do everything in their power to protect her. They would never allow anyone with ulterior motives to know anything about her, lest it bring her unnecessary trouble or even danger.