Shui Bing'er felt the currents of hot and cold air wash over her and took a deep breath.
The spiritual energy was so dense it had almost turned to mist. Even in her lungs, it carried two distinct sensations: icy freshness and scorching heat.
She turned to Wu Changkong. "No wonder you've improved so quickly these past six months. You've been cultivating in a place like this."
"Yeah. There's so much spiritual energy here that one day is worth several outside."
Shui Yue'er could no longer contain herself. Her eyes fixed on the red spring, and her feet carried her forward.
"Don't."
Wu Changkong grabbed her by the back of her collar and pulled her away.
"I just wanted to look!" Shui Yue'er protested.
"You can look. Just don't touch."
"Why?"
"Because that water's hot enough to melt Refined Iron. Did you think it was ordinary hot water? Put your hand in and you'd pull out nothing but bones."
"The blue spring's just as bad. One touch and your whole arm would freeze solid."
Shui Yue'er shot back two steps. "You could've said so earlier!"
"You didn't ask."
Shui Bing'er looked at Wu Changkong. "Is the spring water really that dangerous?"
"Yes, so don't try anything reckless."
"Can we cultivate farther away, then?" Shui Yue'er asked.
"You can move closer. If it gets too much for you, back off a few meters."
Shui Yue'er took a few steps forward.
At first, it was fine. The hot and cold currents mingled in the air, like standing in a room with two windows open, feeling a cold draft on one side and the heat of a fire on the other.
She walked another dozen meters. At around six meters from the springs, sweat broke out on her forehead and her cheeks flushed,