CHAPTER 28: UPGRADE OF PORTAL SPACE

The translucent screen flickered, and new lines appeared one after another:

[Independent Space Status]

Space level: level 2

Capacity: 2 Plots

Soil Quality: Common (Improved growth speed & higher-quality yield)

Water source: Basic well

Structures: None (Blueprint Unlocked: Basic Wooden Structure)

Energy reserve: 100/100 mana

Upgrade requirement: 00/100 (total 100 mana stones before upgrade)

[Independent Space Upgrade Successful]

Land Expansion: The fertile field has doubled in size.

Crop Growth: New vegetables and crops will mature faster, and their quality will be higher than before.

Blueprint Unlocked:Basic Wooden Structure—Allows construction of a simple storage shed or shelter inside the space.

New Feature: Mana Absorption Method (Beginner)—The user can now learn the foundational technique to absorb mana directly into the body.

Rowen’s eyes widened as he read through the glowing text. "The land doubled..." he murmured, his gaze flicking to the fields that now stretched farther than before.

Beside him, Fern grinned faintly. "Now you can start building inside here. And that method—it’s for you, Rowen. With it, you will finally be able to absorb the mana from the environment."

With a faint shimmer, two scrolls materialized in front of Rowen, floating gently in the air. One carried the glowing outline of a wooden structure, while the other pulsed faintly with mana, marked as the Mana Absorption Technique.

Rowen’s eyes widened as he took in both. "The land doubled... and crops will grow faster now," he murmured, excitement stirring in his chest.

Fern’s voice carried a hint of pride. "Not only faster, Rowen—magical too. What you grow here will always be better than outside."

Rowen clenched his fists unconsciously, gaze fixed on the second scroll. "Finally... with this, I can become stronger."

Rowen tore his gaze from the white scroll and looked at the blue one hovering nearby. Its glow pulsed faintly, as if urging him to reach out.

He turned to Fern. "So... how do I even use this blueprint scroll?"

Fern’s leafy form tilted slightly, a soft chuckle escaping her. "Simple. Blueprints are for the space itself. Just channel a small amount of mana—or press it against the ground inside here. The scroll will dissolve, and the knowledge of construction will be imprinted into the space."

Rowen blinked. "So I won’t need nails, hammers, or wood from outside?"

Fern shook his head. "No. Once the scroll is absorbed, the space will provide the materials. All you need to do is decide where the structure should stand. Think of it as willing the blueprint into existence."

Rowen’s eyes widened slightly. "That easy...?"

Fern smiled knowingly. "This space was created to be far superior to anything the outside world could offer. That’s the difference."

Rowen looked back at the blue scroll, his fingers twitching with curiosity.

Rowen studied the blue scroll in his hand. "So if I want to use it, I just press it to the ground?"

Fern nodded. "Yes, but it won’t be free. To anchor the blueprint into reality, you’ll need to feed the space with mana stones. The stronger the structure, the more it demands. For this basic wooden shed, the cost will be five low-grade mana stones."

Rowen frowned. "Five, huh... So it’s not just about unlocking things; I’ll have to keep investing to build them."

Fern’s leafy form swayed with approval. "Exactly. This space isn’t like the outside world—you won’t need tools or wood. But the cost comes in mana. Think of it as trading raw energy for ready-made construction."

Rowen rolled the scroll between his fingers, weighing the choice. "So once I pay, the shed will appear?"

"Not instantly," Fern corrected. "The space will build it gradually, but still much faster than humans could. Within a few hours, the structure will be standing."

Rowen exhaled, glancing at the pile of mana stones inside his pouch he still had left. "Alright... five stones for my first building. Seems fair."

Rowen took the glowing blue scroll and carried it toward the empty patch of land near the field. He crouched down and placed it flat on the soil. The scroll flared brightly, dissolving into streaks of blue light that seeped into the soil.

A line of text appeared on the floating screen:

[Blueprint Activated: Basic Wooden Structure]

Requirement: 5 Low-Grade Mana Stones

Time required: 2 min.

Rowen nodded and pulled out 5 low-grade mana stones from his pouch. He set them down on the glowing patch, and the stones crumbled into fine dust, their energy drawn away.

With a low rumble, wooden beams sprouted from the ground, assembling themselves like pieces of a puzzle. Planks locked into place, forming sturdy walls and a slanted roof. In two minutes, a modest wooden shed stood firm, its frame solid and its timber fresh.

Rowen opened the door and glanced inside. The interior was plain but spacious—ideal for storing vegetables, harvested crops, or future supplies.

Fern smirked faintly. "Smart choice. With this shed, your harvest will stay fresh longer. Inside this space, preservation is already better than the outside world—this will only make it more efficient."

Rowen let out a satisfied breath, gazing at the structure. "It feels like the farm is finally coming together."

Rowen stepped back from the newly built shed, admiration flickering in his eyes. Then he remembered—inside this space, he could analyze anything. Narrowing his gaze, he focused on the wooden structure.

A faint shimmer spread over the shed, and lines of glowing text appeared before his eyes:

[Basic Wooden Shed]

Durability: Stable

Function: Storage of crops, vegetables, and goods.

Special Effect: Extends freshness of stored items ×3 compared to the outside world.

Upgrade: Possible with higher-grade blueprints and a mana stone.

Rowen’s eyes widened as he read. "So, anything I store here will last three times longer than outside..."

Fern gave a knowing smile. "That’s the difference. Even the simplest structures here surpass what the outside world can offer. In time, you’ll be able to build far greater things than this."

Rowen clenched his fists lightly, a quiet thrill running through him. The farm inside his space was beginning to feel less like a dream—and more like the foundation of his future.