The azure steam rising from the depths of Open-Pit #9 smelled of fresh mountain rain, crushed pine, and wild mint.
Dr. Gu Qinghe knelt at the edge of the steaming fissure, his silver diagnostic needles floating in an orderly circle around his open palm. He dipped a slender crystal vial into the bubbling mineral water and held it up to the warm sunlight of the three artificial suns.
His silver-rimmed spectacles glowed with soft green analysis runes. A look of quiet amazement crossed his scholarly face.
“Remarkable,” Dr. Gu said, looking back over his shoulder at Lin Mo. “Chairman Lin, this isn’t ordinary geothermal runoff. The core heat of the planet is filtering through a deep bed of primordial star-crystals. It has created pure Star-Marrow Geothermal Medicinal Springs.”
“What does it do for the body?” Lin Mo asked, stepping closer to inspect the glowing blue pool.
“It dissolves deep-seated marrow poisons within minutes,” Dr. Gu explained, his voice full of clinical admiration. “It repairs shattered bone cartilage, cleanses necrotic lung tissue from mining dust, and extends mortal lifespans by up to three centuries. If a medical corporation in the core worlds found a single spring like this, they would charge fifty million coins for a ten-minute soak.”
