Where there is water, there is life. So, Xi Xi strolled downstream along the stream, and before long, a wide pond came into view.

The pond's surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the various colorful plants around it. The colorful flowers and green buds intertwined, creating a beautiful scene.

Such a beautiful sight in a desert oasis! This was something Xi Xi had never expected.

She approached the pond and looked closely, and was pleasantly surprised to find that there were many small fish swimming freely in the water, nimbly darting among the duckweed, and sometimes leaping out of the water, splashing up tiny water droplets.

Xi Xi suddenly became interested; now, lunch was settled!

So Xi Xi put her handbag and sack in the bushes, took off her shoes and socks, bent down, rolled up her trouser legs, and carefully stepped onto the shallow beach by the pond, tentatively taking a step forward.

As her big toe touched the spring water, suddenly, a familiar game notification sound rang in her ears—

[Item Hint: Clear, sweet spring water, drinkable.]

"Huh?" Xi Xi exclaimed loudly, half-lifting her foot. She immediately realized what was wrong.

She'd chopped down so many big trees along the way, and she hadn't heard a single game notification sound!?

Before she could sort out her thoughts and think them through, suddenly, without warning, a huge wave surged up on the calm water surface, and then a tentacle as thick and flexible as an elephant's trunk shot out from the bottom of the water!

With a loud "splash," water splashed everywhere like a torrential downpour, instantly soaking Xi Xi from head to toe. Her wet clothes clung tightly to her body, sending chills down her spine.

Startled by this sudden turn of events, Xi Xi barely saw anything, but she immediately became more alert and quickly retreated.

Her steps were swift as the wind, and in the blink of an eye she retreated to the bushes closest to the pond on her left.