Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

Barbara stepped out of the gates of the Eternal Chalice Sect, determined to use her spirit stones wisely. She had already sold the core of the spirit beast and had a decent amount of stones, but with no more plants to sell, she needed to ensure her stock of spiritual herbs was replenished. The market, always bustling and vibrant, was the perfect place to find spiritual plant seeds. With her spirit stones carefully tucked away, Barbara walked through the maze of stalls and vendors, her eyes scanning for rare and useful items.

After a few negotiations, Barbara bought several seeds of spiritual plants. These seeds were crucial for her next step in cultivation, especially now that she had the secret garden inside the necklace. But as she continued exploring the market, something caught her attention. At an unassuming stall, a merchant was selling larger spirit stones than those normally used as currency. Intrigued, Barbara approached and examined the stones.

“What are these larger stones used for?” she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

The merchant, an elderly man with a gray beard, smiled slightly, as if he was used to answering this question.

“These spirit stones are used for various things, young cultivator. They can be utilized to enhance cultivation, power formations, and perhaps most importantly, to fuel spiritual artifacts. Powerful artifacts require a constant source of energy, and these stones can provide just that.”

The merchant’s words triggered an epiphany in Barbara. ‘Fuel artifacts,’ he had said. Perhaps… perhaps that was what her necklace needed! If the magical space within the necklace was indeed an artifact, then fueling the space with spirit stones might be the key to restoring the dead garden.

With a renewed sense of urgency and hope, Barbara rushed back to the sect, her mind racing with the idea that she might be on the verge of solving the mystery of the garden. As soon as she reached her cave, she closed the door behind her, ensuring no one would disturb her, and removed the necklace from her neck. The space within still looked the same—silent, dead, the plants dry and brittle. But now, she had a new idea.

Carefully, Barbara took all her remaining spirit stones and threw them into the magical space within the necklace, waiting to see what would happen. For a moment, nothing seemed to change. But then, as if by magic, the dry, dead earth around the garden began to darken, transforming into rich, black soil, teeming with life. The ground seemed to vibrate with renewed energy, and the air inside the space became lighter, purer. It was as if nature itself was being reborn in that instant.

Barbara’s heart raced. She had done it! The garden that had once been dead was now restored, the soil brimming with vitality. This meant it was ready to be planted once again. With eager hands and a triumphant smile on her lips, Barbara took the spiritual plant seeds she had bought at the market and began to carefully plant them in the newly restored garden.

As she worked, she felt her wood spiritual roots connecting with the fertile earth of the magical space. It was a deep, comforting sensation, as if she and the garden were part of the same cycle of energy. As the seeds touched the soil, she could feel the power of her spiritual roots beginning to nourish the plants. Little by little, the seeds began to sprout, green shoots emerging from the earth, responding to the energy flowing from Barbara.

She knew she was on a unique path. Now, with a magical space under her control, she could cultivate rare and powerful spiritual herbs, away from the prying eyes of other disciples. This secret would give her a significant advantage in cultivation, allowing her to advance quietly but swiftly. The necklace and its garden were not just treasures—they were the future of her journey as a cultivator.

As she watched the seeds sprouting, Barbara felt stronger and more confident than ever before. She knew there would still be many challenges ahead, but now she was better prepared. Each plant that grew in that special soil would take her one step closer to her ultimate goal: immortality.

Though Barbara was excited about the restoration of the garden within the necklace and the prospect of cultivating spiritual plants, she couldn’t neglect the cultivation methods that Elder Wei Jian Qiu had taught her. The elder was a demanding master, and failure in her training was not an option. If she left it until the last minute, she risked disappointing him—something Barbara could not allow. Wei Jian Qiu had already shown great confidence in her by choosing her as his disciple, and Barbara knew she had to live up to his expectations.

Thus, in the days that followed, Barbara divided her time between cultivating the plants in the magical space of the necklace and rigorously practicing the cultivation methods Wei Jian Qiu had instructed her to master. Every day, she sat in her private cave, focusing on her Qi, following the manuals’ instructions to the letter. The energy flowed through her meridians like a calm, steady river, but even with the natural resonance of her wood spiritual root, Barbara knew that cultivation required precision and discipline. A single mistake, however small, could delay her progress or, worse, cause deviations in her path.

As she felt the Qi circulate through her body, Barbara also noticed the subtle resonance of the necklace around her neck. The connection between her and the magical artifact had strengthened since she restored the garden. It was as if the energy of the necklace and its spiritual plants responded to the Qi she cultivated. At the same time she nurtured her own strength, power flowed into the fertile soil of the magical space, nourishing the plants growing there. Each day, she watched as the shoots became more vigorous, the leaves greener and fuller of life. It was a perfect cycle between her cultivation and the growth of the plants.

Her wood spiritual root vibrated gently within her body, making the process of absorbing Qi smoother. Barbara knew this was a rare and valuable gift, but even so, she didn’t let the fact that she had a unique spiritual root make her complacent. She approached each step of cultivation seriously, constantly checking to ensure she was following the techniques correctly. The last thing she wanted was to underestimate the importance of the details and end up making a mistake that would cost her progress.

The days passed, and the constant practice began to show results. Barbara could feel her cultivation becoming more fluid, as if her body was more aligned with the Qi of the world around her. Each breath brought a new wave of energy, and each exhalation left her feeling lighter, stronger. She knew that Wei Jian Qiu expected nothing less than perfection in her progress, and the thought of showing the elder that she was following his teachings to the letter gave her even more motivation to continue.

Between cultivation sessions, Barbara also turned her attention to the plants in the garden of the necklace. With the energy of her wood spiritual root nourishing the soil, the spiritual plants grew faster and with more vitality than she had imagined. It was a perfect harmony—while Barbara strengthened her body and spirit, the plants in her garden thrived, connected to the energy she cultivated.

Even so, Barbara remained cautious. She knew that no matter how much she advanced in cultivation, it was important to maintain balance. She couldn’t allow the necklace and her secret garden to distract her from her obligations to the elder. It was necessary to continue on the path carefully, always keeping her secrets guarded and her determination firm.

With Qi flowing smoothly through her body and her spiritual roots resonating in harmony, Barbara felt at peace, but also alert. She knew this was only the foundation. There would be many more challenges ahead, both within and outside the sect. But for now, she was on the right path. Her cultivation was progressing, and her spiritual plants were growing strong, a combination that brought her one step closer to her goals—and to a position of power that few could imagine.

As she finished another cultivation session, Barbara slowly opened her eyes, feeling the energy vibrating around her, and smiled faintly. There was more work to be done, but for now, she was confident that she was on the right track, both in terms of Wei Jian Qiu’s teachings and the secrets she so carefully guarded.