Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

Back in the safety of her personal cave, Barbara finally had a moment to organize what she had found. She placed the alchemy furnace at the center of the cave, a sturdy yet ancient-looking artifact. Around her, she consulted various manuals and books that had been discovered in the alchemist's hideout. One book in particular caught her attention: a thick, dusty tome detailing spiritual herbs. It listed the names, functions of each plant, and their value in alchemy. This knowledge would be invaluable to her once she began planting her own herbs in the magical space.

As she flipped through the yellowed pages, Barbara felt a sense of accomplishment. She had already sold the core of the spiritual beast for a good sum of spirit stones, ensuring she had a decent stock of wealth at her disposal—something few disciples could boast of. With these stones, she could buy resources, pills, and other cultivation necessities, or even sustain herself outside the sect if needed. However, the greatest treasure she possessed was not visible to others: the necklace that hung around her neck, hiding the magical space with the dead garden.

She gently touched the necklace, feeling the cold metal against her skin. The space within it was vast and silent, but the once vibrant spiritual plants were dry and brittle. She knew that if she could figure out how to heal the garden, she would have a huge advantage. She could cultivate rare plants, study alchemy, and even create powerful pills, all in secret. But for now, she had no idea how to bring the garden back to life. There was an even more dangerous concern weighing on her mind: in a world where cultivators kill for power and secrets, revealing that she possessed such a treasure would be an invitation to death.

Barbara shivered at the thought. She had already seen disciples disappear without a trace, targeted by other cultivators in search of wealth and resources. She knew that on the path to immortality, morality was a rare currency, and, as they say, "dog eats dog." Even within the Eternal Chalice Sect, ambition could turn allies into enemies in an instant. She couldn’t talk about the necklace, nor trust anyone with this secret.

With this in mind, Barbara turned her attention back to the manuals. Every alchemy technique, every detail about spiritual herbs, could help her decipher how to restore the magical space. The solution might be hidden somewhere in the ancient texts, among the pill recipes and alchemical secrets. However, she knew it wouldn’t be easy.

She had to be cautious. Barbara decided that the best plan would be to start discreetly, cultivating common herbs within the sect and using the spirit stones she had accumulated to buy what she needed without raising suspicion. But at the same time, she dedicated every spare moment to studying the dead alchemist’s manuals and understanding how to heal the garden within the necklace. Perhaps it would require some kind of pill or a specific spiritual technique to restore balance to the magical space.

As the days passed, Barbara became more familiar with the books. She studied with determination, every page absorbed was vital for her survival. The list of spiritual herbs was vast; some plants were known for their use in healing pills, while others could enhance a cultivator’s combat power. Knowing how to utilize them would be crucial to her future success.

But as she read and studied, the shadow of the secret weighed on her. Every time she walked through the sect, she felt watched, even if it was just paranoia. Every disciple around her was a potential threat. “Who would suspect me?” she thought, remembering that many cultivators had killed for far lesser treasures. She knew that in this world, even the smallest mistake could cost her life.

One night, as she rested in her cave, she touched the necklace again and looked at the dead garden in her mind. She knew there was a long road ahead, but she couldn’t give up. The key to her survival and rise lay in the necklace and what it concealed. If she could unlock its full potential, she would have something that set her apart from any other disciple in the sect. A power she could barely imagine.

“I will figure out how to heal this,” she whispered to herself, eyes filled with determination. “And when I do, no one will be able to stop me.”

Barbara made her way to Hai Tu’s quarters, trying to keep a casual expression, though her mind was buzzing with doubts. Since she had discovered the ancient alchemy furnace in her cave, the idea of delving deeper into the alchemical arts had taken over her thoughts. However, the fear of being discovered was constant. She knew that any sign of excess fortune or wealth could bring trouble. And in a world where cultivators killed for much less, keeping that valuable furnace a secret was a matter of survival.

When she arrived at Hai Tu’s door, her friend greeted her with a smile. Hai Tu was already a rising alchemist within the Eternal Chalice Sect, and Barbara knew she was the right person to offer her a few tips.

“How’s the alchemy going, Hai Tu?” Barbara said, trying to keep her tone casual. “I’ve been thinking about learning a bit more about it and wanted to know if you had any tips for someone just starting.”

Hai Tu lit up even more, visibly excited by her friend’s interest.

“Oh, alchemy is fascinating! But it’s also a tough path, you know. If you really want to learn, you’ll need patience and focus. First, you’ll have to study the different types of spiritual herbs and their effects. Then comes the refining process. You’ll need an alchemy furnace, and of course, the sect’s instructors will be essential for understanding the basic techniques. They teach everything, from the simplest formulas to the most complex ones. And trust me, the process of creating pills is an art as delicate as it is powerful. But with dedication, you can become a great alchemist.”

Barbara nodded, absorbing Hai Tu’s words. More and more, she was sure she was making the right choice by studying alchemy, but there was a problem Hai Tu didn’t know about: she couldn’t attend the sect’s official classes. Not with an ancient, valuable alchemy furnace hidden in her cave. Revealing that secret could easily put her in danger.

“That sounds amazing,” Barbara replied, trying to keep her tone upbeat. “But for now, I think I’ll learn at my own pace. I don’t want to rush into things.”

Hai Tu seemed to understand but was also surprised.

“Really? Well, you can always count on me if you need help. But the classes with the instructors are really the best way to learn the basics. Still, if you need any tips, I’m here.”

Barbara smiled and thanked her, but inside, she knew her decision was already made. She couldn’t risk exposing the alchemy furnace she had found. She would learn on her own, and not even Hai Tu, her closest friend, could know about it. “Too much luck brings trouble,” she thought. It was a saying she had heard countless times among the disciples, and she couldn’t ignore it.

With this plan in mind, Barbara headed to the sect’s library, hoping to find some knowledge that could help her unlock the mysteries of the dead garden in the magical space. As she walked between the tall, dusty shelves, her eyes scanned the book titles, searching for something that might offer inspiration. She knew that a solution to revive the garden wouldn’t be simple, but any clue could be useful.

However, as time passed and she flipped through book after book, her frustration grew. Most of the texts she found were tales and ancient stories with no practical value or deep alchemical knowledge. Some mentioned great cultivators facing monumental challenges, while others spoke of miraculous pills, but none offered any concrete hints on how to restore a dead spiritual garden.

Barbara sighed, closing yet another book. The sect’s library didn’t seem to hold the information she was looking for, and she was beginning to think she would have to find answers elsewhere. Perhaps she would need to explore more distant regions or seek knowledge outside the sect. But for now, she was stuck. The garden within the necklace remained dead, and each day that passed without a solution made it harder to hold onto hope.

Still, she refused to give up. Rising from the library table, Barbara put away the last book she had been skimming and left. Even though she hadn’t found what she was searching for, she knew her path as an alchemist was only beginning. And with the alchemy furnace in her cave and the manuals left by the dead alchemist, she had the tools to move forward—as long as she could keep everything a secret.

Upon returning to her cave, Barbara made a silent promise to herself: she would master alchemy, find a way to heal the dead garden, and use these resources to grow without anyone knowing. The more she kept the necklace a secret, the safer she would be. But at the same time, she knew that this journey would lead her into dangerous territories. And that was exactly why she needed to be prepared.