Wooden Root: Barbara's Journey

Barbara was in her cave, surrounded by the familiar aroma of spiritual herbs that had become an essential part of her life. Today, she was determined to produce pills that would enhance her own Qi cultivation. With her alchemy furnace carefully prepared, she began selecting the herbs she would use, each chosen precisely to amplify her internal energy.

As she worked, she felt the connection to her spiritual roots vibrating in harmony with the environment around her. Barbara knew that by consuming these pills, she would not only strengthen her abilities but also prepare herself for any challenge that might arise in the future. After mixing the herbs and shaping them into small pills, she placed them in the furnace, adjusting the temperature carefully. The heat emanated from the furnace, and anticipation grew as the pills began to take shape and gain potency.

After a while, the furnace signaled that the process was complete. Barbara carefully removed the pills, watching their glow and the energy radiating from them. With a satisfied smile, she swallowed one of the pills, feeling the revitalizing energy spread throughout her body. The Qi began to flow, circulating through her meridians with renewed intensity. With each breath, she felt stronger, more connected to her inner self and the force of nature around her.

With a focused mind, Barbara dedicated herself to cultivating the energy within her body. Each cultivation session left her more centered, and the connection to her spiritual roots deepened. It was as if each pill she created not only strengthened her body but also fed her determination and confidence.

After resolving the issues related to her reputation, Barbara realized that she still had a greater responsibility in her hands: caring for the sect's spiritual plants. With care, she dedicated herself to this task, knowing that the proper cultivation of the herbs was essential for the well-being of the sect. She now talked more with other disciples, no longer seen as an isolated hermit; these interactions brought a new sense of community.

She kept her magical garden a secret, where she cultivated rare spiritual herbs and possessed an ancient and valuable pill furnace. This part of her life was a treasure she strove to protect, as she knew that revealing it could bring not only admirers but also envy, or even someone who might kill her to obtain her treasures and inheritance. Thus, even as she became a more active presence in the sect, Barbara made sure her secret remained safe.

With life in the sect going well and a growing circle of friendships around her, Barbara was determined to continue growing. Every day, she became stronger, both as a cultivator and as a friend. The journey that had begun with difficulties was now becoming an opportunity to flourish and thrive in a world full of challenges and rewards.

The moment Barbara had been waiting for arrived: the harvest of the sect's spiritual plants. The garden she had so carefully tended was finally ready to yield its fruits. For weeks, Barbara had dedicated herself to ensuring the spiritual herbs grew healthy and strong, and now it was time to harvest the results of her efforts. The sect courtyard was bustling, filled with disciples who, like her, were working to harvest and deliver the spiritual herbs to the sect's stores. The energy in the air was vibrant, as if the very Qi of the plants emitted a life force that filled the environment.

Barbara was focused, her skilled hands cutting and organizing the plants with care. Every herb she harvested seemed to pulse with the energy it had accumulated, a result of careful cultivation and the techniques she had been applying. She knew that the success of this harvest would bring more than just recognition for her efforts. The contribution points she would earn for tending the garden would be crucial for her.

"If I do this harvest right, the contribution points will be more than enough to get that manual I've been eyeing," she murmured to herself as she carefully harvested a rare-looking herb.

She had already made plans to use these points. After so many challenges and twists, Barbara was finally ready to invest in a new cultivation technique or perhaps a rare sect manual. Access to these advanced techniques was restricted to disciples who demonstrated true dedication, and Barbara, now more confident and respected, knew her time had come.

The disciples around her harvested the plants with a mixture of discipline and enthusiasm. The atmosphere was one of work, but also of expectation. Barbara could feel the gaze of some upon her — a silent acknowledgment of her competence. Over the months, the young cultivator had proven her worth, and that did not go unnoticed.

When the harvest was over, Barbara watched with satisfaction as the baskets full of herbs were taken to the sect. She had done her best, and now all that was left was to wait for the contribution points. Exhausted, but with a sense of accomplishment, she smiled. She knew her dedication would bring rewards.

The next day, Barbara went to the sect's reward hall, where the contribution points would be tallied and distributed. Her heart beat faster as she approached, knowing that these points were the key to the next big leap in her journey as a cultivator. The technique or manual she would choose would be crucial for her advancement.

"One step at a time," she told herself, with a confident smile.

As Barbara progressed in her cultivation and her reputation in the sect grew, the weight of keeping her magical garden and pill furnace a secret began to press on her more and more. At first, she thought it would be simple: use the garden to produce the necessary herbs and the furnace to create high-quality pills. However, the more Barbara stood out in the sect, the more people began to pay attention to her movements.

It all started with curious glances from some disciples who noticed how much Barbara was managing to progress in a short period of time. Always discreet, she used her magical garden herbs only when necessary, but even so, her increasing alchemical ability was drawing attention. In particular, her knowledge of spiritual herbs — always fresh, always of the highest quality — raised doubts.

One of these days, while Barbara was tending some plants in the sect garden, a disciple she knew by sight, named Liang, approached her.

"Barbara, the plants you grow are always so perfect," he said bluntly. "Do you have some special secret? A hidden cultivation technique?"

Barbara smiled, trying to seem casual, but inside, she felt a chill run down her spine. It was the first time someone had asked such a direct question.

"Oh, I just try to apply everything I learn from the sect's manuals," she replied, her voice calm, but her mind working quickly. "Dedication is the secret."

Liang nodded, but the gleam in his eyes showed he wasn't entirely convinced. He smiled back and walked away, but Barbara noticed that from that moment on, he observed her from a distance.

Later, in her cave, while cultivating and reflecting on the day, Barbara began to feel the weight of the secret. The magical garden, so useful for her progress, now seemed to be a double-edged sword. "What if someone finds out?" she thought. "What would happen if they knew I had a secret space, where I grow rare plants and use a pill furnace of incalculable value?"

The issue was not only about being discovered, but about what it would mean for her position in the sect. There was a real risk that other disciples might try to steal her treasure or, worse, that she would be accused of hoarding resources that should be used for the good of the sect. And, in addition, there was the moral question that haunted her. Hai Tu, her closest friend, trusted her completely, and Barbara knew she could count on her. But would it be right to keep Hai Tu in the dark? What if the secret ended up hurting someone?

These thoughts haunted her, creating a growing tension in her heart.

The next day, Barbara and Hai Tu were talking in the sect's gardens when Hai Tu casually commented:

"You know, Barbara, sometimes it seems like you're carrying an invisible burden. Is everything okay? You can trust me, you know that, right?"

Barbara hesitated for a moment, feeling the urge to share her secret with someone she trusted. But at the same time, she knew that the more people knew, the greater the risk. What should she do?

The moral dilemma was intensifying. Sharing with Hai Tu would mean dividing the burden of the secret, but also exposing someone she loved to immense risk. Keeping the secret, on the other hand, would protect her — but for how long?