Chapter 5: May the Gods Bless Me on My Quest to Find the Sacred Mountain

Shi Xianyu hurried up the arched bridge, feeling as if even the air around her had changed. Every breath was invigorating, leaving her refreshed and thoroughly comfortable.

“Your humble servant greets the Sovereign,” a divine attendant emerged from some unseen corner and offered her a graceful bow.

“Is this what the Immortal Palace looks like after restoration?” Shi Xianyu asked him excitedly. “It’s so beautiful! It’s completely different from before!”

The attendant, usually so aloof and elegant, allowed a faint smile to touch his lips as he bowed and replied, “This is the Sovereign’s bedchamber, the very heart of the Immortal Palace. Since you mentioned having trouble resting at night, I took the liberty of prioritizing the restoration of the bedchamber and the Wishing Pool.”

“There’s a Wishing Pool? Where?” Shi Xianyu looked around, then realized the stone bridge beneath her feet was part of it.

The entire Wishing Pool encircled the bedchamber like a crescent moon. The surface shimmered with ripples, and the goldfish within seemed to sense her presence. They swam over from afar, gathering beneath the bridge. Their mouths broke the water’s surface, opening and closing in eagerness, and the sound of wishes rose up with them.

Standing on the bridge, Shi Xianyu was utterly delighted. She laughed and said, “Watching them makes me want to feed them fish food~”

The attendant was momentarily at a loss.

Shi Xianyu noticed his puzzled gaze and smiled sheepishly. “I just said it offhand. I’m used to feeding fish in the park.”

He withdrew his gaze, gathered his sleeves, and glided toward the palace. “Please follow me, Sovereign. The bedchamber is restored. You may cultivate or rest here from now on; it will do wonders for your health.”

Shi Xianyu followed, nodding in agreement. “Yes, I already feel much better. The moment I came in, I felt lighter all over—though I was exhausted just yesterday.”

The pale golden doors of the palace opened, revealing a spotless interior. The white floor tiles resembled either jade or bone china, smooth and immaculate, with delicate water patterns that seemed almost to flow.

In each of the four corners stood a lamp post, each set with a luminous pearl or some other radiant gem, casting a gentle white glow. At the very center of the hall was a square jade bed.

Apart from these, there was nothing else.

Shi Xianyu sat down on the bed. The jade was rather firm, but surprisingly comfortable; lying down was even better, for it was pleasantly warm.

She touched here and there, exploring to her heart’s content, then turned to the attendant and asked, “Is that all?”

The attendant was briefly taken aback and returned the question, “Does the Sovereign require anything else?”

Shi Xianyu fell silent.

Indeed… wardrobes, dressing tables—immortals probably have no use for such things. So what kind of furnishings should an immortal’s bedchamber contain?

Shi Xianyu was deeply puzzled.

Just then, the attendant spoke. “The Sovereign has already saved one hundred and two villagers. People from neighboring villages are also arriving to beg for water. As more wishes accumulate, more of the palace can be restored.”

“Ah? People from the next village are coming too?” Shi Xianyu perked up. “Can I take a look?”

“Of course.” He offered a slight bow. “Please, come outside and see.”

—Outside the hall, the area beyond the Wishing Pool now displayed a scene from the village.

A long line of several hundred people had formed at the well, and every villager looked noticeably healthier. Children chased each other around, while several craftsmen had brought two large baskets of clay and were busy at work beside the well.

Shi Xianyu asked curiously, “What are they doing?”

“They’re shaping a divine statue for incense offerings,” the attendant replied, clearly pleased with the villagers’ devotion. “Once the statue is complete, the Sovereign will be worshipped, and the flow of wishes into the palace will be unceasing.”

Hearing they were making a statue of her, Shi Xianyu’s interest was piqued. She watched the craftsmen intently.

Some were kneading the clay, others were nailing together a wooden frame. In ancient times, large clay statues always required a skeleton of wood—if the foundation wasn’t properly built, the statue would not be stable. It was a crucial step.

But as Shi Xianyu watched the craftsmen gradually construct the frame, she frowned.

The head was absurdly large, and the face was too long. It looked nothing like a human being...

“How come it doesn’t look like me?” she muttered.

“If the Sovereign wishes,” the attendant said, “I can arrange for you to appear to them in their dreams. Once they see your true form in their sleep, they will surely reshape the statue.”

“You can do that?” Shi Xianyu was instantly intrigued. “That sounds fun!”

But she was also worried about overtaxing him, so she asked cautiously, “How does it work?”

“As soon as the villagers fall asleep, I can send your voice and likeness into their dreams. Should you have any instructions, you may pass them along as well,” he replied, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Shi Xianyu rubbed her hands together excitedly. “Then… shall we try it?”

“Does the Sovereign wish to prepare beforehand?” the attendant reminded her. “When immortals appear in dreams, they often carry golden halberds, ride fierce beasts, or sit high upon lotus thrones. The palace is only partially restored and there are no treasures or spirit beasts at your disposal. Entering dreams now may lack a certain grandeur.”

Shi Xianyu glanced down at her hoodie and jeans...

She chose silence.

But she quickly rallied, and with an optimistic smile told the attendant, “It doesn’t matter. Didn’t you say we could find other villages suffering from drought? If we gather more wishes, the palace will be fully restored!”

The attendant’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as he gazed into the still waters of the pool. In a low voice, he said, “Of the countless wishes across the Three Thousand Worlds, very few ever reach this place. I fear finding another village like this will not be possible.”

“Oh…” Shi Xianyu was taken aback. “Then what should we do? Is this as far as the palace can be restored?”

After a moment’s silence, the attendant replied, “There are still a few wishes left in the pool. Perhaps the Sovereign might select one or two.”

Shi Xianyu opened her mouth, but no words came. Was he joking?

“How can I just pick and choose? That’s not something a person can do! I managed to answer prayers for rain by providing tap water, but what about those praying for a child? I can’t just hand out a doll, can I? And as for finding the real culprit—I can’t suddenly become Detective Conan!”

With a graceful wave of his sleeve, the attendant summoned a black goldfish from the pool. “Perhaps… the Sovereign might try this one.”

The black goldfish was plump and round, its body a deep, glossy black that faded to dark gold under its belly. Its eyes were bright and lively.

Shi Xianyu glanced at the attendant, half in doubt, then reached out to place her hand on the fish’s broad head.

The goldfish opened and closed its mouth: “May the god help me find Spirit Mountain, may the god help me find Spirit Mountain…”

Shi Xianyu was speechless.

The attendant drifted over the goldfish, sleeves folded, and said unhurriedly, “Judging by the fish’s robust and steady appearance, its color and bearing, one can tell the supplicant’s will is resolute. If the Sovereign can fulfill this wish, the resulting power will certainly be deep and enduring.”

Though he spoke with scholarly gravity, Shi Xianyu thought he looked for all the world like a fishmonger.