Chapter 56: The Spiritual Herb Garden

For the sake of convenience, Shi Xianyu dubbed her soon-to-be-relocated new home the Wildlands.

This world bore a resemblance to the Spring and Autumn period of ancient times, or perhaps even earlier. Civilization was in its infancy; there were no densely populated cities, only scattered villages and tribes, and vast expanses of wilderness—towering mountains, deep gorges, forests, lakes, deserts, and hills yet untouched by human feet.

Thus, placing the Celestial Palace here was exceedingly safe.

The Temple Attendant selected a mountain range encircled by primeval forest and situated the Celestial Palace atop the highest peak. Whether man or beast wished to reach this place, they would first have to brave the perilous forest, then scale precipitous peaks one after another. Even then, it was far from certain they would find the palace, for from the mountainside upward, there was no path—unless one grew wings and flew.

While the Temple Attendant was settling the palace, Shi Xianyu wandered the heights, admiring the scenery.

Perhaps it was the altitude, for all she could see was a boundless sea of clouds, with only a few pale peaks piercing through. The world below was obscured; shrouded in mist, the place truly felt ethereal, like a realm of immortals, though the air was a touch chilly.

Once the Celestial Palace was properly installed, it should be warmer—after all, the palace was equipped with its own temperature regulation.

So she mused to herself.

She enjoyed the view for a while, when suddenly she spotted something drifting closer in the distance. As it neared, she realized it was two white cranes.

“Cranes! Immortal cranes are flying this way!” Shi Xianyu exclaimed, her tone like that of a child at the zoo discovering a novel animal.

The Temple Attendant glanced skyward, responding calmly, “They are ordinary white cranes, most likely drawn here by the spiritual energy. If they nest in this place and are nourished by the aura for long enough, they may one day awaken spiritual wisdom and become true immortal cranes.”

“Is that possible?” Shi Xianyu’s interest was piqued. “How long would it take for them to become immortal cranes?”

“Each living thing has its own fate. It’s hard to say, but the fastest would be a hundred years or so,” replied the attendant.

A hundred years? Shi Xianyu’s enthusiasm faded at once.

She wasn’t sure she’d live even that long.

The Temple Attendant continued, “The Celestial Palace is now arranged. Your Eminence may return to rest.”

“Oh.” She cast a final glance at the cranes, withdrew her gaze, and strolled leisurely toward the palace.

Once again, she stepped onto the familiar arched bridge, instantly enveloped in a gentle warmth. She recalled her first entry into the Celestial Palace, how she’d been utterly enraptured by that sensation—a rare and exquisite comfort.

Perhaps the palace was now even more saturated with spiritual energy, for the feeling was stronger than ever, like resting beneath a tree in summer, basking in the sun in winter, or flinging open the window after a good night’s sleep to the fragrance of flowers and grass. Shi Xianyu felt thoroughly at ease, her body and spirit soothed.

She walked onward.

She wondered how the Temple Attendant had managed it, for the rugged mountain had been hewn into a crescent-shaped wishing pool, where plump, lively goldfish swam, tinting the waters with warm hues.

Crossing the bridge and ascending a staircase of white jade, she arrived at a spacious terrace. In its center stood a spirit-gathering brazier, taller than a man, veiled in milky mist, exuding an immortal air. Beside it, a gnarled thousand-year-old pine stretched its verdant branches, the tree and the brazier composing a scene worthy of an ink painting, harmonious and full of meaning.

Shi Xianyu thought privately: the Temple Attendant’s taste is quite refined.

She drew a few deep breaths of aura by the brazier, feeling utterly refreshed.

Further up was her usual bedchamber, but she didn’t see the spiritual herb garden the attendant had mentioned.

She looked around and discovered that behind the bedchamber, a vast new garden had appeared—so large that its area nearly surpassed that of the palace, the brazier, and the wishing pool combined.

No wonder the Temple Attendant had said there wasn’t enough space before—the spiritual herb garden required an enormous plot.

Curious, Shi Xianyu entered the herb garden. The paths were paved with white jade, with flowerbeds of various shapes and sizes scattered throughout. The mountain’s wild flora and strange rocks had been artfully arranged as garden décor, so that with every step, the scenery changed, offering endless delight.

Yet the flowerbeds were all empty—no sign of any so-called spiritual herbs, just bare earth…

Shi Xianyu asked, “Where… are the herbs?”

The Temple Attendant, puzzled, replied, “What herbs?”

“The spiritual herbs, of course.” Shi Xianyu pointed to a crescent-shaped flowerbed at her feet. “Why is there nothing here? Have they not sprouted yet?”

The attendant hesitated, understanding dawned. “If Your Eminence is fond of flowers and plants, you may select some to transplant here. I see many rare species growing wild on this mountain.”

Shi Xianyu fell silent.

So that was it—she’d gone to great lengths to buy a fruit basket, only to be handed the basket, no fruit.

She couldn’t help but mutter, “If I’m just planting a bunch of ordinary plants, what kind of spiritual herb garden is this? After all the spiritual energy we spent restoring it…”

She’d been looking forward to finding the garden teeming with ginseng and lingzhi that could run around, but this was the reality.

The Temple Attendant looked troubled, brows knitting almost imperceptibly. “The spiritual herb garden once flourished, but as the aura faded, the plants withered and died. Now, though there are no spiritual herbs or immortal fruits, you may still plant ordinary things—they will thrive with the aura here.”

Shi Xianyu asked, “How well will they grow? Will the fruits taste sweeter?”

The attendant considered, then nodded. “That should be the case.”

She grew more curious. “What if I plant medicinal herbs? Will their effects be stronger?”

“Most likely, yes.”

Suddenly Shi Xianyu wanted to cheer. “Then I’ll dig up some ginseng and plant it here—maybe eating it will make me immortal!”

“Longevity should not be an issue, but true immortality is not so easily attained,” the attendant counseled. “If you wish for immortality, you should focus on collecting the power of wishes. When the alchemy chamber of the palace is restored, you may learn the art of pill-making. Perhaps then, you could refine an elixir of immortality.”

Shi Xianyu never dwelled on distant matters; those with short lives must live them well, and seize the present!

“Brother Shen gave me so many seeds! I’m going to plant them all right now!” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, and she dashed off at once.

She soon returned, not only with a bag of seeds but also a small trowel.

“Do I need to till the soil or water them?” she asked eagerly, brandishing her trowel.

The Temple Attendant watched her, finding her enthusiasm unexpectedly endearing. “…That won’t be necessary. The soil here is nourished by aura and has ample moisture. Once you plant the seeds, they will grow on their own. There’s no need for concern—I will also tend to them.”

Shi Xianyu was already squatting, tearing open the bag and sorting the seeds by size: small seeds in one bed, large ones in another.

She had no idea what she was planting—it was like sowing a mystery box! Exciting and delightful!

Suddenly, among the seeds, she spotted a familiar pit and became ecstatic. “It’s a Bailing fruit pit!”

The Bailing fruit was no ordinary plant—it was a spiritual fruit tree that Shen Xiao had been lucky enough to encounter in three lifetimes!

It seemed that the seeds Shen Xiao had gifted her included not only ordinary plants but also spiritual herbs and trees. Heavens, she was overjoyed!

“When the Bailing tree grows and bears fruit, I’ll save all the pits and plant another batch!” Shi Xianyu dreamed of sudden fortune. “The tree bears fruit, the fruit’s pits make more trees—I’ll have endless Bailing fruits!”

The Temple Attendant remarked, “Some plants, after absorbing aura for a long time, gradually become spiritual. The Bailing fruit you mentioned is just such a plant.”

Shi Xianyu paused, then asked, “So the other ordinary plants I plant here might also become spiritual herbs or trees one day, as long as they absorb aura long enough?”

He nodded slightly. “All living things have their own destinies. Some may change in a hundred years, some in a thousand.”

She understood now—the same as those cranes she’d seen earlier; living long enough was the key to gaining spirit.

She buried herself in her task, planting every last seed Shen Xiao had given her. With no need for tilling or watering, it was effortless. When she’d finished, still unsatisfied, she went out and bought cucumber, tomato, sweet potato, and corn seeds, planting them all, regardless of season!

Straightening up in the middle of the garden, though only bare flowerbeds surrounded her, she could already feel the joy of a future harvest.

For several days, Shi Xianyu never mentioned her heartbreak again.

She devoted all her energy to the spiritual herb garden!

Her favorite daily activity was to cradle her phone and photograph the various seedlings sprouting in the garden, keeping meticulous records.

She named a snowy-white vine “White Lady,” and the green one beside it “Little Green.” Another plant that sprouted in the morning, bloomed at noon, and withered by evening she called “One-Day Tour.”

The plants in the garden grew at astonishing speed, and Shi Xianyu found endless delight in observing them daily.

She discovered that while the plants absorbed aura from the soil, when they withered, the aura returned to the earth, creating a perfect cycle—no need to worry about the soil losing its fertility.

She also noticed that some of the fruit seeds she planted flowered and set fruit, while others didn’t. Only then did she realize the issue of pollination and decided to buy a hive of bees to keep in the garden.

Thinking of bees, she thought of honey. She wondered what honey produced in the spiritual garden would taste like—her mouth watered just imagining it.

While Shi Xianyu was engrossed in her agricultural pursuits, the Temple Attendant, having hesitated several times, finally could not keep silent:

“Many new wishes have appeared in the wishing pool recently. Would Your Eminence care to go… and have a look?”

Shi Xianyu paused.

Ah, she’d almost forgotten. Though she had the incense and wishes from Dragon God Village and Green Mountain City, it was still not enough to fully restore the Celestial Palace. She had to keep working.

With some reluctance, she followed him to the wishing pool, asking hesitantly along the way, “Are any of these wishes… easier to grant?”

A trace of weariness flickered across the attendant’s usually calm face. “Once Your Eminence reaches the pool, you’ll see for yourself.”