The Abandoned Daughter's Second Chance

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord scoffed, "A cure that works too miraculously will inevitably arouse suspicion. It’s bound to attract prying eyes and inquiries. Would a coward like you really dare to use it?"

Xiao Man froze, then clenched her fists. "I’m not a coward! As long as it can help Grandma see again, I don’t care about any of that!"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord nodded. "Coming up with an excuse isn’t difficult. Your grandfather has been gathering herbs for years. Though he doesn’t understand medicine, he knows a bit about their properties. That’s why he’s so reluctant to let your grandmother take just any herbal brew, fearing it might harm her body or even endanger her life instead of curing her eyes. He’s cautious, but you can use your youth and supposed ignorance to your advantage. While you give your grandmother the Purple Lotus, you can also pick some herbs from your grandfather’s collection known for clearing heat and improving eyesight and brew them just for show. Your grandmother can’t see what you’re doing anyway. When she regains her sight in a few months, your grandfather won’t be able to blame you. If anyone else asks questions, your grandfather will run interference—he’ll be adamant about never letting you haphazardly medicate anyone again. As for you, just claim you don’t remember which herbs you used!"

"Yes, that’s a great idea! We have plenty of herbs at home anyway. Thank you, Spirit Lord!"

"Don’t thank me yet. You can’t take anything out of here right now!"

Snapping back to reality, Xiao Man grew anxious. "Then when will I be able to take things out of here?"

"When your constitution is strong enough for your physical body to enter, you’ll be able to take things as you please!"

"How much longer will that take?"

"That depends on your own destiny. I originally thought you would need a long time to recuperate before you could enter, so I left my Divine Sense to linger for a hundred days. However, it hasn’t even been a month, and you’re already able to enter in a dream. It seems your aptitude is quite good. Continue drinking from the Spiritual Spring to condition your body. Each visit to the Treasure Bead consumes a great deal of your Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Now that we have met tonight, it’s best if you don’t enter again for a while. I will summon you once more before my Divine Sense dissipates at the end of the hundred days!"

"What? Doesn’t that mean I have to wait more than two months? That’s too slow," Xiao Man muttered. Seeing the Black Mountain Spirit Lord ignore her and press forward, she had no choice but to follow.

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord led Xiao Man around to the front of Feilai Peak, guiding her gaze from the base to the summit. They landed directly on a protruding stone platform. The pavilion, which had seemed so delicate and small from below, was now before them, appearing much larger. Behind it stood an identical, three-layer pagoda. It was the Twin Pavilion.

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord then told Xiao Man that the Treasure Bead was not actually his. Its original owner was a female cultivator from his clan who had departed several hundred years before him, gifting him the bead before she left. The Black Mountain Spirit Lord had no intention of persuading Xiao Man to walk the path of Cultivation; he only mentioned that everything within the Treasure Bead was enough to sustain a thousand years of practice. He had accepted the bead because he needed its Spiritual Spring and some of its precious herbs for Alchemy. He himself possessed a much more powerful space for his Cultivation, so the Treasure Bead was of little use to him after he was finished with it. He decided to give it to Xiao Man to repay a favor. Whether she pursued Cultivation or not, she could simply treat this place as a secluded villa for calming her mind and nurturing her spirit.

"Because of the Spiritual Spring, the Spiritual Energy within the Treasure Pearl Space is incredibly dense. Even if you do nothing but enter for a short while each day, you can cleanse and strengthen your body and extend your lifespan. Of course, if you are willing to diligently pursue Immortal Cultivation, the Jade Scrolls in the pavilion contain detailed records of countless Cultivation Techniques you can choose to practice. The Treasure Bead has already acknowledged you as its master. Without your permission, no one can enter. After this wisp of my Divine Sense dissipates, even my true self will not be able to enter!"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord led Xiao Man into the pagoda at the front. He explained that the adjacent one was the original owner’s residence—her private chambers—which he had never entered. Since it now belonged to Xiao Man, she could do with it as she wished.

The two explored the pagoda from top to bottom. The Black Mountain Spirit Lord instructed Xiao Man on how to read the Jade Scrolls. When he noticed her growing weary, he knew her energy was depleted and she couldn’t last much longer. He decided to simply bundle all the necessary information into a stream of consciousness and pour it directly into her mind. This way, she could slowly digest and ponder it later. If there was anything she didn’t understand, she would have another chance to ask when they met again before his Divine Sense dissipated.

When they reached the cultivation platform on the first floor, Xiao Man noticed several jade trinkets arranged on the mirror-smooth stone surface. She casually picked up a string of exquisitely carved Jade Gourds to examine. On closer inspection, she realized these were no ordinary baubles—they were all carved from emerald jadeite.

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord explained, "These are Jade Talismans left by the original owner. She carved them in her leisure time while enjoying the view, inscribing them with talismans and infusing them with Mana. They are no ordinary items. The translucent, brightly colored ones are Amulets, the kind you girls like to use. You can wear one later to ensure your safety and well-being on long journeys. The one in your hand with the deep, somber color is a High-level Defense Talisman. It can withstand or deflect heavy blows, like bombs from airplanes or the cannons and landmines on the battlefields of your mortal world!"

At his words, Xiao Man’s head shot up. Her eyes, shining like stars, were fixed on the Black Mountain Spirit Lord. "Are you saying it can withstand the power of planes, cannons, and landmines?"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord grunted. "The Mana of the talisman is powerful enough, but the jade itself can’t take that much punishment. It can withstand three hits, at most!"

"Three times? That’s already amazing! It’s much better than having no protection at all!"

Xiao Man thought of the war her country would soon face. In her past life, the person to whom she owed a great debt of gratitude had been severely injured in that very war, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life!

She clutched the Jade Gourd tightly and looked at the Black Mountain Spirit Lord. "I want to give this Jade Talisman to someone else. Can I do that?"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord didn’t ask who it was for. He simply said, "You are the master. Everything inside the Treasure Bead is yours to command. But in your current state, you can’t take anything out!"

"Then what should I do if I want to take it out as soon as possible?"

Seeing the anxious look on Xiao Man’s face, the Black Mountain Spirit Lord raised an eyebrow. "Within a hundred days, your physical body might be able to enter. You’ll be able to eat the fruits and produce here, but you still won’t be able to take anything out! If you truly want to bring items in and out as soon as possible, then there is only one way: Cultivation. You must increase your physical strength!"

"Fine! I’m willing to practice Cultivation!"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord gestured from a distance, tapping Xiao Man on the forehead. The image of a Jade Scroll immediately materialized in her mind. The Black Mountain Spirit Lord said, "That beam of light I just sent into your brain contained this: the Five Animals Qigong! Have you heard of it? It’s the simplest Cultivation Technique, and it’s suitable for your current constitution. Many people in the mortal world practice it to improve their health, but their versions are all incomplete, and their methods for Breathing Regulation and Qi Circulation are completely haphazard! Practice this for now. We can discuss Energy Introduction and other Cultivation Techniques after your physical body can enter the Treasure Pearl Space!"

Xiao Man paused for a moment before asking, "Does this mean... I have to take you as my master, Spirit Lord?"

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord waved his hand dismissively. "I don’t accept disciples, and the original owner of this Treasure Bead wouldn’t have accepted you either. Most of the Cultivation Techniques on those Jade Scrolls did not originate from my clan. Just go ahead and practice. There are very few who practice Cultivation on your continent; the sects have all but disappeared... Actually, being a Loose Cultivator is a pretty good option."

"Thank you for your guidance, Spirit Lord!" Xiao Man said, bowing respectfully.

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord led Xiao Man down the back of the peak. A winding bluestone path appeared and disappeared as it snaked between ancient vines and old trees. It wasn’t a long walk, and halfway down the mountain, there was even a rest stop: a stone platform enclosed by white jade. At the foot of the mountain were two or three acres of land planted with rice, sorghum, vegetables, melons, and other crops.

Xiao Man was surprised. ’The Black Mountain Spirit Lord said the Treasure Bead’s original owner was from his clan, which means she was a snake, too. She planted grains and vegetables... Okay, I guess even snakes like to eat human food!’

The Black Mountain Spirit Lord paid no mind to the crops, saying only that the original owner had planted them for fun several hundred years ago and they had never been harvested.

Xiao Man was speechless. ’Crops that have been growing on the stalk for hundreds of years... what dynasty would they even be from? They’re practically antiques. I wonder what they taste like?’