Chapter Thirteen: Inviting the Spirit Within

After her mother left, Tang Wei didn't enter the space again. After all, she couldn't eat the elixirs, she wasn't interested in the weapons, and practicing martial arts yielded no results. She might as well sleep. The next morning, after breakfast and nursing her baby, she sat idly on the bed, grumbling to herself: "Who on earth decided that new mothers must rest in bed for a whole month? Now I can't go anywhere and have to deal with all the people coming to see the baby—it's dreadfully boring." With nothing better to do, she reached out to Xiao Ling in her mind: "Xiao Ling, aren't you bored in the space? Why don't you help me plant all the seeds I left there? That way, I can eat whatever I want! And you've never tasted Earth's fruits! Just think, once they're grown, you can try them too!"

But Xiao Ling wasn't so easily persuaded and replied with little enthusiasm, "I doubt Earth’s fruits could be better than immortal fruits."

"This is my space," Tang Wei threatened, "If you don't listen to me, I'll forbid you from eating immortal fruits and lock you away!"

At this, Xiao Ling panicked, "Sister, dear sister, I'll plant them! I'll plant whatever you want—just please don’t keep me from the immortal fruits or lock me up!"

Tang Wei couldn't help but laugh at her desperation. "Is it really possible to lock you away? If I say you can’t have immortal fruits, you really can't?"

"Of course! You're the master of the space. If you forbid me, I can’t have them. If you lock me away, I can’t get out!"

"How would I go about locking you up?" Tang Wei asked, genuinely curious.

Xiao Ling hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper, "Sister, please don’t do that. I’ll do whatever you say! I’ll plant all the seeds right away. With my help, you'll have fruit to eat by tomorrow—won't that be nice?"

Hearing Xiao Ling’s pitiful tone, Tang Wei relented. "Alright, I won’t. I never really planned to lock you up; I was just teasing you."

Immediately, Xiao Ling brightened, her tone cheerful again. "Thank you, sister! I'll go plant fruit and vegetables now!"

Every day, seeing Xiao Ling with her own face made Tang Wei uncomfortable. Now that Xiao Ling was busy planting, there was no one to chat with; both babies were fast asleep and drooling, impossible to tease. Tang Wei decided to keep herself busy by helping Xiao Ling change her face.

Tang Wei had always been fond of a certain actress, admiring how she could bring any role to life. She had collected many of her images: the icy Little Dragon Maiden, the gentle Wang Yuyan, the valiant Lady Yang, the clever and lively Qiu Xiang. After much deliberation, she decided Qiu Xiang’s appearance suited Xiao Ling best and uploaded the image into the space, telling Xiao Ling to take on that look from now on, so at least she would have something pleasing to see.

Tang Wei’s days now resembled the life of a pampered pig—eating, sleeping, and repeating. Fortunately, she could spend her nights in the space with her children; otherwise, she couldn’t imagine how she’d get through the days. Even with Xiao Ling chanting “Cultivate, cultivate” in her ear, she found it pleasant enough.

However, to spare her ears, Tang Wei started meditating in the space for a few hours each day (which was several days inside). Even though there were no changes within her, and often she nearly dozed off, it was better than listening to Xiao Ling’s constant nagging.

After seven or eight nights of meditating, still feeling nothing, Tang Wei was about to give up when, to her surprise, she suddenly sensed a faint trickle of warmth within her body. Elated, she immediately went to share the good news with Xiao Ling.

To her disappointment, Xiao Ling only gave her a Spirit-Guiding Pill and sighed, "I've never seen someone as lazy as you. The spiritual energy here is a thousand, even ten thousand times denser than Earth’s, and you’ve been practicing for at least a month in space time. Only now do you feel a trace of spiritual energy! Take this pill and see if you can circulate that wisp of energy through your meridians," she finished, shooting Tang Wei a look of disdain.

Stung, Tang Wei retorted, "What’s with that look? You dare underestimate me? Fine! I’ll show you I can circulate it without your pill!" Furious, she stormed off to meditate, leaving the pill behind.

Ten hours outside equaled eleven or twelve days inside. Tang Wei refused to believe she couldn't succeed. Fortunately, after her mother had been locked out a few times, she stopped coming. So Tang Wei kept trying, eating fruit when hungry.

By now, the space was filled with every imaginable fruit—if she could think of it, she could find it, thanks to her seven or eight months of gathering.

With each attempt, the sensation of spiritual energy in her dantian grew clearer, but guiding it into her meridians was nearly impossible. After several failed attempts, she was tempted to ask for the pill back, but the memory of Xiao Ling's scornful look was infuriating.

Determined, she focused solely on drawing that wisp of energy into her meridians—and, unexpectedly, she succeeded. However, as soon as the energy entered her meridians, it vanished, forcing her to repeat the process. Gradually, she became more adept, the energy flowing more easily each time.

Eventually, she managed to circulate the energy throughout her body. It was proof enough that with effort, nothing was truly impossible. Dawn was approaching outside, yet after such a long session of cultivation, she didn't feel tired at all. She sought out Xiao Ling, her face brimming with pride, silently demanding praise: “See? I managed to circulate spiritual energy without your pill. Compliment me!”

Xiao Ling played along, beaming. "Sister, you’re incredible! In just ten days, you’ve reached the first stage of Qi Refining. If you keep working this hard every day, your cultivation will progress rapidly!"

Tang Wei grinned. "Really? Heh!" But inwardly she thought, “Who do you think I am? This leisurely life is too good to give up. I’ll practice occasionally, but every day? Meditating non-stop? I’d have to be out of my mind! If it weren’t for your look of disdain, I wouldn’t have put myself through this today!” Embarrassed by her own thoughts, she changed the subject. "Xiao Ling, when will your brother wake up?"

Xiao Ling answered confidently, "Probably another two or three months, then my brother’s consciousness will awaken. But as for reconstructing his body, who knows how long that will take?"

Tang Wei was curious. "I wonder what he’ll be like once he awakens. Let me meet him then, okay?"

"Once his consciousness awakens, the formation will condense his soul, just like me now. But his soul is a true spirit body, not like mine—he can go outside, though it's best he doesn't, to avoid contamination by mortal impurities. That way, his body will reform faster, and his cultivation will progress more quickly," Xiao Ling finished, sounding a little forlorn.

Having known Xiao Ling for so long, Tang Wei understood her longing to explore and the sadness of being a vessel spirit. She quickly offered comfort, "Don't be so down, Xiao Ling. Haven't you made it this far? If you cultivate diligently, you’ll be able to go outside one day. I promise, once you can leave, I’ll always keep you by my side and never send you back to the space, alright?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ling was overjoyed. "Really? You'll keep me with you all the time and I’ll never have to stay here alone again?"

"Of course it’s true!" Tang Wei saw Xiao Ling's face positively glowing and went over to gently pat her cheek, giving her a reassuring answer.

"I’m off to cultivate, then! I want to go out and play as soon as possible!" And with a blink, Xiao Ling was gone.

Tang Wei shook her head, laughing. "That little spirit—so excitable! I wasn’t even finished talking. Oh well, I’ll ask next time." With that, she scooped up her two babies and left the space. Outside, daylight had already broken.