Re-birth: The Beginning after the End

Her gaze shifted to an even stranger sight—a tree whose translucent fruits seemed to ripple with moving images. "That's a Soul Strengthening Fruit tree," Little Firefly said, watching her approach it cautiously. "Its fruits can heal soul damage."

A third tree completed the group, its silvery leaves catching light that seemed to come from nowhere. "The Spirit Rejuvenation Fruit tree," Little Firefly identified it. "Each fruit contains the power to restore youth and extend life."

"I've never seen anything like these," Li Hua whispered, still trying to process how her simple peach grove had transformed into something out of legend.

"There's more," Little Firefly chirped excitedly, leading her to another section. He perched on a branch of a tree whose fruits pulsed with concentrated essence. "This is a Heavenly Origin Fruit tree. One bite can trigger breakthrough insights or strengthen your cultivation base directly."

Nearby towered a tree with fruits so red they seemed to bleed crimson light. "A Dragon Blood Fruit tree," he explained. "Perfect for enhancing one's innate abilities, especially for those with dragon-like abilities."

But it was the last tree that truly caught her breath—its fruits seemed to exist in multiple dimensions at once, each one shifting between states of being. "The Celestial Fruit tree," Little Firefly said with reverence. "These can help you comprehend the deeper mysteries of the Heavenly Dao. They make cultivation breakthroughs not just possible, but natural."

Li Hua stood among these mystical trees, still processing how her modest inner space had become home to such treasures. "How long will it take for them to bear fruit?" she asked, already thinking of the possibilities.

"The fruits mature much faster here," Little Firefly explained, hopping from branch to branch. "Time flows differently in this space—what takes centuries in the outside world might only need months here. And since I can tend to them constantly..."

He demonstrated by channeling a thread of pure essence into a nearby branch of the Peach of Immortality tree. The pink-gold fruit visibly swelled, its spiritual radiance intensifying. "See? With proper care and essence, we can accelerate their growth. The regular peach trees planted before already proved this—remember how quickly they bore fruit?"

"Each tree has its own cycle," he continued, flying to the Celestial tree. "The simpler fruits, like the Spirit Rejuvenation ones, might be ready in a month. The Heavenly Origin fruits take two or three months. The more profound ones, like these Celestial fruits..." he gestured at the dimensionally shifting fruits, "perhaps half a year. Still far faster than the thousands of years they'd need outside."

Li Hua nodded, remembering how the original peach trees had flourished in this space. "And you can tend them while I'm cultivating or away?"

"Yes!" Little Firefly's feathers puffed with pride. "I can channel essence, maintain the perfect growing conditions, even harvest them when they're ready. We'll never lack for spiritual fruits, Master. Also, keep in mind that you could duplicate them up to five times."

He fluttered toward the newly formed herb gardens, where plots of land stretched out in concentric circles, each ring holding different varieties of spiritual plants. Between the main circles lay carefully tended beds of other precious herbs—patches of thousand-year ginseng, clusters of spirit-gathering grass, and rows of medicine-grade herbs that would make even experienced alchemists envious. Some were rare but natural herbs used in common pill refinement, while others were spiritual plants that most cultivators only dreamed of finding.

"The herbs are even more remarkable than the fruits," he chirped, landing on a crystalline leaf. "Look at this—"

In the innermost circle grew the legendary Nine-Colored Lotus, its petals shifting through nine distinct shades of spiritual light. "Usually, these take over ten thousand years to mature," Little Firefly explained, "but here, we might see full blooms in a year or two. Each flower can help you comprehend deeper aspects of the Dao and break through cultivation bottlenecks."

The next ring contained patches of Dragon Marrow Grass, their stalks gleaming with an inner light that resembled flowing dragon essence. "These normally need five thousand years to reach potency," he said, hovering over a particularly vibrant cluster. "They strengthen the body's foundation and can awaken dormant bloodline potential."

But it was the outer ring that truly captured Li Hua's attention. There, amidst swirling mists of spiritual energy, bloomed the Phoenix Nirvana Flower. Its petals seemed to burn with an eternal flame yet produced no heat. "The rarest of them all—which is why there is only one," Little Firefly said softly. "In the outside world, these take eight thousand years to mature. They grant the power of rebirth—like a phoenix rising from its ashes. A single petal could save you from a fatal wound."

Li Hua knelt beside the Phoenix Nirvana Flower, feeling its resonance with her core. Every breath she took carried the mingled fragrances of countless herbs—some sharp and invigorating, others sweet and soothing. The very soil seemed to pulse with nurturing energy.

Little Firefly fluttered to a patch of common spirit herbs that were anything but common in their current state. "Even these regular herbs grow more potent here. A single leaf might carry the effectiveness of an entire plant from the outside world."

Li Hua was surprised - with such resources at her disposal, she could not only advance her own cultivation path but support her brothers through their trials and tribulations. Whether they faced cultivation bottlenecks or life-threatening injuries, she now had the means to protect them.

"Little Firefly, the spiritual energy in the space feels denser now too."

"Yes, master!" Little Firefly's feathers gleamed with excitement. "The spirit river's effectiveness has increased by forty percent. The ambient energy is much more concentrated than before. It's as if the entire space has evolved to a much higher realm."

"It's unbelievable, Little Firefly!" Li Hua responded, feeling excited.

"Master, there's still one more important thing I have to show you!"

Little Firefly flew toward the jade pavilion and Li Hua followed. When they reached her jade warehouse, she noticed immediate changes—the space had doubled in size, and directly across from them stood large, imposing double doors she'd never seen before.

Little Firefly flew over to the doors, then suddenly tapped his head with his wing several times. "Ah, I forgot! I could just transport us there instead of using the jade pavilion. Master, the jade pavilion could still be used, but this way is much faster."

Li Hua chuckled at her companion's forgetfulness. Even with all his new powers, he was still the same endearing Little Firefly.

With a wave of his wings, the doors opened.

And Li Hua was stunned at what lay beyond.