Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

The Azure Sky Sect descended into emergency mode.

In the aftermath of the attack, security divisions fanned out across the sect, tracing every movement, questioning witnesses, and sealing off key locations.

The Sect Master immediately issued a lockdown—no one was permitted to leave the sect grounds until the traitors were identified.

Zinqi personally escorted Devor to one of the secure peaks, away from the turmoil. But Devor knew—this wasn't just about keeping him safe.

This was a message.

Whoever had orchestrated the attack wasn't just after him. They had openly challenged the Azure Sky Sect.

Devor clenched his fists.

The first Divine Disciple—ambushed within the sect's own walls.

This wasn't just an assassination attempt.

It was a declaration of war.

Forly was immediately taken by the sect's medical team, his body placed under intense observation.

Devor wanted to go with him—but the Sect Master had forbidden it.

"He saved my life." Devor's voice had been sharp, nearly demanding to see Forly.

But Zinqi's expression had been grim.

"You don't understand the nature of this corruption yet." The Sect Master's voice was steady, but it carried a weight that left no room for argument. "If you go near him now, you may become compromised as well."

Devor had no choice but to step back.

Now, alone in his room, the unease in his chest refused to fade.

Forly had acted on Yulin's warning—striking the imposter before he could strike back. But the way the black blood had latched onto him...

What was happening to him now?

While Devor remained under guard, Yulin stood alone atop the mountain, staring into the distant sky.

A soft sigh escaped her lips. "Who could have done this? Was it really Yiru?"

Yiru Fu—the one who destroyed Devor's garden in the past to suppress its growth.

But something felt off.

The Fu Empire was on par with the three great sects of the Ten Sect Alliance. A direct attack on the Azure Sky Sect was suicidal.

No matter how reckless Yiru could be, It was too risky for her to take such an action.

If she truly was behind this, then the Fu Empire itself would be forced to step forward and take responsibility.

And if that happened...

Yulin's gaze darkened. "Would they really throw her away to protect their interests?"

A single thought kept gnawing at her—

What if Yiru wasn't the mastermind?

What if someone wanted the Azure Sky Sect and the Fu Empire to turn on each other?

Yulin crossed her arms, her expression hardening.

She needed to be absolutely certain before making a move.

❄️❄️❄️

Time passed quickly.

Devor remained atop the Sect Master's peak, housed in one of the grand residences reserved for elite disciples.

The investigation had been relentless.

And now—

A scroll lay unfurled in Devor's hands.

His eyes flicked down the list of names.

Dozens.

Nameless Disciples. Outer Disciples. Even Inner Disciples.

Some were guards. Some were sect workers. Some had even held key positions.

And some of them worked with Yiru Fu.

Devor's grip on the paper tightened. "So it really was her?"

A frown creased his brow.

Something still didn't add up.

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"Attacking me outside the sect is one thing," Devor murmured, staring at the name before him. "But launching an attack inside the sect? That's a direct provocation against the entire Azure Sky Sect."

It was reckless.

Too reckless.

And yet, the names on this list were undeniable.

Had Yiru truly lost her mind? Or was there something else at play?

Devor pushed the scroll aside and reached for a book resting on his desk.

It was an encyclopedia on medicinal pills—a habit of his, reading through rare and dangerous concoctions in his spare time.

Flipping through the pages, his gaze landed on a particular entry.

Shadow Puppet Pill.

A flicker of recognition crossed his face.

"The Shadow Puppet Pill turns the consumer into a puppet under someone else's control." Devor's breath stilled. "At the same time, it fully corrupts their body into a demonic curse."

A forbidden pill, one that ensured the death of its victim—whether they succeeded in their task or not.

Devor's mind raced back to the fight.

Forly's strike had been effortless—as if the imposter had been offering himself up to die.

Because he had been.

Devor's hands curled into fists.

Yulin's warning. The way she had shouted not to engage them.

If he had landed a hit on one of them, the black blood would have turned on him next.

He would have been infected.

His body grew tense as a chilling realization settled in.

The attack wasn't just meant to kill him—it was meant to turn him into something else.

Something like Forly.

This wasn't just an infiltration.

This was an orchestrated internal purge.

Someone had turned dozens of disciples into disposable assassins.

But who?

Devor couldn't help but think of Yiru again.

Was she truly behind this?

Or had someone else manipulated these people into action... only to frame her?

A bitter chill ran through him.

This wasn't just sect politics anymore.

This was something far, far darker.

"How is Forly doing?" Devor's voice carried a weight he couldn't hide.

The answer was written in the book before him, in a passage detailing the effects of the Shadow Puppet Pill.

"The victim suffers endless nightmares, their soul corroded by an insatiable thirst for blood. Over time, the mind fractures, and the body transforms into a sleepless, unrelenting warrior—one who knows neither mercy nor rest."

Devor clenched his jaw.

Why had the enemy done this?

Why had they chosen to curse him instead of killing him outright?

"If I were truly a threat to them, why not just eliminate me?" Devor muttered. "Why go through the effort of ruining my life?"

It didn't add up.

If this was merely an assassination attempt, a simple sword through the heart would have sufficed.

But if this was something greater—if he was merely a pawn in a larger game—then the implications were terrifying.

Devor closed the book and exhaled slowly. His mind was restless, but he forced himself to calm down.

For now, all he could do was cultivate and wait.

The sun dipped below the mountains, casting the sect in deep violet hues.

Within his room, Devor sat cross-legged, focusing on his Ultimate Synthesis ability.

He reached into his sea of consciousness, where golden light flickered around manifestations of rare spiritual plants.

Normally, interacting with real plants brought him peace. But confined within these walls, he could only resort to this mental projection—and the feeling was hollow in comparison.

A sigh left his lips.

Just as he was about to close his session, a soft knock sounded at his door.

"…Sister Yulin?"

Yulin's voice was calm. "Come outside. There are some things we need to discuss."

They walked side by side through the garden at the mountain's peak, where the air was thick with Spiritual Energy.

The sky was painted in shades of deep blue, and a soft breeze rustled the leaves of luminous Spirit Trees, their glow casting long shadows across the path.

Neither spoke at first.

It wasn't until they reached a stone pavilion that Yulin finally broke the silence.

"…Do you blame me for sacrificing Forly?" Yulin's voice was calm.

Devor paused mid-step.

The question struck deep.

Did he blame her?

He didn't like the answer.

Forly had suffered because of him. But at the same time… could he truly blame Yulin for urging Forly to act?

She had done what was necessary to save him.

Devor let out a slow breath. "I understand, Sister Yulin." He closed his eyes briefly before continuing, "I would have done the same—sacrificed someone else if it meant saving you."

It was a cruel truth.

In this world, there was no gain without sacrifice. The only difference was what price one was willing to pay.

Yulin didn't respond immediately. But when she did, her voice carried a note of sorrow. "Forly's condition has improved… but in the future, he may never be the same again."

Devor's eyes darkened. "Because of the curse?"

"Yes. But there's something else." Yulin hesitated before continuing. "Forly had never taken a human life before."

Devor frowned. "He's never killed anyone? Does that really make a difference?"

Yulin turned to him, her gaze sharp and knowing.

"The name 'Shadow Puppet' hints at its nature, but not its true effect," she said. "The pill wasn't just meant to corrupt him. It was meant to destroy his very potential as a cultivator."

Devor's breath hitched. "…What?"

"The pill forces its victims to cross a threshold they can never return from," Yulin explained. "Those who have never killed before are the perfect targets. The moment they take a life, the pill begins its torment. Their soul and mind shatter beneath the weight of their actions—until they fully succumb to darkness."

A chill ran through Devor's spine.

Forly…

Forly had killed that imposter for his sake.

And in doing so, he had condemned himself to an endless nightmare.

Devor's fists clenched. "Then why didn't they just kill me? Why go through all of this?"

Yulin's expression turned grim.

"Killing you would have been difficult," she admitted. "The sect has multiple layers of protective formations. For example—this mountain. Any cultivator equal to or stronger than you would be detected the moment they stepped foot here. If someone too powerful tried to approach, they would need permission from the sect's higher-ups."

Devor raised an eyebrow. "…I wasn't aware of that."

"Most disciples aren't." Yulin said.

A thought crossed Devor's mind, and his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "If the sect's defenses are so impenetrable, then how did the enemy reach me?"

Yulin's lips curled into a wry smile. "That's the real issue."

Devor's heartbeat quickened.

"They used an extremely rare and expensive Rune Talisman—one that bypasses even the strictest formation barriers." Yulin's expression turned grim.

Devor's breath caught in his throat.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Yulin held up a hand to stop him.

"This type of talisman can only be obtained from the Immortal World," she continued. "It carries the power of Dao itself, allowing it to deceive even the most intricate protective formations."

Devor's mind reeled.

He had experienced a mere fraction of Dao's power before, and it had been overwhelming.

And now…

He was being told that a talisman infused with the full power of Dao had been crafted specifically to bypass the sect's defenses?

A deep sense of dread settled in his chest.

This wasn't just an assassination attempt.

Someone had planned this with Immortal-level methods.

Whoever was behind this wasn't just powerful. They were connected to the Immortal World itself.

The more Devor pieced things together…

The more horrifying the truth became.