Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

Devor turned to Yulin, a question forming in his mind. "Is it possible for a Spiritual Tree to devour a curse?"

Yulin met his gaze and exhaled slowly, offering a bitter smile. "How should I know? Curses are deeply entwined with a person's very soul. Even among cultivators, few truly understand their nature. There are spiritual entities capable of consuming curses, but they're rare—and far from cooperative."

Devor's eyes narrowed slightly. "Such entities exist? Then why hasn't the sect helped Forly by acquiring one?"

Yulin let out a short, dry laugh. "You make it sound simple. These creatures are exceedingly rare. Most are only summoned by demonic cultivators, and they are far from benevolent."

"If one were to enter a person's soul," Yulin continued, "it wouldn't just consume the curse—it would devour the soul itself."

A chill ran through Devor. What kind of beings were these?

If they were summoned by demonic cultivators, that alone meant they were dangerous beyond measure.

"You're the one who formed a soul-bond with the Venom Spiritual Tree," Yulin pointed out, her gaze thoughtful. "Shouldn't you know the reason behind this?"

Devor shook his head. "I don't. Even Senior Juyin never mentioned that this technique had such a capability."

The implications troubled him.

Curses weren't simply injuries that could be healed with time.

Once they took root in a cultivator's soul, removing them was extraordinarily difficult—sometimes outright impossible.

There were ancient techniques that allowed cultivators to invade another's soul, but the risks were immense.

The soul was delicate; even the slightest mistake could shatter a person's cultivation foundation or render them crippled.

And even if one succeeded, extracting a curse was like trying to carve venom out of flesh without cutting into the lifeblood itself.

For the Venom Spiritual Tree to have absorbed a curse without harming Devor… it defied everything he knew.

With no clear answers, Devor turned to the tree itself.

"What exactly happened?" he asked.

The tree's voice resonated in the air, slow and measured.

"When... strange... energy... entered... Devor... I... assumed... it... was... food..."

Yulin blinked. "You thought he was feeding you?"

"Yes..."

Devor and Yulin exchanged glances.

The tree had instinctively consumed the foreign energy, assuming it was an offering—just as it would absorb nourishing Qi from the land.

"That wasn't ordinary energy," Devor explained. "It was a curse."

The Venom Spiritual Tree fell silent.

It had no concept of what a curse was.

Yulin sighed and took a different approach. "Think of it like a parasite—an insect that burrows into plants and slowly eats them from the inside."

A tremor passed through the tree's leaves. "Parasite..."

Now it understood.

Devor frowned. If the tree had unknowingly absorbed the curse, what did that mean for it? Had the curse simply vanished? Or had it changed the tree in some way?

There was only one person who could give him an answer.

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Before departing, Devor formally introduced Yulin to the Venom Spiritual Tree, allowing them to speak briefly.

Yulin watched the tree with curiosity. Its speech was slow, hesitant—like a child still learning to form thoughts.

This was no ordinary Spiritual Tree.

And yet, something about it unsettled her.

As Devor walked away, heading toward Azure Peak, the weight of unanswered questions settled heavily on his shoulders.

Upon reaching the peak, he was forced to wait nearly half an hour before a servant finally escorted him into the Sect Master's study.

The room was dimly lit, incense burning faintly in the air. Sect Master Zinqi sat at a broad wooden desk, his eyes closed as though lost in deep thought.

The moment Devor stepped inside, Zinqi's eyes snapped open.

"You have something urgent to report?"

Devor wasted no time. He explained everything—how the Venom Spiritual Tree had absorbed the curse, how it had assumed the energy was food, and how, despite this, his body and mind remained unharmed.

Zinqi's expression darkened.

"Juyin never mentioned that his technique allowed a Spiritual Tree's imprint to devour curses—or anything else, for that matter," he muttered, tapping a finger against the wooden surface.

Devor hesitated. "Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

He worried that, in the future, an enemy might manipulate the Venom Spiritual Tree, forcing it to absorb energy—or worse, drain his soul.

After all, he didn't have absolute control over the tree's imprint within him.

Zinqi studied Devor for a moment before offering a small, knowing smile. "This might actually be a good thing."

Devor arched a brow. "A good thing?"

"Tell me, have you heard of Beast Masters?" Zinqi asked.

Devor frowned slightly. "Cultivators who bond with spiritual beasts as battle companions?"

He recalled learning about the various cultivation professions in the sect.

"Exactly." Zinqi leaned forward slightly. "Juyin's technique follows a similar principle—but instead of beasts, he applied it to Spiritual Trees."

Devor's eyes widened. He'd never considered the technique in that light.

"A skilled Beast Master doesn't merely tame their beast," Zinqi continued. "They establish a deep bond, borrowing strength and even merging abilities. Some reach such mastery that they can directly channel their companion's power."

Devor exhaled sharply. If Juyin's cultivation method shared such principles, then what exactly had Devor achieved with Venom?

"There are different tiers of seals used in Beast Mastery," Zinqi went on. "Spirit Seals, Soul Seals, and Celestial Seals—each defining the depth of connection between master and beast."

Devor nodded, absorbing every word.

"But," Zinqi's voice lowered slightly, "there exists a final tier—the Boundless Seal. It is the rarest, recorded only in the Immortal World. This seal forges an unequal bond, one entirely dependent on the other."

"What do you mean, dependent?" Devor asked, a faint unease creeping into his chest.

Zinqi met his gaze steadily. "If you die, so will the Spiritual Tree. But if the tree perishes… you will live on."

Silence.

Devor stiffened, the weight of those words sinking in. "That—"

"And," Zinqi added, "from what I can tell, you've already formed one with your Venom Spiritual Tree."

Devor's mouth went dry.

This wasn't merely an imprint or a deep connection—Venom's existence was now entirely reliant on his own. If Devor perished, so would the tree. But if the tree were to wither… he would remain unaffected.

He swallowed hard. "I had no idea…"

"Few do," Zinqi said. "The Boundless Seal isn't something that can be formed intentionally—it occurs when a spirit becomes entirely dependent on its host's existence. Even among Beast Masters, it is an anomaly."

"Then what should I do?" Devor asked.

"Consult Master Nie immediately," Zinqi instructed. "You need to integrate Juyin's technique with your cultivation method. Once the Boundless Seal stabilizes in your core, you might gain greater control—perhaps even enough to help Forly gradually absorb his curse."

Devor took a deep breath, determination settling in his bones. He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sect Master. I won't let you down."

Zinqi watched as Devor left.

Then, as the room fell silent, a ripple of energy stirred behind him.

Zinqi didn't turn as his personal advisor, Eryu, materialized like mist.

"You heard?" Zinqi asked.

Eryu nodded. "A Boundless Seal… unexpected." His voice was unreadable.

Zinqi smirked slightly. "We should invest in saplings. For the sect's future."

Eryu hesitated. "To support Devor?"

"No." Zinqi's eyes glowed faintly. "To offer our disciples a new path—one like Devor and Juyin's."

A long pause.

"A bold idea, Master," Eryu admitted. "But few will choose it. Like Spiritual Farmers, it is foundational… yet overlooked. Without immediate combat benefits, most disciples won't sacrifice years to master it."

Zinqi stroked his chin. He wasn't wrong.

Juyin had succeeded because he was already a renowned Poison Master—his trees amplified his expertise. Devor was unique; his natural affinity with cultivation made this path viable.

But other disciples?

They lacked the time and patience.

Unlike Beast Masters—who gained direct combat strength—a Spiritual Tree Master did not offer immediate power… unless, like Juyin, they specialized in a complementary field like poisons.

Even with the power of the Venom Spiritual Tree, Devor was no more than a beginner in the poison arts—merely someone who could wield poison.

Though he had formed a deep bond with the tree in just a year, Zinqi knew that Juyin had spent five full years earning the Spiritual Tree's trust and borrowing its strength.

For young sect disciples, five years was an unbearably long time to go without significant progress.

"We'll wait and see," Zinqi finally said. "Devor may yet forge a new path—one others can follow."

His trust in Devor was absolute.

All the boy needed was time… and protection.

Zinqi's voice turned glacial. "Ensure nothing distracts him. Tend to Forly's care. And deal with anyone who interferes."

Eryu bowed deeply. "Understood."

Then, like a shadow slipping into the void, he was gone.