Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

The moment the small bird-shaped projection of the Venom Spiritual Tree appeared, the entire audience leaned in, captivated.

Even though many had seen the creature before—fluttering clumsily around the sect or wobbling near the gardens—this was the first time they'd understood what it really was: a conscious extension of a Spiritual Tree, formed through domain-linked manifestation.

"You've probably seen him wandering the grounds now and then," Devor said, smiling lightly as Venom blinked around in confusion, wings fluttering. "But now you know—he's more than a mascot."

His voice remained calm, but a touch of pride curled at the edge of his tone.

"Aside from working with Spiritual Plants," Devor continued, "I've been experimenting with nurturing Spiritual Trees. What you see here is the result—though it's still an early stage."

He paused for a moment before adding, "I owe this opportunity to Senior Juyin, whose research paved the way for my path."

Though his words could've been mistaken for mild arrogance, those who truly understood Devor knew better.

His ambitions weren't born of ego—they were carved from curiosity and intention.

Even now, he stood at the Foundation Building stage, yet few doubted that his Dao would carry him far beyond most Golden Core cultivators.

The question-and-answer session that followed flowed like a gentle stream.

Students asked about spiritual soil compositions, seed compatibility arrays, hybrid grafting, and mutation sequences.

Devor answered each question with calm authority. Occasionally, he paused to draw diagrams or reference examples from his own failed experiments.

Finally, the sun reached its zenith, casting warm light across the rows of garden plots.

"That's enough for now," Devor said, rising to his feet. "You're free to break for lunch. There's food in the spectator area—or you can stay here and reflect on what you've learned."

He gestured toward the bustling market stalls that now ringed the teaching field.

From local food cultivators selling qi-nourishing dumplings to a talisman vendor showing off flame-sealed plant tags, the place had become a small economy of its own.

The idea that this was merely "a gardening class" seemed laughably outdated now.

"Tomorrow," Devor continued, "we begin hands-on work. You'll start planting your own Spiritual Plant Seeds. Use whatever combinations you like—feel free to copy each other if you must. But remember—how you plant reflects what you've learned."

There were no grades. No rankings. Just soil, seeds, and intent.

Because Devor believed something few cultivators ever considered:

The effort you invest into nurturing life is a mirror of your Dao.

As the class dispersed, Devor made his way toward the shaded tree where Yulin sat on the ground, still scribbling into a leather-bound notebook with flowing brushstrokes.

Venom toddled after him, waddling in his stubby-legged glory, fluff bouncing with every indignant step.

"Taking detailed notes?" Devor asked, settling beside her.

"Of course," Yulin replied, eyes not leaving the page. "You said too much to absorb in one sitting."

Devor chuckled quietly. "You could've just listened."

Yulin finally looked up. "Writing helps me understand. And later… maybe it'll help someone else."

Her tone was simple, but her words carried weight. She wasn't just recording lessons—she was helping codify a legacy.

Devor glanced at the notes, occasionally pointing out nuances or clarifying things she'd missed. The two exchanged ideas with an ease born from trust.

Meanwhile, Venom sat at Devor's feet, puffing up with visible annoyance.

"You didn't tell me you could summon my body again!" he snapped, his wings flapping irritably. "I could've flown around the class and helped!"

Devor gave him a flat look. "You? Help? You'd have spent the whole time chasing butterflies and showing off to the crowd."

Venom gasped. "That's slander!"

"That's history," Devor replied with a smirk.

Venom huffed, turned, and dramatically waddled away. "Fine! I'll go where I'm appreciated!"

Yulin raised an eyebrow. "He really is starting to act like a child."

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"He's absorbing too much Qi too quickly," Devor murmured. "His soul's growing faster than his wisdom."

Devor's gaze lingered on Venom's retreating, stubby-legged form as the little bird stormed off in mock indignation. He couldn't help but smile.

He calls himself a "Creator"… but he rather just be his friend.

It was a quiet thought—but one that defined Devor's approach. Even with the power to shape life, he had no interest in controlling others or molding them through dominance.

He preferred bonds born from shared purpose, not obligation.

Beside him, Yulin leaned back and sipped a cup of herbal tea, casually noting something in her notebook. Their conversation had shifted into lighter topics when a soft presence approached.

A young girl—no more than seventeen—walked toward them with hesitant steps.

Her outer disciple robe was neatly pressed, her hands tightly clasped in front of her. There was a clear tremble in her posture, but her eyes held purpose.

"No need to be shy," Devor said gently, offering a warm smile. "Is there something you need?"

The girl flinched as if she'd been struck by lightning. Then, with practiced formality, she bowed deeply.

"Disciple Fuyin greets Senior Devor."

Devor nodded in acknowledgment while Yulin offered the girl a soft, inviting smile. Her presence, as always, had a calming effect.

"Senior Devor," Fuyin asked, voice cautious and low, "are we... allowed to bring other living creatures into the class?"

Devor raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What kind of creatures are you referring to? If it's a Spiritual Beast, I'm afraid it might disrupt the gardens—or distract the other students."

Yulin grinned mischievously. "If it causes trouble, someone might just cook it up for lunch. We've got vendors nearby, after all."

Fuyin's eyes widened in panic. "N-No! It's not a beast. It's… insects."

That surprised both of them.

"Insects?" Devor echoed, his curiosity piqued. "That's unusual. Why bring insects into the classroom?"

"They're tame," Fuyin said quickly, clearly anxious. "I've raised them since I was a child. I trained them to help with my plants. I promise—they won't cause problems. I just thought… maybe I could integrate them into your teachings. If that's alright with you?"

She looked up, trying to read his reaction—but Devor's eyes were filled not with judgment, but fascination.

Insects as spiritual plant caretakers?

That's... not only innovative, it's brilliant.

"Using insects to tend to plants is a fantastic idea," Devor said, voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Don't hold back. Bring them in."

Fuyin blinked in surprise, her expression shifting from nervous to stunned.

"My class covers the fundamentals," Devor explained calmly. "But how you apply those fundamentals? That's up to you. The moment you start shaping what you've learned into something yours—that's when cultivation becomes art."

A silence followed. One filled not with tension, but realization.

Yulin smiled to herself.

"That's the difference with Devor," she thought. "He doesn't force others to walk his path—he opens theirs."

Fuyin bowed again, this time deeply and without hesitation. "Thank you, Senior. I was afraid… you'd think it was strange. Most instructors just told me to follow the manuals. They said bugs were dirty, unrefined."

Devor's gaze turned firm. "What's strange is expecting everyone to grow the same way."

As Fuyin stepped beyond the protective formation and vanished down the path to retrieve her insects, Devor's gaze lingered on the space she left behind.

The breeze was soft, but his thoughts ran deep.

"If that girl succeeds," he said softly, "she might become someone extraordinary."

Yulin turned her head, her long lashes catching the sunlight. "You think her method has that much potential?"

Devor nodded, voice firm. "Insects are both destroyers and nurturers in the wild. They pollinate, break down rot, and sometimes protect their host plants.

If someone learns to tame and refine that connection—to guide it with will rather than instinct—they could birth a whole new field of cultivation."

His gaze turned thoughtful. "Imagine pests that target invasive weeds while ignoring your Spirit Crops. Or insects that heal a plant's meridians like an alchemist treating injuries."

Yulin's eyes sparkled, already imagining the possibilities. "You could replicate that. Maybe even improve on it."

"I could," Devor agreed, stroking his chin, "but I don't think it's my path."

He glanced up at the canopy above, watching the leaves flutter with the wind, and reached out to catch a drifting one in his fingers.

"I like to work directly with the plants. With their rhythms, their breaths. When Venom took over part of my garden's care, I felt... disconnected. Like I was listening to a symphony played by someone else's hands."

He paused, exhaling slowly.

"Delegation works for ordinary gardens. But with experimental lifeforms, with techniques born from my Dao... I need to feel every shift with my own spirit. Otherwise, the harmony slips."

Yulin nodded, her expression warm. "You've always treated gardening more like an art than a task."

Devor smiled faintly. "I'll support Fuyin if she wants to develop that path. I might even build her a test plot. But for me... I already have Venom to help with routine growth. And soon, there will be other Spiritual Trees. I don't want to dilute what I've already cultivated."

They sat in peaceful silence for a moment, listening to the wind as it rustled the leaves in nearby gardens.

Yulin's gaze drifted toward the disciples still kneeling in meditation around their plots.

"Less than ten years ago, you were just planting herbs in isolation. And now you're a mentor to a hundred cultivators," she said softly. "Do you think you'll ever take on a personal disciple?"

The question gave Devor pause.

"A personal disciple?" he echoed, then gave a quiet laugh. "Maybe... someday. But not yet."

He turned his eyes skyward, watching as clouds drifted lazily across the sect's sky dome. "I think I'll start with Venom—and the other Spiritual Trees that'll follow. Let them be my first students. Not because I don't want a human disciple, but because I need to understand what kind of teacher I'm capable of becoming first."

The wind caught a loose strand of his hair, tugging it gently across his face.

"Besides," he thought, "ever since I entered Foundation Building, the system has been evolving alongside me."

The addition of the Spiritual Analyzer allowed him to peer into the essence of plants, while the simulated fields in his sea of consciousness let him test mutations and growth cycles without risking real crops.

As he guided others—offering seeds, advice, and spiritual techniques—he couldn't help but wonder: Is this... part of it too?

When he reach Core Formation... will his system evolve again?

And if it does—will it grant him abilities tailored not to growth, but to teaching?

The thought made his pulse quicken.

He could already shape the mutation paths of plants, manipulate Domains of elemental harmony, and forge life where none existed.

But what if his future gifts allowed him to awaken cultivation insights in others?

To plant ideas in the minds of disciples that could bloom into true Daos of their own?

"Maybe," he murmured aloud, more to himself than to Yulin, "my future isn't about power at all. Maybe I was never meant to become the strongest cultivator."

He looked down at his soil-stained hands, calloused from years of planting.

"Maybe I was meant to grow the ones who will be."