NOVEL NEXT Chapter 134 - Integration
Losing Spiritual Analyzer was a genuine regret.
That ability had once allowed Devor to read the hidden truths buried deep within people's.
In a world where illusions, disguises, and even soul transfers were possible, knowing someone's true identity could mean the difference between life and death.
He pushed the thought aside and summoned the system profile interface.
[ Name: Devor Li ]
[ Gender: Male ]
[ Age: 23 / 300 ]
[ Cultivation: Core Formation Realm – Stage 1 ]
[ Spiritual Essence: 2,000 ]
[ Spiritual Root: Five-Color Root ]
[ Knowledge: 227 Books ]
[ Enlightenment Realm Points: 7,647 / 100 (tap to access)]
[ Abilities: Ultimate Synthesis, Spiritual Perception, Ultimate Comprehension (Lv.4) ]
"Over seven thousand Enlightenment Points," Devor murmured, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Writing books and teaching... it's paying off faster than I expected."
Each time someone studied his published works or attended one of his classes, the Enlightenment System recorded it. The more they understood and applied what they learned, the more points he earned.
Knowledge isn't just power anymore. It's currency.
Most of the profile remained familiar. The only notable change was the shift from Spiritual Energy to Spiritual Essence, a refinement that marked the significance of his breakthrough.
Satisfied, Devor stood and deactivated the isolation formation he'd erected around his dwelling. Golden runes faded into the earth with a soft hum.
He stepped outside, breathing in the rich, fragrant air. A warm breeze rolled across the garden, carrying the gentle rhythm of life. And as if recognizing his return, the entire garden stirred.
The Spiritual Plants swayed in unison, their leaves trembling with harmonious resonance. Subtle pulses of qi flowed like a song of welcome.
Even the World Tree at the center—still young but majestic—shivered faintly, like a great beast lifting its head in acknowledgment.
Devor paused. "Why... does it feel like they're trying to flatter me?"
It wasn't just recognition. It was reverence.
His spiritual presence had changed. After forming both the Golden Tree and the Soul Garden inside his inner world, the plants had begun to respond as though to a sovereign.
"The bond between us runs deeper now," Devor thought. "I've become more than just a cultivator. I've become... their anchor."
On the edge of this hilltop, stood five smaller Spiritual Trees, planted in a wide arc around the clearing. Though only a few dozen centimeters tall, their auras had grown steady and distinct:
Blazing Emberwood (Fire Element) – Its flickering red leaves danced like flame, ever-hungry and bold.
Earthheart Banyan (Earth Element) – Low and sturdy, roots wrapped deep beneath the soil like coiled stone.
Tidewhisper Willow (Water Element) – Thin, silvery leaves flowed like ribbons, its presence calming and contemplative.
Zephyrplume Tree (Wind Element) – Ever in motion, its branches barely touched the ground, as if already trying to fly.
Ironsoul Magnolia (Metal Element) – Compact and tough, its white-petaled flowers glimmered like forged jade.
They stood precisely twenty meters apart, forming the early framework of what Devor hoped would become a Five-Element Harmony.
They hadn't been picked for elemental balance alone. He had also judged each tree by temperament—choosing species that wouldn't clash, whose qi patterns complemented each other rather than fought.
It was the same principle as his Harmony teachings, now applied on a scale far more ambitious.
And yet, one tree remained separate from the rest—isolated at the far edge of the garden.
Devor's eyes fell on the twisted silhouette of the Venom Spiritual Tree, its violet bark slick with faint runes, its leaves glossy with latent toxicity.
It was alive. Too alive. Radiating its own Domain even while at rest.
Venom's true body.
"Once they're fully grown," Devor murmured, walking slowly across the soft grass, "I'll name each of them properly."
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
Extending his Spiritual Sense outward, he found Venom's avatar—still in bird form—napping in the crook of a tree branch nearby, snoring softly as sunlight danced through the canopy.
"Let him sleep." He'd earned it lately.
Instead, Devor approached the Venom Tree.
Its presence was oppressive. The very air around it shimmered faintly with caustic mist. Yet, to Devor, it felt oddly comforting—like home.
Devor stood roughly ten meters away from the Venom Spiritual Tree, its twisted violet bark exuding a quiet, almost regal pressure.
Though its presence wasn't actively hostile, the air around it shimmered faintly with invisible threads of toxicity—a reminder of the latent power this tree possessed.
"How do I store a living creature's biological data into the system?" He didn't know.
But he did know the system tended to respond instinctively to his focused intent. He had long since stopped needing formal commands. All he needed was will.
So, Devor took a deep breath and focused his thoughts like a needle. "System, record and store the biological data of the Venom Spiritual Tree."
He waited.
Nothing happened.
Not even a flicker.
Devor frowned, stepping closer. The tree remained unmoving, its leaves rustling faintly in the breeze. Still no response from the system.
Without hesitation, he took the final step forward and gently pressed his palm to the trunk.
Immediately, a golden circuit of glowing runes flared to life beneath his skin, crawling down his arm like living ink.
[ True form of Venom Spiritual Tree detected. ]
[ Do you wish to store its biological structure and soul imprint? This will consume 1,700 units of Spiritual Essence. ]
"1,700?" Devor muttered. "I've got 2,000. Barely enough, but... I'll take the hit."
[ Confirmed. Initiating Deep Integration Scan... ]
A wave of dense golden essence surged from his palm, rippling out across the tree's surface. Threads of light wove across the bark, slipping through crevices, branches, and roots.
The entire tree responded—its limbs twitching, leaves rustling violently in protest.
Devor felt it instantly. "It's not just a scan. It's an intrusion."
His consciousness blurred. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if his mind had been submerged within the tree's very being—seeing, sensing, experiencing its entire structural matrix.
It was a sensation he had only known once before—when Master Nie had scanned his body to help him refine his cultivation Technique.
Back then, it had felt like someone was peeling him open from the inside out, revealing every weakness and flaw.
And now, Devor was the one doing the peeling.
"So there's no hiding this process from the subject," he realized. "If I ever scan another person... they'll feel everything."
His breath hitched as the scan deepened.
It wasn't painless.
Nearly 90% of his essence drained away in steady pulses, leaving his body cold and trembling. His knees buckled. Sweat beaded across his brow. His vision blurred.
It took everything he had not to collapse outright.
Thirty minutes passed before the scan finally finished—longer than any other system process he'd endured.
[ Biological data of 'Venom Spiritual Tree' successfully stored. ]
[ Access via: Ultimate Synthesis → Body Data → Profile 1 ]
[ Remaining body data slots: 2 ]
[ Note: You may delete existing profiles. A one-month cooldown applies before storing or overwriting new body data. ]
Devor stumbled backward, breath ragged, his mind buzzing.
He'd done it.
And now that the Venom Tree's data was in the system, it opened possibilities he had never even dared to consider.
"I can simulate the growth patterns of the Venom Tree. I can test cultivation techniques. I could… develop methods tailored to it."
If he ever wanted to train a Spiritual Tree, he could do so through direct simulation.
Or better yet, guide one into becoming a cultivator.
A tree that walked the path of cultivation, not just passively—like Venom—but with personalized techniques, Domains, battle applications... maybe even Dao comprehension.
Beyond his research, teachings, and the hum of life within his garden, one name continued to tug at Devor's thoughts—Forly.
The boy who bore the curse meant for him.
"Forly hasn't sent a letter in a year," Devor muttered, standing beneath the shade of the World Tree. His eyes narrowed, the peace in his heart growing troubled. "And he won't let me visit. Why? What's really going on?"
The sect elders had offered him hollow reassurance. "Forly is safe. He's recovering well. There's no need for concern."
But Devor could feel it—that heavy silence, like a chain stretching taut beneath still waters.
"No more waiting. I need to request a meeting with the Sect Master directly. And when I do… I'll store Forly's body data."
Because now, Devor understood the true extent of his system's potential.
With it, he could store the biological structure of a living being—not just to aid them, but to uncover weaknesses, simulate treatment paths, or even design poisons tailored to slip past their defenses.
He wasn't a healer.
But with his garden simulation, the Venom Tree, and Ultimate Synthesis, he could become something even more precise:
A cultivator capable of crafting personalized countermeasures—whether to save a life... or end one.
Devor didn't fear war. He feared not being ready when it came.
Later that day, as the sun dipped low, he returned to his quiet routine, feeding threads of energy into the World Tree.
It had already reached over a meter tall, its roots deep and its canopy shimmering with faint, golden veins of light.
More importantly, it had developed the first spark of self-awareness.
Devor could feel it—an instinctive, childlike joy in the way the tree responded to his touch. It trembled subtly when he fed it essence, and sometimes leaned toward him when he passed by, seeking his presence.
Juyin's words echoed in his mind.
"The best time to bond with a Spiritual Tree is the moment it awakens—when it begins to remember who you are. That's when you form loyalty. That's when you plant a future."
With proper care, one doesn't just raise a tree—they raise a lifelong ally.
"I won't need to build an entire garden around them after all," Devor thought aloud. "They're thriving just from my presence."
But even as the words left his lips, doubt crept in.
"No. Half-measures won't do. If I want to unlock their true potential… I'll need more. More effort. More cultivation. More time."
So, he continued his routine: feeding essence, tending the soil, keeping the five elemental trees balanced.
Even Venom, still strutting around in his bird form and begging for snacks, had become part of the cycle.
It was a quiet, perfect rhythm.
Until Yulin knocked on his door.
She strode in with that usual spark in her eyes—part mischief, part danger—and waved a hand in greeting.
"Congratulations," she said. "You've stepped into Core Formation… and the sect's already buzzing. But you're not going to believe what's happening outside these walls."
Devor raised an eyebrow. "A war brewing? Another grand tournament? Don't tell me the Azure Sky Sect is under attack."
Yulin's grin widened.
"Nope. It's juicier than that. Word is, there's a young prodigy named Devor Li—who supposedly stole a secret gardening method and Harmony technique from his own family's hidden archives."
Devor blinked, frowning slightly. "Who's spreading that?"
"That's the best part," Yulin said, voice dropping. "The one spreading the rumor is… Diyo Li. Your younger brother. The one you didn't even know existed."