Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

Once everyone had boarded, the twin Immortal Boats rose into the sky on the Sect Master's command—two vessels gliding through clouds like celestial ships pulled by invisible threads.

Their journey to the Central Continent Gathering had officially begun.

It would take an entire month to reach the rendezvous point.

Not because of distance. Technically, the boats could arrive in a few days if pushed to full speed.

But burning through that many high-grade spiritual stones would be reckless—and the Azure Sky Sect saw no reason to squander resources without need. Besides, the journey itself was part of the training.

Aboard the boats, disciples mingled freely, exchanging cultivation insights, showing off spiritual tools, and forming bonds that might last lifetimes—or end in a duel.

Devor, however, ended up sticking close to Yulin, whose social circle opened doors without him needing to knock.

By proximity alone, he met more rising talents in one afternoon than he had in his entire time at the sect.

He'd never cared much about fame or sect politics. If someone wasn't part of his immediate circle—or didn't work with plants—he rarely took interest.

"I should care more," he thought at one point. "But I don't."

He was still quietly observing the group when a ripple passed through the energy field aboard the ship.

Subtle. Sharp.

Like the faint edge of a blade tracing your skin before you even realize you're bleeding.

Devor's eyes turned instinctively toward the source—and his heart skipped a beat.

Across the deck stood a striking figure.

A young man, tall and lean, robed in deep crimson.

His hair, a cascade of ember-red strands, framed a face carved with sharp lines and hawk-like intensity.

But it wasn't his looks that stole Devor's breath.

It was his presence.

There was a force within him—not loud, not showy—but tightly coiled and utterly vast.

Devor's senses, trained through years of attuning to the life force of plants and the subtle harmonics of spirit energy, immediately locked onto it.

"That energy… it's not natural. It's…" Before he could finish the thought, his awareness collapsed inward.

Darkness.

Not the absence of light—but the crushing pressure of a world without form.

In that void, something stirred.

Two eyes.

Massive. Unblinking.

Calm—but monstrous in scale. It opened like a god waking from slumber.

It was ancient. And aware. And it was staring directly at Devor.

Compared to that gaze, Devor felt like a rootless seed floating in a tidal wave.

The eye saw him—saw through him. Layer by layer, stripping past flesh, bone, soul.

He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't even scream.

Sweat exploded from every pore, drenching his back in seconds. His legs buckled. His consciousness began to slip—

And then, Clang!

A sound like metal striking crystal rang out inside his mind.

A sharp force—Yulin's hand, glowing with pure spirit energy—pressed firmly against his back.

The vision shattered. Light returned.

He gasped like a drowning man breaking the surface.

His breath came fast, shallow.

The masking layer of energy he had carefully mixed with Venom's power—to help suppress his true essence—shattered completely, exposing the full depth of his true essence to anyone nearby.

Some people turned, sensing the sudden spike.

Yulin didn't speak. She didn't need to.

Her voice echoed directly into his mind, calm and steady:

"Breathe. Anchor your mind. Run your technique—gather your roots again."

Devor obeyed, trembling fingers forming mudras as he cycled his cultivation method, grounding his Qi one layer at a time.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Devor dropped into a cross-legged position the moment he stabilized enough to move. His hands formed instinctive mudras as he slipped into meditation, desperately anchoring his mind before that vast, inhuman presence could claw back into his thoughts.

At the far end of the Immortal Boat, Venom, perched near the vessel's observation sphere, jolted upright. A pulse had reached him—an emotional echo through their soul-bond.

It chilled him.

He had never felt Devor like that before.

"What happened, Brother Devor…?"

Meanwhile, a soft gust of wind swept across the deck.

Out of nowhere, Leifu, the Spiritual Hall Master, appeared behind Devor. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, his expression grim—until he saw Devor meditating safely.

Only then did he release a slow, relieved breath.

"Thank the heavens…"

His eyes flicked toward Yulin, who stood quietly nearby.

"What happened?" he asked in a low voice. "For a moment, his energy went completely pure. I thought someone had infiltrated the Immortal Boat."

Despite the multiple defensive formations woven into the boat's hull, and the Elder-level sentries riding along, it was still a valid concern. A shift in energy that profound could signal possession… or worse.

"He accidentally made contact with another form hidden inside Longjin," Yulin said calmly.

Leifu's eyes sharpened. "Longjin?"

Yulin gave a small nod. "It was faint, but clear. His spiritual signature carries a dual presence."

Leifu muttered under his breath, "No wonder the boy collapsed like that."

By the time Venom waddled over in bird-form, Devor was surrounded.

Yulin stood behind him like a silent guardian.

Leifu monitored his condition closely.

And now, three other disciples—strangers, judging by their unfamiliar auras—had gravitated nearby, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Venom fluttered onto Devor's lap and tilted his small head. "What happened? You look like you just touched a Soul-Eating Lotus with your bare hands."

No response.

Devor remained locked in meditation, stabilizing his inner sea.

Yulin explained to Venom what had happened to Devor. In the end, it was no one's fault but Devor's—he had only himself to blame for carelessly probing someone else's power too deeply.

As Yulin spoke, Venom was left stunned. He hadn't imagined that something like this could ever happen.

Ten minutes passed.

Then, like mist burning away beneath sunlight, Devor's eyes opened—clear, if not slightly weary.

He blinked.

Then blinked again.

"Why are you all staring at me like I just exploded?" he muttered hoarsely.

At once, the three unfamiliar disciples bowed politely.

"Thank you for the insight, Fellow Taoist," one said. "We'll take our leave."

And just like that, they disappeared down the walkway.

Devor watched them go, thoroughly baffled.

"What insight? I didn't even say anything!" Devor thought.

Leifu let out a light chuckle. "Don't worry about it. They were just… curious."

Devor turned toward him. "Curious about me? What for?"

Leifu's gaze sharpened slightly, though his smile remained. "Because your true essence revealed itself for a moment. The disguise you wrapped around your core cultivation unraveled—and your body's resonance with natural spiritual power spilled out."

Devor frowned, confused. "My… resonance did what?"

Yulin stepped forward with her usual smirk. "The moment your guard slipped, the nearby spiritual flora reacted to your presence. Didn't you notice how the vines on the deck walls twitched toward you?"

Venom squawked, nodding emphatically. "I noticed it! I thought they were trying to hug you. I was kinda jealous."

Leifu folded his arms. "Your affinity with plants isn't just about technique or the Venom Domain. You've cultivated with a natural frequency most don't have. That's what they sensed."

"Wait… people can sense that?" Devor looked stunned. "I always thought they couldn't tell unless I demonstrated it directly."

Leifu's smile turned knowing.

"That's because you've been living on that hill of yours like a recluse," he said. "Most cultivators never experience someone with a Natural Resonance that evolved the way yours has."

"It's like how a Sword Master can recognize another just by the way they breathe," Yulin added. "Even if a thousand people can't see it, the one who knows will."

"So they could actually sense the uniqueness of my energy?" Devor asked quietly, his brows drawing together. Then, as a sudden thought struck him, his eyes widened. "Does that mean… I could attract the Elven Race just by sitting still like this?"

Leifu's lips curved into a knowing smile. "That's exactly why I told you—there's no need to hold yourself back. Let it all show."

Devor blinked, recalling that same advice from yesterday. Back then, he thought Leifu was only encouraging him not to hide the more brutal aspects of his cultivation method—especially his unique brand of "gardening."

But now he understood.

Leifu hadn't just meant his methods.

He meant Devor himself.

"Thank you, Master," Devor said sincerely, inclining his head.

A moment passed, then his voice turned more hesitant.

"Who… exactly was that guy earlier? That was the first time I've ever felt something like that."

He didn't have to say more. Everyone nearby knew who he meant.

That single, suffocating moment—the eye that had opened within the void—had seared itself into his memory.

Just sensing Longjin's essence had nearly knocked him unconscious.

"If that had been a real fight… I'd be dead before I even formed a stance." Devor thought.

For the first time, Devor experienced what it felt like to be completely powerless. Not because his cultivation was weak—but because someone else's killing intent was simply that absolute.

But Devor's fear was rooted in a misunderstanding.

Not everyone carried that kind of monstrous pressure.

Longjin was different.

He was a cultivator shaped not just by talent.

"That was Longjin," Yulin said softly, confirming it. "One of our sect's most prominent Core Disciples. Currently at Golden Core Stage Eight."

Her eyes flicked toward the far end of the boat, where Longjin stood like a silent storm cloud.

"In many ways," she continued, "he's the face of our sect's generation."

"Golden Core?" Devor echoed, the number catching in his throat. "That level of power already…?"

He swallowed hard. "What happens when he reaches Nascent Soul… or even higher?"

Yulin smiled gently, though her gaze held a rare glint of seriousness. "He's not as fearsome as he seems. You just happened to brush against the eye of his storm… and got caught in the backlash."

Devor furrowed his brow. "Because I tried to probe too deeply?"

Yulin nodded. "That's all it took. Your spiritual senses grazed his inner world… and something there looked back."

In the cultivation world, probing another's aura was standard. It wasn't considered rude—it was survival. A way to measure, to test, to learn.

But this had been different.

What Devor had touched wasn't just a well of power. It was a presence—and that presence had been awake.

"That wasn't just a spiritual core," he thought. "That was a being."

"If Big Brother Devor went into Venom Mode," Venom chirped proudly, hopping in place on his shoulder, "he could totally go toe-to-toe with that guy!"

The bold declaration earned more than a few surprised looks nearby.

Venom, oblivious to decorum, puffed out his tiny chest.

Devor's face went flat. "There's no need for that. I still value my life, thank you."

He gave the bird a mild swat on the head, earning a tiny squawk of protest. "You sensed it too, didn't you? That wasn't someone we could just overpower."

Venom didn't reply this time. For all his bravado, even he had felt the pressure.

In that moment, Devor truly understood something profound:

He had never been a fighter.

His strength was rooted in patience, understanding, control.

And Longjin? Longjin was a force of nature—an executioner, not just a cultivator.

Trying to challenge someone like that in head-on combat wouldn't just be reckless.