Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

The phenomenon stirred up by Devor and Leifu's Dao clash had long since faded, leaving behind only echoes in the minds of those who witnessed it. Yet Devor himself had already vanished from the upper deck, returning to his private quarters with singular focus.

There, amidst shelves of spiritual notes and plant samples carefully preserved in jade containers, he sat cross-legged in silent study—his eyes fixed on the Poison Codex.

But this was no ordinary reading session.

Ever since his Ultimate Comprehension had ascended to Level 5, something fundamental within him had changed.

His thoughts no longer came in fragmented streams—they came in crystalline waves. Every idea, theory, and concept layered itself with clarity and precision. What used to take him hours to analyze could now be done in minutes.

"It's like upgrading from a mortal scholar's brain… to a divine researcher's soul."

He didn't feel more powerful, exactly—just sharper. Like the fog had cleared.

It reminded him of upgrading an old, sluggish computer into a sleek, high-performance machine. Except he was the machine now, and the world was the puzzle.

What once seemed impossible—completing the Poison Codex, stabilizing contradictory plant attributes, fusing life with venom—now felt like a matter of when, not if.

"This leap… is it from the system, or from me?" Devor murmured, his gaze distant.

Unlike other upgrades granted by his system, Ultimate Comprehension felt different. More internal. More… earned. Every level he'd gained had come only after intense realizations, breakthroughs, or debates that pushed the very limits of his Dao.

This one, he had earned with his mind, not his power.

Time, as always during cultivation journeys, passed in a blur of meditation and sharpening thought.

And then—the Central Continent came into view.

Devor stepped out onto the upper deck, the wind rushing against his face as the two Immortal Boats finally slowed. Venom circled overhead in his usual bird form before perching on Devor's shoulder with a chirp of excitement.

Below them sprawled a vast continent, ringed by luminous cloud formations and shimmering lakes that stretched like mirrors to the heavens.

At its heart sat a city suspended above the land—anchored to floating islands of glowing stone, crisscrossed with radiant ley lines.

It was Heavenly Cloud City, the ancestral stronghold of the Heavenly Cloud Sect, and the summit's host.

Devor's breath caught in his throat. "It really lives in the sky…"

Floating palaces glistened like starlight. Elemental bridges of fire and water twisted in elegant arcs between platforms. Gardens bloomed in midair, sustained by formations even Devor couldn't begin to decipher. And at the city's center, a towering spire pierced the clouds—its peak glowing faintly with a silver hue.

"Heavenly Cloud City lives up to its name," he whispered.

Beside him, Yulin smiled knowingly. "You'll be even more amazed once you see it up close."

Devor turned to her, eyebrows raised. "You've been here before?"

Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Let's just say I've attended summits like this in the past."

He didn't push further, but in the back of his mind, a familiar suspicion stirred.

"Just how much does she know… and how long has she really been cultivating?" He thought.

The Immortal Boats lowered gracefully until they hovered just above the receiving platform below. A shimmering formation extended from the ground, forming a staircase of translucent light.

At the front stood Sect Master Zinqi, surrounded by the elite of the Azure Sky Sect: Leifu, Master Nie, and other senior figures whose names were whispered in reverence by most disciples.

Behind them stood the first row—the chosen Core Disciples.

Devor stood in the second row, alongside Venom, Yulin, and Xiuji. Ronin and Qiun stood close behind, each exuding quiet strength in their own way.

Even Longjin—the crimson-haired warrior whose mere energy had nearly shattered Devor's spirit days earlier—stood among them, his aura subdued but ever imposing.

Behind them, more than two hundred disciples lined up in perfect order. Inner Disciples disembarked from the second Immortal Boat, forming a disciplined wall of robes, colors, and cultivation levels.

It was a display of strength, unity, and prestige.

And as they descended the luminous staircase to set foot on the Central Continent, a gentle spiritual pressure welcomed them—one layered over the entire region like an atmospheric seal.

The air was different here.

Richer. Denser. More alive.

"Even the spiritual energy here is more refined," Devor realized.

This was a place where great destinies collided. A continent where the paths of prodigies were forged… or broken.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

The Azure Sky Sect's entourage had barely walked several dozen meters before Devor—still awestruck by the floating marvel of Heavenly Cloud City—caught sight of something even more astonishing.

A shadow split the sky.

What emerged from beneath the luminous city above was no ordinary bird—it was a wyvern. Towering in size, its wingspan stretched well over fifteen meters, each beat of its wings stirring the air like thunder. Scales of azure and silver shimmered beneath the sunlight, casting prismatic glimmers across the clouds.

But that wasn't the end of it.

Behind the wyvern followed an entire flock—hawks, falcons, storm crows, and spectral ravens, each majestic in its own right. They flew in synchronized patterns, trailing the wyvern like royal banners flapping behind a general.

Devor's breath caught in his throat. "What in the world…?"

The sheer scale and harmony of the airborne procession made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

The wyvern spiraled once, then descended.

As its wings beat downward, the gusts sent dust and loose gravel flying in all directions. One unfortunate cultivator—caught too close—was lifted off his feet and hurled backward. He struck the earth with a heavy thud. Yet no one moved to help him. No one even spared him a second glance.

Here, respect wasn't requested—it was commanded.

The wyvern touched down, wings folding neatly against its sides with terrifying precision. The surrounding birds broke formation and hovered above, surveying the area like disciplined soldiers.

From atop the wyvern's back, a figure dismounted—a man clad in immaculate white robes, his silhouette outlined in gleaming silver threads. A black sash circled his waist, denoting his high rank. His every movement radiated calm authority.

Following behind him were several figures, each leading one of the majestic avian beasts with practiced ease.

The man raised his voice, not shouting, yet it carried effortlessly across the field.

"I am Korin, Core Disciple of the Heavenly Sky Sect. We welcome the honored delegation from the Azure Sky Sect."

"Our Sect Master is currently in session with the leaders of the other great sects. Azure Sky's Sect Master is invited to join them promptly."

Zinqi narrowed his eyes slightly, then gave a simple nod. "Then let's skip the formalities. Take me there."

Korin responded with a slight bow and gestured. The wyvern lowered itself again, its back now flush with the ground—ready to be boarded.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zinqi released a controlled wave of Qi, lifting several of the Azure Sky Sect's elite up onto the wyvern's back.

Devor felt himself gently swept upward by the energy—alongside Yulin, Xiuji, Master Nie, Leifu, and a few others—and settled securely upon the wyvern's back. More disciples mounted the companion birds with practiced discipline.

The entire transition was swift, efficient… and utterly humbling.

As Devor adjusted to the wyvern's scaled surface, Yulin leaned over, her voice soft in his ear.

"You can't fly into the city on your own," she explained. "The defensive formations won't recognize you and will attack. These beasts? They're marked and linked to the formation. They act as keys."

"So it's more than just ceremony," Devor muttered. "It's security."

Yulin nodded. "And prestige. The Heavenly Sky Sect's formation is one of the most advanced in the world. Their city is suspended by layered gravity anchors and controlled by a formation core so vast, it requires three Foundation Array Masters just to maintain it."

Devor turned to look at her, surprised. "You really know a lot."

She gave him a sly smile. "It pays to be well-connected."

Devor chuckled… then, as the wyvern began to ascend, a thought struck him.

He leaned closer and sent her a voice transmission.

"Are they… Beast Masters?"

Yulin smirked. "You catch on quick."

"So this entire procession…"

"Is handled by professional Beast Handlers trained in one of the Heavenly Sky Sect's internal branches. Their Beast Hall is one of the finest on the continent—possibly the world. They breed, train, and contract flying, land, and aquatic beasts. Even a few unique bloodlines."

Devor's eyes lit up with undisguised curiosity. "I've never seen one up close before."

"Well, you'll see plenty before the summit's done," she replied. "But don't get ahead of yourself. Contracting one isn't like growing a plant—it's a soul pact. Fail the bond, and the backlash can cripple your core."

That warning lingered in Devor's mind.

Once every disciple and elder was securely mounted upon their designated spirit beast, the caravan lifted into the sky, ascending toward the great floating capital: Heavenly Cloud City.

The air turned crisp and thin as they broke through the final veil of clouds. Suspended in the heavens like a jewel woven into the sky, the city shimmered with protective arrays and drifting spirit fog.

Riding the massive wyvern at the center of the formation, Devor reclined slightly, letting the wyvern's feathers brush against his back. Surprisingly soft and warm, they muffled the wind like an enchanted blanket.

Perched on his shoulder, Venom, still in his black bird form, stared at the clouds with glassy eyes, deep in contemplation.

"One day," Venom murmured, wrapping his wings around his beak like a cloak, "I'll take the form of a Black Phoenix this size... soaring across the sky with divine elegance."

Devor blinked, caught off guard by the earnestness in Venom's tone.

He'd always rolled his eyes at Venom's obsession with birds—especially phoenixes—but this time... he hesitated.

Riding a legendary Black Phoenix through the sky... The image stirred something primal in him—majesty, freedom, power.

He pressed his lips together, unsure whether to encourage the daydream or crush it before it spiraled out of control.

"If you actually manage it," Ronin suddenly called, "I'm booking you as my ride! I'll even pay in spirit stones—top-grade only!"

Devor turned, confused. "Why would Senior Ronin want to rent Venom?"

Ronin shot him a grin and puffed out his chest proudly. "There's a saying where I come from: 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' But when it comes to approaching women... style is everything."

Behind them, Qiun let out a soft sigh and reminded him pointedly, "Second Brother, Master is listening."

Ahead of them, Master Nie twitched. He didn't turn around—just let out a long exhale as he glanced at Leifu, who remained beside him with a calm, amused look.

"Yours too?" Leifu asked quietly.

"It's always the middle ones," Master Nie replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Leifu chuckled. Ronin wasn't even his disciple, but watching someone else's go through the exact same headache? That was priceless.

"Don't worry," Leifu added with a smirk. "It's only a problem if he starts composing poetry about it."

Ronin, hearing that, gave an awkward cough and pretended to focus on the clouds, mumbling something about "impression points."

Despite the teasing, Devor couldn't help but smile faintly.

For all their towering power and lofty ambitions, cultivators were still human.

They loved, lusted, laughed—and stumbled. Just like anyone else.

He glanced over at Yulin, who sit quietly at the edge, gazing up at the floating city suspended in the sky. The wind played through her hair like silver silk, her expression unreadable, distant. Tranquil. Centered.

Dao companions...

The concept had always seemed distant—irrelevant, even. But now it lingered in his thoughts longer than usual.

"Could I even open my heart in this world?" Devor thought.

Every relationship in the cultivation world carried risk. Attachments weren't just distractions—they were liabilities. A Dao companion wasn't just a romantic partner, they were a part of your path. And if they fell... they might take you with them.

"No," Devor thought, shaking the feeling off. "I haven't met anyone who truly stirred me yet. Not like that."

"Not yet."

Venom turned his little bird head, reading the change in Devor's expression. "You thinking about love?"

Devor's eye twitched. "I was thinking about how you still act like a child."

"Hey! I'm a divine beast in training," Venom huffed. "You should treat me with the proper respect."

"I'll respect you when you stop doing loop-de-loops midair and calling it 'combat training,'" Devor muttered.

The wyvern beneath them rumbled with a soft, pleased growl—as if laughing at them both.