Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

The first attempt was a success—the Bloodbane Lotus had survived the transformation.

Now, there was a real chance for it to reach Grade-A quality.

But survival wasn't enough.

Now came the next challenge—restoration.

Most cultivators would find it incredibly difficult to nurse a weakened, evolving plant back to full strength.

But Devor?

This was where he excelled.

He had spent years testing, refining, and cultivating techniques that allowed him to restore even the most delicate and unstable Spiritual Plants.

And with Venom's help, at least half the work would be handled by the Venom Spiritual Tree.

Devor assigned Venom to regulate a constant, stable flow of energy into the Abyssal Bloodbane Lotus.

At this stage, direct intervention wasn't ideal.

Instead, the best approach was to let the plant heal naturally before applying any external assistance.

For an entire day, Devor and Venom worked together, carefully adjusting the exact energy density needed to accelerate recovery without causing instability.

By the time Devor finished recording their findings, he finally let out a sigh of relief.

Now, all he had to do was wait—a few days, maybe even weeks—while monitoring the plant's progress and stability.

The following days were peaceful.

To make good use of his time, Devor added sword training and body refinement to his daily routine.

His strength had grown considerably, but he knew that cultivation alone wasn't enough.

He needed to refine his battle instincts, ensuring that he wasn't just a master of Spiritual Plants, but a cultivator capable of holding his own against powerful foes.

At the same time, he penned two letters—one to Yulin and another to Nyuru.

To Yulin, he provided a detailed update on his experiment's progress.

To Nyuru, he expressed his gratitude and shared his latest findings in plant-based alchemy.

In his letter to Nyuru, he mentioned something critical—

He was close to creating a highly fertile Portable Garden, specifically designed for growing Spiritual Plants.

The plants cultivated within this garden wouldn't just be ordinary—they would be vastly superior to those grown through conventional methods.

In the last sect competition, he had demonstrated that his methods could ensure that every plant reached Grade-A quality.

The higher the plant's quality, the greater the value of the resources derived from them.

That meant:

More potent alchemical ingredients.

More valuable medicinal properties.

Higher-tier pill refinement.

For now, however, he was only confident in creating a Portable Garden attuned to the Poison element.

Other elements would take more time to develop.

"Harmonizing with the five basic elements would make everything more versatile," Devor mused. "If I could cultivate a balanced five-element environment, it could support all kinds of plants—no matter their attribute."

But there was one problem—

Venom wasn't his.

That realization made him pause.

"I keep using Venom to refine Poison-element plants… but what happens when I need to do the same for Metal, Water, or Fire-based plants?"

This was a long-term problem, one he would have to solve sooner or later.

On the fifth day, two messenger birds arrived.

One carried a letter from Nyuru.

The other, from Yulin.

Nyuru was highly intrigued by his Portable Garden concept.

Even though it was only attuned to Poison-element Spiritual Plants, her mind immediately jumped to its business potential.

If he could mass-produce high-quality Poison-based plants, she could:

Refine superior-grade ingredients.

Craft enhanced elixirs and pills.

Sell those products for an absolute fortune.

Nyuru's entrepreneurial instincts were kicking in.

But Devor could also sense something else—

Nyuru wasn't just excited.

She was calculating.

If she saw the economic potential, then it was only a matter of time before others did too.

Which meant—

He wouldn't be the only one interested in cultivating Portable Gardens.

Yulin's letter carried a completely different tone.

She was pleased with Devor's progress and accomplishments, but she also seemed concerned.

She strongly advised him not to make his project public too soon.

"Speak with me first before you release anything."

"I have a few strategies that could help you."

Devor tapped his fingers against the letter, deep in thought. "Is Sister Yulin worried that my project might cause a stir in the cultivation world?"

It wasn't an unfounded fear.

Back on Earth, countless inventions and breakthroughs had been stolen from their original creators.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

History was full of forgotten innovators—individuals who had made groundbreaking discoveries, only for their ideas to be claimed by those with greater power and influence.

Even in the cultivation world, knowledge was a commodity—one that people were willing to kill for.

Devor frowned slightly. "She has a point."

He had already planned to seek protection, support, or form alliances with influential figures.

But having Yulin's guidance would give him a stronger position when dealing with the larger world of cultivation sects, merchant guilds, and alchemical factions.

Since Yulin had offered her help, there was no reason to refuse.

After reading both letters, Devor carefully penned his replies.

To Nyuru, he acknowledged her enthusiasm and promised to refine his Portable Garden methods further before making them widely available.

To Yulin, he assured her that he would consult with her first before any public release, recognizing the potential risks involved.

Once the letters were sealed, he sent them off via messenger bird, bound for the Azure Sky Sect.

As he watched the birds disappear into the sky, a thought lingered in his mind.

"I'm close… but the real challenge hasn't even begun yet."

If his research continued progressing, it wouldn't just be his allies who took notice.

It would be powerful figures from across the cultivation world—

Some who would seek to support him…

And some who would seek to claim his knowledge for themselves.

As the messenger bird disappeared into the horizon, a faint vibration pulsed from within Devor's robe.

His Communication Token had been activated.

Devor carried several tokens, each tied to important figures. The others he had acquired in Vinix City were safely stored inside his Spatial Ring, untouched.

Reaching into his robe, he found that the active token belonged to the Sect Master.

His brows lifted slightly.

Holding the token in his palm, he channeled a small amount of energy into it.

A moment later, the Sect Master's deep, authoritative voice echoed from within.

"Your book was officially published in the sect today."

"The sect has also announced it to the disciples."

Devor's expression shifted slightly. "It's out already?"

The Sect Master paused briefly before continuing.

"The book you wrote is no simple work. It took quite some time to refine it into something suitable for public consumption."

A small smirk formed on Devor's lips.

His original manuscript had been rough—more of a personal research document than an actual book meant for mass reading.

The sect had assigned a team to refine and expand upon his work, ensuring that it was structured in a way easily understood by the disciples.

But more importantly—

A Hall Master had personally gotten involved in the revisions.

That alone proved how valuable his insights were.

The Art of Creation wasn't something the average cultivator could grasp easily. The very concept challenged traditional cultivation philosophies.

That meant the final version of the book was likely far more detailed than what he had originally written.

The Sect Master's voice grew slightly heavier.

"This book is no ordinary creation…"

"You've taken an important step forward. One day, you may come to realize that this is one of the most valuable contributions you've made to your own future."

And then—

The message ended.

Devor remained silent, turning the Sect Master's words over in his mind. "One of the most valuable contributions to my future?"

The phrasing was curious—almost as if the Sect Master was hinting at something beyond mere recognition.

The Art of Creation was the Dao Embryo that had been acknowledged by the system.

Which meant…

If more people recognized his Dao, would that, in turn, strengthen his Dao itself?

It was a possibility.

After all, in the cultivation world, high-level masters often gave public lectures, sharing their insights. Even the Sect Master held lectures once every few decades.

Could there be a deeper significance to sharing one's cultivation path?

Regardless, Devor felt no regrets about his decision.

If his ideas could reshape cultivation in the future, then the book was merely the first step.

Still—

"Since my book has been published in the sect, shouldn't I receive some Enlightenment Realm Points?"

It was an instinctive thought.

The system, which rarely spoke, was so silent that Devor sometimes forgot it even existed.

With a mental command, he pulled up his profile screen.

[ Name: Devor Li ]

[ Gender: Male ]

[ Age: 20/234 ]

[ Cultivation: Stage-2 Foundation Building Realm ]

[ Spiritual Energy: 8367/8367 ]

[ Spiritual Root: Five-Color Root ]

[ Knowledge: 191 Books ]

[ Enlightenment Realm Points: 145/100 (tap to access) ]

[ Abilities: Ultimate Synthesis, Spiritual Analyzer, Ultimate Comprehension (Lv3) ]

Devor's eyes widened slightly.

"One hundred forty-five!?"

"When did it increase this much?!"

That was nearly triple his previous amount.

He had expected a small increase, but this?

Even as someone accustomed to rapid growth, this was an unexpected jump.

Before he could think further, the Venom Spiritual Tree trembled slightly.

Sensing his sudden shift in energy, it seemed to be asking—

Did something bad happen?

Devor coughed lightly, waving it off. "It's nothing, I was just thinking about something, hahaha!"

His smile remained casual, but internally, his mind was racing.

Devor had always treated the system as a tool—nothing more.

It had helped him progress, but he had never relied on it blindly.

He knew better than to place his entire future in the hands of something he didn't fully understand.

After all—

If word of the system ever got out, what would happen to him?

At best, he'd be hunted down by powerful figures who wanted to claim its secrets.

At worst—

He'd be kidnapped, dissected, and experimented on, his body and soul ripped apart in a desperate attempt to uncover its mysteries.

No—

This was something he had to keep hidden, no matter what.

After calming Venom's curiosity, he refocused.

"Should I try it?"

The Enlightenment Realm—the system's core function—was likely his greatest advantage.

But unlike Alchemy or Cultivation, this was something he couldn't afford to be reckless with.

His experience with Ultimate Synthesis had already taught him a valuable lesson.

The system was not a shortcut.

It was merely a multiplier—a tool that enhanced what was already there.

If his foundation was weak, no amount of Enlightenment Realm access would change that.

Taking a deep breath, Devor suppressed his curiosity.

"I'll wait."

"I'm not ready yet."

Instead of rushing into the unknown, he turned his focus to solidifying his foundation.

"I've only just perfected the Five-Dragon Cultivation Technique up to the Foundation Building stage."

"I should integrate Senior Juyin's technique into it as well."

And more importantly—

"I should refine the Five-Dragon Cultivation Technique all the way to the Golden Core stage, and with Master Nie's guidance, I will perfect it to its peak."

If he wanted to fully harness his Enlightenment Realm points, then he needed to perfect his cultivation technique first.

Then—

He would see what the Enlightenment Realm had to offer.

With newfound determination, Devor set his plans in motion.

❄️❄️❄️

Meanwhile, far from where Devor was, deep within the Azure Sky Sect, a vast serene field stretched beneath the golden light of the afternoon sun.

The air was crisp, carrying the scent of blooming spirit grass, and a gentle wind rustled the leaves of towering ancient trees.

In the heart of this tranquil landscape, a man and a young woman stood locked in discussion.

The man was Master Nie, the Cultivation Hall Master of the Azure Sky Sect—a figure whose name alone commanded respect and wariness across the sect.

Before him stood his most promising disciple—a captivating young woman named Qiun.

At that moment, he was imparting a lesson in combat philosophy, but his words were suddenly cut short.

His shoulders tensed.

A sharp, icy chill surged through his body, as if an invisible blade had brushed past his skin.

For an instant, the serene warmth of the field faded—replaced by a feeling of something dark, foreboding… unnatural.

Qiun, noticing the sudden change in her master's demeanor, furrowed her brows.

"Master, what's wrong?" she asked.

Her voice held genuine curiosity, but also a slight edge of concern.

Master Nie's expression darkened.

The shiver that had run down his spine wasn't ordinary—it was a warning.

The lingering cold refused to fade, clawing at the edges of his senses.

His gaze sharpened, his voice calm yet edged with steel. "Which old fool is trying to make trouble for me this time?"

Qiun's eyes widened slightly at her master's cryptic words.

"Master, has an enemy made their move?" she asked, her tone now more serious.

Master Nie exhaled slowly, his breath steady as he processed the sensation.

"My cultivation technique is… unique," he explained. "It hones a cultivator's sixth sense—allowing me to perceive disturbances before they manifest. When something or someone poses a true threat, I feel it long before they act."

Qiun's expression turned intense.

This was why her master was so feared.

Not only was he a peerless combatant, but he possessed an instinct that had saved him countless times.

"Master, if you plan to send Senior Brother to cause chaos, please allow me to join the mission." Her voice carried an edge of anticipation. "I wish to test my own strength."

Master Nie's lips curled into a smirk.

"It's been years since someone dared to challenge me," he mused. "Perhaps it's time we see who is foolish enough to provoke the Azure Sky Sect."

A faint ripple of killing intent flickered in his eyes.

Qiun nodded firmly.

It had been a long time since she had gotten involved in the darker side of the cultivation world.

The sect had remained stable, unchallenged.

But now… something was stirring.

Master Nie let out a low chuckle, but there was nothing warm about it.

Over the years, many had attempted to undermine him—powerful figures who sought to tear down his legacy, dismantle his influence.

Yet time and time again, he had outmaneuvered them.

His instincts had never failed him.

His enemies had either suffered crushing losses or been eliminated entirely.

And this time—

Would be no different.

Master Nie's gaze lifted toward the azure sky, his expression unreadable.

Whoever was responsible for triggering this ominous feeling…

They would be the ones to suffer.

And he would make sure of it.