Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

With the Venom Spiritual Tree's assistance, everything progressed smoothly.

Devor methodically infused each plant with wisps of the gray veil's essence, observing every reaction carefully.

At the same time, he began modifying the Barrier Formation surrounding his garden, adjusting its structure to draw in more ambient Spiritual Energy.

Still, a lingering concern gnawed at him.

If the gray veil—no, the energy field—reached its perfect state, would its demand for Spiritual Energy grow beyond control?

If that happened, sustaining it would become a serious resource drain. Unless he cultivated in a region naturally rich in Spiritual Energy, he would be forced to rely on Spirit Stones.

For today's experiment, Devor limited each plant's infusion to two wisps of the gray veil's essence, consuming over a thousand units in total.

Technically, each plant could absorb five times that amount, but if the essence pool dropped below ten thousand, the energy field might destabilize in later stages.

With the test complete, he and Venom continued tending to the plants as usual, carefully monitoring for any delayed effects.

As night fell, the garden remained unchanged—a reassuring sign.

Devor finally let out a quiet breath of relief.

Satisfied, he returned to his quarters to rest.

He hadn't slept in over a week. His cultivation allowed him to push his limits, but even he needed rest once every seven days to maintain peak mental clarity.

The first thing Devor did upon waking was examine the gray veil using his Spiritual Analyzer.

A translucent blue interface appeared before his eyes.

[ Name: Unnamed ]

[ Essence: 11,534/100,000 ]

[ Status: Good ]

[ Origin: Pseudo Dao Art of Creation ]

Devor's gaze sharpened. "It recovered 500 essence points in a single day?"

That was unexpected.

Yesterday, the essence pool had dropped to just over 11,000 after feeding the six plants. Yet overnight, it had passively regenerated by 500 units.

Did that mean it had a natural recovery rate? Or… was something else influencing it?

He crossed his arms, deep in thought.

The thing didn't even have a name yet. Since he had created it, should he give it one?

It was an odd notion.

Cultivators often named their cultivation techniques, Dao arts, and even formations.

Still, the more he considered it, the more it made sense.

"In the vast world of cultivation, I might be the first to create something like this. If it's truly mine… then it's only right to name it." He glanced at the Venom Spiritual Tree, then back at the swirling gray mist above the garden.

A name formed in his mind.

"…Venom Domain."

The moment he spoke, Venom Spiritual Tree trembled slightly, as though startled.

It sent a faint pulse of inquiry toward him.

Devor chuckled. "The gray veil didn't have a name, so I figured 'Venom Domain' would suit it."

For a second, the Venom Spiritual Tree seemed… pleased.

Its leaves rustled softly, and Devor sensed a subtle wave of delight emanating from it.

He raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "You're acting like I named it after you."

Venom quivered again, as if that was exactly what it thought.

Devor shook his head.

"Venom" was a generic term associated with toxic attributes—not a personal name.

He had only referred to the tree that way because it was a Venom Spiritual Tree. But it seemed the tree hadn't realized that distinction.

Juyin, on the other hand, always called it "Little Tree."

It had never questioned that.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Does it actually… like being associated with a name?

Turning his gaze back to the swirling mist, Devor spoke with finality. "I name you Venom Domain."

For a brief moment, there was no reaction.

Then—

A subtle vibration passed through the energy field.

Devor discreetly checked the system interface.

[ Name: Venom Domain ]

[ Essence: 11,534/100,000 ]

[ Status: Good ]—

[ Origin: Pseudo Dao Art of Creation ]

His eyes flickered with intrigue.

As expected—the name took effect instantly.

Devor's mind turned toward sustainability. "At this rate, Venom Domain regenerates 500 essence per day. That means I can only feed the plants once every three days if I don't want to deplete it completely."

However, in a way, that wasn't entirely bad.

If he rushed plant evolution too quickly, they could experience instability—or worse, develop uncontrolled mutations.

A slower, controlled pace was preferable.

Still, his instincts told him this wasn't the limit of Venom Domain's potential.

And soon enough, his suspicion was confirmed.

As the days passed, he noticed something subtle but profound.

The Abyssal Bloodbane Lotus and the six Earth-Grade plants weren't just passively absorbing energy anymore.

They were refining it.

A strange harmony formed between them, their connection deepening over time.

And the result—

Venom Domain's recovery rate was increasing.

At first, it was 500 essence per day.

Then it climbed to 600… then 700…

Within a week, its regeneration had accelerated beyond his initial estimate.

"This formation is alive." That was the only conclusion Devor could reach.

What he had created wasn't just an energy field—it was a living phenomenon, evolving alongside the plants.

And the question that lingered in his mind was no longer what it was—but what it would become.

The days slipped by like flowing water, and before long, an entire month had passed.

Under Devor's precise guidance, the Venom Spiritual Tree managed the garden's upkeep with remarkable efficiency.

Not once did any major issue arise, allowing Devor to shift his focus to a new project.

He began cultivating a fifth garden, one that Venom would tend to alone.

This wasn't just another expansion—it was an experiment.

Devor wanted the Venom Spiritual Tree to gain firsthand experience, to understand the delicate balance of cultivation beyond simply absorbing and refining Spiritual Energy.

Unlike the other gardens, this one contained plants of various elements, each requiring different care.

Venom quickly realized that it couldn't simply release its power freely—only poison-element plants could withstand its corrosive aura.

At first, this limitation frustrated Venom. It had assumed that tending to plants would be second nature, yet the reality was far more complicated.

It wasn't enough to be strong. It needed control.

"If you only want to grow poisonous plants, that's fine," Devor had told it. "But if you want to understand the full breadth of Spiritual Plants, you need to push yourself further. That means caring for all kinds of plants, poisonous or not."

Venom absorbed those words in silence before making its decision.

With a shudder, it molded its energy into spectral hands, using them to carefully tend to the plants manually.

It struggled at first—its energy was inherently toxic, and minor miscalculations could weaken or even kill certain plants.

To assist, Devor gifted it a set of high-quality gardening tools, each imbued with formations that stabilized the surrounding spiritual field, preventing energy imbalances from harming the plants.

Though the task remained challenging, Venom found itself growing more invested in the process.

For the first time, it felt like something more than a tree rooted in place, endlessly absorbing energy.

It felt… alive.

While Devor and Venom cultivated together, another pair of eyes remained fixed upon them.

Juyin, who had been silently observing their progress all this time, now sat within a private chamber, facing Zinqi, the Sect Master of Azure Sky.

Juyin's expression was unreadable as he studied the man before him.

"Have you assembled the relocation team?" he asked at last.

"I've contacted them. They're prepared to move at any time," Zinqi replied, his sharp gaze not on Juyin—but on Devor.

Through the walls, across the vast distance separating them, he could sense the raw presence of the Venom Spiritual Tree radiating from Devor.

With his cultivation level, Zinqi had long since attuned himself to the spiritual frequencies of the world. What he sensed now only confirmed his suspicions—

The power Devor could command had already surpassed Juyin's.

Juyin noticed the flicker of satisfaction in Zinqi's expression and scoffed. "You're fortunate to have a disciple like him in your sect. His Spiritual Root may be weak, but with the right resources, he'll reach the Golden Core stage—where his root's limitations will no longer hold him back."

Zinqi smirked. "What's this? Jealousy? You could always join Azure Sky as an Elder. That way, you'd get to observe him up close and guide him when necessary."

Juyin snorted in amusement. "And be bound by all those ridiculous sect rules? I already destroyed one sect—I don't intend to destroy yours, too."

Zinqi chuckled knowingly but didn't push the subject.

He was well aware of Juyin's past and the real reason he remained a lone wolf.

While Zinqi himself was confident that he could defeat Juyin in a battle, he also knew the true danger wasn't Juyin's combat strength—it was his knowledge of poisons, curses, and energy disruption techniques.

If Juyin ever decided to collapse a sect's foundation, he wouldn't need a sword. He would do it from within.

That alone made him a walking calamity in the eyes of many cultivators.

"Still," Zinqi said smoothly, "this may be one of the best decisions you've ever made. Giving up a mere tree to invest in Devor—that's practically a bargain."

Juyin remained silent, his gaze shifting toward Devor, who was adjusting the energy circulation of the garden.

"A bargain, huh?" he murmured. "Maybe. But I'll have to wait a hundred years to see the return on that investment."

Devor had no idea, but he was the focal point of a far greater plan.

Juyin and Zinqi had struck a secret deal—one that placed the Venom Spiritual Tree in Devor's hands under specific conditions.

But that wasn't the only arrangement.

"About my previous request," Zinqi said, his tone shifting to something heavier.

Juyin leaned back, his sharp eyes narrowing. "I've already sent messages to the Fu Empire and several key figures in the cultivation world. That should at least add an extra layer of security for him in the future."

Zinqi nodded slightly. "This kid has immense potential. Before he fully matures, he'll need all the support he can get to ensure his survival."

There was an unspoken truth beneath his words.

In this world, talent bred jealousy.

A young cultivator rising too fast would always attract those who wished to crush him before he became a threat.

Azure Sky Sect would back Devor, of course. But sect protection alone wasn't enough.

For true security, Devor needed a neutral force—one outside the influence of sect politics—to safeguard him from unseen dangers.

Juyin, despite his reputation, was one of those rare figures.

He might not be a protector in the traditional sense, but his name alone carried enough weight to dissuade certain enemies from making reckless moves.

That was the real purpose behind the message sent to the Fu Empire.

A storm was brewing in the cultivation world.

And whether Devor realized it or not, he had already become a part of it.