Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

The six Earth-Grade plants flourished, their auras vibrant and potent.

Though the initial instability had troubled Devor, under his meticulous care and guidance, they had undergone a profound transformation.

One plant in particular stood out—a specimen with deep purple stems and rich purple leaves, now marred by eerie black spots.

At first glance, the blemishes resembled signs of disease or corruption, but upon closer examination—enhanced by the Spiritual Analyzer—Devor confirmed that the plant was not only healthy but had undergone a unique evolution.

The markings were not a flaw. They were a sign of advancement.

A month had passed, and Venom Domain had undergone a striking metamorphosis.

The once-ethereal mist that veiled his garden had thickened, darkening to the color of storm clouds brimming with unspent lightning. It pulsed faintly, like a living force suspended in the air.

Devor activated the Spiritual Analyzer, watching as blue script materialized before him.

[ Name: Venom Domain ]

[ Essence: 53,738/100,000 ]

[ Status: Very Good ]

[ Origin: Pseudo Dao Art of Creation ]

It had already surpassed half of its full potential.

Devor stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Looks like all I can do now is wait for the Venom Domain to reach perfection."

The six Earth-Grade plants had advanced to Grade-A, perfectly aligning with the vision he had set for this garden.

The energy field he had created—the Venom Domain—was now fully formed.

Though it wasn't the golden energy barrier he had originally envisioned, it was complete in its own right.

Now, all that remained was time.

"It's been almost a year… Or has it already been more than that?" Devor muttered to himself.

Time slipped through his fingers like grains of sand.

The deeper he immersed himself in cultivation, the more distant the concept of time became.

He was now 21 years old.

Before he had died and awakened in this world, he had lived only to twenty on Earth.

Without realizing it, he had already spent more time in this world than he had in his past life.

Yet, for all those years, his world had revolved around cultivation, research, and the gardens he nurtured.

Time moved swiftly, but his life here lacked the richness, the variety, of the one he had left behind.

"My training isn't complete yet, but at least my experiments succeeded," Devor mused, a faint smile touching his lips.

But then, another thought surfaced—one that he had pushed aside for too long.

"Is Senior Juyin doing well?"

For the first time in months, guilt stirred within him.

He had been so caught up in his own progress that he had neglected the very reason he had come here in the first place.

If a student had come to learn a craft, only to devote all their time to something else, their mentor surely wouldn't be pleased either.

"Of course, that guy wasn't happy."

A familiar voice spoke from behind him.

Devor froze.

The Venom Spiritual Tree sensed it, too.

Without hesitation, a surge of dense purple energy erupted from its trunk, curling like a striking serpent, ready to eliminate the intruder.

"Wait!" Devor intervened sharply. "This isn't an enemy—this is my Sect Master!"

The Venom Spiritual Tree hesitated, its energy coiling inward like a retreating tide, though its presence still lingered—watching, wary.

Only then did Devor turn, finally facing the man who had spoken.

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Standing before him was Zinqi, the Sect Master of Azure Sky.

The man's gaze flickered toward the Venom Spiritual Tree, his expression unreadable.

"Well," Zinqi mused, "you've certainly surpassed Juyin when it comes to bonding with a Spiritual Tree."

Devor frowned, uncertain what he meant.

Zinqi's gaze remained fixed on the tree as thoughts stirred in his mind. "In the past, I visited Juyin when he tended to some of the most powerful Spiritual Trees."

But this one… it didn't behave like any Spiritual Tree he had encountered before.

Zinqi's presence had always been exceptionally difficult to detect—even among powerful beings.

Even those ancient trees, deeply rooted in the world's mysteries, had struggled to notice him unless he allowed it.

Yet, despite his sudden arrival, they had only observed him cautiously, never reacting aggressively.

The Venom Spiritual Tree, however, had done something entirely different.

It had attacked immediately.

Cultivators knew that Spiritual Trees were naturally wary. They would sense danger and either retreat into themselves or issue a silent warning before reacting.

Yet Venom had not hesitated at all.

It had immediately responded with hostility—as if it had instinctively recognized Zinqi as a threat.

And that was what puzzled Zinqi.

Devor followed Zinqi's gaze, studying Venom's rigid posture.

He had always assumed Spiritual Trees lacked strong emotions, yet Venom's protective instincts were undeniably sharp.

Had it changed after bonding with him?

Or had it always been this way—but never had a reason to act before?

Zinqi regarded Devor with a small, knowing smile. "Alright, it's time for you to return to the sect."

Devor exhaled slowly. His vacation—no, his training—was over.

He clasped his hands together and bowed slightly. "Apologies, Sect Master. I haven't fully mastered Senior Juyin's methods."

Zinqi's gaze softened. "You've spent a great deal of time with the Spiritual Tree. Have you tried borrowing its power again?"

Devor blinked, a twinge of embarrassment creeping in. He… hadn't actually tested it in some time.

Extending his hand, Devor activated the bond etched within his soul, he focused inward, channeling the connection that already existed.

He expected some slight improvement, perhaps a smoother flow of energy—

But he was wrong.

The moment their connection activated, a surge of violet energy burst forth from his palm, roaring to life like a wild flame!

The air trembled beneath its potency.

Devor's breath caught in his throat.

More than that—he felt it. This wasn't even his true limit. He could draw more, far more, from the Venom Spiritual Tree.

It would give him everything if he asked.

"…I—" Devor stared at his palm, unable to form words.

Zinqi chuckled. "See? You succeeded without even realizing it."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Juyin wasn't wrong about you. Maybe you really did spend the past year just gardening instead of training."

Devor scratched his head, sheepish. "I was training too…"

Zinqi's smirk didn't fade. "Then it seems your method of training was more effective than you knew."

His tone turned serious. "When you return to the sect, go see Master Nie immediately. If you want to refine this ability, you need to integrate it into your cultivation technique. The Five-Dragon Cultivation Technique you practice is already rooted in nature's essence. Incorporating this method will only strengthen its foundation."

Devor nodded eagerly. Beyond gardening, he had always been deeply passionate about cultivation techniques—especially refining and perfecting them for himself.

The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled suddenly, its leaves rustling as if sensing the impending farewell.

A strange weight settled in the air.

Devor turned to the tree, pausing for a moment before speaking. "I'm returning to the sect." His voice was calm, yet something about saying it aloud felt… heavy.

"I never mentioned it before, but I came here to train—to connect with you, to learn how to borrow your strength."

Silence.

Then, he continued, choosing his words carefully.

"We can sever our bond before I leave," he said quietly. "That way, I won't be able to use your power recklessly in the future."

Juyin, who had been observing quietly from the shadows, nearly had a heart attack.

What?!

Even though he didn't fully understand the depth of their bond, Juyin was certain it far surpassed his own connection with the Venom Spiritual Tree.

And now Devor wanted to sever it just like that?

Hearing those words alone made his chest tighten.

But his reaction was nothing compared to the Venom Spiritual Tree's.

The moment Devor spoke, the entire garden shook violently.

A tremor ran through the land, quaking the earth for a hundred meters in every direction!

The ground beneath their feet cracked slightly, leaves shuddering as if caught in a violent storm.

The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled, its power surging in waves of violet energy—

Refusing.

Resisting.

Devor's breath hitched. He had never seen it react like this.

Had he miscalculated?

Before he could reassure the tree, a sound brushed against his ears.

Not the wind.

Not the rustling of leaves.

A voice.

Faint. Almost imperceptible.

"…No…"

Devor stiffened.

A childlike whisper, fragile yet undeniably sentient.

"…Don't… go…"

A pause. A heartbeat of silence stretching impossibly long.

"…Stay…"

Devor's chest tightened.

The Venom Spiritual Tree had spoken.

For the first time.

And within its voice, Devor felt it—

A sorrow so deep it was almost unbearable.

Zinqi's eyes widened slightly, though his composure never broke.

Even he was shocked.

A Spiritual Tree gaining sentience was rare enough.

But speaking at such a young stage of development?

Unheard of.

Juyin clenched his fists from where he hid, his mind racing.

This changes everything.

He had always known that Devor's bond with the Venom Spiritual Tree surpassed his own.

But this…

This was no longer just a cultivator using a tree's power.

This was something else entirely.

Juyin had originally thought that if Devor left, the tree would simply return to its dormant state.

But now…

Now he knew that was impossible.

The Venom Spiritual Tree had truly chosen Devor.

Not as its master.

Not as its cultivator.

But as its only true companion.

If he took the tree back now—if he tried to force it away from Devor—

Its growth would stagnate. Its evolution would halt. Its spirit would wither.

Juyin clenched his jaw.

Before today, the Venom Spiritual Tree still belonged to him.

But now?

That was no longer true.

Zinqi, watching the scene unfold, understood this just as well.

His gaze flickered toward Juyin's hiding place, a knowing glint in his eyes.

"Before, it was Juyin's choice to entrust the tree to Devor."

"Now, he no longer has a choice at all."

And in that moment, Zinqi couldn't help but smirk inwardly.

"Juyin underestimated him. If he had known this would happen, he would have invested so much more."