Art of Creation [Eco-Cultivation Prototype]

Yulin smiled, her gaze never leaving Devor, while he did his best to avoid her piercing eyes, keeping his focus on the garden before him.

She wasn't pushing him—not yet.

But she was watching.

Testing him.

How far had he changed?

With a faint, almost playful smile, Yulin said, "Well, in my eyes, you're still just a child who hasn't fully grown up."

Devor's fingers twitched slightly.

"I'm not worried that you'll betray me or try to harm me," she continued. "I'm more concerned that you might trust the wrong person."

Her tone was light, but Devor wasn't fooled.

There was weight behind those words.

For all her cunning, for all her insight, Yulin hadn't quite figured him out yet.

Not completely.

Devor let out a silent sigh of relief.

If she kept analyzing him like this, she might eventually piece together the truth—that he wasn't just a naïve cultivator learning to adapt.

That he had lived a different life.

That his thoughts, his reasoning—his very way of existing—did not belong to this world.

Forcing a smile, he said, "If I ever dared to betray Sister Yulin, I imagine you'd send a Flying Sword after me while I slept."

Yulin scoffed lazily.

"Flying Sword?" She propped her chin on her hand. "You're not even scared of them anymore. Why would I bother?"

Her tone carried the slightest hint of disappointment, as if she had lost a favorite source of amusement.

"But," she added, "I am working on something new. You'll be my test subject next time."

"Of course." Devor puffed out his chest in mock confidence.

He was still uneasy about high-speed flight, but compared to before, that fear had dulled into something manageable.

Yulin grinned before popping a grape into her mouth, chewing slowly.

"So, what's your plan?" Her tone was casual, but her eyes sharpened. "There are at least five people still working for your enemies. Are you planning to kill them?"

Devor stilled for a brief moment.

Then, he shook his head. "No. There's no need for that—at least, not yet."

Yulin leaned back slightly. "Oh?"

She had expected that answer.

But only for now.

"Death," Devor said calmly, "is both the hardest and the easiest thing for people to accept."

Yulin arched a brow, intrigued.

"Instead of killing them, why not make their lives unbearable?" Devor said.

For the first time, Yulin's full attention locked onto him. "Oh? And what exactly does that entail?"

Devor's gaze darkened, thoughts forming in rapid succession.

"The sect allows me full freedom in handling my revenge, right?" he asked.

Yulin nodded.

"Then we can use the sect's own structure against them." Taking a slow breath, he outlined his plan. "We'll make their positions within the sect crumble.

"We'll create situations where they bring harm to the sect—whether intentionally or not.

"Then, the sect itself will step in, cornering them and holding them accountable. Their punishment will be swift—short, but cruel enough to leave a lasting impact.

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"And just when they think it's over…"

His eyes flickered with something cold, controlled, absolute. "We'll do it again."

Yulin tilted her head. "Again?"

He Continued, "We'll destroy their reputation among their fellow disciples. We'll make sure no one trusts them. And because of their actions, the sect won't allow them to leave.

"We'll keep trapping them over and over."

"Until they have nowhere left to go."

Yulin studied him, twirling a grape between her fingers.

Devor's method wasn't brutal in the conventional sense.

No torture. No outright executions.

But somehow, it was worse.

These people wouldn't grow.

Wouldn't escape.

Wouldn't even be able to live properly.

They would be left with nothing—waiting for death to claim them.

Yet, at no point would Devor need to kill them himself.

Yulin let out a slow breath.

"A solid plan." She tapped a finger against the table. "I'll set things in motion and discuss it with the sect."

She had always preferred clean, efficient eliminations.

But now, she was curious.

Curious to see just how effective Devor's methods would be.

And maybe, just maybe…

She could use them herself.

Devor exhaled, rolling his shoulders.

His plan was both merciful and merciless—a contradiction he could feel settling into his chest like a weight.

Would this truly satisfy him?

Or was this just the first step toward something darker?

Yulin watched him closely, as if sensing his thoughts.

Then, she smirked.

"You know…" she said lightly, "the sect didn't say you had to stop there."

Devor didn't respond.

After hours of conversation with Devor, Yulin finally rose to leave, her mind already shifting to other matters.

With a casual wave, she made her way down the hill toward her private residence—a secluded cave dwelling on one of the higher peaks reserved for Inner Disciples.

However, as she approached the entrance, she noticed a lone figure standing outside.

Her steps slowed.

The moment she recognized his features, her brows furrowed slightly.

Sugu.

Yulin thought to herself, "Why is he here again?"

The sight of him stirred unpleasant memories.

Sugu had been one of those involved in the plot against Devor, supplying Liara with that damned insect—all because he didn't like Devor's growing connection with Monny.

A foolish mistake.

One that had cost him dearly.

Yulin kept her pace steady, not showing any outward reaction.

Sugu noticed her arrival and turned, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Senior Sister." His voice was smooth, elegant—but different.

Calmer. More measured.

Something in him had changed.

Gone was the arrogance of before.

Instead, he stood there with the quiet restraint of a man who had been humbled.

Yulin narrowed her eyes.

"What are you doing here again?" Her tone was neutral, but laced with subtle warning. "You know this was part of his revenge. Are you dissatisfied with how he handled it?"

She had already poisoned Sugu once in retaliation, an act the sect had fully permitted.

But unlike the others, Sugu had been quick to act—coming to her directly, not to beg for forgiveness, but to accept whatever punishment Devor deemed fit.

He had even offered himself up for a beating, torture—anything to settle the past.

At the time, Devor had already left to meet Juyin, and Yulin had rejected the offer outright.

That wasn't Devor's style.

She had even written him a letter about it, and Devor's response had been one of complete disbelief—he had rejected Sugu's offer without hesitation.

So why was he here now?

"Of course not. That matter is already settled." Sugu shook his head slightly, his expression composed. "I came to ask Senior Sister for a favor—to pass a message to Devor."

Yulin's eyes narrowed slightly.

A message?

Was this a threat in disguise?

"I heard that Devor is conducting some kind of experiment related to Spiritual Plants," Sugu explained. "On behalf of my family, I'd like to propose a business partnership—once his research is successful."

Yulin raised an eyebrow.

So it's just business?

That was unexpected.

She studied Sugu carefully. If he wanted revenge, this wasn't how he'd approach it.

"Why not speak to Devor yourself?" she asked, intrigued.

A bitter smile crossed Sugu's lips. "Do you really think I have the face to approach him after everything?"

For a moment, he looked exhausted, as if reflecting on his own past foolishness.

The tournament had changed him.

Standing beside Devor in that battle, witnessing his raw talent firsthand, Sugu had come to a painful realization.

If their positions had been reversed—if he had no backing, no resources—would he have achieved even half of what Devor had?

The answer had been a resounding no.

At that moment, Monny's words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

"You're afraid of him because you know—deep down—you'll never catch up."

He hadn't understood it then.

Now, he did.

Sugu cleared his throat and continued, "I also have important information for Devor."

Yulin's gaze sharpened. "Information?"

"My family has received word that the Shadow Puppet Pill has been secretly produced by one of the Alchemy Seniors." Sugu said.

Yulin's brows furrowed slightly.

She knew the name.

A rare pill. Powerful, but situational.

Something that wouldn't normally be cause for concern.

"And why is this information so important?" Yulin's brows furrowed slightly.

Sugu's expression turned grim.

"On any normal day, it wouldn't be." His voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed urgency. "But my family has tracked its movements."

He paused before delivering the final blow.

"And it's being transported toward the Azure Sky Sect."

A sharp chill ran through Yulin's spine.

Her hand instinctively went to her weapon.

Her mind immediately raced to the worst possibilities.

This wasn't just a rare pill.

If someone was bringing it to the sect, it meant only one thing—

It was meant for someone here.

And given Devor's recent rise in prominence, there was no doubt who the intended target was.

Yulin moved without hesitation.

Before Sugu could say another word, she pulled out a Flying Sword Orb, leaped onto it, and shot into the sky.

She activated her Communication Token mid-flight, sending a single urgent message:

"No matter what happens, if someone arrives at your location—do not attack them! Do not lay a single finger on them!"

The message flashed away instantly.

But Yulin had no way of knowing if there were barriers or interference preventing it from reaching Devor.

Her grip tightened around the hilt of her sword.

She could feel it—something was wrong.

Biting her lip anxiously, she pushed her Flying Sword faster.

If that pill was meant for Devor…

Then things were about to get very, very bad.