[Name: Devor Li]

  [Gender: Male]

  [Age: 16/125]

  [Cultivation: Stage-6 Qi Refining Realm]

  [Spiritual Energy: 856/856]

  [Spiritual Root: Five-Color Root]

  [Knowledge: 144 Books]

  [Enlightenment Realm (Points): 17/100 (to access)]

  [Ability: Ultimate Synthesis, Attribute Analyzer, Ultimate Comprehension (Lv3)]

  "When did my Ultimate Comprehension reach level three?" Devor muttered, his eyes widening in surprise.

  He was slumped against the jagged stone wall of the cave he had made his home. His black robe hung loosely around his waist, exposing a sweat-soaked torso from hours of grueling training. Next to him, his simple black sword rested against the stone, its edge faintly glowing—a quiet testament to his progress.

  Devor didn’t usually bother checking his profile. In his mind, there was no need—his attributes rarely changed in any noticeable way. But now, the revelation hit him with a sharp, unexpected clarity.

  "So that’s why I’ve been picking up these sword techniques so fast," he murmured, absently running his fingers along the hilt of his weapon.

  It had been a week since Yulin’s visit. Since then, Devor had thrown himself into sword training, drilling each move into his muscles through repetition. His focus had never wavered, driven by the sting of Yulin’s sharp words still echoing in his mind.

  It wasn’t just the sword that occupied Devor’s time. The small garden he had carefully cultivated within the confines of his cave was thriving, its spiritual plants glowing softly with vibrant energy, their pulses in quiet harmony. There was a strange comfort in watching them grow, a rare moment of peace in the midst of his relentless training.

  A simple barrier formation surrounded the garden, maintaining the delicate balance of its self-sustaining ecosystem. While the sunlight and soil were enough, the cave’s limited space made things challenging. But Devor, ever meticulous, had found ways to make it work.

  As his thoughts drifted back to his training, the soft sound of approaching footsteps snapped him out of his reverie.

  "It’s been a week... He’s bound to show up again," Devor muttered, closing the system interface with a thought. He turned his gaze toward the cave entrance.

  As expected, a moment later, Aoyun appeared.

  Aoyun’s sharp eyes scanned the cave, his expression neutral at first. But it didn’t take long before his nose wrinkled, and a look of pure disgust spread across his face.

  "What’s that smell?" Aoyun snapped, glaring at Devor as if he had uncovered something unspeakable.

  Devor tilted his head, confused. "I’ve been training," he said simply. "It’s probably just sweat. It's built up over the last few days."

  Aoyun recoiled, his face twisting in horror. "Sweat? Built up? Why haven’t you burned it off with your spiritual energy?!"

  Devor blinked, his expression blank. "Burn it off? What do you mean?"

  The air between them went still. Aoyun’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. For a moment, he just stared at Devor, as if trying to figure out whether this was some kind of bad joke or genuine ignorance.

  "Are you really a disciple of the Azure Sky Sect?" Aoyun finally demanded, his voice laced with disbelief. "Burning sweat off with spiritual energy is one of the most basic techniques a cultivator should know!"

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  Devor scratched the back of his head, letting out an awkward chuckle. "I... uh... guess I missed that lesson."

  Aoyun’s disbelief deepened, quickly turning to exasperation. "Missed that lesson?" he repeated, his voice dripping with incredulity. "Even rogue cultivators in the wilderness know how to stay clean!"

  With a frustrated sigh, Aoyun waved his hand sharply. A stream of brilliant blue spiritual energy shot from his palm, crackling like fire as it spread through the cave.

  Devor watched, wide-eyed, as the energy swirled around him, consuming the grime and sweat that had accumulated over days. For a brief moment, the air was thick with the scent of smoke before it was replaced by a crisp, fresh aroma.

  In just seconds, the cave was spotless.

  "If you weren’t being punished by the Sect, I’d almost think you were a spy trying to embarrass us," Aoyun muttered, folding his arms and glaring at Devor.

  Devor stayed silent, his face a mix of embarrassment and reluctant admiration.

  Aoyun wasn’t finished yet. "No, scratch that. Even a beginner cultivator wouldn’t be this clueless! Not knowing how to burn off sweat? You nearly knocked me out with that stench!"

  Devor’s lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but the truth hit too hard—Aoyun was right.

  "Thanks for the lesson, Senior," he said, bowing his head slightly.

  Aoyun snorted, unimpressed. "Lesson? That wasn’t a lesson, that was a mercy. Take care of yourself, or you’ll make the Sect look even worse!"

  Devor hesitated for a moment, but finally gathered the courage to ask.

  "How did you do that?" His tone was sincere, with no trace of sarcasm. His wide-eyed curiosity was unmistakable. If it was such a basic technique, it could be useful for more than just keeping himself clean.

  Aoyun rolled his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips. "It’s simple. Coat your body in spiritual energy, then heat it up to burn off the sweat."

  Devor nodded eagerly. Without a second thought, he focused, summoning a thin layer of blue spiritual energy to surround his body. He followed Aoyun’s instructions, gradually heating the energy.

  At first, it felt like a gentle, warm breeze brushing against his skin. The sweat began to evaporate, and for a brief moment, Devor thought he had it figured out.

  But that moment didn’t last.

  The gentle warmth quickly escalated into an unbearable heat, searing his skin like molten iron. A sharp, stinging pain spread across his body, and his flesh flushed an alarming red.

  "Ah! Damn, this is way too hot!" Devor yelped, flinching as he frantically dispelled the spiritual energy.

  His body felt like it had been thrown into a boiling cauldron. Panicking, he scrambled to his feet and grabbed a water flask from his Spatial Ring. He poured the cool liquid over his scorched skin, sighing in relief as the burning sensation eased.

  Still panting from the ordeal, Devor looked up, only to find Aoyun standing there with a smug grin on his face.

  "You tricked me!" Devor growled, glaring at Aoyun with a mix of embarrassment and frustration.

  "Tricked you?" Aoyun’s voice oozed sarcasm as he crossed his arms. "I never said to burn yourself alive. You managed that all on your own."

  He shrugged casually, clearly enjoying Devor’s discomfort.

  Devor could only sigh in exasperation. As much as he wanted to blame Aoyun, he knew the mistake was his own. The instructions had been vague, but his overzealousness had turned a simple lesson into a painful blunder.

  As the heat finally subsided, Devor rubbed his skin, the faint redness still lingering.

  "The effects of Beastbound Hollow don’t bother you anymore?" Aoyun asked suddenly, his voice flat but with an edge of curiosity.

  Devor paused, then nodded. "It’s still there, but I’ve learned to manage it," he replied, inspecting his arms. "Meditation helps clear my mind and gradually reduces its grip."

  Since shifting his focus to his cultivation, the oppressive weight of Beastbound Hollow had stopped overwhelming him. Through discipline and mental strength, he’d found a way to push back against its creeping darkness.

  Aoyun watched him for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Good. In that case, my work here is done for the day."

  Without waiting for a reply, Aoyun turned and walked out of the cave.

  Devor exhaled, watching Aoyun’s retreating figure disappear into the distance. "Weird guy," he muttered under his breath.

  Aoyun was a strange one. His stern demeanor often clashed with his unpredictable temper, creating a personality that left Devor shaking his head in confusion. But he didn’t dwell on it for long.

  Shaking his head, Devor turned his attention to his small garden. The spiritual plants inside the protective barrier were flourishing, their vibrant energy radiating a calming aura.

  "Time to cultivate," he murmured to himself.

  He stepped into the energy barrier, sealing it behind him before settling cross-legged in the center of the garden. As he closed his eyes, the air around him seemed to grow still.

  Activating the cultivation technique he had perfected, Devor began drawing in the unique Qi from the spiritual plants. The energy flowed through him like a calm river, washing away the fatigue and tension that had accumulated over time.

  A deep sense of tranquility settled over him, and the world outside seemed to disappear. In his garden, surrounded by the life he had carefully nurtured, Devor felt an uncommon peace—a rare moment when he could simply be himself.

  For now, the weight of Beastbound Hollow and the uncertainties of the cultivation world could wait.

  Here, in this small sanctuary, the only thing that mattered was growth.