A soft breeze brushed against Devor’s face as the golden morning sunlight bathed the Spiritual Garden in a warm glow. Standing before his carefully tended Spiritual Field, his eyes swept across the vibrant expanse, a faint, serene aura shimmering in the air around him, as if the plants themselves were alive with energy.

  For most disciples of the Sect, especially the newer ones, the past year had been a whirlwind of challenges, lessons, and growth.

  But for Devor, the year had flowed by like a quiet river—steady, peaceful, and undisturbed—as he immersed himself in the calm yet demanding routine of life in the Spiritual Garden.

  "In five months, I’ll be seventeen," he murmured, his voice soft with a trace of contemplation. "Seventeen years... it feels like both a lifetime and the blink of an eye."

  He exhaled a quiet sigh, brushing away the fleeting wave of nostalgia. With calm determination, he stepped forward, moving toward one of the specially designated areas of his Spiritual Field.

  The Sect had recently granted him 400 square meters of land for personal cultivation, a rare privilege for someone of his rank. In these fields, he had the freedom to grow whatever Spiritual Plants he wished, unhindered by Sect rules.

  But with that freedom came responsibility. Devor now managed seven Spiritual Gardens, each covering a kilometer of land. The trust the Sect had placed in him was both an honor and a weight he carried with quiet strength.

  Devor walked toward one of the core areas of his Spiritual Field, a section surrounded by five shimmering energy barriers. He paused for a moment, his gaze tracing the faint glimmers of energy pulsing from the barriers. Their rhythmic hum seemed to sync perfectly with the plants inside.

  Each barrier stretched six meters high, emanating a calming energy that formed an unbreakable shield around the delicate ecosystem within. Beyond the barriers, rare and vibrant plants thrived, their auras blending together in a harmonious dance of life and power.

  Raising his hand, Devor traced a simple seal—a technique he’d learned at the Sect’s Formation Hall.

  "Opening the entrance," he muttered under his breath. A flicker of blue light appeared at his fingertip, and with a soft touch, the barrier shimmered and parted, granting him passage.

  As he stepped inside, he was greeted by a surge of rich, concentrated Spiritual Energy that filled the air. Each breath was invigorating, as though the energy itself had a pulse, flowing through him.

  The plants flourished in this controlled space. Yellow-Grade and Earth-Grade flora glowed with a soft luminescence, their leaves shimmering with dew-like Spiritual Qi. Some even released subtle fragrances, lifting his spirits with every breath he took.

  At the center of the field lay a prepared plot of soil, its deep richness enhanced by carefully arranged formations. Small energy stones were embedded at the corners of the plot, glowing faintly as they stabilized the surrounding energy.

  Devor knelt by a shallow hole he had dug a few days ago, holding an Earth-Grade Spiritual Seed in his hand. Its surface was smooth and faintly shimmering, a perfect replica of the Sky-Grade Seed he hoped to plant in the future.

  According to the Sect’s records, the Earth-Grade Seed shared many of the same requirements as its Sky-Grade counterpart. If he could successfully nurture this seed, it would bring him one step closer to tackling the more complicated challenge ahead.

  “If this works,” Devor murmured, his voice calm and focused, “I’ll be closer to creating the perfect environment for the Sky-Grade Seed.”

  With great care, he planted the seed, covering it gently with soil before activating the surrounding formations. A soft glow emanated from the formations, channeling energy into the soil in controlled pulses.

  Around the plot, auxiliary plants like Spirit Vine and Moonlit Grass added to the delicate energy balance, releasing complementary Qi to support the seed's growth.

  The next few days tested Devor’s patience and precision. Every morning and evening, he inspected the field, making small adjustments to the formations to ensure the energy remained stable. Too much or too little could destroy the fragile ecosystem he was nurturing.

  Days passed, then weeks, until finally, a sign of life appeared. A tiny sprout pushed through the soil, its fragile form glowing with a soft Spiritual aura.

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  "Remarkable," Devor whispered, a genuine smile spreading across his face. He could feel the vitality pulsing from the sprout, a clear sign that his method was working.

  But he knew this was only the beginning.

  The Sky-Grade Spiritual Seed would require far more—a perfectly balanced environment and an unprecedented level of energy control. It would push him beyond anything he had accomplished so far. Still, this small success filled him with a sense of renewed confidence.

  "I’m on the right track," Devor thought, his gaze fixed on the glowing sprout. "If I can perfect the energy setup here, I’ll be ready to plant the real seed."

  With light, purposeful steps, he left the Spiritual Field, his eyes shining with confidence and hope. Behind him, the steady flow of energy continued its work, nurturing the plants he had so carefully cultivated. The future of this Spiritual Field felt brighter than ever—a testament to his unwavering determination.

  ??????

  Far above, atop one of the Azure Sky Sect’s sacred mountains, stood a place Devor could only dream of reaching—a grand pavilion of unmatched beauty and power.

  At the peak, a massive lotus-shaped building crowned the mountain, its design a breathtaking tribute to the Sect’s strength. Rising above the mist, it seemed to bloom directly from the clouds, an awe-inspiring sight that marked the Sect’s dominance.

  Golden sunlight bathed the tiered roof, shaped like overlapping petals, making it shimmer as if the heavens themselves were shining down on it. The walls, made from pristine white jade, emitted a soft glow that pierced the dense fog enveloping the peak.

  Slim, elegant pillars supported each level of the pavilion, adorned with intricate carvings of entwined phoenixes and dragons. The details were so skillfully rendered that the figures seemed ready to take flight at any moment.

  In the courtyard of this breathtaking structure, two figures sat cross-legged on floating lotus platforms suspended midair. Between them, a finely crafted table held an exquisite chessboard, the pieces shifting with graceful precision under their expert fingers.

  The two men were Leifu, Master of the Spiritual Hall, and Master Nie, the Master of the Cultivation Hall.

  Leifu’s hand hovered for a moment above the chessboard, as if caught in a fleeting thought. Noticing the pause, Master Nie glanced up, his expression calm but tinged with curiosity.

  “Has your disciple caused trouble again?” Master Nie asked with a faint smirk, placing his own piece on the board.

  Leifu sighed, a brief flicker of weariness crossing his otherwise composed face. “I’ve already sent Sunan into closed-door cultivation for a year. That should keep him out of mischief for a while.”

  Master Nie chuckled, his smile knowing. “Your eldest disciple certainly has a stubborn streak.”

  “Stop mocking me,” Leifu said, shaking his head. Despite his words, a wry smile tugged at his lips. “When it comes to cultivation, he’s not bad. He’s even made a name for himself in the Cultivation World. But his... impulsiveness leaves a lot to be desired.”

  “Maybe it’s time for him to find a Dao Companion,” Master Nie teased, his words making Leifu’s eyes narrow slightly.

  “Enough of that,” Leifu shot back, clearly uninterested in the topic. “The Sect Competition starts next year. Out of the new disciples, who do you think will stand out?”

  Master Nie stroked his chin thoughtfully. “This year’s recruits seem promising, but it’s hard to say who will rise to the top. What about you? Do you have someone in mind?”

  Leifu’s gaze turned distant for a moment before he spoke, his voice steady. “Among the Qi Refining disciples, there’s one who stands out—Devor Li, the caretaker of the Spiritual Garden.”

  Master Nie’s eyes flickered with recognition. “Devor Li... the one who came to me with that bold question about Cultivation Techniques?”

  Leifu nodded, a faint smile curving his lips. “That’s him. I’ve thought about taking him on as my personal disciple, but the more I observe him, the more I realize my teachings might hold him back rather than help him grow.”

  Master Nie leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. “And why is that?”

  “Devor has a unique way of finding his own path,” Leifu explained. “His progress may be slow, but every step he takes is deliberate and purposeful. I worry that if I impose my methods on him, it might hold back the potential he’s carefully developing.”

  Leifu paused, then added, “In fact, I think you’d be much better suited to guide him. Your knowledge of Cultivation Techniques is unmatched in the Sect.”

  Master Nie raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the suggestion. “Me?”

  Leifu nodded. “Devor’s main challenge lies in his Cultivation Technique. It’s limiting him. With your expertise, you could help him create a technique that truly plays to his strengths.”

  Master Nie mulled this over for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’ll think about it.”

  Though his response was vague, Master Nie’s mind was already turning. He remembered his earlier conversation with Devor—the boldness of his questions and the surprising depth of understanding he displayed, despite his low rank.

  Under his guidance, Devor could rise quickly, reaching heights unimaginable for someone with a Five-Color Spiritual Root. Yet, Master Nie hesitated.

  “Through hardship, a cultivator’s will is sharpened, and their path forged,” Master Nie thought. “Devor’s strength lies in his ability to carve out his own destiny, no matter the challenges he faces.”

  Master Nie knew he could help Devor perfect his technique, but he also understood that doing so might rob the young man of the growth that only struggle could bring.

  Leifu, too, must have seen this—why else would he hesitate to take Devor as a disciple?

  A faint smile tugged at Master Nie’s lips as he placed another chess piece on the board, his movements deliberate. “Maybe it’s better to watch from the sidelines for now,” he said thoughtfully. “If Devor realizes his full potential, even the heavens might tremble.”

  Across from him, Leifu watched the move in silence, his thoughts mirroring Master Nie’s. Both of them knew that the Sect had acquired a rare and exceptional seed. And like all such seeds, it would need time, care, and the right conditions to grow into something truly extraordinary.

  For now, all they could do was wait and watch.