Before stepping into this new world, Devor had prepared himself as best as he could. Still, the challenges here were unlike anything he’d ever encountered. He drew in the raw energy from the environment around him, letting it flow through his body before transforming it into golden energy. It wasn’t a difficult process, but it drained him more than he expected—enough to use nearly a third of his total capacity.

  The golden energy spun like threads of liquid light, swirling gracefully before sinking into the earth and making contact with the Fire Lotus Anchor Seed.

  Devor’s Spiritual Sense flickered as he tuned in, focusing on the seed’s response. The rules of this world were... different. The usual flow of energy was disrupted, making his golden energy less effective as nourishment. Without wasting a beat, he adjusted the flow, aligning it with the subtle, unfamiliar rhythm of this realm.

  Slowly, the golden energy enveloped the seed, seeping into its tiny pores. A faint golden glow began to pulse from within, signaling the first step of successful cultivation.

  Devor exhaled deeply, a sense of satisfaction settling in as he opened his eyes. Reaching for his Spatial Ring, he twisted it slightly, summoning a small, 200ml bottle filled with the vibrant Blue Star Elixir. Without hesitation, he poured exactly 10ml onto the spiritual soil surrounding the seed.

  The effect was immediate. A delicate root pushed out from the seed, followed by a soft green sprout. The surrounding natural energy seemed to respond in kind, rushing toward the Fire Lotus Anchor and forming a tiny, swirling vortex above the soil—a promising sign of progress.

  But then, Devor froze. His Spiritual Sense picked up something off—an anomaly. The energy flowing through the sprout was unstable, wavering. Something was wrong. The plant didn’t have a solid foundation to support its accelerated growth.

  The Blue Star Elixir was already taking effect. Stopping now would do irreversible damage to the plant.

  Teeth clenched, Devor set the bottle aside and began forming a series of hand seals. More of his golden energy surged into the sprout, a wave of force that wrapped around it, steadying its fragile structure. He focused intently, scanning the plant for weaknesses and reinforcing them with precision.

  The sprout pushed further through the soil, growing steadily. In seconds, it shot up to one centimeters tall. But just as quickly as it had grown, it stalled. The Elixir’s effects had reached their limit.

  Devor hesitated, considering pouring more Elixir to help the plant reach full maturity. But in that moment of doubt, his focus faltered. The golden energy surrounding the plant began to destabilize, cracks spreading through the delicate flow.

  “What’s going on?” Devor muttered, his pulse quickening. He reached out with his Spiritual Sense and realized the unsettling truth. The golden energy wasn’t just stabilizing the plant—it had become a part of its growth. The sprout was now relying on his energy, like a crutch. If he withdrew it now, everything would collapse.

  "Ridiculous!" Devor thought, frustration bubbling up as he scrambled for a solution. He suspected the strange rules of this world were to blame, but there was no time to fully figure them out.

  Then it hit him—this wasn’t just a test of cultivation. It was a trial of his adaptability. The bizarre laws of this fragmented world demanded precision and creativity, pushing him to think on his feet under pressure.

  Devor cursed under his breath as his energy reserves drained quickly. If he had better control over energy manipulation, he could’ve created an external energy hand to pour the Elixir without disturbing the flow. But now, he was stuck. There was no way to back out, and pushing forward alone would only lead to failure.

  His chest tightened, sweat dripping down his temples. The golden energy inside him burned bright, but he knew it wouldn’t last much longer. The plant was halfway to maturity, but his strength was fading fast.

  He clenched his fists, a spark of determination lighting within him. "I can’t do this alone, but that doesn’t mean no one can help."

  Swallowing his pride, Devor shouted over the chaos of the battlefield, “Senior Nyuru!” His voice cut through the clash of weapons and the growls of nearby monsters.

  Nyuru, who had been expertly helping Sugu fend off a pack of scaled beasts, froze mid-swing. Her sharp eyes snapped to Devor, lips tightening into a thin line.

  "Please! I need your help right now!" Devor's voice wavered, desperation seeping through as he fought to maintain the energy flow. His golden aura flickered like a candle in the wind—a clear sign that his reserves were almost gone.

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  Nyuru hesitated, caught between helping Devor and staying with Sugu, who was barely keeping up against the relentless beasts.

  Sugu caught her hesitation and growled, “Don’t even think about it!” He swung his sword down with a heavy blow, taking out one of the monsters. “If you leave, we’re done for!”

  Nyuru bit her lip, her gaze flickering between Devor and Sugu. Sugu was on the edge—his sword swinging wildly as he fought off four monsters at once. His breath was shallow, his movements slowing. He needed help. But Devor’s desperate call pulled her focus, a magnetic pull she couldn’t ignore.

  With no time to second-guess, Nyuru made her decision. She sprang toward Devor, landing next to him in one smooth motion.

  Sugu saw her retreat, and his fury flared. His sword cleaved through a monster’s scaled neck, but his frustration bubbled over. To him, Devor was just dead weight—a burden holding the team back.

  “I knew this would happen,” Sugu thought bitterly. “He talks a big game but falls apart when it counts.” He wanted to shout his anger, but the unspoken support Devor had from the others kept him silent.

  “Devor, what’s going on with the plant?” Nyuru asked, slightly breathless, her sword still warm from the fight.

  Devor didn’t even look up. His hands shook as golden energy pulsed from his fingertips. “Pour the rest of the Elixir—now! I’m running on empty!” he barked, gritting his teeth in frustration.

  Though confusion flickered across Nyuru’s face, she didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the Blue Star Elixir bottle next to Devor and poured it onto the soil without a second thought.

  Whoosh!

  The response was instant. A powerful vortex of energy spiraled above the Fire Lotus Archon, greedily pulling in the surrounding natural energy. The plant shot upward, its stalk stretching quickly.

  Five centimeters. Ten centimeters. Fifteen.

  Devor gritted his teeth, his focus razor-sharp as he maintained the flow of golden energy. The plant’s roots were delicate, and even the smallest misstep could destabilize everything.

  Fifty centimeters.

  The Fire Lotus Archon kept growing, but Devor’s body was reaching its breaking point. His golden energy was nearly gone. A sharp, metallic taste flooded his mouth. His throat tightened, and he coughed violently, spitting blood onto the soil.

  Nyuru’s eyes widened at the sight of him faltering. Without thinking, she stepped closer, her hand reaching out to steady him. “Devor, you—”

  “I’ve got this!” Devor rasped, cutting her off with a hoarse but determined voice. His eyes never left the Fire Lotus Archon.

  Failure wasn’t an option. If he failed, it wouldn’t just be about letting his team down—it would mean proving every doubter right. Sugu’s scornful gaze flashed in his mind, only strengthening his resolve. This was his moment. He had to succeed.

  As Devor's energy reserves hit empty, something miraculous happened. Without thinking, his Spiritual Energy began to shift into golden energy. It made no sense. Golden energy was a complex blend, requiring the fusion of five different types of Qi from spiritual plants. Yet here he was, doing it instinctively, without even trying.

  The Fire Lotus Archon responded in kind. Vibrant flowers bloomed along its stem, their crimson petals glowing softly as they released a brilliant red powder into the air. One by one, the flowers opened, each more breathtaking than the last. Nine blossoms in total-an extraordinary number, marking the Fire Lotus Archon as a peak-quality plant.

  Devor's vision blurred as exhaustion crashed down on him, heavy as a mountain. He blinked rapidly, forcing himself to stay focused. The plant still needed a few more centimeters to reach full maturity.

  "Come on... just a little more," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  Finally, the plant reached its full height of one meter. Without hesitation, Devor summoned every last ounce of strength and used a precise hand technique to slice through the base of the Fire Lotus Archon, his palm sharp as a blade.

  Cough! Cough!

  Blood spilled from his mouth as he doubled over, his body shaking violently. His vision darkened, the edges of his sight blurring, but he refused to collapse-not yet.

  With his remaining strength, Devor hurled the harvested Fire Lotus Archon toward Nyuru. "Take it to Reeva-now!" he croaked, his voice barely a whisper.

  Nyuru caught the plant mid-air, her movements swift and precise. "Got it!" she called out, then sprinted toward Reeva without a second thought. The crimson glow of the Fire Lotus Archon illuminated her determined face as she weaved through the chaos of the battlefield.

  As Nyuru disappeared into the fray, Devor’s body finally gave in. He collapsed onto the ground, his breath shallow and ragged. His entire body burned with pain, his organs protesting every movement. He hadn’t even realized how much damage he’d taken while stabilizing the plant.

  Was it worth it?

  A faint smile tugged at the corners of his bloodstained lips. Yes, it was.

  ??????

  Back in the main world, the leaders of the ten great sects watched the competition through the massive holographic display, their expressions unreadable. Devor’s performance hadn't gone unnoticed, especially by the more experienced cultivators who understood the toll such feats took.

  The Azure Sky Sect Master leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes locked on Devor’s pale, motionless form. "That boy..." he murmured, curiosity lacing his voice.

  "He managed to cultivate a peak-quality Earth-Grade Spiritual Plant under these conditions. And yet..." His gaze lingered on the blood staining Devor’s robes. "There’s no way his Spiritual Essence alone could have lasted that long unless..."

  He trailed off, lost in thought. A faint smile tugged at his lips, a mix of intrigue and admiration. "Interesting. Very interesting. Let's see how far this young farmer can really go."

  The other sect leaders exchanged glances, but said nothing. Each of them silently recognized the rarity of what Devor had just accomplished.

  For now, the competition pressed on. But for Devor— a cultivator whose true strength lay not in the sword, but in the soil—this was only the beginning.