Over the next month, Devor’s collaboration with the Venom Spiritual Tree grew stronger.

  Their bond deepened, and to his surprise, the tree’s curiosity expanded beyond just energy absorption.

  It sought knowledge.

  It sought understanding.

  It wanted to cultivate.

  At first, it had only responded to Devor’s questions and commands, offering simple, childlike acknowledgments.

  But now—

  The tree actively sought answers before Devor could even ask.

  If he experimented with a new energy cycle, the tree would respond faster than before, refining the process on its own.

  If he stopped mid-training, the tree would drop a leaf—a silent question.

  What next?

  A tree that once existed only to be nurtured was now learning to cultivate itself.

  Yet, no matter how intelligent it became—

  The Venom Spiritual Tree always deferred to Devor’s authority.

  Day by day, it grew more submissive, recognizing Devor’s dominance in their relationship.

  It no longer acted on raw instinct.

  It no longer absorbed without thought.

  Instead, it waited—as if seeking permission.

  Almost as if it knew it was being guided toward something greater.

  From a distance, Juyin watched in silence, his frown deepening.

  He had spent years cultivating bonds with Spiritual Trees, yet never had he seen one so willing to follow a human.

  It made no sense.

  He had attempted everything—

  Slowly approaching the Spiritual Tree, using his refined methods, and even offering it higher-quality poison energy—

  Yet the tree resisted him at every turn.

  It did not acknowledge him.

  It did not yield to him.

  The harder he tried, the greater the resistance became.

  "Is there something special about that kid?" Juyin muttered to himself. "Subduing a Spiritual Tree isn’t as easy as tricking a child."

  Even though Spiritual Trees had a childlike consciousness, that didn’t mean they were foolish.

  Juyin had tried before—using deception, structured techniques, and even coercion.

  But the more he failed, the more the tree rejected him—even turning hostile.

  "Yet Devor pulled it off?"

  The thought unsettled him.

  A faint shift in the air made Juyin turn sharply.

  A figure stood behind him, having arrived silently, without warning.

  The Sect Master of Azure Sky.

  Zinqi.

  "You saw this coming, didn’t you?" Juyin said, his voice level.

  Zinqi smiled faintly. "I wouldn’t go that far."

  Juyin narrowed his eyes. "Don’t play games. You knew something about that kid that I didn’t."

  Zinqi took a step forward, his gaze falling on Devor and the Venom Spiritual Tree in the distance.

  "What I knew," he said, "was that the boy would find his own way."

  Juyin scoffed. "A vague answer."

  "But true," Zinqi countered smoothly. "Especially when it comes to the natural world. His affinity with it is exceptional."

  Juyin raised an eyebrow, realization dawning.

  "Affinity with nature…?" His mind whirled—a connection forming. "That kid awakened a Dao Embryo, didn’t he? Don’t tell me…"

  "It’s related to nature?"

  Juyin had always known Devor possessed a Dao Embryo, but he had never inquired about its nature.

  Now, the truth became painfully obvious.

  "More precisely," Zinqi said, "his Dao Embryo is closely tied to the path of a Spiritual Farmer."

  Juyin’s breath hitched slightly.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  His mind raced through the implications.

  "Spiritual Farmers already have a natural advantage in handling Spiritual Plants and Trees…"

  "But if he possesses a Dao Embryo directly tied to that path…"

  "Then to a Spiritual Tree, he’s more than just a cultivator…"

  "He’s a prophet."

  It explained everything.

  The tree wasn’t simply obeying Devor.

  It was following him—instinctively recognizing him as a guide.

  Devor’s methods could be studied and copied, but ultimately, no one else would ever achieve the same results.

  "Because it’s not just his knowledge—it’s his Dao itself that shapes the outcome."

  A Spiritual Tree’s natural instinct was to avoid humans—to treat them as external forces.

  But Devor’s very existence disrupted that natural order.

  To them, he wasn’t an outsider.

  He was one of them.

  Juyin exhaled slowly.

  "Why would he choose a Dao like that?" he muttered, his tone edged with skepticism. "It makes him vulnerable."

  Zinqi’s smile faded slightly. "You see the danger in it, then."

  Juyin nodded.

  Dao Embryos shaped the very foundation of a cultivator’s existence.

  Choosing a profession-based Dao—one that lacked overwhelming combat power—was a risky move.

  Juyin had once witnessed a genius alchemist enslaved, forced into servitude under a stronger master.

  A cultivator with no means of self-defense was merely a resource waiting to be stolen.

  "If Devor isn’t careful," Juyin said darkly, "someone will try to claim him as their own."

  He glanced at Zinqi.

  "And you think he’ll be able to handle that?"

  Zinqi’s gaze remained steady.

  "He understands the risks," the Sect Master said. "His combat strength isn’t there yet—but his foundation is solid."

  Juyin studied Zinqi’s expression carefully.

  For the first time, true curiosity sparked in his gaze.

  What did Zinqi see in Devor?

  Juyin finally sighed.

  "There was something I wanted to discuss with you," he admitted.

  Zinqi tilted his head slightly. "If you’re thinking of taking Devor as your disciple…"

  Juyin’s lips twitched slightly.

  "…I’d advise against it," Zinqi finished smoothly. "Unless you’re an expert in the ways of the Spiritual Farmer, he’ll never acknowledge you as his master."

  Juyin didn’t respond immediately.

  Because he had been considering that exact idea.

  But deep down, he already knew the truth.

  Their paths were fundamentally different.

  Poison Masters were technically a subcategory of the Spiritual Farmer’s discipline, but Devor wasn’t just interested in poison or a single aspect of plant cultivation.

  He wanted everything.

  He wanted all plants, all life, all natural forces to thrive under his influence—

  To reach their full potential through his power.

  Juyin shook his head and let out a long sigh. "I have no intention of taking him as a disciple."

  Zinqi smiled knowingly. "That much was obvious."

  Juyin had never been the type to take disciples—not out of reluctance, but because he had never found anyone worthy of inheriting his methods.

  But now—

  A mere six months with Devor had left him feeling as though he was the one losing something instead.

  "Devor’s methods are working better than I expected," Juyin admitted, his tone carrying a hint of frustration. "Even that Venom Spiritual Tree prefers him over me."

  Zinqi’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

  "Isn’t that a good thing?" he asked, his smirk returning. "If he’s learning your cultivation techniques, that makes him half a disciple of yours."

  Juyin frowned. "That’s the problem."

  In the cultivation world, when someone learned a master’s unique techniques, they were naturally considered a half-disciple, even without formal acknowledgment.

  Juyin had agreed to teach Devor, but he had never expected Devor to take it this far.

  "Six months from now, he’ll return to your sect," Juyin said, crossing his arms. "And if the Venom Spiritual Tree follows him, what then?"

  Zinqi’s mouth opened slightly, caught off guard by the concern.

  He had originally sent Devor to learn under Juyin—so why did it feel like Devor was stealing Juyin’s personal assets instead?

  "Uh… and there’s nothing you can do if that happens?" Zinqi asked, his tone growing more serious.

  Bringing the Venom Spiritual Tree back to the Azure Sky Sect would serve Devor’s interests, but it wouldn’t necessarily benefit the sect itself.

  And compensating Juyin for the loss?

  Even if Devor was willing to pay, it would drain his savings, potentially hindering his future cultivation progress.

  Juyin sighed. "There are a few options."

  Zinqi’s gaze sharpened. "Such as?"

  "The most effective one would be…" Juyin’s voice remained calm and matter-of-fact. "Cutting the tree down."

  Zinqi exhaled through his nose, rubbing his forehead. "Let’s discuss that when the time comes."

  Juyin gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable.

  Though the Venom Spiritual Tree wasn’t irreplaceable, it was still highly valuable.

  Its leaves, bark, and sap could be used to create powerful poisons.

  For most cultivators, its usefulness was limited.

  But for Juyin, who relied on it as a primary power source, it was irreplaceable.

  Would he really let Devor take it away so easily?

  ??????

  Far from Juyin and Zinqi’s conversation, Devor stood within the territory of the Venom Spiritual Tree, completely absorbed in his work.

  Around him, four cultivation plots had been established, each corresponding to a different elemental garden.

  However—

  Only the Poison Element Garden had fully matured.

  The others were still in progress, their energy not yet ready to be absorbed by the Venom Spiritual Tree.

  For now, his focus was on something far more revolutionary.

  Devor knelt in the Poison Element Garden, inspecting a small patch of land where he had planted a specific type of Spiritual Plant.

  The positioning of the plants had been meticulously planned, each arranged with purpose.

  But what mattered wasn’t just how they grew.

  It was who would oversee their growth.

  "You’re sure you can take care of this patch?" Devor asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

  The Venom Spiritual Tree’s trunk trembled once—a clear confirmation.

  "You can regulate its growth, feed it more nutrients, and adjust its development?" Devor pressed further.

  Again, the tree shuddered once—this time with more certainty.

  Devor stared for a long moment.

  Then, a slow grin spread across his face.

  "Good… good… excellent!"

  His excitement surged.

  "From today onward," Devor declared, "take care of this small section exactly as I instructed! We’ll see the results in just a few days!"

  The Venom Spiritual Tree vibrated intensely, as if sharing in his enthusiasm.

  Clenching his fist tightly, Devor struggled to contain his excitement.

  He had just stumbled upon something monumental.

  "If this works…"

  "I’ll have found a way to enhance Spiritual Plants more efficiently than any cultivator in history!"

  Improving the quality of Spiritual Plants wasn’t something that could be forced.

  It had to follow the natural cycle.

  But if a Spiritual Tree—an entity deeply attuned to nature—handled the process…

  Wouldn’t that significantly accelerate their growth and refinement?

  His breathing quickened.

  "If this works, every single plant under its care could be raised to Earth Grade-A—or beyond."

  Not only that—

  The Venom Spiritual Tree could actively adjust the plants’ conditions, reacting in real time to their needs.

  No cultivator could do that.

  Even the most skilled Spiritual Farmers had to monitor their gardens constantly, relying on calculations, instincts, and trial-and-error.

  But a Spiritual Tree could sense the subtle shifts in elemental harmony—

  And it could respond instantly.

  "This isn’t just a small breakthrough…"

  "This could change everything."

  The more Devor thought about it—

  The more he wanted to take the Venom Spiritual Tree with him.

  If this method truly worked, he could—

  Create portable cultivation gardens.

  Develop energy-efficient farming techniques.

  Sell high-quality plants across the cultivation world.

  And as far as he knew—

  No one had ever done anything like this before.

  A true Spiritual Farmer’s Garden, refined to perfection.

  A collaboration between cultivator and nature—

  A revolutionary new path.