Using a Spiritual Tree to cultivate Spiritual Plants was an excellent idea.

  But brilliance alone didn’t guarantee success.

  The next morning, Devor stood at the edge of the garden, arms crossed, observing as the Venom Spiritual Tree’s energy drifted through the plants, tending to the small section it had been assigned.

  Unlike before, Devor did not immediately step in.

  There was no need to check the system’s analysis—his own eyes told him everything he needed to know.

  After a few minutes, he entered the poison-element formation, making his way to the small plot where the Venom Spiritual Tree was actively nurturing the plants.

  Crouching down, he reached out and touched the core plants, the ones that absorbed surrounding flora’s nutrients to enhance their own quality.

  He let his fingers brush against a leaf, then placed his palm on the soil, closing his eyes to feel the energy flow.

  After a long pause, he finally spoke.

  “The condition looks good,” Devor said, his voice calm. “Its weakened state from yesterday has already been restored.”

  The Venom Spiritual Tree’s trunk trembled slightly, as if pleased with its own progress.

  Devor, however, wasn’t entirely satisfied.

  "But that only brings it back to its original state," he added, straightening up. "What I want is for this plant to grow stronger naturally—to evolve over time, to refine its own energy flow even after sustaining damage."

  His tone remained steady, but the meaning was clear.

  "With results like this, that goal can’t be achieved."

  The tree quivered again, but this time, Devor sensed something different.

  There was frustration in its vibrations.

  Devor narrowed his eyes slightly. “Hm? Why are you upset?”

  Over the past few weeks, he had learned to read the Venom Spiritual Tree’s emotions—not through words, but through the subtle shudders and tremors of its body.

  For now, he could only sense two emotions—joy and sadness.

  This… was sadness.

  Thinking for a moment, he asked, "You’re sad because you failed?"

  The tree trembled once—confirming his assumption.

  Devor tilted his head, unable to fully understand why this failure affected it so deeply.

  "It’s just one failure," Devor said, genuinely puzzled. "Why are you so bothered by it?"

  The tree remained motionless.

  Devor sighed, running a hand through his hair.

  Unlike the Venom Spiritual Tree, he was no stranger to failure.

  To him, failure was simply part of the process.

  In fact, what worried him more than failure was the absence of it—because that meant a much bigger failure was lurking in the future.

  "I’d rather suffer a thousand small failures now and succeed in the end—"

  "Than win a hundred easy victories, only to be crushed later."

  Devor exhaled and turned back to the tree.

  “This isn’t your fault,” he said simply. “You don’t understand the structure of plants, nor do you know their unique needs. It’s only natural that you’d struggle.”

  The Venom Spiritual Tree shuddered slightly, as if listening intently.

  "But even so," Devor continued, "you still managed to sustain the plant for an extended period. That’s already a huge accomplishment."

  He crossed his arms, his tone sharpening.

  "Let me tell you something, Venom."

  The tree trembled lightly at hearing its new name.

  "Even if you're the strongest Spiritual Tree in existence, without proper knowledge, you’ll never maximize a plant’s true potential." He gestured toward the garden. "A strong cultivator with no knowledge of farming is still useless in the fields."

  The tree's leaves rustled slightly, considering his words.

  Devor let out a quiet chuckle. "Reminds me of myself, honestly."

  The tree’s trunk twitched slightly, as if intrigued.

  Devor smirked.

  "I struggled for years before I figured things out," he admitted.

  He stepped forward and placed his palm against the Venom Spiritual Tree’s bark.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "But don’t worry." His golden Spiritual Essence flickered faintly, forming a brief connection between them. "I’ll teach you everything I know."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled excitedly.

  A strange feeling pulsed from it—one that Devor had never sensed before.

  This was no longer just a cultivator mentoring a tree.

  This was a teacher and a student.

  And the student wasn’t human.

  From a distant hilltop, Juyin watched in stunned silence.

  "That boy… first he wanted to teach a tree to cultivate."

  "Now, he wants to train it to become a Spiritual Farmer?"

  Juyin’s hands tightened behind his back.

  No one had ever considered such a thing before.

  But looking at Devor’s progress, he couldn’t deny that it was working.

  Even though Juyin was teaching Devor his own methods, the truth was that Juyin had learned just as much from Devor—especially in how to strengthen his bond with his Spiritual Tree.

  Scattered across the table in front of him were countless sheets of paper, each filled with carefully written notes, hastily scrawled observations, and diagrams detailing the past week's experiments.

  These notes documented his attempts to integrate Devor’s insights into his own cultivation methods—attempts that had yielded startling results.

  "Spiritual Farmers are naturally suited to tending Spiritual Trees," Juyin mused aloud, fingers tapping against the parchment. "But none of them have ever considered making a Spiritual Tree their partner—let alone training one to become a Spiritual Farmer itself."

  His pulse quickened at the implications. If Devor succeeded, it would mean more than just a minor breakthrough—it would be a complete redefinition of their cultivation path.

  A Spiritual Tree capable of farming its own kind? That was a power that transcended mere talent. It was something unprecedented, something that could shift the very balance of power within the sects.

  A slow smile formed on Juyin’s lips. "If this works… then Devor will have a Spiritual Farmer of unparalleled quality."

  But that also meant Devor himself would become a target.

  Juyin's expression hardened. This was no longer just an academic curiosity—it was an investment. And investments had to be protected.

  "This kid is too valuable… I need to make sure he’s well-guarded," Juyin muttered under his breath.

  Devor had only been cultivating for less than a decade, yet he had already reached heights that would take others a lifetime.

  If he was already capable of this now, what would he accomplish in another ten years? Twenty?

  Juyin couldn’t ignore the possibility—no, the likelihood—that Devor would one day surpass him.

  And if Devor managed to produce a Spiritual Tree far superior to his own, then Juyin's own cultivation would ascend to greater heights as well.

  This wasn’t just about protecting Devor anymore. It was about securing his own future.

  Without hesitation, Juyin retrieved his communication token, his fingers pressing against the cold surface as he connected to Azure Sky Sect Master Zinqi.

  There were matters to discuss—matters that could change everything.

  ??????

  Devor exhaled slowly, his mind sharp with focus as he observed the Venom Spiritual Tree in front of him.

  He had identified the issue. Now, it was time to correct it.

  "Pay close attention," Devor instructed, kneeling beside a cluster of Serpent Vines. His hand hovered over the twisting green foliage, his fingers lightly brushing the plant’s deep-purple stem. "This vine’s strength doesn’t come from its leaves, but its stem—that’s where its core is located. If you focus your energy on nourishing the leaves instead, you’ll weaken its true potential."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled slightly, its darkened branches swaying in understanding.

  Devor nodded in approval before shifting his gaze to another plant—a stark contrast to the first.

  This one was unnerving.

  A single black flower bloomed at its peak, its inky petals curling at the edges, exuding an aura so heavy with malice that even the surrounding soil seemed darker, as if leached of life.

  Devor narrowed his eyes.

  "This one…" he murmured. "It's something else entirely."

  A thought flickered in his mind. Could this plant… be trained?

  And more importantly—could the Venom Spiritual Tree learn from it?

  "Now, take a look at this plant," Devor continued, his voice steady yet instructive. He gestured toward the midnight bloom, its velvety black petals curling slightly at the edges. "At first glance, you'd assume the most valuable part is the flower, right?"

  The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled, confirming it had reached the same conclusion. Its darkened leaves quivered with curiosity, eager to absorb this new knowledge.

  "But just because something is valuable doesn’t mean it should be the main focus," Devor explained. His gaze sharpened as he met the tree’s expectant stare. "And sometimes, making that assumption is a critical mistake."

  He paused, allowing the words to sink in before continuing.

  "Flowers do absorb energy, but they consume it immediately rather than channeling it to the core—the roots—where it can actually be refined and stored properly. If the plant’s energy flow is disrupted, its true potential is wasted."

  Devor reached into a small leather pouch, pulling out a fine, shimmering powder. "So," he said, holding up a pinch, "this special mineral dust helps release excess energy stored in the petals. Only then can the plant redirect its strength back to the roots, maximizing its growth."

  With practiced precision, he dusted the powder over the flower. The petals trembled as thin wisps of ethereal energy unfurled into the air, like delicate strands of mist dissolving into the surroundings.

  "This plant is valuable because it stores its primary nutrients in the flower," Devor continued. "But if the flower becomes overloaded with energy, those nutrients can’t circulate properly. That’s why, for optimal growth, you should focus on nourishing the roots, not the flower itself."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree remained completely still, absorbing every word.

  It had never considered the delicate balance within a plant before—how energy flowed, how nutrients were stored and distributed, how a single misstep could hinder growth.

  In its mind, a plant had always been a singular entity, a whole. But now, it was beginning to understand that every part served a different purpose.

  A single thought struck the Venom Spiritual Tree, sending a ripple of realization through its being.

  If something as simple as a flower has such intricate complexities… then what about tree?

  Its branches quivered slightly, but this time, it wasn’t due to uncertainty.

  Excitement.

  It had never once questioned its own body, never considered that it, too, might have an energy flow that required balance—a way to optimize its own potential.

  Could it apply these same principles to itself?

  Devor straightened, dusting off his hands. His presence seemed to shift slightly—not in power, but in authority.

  "This is just the foundation," he said, his voice calm yet commanding. "There’s much more to learn about Spiritual Plants. A method that works for one may be completely ineffective for another. Even if two plants look identical, their needs can be vastly different. That’s why observation is key—you need to determine what each plant truly requires, not just follow instructions blindly."

  His sharp black eyes locked onto the Venom Spiritual Tree, holding its gaze with quiet intensity.

  "Theories will only take you so far," he continued. "If you want to be a great Spiritual Farmer, you need to rely on your own insight. Books and teachings can provide knowledge, but true mastery comes from understanding the conditions that can’t be written down—the unexpected challenges that arise in real practice."

  A slow, deliberate tremor passed through the Venom Spiritual Tree.

  It gazed at Devor with undeniable admiration.

  This… this was true cultivation.

  Not just absorbing energy blindly. Not just following instinct. Not just relying on its natural growth.

  It had always assumed that as long as it absorbed enough spiritual energy, it would grow stronger over time.

  But that was no different from a wild beast feasting mindlessly to gain strength. Refinement, efficiency, and intelligent cultivation—these were the true secrets to power.

  A new desire burned within the Venom Spiritual Tree.

  It wanted to understand itself the way Devor understood plants.

  And more than anything…

  It wanted to become stronger.