His experiment was a success.

  The Bloodbane Lotus had undergone a transformation, evolving beyond its natural state.

  However, only the stem had reached Yellow-Grade quality—a far cry from the original Sky-Grade classification.

  Because of this, Devor wasn’t ready to test the process directly on the true Bloodbane Lotus.

  It wasn’t about the loss—he could afford that.

  What he couldn’t afford was a failure that taught him nothing.

  "I refined the elixir using Ultimate Synthesis," Devor murmured, his black eyes flickering with thought. "But as for why it worked... I’m not entirely sure."

  A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

  Even success could be frustrating when it came without understanding.

  This wasn’t good enough.

  If he wanted to master this technique, he needed to comprehend every step, every variable, every interaction between the energies involved.

  He needed an expert’s insight.

  Leaning against the Venom Spiritual Tree, Devor pulled out a sheet of parchment and began writing.

  His pen moved smoothly, ink flowing as he carefully detailed every aspect of the experiment—each failure, each success, every observation he had made while refining the Bloodbane Lotus Elixir.

  It had to be thorough.

  Had he been back at the Azure Sky Sect, he could have discussed it with Nyuru in person.

  But that wasn’t an option right now.

  So instead, he would send her a letter.

  Opening his notebook, he methodically transcribed his findings—

  The materials he had tested.

  The failures and inconsistencies.

  The peculiar changes in the Bloodbane Lotus.

  His hypothesis that Plant A and Plant B, when combined inside the furnace, triggered a reaction beyond conventional alchemy.

  By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Devor had filled five sheets of parchment with his careful, deliberate handwriting.

  Finally, satisfied, he took out a small, silver whistle and blew a silent note.

  Moments later, a messenger bird descended from the sky, its deep-blue feathers shimmering under the fading light.

  Devor carefully rolled up the letter, sealed it, and fastened it to the bird’s leg.

  "Deliver this to Nyuru at the Azure Sky Sect," he instructed.

  The bird let out a sharp cry before taking flight, vanishing into the sky.

  Devor stretched, rolling his shoulders before glancing toward the two drained gardens, their energies siphoned by the Venom Spiritual Tree over the past few weeks.

  "So," he said casually, "what do you think? Learn anything new today?"

  The Venom Tree’s trunk trembled, a longer vibration than usual.

  Five seconds.

  Devor tapped his fingers against his arm. He had grown better at understanding its responses, though he still couldn't perceive its exact words.

  But this one...

  This wasn’t satisfaction.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  It was dissatisfaction.

  He raised an eyebrow. "You think you need four gardens at once to figure this out?"

  A second tremor—shorter, but firm.

  Devor exhaled sharply. "Didn’t we agree to take things slow and not rush?"

  The Venom Tree trembled again, but this time with an unmistakable air of uncertainty.

  Its confusion was clear.

  Over time, Devor had started to sense emotions from the tree—understanding its meaning through patterns in its vibrations.

  It was like learning a new language.

  Rough. Incomplete. But steadily improving.

  "The Water and Earth Element Gardens aren’t directly connected to our plan," Devor explained. "Originally, I wanted you to absorb different elements naturally—not force them."

  The tree pulsed again, a lighter tremor. Uncertainty mixed with curiosity.

  Devor smiled slightly.

  "Think of it like how I tend to the plants in the garden," he said, his voice steady. "I expose them to different environments, different energies—but they decide what to absorb on their own."

  He crouched, running a hand over the dark soil, feeling the residual poisonous energy left behind.

  "Plants don’t force growth. They don’t decide, ‘I need to absorb everything at once.’ They take in what suits them, discard what doesn’t, and evolve naturally over time."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree remained silent for a moment.

  Then, a faint, thoughtful tremor passed through its trunk.

  Understanding.

  Devor gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Let’s keep it that way. Rushing evolution is dangerous."

  Devor’s Art of Creation was fundamentally rooted in plant-based techniques.

  When he applied it to the Venom Spiritual Tree, the core principles remained the same—yet there was a crucial difference.

  Unlike ordinary plants, Spiritual Trees possessed consciousness.

  And Venom had developed a particularly advanced awareness.

  This allowed it to regulate its own absorption patterns, shifting its intake of elemental energy in ways no ordinary plant could. It wasn’t just absorbing energy—it was making choices.

  And that, in itself, was unprecedented.

  "I need to distribute the energy flow between plants with greater precision," Devor explained.

  He reached toward a nearby dark-rooted vine, running his fingers over its surface as he spoke.

  "Take a single plant, for example. To create harmony, I have to allocate 12% lightning energy, 33% fire energy, and spread the remaining across other elements until it reaches a full balance of 100%."

  He let his words sink in before continuing.

  "My method doesn’t rely on some fixed formula—it’s not something you can copy from a scroll." He turned his gaze toward Venom, his black eyes reflecting the dim glow of the spiritual formation surrounding them.

  "It depends entirely on the intuition of the Spiritual Farmer."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled, listening carefully.

  "And when it comes to stabilizing the energy you absorb and helping you refine it more efficiently," Devor admitted, "that’s something I can’t do for you."

  He exhaled slowly, his expression thoughtful.

  "Your absorption patterns are constantly shifting. They’re unpredictable. It’s the same with my Five-Dragon Cultivation Technique—I have to absorb different amounts of energy from the five fundamental elements to match my body’s changing needs."

  At first glance, Devor’s approach to cultivating a tree might have seemed absurd.

  But in practice—

  It was as if he were teaching the tree how to cultivate.

  A moment later, Venom trembled again, conveying a clear intent.

  Devor’s expression shifted slightly.

  "You… want me to treat you like the other plants?" His brow furrowed. "You want me to regulate your growth the same way I do for them?"

  The Venom Spiritual Tree shook more intensely, its excitement unmistakable.

  If it had a physical form, Devor imagined it would be nodding furiously, its branches flailing in enthusiasm.

  But Devor didn't share its excitement.

  Instead, he tilted his head back, gazing up at Venom’s dark purple leaves swaying above him.

  His voice was calm—but there was a weight behind his words.

  "Do you even understand what I had to go through to reach my current level?"

  The air grew heavier.

  The tree's tremors slowed.

  "I ran countless experiments," Devor continued. His voice was steady, but his eyes carried a distant, unreadable light.

  "And you know I’m not some flawless cultivator who gets everything right on the first try."

  A flicker of memory surfaced—his earliest days at the Azure Sky Sect.

  The nights spent buried in research.

  The dozens, then hundreds, of plants he had tested, each one failing, withering, dying.

  A faint, almost amused smile tugged at Devor’s lips.

  "I sacrificed hundreds of plants—all in the name of progress." His fingers absentmindedly traced the texture of a nearby vine. "They withered, rotted, and collapsed, all part of my learning process."

  He finally glanced back at Venom, a sharp, expectant gleam in his eyes.

  "If you’re fine with that… then I don’t mind either."

  Venom’s entire trunk shuddered, a faint ripple passing through its bark.

  Devor’s voice remained casual, almost intrigued.

  "In fact," he murmured, "I’m quite curious myself..."

  His smile deepened—but this wasn’t the calm, pleasant smile he usually wore.

  There was something different about it.

  Something cold.

  Something unsettling.

  Venom suddenly felt an instinctive chill crawl up its trunk.

  For the first time in its existence—

  It hesitated.

  Devor was serious.

  This wasn’t some abstract experiment anymore.

  It was a direct trial, and if something went wrong—

  Venom would be the one paying the price.

  Rising to his feet, Devor placed a hand against Venom’s thick trunk, his fingers gliding over its rough surface.

  He spoke lightly, his tone almost playful.

  "Don’t worry," he said.

  "If I fail and you die…"

  His black eyes gleamed.

  "I promise I’ll keep your massive trunk in my home as a tribute—an eternal reminder of your noble sacrifice as my experimental subject."

  The Venom Spiritual Tree trembled violently.

  Devor chuckled softly.

  Finally—

  It understood why his smile had felt so terrifying.

  This wasn’t a cultivation lesson.

  This was a gambler’s bet.

  And Venom had just placed its own life on the table.