During his time in the Rejuvenation Pool, Devor’s Five-Dragon Cultivation Technique activated instinctively, drawing in the dense spiritual energy that surrounded him. His body, still frail, barely registered the process, but his meridians drank in the energy greedily, strengthening his weakened foundation.

  Meanwhile, the competition pressed on toward its final stages.

  After two more days of relentless battles, the Foundation Building Division had determined its top four teams.

  First place went to the Purple Moon team, their flawless strategy and overwhelming individual strength setting them apart.

  Second place was claimed by Heavenly Dawn, who had come within a hair’s breadth of victory in a breathtaking final clash.

  Third place belonged to Azure Sky, a hard-fought triumph that cemented their sect’s name in the minds of all who had witnessed their tenacity.

  Some teams had hoped for a higher ranking, but no one could deny Azure Sky’s remarkable performance. They had shattered expectations, proving themselves against some of the strongest cultivators of their generation.

  As the final standings were announced, the battlefield fell into silence. The tension of battle had faded, replaced by exhaustion and quiet relief. Healers rushed to tend to the injured—some with only minor wounds, others barely clinging to consciousness after brutal encounters.

  Even with the sect’s protective formations, accidents were unavoidable. But victory wasn’t the competition’s only purpose. This was a trial by fire, a crucible meant to push young cultivators beyond their limits—forcing them to grow, or break, under the weight of true battle.

  Still, tragedy had struck.

  A member of the Blazing Fire team had paid the ultimate price, sacrificing his own life by unleashing a forbidden technique—one that burned away his vital energy in exchange for fleeting power. Despite the medical team’s frantic efforts, they couldn’t save him.

  His name was carved into the Wall of the Fallen, a solemn reminder that cultivation was never just a pursuit of strength—it was a path where every step carried the weight of life and death.

  In the crowd, Yulin stood in silence, her chest tight with grief.

  The Blazing Fire Sect had always shared a deep bond with the Azure Sky Sect, making the loss feel all the more personal. She exhaled slowly, pressing her lips together.

  That could have been Devor.

  He had been just as reckless, pushing himself to the brink inside the Fragmented World. If he had gone just a step further... would she be mourning him instead?

  A flicker of unease settled in her chest.

  ??????

  Two weeks passed.

  Devor drifted in the depths of his consciousness, suspended in a state that felt both endless and fleeting. His body remained locked in recovery, submerged in the rejuvenating waters.

  Then, something shifted.

  A sudden jolt of awareness surged through him. The soothing chill of water pressed against his skin. His senses stirred—first sluggishly, then all at once.

  With a sharp inhale, Devor’s eyes fluttered open.

  The Rejuvenation Pool stretched around him, its crystalline surface shimmering with a faint, otherworldly glow. Nearby, a medic stood watch, her sharp gaze locking onto him the moment he stirred.

  “You’re awake.” She stepped forward, kneeling beside the pool to assess him. “Don’t move yet. You’ve been unconscious for a while.”

  Devor blinked, trying to shake off the lingering haze. His body felt sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion—but beneath that, something was different. His Qi. His cultivation. Stronger. More refined.

  The medic placed a hand on his wrist, sending a gentle pulse of energy through him, stabilizing his condition. “Your recovery is going well, but you need to stay in the pool a little longer. Pushing yourself too soon could set you back.”

  Devor let out a slow breath, closing his eyes for a moment before nodding. “Understood.”

  Satisfied, she rose to her feet, giving him space.

  Thirty minutes passed.

  When the final examination was done, he was finally cleared to leave the water—but not to resume training just yet.

  That didn’t bother him. There was something far more important on his mind.

  His cultivation.

  Sitting cross-legged at the pool’s edge, Devor turned his focus inward, examining the changes in his body. His energy pulsed with newfound strength. He had reached the absolute peak of Stage-9 Qi Refining—just one step away from breaking into the Foundation Building Realm.

  That final step, however, was anything but simple.

  Devor recalled something Master Nie had once told him:

  "The Qi Refining Cultivation Technique can carry a cultivator into the Foundation Building Realm, but only if they have the skill to harness it."

  Even so, breaking through wasn’t just a matter of effort. It required immense energy, precise control, and a deep understanding of one’s cultivation technique.

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  As he sank deeper into thought, his ears twitched.

  Hurried footsteps.

  Before he could react, a soft hand pressed against his forehead.

  A wave of Qi swept through him—gentle, yet firm. Probing. Searching.

  His eyes snapped open.

  Standing before him, worry etched across her face, was Yulin.

  “Sister Yulin?” he asked, startled.

  “Stay still. Don’t resist,” she ordered, her voice sharp with concentration.

  Devor hesitated but ultimately complied, allowing her Qi to flow through his meridians.

  Behind her, Versti approached, his calm gaze flicking between them. He made no move to interfere.

  A full minute passed before Yulin finally withdrew her hand, exhaling deeply.

  Relief flickered across her face—but it didn’t last.

  Her expression darkened as she turned a sharp gaze on him.

  “You were reckless,” Yulin snapped. “Forcing the Sky-Grade Plant to mature in that world—what were you thinking?”

  Devor blinked, caught off guard by the sharpness in her tone. “I—”

  “You knew how dangerous that world was from the start,” she pressed, voice tightening. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “And yet, you still pushed even further in the final stage? Do you have any idea how close you were to dying?”

  The anger in her words was undeniable—but so was the concern beneath them.

  Devor hesitated before answering. “I know it was risky… but I had my reasons.”

  Yulin’s eyes narrowed. “And what reason could possibly justify that?”

  He took a slow breath. “Because something was wrong with that world.”

  Silence stretched between them, tense and heavy.

  Finally, Yulin spoke, her voice measured. “Explain.”

  Devor met her gaze, then gave a small nod. “I didn’t just use the garden’s energy to accelerate the Sky-Grade Plant’s growth—I used it to aid my own cultivation. And when I did… I felt something. A presence.”

  Yulin’s frustration flickered, giving way to curiosity. “…A presence?”

  His expression sharpened. “Something was shaping the flow of spiritual energy in that world. Not disturbing it, but… guiding it. It wasn’t natural—at least, not in any way we understand. And if I hadn’t extended my senses with the garden’s energy, I never would have noticed.”

  She studied him carefully. “And you’re sure it wasn’t hostile?”

  Devor let out a slow exhale. “If it was, I wouldn’t be standing here. But when I reached out, it responded. It didn’t resist me—it was waiting for me. And when I drew on the energy, it didn’t pull away. It pushed me forward.”

  Yulin’s expression darkened—not with anger, but with thought. A force beyond their understanding, not just watching but guiding? That wasn’t just an anomaly.

  That was something far greater.

  A quiet tension hung between them.

  Then Yulin sighed, her voice softer this time. “Even so, Devor… if you ever pull a reckless stunt like that again—”

  She cut herself off, her voice unsteady.

  Devor blinked. The realization hit him—she had truly been afraid for him.

  A small, wry smile tugged at his lips. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

  Yulin huffed, crossing her arms. “…Good.”

  But the worry in her eyes lingered.

  From an outsider’s perspective, his actions might have seemed reckless. But the truth was, this had never been a blind gamble. He had already discussed the risks with Nyuru, and with the medical team’s expertise back in the main world, they had calculated that his body could be stabilized in time to prevent permanent damage.

  “The process was brutal and dangerous,” Versti said, his voice steady, “but in the end, the results were worth it, Junior Sister Yulin.” A small, knowing smile played on his lips.

  At the familiar voice, Devor turned.

  Standing at the edge of the Rejuvenation Pool, his posture as composed as ever, was Captain Versti.

  “Captain,” Devor greeted with a nod.

  Versti’s expression softened. “Thank you, Devor. Because of you, we secured third place in this tournament.”

  “Third place?”

  Devor’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  That was an incredible result.

  From the very start, no one had dared to hope for a top-three finish—especially with the tournament stretching across an entire week, pushing every team to their absolute limits.

  “It’s an outstanding achievement,” Yulin said, letting out a heavy breath. “And you… you’re about to be rich. On top of that, you might just become famous among the disciples of the Ten Sects.”

  Devor blinked. “Eh? Why?”

  Yulin studied him for a moment before answering.

  “Out of all the competitors in the early stages, you were the first Spiritual Farmer to adapt to that world’s unique laws.”

  Devor nodded slightly. “I already knew that. Liuning announced our team’s achievement back then.”

  Yulin crossed her arms, her expression caught somewhere between exasperation and amusement.

  “That’s not all.”

  She paused, letting the moment sink in before continuing.

  “You didn’t just surpass other Foundation Building cultivators. You outpaced Core Formation and Golden Core teams in adaptation.”

  A stunned silence fell over Devor.

  “Do you even realize what that means?” Yulin pressed, leaning in slightly. “A mere Qi Refining cultivator—the weakest among all the competitors—managed to surpass powerhouses three entire realms above him. Everyone is talking about it.”

  She let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “They’ve even started calling you the ‘Sage Farmer.’”

  Devor’s jaw nearly dropped.

  Sage Farmer? Him?

  His mind raced. It was one thing to have outperformed Foundation Building cultivators, but… Core Formation? Golden Core? Those were leagues beyond him. True powerhouses.

  Across from him, Versti let out a quiet sigh, emotion flickering across his face. Hearing this after the competition had ended, he was surprised—even impressed—by just how fierce Devor had been.

  "I knew outpacing the Foundation Building teams in adaptation was impressive," he admitted. "But against Core Formation and Golden Core cultivators too?"

  He studied Devor for a long moment before speaking again.

  "You've set a precedent. Whether you meant to or not, people will remember your name."

  It all made sense now.

  Even if Devor still had weaknesses compared to other Spiritual Farmers, this achievement proved something undeniable—

  He had immense potential.

  If he could achieve this while still in the Qi Refining Realm, what would happen once he reached Foundation Building? Core Formation? Golden Core?

  It wasn’t a question of if anymore—it was when.

  Devor was no longer just another disciple. He was a dark horse in the world of Spiritual Farmers.

  “At the very least,” Yulin sighed, “your obsession with Spiritual Plants finally paid off. Looks like none of it was in vain.”

  Devor’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “I never thought it was in vain.”

  She scoffed. “I would’ve argued otherwise before today.”

  Versti, still watching the exchange with amusement, suddenly spoke up. “The Sect Master has requested to see you once you’ve recovered.”

  Devor’s smile faded.

  “The Sect Master?”

  Versti nodded, his expression unreadable. “Your performance in the tournament was exceptional. After today, you might not be just another ordinary disciple of Azure Sky Sect.”

  Then, with a knowing look, he added—

  “Or of any sect.”

  Devor’s brows furrowed. That phrasing…

  “Any other sect?”

  Something about Versti’s tone felt deliberate.

  Devor narrowed his eyes. “Why do I get the feeling you’re saying I could… end up somewhere else?”

  Versti’s smile was slight—but devoid of humor.

  “The sect’s rules aren’t as rigid as they were in ancient times.” His voice was calm, measured. “You’ll understand more when you speak with the Sect Master.”

  A faint unease settled in Devor’s chest.

  What was that supposed to mean?

  He had always assumed that once someone joined a sect, they were bound to it for life. That was just how things worked.

  Then Yulin spoke, her tone unreadable.

  “When you joined Azure Sky Sect… did they ever ask you to swear absolute loyalty?”

  Devor opened his mouth—then hesitated.

  …Had they?

  Thinking back, the sect had required its disciples to follow its rules. To never betray it.

  But absolute loyalty?

  It had never been explicitly demanded.

  A strange feeling coiled in his gut.

  Did that mean…

  …the sect never expected unwavering allegiance to begin with?