Six months had passed in the blink of an eye, like dust carried away by the wind, leaving only traces of memories and loss behind.

  Devor stood in a quiet corner of the Spiritual Garden, a place where no plants grew, the soil barren. In front of him stood a simple wooden gravestone, carved with the name Doyu Li—a name that would forever echo in his heart.

  Taking a deep breath, he fought to steady the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. Slowly, he knelt on the ground, bowing his head three times, each time his forehead pressing gently to the cool earth. It was a final act of respect, a way to say goodbye to the man who had been his rock, whose memory would live on inside him.

  It had been a month since his grandfather passed.

  What Devor didn’t know was that Senior Sister Yulin had quietly arranged for a few mortal caretakers to keep watch over his grandfather in the city. She had sensed what Devor had through his system—that Doyu Li’s time was running out. Her foresight had allowed Devor to be there in his grandfather’s final moments.

  Thanks to her help, Devor had been by his grandfather's side when the end came. Afterward, he arranged for his grandfather’s cremation, bringing the ashes back to the sect. With his contribution points, he sought Elder Sorin’s aid to lay them to rest in the most peaceful corner of the Spiritual Garden.

  Even with the closure, the weight of the loss hung heavily on Devor’s heart. He had already lost his family and friends back on Earth, and now he was faced with the pain of losing the only family he had left in the Cultivation World.

  Though his focus wavered and his cultivation took a hit, Devor still tended to the garden. His care remained unwavering, though there was a subtle dip in his usual precision, a quiet sign of the emotional toll he carried.

  ??????

  High above, on a mist-covered mountain peak bathed in the golden light of dawn, stood the Azure Sky Sect’s core. At its center was the Spiritual Garden of the Inner Sect, a place far more magnificent than the one Devor tended.

  Here, the Spiritual Plants flourished with unparalleled vitality, their leaves shimmering like precious gems, and their petals radiating powerful auras. Each plant seemed to hum with quiet awareness, as if recognizing their importance to the sect. The air was rich with the pure, invigorating fragrance of spiritual energy, mixing with the crisp mountain breeze.

  In a modest hut overlooking the garden, Leifu, the Spiritual Hall Master, sat at ease. A steaming cup of tea rested in front of him, its delicate scent blending with the garden’s natural perfume.

  His calm gaze cut through the swirling mist, watching Devor in the distant lower gardens. The boy knelt at his grandfather’s grave, his face a picture of quiet sorrow.

  “Oi, old Leifu, I’m here for my monthly share!” A voice called out, cutting through the peaceful scene.

  Leifu didn’t react, calmly sipping his tea as though the interruption were nothing more than a passing breeze.

  A moment later, Elder Sorin appeared beside the hut, his presence carrying the quiet authority of a seasoned cultivator. His eyes followed Leifu’s gaze to Devor, watching him for a moment before speaking.

  “If you’re so interested in him, why not just take him as your personal disciple?” Sorin muttered, a hint of a scoff in his voice. Among the sect’s elders, it was no secret that Leifu had shown a particular interest in Devor.

  Leifu set his cup down, his expression as serene as ever. “I’m not looking for a disciple,” he replied, “It’s his methods that intrigue me. Unlike me, he doesn’t rely on Spiritual Sense to tend the plants.”

  Sorin raised an eyebrow. “But Devor hasn’t even reached Stage-5 Qi Refining yet. His Spiritual Sense hasn’t awakened.”

  Spiritual Sense was a critical ability for cultivators, usually awakening at Stage-5 Qi Refining. It allowed them to perceive and interact with the world on a deeper level, enhancing their connection to spiritual energy.

  Leifu smiled faintly, his gaze unwavering. “That’s true. But the boy’s already awakened his Spiritual Sense.”

  Sorin froze, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. With a flick of his power, he summoned a teapot and cup to pour himself some tea, but his concentration wavered. The teapot tipped too far, spilling its contents over the edge of the cup.

  “Damn it,” Sorin muttered, quickly correcting the spill. But his focus shifted back to Leifu. “Devor has already awakened his Spiritual Sense? When?”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Leifu’s lips curled into a small grin. “Two months ago,” he replied casually, a trace of amusement in his voice. “It happened while he was tending to your Poisonous Spiritual Plant.”

  Sorin’s surprise deepened. He set his cup down, his curiosity piqued. “Two months ago? How did I miss that?”

  “His Spiritual Sense is… unconventional,” Leifu explained, his tone calm but intrigued. “Its range is extremely limited—barely a meter. It’s nothing like true Spiritual Sense, which usually covers at least five meters.”

  Sorin folded his arms, mulling over Leifu’s words. “A meter? That’s practically useless in combat.”

  “For now,” Leifu replied, his gaze sharpening as he watched Devor shoo away a small swarm of spirit-devouring insects from the garden. “But it’s more than enough for what he’s doing here.”

  Below, Devor moved with careful precision, driving the pests away without disturbing the delicate plants. His movements were deliberate, each one a quiet reflection of his dedication and skill.

  Leifu’s expression softened, his usual aloofness replaced by a rare flicker of admiration. “The boy has his limits, sure,” he said quietly. “But he’s pushing past them. Who knows? Maybe one day, he’ll shatter them completely.”

  A few moments later, Sorin’s Spiritual Sense swept over Devor, and a flicker of disbelief crossed his face.

  “He’s still at Stage-3 Qi Refining… How is this possible?” Sorin muttered, his voice tinged with astonishment.

  For a cultivator to awaken their Spiritual Sense at Stage-5 Qi Refining was considered the mark of a true genius, someone with immense potential. Awakening it at the Foundation Building Realm was more common, though still noteworthy.

  But Devor, with his five-colored Spiritual Root—the weakest among cultivators—had awakened his Spiritual Sense at Stage-3 Qi Refining?

  Even if its range was limited to just a meter, the fact that it was genuine Spiritual Sense made the achievement nothing short of extraordinary.

  "That's exactly why the boy is so intriguing," Leifu said, a playful smile lighting up his youthful face. "He has a way of defying expectations."

  Sorin’s frown deepened. "Old Leifu, if you don't act soon, someone else might snatch Devor up as their personal disciple."

  Even Sorin found himself tempted to take Devor on, but for the sake of his alliance with Leifu—and the promise of more Poisonous Spiritual Plants—he held back. That split-second decision lingered in his thoughts.

  Leifu, unfazed, took a calm sip of his tea. "I already have two personal disciples. Both are making great progress and will undoubtedly become pillars of the sect in the future."

  Sorin paused, unsure whether Leifu was boasting or just making a point.

  "They’ve flourished under my guidance," Leifu added, his tone modest yet assured. "Their achievements are a reflection of the teachings I’ve shared, as any good mentor would expect."

  Sorin’s lips twisted into a sour smile. "You're not the only one with talented disciples in this sect, you know."

  Leifu chuckled softly, shaking his head. "That’s not what I’m getting at. I can guide my disciples, provide them with the best resources, and help them realize their full potential. As their teacher, I take pride in their success."

  “Yeah, yeah, we get it—you’re the perfect mentor,” Sorin muttered, turning his gaze away with a hint of annoyance.

  Leifu’s expression shifted, his tone becoming more contemplative. “But Devor…” He paused, his gaze sharpening. “He’s different. Everything he’s accomplished so far, he’s done on his own. If I took him as a disciple and taught him my methods, would I help him—or hold him back?”

  Sorin frowned. He hadn’t thought about it that way before.

  Leifu continued, his voice steady but reflective. “Even if Devor achieves greatness one day, would I truly take pride in it? Or would his success be his alone? He’s always been extraordinary in his own way. He doesn’t need me—or anyone else—to shape his path.”

  Sorin exhaled slowly, Leifu’s words striking a chord. For all his pride in his own disciples, he had to admit that Devor’s resilience and independence were rare qualities.

  Then, a sigh echoed through the air—one neither of them had made.

  Startled, Sorin spun around, his voice sharp with irritation. “Shameless eavesdroppers!”

  From the edges of the mist, a few faint presences swiftly retreated, melting back into the shadows.

  Sorin gritted his teeth, struggling to hold back his irritation. It wasn’t surprising that Devor had caught the attention of the sect’s elders—his rapid progress had certainly sparked curiosity. But few dared approach Leifu directly. Instead, they chose to watch from the shadows, waiting to see what decision he’d make about the boy.

  Leifu’s expression remained calm, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He’d long known about the silent observers, waiting for him to reveal his stance on Devor.

  After a moment of quiet, Leifu spoke, his tone steady and deliberate. “Elder Sorin, assign Devor more tasks. The sect needs more raw resources.”

  Sorin frowned, confusion flickering across his face. “What kind of tasks?”

  Leifu’s smile deepened. “Triple his monthly task quota. If he succeeds, reward him with ten Sky-Grade Spiritual Plants.”

  Sorin’s eyes widened in shock. “Sky-Grade Spiritual Plants?”

  Spiritual Plants were ranked in four grades: Yellow, Earth, Sky, and Heaven. Even within the Azure Sky Sect, Sky-Grade plants were considered rare treasures, prized for their extraordinary potency.

  “Those are treasures, even for cultivators like us,” Sorin said carefully. “How do you expect Devor to handle plants of that caliber? He’s only at Stage-3 Qi Refining.”

  “That’s exactly why I’m curious,” Leifu replied, his eyes sparkling with interest. “Will he rise to the challenge, or squander the opportunity?”

  The reward was undeniably extravagant—almost too valuable for someone at Devor’s current level. But to Leifu, this wasn’t about the reward itself. It was a test.

  “Devor’s skills and determination will determine the outcome,” Leifu continued, his voice steady. “If he succeeds, the Sky-Grade Spiritual Plants will be a well-earned treasure. If he fails… then they were never meant for him.”

  Sorin fell silent, absorbing Leifu’s words. Though skeptical, a flicker of excitement stirred within him. Devor’s potential was still a mystery, and this challenge would reveal whether he could truly defy the odds—or if his limits would finally catch up to him.