A 12-year-old boy, standing at 143cm tall, with an innocent and charming face and short hair, wore an expression of excitement as he stepped into the Azure Sky Sect's grounds.
The boy's name was Devor.
Devor stood rooted at the edge of a vast field, his eyes sweeping over the grand scenery, holding his breath momentarily. Before him, traditional buildings stood gracefully, their greenish-blue tiled roofs glistening like jade under the sunlight. The wooden pillars, intricately carved with dragon and phoenix motifs, seemed alive, exuding elegance and strength in every detail.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of plum blossoms and pine trees growing around the field, creating a serene yet charismatic atmosphere. In the distance, a small stream wound its way among the rocks, its gentle murmur adding a harmonious note to the beauty of the place.
Devor couldn't help but notice the sect's disciples moving gracefully among the buildings. Their light blue robes fluttered in the wind like dancing flower petals, adding a magical touch to the scene. The vast blue sky above, adorned with thin, drifting clouds, made him feel as if this world was truly designed for Immortals.
In the silence enveloped by awe, Devor's eyes shone like mirrors reflecting the beauty of this new world, now a part of his destiny.
He stepped into the Sect alongside four others, guided by a graceful female cultivator.
Noticing Devor had stopped, captivated by his surroundings, the woman gently cleared her throat and smiled softly before saying, "Little brother, there will be plenty of time later to explore the beauty of this Sect."
The four others, around Devor's age—three girls and one boy—also stopped and turned towards him, standing behind them.
Feeling their gaze, Devor blushed and coughed lightly before bowing respectfully. "Apologies, Senior Sister. I'm simply mesmerized by the beauty of the Azure Sky Sect," he said with a tone full of admiration.
The female cultivator gave a small smile, "It's alright, that's quite normal. Come, I'll take you to the Sect's Spiritual Garden."
Devor's eyes lit up, nodding eagerly several times.
The female cultivator then led Devor and the others further into the Azure Sky Sect.
Aside from Devor, the others his age also had awe-filled expressions as they observed the cultivators they passed by.
Within ten minutes, they arrived at the Spiritual Garden area of the Azure Sky Sect.
Devor lifted his head, gazing at the towering mountains in the distance, appearing incredibly majestic.
The female cultivator guided everyone into the garden, and instantly, Devor felt a refreshing fragrance envelop his body and mind.
Every breath he took seemed to infuse his body with something precious, making him feel that living here would ensure lifelong health and infrequent illness.
Shortly after, they were greeted by another beautiful female cultivator.
"Thank you, Junior Sister Liara, for guiding them here," the beautiful cultivator said to Devor's guide.
"This year's seeds are quite promising, Senior Sister Yulin. With proper training, they could become skilled gardeners in the future," Liara replied, a small smile on her face.
"Oh? Is that so?" Yulin raised an eyebrow slightly, showing some interest.
Yulin then had the five of them, including Devor, line up in front of her and began asking each one questions about Spiritual Plants.
Devor and the others were mere mortals, not cultivators. However, tending to the Spiritual Plants only required knowledge of the plants themselves.
Of course, if a true cultivator took on the responsibility, it would be ideal. But cultivators were too preoccupied with cultivation and other practices to bother with gardening.
Thus, the Azure Sky Sect recruited mortals to fill these basic and simple positions.
Yulin asked each of them different questions, gauging their knowledge of Spiritual Plants.
Each person answered with a hint of nervousness, afraid of giving the wrong answer.
Yet, Yulin occasionally nodded in response to their answers, leaving Devor and the others unsure whether their answers were right or wrong.
Now, it was Devor's turn.
Yulin folded her arms across her chest, her expression calm yet discerning as she gazed at Devor.
"Little brother, it's your turn now. Answer my question, and don't worry about being right or wrong," Yulin said with a soft, beautiful smile, calming Devor's nerves. "In your opinion, if Crimson Lotus and Azure Dew Grass were planted close to each other, would they affect each other's growth until maturity?"
Devor bowed his head, pondering deeply, his eyes shining with knowledge before he opened his mouth to answer.
"Senior Sister Yulin, I believe Crimson Lotus and Azure Dew Grass are not suitable to be planted close together. Crimson Lotus, being a fire-element plant, absorbs a significant amount of fire-element Qi to maximize its growth. Meanwhile, Azure Dew Grass is a water-element plant that requires a stable balance of Yin and water-element Qi. If they are planted near each other, their energies will clash," Devor answered, his expression still immersed in his thoughts.
Upon hearing Devor's response, Yulin's eyes gleamed slightly, a hint of appreciation flickering within as he regarded Devor.
Before Yulin could speak and praise him, Devor continued to elaborate on his knowledge: "Furthermore, Crimson Lotus's greedy nature for energy causes it to deplete the surrounding Qi resources, which would deprive Azure Dew Grass of the water element it needs. Conversely, the excess water element from Azure Dew Grass could disrupt Crimson Lotus's process of absorbing fire energy. Ultimately, neither would reach their full potential."
Yulin raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that Devor wasn't finished: "Oh? Your explanation is quite detailed. So, do you think there's a more suitable plant to be grown nearby?"
Yulin decided to test Devor further.
Devor nodded confidently, a slight smile on his face: "Yes, Senior Sister. For example, Golden Sunflower and Silver Moon Vine are an excellent pair. Golden Sunflower thrives by absorbing sunlight during the day, while Silver Moon Vine absorbs moonlight energy at night. Since their energy absorption times differ, they don't compete for Qi; instead, they complement each other."
Devor pointed his index finger towards another garden plot he had observed earlier, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.
"Additionally, there's the combination of Stardrop Lily and Nebula Fern. Stardrop Lily harnesses star-element Qi, while Nebula Fern grows by absorbing mist Qi from its surroundings. This combination not only enhances each Spiritual Plant's growth but also strengthens their spiritual essence when harvested," Devor said with confidence.
Yulin fixed his gaze on Devor intently, a spark of curiosity stirring within him about Devor's understanding of Spiritual Plants.
Considering Devor was still a child and not a cultivator, his achievements were remarkable.
"Your knowledge of spiritual plants is impressive for someone who has never worked in a Spiritual Garden before. Where did you learn all this, little brother?" Yulin asked with a beautiful smile, looking at Devor.
Devor lowered his head slightly, his cheeks flushing: "Thank you, Senior Sister. I love reading books about spiritual plants in my village. My grandfather is a herbal plant trader, and I often ask him to bring old books about Spiritual Plants, which I read when I have no work."
Yulin smiled broadly, nodding slightly as she praised him: "You have a solid foundation, little brother. With proper guidance, you could become an outstanding gardener, or even a great alchemist one day. Alright, everyone, let's begin our first training."
Yulin's faint smile evolved into a subtle interest in Devor, drawing the attention of others who looked on with a mix of admiration and a touch of envy.
"And for you, little brother, I'll give you one month to learn more comprehensive knowledge about Spiritual Plants," Yulin said, her beautiful smile shining. "After one month, I will check your progress and decide if you deserve to manage a garden plot on your own and increase the wages you can earn."
Devor's face lit up with excitement, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Senior Sister! I'll do my best and won't disappoint you!"
In his heart, Devor cheered with joy, for his first step in weaving his destiny for the future had succeeded!