The next day was strangely quiet—almost too quiet.

  Though Devor’s promotion to Divine Disciple had yet to be officially announced, the shift in his status was undeniable.

  It was in the way the other disciples looked at him—the subtle deference in their gazes, the lingering stares filled with curiosity, envy, or caution. The hierarchy within the sect had already begun to rearrange itself around him.

  Yulin noticed it the moment she arrived.

  And the more she observed Devor, the more she felt it: her place as an Inner Disciple no longer held the same weight it once did.

  It wasn’t jealousy—no, it was something deeper.

  A quiet realization.

  He was walking a path she could no longer follow.

  Even so, she pushed those thoughts aside and sat with him. Their conversation soon turned to his latest discovery—the Synthesis of Spiritual Plants.

  Yulin wasn’t an expert like Nyuru, but she had a sharp mind, unburdened by rigid theories or tradition. As she listened, she asked questions—simple ones, but ones that made Devor pause and reconsider.

  And just like that, through discussion alone, his understanding of Synthesis deepened.

  By now, Devor had fully committed the Book of Synthesis to memory.

  He frowned, thoughtful.

  "The system’s ability and the Book share the same name—Synthesis. Does that mean…?"

  Curiosity burned within him.

  Would Ultimate Synthesis create something beyond what was recorded in the Book? Could it reveal knowledge even the sect had yet to uncover?

  There was only one way to find out.

  "Open Profile."

  [Name: Devor Li ]

  [Gender: Male ]

  [Age: 18/165 ]

  [Cultivation: Stage-9 Qi Refining Realm ]

  [Spiritual Energy: 1946/1946 ]

  [Spiritual Root: Five-Color Root ]

  [Knowledge: 149 Book ]

  [Enlightenment Realm Points: 20]

  [Abilities: Ultimate Synthesis, Attribute Analyzer, Ultimate Comprehension (Lv3)]

  Devor scanned the information carefully.

  His stats hadn’t changed much, despite a full year passing.

  But that didn’t matter.

  Not anymore.

  Strength wasn’t just about numbers—it was about understanding.

  Sitting cross-legged, Devor took a deep breath.

  Then—

  “Activate Ultimate Synthesis.”

  In an instant, his mind was pulled inward.

  The world around him faded, replaced by an endless sea of consciousness, where light and knowledge swirled like constellations in a vast night sky.

  His spiritual self took shape, floating in the expanse.

  Focusing on the Synthesis of Spiritual Plants, he willed it to manifest.

  A glowing blue orb appeared before him.

  With another thought, he summoned more knowledge—five additional orbs, each representing a different aspect of Spiritual Plants.

  At once, threads of golden energy flared to life, linking them together.

  Lines of light formed intricate patterns, weaving a vast web of previously unseen connections.

  Devor’s eyes widened.

  “Every Spiritual Plant is connected to Synthesis…”

  Insights flooded his mind, cascading in waves—until suddenly, something felt off.

  His brows furrowed.

  His focus sharpened.

  Something wasn’t right.

  He dove deeper into his consciousness, scanning the intricate threads of knowledge, searching for the flaw he knew was there.

  Minutes passed.

  Then—

  His eyes snapped open.

  “Blue Star Lily and Flame Draconic… can be fused?”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  A jolt shot through him.

  That was impossible.

  The Book of Synthesis explicitly stated that certain plant pairings had an exceptionally high failure rate—and these two were among the most unstable combinations.

  Yet, Ultimate Synthesis had marked them as compatible.

  His fingers curled unconsciously into his palm.

  Ultimate Synthesis wasn’t giving him the answer.

  It was showing him a possibility—but not the method to achieve it.

  He sat in silence, letting the implications settle.

  “This ability… it’s not a shortcut.”

  He had expected Ultimate Synthesis to solve the problem for him.

  Instead, it only revealed the correct path—why it was correct, however, was something he had to figure out himself.

  Just like when he had developed the Five Dragon Cultivation Technique all those years ago.

  Devor exhaled slowly.

  This wasn’t a setback.

  It was an opportunity.

  If Ultimate Synthesis had given him an absolute answer—one that required no further understanding—he would have become dependent on it.

  Instead, it was merely a guide.

  A tool to sharpen his own insight.

  Still…

  His gaze darkened.

  “If I use Ultimate Synthesis without understanding its logic… I might create something I can’t control.”

  He exhaled slowly, shaking his head.

  There was no point in rushing into reckless experimentation.

  For now, he needed more information.

  “I need more books on Synthesis. If I can deepen my understanding, I might be able to refine Ultimate Synthesis even further.”

  His mind spun with possibilities.

  If he could master this ability properly, it would become an unparalleled advantage.

  Failure was inevitable—he had long accepted that.

  But if he could eliminate even a hundred failures out of a thousand, that alone could shave years off his research.

  Hours passed as he refined his thoughts, buried in notes and calculations.

  Eventually, exhaustion crept in.

  With a sigh, he pushed his notes aside and lay back on his bed.

  His mind was still racing.

  But sleep came for him anyway.

  And as he drifted off, his thoughts unraveled…

  Then—

  The past came rushing back.

  He dreamed of his past life on Earth.

  The memories were fragmented, blurred at the edges—yet one thing remained clear.

  Even in sleep, his expression darkened.

  ??????

  The next day, Devor walked alongside Yulin, making his way to a gathering of sect disciples.

  For days, he had received countless invitations—disciples eager to meet him, test his insights, and gauge his strength. He had declined them all, citing the need for recovery.

  But now, it was time to step forward.

  Connections were power.

  His arrival did not go unnoticed.

  Conversations hushed as eyes turned toward him. Some disciples raised their cups in acknowledgment, others in genuine celebration. Whispers spread, speculation taking root.

  Then, as if on cue, a disciple stepped forward, offering Devor a cup of wine.

  He hesitated, feeling the cool ceramic against his palm.

  This was his first time drinking alcohol in this world.

  Back on Earth, he had never been fond of it—the way it dulled his senses, made the mind sluggish. And here, in a world where a single misstep could mean disaster, clarity was everything.

  Still, refusing might draw unnecessary attention.

  So he took a sip.

  A complex mix of spice, fragrance, and sweetness unfolded on his tongue. Far more refined than anything from Earth, but still… not to his taste.

  One by one, disciples approached him.

  Some were from Azure Sky Sect, others from another sect. A few female disciples from different sects took a particular interest—whether drawn by his rising status or untapped potential.

  Devor had never been considered especially handsome, but in the cultivation world, power outweighed appearance. Still, those with beauty beyond reason often wielded an undeniable advantage.

  One after another, disciples handed him communication tokens, which he accepted with a warm yet composed demeanor.

  Beside him, Yulin watched in quiet disbelief.

  This… wasn’t the Devor she remembered.

  He had never been especially social—always somewhat distant, keeping to himself or a select few.

  Yet here he was, effortlessly weaving through conversations, making introductions, setting expectations like a seasoned diplomat.

  When the flow of greetings finally slowed, Devor pulled out a small notebook and began writing down names, adding brief notes beside each entry.

  Yulin raised an eyebrow. “You’re writing them down?”

  Her eyes flicked over the page. At least sixteen disciples from different sects had given him their communication tokens.

  “Aren’t cultivators supposed to have sharp memories?” she asked.

  “This isn’t just about remembering names.” Devor flipped to a particular page and tapped his finger against one entry.

  Senior Duyin – Holy Lotus Sect. Handles business negotiations.

  “If I ever want to sell my own unique products, his connections could distribute them across multiple regions,” Devor explained.

  Yulin’s eyes flickered with interest.

  Devor continued, flipping through his notes. “I’m not just recording names—I’m categorizing them. From the strongest to the weakest. From the most influential to the least. That way, I know who to prioritize for long-term relationships.”

  A slight smirk tugged at his lips. “Cultivation isn’t just about survival. It’s about positioning. I won’t waste time on meaningless connections.”

  Yulin chuckled. “That’s… surprisingly methodical of you.” Then, after a brief pause, she added, “But are you sure about the Holy Lotus Sect?”

  Devor blinked. “What about them?”

  “Are they bad people?”

  “Not exactly.” Yulin crossed her arms. “But every sect has its own philosophy—some lean toward righteousness, others toward darkness. Some embrace neutrality.”

  Devor nodded. That was basic sect knowledge.

  “The Azure Sky Sect, Blazing Fire Sect, and Yellow Spring Sect all operate in a gray area,” Yulin continued. “We lean toward righteousness, but we also acknowledge that not everything can be solved through virtue alone. That makes dealing with us more… flexible.”

  Devor absorbed her words, thoughtful.

  “And the other sects?” he prompted.

  “The Holy Lotus Sect is… different.”

  “They’re firmly righteous—to a fault. Their disciples aren’t necessarily bad, but they’re obsessively strict about principles. If they sense even the slightest trace of insincerity in a deal, they’ll reject you outright.”

  Devor raised an eyebrow. “That extreme?”

  “In their eyes, even slightly overcharging someone makes you unworthy of trust.” Yulin exhaled, shaking her head. “That’s why they struggle with certain businesses. They refuse to accept that pragmatism is sometimes necessary.”

  Devor glanced at Senior Duyin’s name in his notes, adding a small mark beside it. A note of caution.

  “And the Divine Shadow Sect?” he asked.

  A wry smile crossed Yulin’s lips. “Darkness incarnate.”

  She leaned in slightly. “Their sect thrives on secrecy and manipulation. Their disciples are expert negotiators—but not in a way you’d want. They never agree to a deal unless they have absolute control over the terms.”

  Devor’s gaze darkened slightly. “So they don’t seek mutual benefit. Only dominance.”

  “Exactly.” Yulin nodded. “The moment you drop your guard, they’ll twist the deal in their favor without hesitation.”

  Devor took his notebook and neatly adjusted his rankings.

  Holy Lotus Sect – High priority, but caution required.

  Divine Shadow Sect – Avoid unless absolutely necessary.

  Yulin watched him, impressed.

  “Most disciples just accept sect relationships as they are,” she remarked. “They don’t analyze them like this.”

  Devor smiled slightly, but his eyes remained sharp.

  “This world doesn’t reward ignorance,” he said simply.

  Devor scanned the gathering, observing how disciples clustered together—mingling, forming alliances, quietly assessing one another’s strength.

  This wasn’t just a social event.

  It was a battlefield of influence.

  Sect rankings, hidden allegiances, unspoken rules—these dictated who rose and who was left behind.

  He exhaled slowly.

  Power alone wasn’t enough.

  Even the strongest could be isolated, manipulated, or outmaneuvered if they didn’t know how to play the ga

  me.

  Devor closed his notebook.

  This was just the first step.

  Some connections would be fleeting. Others might shape his future.

  And some…

  Some would inevitably become enemies.

  For now, he would play along.

  But he would never forget—

  In cultivation, alliances are temporary.

  Strength is the only constant.