The barren realm had changed even more overnight. The Divine Herb Garden glowed softly in the west, Purging Trees whispered in the east, and the Spirit Rice Fields swayed gently in the south. But Tian Yuan's work was far from over.
The System's cheerful chime echoed in his head as soon as he stepped out of his manor.
> [Ding! New Mission Generated!]
[Mission: Plant the Spirit Orchard]
Description: Select fertile land and plant Spirit Fruit Trees. The fruits will nourish the realm's qi and accelerate purification.
Reward: +5% realm purification, chance for a divine beast to evolve to humanoid form.
The System paused dramatically before speaking again.
> "Boss, this time it's not just herbs. We're talking sweet fruits. Imagine divine peaches that can boost cultivation with one bite! You could become the richest farmer in all realms—well, if you were into selling stuff."
Tian Yuan adjusted his hoe, ignoring the joke.
"Show me the location."
---
Choosing the Ground
A soft golden map unfolded in his mind, pointing to the northeast corner of the realm. It was still rough, the soil cracked, but faint traces of life from the Purging Trees had already begun creeping toward it.
Tian Yuan nodded once and headed there, his divine beasts trailing behind.
The System hummed happily.
> "This will be fun. Let's build you an orchard so perfect that even gods will drool over it."
---
Breaking the Earth
The Azureback Ox stomped ahead, its glowing hooves smashing the harder rocks to dust. The Verdant Serpent slithered over, its green mist wrapping around the soil to soften it, while the Blazetail Phoenix soared in circles above, dropping gentle sparks that burned away lingering dead qi.
Jin, the humanoid puppet butler, appeared at Tian Yuan's side, bowing respectfully.
> "Master, shall I prepare water channels for the future trees?"
"Do it," Tian Yuan replied simply.
Within minutes, Jin's hands glowed with golden inscriptions as he carved irrigation lines across the ground. His movements were smooth, precise—like an artisan crafting the foundation of a masterpiece.
The System chuckled.
> "See, Boss? You've got yourself a proper workforce now. You're officially a Realm Lord Farmer."
---
Planting the Spirit Trees
The Spirit Fruit Seeds shimmered in Tian Yuan's hand—round, glowing seeds, some golden, some emerald. He planted them row by row, his golden qi flowing steadily into each seed.
The Silver Fang Wolf sat nearby, watching quietly, while the Obsidian Tortoise released stabilizing inscriptions across the ground.
One by one, the seeds pulsed, accepting the soil.
Within hours, sprouts broke through the ground. Tiny leaves unfolded, glowing faintly with soft qi. The orchard-to-be swayed gently in the barren wind, releasing a sweet fragrance that drifted across the realm.
The System beeped in excitement.
> [Mission Complete!]
[Realm Purification +5%. Current Purification: 12%.]
The barren air shimmered slightly as if the entire realm took a fresh breath.
---
An Unexpected Evolution
The Blazetail Phoenix suddenly screeched, its body glowing brighter than usual. Flames rippled across its feathers, then shifted into golden patterns. Slowly, its wings shortened, and its body began stretching unnaturally.
The System nearly screamed.
> "Boss! It's happening—it's trying to take on a humanoid form!"
Tian Yuan stepped closer, his voice calm.
"Let it happen naturally. Don't force it."
The Phoenix shrieked softly before collapsing in exhaustion, its body only halfway transformed—still birdlike, but its wings now had a faint shape of arms.
The System whistled.
> "Give it a week or two, Boss, and you'll have yourself a humanoid firebird butler."
Tian Yuan glanced at the orchard, his expression unreadable.
"The land grows. So does life."
---
A Realm Becoming Alive
As night fell, the Spirit Orchard glowed faintly with soft golden light. Jin and the divine beasts rested nearby, while the newly planted trees whispered in the wind, their leaves carrying the scent of growth.
The System's voice softened for once.
> "Boss… at this rate, this barren land will become the most beautiful realm in existence. But… you do know other gods won't stay quiet when they sense this, right?"
Tian Yuan looked up at the starless sky.
"They won't find it until I'm ready."
The air seemed to hum in agreement as the orchard swayed under the moonless night.
(END OF CHAPTER)