The barren land no longer looked barren.
What had once been cracked soil was now covered in patches of glowing herbs, sprouting vines, and young divine trees. The air was still thin of qi, but it carried the faint promise of life.
Tian Yuan stood at the edge of the orchard, hoe resting on his shoulder, when the System's cheerful new voice chimed in.
"Ding! Boss, Realm Purification Progress: 14%. Good work, but you're slower than a turtle. Lucky for you, I'm generous enough to give you another mission!"
Tian Yuan didn't even glance at the glowing panel floating in front of him.
"Another mission, huh? Go on."
The System made a dramatic coughing noise.
"Ahem! Mission: Plant Purging Trees! These trees will absorb leftover toxic qi in the soil and convert it into pure energy. Estimated time to fully purify: 10 years… unless you work faster, which, let's be honest, you won't."
Tian Yuan gave the panel a lazy look.
"Ten years is fine. I'm not in a hurry."
The System sputtered.
"Boss! Other gods could notice your realm before then!"
Tian Yuan calmly dug a hole and placed a glowing seed into it.
"Let them notice when they notice. I'm not rushing for anyone."
The Divine Beasts
Five figures rested under the newly grown Spirit Trees, their presence alone making the realm feel alive.
Qinghu (Azure Tiger): A massive tiger with shimmering blue stripes, snoring loudly.
Xiao Huo (Flame Sparrow): A tiny bird with fiery wings, perched on Tian Yuan's hoe, chirping impatiently.
Bai Long (White Serpent): A serpent coiled around a young tree, shedding skin that glowed like silver threads.
Hei Feng (Black Wolf): A silent, watchful wolf lying near the Spirit Orchard.
Jin Yu (Golden Tortoise): A huge tortoise moving at a snail's pace, its shell glowing faintly with runic patterns.
The System yawned.
"They're all lazy, just like you."
Suddenly, the Flame Sparrow fluttered up to Tian Yuan's face, chirping angrily.
Tian Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"You want to help plant the trees?"
The little bird chirped once and shot off, grabbing seeds in its beak and dropping them into holes it scratched out with fire.
The Azure Tiger lazily rolled over, while the Golden Tortoise simply blinked.
The System snorted.
"Look at that! At least one of them cares."
Tian Yuan smiled faintly, continuing to work.
The New Companions
The System suddenly flashed.
"Ding! Special Reward Unlocked: Humanoid Puppets Activated!"
Tian Yuan glanced at the screen as five humanoid figures appeared out of golden mist. Each wore simple servant robes, their faces calm, eyes glowing faintly.
The System puffed its voice proudly.
"Meet your realm butlers! They can clean, manage your beasts, cook food, and basically do everything you don't feel like doing. You're welcome."
Tian Yuan tilted his head slightly.
"Humanoid puppets, huh? Any personalities?"
The System laughed.
"Oh, they're fully loyal. But you might get annoyed. One is a clean freak, one talks too much, one acts like a strict old nanny, and the last two… well, you'll see."
The puppets bowed deeply.
"Master, we await your command."
Tian Yuan waved a hand casually.
"Just keep the orchard alive. And don't annoy me."
Evolving Beasts
As the sun—if it could be called that—set in his artificial sky, the White Serpent slithered closer, its body glowing faintly.
The System's voice grew serious for a rare moment.
"Boss, the beasts are adapting to the divine qi you're planting. Some may evolve… maybe even into humanoid forms in the future."
Tian Yuan planted another Purging Tree calmly.
"If they do, let them choose their own path. This realm should be a home, not a prison."
The System was quiet for a long moment before muttering.
"You're too soft-hearted for someone so powerful. But I guess that's why they follow you."
The Calm Before the Storm
The night grew still. The Purging Trees glowed softly, divine qi spreading through the soil like veins of light.
Far away, in the Mortal Realm, the disciples sat quietly after their victories, looking at the moon. They couldn't feel his realm, not yet, but they somehow knew—
Their master was still watching over them.
And in the Upper Realms, hidden eyes finally began to stir, sensing a faint ripple of divine qi in a place that should have been dead.
The System beeped nervously.
"Boss… when your purification hits 50%, they'll start noticing for real."
Tian Yuan placed the last seed in the ground, standing straight.
"Then I'll make sure this realm is worth fighting for when they come."
The Purging Tree glowed brighter, its roots digging deeper.
(END OF CHAPTER)