Yang Hong possessed great perseverance; he could cultivate a first-grade peony for nearly 200 years until it reached ninth grade and transformed.
Now, this seed was crucial to his plan of escaping, so he naturally had the patience and steadfastness to nurture it.
Unfortunately, the seed’s fate was somewhat grim. Even with Yang Hong’s meticulous care, its vitality extinguished in the third year.
The reason was that outside the seal, not only was the temperature low and the wind biting, but the ambient spiritual energy was predominantly of the extreme ice element, with very little of anything else.
In such an environment, the seed managing to persist for over two years was itself a miracle.
"Fortunately, I've been paying attention to drifting seeds in the surroundings for the past two years.
Although they are extremely rare, there are still some."
Even though the death of the first seed was a great pity to Yang Hong, he had been mindful of collecting seeds. Over more than two years, he had managed to capture three willow-fluff-like seeds.
This led him to suspect the presence of a willow forest in the direction of the wind from the snow mountain.
"I really want to get out and see."
"I'm truly not a qualified shut-in, nor a qualified cultivator.
Other cultivators can go into seclusion for hundreds or even thousands of years. I've only been sealed for twelve years, and my mind is already in turmoil."
Yang Hong was unaware that Pudao Bodhisattva had infused the seal on him with something.
Heavenly tribulations were inherently the most destructive lightning calamities. After being woven into a seal by Pudao Bodhisattva’s Buddhist power, which possessed seductive capabilities, it was a testament to Yang Hong’s strong mental fortitude and a miraculous Sea of Consciousness that he hadn’t gone mad yet.
If a normal ninth-tier cultivator were sealed this way, they would likely have already fallen into qi deviation and self-destructed.
In any case, Pudao had poured all her life's learning into Yang Hong's seal.
However, as a transmigator with extensive experience, Yang Hong was quite adept at finding amusement.
For instance, at the suggestion of Zhu Yuyan and the other seven, Yang Hong took in Mu Xiuhui, the nine-colored peony. However, Li Sen resolutely refused to grant her the status of a Taoist companion or a wife.
Finally, after persuasion from Zhu Yuyan and others, Mu Xiuhui was given the status of a concubine.
The primary reason for not giving Mu Xiuhui a more formal title was that she was a demon.
Yang Hong, a staunch humanist, would absolutely not take a demoness as a wife. This was a profound lesson learned from his over 200 years of experience:
"Those not of our kind will surely have different hearts!"
Even though Mu Xiuhui called Yang Hong master, a part of him remained wary.
Mu Xiuhui, on the other hand, was not at all resistant to Yang Hong’s arrangements, instead considering them natural.
After all, her life was given by Yang Hong, her cultivation was given by Yang Hong, her intelligence was given by Yang Hong, and her transformation was given by Yang Hong. Everything about her was from Yang Hong.
Even if Yang Hong were to kill her now, she would harbor no resentment.
This was one of the strengths of Yang Hong’s [Overlord Return Cultivation System].
All spiritual plants he cultivated through his 'overlord' bestowed cultivation recognized him as their master and would never betray him.
However, Yang Hong, accustomed to caution, did not notice this.
It was simply that he had encountered too many schemes, intrigues, and shifts in loyalty along the way.
By taking in Mu Xiuhui, Yang Hong not only experienced the depths of being a demon but also gained an unexpected reward.
During their dual cultivation, at the very end, he entered a state of enlightenment.
However, calling it enlightenment might not be entirely accurate.
Yang Hong’s consciousness first sank into a period of stillness, then transformed into a tiny seed, absorbing nutrients and moisture from the soil in darkness, striving to enrich itself.
After a period of darkness that seemed immensely long, yet also fleeting, it finally took root and sprouted. It grew continuously through sunlight, rain, frost, wind, and lightning.
It first grew slowly in a mountain stream, then was transplanted by a tall, majestic figure into a garden, then a vast valley, followed by a colossal island, a strange, somber space, and a vibrant little mountain…
After undergoing more than 20 environmental changes during its growth, it faced heavenly lightning and began to transform.
This experience only concluded when the heavenly lightning descended.
Simultaneously, Yang Hong awoke, emerging from his state of enlightenment.
Upon brief reflection, he immediately understood what had happened.
"I have experienced Mu Xiuhui's entire life."
"Fortunately, I didn't experience her final transformation, otherwise it would have been a lifelong shadow!"
Thinking of those unspeakable, unimaginable scenes sent a shiver down his spine.
"Master, I've just awakened some more inherited memories. I've acquired a new spell."
As Yang Hong's emotions swirled, Mu Xiuhui in his arms suddenly opened her large, watery eyes and looked at him with surprise.
Yang Hong was also somewhat curious. While he was in enlightenment, Mu Xiuhui, influenced by him, had entered a similar state.
"What spell is it? Judging by your excitement, it must be significant, right?"
"Mmm-hmm~ It's the seventh-tier secret art [Fleeting Splendor]. I can guide the heaven and earth spiritual energy to rapidly mature plants within a certain area, especially various flowers and plants.
Furthermore, as long as the plant's grade does not exceed my cultivation level, I can mature all of them."
"Are you sure it's maturation, not accelerated growth?"
"Certain!"
"Hiss~ This secret art is amazing!"
After hearing Mu Xiuhui's explanation, Yang Hong’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He, who possessed a system, couldn't achieve accelerated maturation.
Even if he, with his former peak cultivation of ten million years in the Integration stage, were to bestow cultivation upon ordinary plants, he couldn't mature them. It would require at least two bestowals to achieve maturity.
This was to adhere to the laws of nature governing the growth of all things.
Mu Xiuhui’s secret art, however, directly achieved maturation, which was truly remarkable.
"Master, this secret art does have some flaws. Spiritual plants matured by [Fleeting Splendor] will exhaust their growth potential. Although they mature quickly, their quality after maturation will only be equivalent to their pre-maturation state and cannot be further improved."
Seeing Yang Hong's astonishment, Mu Xiuhui quickly added an explanation.
"Oh~ I see. That makes sense. Here, I'll give you a few plant seeds. Go and cultivate them to see the effect."
Upon hearing Mu Xiuhui's clarification, Yang Hong breathed a sigh of relief, then recalled the ability he had just comprehended.
"Let's go~ I also have an ability that needs testing."
Saying this, Yang Hong put on his clothes and approached the edge of the seal.
He first relaxed his entire body, adjusting his mental energy to an excited state. Then, a strand of divine sense imbued with the Dao of Creation pierced through the seal, landing on the three seeds outside.
Initially, Yang Hong thought he would comprehend laws or principles related to time. He hadn't expected to ultimately grasp the Dao of Creation.
He had already comprehended the Dao of Creation in the Ten Thousand Demon Sea Region; this was merely a further enhancement.
After being weakened by layers of the seal, only a wisp of Dao of Creation’s essence fell upon the three seeds.
"Hahaha~ hahaha~ It's effective!
Although it's just a tiny bit of Dao essence, it has truly added a sliver of vitality to the three seeds!"
After fully releasing his divine sense and Dao principles for a while, Yang Hong's face turned pale, but he laughed with extraordinary joy.
This was not only because the three seeds had gained vitality but, more importantly, because his power could extend beyond the seal. This was a good beginning. In the future, he could also project his spells outside the seal.
Then, there would be many things he could do.
Following this, Yang Hong became fixated on the three seeds, even delegating the task of collecting other new seeds to Zhu Yuyan and the others.
Eighty-three days later,
Finally, after 83 days, the first seed took root and sprouted in a pot devoid of water and soil.
In the icy air, solely relying on the ambient spiritual energy and the Dao of Creation Yang Hong continuously infused, the seed took root and sprouted in the air.
This was truly cultivation!
There were no limits to what could be achieved, only what one couldn't imagine!