Tao sat cross legged on the floor of his quarters, his eyes fixed on the small clay pots lined neatly on his desk. The seedlings he’d been practicing on were showing signs of growth—vivid green leaves unfurling, their stems stronger than before. But these were mortal grade plants, far easier to nurture.

His gaze shifted to the Moonlit Fern, potted carefully and hidden under the faint glow of the Veil of Stillness Array. Its silvery leaves glimmered faintly in the dim light, but its growth had been stagnant since he brought it back.

“If the technique doesn’t work on this, it’s worthless,” Tao muttered, his jaw tightening.

The moon hung high in the sky as Tao carried the Moonlit Fern outside, careful to keep it shielded by the array. He placed the pot on the soft ground under the cover of trees, the faint hum of the array blending with the chirping of night insects.

Tao knelt before the plant, closing his eyes as he began to channel his Qi. Energy flowed through him, as he summoned the Nurturing Cycle Technique.

The rain began as a light drizzle, shimmering faintly with spiritual energy. Tao split his Qi into two streams—one to sustain the rain and another to enrich it, as he had practiced. The droplets fell steadily, soaking into the soil around the Moonlit Fern.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the fern’s leaves trembled slightly, their edges glowing faintly as they absorbed the Qi. Tao’s heart leapt, but the reaction was fleeting. The glow dimmed almost as quickly as it had appeared, and the plant returned to its dormant state.

Tao frowned, his chest tightening with frustration. The technique had worked—but only barely. It wasn’t enough to truly nourish the fern.

Back in his quarters, Tao spread out the scrolls he had borrowed from the library: the Qi Dew Technique, the Cycle of Nourishment, and the Root Binding Method. He studied them intently, his mind racing. He cross referenced the diagrams with his annotations for the Nurturing Cycle Technique.

“The problem isn’t just the rain,” Tao muttered. “The roots aren’t absorbing enough Qi. If I combine the rain with the Root Binding Method...”

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The Root Binding Method was a stabilizing technique designed to enhance a plant’s ability to draw Qi from the soil. It required careful synchronization with the flow of energy, making it far more complex than the other techniques Tao had practiced.

He ran his fingers over the diagrams, tracing the intricate patterns of Qi circulation. The jade mountain pulsed faintly, its energy a steady reassurance.

“This has to work,” Tao said, determination hardening his voice.

Tao spent the next two days practicing the combined method. The process was painstaking, each failure chipping away at his Qi reserves and his patience.

The challenge lay in synchronizing the two techniques. The Root Binding Method required a steady flow of Qi into the soil, while the Nurturing Cycle Technique demanded precise control over the rain’s energy infusion. Balancing the two without disrupting either was like trying to walk a tightrope in a storm.

On the third day, Tao felt a breakthrough. He knelt before a pot containing a Stonevine Shoot, his breathing slow and deliberate. As he summoned the rain, he directed a portion of his Qi into the soil, weaving it into the root system with the precision outlined in the Root Binding Method.

The rain shimmered as it fell, and the Stonevine’s leaves glowed faintly. This time, the glow lingered, a sign that the roots were absorbing the Qi more effectively.

Tao exhaled sharply, his chest heaving with relief. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress.

That evening, Tao carried the Moonlit Fern outside again, placing it in the same secluded spot. He knelt before it, his heart pounding as he prepared to test the refined technique.

The rain began as before, soft and shimmering. But this time, Tao directed a portion of his Qi into the soil, weaving it into the fern’s roots with careful precision. The process was gruelling, his mind and body straining to maintain the delicate balance.

The fern’s leaves trembled, their silvery edges glowing faintly. The glow deepened, spreading across the plant like a soft pulse of light. Tao held the technique as long as he could, his Qi reserves depleting rapidly.

When he finally released the flow, he slumped back, his chest heaving. The Moonlit Fern stood before him, its leaves brighter and its stems stronger. The change was subtle but undeniable.

“It’s working,” Tao whispered, a grin spreading across his face.

Back in his quarters, Tao placed the Moonlit Fern carefully beside the other pots. The combined technique was far from perfect, but it had proven its potential. With more practice, it could become a powerful tool—not just for cultivating plants, but for proving his worth within the sect.

Tao exhaled deeply; his determination renewed. “This is only the beginning,” he murmured. “I’ll refine it further. And then, no one will overlook me again.”

Tao decided to name the newly combined technique the Nurturing Cycle Root Technique.