My first attempt at creating rich, black earth resulted in something that looked more like tar than anything else. The sticky, dense mass that floated before me would have suffocated any plant life that was unfortunate enough to try growing in it.

  “Master, perhaps you should analyse the components separately?” Azure suggested as I dispersed the failed attempt. “Soil isn’t just one material.”

  “Right,” I murmured, remembering Senior Sister Chen explaining soil composition during one of her lectures. “Good soil needs organic matter, minerals, proper texture…”

  It would be better to begin with the individual components first.

  This proved true, the mineral base came easily enough as it was just fine particles of rock and clay, but when I tried adding what I thought constituted as organic matter - plants created by wood qi, it turned into a strange, crystalline substance that was definitely not going to support any life.

  “That’s…unique,” Azure commented diplomatically.

  “It’s awful,” I corrected, dissolving the bizarre crystal-dirt hybrid that I accidentally created. “I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Instead of trying to create organic matter directly, maybe I should focus on creating something that could eventually hold organic material?”

  My third attempt went significantly better.

  Through careful balancing of different mineral particles and leaving tiny spaces throughout the structure, I managed to create a dark, rich-looking soil. While it wasn’t perfect, real topsoil would require actual organic matter, it would serve as a framework for future growth.

  The next step was creating clay soil, and this proved to be just as challenging.

  My first try produced something closer to ceramic, and while the hard, brittle chunks would have been great for pottery, it was pretty useless for growing plants.

  As for my second attempt, well, that went too far in the opposite direction, I ended up creating a slimy mud that refused to hold any shape.

  “Master, clay needs a specific balance of minerals,” Azure reminded me. “And the particle size matters.”

  Taking his advice, I adjusted my approach, focusing on creating the microscopically thin plates that made up real clay. This time, the earth essence did response better, it formed a properly structured soil that would retain water without becoming impermeable.

  With that complete, I moved onto producing sandy soil, and that process was its own adventure.

  My first attempt created a literal beach, and while the pure white sand would have been perfect for a vacation, it was completely useless for cultivation.

  My second try produced something closer to gravel.

  My third attempt was no better, it somehow ended up as glass…

  After several more attempts, I managed to finally create a proper sandy loam. It was coarse enough for good drainage, and had enough fine particles that would support growth.

  The real breakthrough came when I began thinking about how the different soil types would interact with each other.

  Instead of creating distinct regions of each type, I decided to blend them at the edges, creating natural transitions. This resulted in clay soil gradually shifting to loam, then to sandier soil.

  Looking at the finished product, it’d be difficult to guess just how many failed attempts it had taken – the various soil types transitioned smoothly across the garden quadrant, with each area perfectly prepare for its future purpose.

  “Master, don’t forget to add the drainage layers.”

  Azure was right, this place needed its own filtration systems.

  The process itself was pretty simple, beneath the topsoil, I added layers of coarser material, which would allow water to drain.

  In some areas, I embedded chunks of stone that would help regulate spiritual energy once we got that far. And in other sections, I ensured there were deeper soil beds, this would allow plants to root deeply.

  “Master, what about meditation areas?” Azure asked.

  He did have a point. All sects had quiet spots tucked away among the plants.

  With that thought, I began carving out small clearings throughout the garden space. Some were surrounded by raised areas that would eventually shield them from view, while others sat atop gentle rises with good sightlines across the quadrant.

  The final result looked deceptively simple: rolling hills that flowed naturally into each other, various soil types blending at their edges, and hidden spots that seemed to have formed naturally rather than being deliberately crafted. It was the kind of landscape that looked effortless precisely because every detail had been carefully planned.

  “We can leave the south-eastern section empty,” I murmured, adding only a few scattered platforms and basic structures. “We need somewhere to test out new techniques without risking damage to the rest of the terrain.”

  “How about the south-western quadrant?” Azure asked.

  The south-western quadrant was the first area I created, apart from the subtle variations in elevation, there was nothing else of note.

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  “We can designate this area of basic training and meditation,” I replied, adding a few more features: a small plateau that would make a perfect meditation spot and some open fields as practice areas.

  As I worked, the Genesis Seed’s roots continued to spread through all four quadrants, stabilising the terrain somehow, making it feel more permanent and more real.

  “Now, time for the really interesting part,” I said, looking up at the two suns, “we need to position them properly.”

  The red and blue suns, which had been drifting aimlessly around the edges of my inner world, perked up as my attention focused on them. Clearly, they were excited at the prospect of being given roles.

  “Master, without gravity, you’ll need to manually define their positions and movements,” Azure explained. “Think of it like setting up a track for them to follow.”

  “They should be opposite each other,” I replied. “That way there’ll be maximum coverage of the terrain.”

  Reaching out with my qi, I guided the red sun to the eastern edge of my inner world. It went willingly enough, though it seemed to preen a bit under the attention. The blue sun drifted to the western edge without needing to be prompted, knowing the relationship between the two, it probably didn’t want to be outdone.

  "Now for their orbit...," I concentrated, trying to visualize the path I wanted them to follow.

  Like Azure mentioned, there was no time or gravity, so, I couldn't just set them in motion and let physics handle the rest. Instead, I had to create a predetermined track for them to follow.

  This took even more trial and error.

  When I encouraged them to go around in a circle, they'd either drift off course, or overcompensate and spiral inward.

  Eventually, I discovered that by creating a sort of spiritual tether between each sun and the Genesis Seed, I could guide them along more stable paths. I noticed that the red sun preferred sweeping, dramatic arcs, while the blue sun moved in more measured, graceful curves. Allowing them to express themselves in the way they preferred allowed me to establish a rhythm that felt…right.

  “That’s excellent, Master,” Azure approved. “Now, you can try adding some basic plant life, just remember, without actually being in the Life Realm, you can’t create living things…”

  “This is about setting up a basic framework,” I finished, understanding what he meant.

  I began by focusing on the garden quadrant, manipulating wood qi to shape trees, bushes, flowers, and any other type of plant I could think of.

  The end products, while perfect in form, were completely lifeless. No leaves rustled, no branches swayed, they just… existed.

  And that was when something extraordinary happened.

  The blue sun passed by overhead, its light infusing the plant forms with what looked like life. The colours brightened, the forms became more distinct, and there was an almost tangible sense of vitality.

  And when the red sun followed, its light had its own effects. The trees slowly shifted and changed, their branches reaching in new directions. The transformation energy seemed to work even on these lifeless forms.

  “The red sun transforms, the blue sun animates...,” I murmured, watching the interplay of energies. "Together they create a kind of pseudo-life."

  "Yes, but it is only a simulation," Azure explained. "Without gravity or proper time flow, the effects are limited. Notice how nothing truly grows or develops ; it just cycles through states we've defined."

  He was right.

  Without fundamental forces like gravity, and without proper time flow, everything in my inner world was essentially frozen in patterns I manually established. The suns moved because I told them to move. The trees appeared to live because of the suns' energy.

  It was like a complex puppet show where I had to manage every string.

  Still, it was progress.

  Essentially, what I’ve done is create the framework that life can eventually inhabit. It was similar to building a house, I’ve not yet created the family that will live there, but I’ve made a space that can support life when the time comes.

  The next hours were spent adding more details to each quadrant.

  In the mountain range, I carved out complex cave systems and created natural formations that looked like they'd taken millennia to form. The garden section received more varieties of plant forms: trees of different sizes and shapes, areas that could become flower beds, even a section that looked like it could be a herb garden.

  The testing ground remained mostly empty, but I added some more basic structures: pillars for target practice, flat areas for sparring, and a few more specialized zones whose purposes I hadn't quite decided yet.

  Finally, I returned to the base quadrant, refining the meditation plateau and adding a few more features that felt right: a small grove of tree forms that would make a perfect quiet spot, and some natural stone formations that could serve as seats or tables.

  Standing, (or rather floating), in the centre near the Genesis Seed, I smiled, taking in all I had created.

  This was a word that followed none of the normal rules of reality, or at least the reality that I was used to. No gravity meant the waterfalls I’d planned would need special attention later. No time meant nothing would age or change unless I specifically made it do so. And the suns’ orbit being completely artificial resulted in their light affecting the world in ways that defied normal physics.

  For a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, this was all unusual to say the least. Most inner worlds at this stage were just empty voids with a few basic features that related to their cultivation method. Having stellar bodies and the framework for life was practically unheard of.

  “Master,” Azure called out, a note of pride noticeable in his voice, “I believe we’ve created something unique.”

  Looking around one last time, I couldn’t help but agree.

  The Northwest contained mountain ranges, deep valleys, and cave systems. The mountains themselves formed a natural semicircle, with the highest peaks to the north and gradually descending as they curve around.

  The Northeast was dedicated to being the garden quadrant. There were hills covered in tree sculptures, flat areas for flower beds, and specially prepared soul zones for different types of plants. While everything did seem fake and artificial, when the blue sun passed overhead, it all took a life-like quality.

  As for the Southeast quadrant, it was mostly empty, but there were platforms and structures that would be pretty useful in the future. There were also plenty of open spaces where I could experiment with runes and techniques.

  In the Southwest, there were meditation plateaus and practice fields.

  At the centre, the Genesis Seed stood majestically, its roots spreading through all four quadrants, anchoring and stabilizing everything. The deep valleys radiating outward from it would eventually hold rivers, with the rivers dividing the quadrants naturally.

  And above everything, the red and blue suns were opposite each other, their different energies creating an endless cycle of transformation and renewal, as they followed their perfect orbit.

  My inner world was no longer a void with some dirt in it anymore; it was the beginning of a true world.

  “Not bad,” I smiled, “for a few hours of work.”

  The Genesis Seed’s branches swayed back and forth, and I could’ve sworn it looked pleased.

  “Master, someone is approaching your room,” Azure alerted me. “Given the qi signature, it seems to be Wei Lin.”

  Wei Lin coming to my room?

  Either something important had happened that required my attention, or I had spent much longer meditating than anyone had expected, and he was checking to make sure I hadn’t fallen victim to qi deviation.

  Opening my physical eyes, I noticed that something didn’t feel quite right.

  The garden’s vines were still curled protectively around my body as they had been before I began meditation, but the stone courtyard floor seemed…much further away than it should be.

  It took me a moment to realise that I was actually floating several feet in the air.

  “Well,” I muttered, trying to figure what caused this unexpected development,” this is new...”

  And of course, it was at that moment, Wei Lin knocked at my door.

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