“I don’t think I’ll need to worry about the age limit of 50 years.”
Aksai thought to himself as he rose from his seat and stretched his limbs.
After a satisfying meal, he felt like strolling around his farm.
“This age limit of 50 years is for regular Spirit cultivators. However, for someone like me, a body cultivator, this prerequisite doesn’t apply,” Aksai pondered as he ambled among his crops, feeling their growth beneath his hands.
Aksai possessed more knowledge than most Spirit cultivators regarding a cultivator’s life force. Life force was determined by the quality and quantity of qi within a cultivator’s body, whether dormant or awakened through body cultivation.
Naturally, a Spirit cultivator harbored an ample amount of qi, even in a dormant state. However, after crossing the age of 50 years, this qi would rapidly deplete in quantity and quality for most Spirit cultivators, if not all.
Of course, there were always some exceptions to the rule.
Some determined Spirit cultivators would resort to external assistance to manually increase the amount of qi in their bodies. This was typically pursued by those who had surpassed the age limit of 50 but still aimed to establish their foundation.
While there were few instances of talented Spirit Refiners managing to establish their foundation after surpassing the age limit, their existence offered hope to many ambitious Spirit cultivators from humble backgrounds.
Notably, those Spirit cultivators who could rely on base-building objects were influential figures within the Dadangar five-kingdom subcontinent. This wasn’t something a regular Spirit cultivator could dream about. As such, the age limit of 50 years was the ultimate cut-off standard.
Aksai differed from the typical Spirit cultivators of Dadangar. He practiced a qi-based body cultivation technique, enabling him to maintain his qi at its peak for as long as he lived.
Aksai could sustain his qi at its peak condition throughout his life through the use of body cultivation techniques and martial arts. He didn’t even need any base-building objects anymore to achieve this feat.
Thus, Aksai didn’t have to take this particular restriction of the Spirit Refining Trifecta to heart. However, just because he didn’t have to didn’t mean he didn’t strive to.
“Hmm. Although this age limit doesn’t apply to me, I should aim to break into the 2nd realm before I turn 40. Slow and steady but always moving forward.
They say the earlier one establishes their foundation, the brighter their future as a Spirit cultivator. So, I can’t slack off just because I’ve had some success in the Trifecta test even before it began.”
Aksai mused to himself as he cast various elemental Spirit spells on his crops and plants. His hands moved as if they were possessed by a demon, casting various complicated hand signs as if it were no big deal.
Despite the rapid cogwheels in his head, Aksai didn’t let it stop him from tending to his daily chores on the farm.
“As for the prerequisite of the mind, I believe I’ve met that condition too with my fully functional Spirit Sense,” Aksai concluded, chuckling as he revised the concepts of the Spirit Refining Trifecta in his head.
One could say that Aksai had overachieved in this segment. His Spirit Sense was already fully awakened like a regular Foundation Building Expert. As such, he didn’t need to worry about the second prerequisite as well.
“My problem with breaking into the 2nd realm stems from my poor Spirit Root aptitude,” Aksai thought, sighing as he pondered the third prerequisite of establishing one’s foundation in the 2nd realm, which was related to Spirit essence.
“How much time will it take for me to reach the Spirit Refining Perfection realm?” Aksai asked himself. In the next moment, his neural link fabric provided him with an answer.
[Current Spirit Cultivation Technique: Stellar Greenwood Tantra
Current Spirit cultivation base: 9th stage Spirit Refining Realm
Estimated time to reach Spirit Refining Perfection: 18 years and 9 months]
“Haah! If I rely on my current Spirit Root Aptitude, even with all my advantages stacked together, I will only barely be able to establish my foundation before the age of 50.
What kind of shitty farce is this? No wonder a lot of late-stage Spirit cultivators either go mad or become robbers in frustration,” Aksai shook his head in disappointment.
“Although I like to take things slow, I can’t wait that long.
Rather, I shouldn’t if I don’t want my cultivation journey to end at mere Foundation Building Realm.
I’ll have to return to Dadangar and collect the base-building objects for Spirit essence. I can use them to speed up my Spirit cultivation progress.
As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I can keep looking in the meantime. Once I achieve the Spirit Refining Perfection realm, I can prioritize getting my hands on the pill recipe at that time,” Aksai concluded.
Aksai had gathered and cultivated many peculiar Spirit herbs inside the Everwood farm for this reason. He had progressed enough in his alchemy studies to make many Spirit essence nourishing pills for himself.
During the last 12 years, Aksai had participated in many private exchange meetings with fellow late-stage Spirit Refiners in Dadangar.
He stayed in close touch with Nuya, who made sure to contact him through Jainam and Jiren. Due to attending these private exchange meets, Aksai had obtained many peculiar things for himself, including the pill recipes related to certain Spirit essence nourishing pills.
***
Anything that helped the Spirit cultivators meet the stringent requirements of the Spirit Refining Trifecta was termed base building objects.
The pills that aided in increasing Spirit essence, the elixirs that augmented life force, and the resources that enhanced Spirit Sense were all collectively referred to as base-building objects. These were considered precious resources and were not easy to get.
The pill recipes Aksai had obtained were also categorized as base-building objects. These pills had significantly accelerated his cultivation progress over the past 12 years.
However, Aksai had developed a tolerance to them after consistent consumption. He now sought more potent versions or entirely different base-building objects to further enhance his Spirit essence.
As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, it was a legendary alchemy invention, capable of facilitating a breakthrough into the 2nd Spirit cultivation realm.
Considered the ultimate base-building object, the Foundation Establishment Pill harmonized the mind, body, and spirit.
Aksai had already fulfilled two of the three prerequisites for the Foundation Establishment. Technically, he didn’t need the pill.
However, the Spirit Refining Trifecta jade slip contained intriguing information about the pill, particularly regarding safety.
It was known that even the most talented Spirit cultivators risked their lives during the breakthrough into the 2nd realm, gambling for immortality.
Yet, consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill before the breakthrough could ensure survival, even in the event of failure.
Although the cultivator’s foundation might be harmed and could sustain injuries, survival guaranteed another chance to pursue becoming a genuine Foundation Building Expert, provided the necessary resources were available.
Aksai was no gambler. Twelve years ago, a mere one percent chance of dying during the Spirit bloodline transplant process was enough to dissuade him.
Why would he gamble on his life at the time of the 2nd realm breakthrough? For him, safety was paramount.
Hence, Aksai preferred to have the Foundation Establishment Pill ready for his breakthrough.
Surviving the process was key, as he was confident that as long as he survived he would eventually succeed. His unique perks would enable him to become a Foundation Building Expert as long as he played his cards right.
“I guess that settles it. With this 9th stage breakthrough, things will finally start to move. First, the concoction of the base building pills. Some close door training to stabilize my base. Then I can finally start the assimilation process with the Spirit bloodline.
But there are some matters I need to attend to.
I guess it’s been a while. Before doing anything else, I’ll quickly check Martial World Sharang,” Aksai decided, halting amidst his farm.
He surveyed his surroundings, ensuring all daily chores were complete.
With a deep breath, he activated his natal treasure—Myriad Worlds Painting—and vanished from the isolated domain, returning to Martial World Sharang.
Aksai didn’t know at the time that chaotic events awaited him in Sharang, which had the potential to alter his plans drastically.