Cultivation World Dadangar.
Purple River Gate City. Hour of Tiger (08:00 AM – 09:00 AM)
Azure Horizon Teahouse.
The clinking of cutlery. The hustle and bustle of movement.
It felt like the entire city’s energy was concentrated in this one place.
Conversations of all kinds filled the air.
The aroma of freshly brewed tea mixed with the salty tang of the nearby harbor breeze.
Perched close to the shore, the Azure Horizon Teahouse offered sweeping views of the lively harbor and the expansive Dadangar Western Sea, captivating visitors with its tranquil atmosphere and stunning backdrop.
Adorned with intricate wooden latticework and swaying traditional lanterns, this established gathering spot exuded charm and elegance.
Upon entering, guests were welcomed by the soothing melodies of a traditional guqin, skillfully played by a resident musician, enhancing the teahouse’s seJamone ambiance.
Tables of polished wood and comfortable chairs were strategically placed near large windows, providing patrons with ideal spots to admire the mesmerizing vista of the harbor and the shimmering sea beyond.
Visitors could be seen enjoying fragrant cups of jasmine tea or indulging in delicate pastries as they engaged in conversation or contemplation, some alone with their thoughts.
The third floor, reserved for late-stage Spirit Refiners, was less crowded, with only about eight groups occupying tables spaced apart from each other. A silent agreement seemed to keep a respectful distance between the groups.
Privacy was paramount for the late-stage Spirit Refiners, evident in the spectral barriers raised around their tables to shield their conversations from prying ears.
Among one such group sat Aksai, led by the Nuya Netherfrost. Alongside four other Spirit Refining cultivators, they were gathered for a mission to neutralize a figure from the Isla Kingdom.
Among the group gathered at the Azure Horizon Teahouse, the remaining four late-stage Spirit Refining cultivators each possessed their own unique aura and skills.
Firstly, there was the husband and wife duo, Jamon Jaram and Nimiya Jaram. Jamon was a tall and sturdy man with a rugged appearance, his face etched with scars earned from countless battles. He exuded a quiet strength, his eyes sharp and observant.
Nimiya, on the other hand, was petite and graceful, her movements fluid and precise. With her calm demeanor and keen intellect, she complemented her husband’s more direct approach to cultivation. Together, they formed a formidable pair, their bond strengthened by years of shared experiences and mutual respect.
Next was Dia Naya, who appeared to be a middle-aged woman by mortal standards. It was said that she possessed extraordinary skills as an archer.
Despite her unassuming demeanor, Dia Naya was well-known within the circles of late-stage Spirit Refiners for her contributions to the Purple River Sect, particularly in assignments related to the subjugation of blood fiends.
Her weathered face bore the marks of a life spent honing her craft, and her piercing gaze held the wisdom of someone who had seen much in her years of cultivation.
Dia Naya and Aksai had known each other for 12 years, ever since they first met at a private exchange meet organized by Nuya Netherfrost. She was the same woman who had offered Aksai a 1st-order alchemy inheritance in exchange for 50 stalks of 1st-order Twilight Spirit Fern.
At that time, Dia Naya had thought she had made quite a profit. After all, Aksai didn’t know at the time that the Spirit cultivation resources she had asked from him were very useful in concocting potions related to Spirit Refining Trifecta.
Aksai was like a blank slate 12 years ago. It was only after he obtained the jade slip related to the Spirit Refining Trifecta that he started to understand the importance of various cultivation resources. He also started to understand how cunning all the late-stage Spirit cultivators really were.
Of course, Aksai didn’t think he had made a loss by obtaining inheritances related to various fields at the cost of giving away some of his cultivation resources grown on his Everwood farm in sufficient quantities.
***
Finally, there was Aram Talak, a stoic and disciplined sword cultivator. Tall and lean, Aram Talak carried himself with an air of quiet confidence.
With his keen sense of strategy and lightning-fast reflexes, he was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
His swordsmanship was exceptional, and his unwavering dedication to his craft made him a formidable opponent to any who dared to cross swords with him.
Aksai also knew Aram Talak and had previously dealt with him. He was the same man who had offered a 1st-order Array Formation inheritance in exchange for at least five stalks of 2nd-order Moonlit Lily Spirit grass or something similar. Of course, Aksai had obtained this inheritance from Aram after offering him just what he wanted.
It seemed that Nuya had only hired Spirit cultivators she personally knew for a very long time. Including Aksai, the remaining four Spirit cultivators also had clean backgrounds.
Of course, nobody was supposedly as ascetic as Aksai was (on paper).
All the remaining four Spirit cultivators had their hands dyed in blood at some point during the unrest in the two counties a few years back. Violence was a part of a Spirit cultivator’s life, at least for the most part. And this rule applied to almost all Spirit cultivators in general.
After all, Spirit cultivators couldn’t be viewed through the same lens as mortals. Plus, Nuya had gathered enough personal details about each of the squad members she had arranged to be part of the operation she led. As far as she knew, all of the violent actions taken by her squad members were in self-defense.
Of course, Nuya trusted Aksai more than all the other squad members. However, it didn’t mean that her trust in the remaining four members could be questioned.
***
‘This is indeed a good team,’ Aksai thought to himself as he observed the serious faces of the Spirit cultivators gathered around the table he was sitting at.
It seemed that Nuya hadn’t gone for the strongest squad members. Rather, she wanted to make the squad stronger than individual strength by recruiting Spirit cultivators with varying degrees of expertise.
Aksai also appreciated Nuya’s approach. She could have easily hired Spirit Refining Perfectionists like herself for the operation. However, she had chosen to put her trust in a few people who individually weren’t the strongest of their generation but could be trusted.
As far as Aksai could tell, the squad was well-balanced. He knew that Nuya was an ice-element specialist with the cultivation base of a Spirit Refiner. She was only a few steps away from breaking into the 2nd Spirit cultivation realm and becoming a genuine Foundation Building Expert.
Nimiya was a water-element Spirit cultivator and an excellent Water Whip user. Additionally, she was a healer, providing necessary support to her husband, who was sometimes known to be a reckless runic spear user with wind-element Spirit spells at his disposal.
Dia Naya could serve as a ranged attacker with her archery skills, while Aram Talak could fight in the front line with his swordsmanship.
Aksai introduced himself as a talisman user with some proficiency in swordsmanship. It seemed that Nuya had considered many factors before finalizing this team, which appeared balanced from many angles.
***
Aksai seemed to be pondering multiple thoughts at once, but his attention was drawn to Nimiya when she suddenly addressed him.
“Fellow cultivator Aksai, to be honest, I didn’t think you’d agree to this mission,” Nimiya smiled at Aksai. “I had taken you for an ascetic Spirit cultivator who was not interested in worldly affairs,” she said, glancing at her husband for support.
“Hahaha. What my wife said was indeed my assumption as well,” Jamon, sitting close to Aksai, chuckled as he patted Aksai’s shoulder in a friendly manner.
“I might sound arrogant and a little bit overconfident but I don’t care. it’s good that it’s you we’re going to be co-owning an island with. I am really glad.
I consider you no different from my little brother, Aksai. So feel free to ask us, husband and wife, for help in battle if things get too difficult for you,” Jamon said, looking at Aksai with a genuine smile and assurance.
“Thank you, big brother Jamon. But I think you’d do better to stay close to my sister and your wife,” Aksai replied before sighing dramatically. “As for the single old me? I can only do my best and hope that I don’t die in the process,” he added, shaking his head.
“Hahaha. Looks like being single is starting to bother you. My wife, should we start looking for a potential bride for my little brother here? I’m sure you can introduce him to a few of your friends or—”
Jamon was ready to become a matchmaker for Aksai in a heartbeat.
He was about to continue but was interrupted by Nuya Netherfrost clearing her throat extra loudly, drawing the attention of all five Spirit cultivators.
It seemed that it was about time they spoke about their operation.
===
AN: Dia Naya offers Aksai alchemy inheritance in chapter 92. The same chapter covers how Aram Talak offers 1st-order Array Formation inheritance to Aksai. It was just that these characters weren’t named back then.