A few days later.
Emerald Cove. Cultivation World Dadangar.
Standing proud on the Emerald Cove, just a few miles away from Veinheart City, stood Nuya’s opulent white palace, a symbol of power and authority on the island.
Once the prized possession of Kaelen, it now belonged to Nuya, seized after his demise at the hands of Aksai and her allies. Nuya named it Moonlit Manor because she liked how the palace looked during the full moon night.
The palace was a marvel of architecture, with grand columns and intricately carved facades. Its pristine green walls gleamed in the sunlight, reflecting the emerald hues of the surrounding ocean.
As one entered the palace, they were greeted by spacious halls adorned with exquisite artwork. Marble statues stood sentinel in alcoves, depicting scenes of the legend.
The air was laced with a certain exotic incense, adding to the ambiance of luxury and refinement.
But perhaps the most enchanting feature of the Moonlit Manor was its sprawling garden, teeming with a vast array of mysterious cultivation herbs.
Rare and exotic plants thrived in the fertile soil, their vibrant colors and intoxicating fragrances filling the air with mystery. These herbs were obviously planted by Kaelen in the past. They were set to benefit Nuya at this point, enabling her to take back the initial investments she had made in the operation.
Nuya’s garden was a sanctuary of tranquility, a place where she could retreat from the rigors of leadership and commune with nature. It was said that the herbs grown here possessed potent properties, coveted by Spirit cultivators far and wide.
Surrounded by the beauty and splendor of her palace and garden, Nuya was set to rule over Emerald Cove with grace and authority, her legacy forever intertwined with the land she called home.
As the one who was in charge of the operation, Nuya had obviously put a lot of her wealth on the line. From her initial preparations to her constant coordination with the elders of the Purple River Sect, she had done basically everything by herself. As such, it was only natural that she lay claim to Kaelen’s palace.
***
On this day, Nuya had respectfully invited her close confidant Spirit cultivators to visit her in the manor.
Accepting her invitation, the four late-stage Spirit cultivators could be seen approaching Moonlit Manor with leisurely steps.
The caretaker mortals of the palace, as well as some low-stage Spirit Refiners, would stop what they were doing and salute these four Spirit Refiners whenever they laid eyes on them.
These four late-stage Spirit Refiners were none other than Nuya’s squad members and allies. After the purge, they were recognized as the co-owners of Emerald Cove. Wherever they went, people would pay their respects to them.
Aram Talak, Dia Naya, Nimiya Jaram, and Aksai had to take a few days to get used to the newfound respect and admiration they had garnered from the locals of the island.
Lost in his thoughts while approaching Nuya’s palace, Aksai was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Little brother Aksai, thank you for covering for me,” Nimiya said, her gaze holding a mix of gratitude and sorrow as she offered him a slight bow.
“If you hadn’t covered for me last week, I’m not sure ‘we’ would have survived to see this day,” she added, her hand gently resting on her belly, her emotions complex.
“Big sister Nimiya, please don’t embarrass me for doing something so inconsequential,” Aksai replied, smiling warmly at Nimiya as he returned the gesture with a light bow. He sighed softly before continuing.
“Brother Jamon has left us. But you have to live on to make sure his legacy is nurtured well. You can always tell me if you need anything else.
As long as it is something I can do, I will not hesitate to lend you a helping hand once again,” he assured her, his gaze briefly resting on her still-flat belly.
‘Make sure I have to nurture his legacy,’ Nimiya murmured to herself. Hearing Aksai’s words, her expression softened, a genuine smile gracing her lips after almost a week of grieving over her husband’s death.
“Haha, fellow cultivator Aksai, you really surprised us with your performance that day,” Aram Talak interjected.
“Do you practice some heretic body cultivation technique?” he asked impulsively, then quickly realizing the potential rudeness of his question, he cleared his throat before continuing.
“I mean, I was really surprised by your battle potential that day. I only want to say that if you are practicing some heretic body cultivation technique, be careful. They have a lot of pitfalls that most Spirit cultivators don’t know about,” he added, genuine concern evident in his tone.
Aksai smiled wryly before responding to Aram Talak.
“Just some tricks. It’s nothing impressive, really, fellow cultivator Aram,” Aksai said and sighed. He hesitated a bit before adding further.
“To be honest, I just used one of Lakir Clan’s Blood Strengthening techniques, which are considered forbidden-type techniques. And I used a few of them in conjunction to kill those three late-stage Spirit Refiners.
It was a desperate move and has hurt my Spirit cultivation base. I’ll have to spend many years recuperating from this loss,” he explained with a dramatic sigh.
With more than 12 years of acquaintance, Dia and the others were well aware of Aksai’s background as a former Spirit farmer who had worked on the Lakir clan’s farm. As such, his “revelation” didn’t come as a surprise to any of his allies.
“So that’s how it is,” Dia Naya remarked, her gaze holding a hint of pity as she looked at Aksai. “Fellow cultivator Aksai, please take care of yourself. And if you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask,” she added, though her tone conveyed uncertainty about her offer.
The four Spirit Refiners conversed amicably as they made their way towards Nuya’s residence.
Having put their lives on the line to secure ownership of Spirit vein island, it was time for them to reap the rewards of their efforts.