Three days later.
Beneath the shade of a giant tree by Purple Brilliance Lake.
During the last few days, Aksai utilized qi-based acupuncture techniques to enhance Aunt Reta’s physical condition and restore her mental acuity.
With his expertise in various aspects of qi essence studies and a supply of precious qi-based elixirs from Martial World Sharang, aiding Aunt Reta proved to be well within Aksai’s capabilities.
Though his techniques couldn’t extend Aunt Reta’s lifespan by much, they ensured that she could live out the remainder of her days as a healthy Spirit cultivator.
“How do you feel now?”
Aksai inquired as he administered a final round of acupuncture, flying needles puncturing Aunt Reta’s skin in a coordinated manner. Aunt Reta sat in a meditative posture, calmly enduring the sensation.
“I… I feel revitalized,” Aunt Reta replied with a smile as she opened her eyes.
“The mental fog I’ve been experiencing has lifted. I feel like myself again,” she expressed her gratitude to Aksai. “Thank you, my child. I am truly grateful for what you’ve done.”
“Don’t mention it,” Aksai smiled warmly, gesturing to gather the flying needles back to him. With a wave of his hand, he directed them to dip into the nearby lake for sanitation before storing them in a wooden box, which he then stowed away in his storage ring.
“Thank you for healing my mother, big brother Aksai,” Ruan added, bowing respectfully. Though he refrained from shedding tears in Aksai’s presence, the emotion in his eyes was evident.
“Haha, feeling indebted, are you?” Aksai asked, amusement evident in his expression as he looked at Ruan.
“Why not leave the Purple River Sect and assist me in managing my island as a form of repayment?” he proposed, curious about Ruan’s response.
“Hm? An island? What do you mean?” Ruan inquired, his expression reflecting his confusion.
“Aksai, my child, what have you been up to these days?” Aunt Reta interjected, rising from her seated position with curiosity.
With a smile, Aksai proceeded to explain to both of them how he had acquired ownership of Emerald Cove and Shamrock Peak, as well as his plans to develop the region under his direct control.
Once he had finished detailing his plans for Emerald Cove and Shamrock Peak, Aksai extended an invitation for Aunt Reta and Ruan to visit the island.
In truth, Aksai could benefit from the assistance of someone like Ruan, whom he could trust to manage his interests in his absence.
As a 7th-stage Spirit Refiner, Ruan possessed the capability to handle various tasks that arose within Aksai’s territory on the island.
Moreover, having recently achieved a breakthrough to the late stage of the 1st realm, Ruan had the opportunity to further advance his cultivation at a rapid pace on Emerald Cove, which was known to harbor a 2nd-order nascent Spirit vein.
There were issues with Spirit essence fluctuations concerning the nascent Spirit veins, rendering them unattractive to most Foundation Building Experts.
However, Spirit cultivators in the 1st cultivation realm could mitigate these fluctuations by using simple Spirit-essence-gathering formations while practicing their cultivation techniques.
Ruan, an internal disciple of the Purple River Sect, resided on the sect grounds, benefiting from the stable ambient Spiritual concentration of the 1st order Spirit vein.
However, should he choose to utilize essence-gathering formations on Emerald Cove, he wouldn’t need to compromise on his cultivation speed, even if he were to leave the sect behind.
As for Aunt Reta, a change of scenery in her old age seemed appealing. The beauty and tranquility of Emerald Cove provided an ideal environment for her to spend the remainder of her life peacefully.
Considering these factors, Aksai extended the invitation to Ruan and Aunt Reta to join him on Emerald Cove, hoping they would agree to his proposal.
“Haha, big brother Aksai, I’ll start packing right away,” Ruan exclaimed before hastening to his abode. With his decision to relocate, he also planned to retrieve all the cultivation resources he had planted in the garden behind his wooden house.
“Thank you for being so considerate, my child,” Aunt Reta expressed, watching her son’s departing figure.
“Honestly, I don’t think Ruan ever liked being on the sect grounds. He has the blood of a Spirit farmer running through his veins. He only stayed here for my sake. Now that you’ve offered him a way out, he’ll be able to live his life peacefully,” she reflected on the past.
“Well, I need him as much as he needs me. I haven’t done him any favors, Aunt Reta,” Aksai chuckled, following her gaze. “I’ll be sure to put him to work on the island when he gets there,” he added with a laugh, seeing Aunt Reta’s smile.
As Aksai had anticipated, Aunt Reta and Ruan accepted his offer and began the process of relocation. It took them a day to complete all the formalities, and by the fourth day, Aksai’s request within the Purple River Sect had also been processed.
Aksai obtained all the necessary items from Elder Xin to aid him in the Martial World Sharang. He expressed his gratitude to the elder before taking his leave. This time, Aunt Reta and Ruan accompanied him.
Using one of the sect’s ships, Aksai, Ruan, and Aunt Reta arrived at Purple River Gate.
From there, Aksai bid farewell to Aunt Reta and Ruan, instructing them to proceed to Emerald Cove while he attended to some matters in Purple River Gate.
***
Purple River Gate.
Blue Sky Haven restaurant, considered one of the most favored spots among Spirit cultivators, had been shut down by the kingdom’s authorities a few days ago. Since Aksai was in the city, he decided to investigate the matter.
This was the same restaurant where Aksai had met Shuan, a rare seed with high-grade Spirit Root Aptitude. The establishment was owned by Jainam Bluesky, who had provided considerable assistance to Aksai over the last 12 years.
As such, the new island owner of Emerald Cover decided to visit the restaurant before he went to Martial World Sharang.
===
AN: Shuan and Jainam were introduced in chapters 84 and 86 respectively.