Sirina sighed, recognizing the firmness in Aksai’s stance.
“I understand. But know that the offer stands. Should you ever reconsider, the Core Formation Lord would welcome you with open arms. Maybe I can offer you a better deal in the future.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Aksai replied. “For now, let’s focus on the matter at hand. Do we have a deal on the resources and the cultivation technique?”
Sirina extended her hand and smiled. “We have a deal.”
Aksai shook her hand firmly. “Excellent. I look forward to our collaboration.”
With that, the two of them sealed their agreement, each recognizing the potential for a prosperous and mutually beneficial relationship.
***
The next day.
Aksai followed Sirina through the bustling streets of White Mountain City. They soon arrived at a heavily guarded gate leading to the inner zone.
As they passed through, Aksai felt an immediate difference in the atmosphere. The Spirit essence in the air was incredibly rich and dense, unlike anything he had experienced before. He took a deep breath, feeling the invigorating energy fill his lungs and invigorate his body.
“This is the power of a 3rd-order Spirit vein,” Sirina said with a slight smile, noticing Aksai’s reaction. “The cultivation environment here is one of the best you can find.”
Aksai would have felt suffocated had he come here when he was in the Spirit Refining stage. A higher grade Spirit vein didn’t mean it would be the right choice for all the SPirit cultivators. They needed to have a certain cultivation base in order to make ideal use of cultivating over a potent Spirit vein.
Aksai could have never made use of the 3-order Spirit vein to achieve a breakthrough into the Foundation building realm because the concentration of the ambient Spirit essence was just too much for a Spirit Refining Perfectionist like him.
However, after becoming a Foundation Building Expert, regular and limited exposure to a 3rd-order Spirit vein could benefit Aksai a lot.
“It indeed is a 3rd-order SPirit vein,” Aksai nodded appreciatively.
The inner zone was a serene and beautifully landscaped area, with lush gardens, clear streams, and elegant buildings. It was a stark contrast to the more crowded and bustling outer city. Sirina guided him through various notable locations, giving a brief tour that highlighted the benefits of joining the inner circle of White Mountain City.
They finally arrived at an impressive three-story building made of white stone and decorated with intricate carvings.
“This is the Haan Di Pavilion,” Sirina said with a hint of pride in her voice. “It houses the cultivation techniques and Spirit spells that Lord Moyun has collected over his long life. Usually, only his disciples and a few major clans with close ties to the city are allowed access. But today, I’ve arranged for you to have a look inside.”
“I… I see.”
Aksai raised an eyebrow in surprise but followed Sirina inside. The interior was just as impressive, with shelves lined with scrolls and jade slips, each containing valuable knowledge. The base floor was dedicated to 1st-order cultivation resources and techniques. While Aksai appreciated the vast collection, he knew that his current needs required something more advanced.
Without wasting time, he headed straight for the staircase leading to the second floor. Sirina followed him, watching his reactions carefully.
The second floor was even more remarkable. The Spirit essence was denser here, and the scrolls and jade slips were of noticeably higher quality.
“This floor is dedicated to 2nd-order techniques,” Sirina explained. “You won’t find a better collection anywhere else in the region.”
Aksai began to browse the shelves, his eyes scanning the titles and descriptions. Each technique promised different benefits, from enhancing physical strength to improving Spirit essence manipulation.
‘These… These are top-quality cultivation techniques. All of them are a lot better than Stellar Everwood Tantra,’ Aksai felt a surge of excitement as he realized the potential for his cultivation here.
Sirina observed him with a satisfied smile.
“You know, if you were to become Lord Moyun’s disciple, you would have unrestricted access to all these resources and more. There are some cultivation techniques on the third floor that are only accessible to my master’s disciples,” she said, attempting to pique his interest further. “Not to mention the guidance and protection that comes with being part of the White Mountain City’s inner circle.”
Aksai turned to her and nodded, acknowledging the benefits. “It’s a generous offer, Expert Sirina. But I have my own path to follow,” he replied, his tone respectful yet firm. “I’ve made commitments that I intend to honor.”
Sirina sighed, understanding his position but still hopeful. “I see. Well, at least take your time and choose a suitable 2nd-order technique. Consider it a token of goodwill from us.”
Aksai settled into a quiet corner of the second floor, surrounded by shelves filled with various cultivation techniques. He took his time, carefully examining each option.
Some techniques were recorded onto jade slips, while others were written in old tomes and manuals. He even found a few techniques inscribed on beast skins and some etched onto delicate scrolls.
‘Lord Moyun’s possessions are quite something. I wonder what I could have gained if I had become his disciple,’ Aksai thought to himself and sighed before quickly discarding that thought.
As he sifted through the vast collection, he considered the pros and cons of each technique.
He had to take into account his Spirit Root Aptitude and his elemental compatibility with earth, water, and wood.
His druid bloodline, with its natural affinity for nature energy, was another crucial factor that he hadn’t disclosed to anyone.
‘Not this… This is not it either. And this? Hell no.’
One by one, he evaluated each technique. Some techniques focused on enhancing physical strength, while others aimed to refine Spirit essence manipulation. He found techniques that promised rapid progress but came with significant risks, and others that offered steady but slower advancement.
Eventually, a chipped jade slip caught his attention. The technique recorded on it was called “Sun-Moon Duality.” The description intrigued him: it incorporated the essence of the sun and moon into the Yantra, a mystical array formation diagram used to speed up the cultivation progress of the practitioner. The technique seemed compatible with his
Spirit Root Aptitude and his elemental affinities.
‘This technique… it’s good.’
Aksai read through the technique’s details carefully. The Sun-Moon Duality involved meditative practices during specific phases of the sun and moon, allowing the cultivator to draw in their essences and convert them into potent Spirit energy.
This process would not only enhance his cultivation speed but also had the potential to harmonize with his body cultivation practices, which also harnessed the essence of the sun and moon and transformed them into qi energy that imbued his blood and flesh.
‘Yes! A druid making use of the essence of nature to grow further. This technique seems much more compatible with my druid bloodline than my previous technique.’
The more he read, the more convinced he became that this technique was the right choice. The synergy between the Sun-Moon Duality and his existing body cultivation practices could potentially create a powerful compound effect, enhancing both his Spirit and body cultivation.