Two months later.
Aksai took his time as he traveled through the mainland, accompanied by Zara.
After becoming a Foundation Building Expert, Aksai no longer worried about traps set by Spirit Refining cultivators.
However, his newly acquired status didn’t make him complacent. He took all the necessary precautions to ensure his and Zara’s safety.
He was finally back on his island after five years in White Mountain City.
He was warmly welcomed by Nuya and the other co-owners of Emerald Cove upon his return.
Nuya also organized a celebratory feast when she learned that Aksai had broken into the 2nd Spirit cultivation realm, successfully building his foundation.
The main hall of her palace was decorated with vibrant banners and lanterns. Tables were laden with an array of delicious dishes, from exotic fruits to savory meats, and, of course, plenty of Bacchus’ Blessing wine.
Friends and fellow co-owners were invited, sharing stories and laughter.
Nuya made a heartfelt toast to Aksai’s success.
The other co-owners, who were still in the Spirit Refining realm, felt envious of Aksai. But they couldn’t help but feel relieved that Emerald Cove had the protection of not one but two Foundation Building Experts. Considering the brewing unrest in the Dadangar Archipelago, the more Foundation Building Experts they had, the better it was for them.
The grand hall then buzzed with excitement as the celebratory feast for Aksai’s breakthrough into the Foundation Building realm commenced.
Aksai and Nuya sat on raised platforms, on two specially made chairs resembling thrones. Beside them sat the Spirit Refining co-owners of Emerald Cove Island—Nimiya Jaram, who had her little daughter Nimiya sitting on her lap, Dia Naya, and Aram Talak.
Below the platform, two rows of Spirit Refining subordinates sat in disciplined formation.
As Aksai and Nuya were the only two Foundation Building Experts, their status as co-owners of the island was notably higher. Thanks to that, their subordinates carried themselves with greater pride and authority, ensuring they caused no trouble for their lords.
Aksai’s direct subordinates, including Ivy Elbak, Ruan, Jasmine, and Shuan, stood behind his chair in the grand hall. Ivy had matured into a young woman over the five years, while Jasmine had started to look a bit older.
Seeing Ruan, Aksai couldn’t help but sigh, reminded of Aunt Reta. He felt she would have been pleased to see him become a Foundation Building Expert.
Five years had passed since Aksai and Jasmine last spoke. Jasmine was eager to introduce her daughter to Aksai, hoping he would accept her as his personal maid as promised. She proudly told him she had three more children during this time, two boys and another girl.
With Aksai’s aid, Jasmine’s husband had recovered from his injuries, allowing her to grow her family. Jasmine was thrilled at the prospect of her eldest daughter serving Aksai.
However, Aksai had already brought Zara to Emerald Cove and knew nothing about Jasmine’s daughter. The young girl also needed training to perform her maid duties well. Aksai suggested Jasmine send her daughter to Shamrock Sanctuary in a few days to meet Zara, who would explain everything and share responsibilities.
Jasmine agreed promptly, thanking Aksai repeatedly for his generosity.
Interestingly, her regrets about Aksai vanished when he became a Foundation Building Expert. She considered herself unworthy of even becoming a lowly concubine of a 2nd realm Spirit cultivator.
One could say that the human mind is fickle. It often regrets what it knows it could have done but didn’t because of pressure or hesitation. However, it doesn’t regret what it considers impossible.
***
The gifting ceremony soon began, with people lining up in an orderly manner to present Aksai with precious cultivation resources. Of course, most of these resources were precious only in the eyes of those who gifted them. Aksai had no interest in these resources himself. However, he didn’t want to deviate from Dadangar’s customs.
As such, Aksai accepted all the gifts, big and small, precious and not-so-precious ones.
Those who came to gift Aksai didn’t dare to gift him. Instead, they offered their bows before handing their gifts to Zara, Aksai’s maid, who stood at the side of the platform.
After the gift ceremony, Aksai stood to give a brief speech to the Spirit Refining juniors. He shared some of his experiences and wisdom gained from his cultivation journey.
“Therefore, I say that the cultivation is a path of persistence and resilience,” Aksai said, his voice calm yet inspiring. “I urge you all to remain steadfast and never lose sight of your goals. You don’t need the big breaks in your life to become successful. Not really. If you can perform your best in silence and let your work speak, it will surely allow you to reach greater heights one day.”
He then turned to Nuya and expressed his gratitude for her unwavering support. “Thank you, Nuya, for your constant support and friendship,” he said with a genuine smile before retaking his seat.
Nuya had also gifted Aksai with a set of cultivation resources. However, they were more precious than almost all the other gifts combined. She knew about his Spirit spells. She was also aware that Aksai had basically emptied his coffers by spending five years in the White Mountain City.
As such, Nuya offered 20,000 Spirit stones to Aksai as his gift. She also gave him 2nd-order variants of all his Spirit spells, which would allow him to make effective use of his Foundation Building powers.
***
With the formalities out of the way, the celebration became even more vibrant.
Plays and dance performances were organized, and various mortal artists and Spirit cultivators showcased their talents.
Some performers received precious cultivation resources or substantial sums of money from the subordinates of Aksai and Nuya, rewarding their impressive displays.
Throughout the festivities, Aksai and Nuya remained mostly engaged in conversation with each other. They occasionally glanced at the live performances, appreciating the effort but letting their subordinates handle the detailed arrangements.
The night continued with laughter, music, and celebration, marking a significant milestone in Aksai’s cultivation journey and strengthening the bonds within the Emerald Cove community.