Aksai stood up, stretching his muscles and taking a deep breath.
“There are too many things to do before I get on with the actual bloodline refinement. It’s time to train Ivy some more,” he thought to himself. “I’ll get her up to speed on everything.”
With that, he descended from the cultivation platform, ready to share his plans with his apprentice.
Aksai stepped down and stretched his muscles, taking a deep breath as he prepared to leave the serene, secluded space. As he made his way down the polished stone steps, the faint glow of bioluminescent plants lighting his path, he started planning many things in his head.
Waiting for him at the bottom was Zara Zuric. She greeted him with a warm smile and a respectful bow. “Welcome back, my lord. Your practice session seemed particularly intense today.”
Aksai nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “Indeed, Zara. There’s much to be done.”
Zara handed him a beautifully crafted bottle. “I thought you might appreciate this, my lord. A special edition of Bacchus’ Blessing wine. I had it prepared to celebrate your progress.”
Aksai took the bottle, appreciating the thoughtful gesture. “Haha. Thank you, Zara.”
Aksai had already started experimenting on the Bacchus’ Blessing wine after he got back to Emerald Cove. he had plans to increase its quality so that it could be used as a mild Foundation Building item among all the Spirit cultivators.
Furthermore, he had planned to concoct a special wine that was suitable for Foundation Building Experts like him. The wine bottle Zara gave him belonged to this category. It was still an experimental mixture of various herbs mixed into the Spirit wine. As such, nobody apart from Aksai had access to the wine.
Zara then straightened. “Also, my lord, I wanted to inform you that I have completed the training of Violet Shinzai. She is Jasmine Linoyi’s daughter, as promised. Jasmine sent her to me, and I have ensured that she is well-prepared to serve you.”
Aksai gave a nod of approval. “Excellent, Zara. You’ve done well. Let’s meet her.”
With a slight bow, Zara turned and called out, “Violet, please come and meet our lord.”
From a side corridor, a young woman emerged, moving with a grace that highlighted her youth.
Violet Shinzai had striking violet eyes, full of life and curiosity, and her dark hair was tied back in a simple, elegant braid. Her fair skin contrasted with the deep green robes she wore, marking her as one of the personal maids of the Shamrock Sanctuary.
Violet approached Aksai and bowed deeply, her movements precise yet graceful. “My lord Aksai,” she said, her voice soft but steady. “I am Violet Shinzai, daughter of Jasmine Linoyi. It is an honor to serve you.”
Aksai studied her for a moment, noting the reserved manner in which she held herself, but also the playful glint in her eyes. She seemed lively and eager to prove herself, despite her initial shyness in his presence.
“Rise, Violet,” Aksai said, his tone kind and steady. “I trust that Zara has prepared you well for your duties here.”
Violet straightened, her eyes meeting his briefly before looking down again. “Yes, my lord. I am ready to fulfill my responsibilities.”
Aksai gave her a reassuring smile. “Good. I look forward to seeing your dedication and skills in action.”
Zara placed a comforting hand on Violet’s shoulder, giving her an encouraging nod. “You’ll do just fine, Violet.”
Violet’s face lit up with a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, my lord. I won’t disappoint you.”
Aksai nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction. ‘Perhaps these two ladies can become more than my personal maids. I can train them to help out Ivy a bit,’ Aksai thought to himself.
With that, Aksai turned to head towards his study, Zara and Violet following closely behind. There was much to discuss and plan.
***
The next day.
Aksai summoned Ivy to the Spirit farm, knowing that this hands-on experience would be crucial for her development.
“Ivy, today we’re going to focus on cultivating and harvesting a specific set of resources essential for our operations,” Aksai said as they walked towards the farm. Zara and Violet followed closely behind, their attention fixed on Aksai’s instructions.
Once they reached the farm, Aksai pointed to a section where vibrant Spirit herbs were growing. “These herbs,” he began, “are vital for our cultivation practices. The first step is to ensure the soil is enriched with the right balance of nutrients. Observe.”
Aksai knelt, digging into the soil with a practiced hand, demonstrating how to check for the correct consistency and nutrient levels. The hand signs he made were purposely slowed down so that Ivy could follow them. The Essence Equations he created were distinctly shown for his apprentice’s reference.
Ivy watched intently, mimicking his actions under his watchful eye. “Good, Ivy. You’re getting the hang of it,” he said encouragingly.
Next, Aksai moved to a row of Spirit fruits. “These need to be harvested at the peak of their maturity for maximum potency. Timing is everything.” He carefully picked a fruit, showing Ivy the subtle signs that indicated ripeness. She nodded, following his lead and picking her own with precision.
Zara and Violet observed silently, absorbing the knowledge being shared. Aksai glanced back at them, knowing they too were learning through this process. “Remember, Ivy, the health of these resources directly impacts our cultivation progress. Take your time to master this.”
Leaving Ivy to continue practicing in the Spirit farm, Aksai turned to Zara and Violet. “Let’s head to the Spirit garden.”
They walked through the lush surroundings until they reached the garden, where Ruan, Jasmine, and Shuan were already waiting.
“Ruan, Jasmine, Shuan,” Aksai called out, gathering their attention. “Today, we’ll go over the operation of some critical Array Formations I’ve set up here.”
He led them to a formation at the center of the garden, its intricate patterns glowing faintly. “This formation regulates the Spirit energy flow throughout the garden,” Aksai explained. “Maintaining its balance is crucial.”
He demonstrated the activation process, placing his hands on specific nodes and channeling his energy. “You need to ensure each node is synchronized. Any deviation can disrupt the entire array.” Ruan, Jasmine, and Shuan took turns practicing, guided by Aksai’s expert instructions.
“Shuan, be gentle with the energy flow. Ruan, focus on the alignment of the nodes. Jasmine, remember to monitor the energy output constantly,” Aksai instructed, offering personalized tips to each.
After they had practiced sufficiently, Aksai stood back, satisfied with their progress. “You’re all doing well. Keep refining your techniques. This knowledge is essential for the well-functioning of the Shamrock Peak.”
As the session concluded, Aksai felt that he had successfully established the foundation for his upcoming turtling act.
He had equipped his team with the skills they needed to maintain the Spirit farm and garden in his absence.
With Ivy handling the cultivation and the others managing the arrays, he was confident that his responsibilities were in capable hands.