Nuya felt a wave of gratitude.
“Thank you, Aksai. It’s comforting to know that we can rely on you.”
Aksai patted his chest enthusiastically. “You can count on me. I’ll continue to guard Emerald Cove. The other Spirit cultivators are free to explore the Core Formation Lord’s cave whenever they wish. I’ll remain here to ensure the island stays protected.”
Nuya looked at Aksai with a mixture of admiration and envy. “You’ve managed to stay so grounded, Aksai. While we sought opportunities in the cave, you stayed back to fulfill your duty. Your heart is truly stable as a Spirit cultivator.”
Aksai gave her a modest smile, not revealing his personal pursuits during her absence.
“It’s nothing. I chose to stay because the safety of Emerald Cove is paramount. I… I am a selfish man, my friends. I do not want to see the island that I fought for get harmed by the new wolves who have nothing better to do.”
Nuya couldn’t help but notice how Aksai seemed even more handsome and mysterious than before. She couldn’t explain the change but found herself drawn to his presence.
‘You seem… different, Aksai,’ she contacted him secretly and conveyed what she felt.
Aksai chuckled softly. ‘Hehe. It’s all because of my unique cultivation method, Nuya. You know how rejuvenating the wood-element cultivation methods can be, right? It brings about subtle changes.’
Nuya smiled warmly. ‘Well, whatever the reason, I’m grateful for your dedication.’
Aksai nodded. ‘Of course.’
Aksai, Nuya, and the other two Spirit Refining island owners decided to continue recognizing Aram Talak’s ownership deed as one of Emerald Cove’s island owners in his absence.
They agreed to wait a year or two for his return. If he didn’t return by then, they would pass down the deed to his distant family, who had been relocated to Emerald Cove.
As the meeting continued, Aksai learned about the various treasures and resources everyone had acquired from the Core Formation Lord’s cave. Not everyone had returned empty-handed. Some had managed to secure some really decent cultivation resources.
As Aksai and Nuya, the only two Foundation Building Experts, presided over the meeting, the other Spirit cultivators began exchanging the cultivation resources they had acquired during the expedition.
Aksai and Nuya did not participate in the exchange, as nothing the Spirit Refiners had acquired attracted them at their level. Instead, they busied themselves in conversation, catching up on recent events and discussing their plans while the rest of the Spirit Refining cultivators completed their exchanges.
When the exchange was over, Nuya addressed the room. “Thank you all for your efforts. Please leave us now, and we will discuss further steps in the coming days.”
As the cultivators filed out, Old Man Jiren winked at Aksai, who maintained a straight face, trying to ignore the old man’s teasing.
Once everyone had left, Nuya even asked her personal maids to leave the room. She then turned to Aksai with a smile and revealed three 2nd-order pill recipe scrolls and a worn-out book that contained an incomplete 3rd-order offensive type Array Formation.
Aksai’s eyes widened in surprise. “You managed to get these from just a single trip? That’s impressive, Nuya. Congratulations.”
Nuya smiled, clearly pleased with his reaction. “Thank you, Aksai. I wanted to share these with you. Do you want the pill recipes and the old book?”
Aksai was pleasantly surprised by Nuya’s gesture. “I’d be honored to accept, but only if you accept equivalent resources from me in exchange.”
Nuya nodded, agreeing. “Fair enough. What do you have in mind?”
Aksai pondered for a moment before speaking. “For the three pill recipes, I’ll offer you two 2nd-order ice-element resources and one 2nd-order water-element cultivation resource. And for the incomplete Array Formation, I’ll give you four defensive-type 2nd-order talismans.”
Nuya’s smile widened. “That sounds like a fair trade.”
Aksai could understand why Nuya had offered him these resources without him asking for them. She felt a bit guilty that she could explore the Core Formation Lord’s cave while Aksai remained on the island. She thought that Aksai was missing out on a lot of opportunities by just staying on Emerald Cove.
As such, Nuya had decided to offer Aksai anything interesting she finds inside the cultivation cave in future trips as well. This was the only way she knew to make Aksai feel appreciated.
Of course, Aksai felt a bit guilty that what he chose to do for his own gains was seen as a big surprise in Nuya’s eyes. After all, there were many personal reasons for him to stay on Emerald Cove, which had nothing to do with Aksai’s responsibilities as the island owner.
As such, Aksai decided to offer Nuya rewards that suited her cultivation path. The resources he offered were rare even for him. However, compared to the cultivation resources Nuya had acquired from the 3rd-order cultivation cave, they were nothing special.
The two completed their exchange with a sense of mutual respect and gratitude. They then decided to take a walk through Nuya’s private garden at the back of her palace.
The moonlight cast a serene glow over the garden, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers.
As they strolled through the garden, Aksai admired the beauty of the plants and the tranquility of the atmosphere. “You’ve really cultivated a beautiful space here, Nuya.”
Nuya looked around, her expression softening. “Thank you. Uncle Jiren helped me set it up.”
Aksai nodded, understanding the sentiment. “That old man acts wild sometimes. But he is a talented Spirit gardener.”
They continued to talk about their experiences, their hopes for the future, and the challenges they faced as leaders on Emerald Cove.
The conversation flowed easily, punctuated by moments of shared laughter and understanding.
Aksai and Nuya decided they needed to strengthen their manpower to tackle incoming troubles.
As Foundation Building Experts, it was not ideal for them to deal with every minor nuisance on Emerald Cove.
They needed their own forces to handle any trouble without their direct involvement.