There were many apparent and hidden demerits to the implanted Aether Wisps.
However, the benefits of this method were too significant for Aksai to ignore.
He had concluded that the new and improved method was exactly what he needed.
After all, it liberated him from the rigorous practice of traditional Aether cultivation, allowing him to focus on other pursuits. He could focus on his Spirit and Qi cultivation while enabling the tamed beast soul to do the heavy lifting when it came to his Aether cultivation.
By finding stronger beast souls as he leveled up, he could progress in his mind cultivation path without having to resort to traditional Arther cultivation methods. He only needed to increase his affinity with the beast soul to claim more of the Aether essence it had in its soul.
This affinity would increase over time in a passive way. Or one could try other methods to boost this affinity. Even though the affinity wouldn’t increase overnight, this path of mind cultivation was surely much easier to traverse for Aksai while being in Dadangar.
And it wasn’t like the traditional methods didn’t have its risks. There were many cases in which one’s natural Aether Wisps turned on their owners after consuming some questionable. In such cases, the Aether practitioners were forced to get rid of their existing Aether Wisps and start from scratch.
The new method allowed Aksai to outsource the intricacies, some well-known risks, and time-consuming aspects of Aether cultivation to the beast souls he would capture.
He could get rid of the Aether Wisp easily if it rebelled and his Aether cultivation would only stagnate and not dissolve.
He could then tame a new compatible beast soul to resume his Aether cultivation.
***
Aksai looked stressed and exhausted as he gazed at the Aether energy condensed in front of him in the form of a sphere.
The Aether Shell had started exuding a purple brilliance, signaling that the required number of Aether Runes had been successfully etched onto it. This meant that he had finally completed creating the Aether Shell based on the new Aether Wisp Awakening method.
These Aether runes were quite different from the runes found on traditional Aether Shells that were used to house the Soul Fragments of the Aether practitioners.
“I… I wonder how many Aether practitioners and Spirit practitioners it took to find this new method of Spirit cultivation. I am willing to bet that both sides of the members involved must have exceeded the limits of the Core Formation Lords,” Aksai said while feeling the strain of the ritual.
“Hehehe. My wait was worth it. I… I convey my thanks to the researchers involved in this experiment to come up with this method. I don’t know how many decades or centuries it would have taken for me to come up with a similar solution.”
Aksai managed to give out a chuckle. His Mind Palace, however, mirrored his current state— the once vibrant sea and sky now appeared colorless and lifeless, reflecting the toll the process had taken on him. Nevertheless, Aksai felt a surge of relief and satisfaction.
The Spirit farmer had officially started his Aether cultivation, even though he didn’t have his own Aether Wisp yet.
It was time for a crucial decision.
“Which demon beast should be turned into my Aether Wisp?” Aksai wondered out loud, the stress lines on his forehead intensifying.
Initially, he thought of legendary beasts like dragons and phoenixes but quickly discarded the idea with a mirthless smile, acknowledging that such powerful souls were beyond his current reach.
He needed to find a beast that matched his current power level and elemental affinities.
Aksai remembered from the AetherTech shard that the natural talents of the beasts could be obtained by Aether practitioners after taming the beast souls and turning them into Aether Wisps.
These natural powers would manifest in one’s Mind Palace as Aether Runes, which could then be used as Aether Spells.
“Should I… Should I go with wood-type demon beasts?” Aksai had a thought.
Considering his elemental affinities with wood, water, and earth, Aksai decided that it would be beneficial to select a demon beast from Dadangar that shared these affinities.
Demon beasts in Dadangar were known for their natal Spirit spells, and he speculated that these spells could be converted into Aether spells for his use.
Selecting a beast with the same elemental affinities might provide him with additional casting bonuses and enhance the synergy between his Spirit spells and new Aether spells.
However, another thought crossed his mind. What if he chose a beast soul with completely different elemental affinities? Could this potentially increase his affinities with other elements as well?
Aksai pondered the pros and cons of both approaches.
Choosing a beast with matching elemental affinities would likely give him immediate bonuses and a smoother integration of spells.
On the other hand, selecting a beast with different elemental affinities could diversify his capabilities, broadening his skill set and potentially allowing him to access and master new elements.
This approach would be riskier and more challenging, as it might require more time and effort to harmonize the new elements with his existing abilities. Yet, the potential for greater versatility and power was enticing.
As he weighed his options, Aksai understood that his choice would significantly influence his future path in Aether cultivation. The decision was not to be taken lightly. He needed to consider both immediate benefits and long-term potential.
“Hmm. I should focus on my elemental affinities first. The other elemental affinities could be prioritized later on. After all, it’s an ever-evolving Aether Wisp cultivation that I’ll be practicing. I don’t need to worry about sticking to the same beast for more than I have to.”
Aksai reasoned that this approach would provide a strong foundation and a smoother transition into Aether cultivation. He could explore the possibility of diversifying his elemental affinities in the future as he grew stronger and more experienced.
“Haah. It’s been a while. I should go out and check up on a few things,” Aksai muttered as he pulled back his consciousness from the Mind Palace and opened his eyes.
He had practically lived a hermit life in the last few years while he was busy with his personal projects.
It was time for him to check up on his subordinates.
===
AN: Which demon beast Aksai should select as his Aether Wisp? 😉