Hour of Rat (06:00 AM – 07:00 AM)
The sun has cast a warm glow over the harbor of Emerald Cove. Aksai and Nuya met high above the sparkling waters.
The Spirit farmer stood confidently on his Flying Lian Sword, its sleek form cutting through the air with ease.
Aksai had a striking appearance, with sharp facial features that conveyed strength and intelligence. His amber eyes glinted with a warm, yet piercing intensity, and his black hair framed his face in smooth, glossy strands.
Thanks to his Argent Body Qi cultivation, he possessed a lean yet muscular build, hinting at his raw strength. A long, flowing robe draped over his form, adding elegance to his imposing presence.
Nuya had a delicate and enchanting appearance. Her blue eyes were clear and bright, shimmering like the depths of a calm sea.
Her black hair, adorned with two elegant bangs framing either side of her face, contrasted beautifully with her snow-white skin, which had a soft pink hue on her cheeks. She wore a long, flowing robe that accentuated her graceful and serene presence.
Nuya approached gracefully on her frost lotus artifact, a beautiful creation that shimmered with an icy radiance. For some reason, Aksai felt that Nuya’s arctic blue eyes would freeze the ocean waves if she were to look at them intensely.
Of course, Aksai wasn’t the only one admiring Nuya. The latter was also busy looking at him with playful eyes despite her stoic bearing.
‘He… he looks different somehow. And more youthful. This man… does he have some beautifying techniques that all the women will kill for?’
Nuya smiled as she neared Aksai, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “Have you settled all the matters related to the island and your domain?” she asked, her voice carrying a hint of concern.
Aksai nodded, his own smile reassuring. “Yes, everything is in order.”
Nuya’s eyes softened as she looked at Aksai, taking in his handsome features and the vibrant aura that surrounded him. “Take care of yourself, Aksai,” she said gently. “Always be careful.”
Aksai chuckled at Nuya’s caring tone, feeling a warmth in his chest. “You worry too much, Nuya. But I appreciate it.”
Nuya’s blush deepened, but she maintained her composure. “It’s not just worry, Aksai. The world outside has been dangerous for quite some time now, especially with the cultivators from Kalingoot. Maybe you don’t know this because you’ve been on the island for years, which makes me even more worried for your safety. I don’t want to lose–”
Nuya was about to continue what she was saying. However, she paused for a bit and took a deep breath before speaking further.
“It’s just that the well-being of Emerald Cove depends on your well-being, Aksai. We have three Foundation Building Experts on the island including you, I, and Nimiya. However, that’s what we are trying to project to our enemies.
We all know that Nimiya has only recently ascended to the 2nd realm and that too using the elixirs she found in the cultivation cave. It is almost impossible for her to progress further in her cultivation journey because of the way she has used the elixirs to break through the 2nd realm.
You must have met her before coming here. She can’t even use the 2nd order artifacts properly because of her unstable Spirit essence.
Although Nimiya is stronger than any Spirit Refining Perfectionist, she can not go toe to toe against any regular Foundation Building Experts. Especially now when she has not had time to get adjusted to her new realm.
So we can only keep Nimiya as our backup. We two can only depend upon ourselves when it comes to handling the threat coming from the enemy island owners. They haven’t made any big moves until now. But with you leaving the island, things can change drastically.
That’s why…. just promise me you’ll be cautious.”
Although what Nuya said was true, Aksai could feel that Nuya had emotional stakes in ensuring his safety. He was glad that their relationship was deepening one step at a time. Even though the two didn’t say it out loud, they had started to care about each other as someone more than friends or colleagues.
Amid the worrisome atmosphere that surrounded them, this was reassuring for the Spirit farmer.
Aksai’s expression grew serious at the mention of Kalingoot. He knew the threat they posed was real. “I will be careful,” he assured her, nodding solemnly.
Nuya’s frost lotus artifact floated closer to Aksai’s Flying Lian Sword, bringing her near enough that she could reach out and touch him.
‘Hmm. She smells good. Like that of a frost lotus with additional floral notes,’ Aksai thought to himself as he looked carefully at Nuya. He wanted to touch Nuya’s shoulder with his right hand. And his right hand was raised subconsciously in response to his will as well. However, the somewhat shy Spirit farmer decided to use the raised hand to set his hair instead. He felt that he had successfully masked his previous actions even though Nuya’s eyes spoke otherwise.
Nuya hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and pulling a small, palm-sized wooden bead from her storage ring. With a slight tremble in her hand, she reached out and gently placed the bead into Aksai’s right hand, holding it there for a moment.
“What’s this?” Aksai asked, wrapping the bead with his Spirit Sense out of curiosity. As soon as he did, his eyes widened in surprise.
“This… This is a 3rd-order defensive-type treasure,” Nuya explained softly. “I want you to have it. It will protect you when you need it the most.”
Aksai was taken aback by the gift, knowing how valuable and rare such a treasure was. He was sure that she must have obtained this precious treasure from the ancient Core Formation Lord’s cultivation cave. Aksai believed that Nuya had stopped exploring the cave after she had obtained this 3rd order item, not wanting to test her luck anymore.
“Nuya, this is… I can’t accept this,” Aksai said and shook his head. Nuya was practically trying to give Aksai what could be dubbed an additional lifeline for all Foundation Building Experts.
This was a huge favor no matter how Aksai looked at it. Even he didn’t have the wealth and capacity to buy another 3rd order artifact for Nuya if it were to get damaged or lost by him.
Nuya squeezed his hand, her eyes locking onto his. “You can and you will, Aksai. I need to know that you’ll be safe. Please, take it.”
She then scrunched her nose in fake annoyance before speaking further.
“A–and who told you I’m giving this to you for free? Hmph! I’m merely lending it to you for your trip. I want it back as soon as you return. Plus, I would also accept some cultivation resources from the Eternal Beast Dynasty as additional compensation for loaning you this item,” Nuya said with a slightly shaky voice, her eyes speaking volumes about how jittery she felt holding Aksai’s hand.
“Hahaha. Seems like you had this conversation planned in your head.”
Aksai looked at her, seeing the genuine concern in her eyes. He nodded, closing his hand around the wooden bead. “Thank you, Nuya. I will treasure it and use it wisely.”
Nuya smiled, a mix of relief and affection in her expression. “That’s all I ask.”
With their farewells said and the bead securely in his possession, Aksai took a moment to appreciate the hustle and bustle of the harbor that was below him.
As the first rays of sunlight fully embraced Emerald Cove, Aksai and Nuya parted ways, flying off in opposite directions.
***
A considerable distance away from Emerald Cove.
Aksai’s black hair flowed freely in the wind as he flew through the skies with the speed of an eagle.
“Hmm. Nobody’s following me so far. This distance should be enough.”
After ensuring he had covered a sufficient distance, he spotted a small, abandoned island below.
Descending gracefully, Aksai landed on the island and quickly scanned the area. However, it was left abandoned by the mortals and cultivators both because it did not have a Spirit vein. There were many similar small islands in the ever-expanding Dadangar Archipelago like this one.
As such, the island was a perfect hideaway, with dense vegetation and rocky terrain. With a determined look, Aksai extended his right hand and summoned his earth-element Spirit spell.
Swoosh. Part. Reveal.
The ground trembled and parted before him, forming a cave entrance. Aksai entered and sealed the entrance behind him, making sure no trace of his presence remained.
Inside the dimly lit cave, Aksai prepared for his transformation. Standing in the center, he began to channel his Qi cultivation technique, Celestial Harmony.
His lean and muscular frame started to expand, muscles bulging and skin toughening. His handsome features shifted, becoming mean and rugged. His skin was tanned and his chest was widened. The shape of his nose also changed.
A deep scar appeared across his face, adding to the menacing appearance. His youthful aura dissipated, replaced by the look of a man in his early 40s by mortal standards.
Aksai now stood as a completely different person, a bulky and intimidating figure. His new clothes adjusted to fit his new form, maintaining the long robe but adding an air of roughness. His aura altered significantly, masking his true identity.
“This should be enough. Now for my cultivation base.”
Satisfied with the transformation, Aksai activated his neural link fabric. He carefully suppressed his Foundation Building cultivation base, sealing it within himself.
His Spirit cultivation powers were repressed until it appeared he had regressed to the level of a Spirit Refining Perfectionist.
“Alright. Time to take a small detour before I head to Eternal Beast Dynasty,” Aksai murmured to himself before heading out of the cave as a completely different person.