Aksai was sure that Haitin wouldn’t be free enough to spy on him. However, the same could not be said for his subordinates.
He had to make them believe that he was completely harmless and completely fine with staying here. As such, he had acted “extra friendly” with his maids.
Aksai even accepted the maid’s “massage services”, indulging in momentary pleasures. He even asked for a few more maids.
This behavior finally convinced the demonic cultivators that Aksai wasn’t a righteous cultivator in disguise. Not that the righteous cultivators weren’t perverted. However, they had a tendency to be hypocrites while Aksai was like an open book.
He was indeed a Spirit farmer who liked to “plough” on various “farmlands”.
The maid approached him, carefully laying out a fresh set of robes on the table beside him, even more ornate than what he wore now. The dark fabrics shimmered subtly in the light, embroidered with silver threads in the shape of demonic runes.
As the maid moved around the room, preparing his attire and adjusting his appearance, Aksai found his thoughts wandering. He wondered what Haitin would say.
The rewards Haitin had promised still lingered in his mind, and though Aksai was no stranger to dealing with powerful figures, this was different. The demonic sects were notorious for their ruthlessness, but they also respected strength and cunning—qualities that Aksai had proven he possessed.
Aksai glanced out the window, catching a glimpse of the vast estate beyond the palace walls. The Blackblood Origin Grounds were alive with activity, demonic cultivators moving swiftly from one place to another, each one focused on their tasks. It was a constant hum of power, a reminder of the magnitude of the sect he was now entangled with.
“Lord Aksai,” the maid’s voice broke through his thoughts, and he turned to see her holding out the robes she had prepared for him. “Shall we begin?”
***
A few hours later.
Aksai found himself standing before another grand palace.
This was one of Haitin’s personal residences within the Black Blood Demon Sect. The scale and grandeur of it were breathtaking—the structure was a mixture of ancient elegance and dark, foreboding energy, a perfect reflection of the sect’s might.
Aksai entered the palace, his steps echoing in the vast halls as he was guided to a spacious chamber.
Upon entering the hall, Aksai spotted Haitin standing in the center, a wooden table set before him. Two delicate tea cups were already arranged. Haitin greeted Aksai with a warm smile.
“Brother Aksai, welcome,” Haitin said, gesturing toward the seat across from him. “I’ve prepared something special for you today.”
Aksai approached and sat down, noting the serene atmosphere of the room. Despite the imposing nature of the palace, this space felt intimate, almost calming. He glanced at the table, intrigued by the tea cups. The faint, floral scent of the tea teased his senses.
Haitin began to pour the tea with a practiced hand, the liquid a rich amber color as it filled Aksai’s cup. “This tea,” Haitin began, his tone casual yet informative, “is something you likely haven’t encountered before. It has a honey-like sweetness, but more importantly, it has a special property that helps to calm one’s Spirit Essence.”
Aksai raised an eyebrow in interest as Haitin continued.
“It’s particularly useful just before a cultivation session. It helps align the Spirit Essence within the body, allowing for smoother breakthroughs.
However, it’s not something you can drink daily. Over time, your body will develop a tolerance, and its effects will diminish. But since you’ve never had this before, you’ll definitely notice the benefits.”
‘Damn it. Is he insulting me? Saying that I am such a loser that I am yet to drink this tea in my life?’ Aksai thought to himself before shaking his head. He understood that it was probably some form of inferiority complex that made him take offense at Haitin’s casual remark. Even though Haitin was polite, he really didn’t understand Aksai’s struggles and where he had come from. As such, he couldn’t blame Haitin for having better starting points than him. Rather, he shouldn’t.
Aksai took the cup in his hands, feeling the warmth radiating from the porcelain. The tea’s scent was even more enticing up close, a blend of floral sweetness and earthy tones. He sipped it carefully, letting the liquid roll over his tongue. The taste was as Haitin described—smooth, sweet like honey, but with a complexity that lingered.
As the tea settled in his stomach, Aksai felt an immediate shift. There was a subtle warmth spreading through his body, but more importantly, he noticed the effect it had on his Spirit Essence. It was as if a gentle hand had smoothed over the turbulence within his body, calming the often-chaotic flow of energy.
For the first time, Aksai realized that there was some form of disharmony between his Spirit, soul, and body. It was as if his Spirit and souls were of different nature and his body was still stuck in an old template.
Perhaps it was because Aksai had made use of the Spirit bloodline to turn himself into a druid? Was he still a half druid? Was his transformation not complete? Aksai couldn’t be too sure as this was the first time he experienced something like this on a deeper level.
What truly shocked Aksai was the effect it had on his druidic Spirit bloodline. The tea didn’t just calm his Spirit Essence—it seemed to work on a more profound level, soothing the tension within his bloodline, making it more compatible with his Spirit Essence and physical body.
It was an unexpected benefit. Aksai kept his expression neutral, hiding his surprise and satisfaction.
Inwardly, he marveled at Haitin’s resources. This wasn’t just any cultivation tea—it had properties that aligned perfectly with Aksai’s unique druidic bloodline. The calming effect on his Spirit bloodline was something he hadn’t experienced before, and it opened up new possibilities for refining his Spirit cultivation.
The bloodline refinement. The refinement of the Spirit bloodline as per his mortal vessel and refining his mortal vessel as per his Spirit bloodline to achieve harmony.
He took another sip, savoring the benefits while keeping his thoughts to himself. There was no need for Haitin to know just how much this tea was helping him.
Aksai had always been careful to keep his druidic bloodline a secret.
In the demonic sects, revealing such a thing could lead to unexpected consequences, and Aksai wasn’t in the mood for additional complications.