Haitin really was the rich young scion of a powerful organization.
The way he expressed his generosity was also something that Aksai could have never imagined.
‘Damn it. This… this is my chance to score big,’ Aksai thought to himself, his miniature phantom punching the air in his mind in his excitement.
He put down his cup, his expression thoughtful. He’d already planned what he wanted as his 1st reward from the moment Haitin had made the offer, but now was the time to present it.
“There is something, actually,” he said slowly, watching Haitin’s reaction. “I’d like to know the general location of a particular demon beast inside the Duya Forest—a 2nd Order Verdant Elder Turtle.”
Haitin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not surprised. “The Verdant Elder, huh?” He nodded, leaning back slightly. “Interesting choice. I assume you’ve got some project or experiment in mind?”
Aksai gave a noncommittal shrug, playing it safe. “You could say that. I’ve been interested in studying certain qualities of the Verdant Elder for a while now, and it would be helpful to find one without spending months—maybe even years—searching blindly through that massive forest.”
Duya Forest was a notorious place, sprawling and teeming with dangers. The sheer size of it meant that finding a specific creature was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Aksai had no illusions about the difficulty of his task. The Verdant Elder Turtles were elusive and rare, and it wasn’t as if they stayed in one place. They moved around, following some internal rhythm that was hard for Spirit cultivators to predict.
Haitin studied him for a moment, a small smile playing at his lips.
“You know, when I first offered you a reward for dealing with Bai, I didn’t expect you to ask for something like this. Most would have wanted cultivation resources or a technique. I would have given you a peak-grade 2nd Order treasure if you needed it.” He paused, as if weighing his next words.
“But then again, I can see why you’d want this information. The Verdant Elder’s armor is a valuable asset for someone at the Foundation Building stage. Its blood can be used to make support-type alchemy pills. Its tendons and bones could be used to make one-time-use defensive formations.”
Aksai nodded, not bothering to correct him. There was no need for Haitin to know his true intentions—transforming the Verdant Elder into his Aether Beast.
The process would take time and effort, not to mention a degree of secrecy.
“There are many uses of the Verdant Elder’s intact body,” Aksai continued, “but I am not blinded by my greed. Without a lead, I could waste years just trying to find one. And Duya Forest… well, it’s not exactly forgiving.”
Haitin chuckled, clearly appreciating the logic. “You’re not wrong. The Duya Forest is a deathtrap for those who don’t know what they’re doing. But,” he added with a wry smile, “we have some information that might help you. The demonic factions maintain a fairly comprehensive database on the Duya Forest’s inhabitants. We have to—especially with the recurring beast tides.”
He poured himself another cup of tea, swirling the liquid thoughtfully.
“When those tides hit, the Wild Devil Lands are the first to feel the impact. It’s essential for us to monitor the movements of powerful demon beasts, especially ones like the Verdant Elder Turtles. They’re strong, and their presence can affect the behavior of other beasts around them.
We don’t want to control the Duya Forest. Without a Core Formation powerhouse in our midst, we can’t think of controlling those demon beasts either. However, if it’s only keeping an eye on them, we can certainly do it.
In fact, the three major demonic sects organize various parties to explore the Duya Forest. We only focus on gathering information during these missions and don’t do anything else.
In that way, we are a bit different from the explorers that are sent by Haan Di using various legal routes. Of course, the reason we trade with Haan Di is also partly because of this situation.
We trade information that is related to Duya Forest in exchange for Haan Di’s resources. This way, our work is compartmentalized and both sides get to maximize our efficiencies.
Of course, the main reason we share this information with Haan Di is because we know that Haan Di will eventually pass it on to the righteous sects. As much as we like to hate the righteous sects, we can’t avoid dealing with them. Especially because of the recurring beast tides.
We might as well cooperate with each other using Haan Di as a middleman.”
Aksai listened carefully, grateful that Haitin was taking his request seriously. He hadn’t expected the demonic factions to be so organized about something like this, but it made sense. The Duya Forest bordered the Wild Devil Lands, and any upheaval there would ripple outward, affecting the sects and cultivators who lived in the area.
“I’ll need a few days,” Haitin continued, setting his cup down. “I can get you the latest information we have on the Verdant Elders. Their general movements, recent sightings—everything you’ll need to track one down without stumbling through the forest blindly.”
“That would be perfect,” Aksai said, nodding appreciatively. This was exactly what he’d hoped for—a clear starting point that would save him a lot of time. “I appreciate it, really. This will make things a lot easier.”
Haitin waved off his thanks with a casual flick of his hand. “It’s a small thing. Besides, I’d rather see you succeed than get yourself killed wandering around Duya Forest.”
Haitin then put down his tea and looked at Aksai. He took a deep breath before asking him.
“Before we proceed further, there’s something I have to tell you. And I have to ask this now so that you wouldn’t think that I’m being petty.
Brother Aksai, I know this might breach your privacy. First, let me assure you that I haven’t leaked any information about you to the righteous sects.
The reason I know you have something I want is purely coincidental. That being said, I’d really appreciate it if you could offer me that “thing” I know you possess,” Haitin said with a serious expression.
“Hm? What is it?” Aksai asked, puzzled by Haitin’s words.
“It’s the Heretic Talismanic Inheritance. Brother Aksai, can you give it to me?”