A few hours later.
In a part of the Holy Land Torel closer to the central region.
Ancient multi-story buildings rose up here, some occupied by various demonic groups, others abandoned due to their dilapidated state.
Aksai moved cautiously through the area, his features subtly altered to resemble one of the demonic cultivators he’d dispatched earlier.
His Body Cultivation methods allowed him to mimic the man’s rugged jawline, overall build, and stature. The transformation was thorough, ensuring he’d pass under casual inspection. As he strode through the twisting roots and outcroppings, he noted the familiar symbols and markers he’d seen in the demonic cultivators’ memories.
A few demonic cultivators gathered nearby, their postures relaxed but vigilant. One of them glanced his way, eyes narrowing before recognizing his guise.
Though the demonic cultivators Aksai had killed were mostly cast aside by their peers, they hadn’t been entirely banned. They could still interact with others to some extent, as long as they didn’t attempt to claim any of the Holy Land’s crucial resources.
This soft ban was what had driven those three cultivators to find an alternate way to achieve druid transformation. They never would have imagined being killed by Aksai the moment they neared the altar.
Aksai gave the group a simple nod, noting their loose formation and wary glances toward a distant cave mouth. He joined them, exchanging brief, wordless greetings.
He listened intently as they spoke in low murmurs, careful to absorb details without appearing overly curious.
“We’re making another push tonight,” one of them grumbled, adjusting his weapon harness with a grimace. “Last time, that cave left nearly half our team injured, and we didn’t even catch a glimpse of the treasure we were promised.”
“It’s not a treasure you get easily,” muttered another, a lanky cultivator with a wary expression. “The deeper we go, the stronger the resistance. Even those with druid transformations are struggling.”
“Hah!” scoffed the first, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have become a druid. I think there’s something wrong with my Dantian. I fear my cultivation base might get stuck if I don’t stabilize this bloodline. I… I don’t even know what kind of druid bloodline they injected into me.”
“You… you’re still better off. I think my cultivation base is going to get crippled if I don’t find the stabilizing agent they talked about,” said another demonic cultivator who looked even worse physically and mentally than his counterpart.
“You… *cough cough cough* you don’t understand how lucky you guys are,” said another cultivator with pale skin, coughing. He wiped blood from the corners of his mouth before speaking.
“I… I might die in a few weeks due to the bloodline disharmony. This druidic transformation… it was a mistake to accept their offer. I just wanted to survive well in this damn cage. Who knew I’d end up like this?” he complained and sighed.
Aksai had little sympathy for the complaining demonic cultivators. He could have helped remove the bloodline disharmony within them if he spent a few weeks researching their vessel bloodlines. But he had neither the time nor patience.
Though Aksai did want to research druidic vessel bloodlines, now wasn’t the time or place. He decided to gather as much data as he could from the holy land first, intending to conduct more research and experiments in a safer environment later on.
Aksai seized the moment to interject, his tone neutral yet with a hint of impatience to suit his cover. “You all speak of the cave as if it’s some kind of death trap. If that’s true, why attempt it again so soon?” He aimed for a casual tone, hoping his probing would come off as idle conversation rather than genuine inquiry.
The lanky cultivator gave a weary shrug.
“Orders from above, of course. Remember, it’s not just Foundation Building experts here—even the grand elders in the late-stage Foundation Building realm are present. They’re loyal to the three Core Formation Lords.
If we conquer this cave, the rewards could help stabilize our druid transformations. There’s also talk of finding a way out of this cage through the cave conquest—or so they claim.” He said softly.
“Personally, I’d rather the Core Formation Lords take action themselves if they really want out. Why depend on us nobodies?”
***
Aksai mentally filed away the information.
The demonic faction believed that the treasure within the cave could strengthen their druid transformations, providing the power and stability they lacked. If true, it explained their desperation to re-enter the cave despite the risks.
As for a way out of the holy land? Aksai doubted that Foundation Building cultivators could find one so easily. Otherwise, the Haan Di Lord wouldn’t have needed to rely on Heretic Dao methods to escape this isolated dimension at the cost of severely injuring himself.
As far as Aksai knew, this was just a bait that was casually thrown so that the demonic cultivators could put more effort into unearthing the resources the holy land had.
It also made clear that even the higher-ups had no real idea how to stabilize druid transformations safely; they were chasing theories and relics in hopes of a breakthrough or an exit.
‘So those three Core Formation Lords of the demonic faction are still alive,’ Aksai thought, narrowing his eyes.
He recalled that Haitin had asked him to deliver the complete series of Heretic Dao to his father for study, hoping that the three Core Formation Lords could use their expertise to find a way out.
However, Aksai had no desire to depend on these Core Formation Lords. Firstly, he didn’t trust them; secondly, he wasn’t ready to leave the holy land just yet.
He was in no hurry to seek them out. Rather, he preferred to stay away from them as long as possible, posing as one of the demonic cultivators from the three major demonic sects to explore the holy land thoroughly.
Aksai wanted to visit every facility he could find within the holy land, lifting the restrictions using his druidic powers. He intended to claim everything the holy land had to offer as someone with a fully stabilized druidic Spirit bloodline.
As for the chances of harmonizing his Spirit bloodline with his entire being, unlocking a vessel bloodline within him? Aksai was hopeful but not fixated on it.
According to Yelia, this would eventually happen as he continued assimilating with his Spirit bloodline.
Certainly, the resources within the holy land could expedite this process, but even without them, he wouldn’t consider it a major loss. He certainly wouldn’t risk his life in obtaining something he was bound to get in future.
Unlike certain protagonists across various books that created their own made-up emergencies in their heads in order to justify their desperate risk-taking behaviors, Aksai was very clear about his goals and things he could or couldn’t do.
***
“And if we fail again?” Aksai asked, his voice carrying a faint tone of skepticism.
“Then we’ll just be another set of bones in the holy land,” the first demonic cultivator replied grimly. He eyed Aksai, perhaps sensing something in his tone, before giving a quick, humorless grin.
“We just need to follow the orders. What else can we do in this cage anyway? Can we run away? Can we pose a threat to the Core Formation Lords? What can we do exactly?
We… we can do nothing but hope for the best.”
Aksai returned the look, giving a dry nod. “Indeed.”
***
A few minutes later.
Aksai stood among a small crowd of demonic cultivators, gathered outside a mountain cave not far from their base. Veterans who had already braved the cave’s depths lounged at the back, disinterested in the rundown being given by their mid-stage Foundation Building leader.
“Alright, listen up,” the leader’s voice rang out, gruff and direct. He eyed the newer recruits—Aksai included—with a hard expression.
“This cave’s got a translucent barrier at the entrance. You don’t break it, you pass through it. For those of you who haven’t been here before, don’t let the cave’s appearance fool you. Inside, it’s layered with more deadly traps than most of you are ready for.”
The leader gestured toward the faintly glowing barrier covering the cave’s mouth. “That barrier’s not for show; it’s a portal, a one-way ticket into what’s basically a training ground.”
‘It’s sort of like a dungeon,’ Aksai thought to himself. He then focused his attention back to the leader.
“This cave is meant to test and train you as a druid.”
Aksai’s eyes flickered with interest as he listened. He understood that this cave was more than a treasure trove. It was a remnant from ancient times, specifically tailored for those in the early stages of druid transformation.
These kinds of places likely served as training grounds for the disciples of the Holy Land Torel, helping them attune to their druidic lineage faster.
Every challenge they’d face inside was bound to push them to their limits, requiring them to use druidic powers strategically, maybe even unlocking deeper connections within their new bloodlines.
The veterans ignored the leader’s explanation, murmuring among themselves. They’d clearly heard all this before, their expressions showing hints of impatience as they waited for the order to begin. A few glanced toward the cave with resigned wariness, as though bracing for another round of punishing trials.
Aksai glanced around, picking up bits of whispered exchanges. One veteran leaned against a tree, muttering, “Same story every time. The deeper we go, the more ridiculous it gets. Last time, they nearly lost half the team. All for what? The damn druid stabilization formula that’s supposedly hidden inside?”
Another chuckled dryly, rolling his eyes. “If it’s even in there. More likely, they’re hoping we’ll burn ourselves out and thin the herd. I don’t see any of the big shots volunteering to lead this expedition.”