Aksai slipped past the simple Array Formation and entered the privileged zone of Blue Sky Haven.
Accessible only to those walking the path of Spirit cultivation, this space remained off-limits to mortals.
The Array Formation didn’t serve much purpose in protecting the place; its sole function was to keep mortals out.
Here, amidst an atmosphere infused with mild Spirit energy, Spirit cultivators could savor a unique menu curated especially for them. Regular consumption of these offerings could aid in their cultivation journeys to some extent.
From nourishing elixirs to rejuvenating teas infused with rare herbs, each offering was designed to replenish the body and nourish the soul, aiding practitioners in their quest for enlightenment.
Aksai entered the Blue Sky Haven upon hearing from local Spirit cultivators that the restaurant owner was always up-to-date with the latest information across the Rokur kingdom, courtesy of his connections with the Purple River Sect.
Although he had visited Dadangar a few times during his nine-month stay in Sharang, Aksai refrained from collecting information during those brief visits. He only came here to replenish the cultivation resources needed for his regular talisman creation practices or to see if there were any worthy offensive-type Spirit spells he could acquire with no luck.
Thus, Aksai chose the Blue Sky Haven to gather information about the incidents that occurred during the last nine months while he was practically absent from Dadangar.
As for helping out Shuan? This was only something Aksai had decided to do on a whim. He did not have a profound reason to assist the small boy or wish to look after him for his high-grade Spirit Root Aptitude.
***
In the world of Dadangar, Spirit cultivators sort of liked to live on through their children and disciples. This was especially true if the Spirit cultivators had lost their chance of progressing further in their cultivation journeys.
The concept of inheritances stemmed from this need to live through the younger generations. Passing down inheritances meant that the young generation embodied the spirit of the older generation. Thus, Spirit cultivators were very particular about passing down their legacies to their disciples and children.
When Spirit cultivators did not have a path to advance in their cultivation, they would start to look for disciples or marry to have children.
This was why many low-level Spirit cultivators, both male and female, married after their 50s, right after the cut-off period for establishing the foundation was over. When the chances of establishing the foundation became slim, they would start to think about passing down their legacies.
Take Aksai’s personal life, for example.
His parents had also married when they were quite old by mortal standards. Both his parents had exhausted their potential as cultivators by the time Aksai was born. Aunt Reta’s case was not too different.
Aksai’s father had asked Aksai to become a successful Spirit cultivator one day because that was what his father wanted to do all his life. This was also a form of passing down one’s legacy– one’s dreams.
This was why the master-disciple relationships were as strong and deeply rooted in people’s psyche as the real blood relations.
Although Aksai respected these concepts of filial piety and the sacred bonds of master-disciple relationships, among other such ideas that helped Spirit cultivators pass down their legacies, he refrained from following them.
Aksai considered these concepts to be potential weaknesses for Spirit cultivators in their path if they allowed them to take root in their psyche.
A Spirit cultivator’s first and last wish should be to achieve eternal life through cultivation. If they started to see passing down their legacies as a shortcut to achieving pseudo-immortality, their path would be affected.
Aksai, too, wanted to ensure that his legacy lived for eternity. However, passing it down to his disciples or children was not how he wanted to achieve that dream. Only by living for eternity and achieving true immortality could he be sure that his legacy would be eternal with him.
***
Aksai did not criticize his father for taking the shortcut on his deathbed. He felt that the burden his father had placed on him was a good burden to bear. It kept him grounded and allowed him to use his father as an example while traversing the long road of Spirit cultivation.
The only way Aksai could ensure he didn’t follow his father’s path was by avoiding the mistakes his father made as a young, aspiring Spirit cultivator.
This was why Aksai despised the idea of taking risks to advance in one’s cultivation journey. If he didn’t learn from his father, he was certain he would learn an important life lesson the hard way. One could say that Aksai was making ideal use of the legacy his father had bestowed on him.
Aksai would indeed try to help Shuan if he could. However, if he failed, he wouldn’t see it as a loss or a stain on his dignity. Despite being a Spirit cultivator and considering Dadangar his new home, Aksai didn’t feel the need to adhere to all the unwritten rules of the cultivation society.
So what if Shuan had a high-grade Spirit Root Aptitude? What use was it to Aksai?
Merely having a high-grade Spirit Root Aptitude didn’t guarantee a smooth cultivation journey or ascension. It only meant better chances of reaching higher levels of cultivation than most.
In Dadangar, there were likely many geniuses starving due to hunger, and many ordinary Spirit cultivators had risen to become lords of their regions and eras.
While talent and a good start were crucial in the beginning, as one progressed, many grand truths were revealed.
Ultimately, what mattered most was the kind of determination a Spirit cultivator cultivated deep within their heart.
Without a steadfast heart, talent and opportunities were futile. Yet, one could bridge the gaps caused by the absence of talent and opportunities through relentless perseverance on their chosen paths.
In the realm of cultivation, hard work was indispensable. A genuine Spirit cultivator could rely only on themselves to achieve true immortality through their cultivation endeavors.