Aksai came to a rather obvious conclusion.
‘Damn. I didn’t know that the inheritance grounds would be so tempting that even the Purple River Sect couldn’t help but have its designs on it. What exactly did they find there? Could… Could it be– 3rd order resources!’
Aksai thought, his expressions darkening.
Aksai guessed that the core part of the inheritance grounds had to have resources that would be useful for even a Core Formation lord. Only the cultivation resources of the 3rd realm could attract attention from the sect leader of the Purple River Sect.
As for why Aksai thought this? He guessed that the sect wouldn’t usually interfere in matters related to two Foundation Building families. Only after a sect leader’s allowance could the sect elders act.
The mighty sect leader of a Core Formation sect didn’t need to take action personally after all. His casual suggestion would be seen as a command in the eyes of the Foundation Building sect elders who would do anything to keep themselves in the sect leader’s good books.
‘Whatever they have found in the inheritance grounds has nothing to do with me. Just like I have Everwood Farm and Myriad Worlds Painting, others would also naturally have their own form of good luck helping them. Like him, they would also have their own unique gifts and secrets.
What others do with their gifts is of no concern to me. I’ll not try to dig deep into matters if there’s a risk of digging my own grave with it. I’ll not try to rob the chances of others. Not unless I’m given solid reasons to,” Aksai thought to himself and adopted a calm mindset.
One could say that Aksai was a peace-loving Spirit farmer despite his tendencies to inflict great violence on his enemies.
He didn’t find anything wrong with conducting human experiments on martial artists and cultivators. However, at the same time, he also didn’t actively seek to snatch someone’s wealth or opportunities.
An arguably perfect balance between light and dark.
One could label Aksai as a demonic cultivator, and he would silence them forever for that. However, he was sure to offer them prayers after their deaths.
One could try to target Aksai out of greed, and he would not take offense. It was just that he would kill them before forgiving them for their actions.
The Spirit farmer in him didn’t believe in carrying the baggage of debts and grievances. Whenever he found a chance, he would take care of his “dues” as soon as he could.
***
Apart from the major incidents that took place after the fall of the Lakir clan, Aksai learned many interesting things from Jainam.
For example, the Mystic Treasures Emporium was destroyed when Wilben City was attacked by hordes of blood fiends.
This was the same shop from which Aksai had bought and sold many things before his nine-month-long retreat to Martial World Sharang. The same place where Haisha Lakir was made to work by the Wilben family after he betrayed the Lakir clan.
Aksai had a bit of a score to settle with the Mystic Treasures Emporium. Or rather, one of its employees named Juyee, who had tipped off Haisha Lakir about him.
But after learning about the shop’s ruined fate, Aksai quickly gave up on the matter. Was he supposed to look after Juyee all over the ruined Ragui County? It wasn’t worth the effort for him. He had better things to do.
Of course, Aksai hadn’t forgiven or forgotten. However, he refused to let revenge cloud his vision and judgment. He would deal with Juyee if and when they ever crossed paths. Until then, the woman was free to thank her lucky stars.
Aksai couldn’t be sure if Juyee had survived the tragedy that befell Wilben City or not. So he didn’t try to dig deep into the matters related to the Mystic Treasures Emporium.
Aksai had also learned from Jainam that the topic around Lian Lakir’s mysterious death had died down after the remnant forces of the Lakir family were forced to retreat into the Purple Poison Marshland.
The Lakir clan members didn’t even have the freedom to go outside the Purple Poison Marshland openly. How were they supposed to look for Lian’s killer? Most importantly, the one whom the Lakir family thought had killed Lian was already destroyed.
The Wilben family had been ruined after the emergence of the blood fiends. Without the clan’s Foundation Building patriarch, the family never stood a chance against the remnant forces of the Lakir family as well as some other enemies that had emerged from the shadows at the right time.
This chaos was a form of blessing for Aksai. If it was any other time and the Lakir clan was still in power, it would have surely done everything it could to ensure Aksai’s capture. However, the clan members were not in any position to act all high and mighty after the Purple River Sect nearly raised them to the ground.
***
Aksai also learned some inside news from Jainam that the masses weren’t aware of. It was related to the Purple River Sect’s growing tension with the Sun Ocean Society from the neighboring Isla kingdom.
It was said that other big sects from the remaining three kingdoms were also a bit discontent with the way the Purple River Sect had dealt with the matter. There was a chance the inheritance grounds started to get coveted by the sect masters of other big sects as well.
Various organizations had been affected by the unrest in the two counties. Some had permanently shut down while others were severely impacted. Some had to relocate, others had to change the way they operated.
Jainam’s connections with the Purple River Sect helped Aksai get all the details and changes happening in the two counties. With the information he had gained from Jainam, Aksai could base his future actions, enabling him to avoid a lot of pitfalls and risks.
Aksai also asked Jainam if he could introduce one of his “sons” to a circle of late-stage Spirit Refining Experts. He knew that Jainam had many connections and knew many late-stage Spirit Refining cultivators.
Why would he not make use of Jainam’s connections to broaden his horizons?
As for the act of lying to get what he wanted? Aksai convinced himself that since he had taken care of himself from the age of 10, he was his own son.
This was a sort of lying skill that followed the principles of method actors from his pre-reincarnation world.
===
AN: Mystic Treasures Emporium and Juyee were first introduced in chapter 48.