A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

Chapter 711: Gifts P1

Aksai already knew why these gifts were so fitting.

Thanks to earlier talks and the Green Glory Lord’s hints, the other Lords had learned about the Sun Moon Stars technique he was using. They knew he needed to form three elemental pools: earth, water, and wood.

Aksai also needed to create a fire-element pool because of his Aether Beast’s Dantian. But that was not known to anyone, and he liked to keep it that way.

He also guessed where these items came from.

The quality was too even. These were not random finds. They clearly came from the secret realm that the Big Five Sects managed together. It was the same realm that had been discovered when Aksai was still a rental Spirit farmer.

Still, Aksai did not point it out. He knew that he could receive an annual share of third-order resources from the Big Five Sects as long as he joined hands with them. But doing so would mean he would have to contribute to their tasks as well.

Why would he do that when he already had the Enchanted Everwood Farm to look after? No matter how much he made use of his isolated realm, Aksai still felt like he was barely using five percent of Everwood Farm’s mysterious features. As such, he had neither the desire nor the time to involve himself in others’ affairs.

As for getting third-order resources, Aksai could easily produce in a month or two what the Big Five Sects collectively produced in a year inside their secret realm. If anything, he could sell the produce of his own farm to the Big Five Sects and earn hefty profits.

Meanwhile, the White Limiya Lord and the Red Limiya Lord followed suit as well. Their elders brought more sealed containers, each holding different third-order materials. Some strengthened earth essence. Some refined water essence. Others were rich in life force.

Each time, Aksai accepted the gifts with calm thanks.

“I thank all the Lords for their valuable gifts. I will put them to good use,” he said, offering them a light bow.

The Lords nodded in satisfaction. None of them mentioned the source of the items. None of them asked for favors in return. It was an exchange done with quiet understanding.

After the Lords finished offering their gifts, the flow in the grand hall changed.

One by one, the other guests began to approach the raised platform. These were vagabond Experts, sect elders, clan heads, and leaders of smaller forces.

As a young Core Formation Lord, Aksai did not need to personally receive gifts from those at the Expert level or below.

The seven Experts from Emerald Cove Island stepped forward and stood beneath the platform. They acted on Aksai’s behalf. Each of them took charge of a small area and began accepting gifts calmly and efficiently.

The guests came forward in order. Some offered Spirit stones. Some brought rare herbs, refined tools, or sealed boxes with useful items inside. They handed their gifts to the Emerald Cove Experts, bowed toward Aksai from a distance, and spoke a few words of congratulations.

“Congratulations on becoming a Lord.”

“May your Dao path be smooth.”

“Happy birthday, Lord Aksai.”

After that, they either returned to their seats or quietly left the hall. The process was smooth and orderly.

After a few minutes, two familiar figures stepped out from the crowd.

They were the princes of the Rokur Kingdom. They stopped before the platform and handed a sealed scroll to one of the seven Emerald Cove Experts, Ruan.

Ruan accepted the scroll with both hands and glanced at it briefly before stepping aside.

The two princes then turned toward Aksai and bowed deeply.

“Lord Aksai,” one of them said, “congratulations on achieving a breakthrough in the Core Formation realm. As a force that is not entirely a part of Spirit cultivators’ world, we do not have much to offer to someone like you. But still, we would like to try our very best. The Rokur Kingdom offers you the entirety of Wuyum County as a gift for your ascension to Lordship.”

A small stir passed through the hall.

Wuyum County.

It was the same place where the Lakir Clan’s estate stood. It was also the county where Aksai had once worked as a rental Spirit farmer, struggling to survive at the lowest level.

Aksai’s expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered slightly.

He then turned his gaze toward the Purple River Lord.

The two Lords exchanged a brief smile.

Aksai understood at once. The Rokur Kingdom would never make such a decision on its own. Giving up one of their most fertile counties was not something any kingdom in the Dadangar Subcontinent would do willingly.

Forget about a fertile land, no kingdom would compromise with its sovereignty even if it came to a barren land. Even as proxies of the Big Five Sects, land was still their lifeblood.

This could only have happened with the Purple River Lord’s approval. Or more likely, it had been his suggestion.

Aksai felt a faint sense of nostalgia rise in his heart. Back then, he had been exploited on the Lakir estate, treated as nothing more than a tool. Now, not only that estate, but an entire county had fallen into his hands.

How far he had come. He suddenly remembered his father and his voice started to echo in his mind. His eyes started to feel a bit blurry for a fraction of a second. Aksai discarded the vulnerable emotions swiftly and channeled his Spirit essence silently throughout his body to dispel any “emotional debuffs”.

Aksai’s actions didn’t remain completely unnoticed by the Lords. But the Experts had no idea what he was thinking. Even the two princes looked at Aksai’s neutral face with bit tense expressions. They hoped that Aksai would like a thoughtful gift and not ask them for more.

After a second or two, Aksai looked at the two princes and smiled. He did not bother with extra formalities. He simply nodded. The two princes straightened at once, relief clear in their eyes.

“Thank you, Lord Aksai,” they said together.

They bowed to him again. Then they turned and bowed toward the Purple River Lord, followed by bows to the other Lords seated on the platform.

After the two princes from the Rokur Kingdom left, another pair stepped forward from the crowd.

Sirina and Ren Greenleaf walked toward the raised platform together.

Many eyes followed them.

Both were direct disciples of the Haan Di Lord. Among them, Sirina stood slightly ahead. Her calm steps and steady gaze showed her current status clearly. Not long ago, she had been named the chosen successor of the Haan Di Lord. In practice, she was now the second-in-command of the entire neutral state of Haan Di.

Although the Haan Di Lord still sat in his seat as the ruler, most important matters were now handled by Sirina. Auction events, trade routes, deals with the righteous faction, and even careful transactions with the demonic faction all passed through her hands.

Sirina stopped before the platform and bowed toward Aksai.

“Lord Aksai,” she said, her voice clear and respectful, “thank you.”

She raised her head and looked at him sincerely.

“If it were not for your support, I would not be standing here today. Forgive me for being direct. Without your words, my master would have chosen martial brother Ren or Jaya as his successor. As such, you hold a special place in my heart.”

Aksai listened quietly. Sirina knew this better than anyone. One good word from Aksai to the Haan Di Lord had changed her fate. She then continued, moving to business without delay.

“I might sound as if I am being partial to Lord Aksai compared to the other Lords. There is some truth to that. But from my perspective, I am simply returning a lasting favor bit by bit. From this day on, every time Emerald Cove Island sells its produce through Haan Di state, we will offer you twenty percent more profit than under our previous terms.”

A small stir passed through the guests, but Sirina was not finished.

“Also, Emerald Cove Island will have priority access to most third-order resources auctioned in Haan Di state. This will apply to all major auction events.”

This time, even some of the Lords showed faint reactions.

Aksai looked toward the Haan Di Lord with a questioning glance. The Haan Di Lord smiled faintly and shook his head, indicating that he had no part in Sirina’s decision.

It was clear that the young woman had chosen to step slightly away from one of Haan Di’s core principles, which was strict neutrality, by favoring Aksai and Emerald Cove Island over the other Lords and their domains.

Sirina did not care how the other Lords might view her actions. She bowed again, first to Aksai, then turned and bowed to her master, the Haan Di Lord. After that, she bowed toward the remaining Lords on the platform before stepping aside.

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