Aksai's voice lowered, taking on a more contemplative tone.
"What I want to say is fear can be a good motivator. But you know what excites even more than fear?" He paused, his gaze distant. "Purpose."
Aksai shifted slightly, his breathing steady as the array beneath him began to glow brighter.
"Up until now, my purpose in cultivation was simple—survival. I wanted to be strong enough to live in this ruthless world. And yes, I had a promise to my old man… I told him I'd reach the summit of this world when he was dying.
Those were good goals, sure. But let's face it—everyone has goals like that.
So cultivate for fa, others for wealth or power. So want to protect what they cherish. Others are driven by curiosity, wanting to see what it's like at the top.
There are so who just want to be surrounded by beauties and experience a long and joyful life. Then there are those who dedicate themselves to their field of expertise.
Maybe I wanted all those things too, deep down. But how was I any different from every other Spirit cultivator out there?"
His voice grew stronger, his eyes narrowing with newfound resolve. "I wasn't—until now."
Aksai clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening.
"Now that I've been given this impossible goal—to hunt down and destroy an Immortal—all those other desires have faded into the background.
For the first ti, I feel truly motivated. I'm excited to have a goal that most Spirit cultivators wouldn't dare to dream of.
Sotis, you need sothing impossible to bring out your true potential. They say, 'Shoot for the stars, and even if you fail, you'll land on the moon.'
Well… I genuinely believe that there's so truth in that." His voice trembled with restrained energy as his blood began to boil.
The array around him flared brighter, the lines of Spirit essence pulsing with each word he spoke.
His heart pounded, not with fear, but with exhilaration.
Yelia remained silent, her gaze softening. She finally spoke, her voice gentle but filled with admiration.
"You're… different from your ancestor Al Everwood, my lord. You are indeed very calculative and cautious, but I don't think it's a weakness anymore.
Fear doesn't weaken you. It drives you. Maybe… maybe I should have brought you to the Holy Land Torel even sooner."
Aksai smiled and shook his head. "No… your timing was perfect. Even though it delayed my Duya Forest exploration, I'd rather do things slowly but surely."
A few minutes later.
The array surrounding Aksai and Velia pulsed with energy. The ti had co to bind Aksai with the bloodline oath before bestowing the Druid's Blessings.
"I will need you to willingly accept the bloodline oath," Velia said.
Aksai opened his eyes briefly. Without hesitation, he bit the tip of his finger, letting the sharp sting of pain ground him in reality. A few drops of his blood fell onto the glowing array beneath him.
"I am willing," he said, his voice calm yet resolute. He closed his eyes again as he surrendered himself to the process.
The blood drops that touched the ground began to shimr, expanding unnaturally. In an instant, those few small drops transford into a swirling blood wave that encircled Aksai. The crimson energy twisted and surged around him, forming chains of ethereal blood.
The chains materialized slowly, each link crafted from the essence of Aksai's own bloodline. In monts, the blood chains bound his limbs and torso, wrapping around him in a protective yet restrictive embrace before vanishing beneath his skin.
Aksai gasped softly as the chains disappeared into his body, but there was no external sign of pain. Inside his Soul Space, however, the chains reappeared, manifested as glowing Essence Equations that etched themselves deep into his spiritual core.
His ridians, once flowing freely with Spirit essence, now bore traces of the bloodline oath—ethereal runes interwoven with his essence.
Velia watched carefully, sensing the transformation. "I will now bestow the Druid's Blessings," she announced. "You will feel pain in both your body and soul. Bear with it."
Without waiting for a response, Velia raised her hands, the array formation beneath them bursting into full force. The formation began to absorb the ambient energy, funneling it directly into the Array Eye beneath Aksai.
The Spirit essence surged through the array and into Aksai's body. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching as waves of raw energy pierced into him. His skin glowed with a faint light as symbols began to appear across his body—ancient druidic runes, glowing with primal force.
The influx of Spirit essence was relentless, forcing Aksai into a state of heightened awareness. His breathing beca labored, but he fought to keep it steady. His hands trembled, his muscles tensed, yet he remained still, not allowing a single word of pain to escape his lips.
As the energy coursed deeper into him, his body began to shift. His druid form erged instinctively—his skin toughening, his senses sharpening, and his connection to nature intensifying.
Despite the overwhelming transformation, Aksai kept his eyes closed, focusing inward, his mind locked in fierce concentration.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Every second was a trial of endurance, the pain gnawing at his body and soul. Yet Aksai endured, holding his ground, refusing to let weakness take over.
An hour passed, and finally, the array began to dim. The powerful glow of the symbols faded, leaving only faint remnants of energy lingering in the air.
Aksai remained seated, motionless, his breath shallow but controlled.
Velia lowered her hands, her energy nearly spent. She observed him closely, both surprised and impressed.
He hadn't uttered a single sound throughout the entire ritual. His self-control was astonishing, but what intrigued her more was the aura now surrounding him.
"This lad…" Velia murmured to herself, her voice soft with a mix of wonder and concern. "His Spirit signature… He is neither demonic nor righteous by nature. His path… perhaps the ancient Heretic Dao has truly found a worthy successor in him."
She took a deep breath, watching the faint energy around Aksai settle. "The Holy Land Torel has finally found a flicker of fla. Now all I need to do is wait and see if he can turn into a raging fire," she whispered, her hands dropping to her sides in exhaustion.
The process was complete.
Aksai had successfully obtained the Druid's Blessings.
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