There were many questions surrounding Aksai and his newly acquired status as a Core Formation Lord.
But Haan Di Lord had lived for more than six hundred years. He had seen monsters rise from nowhere, geniuses appear out of thin air, and miracles happen when fate twisted in strange ways. Shock ca quickly to him... but it also faded quickly.
He let out a small, rough laugh and straightened his back. A cough followed imdiately, shaking his thin fra. Even so, his voice remained deep and authoritative when he spoke.
"So it was you—that old Blackblood’s disciple." He smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, lad. Wait... I should be calling you Lord Aksai now, since—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Aksai stepped forward with a gentle smile and bowed deeply. His movents were respectful and carried no arrogance at all.
"I wouldn’t dare to consider myself equal to you just because I reached the sa realm, Lord Haan Di," Aksai said. "At least not anyti soon. You are my senior... and my master’s friend. This is our second eting. Please just call Aksai."
Haan Di Lord’s eyes softened. The humility in Aksai’s voice ward sothing inside him—sothing he thought had already gone cold in his last years. At this age, he no longer cared for wealth or influence. What he wanted most... was dignity. Respect. A recognition that he had not wasted centuries of his life.
Aksai continued, bowing even lower.
"I ca here because I wanted to ask you for sothing. I wonder if Lord Haan Di would be willing to help this junior?"
The old Lord’s heart eased. His impression of Aksai rose sharply in an instant.
He let out a soft chuckle, then suddenly coughed again—harder this ti. His chest trembled, and a faint trace of blood touched his lips. But he wiped it away quickly, unwilling to show weakness in front of the young cultivators around them.
When the cough settled, he turned his head toward the tall structure behind him—the Haan Di Pavilion. And just like that, he understood why Aksai had co.
Of course.
A Core Formation Lord appeared here right when his disciples were fighting for his inheritance... there was only one thing he could be after.
He laughed, the sound dry but sincere. "So that’s why you ca to my doorstep, lad. He lifted a hand and beckoned. "Co. Walk with ."
His steps were slow and unsteady, but each one carried the weight of a Lord who had ruled for more than a few centuries.
"Let’s see," he said, glancing at Aksai with a faint smile, "if this old man is still useful to a young and talented Lord like you."
Haan Di Lord took a slow step toward the entrance of his pavilion, ready to lead Aksai inside personally. But then his eyes shifted to the side—and they narrowed.
Ren’s severed arm lay on the ground, and blood still stained the cobblestones. Around it, his direct disciples were kneeling in stiff silence, afraid to even raise their heads.
A clear frown ford on the old Lord’s face.
Ren noticed it instantly. His heart leapt in both fear and hope. He didn’t dare imagine his master fighting against another Lord tooth and nail for his sake. But maybe... maybe his master would speak for him. Maybe he would scold Aksai, or demand a fair explanation. After all, he was the Haan Di Lord’s direct disciple.
Ren clenched his fist and looked down, pretending to be ashad as he spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Master, it was my fault for upsetting Lord Aksai," he said quickly. "He had no choice but to punish . Please don’t bla him for breaking the no-violence rule inside the inner zone. Your well-being is what matters most to this lowly disciple."
On the surface, it sounded humble. Respectful. But both Aksai and Haan Di Lord knew what Ren was really doing. He was trying to twist the story.
He made sure to remind Haan Di Lord that Aksai had attacked a direct disciple... in his own backyard... while he was in poor health... and during an inheritance struggle.
It was a clever move—almost too clever.
Aksai smiled faintly, amused. ’He’s trying to play 4D chess,’ he thought. ’Too bad he doesn’t understand how the Lords see the world.’
Foundation Establishnt Experts and below... They were ants. Whether an ant lost an arm or its life made little difference to soone in the Core Formation realm.
Aksai had only truly understood this after becoming a Lord himself. So he said nothing and let Ren’s plan fall apart on its own.
Haan Di Lord looked at Ren for a long mont, his face unchanged. Then he turned to Aksai.
"Lad," he said calmly, "my disciple does not know how to respect his seniors on the cultivation path. I didn’t teach him well."
The old Lord raised his hand slightly, as if offering sothing.
"If you wish, I can cut off his other arm. Or send him to the Ice Hell Prison for a few decades. Or..." he paused for a mont, his voice still steady and indifferent, "you can settle the matter permanently."
Ren’s entire body froze. His eyes went wide. His breath caught in his throat.
A mont ago he had spoken boldly, even confidently. Now all the strength drained from his face. He looked like a man who had stepped one foot into his own grave.
Aksai couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the change.
"That won’t be necessary, senior Haan Di Lord," he said. "I have already punished him. That is enough for now."
Aksai then looked at Ren again, almost with pity.
"But I do hope he never rises to represent the Haan Di neutral state."
Haan Di Lord’s brows lifted. Aksai continued, voice calm and polite.
"Your legacy is about maintaining true neutrality in front of the five kingdoms, the Big Five Sects, and even the three demonic fiefs.
"How can soone who gets angry so easily hold such a heavy responsibility?"
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