Finally, Aksai looked at the last third-order artifact from Kalingoot’s treasury.
It was a cloak.
The cloak was dark blue, almost black, and felt light as air. Its surface looked empty at first, but when Aksai focused, faint star-like dots appeared across it, slowly shifting.
This was a movent type artifact.
When worn, the cloak could bend space around the user for a brief mont. With a single thought, the wearer could step from one spot to another within a short distance.
It was not long-range travel, but it was instant. In video ga terms, this cloak could be described as having a built-in Blink skill.
The cloak could also blur the user’s presence while moving, making it hard for enemies to lock onto them. Although it could not really be used as a sole assassination tool, with the right Spirit spells or artifacts to complent it, this cloak could even make veteran Lords wary of their surroundings.
But the cloak had limits. Each use consud a large amount of third-order Spirit essence. Using it many tis in a short period could leave the user drained and unable to fight. After all, the Core Formation realm was still a bit too early for a Spirit cultivator to dabble with the laws of space.
Aksai studied the cloak for a while.
"Hmm. Although it looks fancy, this thing is of no use to . I an, I could use it to dodge a direct physical or elental attack aid at , but with my current powers, I already have better ways to do the sa.
"Plus, despite the many abnormalities I currently have thanks to my druidic lineage and Neural Link Fabric, I don’t have vast Spirit essence reserves. I’d be drained within three or four uses, and the distance it covers would make any Core Formation Lord laugh.
"Maybe I should give this to one of my potential third-order Sentient Fiends when I manage to make them," he thought to himself.
At this point, Aksai realized that what the First Supre had on him were much better options than what was kept in the Kalingoot treasury. Saarken must have bullied the First and Second Supres into keeping the artifacts on himself instead of securing them in the treasury.
How could the Three Supres have known at the ti that a certain Spirit farr would co to monopolize all the third-order artifacts Kalingoot had gathered over the decades?
Although the artifacts in the treasury were not as special as what Saarken had, they were still good. Furthermore, they were genuine third-order artifacts. Even though Aksai did not find them suitable for his own use, he could always give them as rewards to his subordinates.
With these thoughts in mind, Aksai slowly pulled his Spirit Sense away from the artifacts. He closed his hand around the gourd outside.
"Kalingoot really did have a pretty solid foundation. At least better than what Erald Cove currently has. It was almost like a newbie third-order sect that could have joined the ranks of the Big Five given enough ti," Aksai said.
He let out a low breath.
"Anywho, these artifacts will be useful," he said calmly. "As long as they are placed in the right hands. As for where to look for the right hands—"
Aksai paused before turning around and looking in the direction of two late-stage Experts who were flying toward him from a distance.
Two figures descended from the sky and landed on a flat stretch of ground not too far from Aksai. Their movents were light and controlled, leaving barely a ripple in the air as their feet touched the earth.
They were two beautiful won.
The one on the left wore a calm smile. Her eyes were bright and clear, carrying a quiet confidence that did not co from pride, but from certainty. Her long hair flowed behind her, and her presence felt gentle yet deep, like still water hiding unseen currents.
The other woman stood straight and composed. Her expression was colder, but not unfriendly. There was a sharp edge to her aura, the kind that ca from years of hardship and bloodshed. Even when standing still, she gave off a strong pressure that showed how close she was to stepping into the next realm.
They were Naisha and Jina.
Both won bowed toward Aksai at the sa ti.
"We greet Lord Aksai," they said respectfully.
Aksai turned to look at them. When he saw who they were, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Naisha was soone he had t many decades ago, before his expedition to the Duya Forest. She was the one who had seen through his strange luck when he was still weak and unknown. Instead of fearing it, she had chosen to bet on him.
Back then, she had given him the Fortune Telling Arts without hesitation. More than that, she had used her own unique cultivation thod to link her luck with his. By doing so, she had tied her fate to his path.
That choice had paid off.
In just a few decades, Naisha had risen to the late stage of Foundation Establishnt. She was now only one step away from Foundation Establishnt Perfection.
Her speed of growth had left many so-called geniuses far behind, and yet she remained calm, as if all of it was only natural. After all, she knew that she was only riding on Aksai’s success. Even if she had put in her share of hard work, she was well aware that a large part of her current status was because of her benefactor.
The second woman was Jina.
She was once one of the wives of the Blackblood Lord. After his death, the Blackblood Sect fell into chaos. Power struggles, secret plots, and old grudges tore the sect apart. Haitin needed ti to take complete control over his sect.
In the end, Jina had no choice but to leave.
By now, she had reached Foundation Establishnt Perfection. In truth, she was already standing at the door of the Core Formation realm. All she lacked was the final push.
Aksai had offered both won shelter on Erald Cove. Since arriving, they had spent most of their ti in close-door cultivation, rarely stepping outside their secluded areas.
When Kalingoot attacked, both Naisha and Jina had co to Aksai and asked if they should join the seven Experts of Erald Cove in defending the island.
Aksai had refused.
He had told them to continue their cultivation and not involve themselves in the battle. This was because he had already had sothing else in his mind regarding what he wanted them to do.
Aksai raised his hand and took out a small jade bottle from the gourd. The bottle looked simple, but the mont it appeared, a faint wave of dense Spirit essence spread through the air.
Naisha’s eyes widened slightly. Aksai walked up to her and placed the bottle in her hands.
"Here," he said in a calm voice. "Drink this right away."
Naisha looked down at the elixir inside the bottle. The liquid shimred with a soft glow, thick and pure. She could feel that it was not an ordinary pill or potion. Even without Aksai explaining it, she understood how precious it was.
She lifted her head and looked at Aksai for a brief mont. Then she nodded.
Without asking a single question, Naisha uncorked the bottle and drank the elixir in one go.
This was a special second-order elixir from Kalingoot’s treasury. Because of how rare it was, its market price was close to that of a low-grade third-order elixir. It was sothing only ninth-level Foundation Establishnt Experts used to complete the final step and perfect their foundation.
The mont the elixir entered her body, Naisha felt a burning warmth spread through her ridians. Her Spirit essence began to churn.
It surged through her dantian like a rising tide, washing over every crack, every weakness, and every unstable spot in her foundation. Her breath grew heavy as her aura started to fluctuate.
Aksai narrowed his eyes slightly and released his Spirit Sense. He calmly observed the changes happening inside her body, watching her ridians, her dantian, and the flow of essence with great care.
With a wave of his hand, roots burst out of the ground behind Naisha. Vines wrapped around them and twisted together, forming a raised wooden platform in just a few breaths.
"Sit down and start your cultivation technique," Aksai said.
Naisha nodded at once. She turned around, stepped onto the platform, and sat down cross-legged. Her eyes closed as she began circulating her technique.
The air around her slowly grew thicker.
Minutes passed.
Then, all at once, the unstable waves around her body settled. Her breathing beca smooth and steady. The pressure she gave off changed, becoming full and complete, without any gaps.
Naisha’s eyes opened. For a mont, she was stunned.
She could feel it clearly. Her foundation was complete. Solid. Perfect.
She had reached Foundation Establishnt Perfection.
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