"I... I missed the chance last ti because I was blinded by my own unrealistic ideals. But thank you for sparing my life that day."
Jian said humbly.
Aksai said nothing, allowing him to continue.
"The reason I ca here as soon as I heard about the celebration is simple. Lord Aksai, I have left the Azure Cloud Sect," Jian said firmly.
"After regaining those mories and gaining new perspectives in my cultivation of the heart, I knew I could not stay there anymore. My path no longer lies with them."
He knelt on one knee.
"I ca here today because I wish to join Erald Cove Island. I want to repay the life you spared with my loyalty. Not for a year. Not for a favor. But for as long as I walk the path of the sword."
’So the mory seal had cracked on its own.’
Aksai felt a faint sense of interest rise within him. He had saved Jian once out of convenience. Now, it seed, fate had decided to return that choice to him. He also believed that Jian’s talent was better than he had previously guessed.
Aksai looked down at Jian. He saw no fear in his eyes. No confusion. Only resolve. But there was sothing more to him than his surface-level intentions. Aksai spread forth his Spirit Sense before so kind of understanding dawned on him.
Aksai did not speak right away.
He sat on his throne-like seat and looked down at Jian for a long mont. His gaze was calm, but it felt sharp, as if nothing could hide from it. Jian remained kneeling, his back straight, his head lowered.
Then Aksai smirked.
"Jian," he said slowly, "I can feel that you are truly thankful for sparing your life that day."
Jian’s heart tightened. He was about to say sothing but his attempt to do so was quickly interrupted by Aksai’s next words.
"But what you said about offering your eternal loyalty as paynt..." Aksai continued, "...that is not fully true, is it?"
Jian’s body stiffened. He gulped and said nothing.
"You have been stuck at the late stage of the Foundation Establishnt realm for a long ti," Aksai went on, his tone relaxed but precise. "You can no longer grow in the Azure Cloud Sect. And the Big Five Sects would never accept you as a disciple. You are too old by their standards, and your talent is not enough for them to care. You are good but not that good."
Aksai leaned back slightly.
"So you decided to try your luck with ," he said plainly. "You want access to the resources of Erald Cove Island. You want a chance to break free from your stagnant path. Am I right?"
Jian’s eyes widened. His mind went blank. How... how could he know?
It felt as if every hidden thought in Jian’s heart had been pulled out and placed under the sun. His breathing grew uneven. A cold fear crept up his spine.
What Jian did not know was that Aksai’s senses had long gone beyond normal Spirit cultivators. As a druid, he could already feel emotions and intent. After becoming a Core Formation Lord, those senses had grown sharper and clearer. To him, the thoughts of Foundation Establishnt Experts were like ripples on still water.
Jian lowered his head and slamd his forehead to the ground.
"I’m sorry!" he said quickly. "Lord Aksai, forgive . I had selfish thoughts. I did not an to deceive you. I... I just wanted to–"
Aksai chuckled softly.
"It’s fine," he said. "There is nothing wrong with having ambition. And there is nothing wrong with using any chance you have to change your fate."
Jian froze, then felt a small sense of relief.
"I am not blaming you for using our past encounter as an opportunity," Aksai continued. "If I were in your place, I might have done the sa."
Then his expression changed.
The smile vanished.
A heavy pressure suddenly spread from Aksai’s body. His aura rolled out like a silent wave and pressed down on Jian and everyone standing below the platform. Many Experts felt their chests tighten. So even felt their knees weaken.
"There is only one thing I dislike," Aksai said coldly. "Using flimsy or friendly connections to grow is fine. But the least you can do is be honest about your intentions."
His gaze swept across the hall.
"Is that clear?"
Though the words were spoken to Jian, everyone below the platform felt as if they had been questioned directly.
Jian did not dare lift his head.
"I... I understand, Lord Aksai," he said, his forehead still pressed to the ground. "Please forgive ."
Around him, many Experts and lower-level Spirit cultivators quickly bowed as well, showing their agreent in silence.
The pressure slowly eased, but the lesson stayed firmly carved into their hearts.
Jian stayed kneeling for a mont longer.
His hands clenched slightly, then loosened. After a brief struggle, he gathered his courage and spoke.
"Lord Aksai," he said carefully, "then... can I join Erald Cove?"
The hall grew quiet.
Aksai looked at him and shook his head.
"Erald Cove demands complete loyalty," Aksai said calmly. "We do not reject ambition. In fact, we welco it. But there is one condition. Your first priority must always be the island’s interests."
He leaned forward slightly.
"No matter what you say to , you and I both know the truth," Aksai continued. "You cannot offer that kind of loyalty right now."
Jian opened his mouth at once.
"I can—"
But the words stopped halfway.
He thought about it carefully. His heart sank. Aksai was right. If a better chance appeared tomorrow, he could not promise that he would not waver. His ambition was still centered on himself, not on Erald Cove.
Jian lowered his head again.
"I... understand," he said softly.
Disappointnt filled his chest. Still kneeling, he raised his head and forced himself to smile.
"Th– thank you, Lord Aksai," he said. "Then... I’ll take my leav—"
"Wait," Aksai said.
Jian froze.
"Although you cannot join Erald Cove as a regular mber," Aksai continued, "there is still a way for you to access the island’s resources."
Jian’s eyes widened.
"In fact," Aksai added, raising his voice slightly, "this opportunity is not just for you. It is for every drifting cultivator who does not have a well-established sect backing them."
A soft stir ran through the hall.
Many vagabond Experts straightened in their seats. Their ears perked up at once.
Aksai stood up from his seat and looked over at the crowd.
"Erald Cove will establish a guild in the coming days," he said clearly. "We do not plan to create a sect. A sect is too restrictive for us. But we still want to grow our reach, our strength, and our influence."
He gestured lightly.
"As such, we will work with drifting cultivators. We will make use of your strengths to expand our businesses and operations."
Murmurs began to spread.
"In return," Aksai continued, "you will be paid. Cultivation techniques. Spirit spells. Array disks. Elixirs. Talismans. Raw Spirit herbs. Other Spirit resources."
The murmurs grew louder.
"The more missions you take," he said, "the more contribution points you earn. The more points you have, the easier it will be to get what you want."
Aksai paused.
"You do not need to swear eternal loyalty to Erald Cove," he said. "But you will need to invest your blood and sweat."
He smiled faintly.
"I think this is a fair offer," Aksai said. "The situation of drifting cultivators in the subcontinent is not good. At least this gives you a clear path forward."
He turned his gaze slightly toward the platform.
"Even Lord Haan Di uses a similar setup," Aksai said, looking at the Haan Di Lord with a mild smile. "So it’s not like I’m doing anything strange."
The Haan Di Lord chuckled softly but did not deny it.
At this point, the hall was no longer quiet.
Low discussions broke out everywhere. Many drifting cultivators looked at Aksai with bright, eager eyes. Compared to Haan Di’s system, which was known for being strict and stingy, Erald Cove’s offer sounded far more open.
Hope quietly spread through the crowd. Jian remained kneeling, stunned.
He looked up at Aksai, his eyes filled with renewed light.
Aksai’s gaze also returned to Jian.
He studied him for a few breaths. Jian felt his heart tighten under that calm look. He did not dare speak or move.
"Jian, since you asked first," Aksai finally said, "I will give you a chance."
Jian’s eyes widened.
"I appoint you as an acting deputy of the Erald Cove Guild," Aksai continued in an even tone. "You will work with Erald Cove’s Experts in managing the guild."
A quiet shock spread through the nearby seats.
"Your efforts in building the guild and keeping it running will earn you contribution points," Aksai said. "You may then use those points to trade for Erald Cove’s resources."
Jian’s breathing grew heavy. For the first ti in a long while, he could see a clear path ahead. He quickly bowed, his forehead touching the ground.
"Thank you, Lord Aksai," he said with deep respect.
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