Boom!
A massive bolt of lightning struck the island.
The ground cracked under the impact. Naisha's body shook violently as she struggled to maintain control of her Spirit energy. Another bolt fell imdiately after.
Her defensive barrier flickered. Even though she remained standing, it was clear that the pressure was too much. If this continued, she might survive the test. But her body would suffer severe damage. Her newly forming Spirit Core could also beco unstable.
At that mont, Jina arrived.
Because she had just completed her own breakthrough, a faint trace of Celestial Wrath aura still lingered around her body. This allowed her to approach the lightning without instantly triggering the heavens' anger again. She raised her hands and released her newly gained 3rd Order raw Spirit essence.
Her power joined with Naisha's defense. Together, the two won resisted the falling lightning.
Boom!
Another bolt crashed down. But this ti, the combined defense held.
Naisha gathered the remaining Spirit energy inside her body and focused completely on stabilizing her Spirit Core. Monts later, the clouds above her island finally began to disperse.
The lightning faded. A wave of Spirit energy burst out from Naisha's body as well. She had succeeded.
Both won floated in the air above the sea for a mont as the storm slowly disappeared. Their auras were now far stronger than before. Two new bonafide Core Formation Lords had been born.
Jina and Naisha looked at each other briefly before flying toward Aksai. He still floated quietly above the sea, watching them with calm eyes.
The two won stopped in front of him and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Guild Master," Jina said respectfully.
Naisha followed with another bow.
"Island owner, it's all thanks to you. Without your guidance, we would not have reached this realm."
Aksai looked at them for a mont before giving a small nod. He then extended his Spirit Sense.
An invisible wave spread from his body and passed through both won. The inspection was careful and precise. He examined their ridians, their dantian, and the newly ford Spirit Cores inside their bodies.
Naisha and Jina remained still while he checked them.
After a few monts, Aksai withdrew his Spirit Sense.
"Your breakthroughs were successful," he said calmly. "But your foundations are still fresh."
Both won listened attentively.
"You should focus on stabilizing your cultivation bases for the next few months," Aksai continued. "Do not rush into battles or heavy Spirit techniques yet. Let your Spirit Cores settle properly."
"We understand, Guild Master," Jina replied with a respectful nod.
Naisha also bowed slightly. "We will follow your instructions."
Aksai gave a small nod before asking another question.
"How is Kalingoot doing?"
At the ntion of the na, both won exchanged a brief glance before answering.
Naisha spoke first.
"Kalingoot has grown a lot during the last ten years," she said.
Jina continued the explanation.
"We have expanded its influence across many islands," she said. "More sects and independent groups have started dealing with us."
Aksai listened quietly.
"The mariti trade with the mainland has also increased," Naisha added. "Many ships now move between the Dadangar Seas and the mainland under Kalingoot's hidden routes."
Jina gave a faint smile.
"In terms of the number of Spirit cultivators involved in the trade network," she said, "Kalingoot is now almost as big as the Dadangar Islands Alliance."
Aksai raised his eyebrow slightly but did not interrupt.
"However," Naisha continued, "Kalingoot mostly operates in the shadows. Because of that, the profits are much larger than what the Alliance usually earns."
Jina nodded in agreent.
"Your strategy worked very well," she said to Aksai.
"Keeping the Erald Cove Guild working openly with the Dadangar Islands Alliance while running Kalingoot quietly from the shadows has balanced everything."
Naisha added another point.
"There are no major conflicts between the Alliance and Kalingoot anymore."
"If any small problems appear," Jina said, "they disappear quickly."
Aksai looked at her.
Jina smiled faintly.
"Sotis a little wealth," she said. "Sotis rare resources. Given to the right person from the Big Five Sects."
Naisha nodded.
"That is usually enough."
The sea wind moved gently around them as the conversation continued.
"In a way," Naisha explained, "the Dadangar Islands Alliance represents the light side of the mariti trade."
"It manages the open trade between many islands," Jina said.
"And Kalingoot represents the dark side," Naisha added.
"The kind of trade that happens quietly behind the scenes."
Jina continued calmly.
"Even the Big Five Sects benefit greatly from this hidden trade."
Aksai remained silent as he listened.
"In fact," Jina said, "sotis it even feels like Kalingoot is growing with the support of the Big Five Sects as well."
Naisha nodded.
"They might not say it openly," she said, "but they allow many of the routes to remain active."
"Of course," Jina added, "the stable support from Erald Cove Island remains the main reason for Kalingoot's growth."
Aksai looked at the distant horizon of the sea.
Naisha spoke again after a mont.
"It was also thanks to Kalingoot's success that we were able to strengthen our foundations properly."
Jina nodded.
"The organization has access to many Spirit resources now. Pills, herbs, rare materials, and cultivation aids."
Naisha smiled faintly.
"We used many of those resources to slowly strengthen our cultivation over the last few years."
"That is how we were able to reach the Foundation Establishnt Perfection stage so quickly," Jina said.
"And in a stable way," Naisha added.
The three of them stood quietly above the sea for a mont.
The moonlight reflected on the calm water below.
Aksai finally spoke again.
"Good. It seems the organization has grown exactly as planned."
Aksai looked at Naisha and Jina for a mont before raising his hand. A small storage ring appeared in his palm.
"Well… the trade and business will take care of themselves as long as you don't do anything foolish," he said calmly. "For now, you shouldn't focus on them. Your foundations are good, but you will need proper resources to stabilize your cultivation and grow stronger."
Both won straightened slightly. Their eyes showed clear respect and attention. They also had so expectations. After all, they had worked hard and it was ti for rewards.
Aksai smiled as if he could read their minds and waved his hand lightly. Several items floated out of the storage ring and hovered in the air between them.
The first item was a thin jade slip.
Aksai turned toward Naisha and held the jade slip out to her.
"This one is for you."
Naisha accepted it carefully with both hands.
A faint glow moved across the surface of the jade slip.
"This contains a complete set of 3rd Order Fortune Telling Arts," Aksai said.
Naisha's eyes widened slightly.
Fortune telling techniques were rare even among cultivators who practiced such paths. Reaching the 3rd Order level ant that the user could read fate much more clearly and even influence certain outcos in small ways.
Aksai continued speaking.
"The technique inside this jade slip focuses on sensing the flow of fate through small events," he explained. "You should not try to see too far ahead yet. Your Spirit Core is still fresh."
Naisha nodded carefully.
Aksai continued guiding her.
"Focus on short-term predictions first. Things like movents of enemies, hidden intentions, or the outco of small conflicts. Do not push your Spirit sense too far into the future."
Naisha closed her eyes briefly and placed the jade slip against her forehead. A faint stream of information flowed into her mind.
"I understand, Guild Master," she said after a mont.
Aksai then turned to Jina.
Another jade slip floated into his hand.
"This one is for you."
Jina received it respectfully.
"This jade slip contains a 3rd Order Spirit technique suited for your cultivation path," Aksai said.
Jina's cultivation thod focused more on direct combat and control of Spirit energy. The technique inside the jade slip allowed her to gather Spirit energy around her body and release it in fast bursts during battle.
"It will help you control your Spirit Core more smoothly," Aksai explained.
Jina placed the jade slip against her forehead and absorbed the information.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Guild Master."
Aksai nodded before taking out another set of items. Two dark flowers appeared in his hand. They looked unusual. Their petals were deep purple and black, and a faint cold aura surrounded them.
"These are Flowers of Bitter Emotions," Aksai said.
He handed one flower to Naisha and the other to Jina.
Both won carefully held the flowers while observing them closely.
"These flowers help temper the emotions and stabilize the soul," Aksai continued. "They are very useful during the early stages of the Core Formation realm."
He then took out two small round disks.
The disks were made of dark tal and covered in many tiny Spirit symbols.
"These are array disks," he said.
He handed one to each of them.
"You can activate them while using the Flowers of Bitter Emotions," Aksai explained. "The disks will create a small Spirit array that gathers surrounding Spirit energy and directs it toward you."
User Comments
0 comments from readers