Chapter 568: Subbordinates' Progress P3

Chapter 568: Subbordinates’ Progress P3

Aksai stepped in front of Ruan again, meeting his eyes directly.

“It is the universal law across the boundless cosmos that the risks come with rewards. And these rewards should be worth taking the risks for you.

After all, you will still gain something precious from it—an extended life. Living for two hundred years will no longer be a problem for you. You’ll have the strength to protect your family and see your sons grow with your own eyes.”

Ruan’s lips trembled slightly. His hands, rough and calloused from years of labor, clenched unconsciously.

Aksai studied him for a moment longer before speaking again, his tone turning heavier. “Now the question is—how badly do you want it?”

He began pacing again, the faint echo of his steps filling the silence. “The procedure I’m talking about won’t be easy. It will hurt you, more than you can imagine. Without firm determination, it will fail. If your resolve wavers even once, your body will collapse before the process completes.”

Aksai stopped and turned back toward him. His voice grew quieter, colder. “And I won’t lie to you. I can’t promise success. If you die, you die. There will be no miracle waiting for you on the other side.”

He let those words hang in the air for a while, the weight of them pressing down on everyone present.

Then Aksai softened his tone slightly. “Of course, regardless of what you decide, I will still take care of your sons. They will remain under my protection. You don’t need to worry about their future.”

He walked back to his seat and sat down, resting one arm on the side of the chair, his gaze steady and deep. “Now, the choice is yours, Ruan,” he said quietly. “What do you think?”

Ruan stayed kneeling, his head bowed low. His elder son turned to him, his young eyes filled with confusion and fear. The younger one simply clung to his father’s sleeve, unaware of the meaning of the words just spoken.

The hall was so silent that the sound of a single drop of water falling from the roof could be heard clearly.

Ruan finally raised his head. There was hesitation in his eyes—but behind it burned something else. A faint, flickering fire that had refused to die even after years of hopeless struggle.

He swallowed hard, his voice trembling but steady enough to reach the man sitting before him.

“Big brother Aksai…” he said quietly, his tone firm despite the fear in it. “If there’s even a single chance… I’ll take it.”

The faintest smile appeared on Aksai’s face. It wasn’t mocking—just approving. A knowing smile of someone who had seen countless men choose their fate.

“Very well,” the Spirit farmer said, leaning back slightly.

“Then prepare yourself, Ruan. From this moment on, there’s no turning back.”

***

A few hours later.

Inside Aksai’s private cultivation chamber, the air was laced with the smell of herbs, blood, and Spirit essence. Faint green light pulsed from glowing Spirit patterns carved into the floor, wrapping around the motionless figure lying in the center of the array.

Ruan’s body looked pale and lifeless. His chest rose and fell weakly, every breath a painful struggle. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, staining the white fabric beneath him. His veins were swollen with Spirit energy gone wild, threatening to tear his body apart from within.

Aksai stood over him, his expression calm but his eyes sharp and tense. He had been working for hours, refusing to stop even as sweat dripped down his face. Both his hands were glowing with deep green light as he channelled his druid powers into Ruan’s body.

“Don’t you dare die on me, little Ruan,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ve spent too many precious things on you already.”

He pressed his right hand against Ruan’s chest, sending waves of Life essence into him. The green light spread like roots through Ruan’s veins, wrapping around the chaotic Spirit energy inside and forcing it back into order.

One had to say that Aksai’s druid powers were like a hack when it came to saving someone from the brink of death, especially when the mortal danger was related to one’s forced breakthrough attempt. Aksai had also gotten a lot better at handling his druid powers at this point, which enabled him to not only aid Ivy in her breakthrough but also gave him confidence to try a special method on Ruan as well.

Still, Ruan’s condition didn’t improve at first. His body jerked violently, blood spurting from his nose as the backlash of the forced breakthrough hit him again. The Spirit veins were collapsing under the strain, and his dantian was cracking like thin ice.

Aksai clenched his teeth. “Damn it… he’s still rejecting it.”

He reached into his sleeve and took out a silver vial glowing faintly in blue light. It was one of the high-grade Spirit potions he had brought back from Holy Land Torel. Without hesitation, he opened the vial and poured a few drops into Ruan’s mouth. The liquid melted instantly, flowing into his body and stabilizing the Spirit veins from the inside.

Then Aksai took out another potion, this one emerald-green, and poured it over Ruan’s chest. The potion evaporated immediately, merging with the druidic energy already inside him. The glow intensified, filling the entire chamber with soft green and golden light.

For a few long moments, there was no sound except the steady hum of Essence Equations flowing through the Spirit Gathering array. Then, suddenly, Ruan’s breathing became smoother. His heartbeat, which had nearly faded minutes ago, began to pick up strength again.

Aksai finally exhaled, a faint smile appearing on his face. “Finally… it worked.”

He sat back on his heels, tired but satisfied. The modified technique from Aether World Acarnis had done its job. By slightly reshaping Ruan’s Spirit Root Aptitude, Aksai had given him just enough strength to endure the backlash of the forced Foundation breakthrough.

The green light from Aksai’s hands dimmed as he slowly withdrew his Spirit energy. Ruan’s body looked much more peaceful now. His face had regained some color, and the wild energy inside his Spirit veins had calmed down.

“He’ll live,” Aksai said softly to himself, his voice carrying relief. “And he’s no longer a Spirit Refining cultivator. Welcome to the Foundation Establishment realm, little Ruan.

I… I wonder if I should still keep calling him little Ruan. Won’t it bruise his ego as a newbie Expert?”

He stood up and wiped his hands on a cloth before clapping twice. The sound echoed in the chamber.

A moment later, two Sentient Scarecrow Fiends entered. Their bodies were huge with faintly glowing eyes and limbs reinforced by Bloodfiend Arts runes. Though terrifying to look at, they moved with quiet obedience.

Aksai gestured toward Ruan. “Pick him up carefully. Don’t shake him.”

The Fiends bowed stiffly before lifting Ruan’s unconscious body with surprising gentleness.

Just then, the doors opened, and two young boys stepped inside—Ruan’s sons. The elder boy’s eyes widened when he saw his father’s pale body being carried, while the younger one clung tightly to his brother, his small face pale with fear.

The little one tugged at his brother’s sleeve and whispered, “Brother… those things… they look scary.”

Aksai noticed the boy trembling and smiled faintly. “Little Ru, don’t worry,” he said kindly, his tone softer than usual. “They won’t do anything to your father. They’ll just help you take him home safely.”

He crouched slightly so that the child could meet his eyes. “Be brave, alright? Lead them and show where your house is.”

The boy looked uncertain for a moment but nodded, holding his brother’s hand tightly.

The elder son bowed deeply, his voice shaking with emotion. “Tha… thank you, lord uncle Aksai.”

Aksai waved a hand dismissively, though there was a small smile on his face. “Go now. He needs rest and care. Make sure he doesn’t move much for the next few days. Also, don’t tell this to anyone yet.”

The elder son nodded quickly and lifted his little brother into his arms before turning to lead the way. The two Scarecrow Fiends followed closely behind, carrying Ruan carefully through the glowing halls of the palace.

Aksai stood there in silence, watching them leave until their figures disappeared beyond the door. Then, with a tired sigh, he walked back to the Spirit array and looked at the faint residue of green light still floating in the air.

He muttered softly, almost to himself.

“That’s two new Experts Emerald Cove have right now. It needs a few more. I wonder how my maids are doing.

Time to check up on them as well. I might put them at risk with my methods but it needs to happen before the unrest turns into a full-fledged war. As such, I have to make them go through their own breakthrough events as well.”

Then the young Spirit farmer turned away and left the chamber, the door closing behind him with a quiet thud, leaving the faint fragrance of Spirit herbs and the lingering glow of druidic light in the air.