A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

Chapter 573: Emerald Cove’s Budding Might

Shuan’s jaw dropped. “Life on the line? Master, you can’t be serious!”

Aksai laughed again, his voice echoing across the empty shore.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. You won’t die. It’s just about getting seriously hurt before being forced to heal quickly and repeating the same cycle over and over again. You’ll be fine physically in the end, I can assure you. And mentally too—probably.”

He ended his sentence with an almost playful grin, but his eyes glinted with the cruel amusement of a teacher who believed pain was the best form of discipline.

Shuan shuddered, staring at his master’s wicked smile. “Master… can I at least say my prayers first?”

Aksai only crossed his arms and tilted his head toward the Bloodfiends, who began advancing again, cracking their knuckles as they closed in.

***

A week later.

Shamrock Peak. Emerald Cove.

The heavy doors of the grand hall creaked open, and Shuan slowly stepped inside. His naked feet left faint prints of dried blood and dirt on the smooth stone floor. The hall’s soft light fell on him, revealing his disheveled state.

He looked nothing like the proud Foundation Establishment Expert who had flown in with confidence a week ago. His face was covered in stubble, his eyes tired and sunken from lack of proper sleep.

The man’s clothes were torn in several places, and the once-dark blue robe had faded into a dusty brown with stains of blood, dirt, and sweat. His right shoulder was bandaged roughly, and he was pressing on it with one trembling hand.

The other hand clutched what remained of his spear — its shaft cracked and its sharp end bent out of shape.

He walked unevenly, limping slightly. The faint clinking of the Spirit tools hanging from his belt echoed through the quiet hall. Every few steps, his body wavered, but he steadied himself with a stubborn grin.

It was clear he had been through hell.

For seven days straight, he had fought the two Second Order puppets Aksai had left for him. The battles had been long and merciless. The puppets didn’t know exhaustion or mercy — they only attacked, again and again.

And just when he thought he had learned to predict their moves, thick wooden vines would burst from the ground, adding another layer of chaos to his training.

He had died on the edge more than once, only to be forcefully healed by Aksai’s potions and thrown back into the fight again. Every bone in his body had been broken at least once. His Spirit essence had been drained and refilled countless times.

The agony had been endless, but so was the growth that came with it.

Now, even though he looked like a beggar, the aura around him was entirely different. It was stable and heavy — the kind of calm pressure that came from real combat experience.

His Spirit essence flowed smoothly, dense and full, pressing faintly against the air around him. He was no longer a newcomer to the Foundation Establishment realm. In fact, he was only a single step away from breaking into its second stage.

Shuan reached the center of the hall and looked up at the high ceiling. Despite the exhaustion in his eyes, a wide grin spread across his face. He took a deep breath, ignoring the pain in his shoulder, and spoke loudly.

“Master, I am back!”

His voice echoed through the vast chamber, firm and full of life.

The sound of his words made the grand hall feel alive again. Somewhere deeper inside the palace, a faint chuckle could be heard.

Aksai appeared silently on the high throne of the grand hall. The hall’s green crystal pillars shimmered faintly under the dim light, and a soft wind from the sea drifted through the open windows, carrying the scent of salt and rain.

He leaned to his right, resting his chin over his palm, and his sharp eyes focused on Shuan, who stood at the center of the hall with a bruised face and torn robes. Aksai frowned slightly, his tone calm but laced with disappointment.

“I did ask you to take some rest from training and visit,” Aksai said, tapping his finger on the armrest. “But why did you come without taking a bath first? At least think of my prestige as your mentor before you show your unsightly appearance to everyone on the island.”

Shuan scratched the back of his head, embarrassed but still grinning. “Hahaha, it should be fine, right? With Lady Nuya gone, I’m the only Foundation Establishment Expert on Emerald Cove apart from you. Who would dare to criticize an Expert?” he said with a laugh, puffing his chest out.

The moment his hand hit his chest, pain shot through his shoulder. He winced, rubbing it quickly as if to hide the mistake.

Aksai sighed quietly, about to correct him, but then his expression changed. His eyes drifted to the entrance of the hall, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. He didn’t say a word.

A deep voice came from the doorway. “Brat, you better watch your mouth. Are you looking down on Emerald Cove by saying you’re the only Expert apart from big brother Aksai?”

Ruan stepped inside with steady steps. His skin looked healthier, his hair darker, and his movements sharper—he looked decades younger than his past self pre-breakthrough.

Shuan’s jaw dropped. “Old geezer… ho–how did you manage to achieve a breakthrough into the 2nd Spirit realm?” he asked in disbelief.

Ruan laughed heartily, about to speak, when another voice came from the entrance—clear and teasing.

“What? Do you think only you can break into the 2nd Spirit realm, little Shuan?”

Violet entered the grand hall with an elegant grace, her violet hair tied neatly behind her head. She was Aksai’s maid and Jasmine’s daughter, but her aura was now far from that of a mere servant.

Shuan blinked, stunned. “You too?” he muttered under his breath. He could feel her Foundation Establishment aura—it was fresh, slightly unstable, but undeniably strong.

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