A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 575: Preparing to go Into a Close-door Cultivation Session

Chapter 575: Preparing to go Into a Close-door Cultivation Session

Shuan swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry.

His confidence from before was gone, replaced by the cold realization of how fragile their situation truly was.

Aksai looked at him for a moment longer before leaning back on his throne. His voice dropped to a quieter tone, but it carried clearly across the hall.

“That is the difference between knowing how something works… and understanding what it’s truly worth in the face of a war.”

Aksai looked at the group before him. The four had just finished hearing about the flaws in their defensive formation.

Aksai clapped his hands once, the sharp sound breaking the silence.

“Hahaha. Why do you all look so downcast?” he asked with a small smile.

“It’s not like I told you about the formation’s limitations to make you lose hope. I only shared the facts so that we can prepare in advance.

We shouldn’t rely too much on the formation, yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. There are many ways to make it stronger.”

He looked at each of them one by one, his gaze calm but firm. “And besides,” he added, “we have other means to protect ourselves too. I’ll show you those when the time is right. For now, you’ll follow my instructions carefully.”

He turned to Shuan first. “Little Shuan,” Aksai said, “I made you spar with two Second Order Puppets for a reason—to give you real battle experience. You must have already realized the benefit of that training.”

Shuan nodded quickly. “Yes, Master. It was hard, but I learned a lot.”

“Good,” Aksai replied, pleased.

“You’ll continue that training for the next few weeks during the nights. During the day, you’ll train the subordinates under you. Make them go through hell if you must—but ensure their safety.

I’ll assign you a batch of First Order Puppets to help. Use them to train your people and also to strengthen the formation where needed. I’ll give you partial control of the formation’s administrative core as well. Learn to use it properly, so when intruders come, you can call upon it instantly.”

Aksai reached into his storage ring and drew out a long spear. Its shaft was smooth black steel wrapped in thin golden threads, and its blade shimmered with faint wind patterns that pulsed softly like breathing light.

“This,” Aksai said, “is a Second Order Spirit Spear. It’s called the Gale Piercer.”

He waved his hand gently, and the spear lifted into the air on its own. It glided through the air toward Shuan, who caught it with both hands. The moment he touched it, the weapon vibrated faintly, recognizing its new owner. Shuan stared at it with wide eyes, his old broken spear clattering to the floor beside him.

“You can discard that broken spear of yours,” Aksai said. “It wasn’t much to begin with. This artifact will raise your battle strength to a new level—once you master it.”

Shuan bowed deeply, his face bright with excitement. “Thank you, Master! I’ll master it as soon as possible.”

Aksai nodded slightly and pulled out a thin manual bound in red spirit-thread.

“This is a top-tier Second Order Red Wind Arts manual. It will match the spear well. Your wind affinity will respond better to these techniques, allowing smoother movement and faster attacks. Study both the weapon and the manual together.”

He paused, then added, “I’ll also give you several First Order artifacts, techniques, and battle arts. Use them to reward the subordinates who perform well and stay loyal to you—and to Emerald Cove. That way, you’ll not only build strength but also discipline.”

Aksai then spent several minutes explaining Shuan’s schedule in detail—when to train, when to rest, how to rotate his men, and how to report progress. Shuan listened carefully, his expression growing more determined with every word.

When Aksai finished with him, he turned to the two maids.

“Zara, Violet,” he said, his tone softening slightly.

“Your duties will increase too. I’ll have you assist in puppet maintenance and artifact rune applications. You’ll also oversee the communication lines between the defensive teams and the inner formation. You’ve both handled smaller responsibilities well, so this will be your next step.”

The two women bowed together, their eyes showing a mix of pride and nervousness.

Finally, Aksai turned toward Ruan. The man looked younger than before but also a bit tired due to his forced breakthrough. Aksai could sense the strain in his aura—his cultivation had just stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm, but it was not completely stable yet.

“Ruan,” Aksai said gently, “you’ve reached your limit for now. Pushing further will only harm your foundation. So, for the next few weeks, I want you to focus on training your subordinates instead. Strengthen their basics and prepare them to hold the line if needed. You’ll also take over some administrative work for Emerald Cove in addition to your regular duties—supply records, task distribution, and puppet maintenance logs. It’s important work, and I trust you with it.”

Ruan straightened and bowed deeply. “Understood, Master.”

Aksai looked around the room once more. The gloom that had filled the air earlier was gone. His people stood straighter now, their eyes clearer, their hearts steadier. The mood had changed.

Aksai knew that it was the unknown people feared the most. Uncertainty often became the breeding ground for anxiety. However, once a person built a routine that truly belonged to them, a certain kind of hope and determination began to grow within their heart. That was exactly what Aksai had given his subordinates.

After a few moments of silence, Aksai dropped another metaphorical bomb on his subordinates. “I’ll be going into complete isolation starting tomorrow.”

The four looked at each other in surprise.

“Isolation, Master?” Shuan asked. “For how long?”

“For a few weeks,” Aksai replied. “Perhaps a full month if all goes well.” He paused and leaned forward slightly.

“My spies in Kalingoot have sent word. The full-scale war is still some distance away, but the first skirmishes between our borders will begin soon—three to four weeks from now at most.”

The room went quiet again. Zara’s eyes widened slightly. “So soon…” she whispered.

Aksai nodded. “Yes. That gives us, at best, a single month to prepare. During that time, I must enter closed cultivation to advance further. Once I begin, I won’t be reachable under any condition.”

He looked at each of them and spoke further. “That means you’ll have to handle everything on your own while I’m gone. Every task, every problem, every decision—will fall on your shoulders.”

Ruan swallowed hard but nodded. “Understood, Master.”

Aksai continued, his tone even but firm.

“As my direct subordinates, it’s your responsibility to make sure Emerald Cove runs smoothly in my absence. Business must continue as usual. The Spirit farmers, the traders, the formation maintenance teams—all must keep working. You’ll each oversee your assigned areas, and I expect no major disruptions.”

He paused, letting his words sink in before speaking again.

“Our shipments to the mainland will likely face problems once the fighting begins. The Kalingoot forces will tighten their patrols, and hired bandits of Kalingoot may take advantage of the chaos.

Still, try to keep things under control for as long as possible. Change the trade routes if you must. Use alternate distribution chains and assign your subordinates and the puppets under you to guard the shipments.”

Aksai’s eyes softened slightly. “But remember this—your safety and the safety of your people come before the goods. No amount of cargo is worth taking unnecessary personal risks. Especially when it comes to you four. If a shipment has to be abandoned, let it go. We can rebuild what’s lost, but we cannot replace trust or lives.”

Aksai could turn his fallen subordinates into puppets if push came to shove. However, once they were turned into puppets, their battle potential would drop significantly. Because of that, Aksai wanted to avoid turning his island into a land of the undead for as long as he could.

Violet stepped forward, her voice quiet but steady. “Master, will we receive any word from you during your isolation?”

Aksai shook his head. “No. Once I start, there will be no contact until I come out. You’ll know when that happens. I’ll call all of you and review the progress then. Until that day, act with full authority in your respective duties. Trust yourselves and the training I’ve given you.”

The four exchanged looks—nervous, but determined. After receiving some more help as well as valuable guidance, these four Experts had been turned into war generals.

Aksai then decided to walk towards a direction, his long robe swaying slightly as he moved toward the exit. He stopped near the door and turned back to them.

“This month will test all of you,” he said quietly. “Not just your strength, but your judgment and your discipline. The world outside is changing, and I can’t shield you forever. Use this time to prove that Emerald Cove can stand on its own feet.”

He looked at them one last time. “Do not disappoint me.”

The four bowed deeply. “We will not, Master.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com