A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 712 712: Gifts P2
After Sirina, Ren Greenleaf stepped forward.
Unlike Sirina, he looked serious and tense. He stopped before the platform and bowed deeply to Aksai.
“Lord Aksai,” Ren said, “do you remember me? I hope you do. I do not have wealth, land, or rare treasures to offer you.”
He raised his head slightly.
“But I can offer you my loyalty. It will not waver.”
Ren then turned toward the Haan Di Lord and bowed even deeper this time.
“Master,” he said, “I ask for your permission to leave Haan Di state’s affairs and step out from your shadow. I will admit that I did not become your successor, so I was bitter for a few days. But maybe that is a good thing for both martial sister Sirina and me. Since your legacy is in capable hands, I want to create my own path. Please set me free.”
The Haan Di Lord felt a slight tug at his heart when he heard Ren’s words. As a direct disciple, Ren Greenleaf was almost like a son to him. Because of that, he did not want to let Ren go, even after choosing Sirina as his successor.
He realized that this was his own selfishness.
The Haan Di Lord opened his mouth to say something, but the words would not come. He then closed his mouth, as if giving up on saying something he should not, and looked at Ren for a long moment.
He was old, and his eyes carried many years of experience. There was a trace of bitterness in his smile, but it did not last long.
“So you have made up your mind,” he said.
Ren did not hesitate. “Yes, Master.”
The Haan Di Lord let out a soft sigh and nodded.
“Very well. I grant you permission. As your master, I wish you good luck, my disciple.”
Ren bowed again in thanks. He then turned back to Aksai and bowed once more.
“Lord Aksai, may I become your subordinate and join Emerald Cove Island?”
Before Aksai could answer, a calm voice sounded from the side.
“Boy,” the Green Glory Lord said, raising his brows slightly, “why do I feel that you cultivate my sect’s technique? I do not mind my sect’s disciples joining the neutral state of Haan Di to seek other chances. But should you not ask my permission as well if you wish to join a force that is not strictly neutral?”
Ren stiffened at once. He had almost forgotten that he once belonged to the Green Glory Palace. His expression turned tense as he stepped forward and bowed toward the Green Glory Lord.
“My Lord,” Ren said, “I was once an external disciple of the Green Glory Palace. I later left the sect and went to Haan Di state, where I became the Haan Di Lord’s disciple.”
He lowered his head.
“You are right. It was my mistake. I ask for your permission to join Lord Aksai as well.”
For a brief moment, the hall felt heavy. Then the Green Glory Lord laughed.
“Haha. Relax, boy,” he said. “I was only joking.”
Ren froze for a second before letting out a quiet breath. The tension eased. Only then did Aksai speak. He looked at Ren calmly and nodded.
“I accept,” Aksai said. “From today onward, you may join Emerald Cove Island.”
Ren’s eyes widened slightly. He then bowed deeply, his voice firm.
“Thank you, Lord Aksai.”
Soon after Ren stepped aside, a group of elders dressed in heavy gray robes approached the platform together. Their presence was firm and steady, like mountains that did not move even under pressure.
The Iron Mountain Sect had arrived.
The guests quickly recognized them. The Iron Mountain Sect was not weak. It was not one of the Big Five Sects, but it held a solid position in the subcontinent.
Recently, there was a rumor going on that the sect master of the Iron Mountain Sect was only a step away from triggering the breakthrough event for the Core Formation realm. He had gone into close door cultivation and was waiting for the epiphany to strike him so that he could finally try his luck in becoming a Lord.
However, the rumors were yet to be recognized by valid sources. Nobody knew what was going on with the current Iron Mountain Sect. It seemed that the sect had suddenly changed the way it did things for the past few years.
Many people wondered why its elders were moving forward together instead of sending just one representative.
The elders stopped before the platform and bowed deeply toward Aksai.
“Lord Aksai,” the leading elder said in a loud and clear voice, “on behalf of the Iron Mountain Sect, we have come to present our decision.”
The hall grew quiet.
“The Iron Mountain Sect wishes to act as a subsidiary sect under Emerald Cove Island,” the elder continued. “From this day onward, we will follow Emerald Cove’s lead. We also ask Lord Aksai to take the position of our grand elder.”
A wave of shock spread through the hall. The Iron Mountain Sect was no pushover. If not for its lack of a Core Formation realm Spirit cultivator and a limited number of disciples and elders, the sect would have joined the ranks of the Big Five Sects. It had the legacy and Spirit techniques to support such ambitions.
Many guests widened their eyes. Some Experts exchanged quick glances. A well-established sect willingly placing itself under another force was no small matter. Asking a Core Formation Lord to act as their grand elder made the meaning even clearer.
The Lords on the platform showed different reactions. Some raised their brows slightly. Others remained calm but attentive. Even so, none of them spoke.
Aksai looked at the elders quietly.
On the surface, this seemed sudden. But in truth, it was not.
Aksai had already subdued the Iron Mountain Sect long ago, without anyone knowing. The sect’s core had been taken under control step by step. Even the elders standing here today were no longer ordinary cultivators. They were his transformed Sentient Fiends, loyal to him in both body and soul.
This appearance, this declaration, and even the timing had all been arranged earlier by Aksai’s subordinates. Today was only the moment to make everything public.
Aksai let the silence last for a short while before speaking.
“You are willing to do this of your own choice?” he asked calmly.
“Yes,” the elder replied without hesitation. “The Iron Mountain Sect is willing.”
Aksai nodded slowly.
“Very well,” he said. “I accept.”
The elders lowered their heads again, bowing even deeper than before.
“We greet Grand Elder Aksai,” they said together.
The sound echoed clearly through the hall.
This time, the reaction from the guests was stronger. Whispered voices spread like ripples. Some felt surprise. Some felt envy.
Then there were some others who felt a hint of fear because they had somehow either guessed what was going on or were aware of some unauthenticated inside story regarding the Iron Mountain Sect’s changed behaviour..
Another sect had openly fallen under Emerald Cove Island.
Aksai remained seated on his throne-like chair, his expression calm. To the others, it looked like the natural rise of a young Lord gathering strength.
Only he knew that this was merely another piece falling into place. He had some plans for the Iron Mountain Sect because of their history. And he could only make effective use of them if things were official.
After the Iron Mountain Sect stepped aside, another group moved forward.
Their robes were pale silver, with faint moon patterns sewn along the sleeves. A quiet chill followed them as they walked. Many guests recognized them at once.
It was the Silver Moon Palace.
The atmosphere in the hall shifted in a subtle way. This sect had a history with Aksai. Those who knew the past held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
At the front of the group was a woman with calm but tired eyes. She was the sect mistress of the Silver Moon Palace. Unlike the elders before her, she had come in person.
The group stopped before the raised platform.
The sect mistress bowed deeply toward Aksai, lowering her head far more than what was required by simple courtesy.
“Lord Aksai,” she said softly, “the Silver Moon Palace greets you.”
Aksai looked at her quietly. His expression did not change.
Many memories were tied to this sect.
Years ago, at Jaishin Lake in the Wild Devil Lands, he had openly killed Bai Yu, a disciple of the Silver Moon Palace. He had done it to appease Haitin Blackblood and gain his trust.
That single act had pushed the Silver Moon Palace into open hatred toward him. Haitin had warned Aksai of the consequences of his choices back then but Aksai had prioritized his safety and gains back then.
After the Jaishin Lake incident, the Silver Moon Palace had caused trouble for Aksai during his Duya Forest trip. Though they acted from the shadows, they had worked with Kalingoot to oppose Emerald Cove more than once.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com
