A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 821: Winds of Change In Dadangar Subcontinent P1

Aksai slowly leaned back against his chair while staring toward the distant sea outside the palace windows.

The smile on his face faded slightly.

’An expert in fate-related arts…’

That kind of enemy was troublesome. Very troublesome.

Unlike direct enemies who relied on brute force, people who cultivated fortune and fate techniques could create danger without even showing themselves.

Aksai hated uncertain variables. Especially variables capable of finding hidden truths.

One of the maids noticed his expression turning slightly colder.

“My lord?” she asked carefully.

Aksai blinked once before smiling again naturally.

“Nothing. Just thinking about some annoying matters.”

The maids relaxed after hearing his calm tone. One of them softly moved behind him and gently started massaging his shoulders.

“My lord should rest today,” she said quietly. “The guild matters can wait until tomorrow.”

Aksai closed his eyes briefly. The warmth of the palace. The calm sea breeze. The scent of good food and spirit wine. The gentle touch of beautiful women. All of it created a peaceful moment rare in Dadangar Subcontinent.

Yet even during moments like this, danger still moved silently somewhere far away.

Aksai opened his eyes again slowly. A faint sharpness appeared deep within them.

’After this short break…’

’It’s time to deal with a lot of matters at once and prepare a few contingency plans.

’I should have a Plan B, C, D, and E…. Just in case.’

***

Dadangar Subcontinent. Eastern Limiya Gate’s sect grounds.

The sect grounds of the Eastern Limiya Gate looked unusually lively today.

Dozens of flying artifacts hovered in the cold sky around a massive ice-covered mountain. Spirit boats, flying swords, jade platforms, and crane-shaped artifacts floated quietly in the air while maintaining a safe distance from the mountain peak.

The mountain itself looked as if it had been frozen for centuries.

Thick snow covered the steep cliffs. Chilling winds blew endlessly through the area. The sky above the mountain looked dim and heavy, as if the heavens themselves were silently watching what was about to happen.

Near the center of the mountain stood a wide cliff platform covered in layers upon layers of array formations.

Complex runes glowed faintly across the icy ground. Formation flags fluttered in the freezing wind. At the center of all the formations sat an old woman in meditation.

Her name was Maera Manam.

She was one of the oldest grand elders of the Eastern Limiya Gate.

Her hair was completely white and long enough to reach the ground behind her. Deep wrinkles covered her face. Her skin looked dry and pale like old paper. Her back was slightly bent from age, yet her posture while sitting remained straight and disciplined.

She wore thick blue robes lined with white fur. Around her neck hung several protective talismans. At this moment, her eyes remained tightly shut as she focused entirely on circulating her Spirit Essence.

The surrounding formations continuously gathered Spirit energy from the mountain and guided it toward her body. This was her final gamble.

Maera had remained a Foundation Establishment Expert for more than a hundred years. Her lifespan was nearing its end.

Even with the sect’s support and life-prolonging treasures, she would only live a few more decades at best. So she had chosen to take the risk.

She would either become a Core Formation Lord today…

…or fail and suffer a terrible backlash. Or simply die trying.

Around the mountain, many elders quietly observed the scene.

Some had solemn expressions.

Others looked nervous.

A few looked jealous.

“Grand Elder Maera truly has courage,” one elder muttered while standing on a flying sword. “At her age, most people would quietly wait for death instead of risking a tribulation.”

Another elder snorted softly.

“Courage? Hmph. She only dares because the Sect Lord approved the use of so many sect resources.”

“That’s true,” another elder added carefully. “The loads of Spirit stones, pills, formations, and treasures used here are enough to support several Foundation Establishment disciples.”

A female elder frowned after hearing that.

“Grand Elder Maera served the sect for centuries. She earned this opportunity.”

“Yes. Without her contribution during the Frost Marsh conflict with the Western Limiya Gate decades ago, many disciples would have died,” another elder agreed.

Still, not everyone was convinced. An old elder standing on a black gourd shook his head slowly.

“It is still too risky. Her blood vitality is already declining. Even if she reaches the bottleneck, the Celestial Tribulation alone may kill her.”

A few nearby elders silently nodded. The atmosphere became tense.

Meanwhile, further away from the mountain, many disciples had gathered to watch. Some stood atop rooftops and towers. Some sat on flying artifacts borrowed from their masters. Others simply stood on the snowy ground while staring upward excitedly.

For many disciples, this was the first time witnessing someone attempting to become a Core Formation Lord.

The pressure in the air alone made them nervous.

At this moment, another old grand elder slowly spoke. Unlike the others, this elder looked even older than Maera herself.

His skin looked thin like dry bark. His breathing was slow and weak. His eyes were cloudy with age. Yet the moment he spoke, the nearby elders immediately quieted down.

“The outcome is no longer as hopeless as before,” the old grand elder said coldly.

“The Dao Paths of the Dadangar Subcontinent have opened once again.”

The nearby elders became startled.

“What does that mean?”

“Grand Elder Huron, are you saying the world laws have changed?”

“Is this related to the strange changes happening recently?”

Several elders quickly surrounded the old man. Nobody knew that Aksai had already released the Dao Beast that was isolated in the Heavenly Poison Sect. However, they had started to notice some signs.

However—

Before he could continue speaking, a suppressive aura suddenly descended upon the surroundings. The temperature dropped instantly.

Everyone’s expressions changed. The gathered elders immediately straightened themselves. Even the noisy disciples further away became silent.

A woman had appeared in the sky without anyone noticing. She stood calmly on a white lotus artifact.

Her long hair danced gently behind her. Her beautiful face looked cold and graceful. She wore flowing white robes decorated with pale blue patterns resembling frost flowers.

This woman was none other than the Sect Lord of the Eastern Limiya Gate.

Dahlia Whitejade

The only Core Formation Lord of the sect.

However, today, Dahlia looked slightly different. Her complexion appeared paler than usual.

It was subtle, but the grand elders noticed immediately. It looked as if she had only recently recovered from a serious illness or injury.

Dahlia ignored everyone’s gazes and calmly looked toward the cliff platform. Then she spoke only one word.

“Quiet.”

Her voice was neither loud nor harsh. Yet the moment she spoke, complete silence filled the entire mountain. Nobody dared to make another sound.

Even the freezing wind itself seemed quieter. Dahlia narrowed her eyes slightly while looking toward the darkening sky.

“It is about to begin.”

The moment her words fell—

The gray clouds above the mountain suddenly turned black.

Boom!

A deep rumbling sound echoed across the heavens.

Violent lightning crackled within the clouds like giant silver serpents twisting through darkness. The pressure in the surroundings multiplied instantly.

Many weaker disciples immediately turned pale. Some nearly lost control of their flying artifacts. The snowstorm around the mountain became wild.

The formation flags started fluttering violently. At the center of the formation platform, Grand Elder Maera finally opened her eyes.

A sharp blue light flashed through her pupils. Her Spirit Essence erupted outward.

The mountain trembled slightly.

And above her, the heavens had begun gathering the Celestial Tribulation. The second grand elder’s attempt to become a Core Formation Lord had officially begun.

Boom!

A massive lightning bolt descended from the heavens like a silver dragon tearing through the sky.

The first lightning strike slammed directly toward Grand Elder Maera. The array formations around the cliff immediately lit up.

Blue barriers rose one after another.

The lightning crashed against the protective layers before finally reaching Maera herself.

Crack!

Electricity exploded across her body. Her old figure trembled violently. The smell of burnt flesh spread into the air.

Many disciples watching from afar became pale instantly. Some even looked away in fear.

But Maera did not scream. She remained seated cross-legged. Her trembling hands continued forming seals while circulating her Spirit Essence with all her strength.

Her face looked extremely pale. However, her eyes remained steady.

’If the Dao Paths have truly been reopened, then nothing can stop me from becoming a Lord today. I refuse to believe my hard work and diligence were in vain.

’As for the person who brought these winds of change… I will make full use of the opportunity you have given me. Thank you. Please watch me ascend.’

Maera clenched her fists in determination.