A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

Several days passed quietly.

The vast ocean stretched endlessly beneath Aksai as he continued flying toward Emerald Cove Island.

Unlike his hurried journey to the Purple River Sect, Aksai deliberately maintained a steady pace this time.

During the journey, he occasionally stopped on deserted islands to meditate and recover the Spirit Essence he had expended in his battle against Kalina.

At other times, he simply flew in silence while organizing everything he had learned over the past few days.

He did not dare check the loot he had obtained from Kalina. Although he was eager to do so, he restrained himself, knowing it might trigger some unknown prohibition or hidden safeguard on the items.

It was better for Aksai to first reach the safety of Emerald Cove Island. Once there, he would activate the island’s formation to its maximum potential and completely cut off the island’s connection with the mainland and the other islands in the archipelago. Only then would he dare return to the Enchanted Everwood Farm to inspect his spoils.

His encounter with the imperial cultivator had taught him far more than any inheritance ever could. Every lesson had been paid for with blood.

Fortunately, he survived to learn them.

The salty sea breeze brushed against his robes as familiar ocean currents drifted beneath him. A faint smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"Haah! These life-and-death battles aren’t meant for a simple Spirit Farmer like me. Incidents like these exhaust me mentally and make me homesick. Thankfully, I’ll reach Emerald Cove Island soon."

Aksai pondered for a moment before muttering to himself again.

"There should still be some time before the royal faction reveals its fangs to the public. I’ll thoroughly enjoy myself before thinking about my next steps."

He knew these waters well. After spending years around the island, he no longer needed any map to navigate them.

At his current speed, another short flight would be enough for the island to appear beyond the horizon.

Just then...

Aksai suddenly frowned and his body stopped in midair. The surrounding wind continued flowing past him while he remained perfectly still, as if he was about to head back to where he came from.

"...Hmm?"

A strange feeling rose from deep within his consciousness. Almost as though something invisible had gently brushed against his soul.

Without hesitation, Aksai activated his Astral Third Eye. The vertical eye upon his forehead slowly opened. Its golden pupil quietly surveyed the surrounding world.

At the same time, Aksai raised his right hand. With a casual flick of his fingers, a small flame silently floated down from above his head before landing upon his open palm.

It was his Fortune Flame.

Originally, the flame had been completely colorless. Only after plundering Kalina’s Fortune Flame using the forbidden secret technique recorded within the Fortune Telling Arts had it finally acquired a blue hue.

Ever since then, the blue flame had remained calm. It quietly burned above him without producing heat or light visible to ordinary eyes.

But now...

Something was happening.

The tiny flame suddenly flickered. Then flickered again. Its movements became increasingly erratic, no longer burning peacefully.

Instead, it danced violently, as though invisible winds were battering it from every direction. The originally vivid blue color also began changing.

The blue deepened, growing richer and brighter. Almost as though someone had continuously poured invisible oil into the flame to counter the fierce winds’ negative effect on them.

Within moments, the Fortune Flame had become noticeably darker than before.

Its brilliance also increased considerably.

"..."

Aksai’s brows slowly knitted together.

"This..."

He carefully observed every subtle movement of the flame.

Although he had thoroughly studied the Fortune Telling Arts together with Nuri, much of his understanding remained superficial.

After all, the true practitioner of those arts was his Aether Clone. And the clone itself remained only a late-stage Spirit Gathering cultivator.

No matter how extraordinary the clone’s comprehension became through the Neural Link Fabric and Nuri’s countless deductions, its cultivation realm still imposed unavoidable limitations.

Many mysteries hidden within the Fortune Telling Arts simply could not be grasped yet.

Aksai himself merely borrowed that understanding. He was not a genuine fortune teller.

Still, he could draw certain conclusions.

"The changes... are real."

His eyes narrowed.

"My fortune is changing."

"No..."

He immediately corrected himself.

"Something is changing my fortune."

Or perhaps...

The Fortune Flame itself was responding to something that had already begun unfolding around him, acting like a magnet to attract the fortune and troubles his way. Whether it was cause or effect, Aksai couldn’t tell.

The Fortune Flame continued flickering violently. Like a warning. Or perhaps, an invitation.

Aksai slowly closed his fingers around the dancing flame before allowing it to merge back above his head.

His relaxed demeanor completely disappeared.

Every strand of Spirit Sense spread outward.

His Astral Third Eye remained fully open.

Even his 3rd Order Spirit essence quietly circulated throughout his body from the Spirit Core that revolved continuously at a much faster pace than before, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

The endless sea around him appeared completely peaceful. Blue water stretched as far as the eye could see and the white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. Nothing seemed unusual.

Yet, Aksai trusted neither appearances nor coincidences. Especially not after witnessing his Fortune Flame behave in such an abnormal manner.

Without moving another inch toward Emerald Cove Island, he hovered silently above the sea, his vigilant gaze sweeping across the heavens and the ocean alike.

Whatever had caused his Fortune Flame to react, he intended to discover it before it discovered him.

His Spirit Sense continued spreading in every direction while his Astral Third Eye silently scanned the vast ocean.

The restless Fortune Flame above his head continued flickering. Its movements became increasingly violent.

"...There."

His eyes narrowed.

Far beyond the horizon, a tiny black dot appeared.

Then another.

And another.

Without moving from his position, Aksai quietly instructed,

"Nuri."

A familiar spectral notification appeared before his eyes.