[Hide my breath. Make it so that I’ll come across as a 4th-stage Spirit Refiner.]
Aksai issued a simple command to his neural link fabric before stepping out of his farmhouse, which looked like a renovated shack.
In an instant, Aksai’s lively vital signs, signifying his status as a 7th-stage Spirit refiner, subtly diminished, rendering him only slightly superior to a regular mortal.
His breath decelerated, and the aura, an innate defense enveloping his body, also toned down a notch.
Aksai hadn’t achieved this through the use of a Spirit spell. So there was no way for the landlord’s representative to figure out his real progress. The “mongoose” was only in the 6th stage of the Spirit Refining realm after all.
***
Cultivators in the Spirit realm relied on their five senses, heightened supernaturally, to gather information instead of using Spirit Sense to scan their surroundings, setting them apart from the mortal populace.
As long as Aksai’s neural link fabric concealed his breath and veiled his 7th-stage aura, he had nothing to worry about, even if his landlord were to stand right in front of him.
Of course, he didn’t need to test the limits of the neural link fabric’s abilities. Some tests were better to run inside a virtual sandbox and not in real life.
Thus, Aksai could maintain a low profile despite having attained the 4th stage of Spirit cultivation long ago. The neural link fabric allowed him to hide his progress. And he had been making use of it for years.
If his true cultivation level of the 7th stage of Spirit refining were exposed, Aksai could be coerced or forced into joining the Lakir clan’s force, akin to a mini-sect. In the worst-case scenario, he might undergo questioning by a Foundation expert, facing numerous scans and check-ups.
After all, how could an ordinary Spirit farmer achieve the 7th stage of the Spirit refining realm at such a young age, without backers, resources, or a high-quality Spirit cultivation technique? Suspicion would be cast on Aksai, either for having something wrong with him or for hiding a treasure. Either outcome wouldn’t bode well for him.
Aksai felt assured in masking his cultivation level from early and mid-stage Spirit Refiners, yet he harbored less certainty when facing a late-stage Spirit Refiner.
As for a Foundation Building expert in the second realm of immortal cultivation, their capabilities were formidable. Even in the early stages, they could extend their Spirit Sense outward, and Aksai harbored no doubt that all his secrets would be exposed in the presence of such an expert.
What exactly was Spirit Sense?
It manifested as the capacity to employ Spirit essence for perceiving, hearing, and sensing within a specific range, even without the need for physical contact or items to be within one’s line of sight.
Unlocking Spirit Sense marked a cultivator’s genuine entry onto the path of immortal cultivation. This fundamental ability served as the cornerstone for their progression. It also enabled them to cast advanced Spirit spells.
In comparison, Spirit refiners appeared unremarkable next to foundation builders.
Cultivators in the spirit-refining realm, which was known as the first realm of cultivation, utilized their nascent Spirit Sense to scrutinize their bodies. They could only unlock this capability after breaking through the 4th stage of the first realm. It marked the extent of the nascent Spirit Sense they could employ.
Only by breaking through to the 7th stage within the same realm could cultivators gain the ability to sense things through physical contact. The 7th, 8th, and 9th stages were recognized as the late stages of any cultivation realm.
Aksai had successfully surpassed the threshold for becoming a late-stage Spirit Refiner, empowering him to utilize Spirit Sense through tactile interactions. However, he hadn’t tested this newfound ability yet, as an unexpected visitor had just arrived.
***
Outside Aksai’s farmhouse stretched a generous expanse, serving as farmland where he cultivated a variety of 1st Order Spirit crops.
The verdant landscape boasted a vibrant greenery, each plant possessing unique properties infused with Spirit energy.
Rows of ethereal herbs with healing properties stood alongside resilient, Spirit-infused vegetables that enhanced the vitality of those who consumed them.
Aksai had also nurtured specialized plants with alchemical significance, their essence contributing to his expertise in talisman creation, array formation, and alchemy concoctions, as limited as he was by the access to knowledge regarding those fields.
The farmland was a testament to Aksai’s dedication and hard work. It also spoke volumes about the richness of the 1st Order Spirit Land Lakir family controlled within the region.
At this moment, a man was waiting for Aksai to show up outside his farmhouse. He was seen wearing a Lakir family long robe and was standing on a flying boat, which was run by an Array Formation and a bunch of spirit stones.
This man was named Haisha Lakir, one of the clan members of the Lakir family who was in the 6th stage of the first realm. He appeared to be in his early 40s by mortal standards.
Just when Haisha was about to yell again, he saw the door of the farmhouse open, and out came a young man who was just beginning to step into young adulthood.
“Lad, you seem to have been splurging on your breakfast lately. Did you loot someone?”
Haisha said, giving Aksai a knowing glance. He could detect the aroma of the celebratory breakfast Aksai had prepared after last night’s breakthrough, prompting him to make inquisitive and sarcastic remarks.
“Hehe, you jest, Uncle Haisha Lakir,” Aksai responded with a smile as he emerged from the farmhouse. He offered a light bow to the middle-aged man before continuing.
“Today is my birthday, so I decided to treat myself. My savings aren’t enough to afford such breakfasts every day,” he explained, forcing a smile and awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
Aksai spoke the truth. Or more precisely, half-truth.
Today, by the calendar of this world, was his birthday. Fortunately, this fact provided a convenient cover for him to discreetly commemorate his achievements.
‘This world sure is messed up. A person can’t even enjoy their accomplishments in peace. Vultures—these vultures are everywhere,’ he mused, letting out a sigh.