A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

As soon as Aksai gave his affirmation, Velia began the preparations to bestow the Druid's Blessing.

Without hesitation, she raised her hands, and the surrounding golden Spirit essence—thick and luminous like northern lights—began to ripple and respond to her will.

Threads of this pure, concentrated Spirit essence floated through the air, weaving themselves together like strands of ethereal silk.

Velia's fingers moved with precision, guiding the shimmering energy. These threads of Spirit essence gathered in intricate Essence Equations, forming glowing lines and symbols that reignited the ancient array formation etched into the ground.

The vast array, dormant for centuries, shimmered with a renewed brilliance. A 10-meter radius Array Eye appeared at the center of the formation, radiating a soft but commanding glow. Velia gestured toward it, her golden eyes steady.

"Sit cross-legged in the Array Eye, boy," she instructed. "You'll need to align your Spirit essence with the array."

Aksai complied, stepping into the center and lowering himself into a cross-legged position. He adjusted his posture, his body straight and relaxed, as Velia continued her preparations.

"Now, execute your Spirit cultivation technique," she said. "This will help you stabilize your internal energy and calm your organs. The process of bestowing the Druid's Blessing will place a strain on both your Spirit essence, soul, and your physical body, so your state of mind must be balanced."

Aksai nodded silently. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began circulating his Spirit essence through his meridians, following the familiar rhythm of his cultivation technique.

His breathing slowed, becoming steady and controlled, as he felt his internal energy flow smoothly. His heart rate dropped, and his internal organs settled into a state of calm.

With his eyes still closed, Aksai spoke, his tone even but laced with curiosity.

"I hope you don't expect me to kill that Mad Immortal the moment I cross paths with him. After all, what's the point of avenging the Holy Land Torel if it's just an ant trying to shake a verdant tree?"

Velia chuckled softly, her voice carrying a mixture of amusement and reassurance. "Don't worry, lad," she said as she continued weaving Spirit essence into the array.

"The bloodline oath isn't a death sentence. It won't force you into a suicidal confrontation. The oath will enable you to recognize the Mad Immortal as soon as the two of you are in proximity. But what you do after that is entirely up to you."

Her hands moved gracefully, channeling more Spirit essence into the glowing lines of the array. Each symbol blazed brighter with every pulse of energy as she spoke.

"The bloodline oath is not time-bound," Velia continued. "You're free to take as long as you need to prepare. Whether it takes years, decades or even centuries, the oath won't rush you into action. However…" Her voice grew more serious.

"The oath is intent-bound. You must remain sincere in your intent to become the cause of the Mad Immortal's downfall. As long as your desire to bring him down remains genuine, you have nothing to fear from the oath.

But if your resolve wavers—if you abandon your goal or allow your dedication to fade—the oath will react. Your blessings will turn against you."

Aksai's lips curled into a small, confident smile. "That sounds manageable," he said. "I have no problem staying motivated."

The Spirit farmer took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in rhythm with the swirling energy around him. The tension that had gripped him moments earlier began to ease, replaced by a cool, calculated calm.

"If I'm allowed to plan things my way," Aksai murmured to himself. "My chances of success are much higher." His voice was steady but held a glint of something darker.

He opened his right palm while maintaining his meditative state, feeling the surge of Spirit essence flow through him. His eyes remained closed, but a sharp smirk curled his lips.

"After all," he continued, "I'm a fearful man. I've never claimed to be fearless. Fear has always been there, lingering in the back of my mind. Sure, I can overcome it when I need to, but I'd rather not put myself in danger in the first place."

His fingers flexed, the energy crackling softly around them. "However," he murmured, his voice quieter now, "if I'm given the chance to plan someone's downfall…" His eyes snapped open.

He clenched his hand into a fist, Spirit essence swirling around it like a vortex. "Then I'll make sure my enemies are played right in the palm of my hand."

Aksai's fingers moved deftly, forming a complex Mudra. He began chanting a Mantra in his mind, his thoughts becoming sharper, more focused. The array beneath him pulsed, responding to the alignment of his Spirit essence with the formation's ancient energy.

From a distance, Yelia watched the process unfold, her eyes flicking between Aksai and Velia. "My lord," she called, her voice cutting through the hum of the array, "aren't you afraid? My sister is asking you to target an Immortal, and yet… you're still just a Foundation Building cultivator."

Aksai's head tilted slightly, acknowledging her question without breaking his focus. He gave a slow, wicked grin before responding.

"Afraid?" His voice was calm, but there was a fierce undertone beneath it. "Of course I'm afraid." He chuckled softly, almost mockingly.

"People who don't feel fear when facing certain death are either naive or stupid. Fear isn't the problem. The real problem is how you use it."

Yelia's eyes widened slightly as she listened, but she remained silent, sensing that Aksai had more to say.

"Fear is misunderstood," he continued, his tone growing sharper.

"People see it as a weakness, but it's not. Fear can be a beacon—a guiding light that shows you the path to survival. It sharpens your instincts, forces you to think faster, to act smarter.

The survival instinct of the weak can sometimes help them prevail over the strong. It's all about how you channel that fear.

If you can focus it, turn it into a tool, it becomes your greatest weapon.

That's why I'm not ashamed of being afraid. Not anymore. Not at this point. I embrace it."

One had to remember that Aksai was still the same kid from his previous life who was scared of watching scary movies but still watched them. He never let his fear inhibit him from doing what he wanted.

The chronic planner in him was even excited for the challenges ahead.