Aksai's body cultivation practice would surely benefit if he decided to stop his Spirit cultivation and focus all his attention on honing his mortal vessel.
However, after deliberating over it many times, Aksai decided to continue practicing both cultivation paths simultaneously.
After all, the reason he had started body cultivation was to increase his survival chances, which would then help him achieve a breakthrough in Spirit cultivation.
Plus, there was a chance for him to improve his Spirit Root Aptitude if he kept advancing on both paths.
If he gave up on Spirit cultivation or paused it just because the path of body cultivation seemed less fraught with obstacles in his current circumstances, he might regret it after the prime of his life was over in a few decades.
Aksai decided that he would keep on persevering in his path to Spirit cultivation. He might adjust the priorities between the Spirit cultivation and body cultivation according to his needs in the future. However, he would not stop him from advancing in both of these paths at the same time.
Even if it might slow down his progress in either path to some extent, Aksai decided he would not prioritize momentary gains over long-term benefits.
Anyway, Aksai had the support of the Everwood farm, neural link fabric, and his potential Spirit bloodline. These three things gave him the confidence to stay steadfast on both cultivation paths.
"Generally speaking, scions of cultivation families have a better chance of establishing their foundation than drifting cultivators. Even if we consider their natural talent as Spirit cultivators granted by birth, the percentage of cultivators with backgrounds succeeding in building their foundation is much greater than those without.
It means that there's some secret knowledge related to the breakthrough of the 2nd realm shared among these cultivation families. This knowledge allows them to make quick and stable improvements in their Spirit cultivation when they reach the late-stage Spirit Refining realm. It also raises their chances of becoming Foundation Building Experts.
I guess I have no choice but to ask around. I can't expect the information to fall into my lap while I'm cooped up on my Spirit farm. At least, not yet when I am weak.
I can only mingle in the social circles of late-stage Spirit Refiners and try to gain knowledge related to the 2nd realm breakthrough from them," Aksai said to himself, firming his resolve.
Aksai had decided to avoid Lakir City after his last visit. So going there was not an option. However, he had another city in mind to explore and befriend a crowd there to gain some knowledge.
This city was in Ragui County, adjacent to Wuyum County.
The city's name was Wilben City, run by the Wilben Family, which had established itself as permanent enemies and temporary allies of the Lakir Family.
Aksai was sure that the Lakir Family would have no influence in Wilben City. Thus, he could explore the city without worrying about the consequences of his earlier actions falling on him.
Although going to Ragui County was a bit of a chore and would take additional time, Aksai was willing to go to great lengths to avoid troubles with the Lakir family.
Despite making significant progress in both body cultivation techniques and advancing to the late stages of the 1st realm in just two years, Aksai recognized that such accomplishments held little weight in the eyes of the powerful Lakir family, who had long dominated Wuyum County.
Moreover, with a genuine Foundation Building Expert among their ranks, Aksai realized he stood little chance of defending himself if someone in the 2nd realm sought revenge for his actions against Nesha and her allies, including possessing the 7th layer of the Basic Greenwood Tantra.
Thanks to Nesha's journal, Aksai was also aware of the existence of the Lakir family's secret force—Blood Bakshi—and their use of unorthodox methods to handle challenges beyond conventional means.
Despite his progress over the past two years, Aksai harbored no illusions about the strict strength-based hierarchy prevailing in the cultivation world.
"I'll leave for Ragui County within a week after resolving some pending matters here," Aksai contemplated aloud.
"There, I can also seek a way to breach the 1st order Array Formation. Though the chances of success are slim, nothing is really impossible with sufficient resources.
With my current abilities, I'm confident in evading danger as long as I don't encounter a Foundation Building Expert in person," Aksai remarked as he surveyed the fog-like barrier surrounding the Enchanted Everwood farm.
Despite numerous attempts, Aksai had failed to penetrate the Array Formation over the past two years. Lacking the necessary inheritance related to Array Formations, he wasn't surprised by his failures.
"Breaking through a barrier-type Array Formation is akin to picking locks," Aksai mused as he approached the barrier.
"Without understanding the internal mechanisms, dedicated efforts yield no results.
Moreover, some barrier-type Array Formations are resistant to forced entry, adapting to thwart intrusion attempts. They change their arrangement of levers when they detect that someone is trying to break through the formation with unauthorized access.
How can one pick locks if the levers inside it keep changing with each unsuccessful attempt?
Unlike talisman making, where I recently acquired a 2nd order inheritance, my knowledge of Array Formations is severely limited. Obtaining such an inheritance won't be easy either. So I'll simply give up on obtaining it for now.
If I can't decipher the mechanisms or bypass the lock, I may need to consider alternative methods– like getting a skeleton key.
However, there would be no breaking of the lock through brute force. I won't resort to extreme measures unless absolutely necessary.
After all, I don't know what lies beyond this barrier," Aksai concluded, futilely attempting to grasp the elusive fog in his hand.
Aksai stepped back from the fog-like walls of the barrier surrounding the Enchanted Everwood farm. Rushing into things was never his style. He preferred to do things in the right manner, even if it took a bit of time.
"I guess it's time to scratch those lotteries and see what I gained this time."
Aksai said to himself as he stretched his right arm. He then sent his Spirit Sense into his storage ring before retrieving some of the Spirit Seeds he had received from his neighbors as birthday gifts.
When he tried to refine the Everwood inheritance oil painting using the natal weapon method, Aksai discovered that he had unlocked another of its perks. The isolated dimension could now allow him to identify the type of Spirit Seeds as well as ways to cultivate them.
When Aksai willed himself to identify the Spirit Seeds, one after the other, information poured in front of him on the illusory Spectral Screen.
[1st-order Red Lona Sunflower Seed
Light Conditions: Requires full sunlight for at least 6 hours a day. The need for sunlight can be replaced with consistent exposure to five or more sun crystals.
Nourishment Needs: Prefers well-drained soil, watered regularly but not overly saturated.
Soil Type: Thrives in loamy soil with good organic content. Also needs Spirit Essence exposure using a simple Spirit Essence Gathering spell for about 10 minutes every day.
Nutrients: Requires a balanced Spirit fertilizer with a higher concentration of fire-attribute Essence for healthy growth.
Conditions: Moderate temperatures]
[2nd-order Moonlit Lily Spirit Seed
Light Conditions: Thrives in the twilight zone.
Nourishment Needs: Requires consistent moisture and Spirit Essence fog but avoids waterlogging.
Soil Type: Prefers rich, slightly acidic soil with good drainage.
Nutrients: Needs a water-type Spirit fertilizer.
Conditions: Prefers cool nights and mild daytime temperatures]
[2nd-order Starlight Orchid Grass
Light Conditions: Requires indirect sunlight or dappled shade.
Nourishment Needs: Needs regular watering to maintain moisture, but allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. Can be exposed to starlight stones to expedite growth. Additionally, a simple starlight formation can be arranged to improve the quality of the stalks.
Soil Type: Requires well-aerated, fast-draining orchid mix or porous soil. Soil can also be nourished using the blood of a wind-attribute demon beast.
Conditions: Warm temperatures with good air circulation.]
[1st-order Twilight Spirit Fern]
[1st-order Dawnvine]
….
The notification prompt appeared in front of Aksai's vision one after the other, processed by his neural link fabric.
This was the information he had retrieved about the Spirit Seeds he was currently holding. Of course, the one who had provided this information about the mysterious Spirit Seeds was none other than the Enchanted Everwood farm itself.
"Unbelievable! Two 2nd-order Spirit Seeds this time," Aksai mumbled to himself, his expression displaying his surprise.
In the next moment, his surprise turned into a smile before hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha. Those neighbors of mine truly gave me luxurious gifts," he said to himself as he looked at the Spirit Seeds in his palm with greedy expressions.
===
AN: Aksai's plan to refine the oil painting as a natal weapon was mentioned in chapter 24.