A Farmer's Journey To Immortality

Chapter 587: Grand Martial Hall’s Grand Master

The last fragments of her old skin turned to dust and scattered in the air, leaving behind only the golden glow that slowly began to fade.

The outward stirring of Qi in the surroundings stopped. The platform’s carved Essence Equations dimmed back to their dull gray, and the air regained its stillness.

Zinnia stayed seated for a few breaths, her chest rising and falling gently. Then, slowly, she lifted her hands and looked at them—smooth, unblemished, glowing faintly with vitality. She touched her face, her fingers trembling as they brushed her cheek. Her lips parted, and her eyes filled with tears that she couldn’t hold back.

She looked at Aksai, who stood unmoving but with a faint, knowing smile on his face. Without thinking, she rose unsteadily to her feet and walked toward him. The moment she reached him, she dropped to her knees. Her tears flowed freely now, falling on the stone floor between them.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Thank you for giving me Celestial Unity… for giving me back my youth… my life, Lord Aksai.”

Aksai looked down at her quietly, the soft glow of golden light still reflecting in his eyes. For a brief moment, he said nothing. Then, he placed a hand gently on her shoulder and spoke in a calm voice.

“No need to thank me, Zinnia. You are my subordinate, so strengthening you means strengthening my influence as well. Besides, I didn’t give you Celestial Unity out of pure kindness. I also wanted to test the technique before practicing it myself. If you look at it pessimistically, you could say I used you for my own gain.”

Aksai decided to be honest with Zinnia regarding his intentions in coming to Sharang after so long. He didn’t want his maid to see him as a perfect man without a flaw, which would make her rely on him a bit too much and hinder her growth. However, he had obviously not taken Zinnia’s devotion for him into account.

Zinnia lowered her head, still crying softly, her heart full of gratitude. She shook her head and wiped her tears before responding.

“My lord, I… I don’t mind being used by you. I trust you completely. And I don’t believe your motives were selfish. After all, you could have given this technique to anyone else if all you wanted was an experiment. I… I’m grateful that you chose me.”

Aksai smiled faintly, the golden glow in his eyes dimming to a calm shimmer. Without saying anything, he raised his hand slightly. Spirit essence flowed out of him like a warm, invisible mist, wrapping gently around Zinnia’s body. The energy lifted her from the ground as if she weighed nothing, bringing her back to her feet.

Zinnia blinked in surprise but didn’t resist. The sensation was soft, almost like being embraced by warm air. When her feet touched the ground again, Aksai let the essence fade away and looked at her with a playful smirk.

“Assume a martial stance,” the Spirit farmer said. “A mock duel with me should help you stabilize your Qi foundation. Nothing works better than real combat right after a breakthrough.”

Zinnia’s lips curved into a bright smile. “Yes, Master,” she said softly, her voice still shaky from excitement. She spread her feet apart and raised her arms, channeling her Qi.

Golden light flickered along her skin, flowing through her meridians like liquid sunlight. Just as Aksai had warned, the Qi felt unstable — powerful but restless. It pulsed through her body, sometimes too strong, sometimes too faint, like a flame caught in the wind. Still, she focused her mind and forced it to obey her will.

When she felt ready, she didn’t hesitate. With a quick breath, she lunged forward, using all the strength her newly formed foundation could give her. Her fist sliced through the air, leaving faint trails of golden light.

Aksai didn’t move at first. He waited until the last instant before parrying her strike with his forearm. The impact sent a dull echo through the air. He smiled again, this time with a hint of pride.

“Not bad,” he said. “Again.”

Zinnia didn’t reply. She dashed forward, faster this time, her Qi flaring brighter. She knew she couldn’t beat him — even though Aksai was still in the late-stage Argent Body realm, his Spirit cultivation made him far more dangerous than any Qi cultivators at her level. He could easily overpower her without even using his full strength.

That was exactly why she didn’t hold back. She poured all her energy into her next set of attacks — punches, kicks, and sweeping strikes, each one heavier than the last. Aksai countered every move with clean, efficient motions, his body flowing like water. His fists met hers again and again, the air cracking with the pressure of their blows.

They fought like that for a while, the world around them fading away. The sounds of their battle filled the courtyard. Zinnia’s breath grew heavier, but her eyes shone with joyful determination. Aksai’s calm expression never changed.

***

Meanwhile, far away in a grand, open hall lined with glowing runes and golden pillars, a tall, muscular man stood watching two people seated in meditation circles.

Both of them were surrounded by layers of light, their bodies trembling as they tried to complete their breakthroughs into the Aurous Body Realm.

The man, who looked to be in his early forties, folded his arms as he observed them closely. His gaze was sharp, and his Qi Sense reached out like an invisible web, scanning their condition.

As the breakthrough neared completion, both elders let out deep breaths. Their Qi turned golden — but not pure. A faint silvery tint swirled within, dulling the shine.

Their wrinkles faded a little, and their muscles tightened, but the transformation didn’t carry the vitality or strength of a true Aurous Body cultivator. Their lifespans would extend, yes, but only slightly. Their Qi was unsteady, and their strength gains seemed incomplete.

The man narrowed his eyes, his face unreadable.

“Another two imperfect Aurous-level Martial Compendiums,” he muttered to himself, as if he was already expecting a similar result.