A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 404

Chapter 404: Bansi
Aksai chuckled, rubbing his forehead.

“Oh, so this flute has a bit of personality.”

He muttered, feeling the faint, child-like presence of the artifact spirit—reactive, yet unpolished, like a toddler trying to speak its first words.

Although the artifact spirit of the flute wasn’t as cognizant as the artifact spirit of the Heretic Talisman Brush, it wasn’t dull either.

Curious about what it could really do, he closed his eyes, focusing his senses inward. The Soul Space opened up to him like a vast inner cosmos, and within it, the circle-shaped seal of the flute pulsed gently, inviting him to explore.

The knowledge of the flute’s capabilities rushed to him in a strange, intuitive way, as if the flute itself was feeding him this information.

Three initial melodies… each one with its own unique effect!

The first three melodies appeared in his mind, clear as day: Melody of Daze, Melody of Panic, and Melody of Green Growth.

Melody of Daze was simple but potent: any listener would feel their thoughts getting frozen in time, almost like their mind was being put on pause. Aksai visualized it, the notes freezing an enemy mid-attack, leaving them blank and vulnerable.

Then there was the Melody of Panic, a discordant tune that seeped into the listener’s nerves, instilling a creeping sense of fear and urgency.

The flute made use of Aksai’s memories and experiences to paint a picture for him. The imaginary visuals of the flute player sending an entire battalion scattering in blind panic made him smirk.

Melody of Green Growth was the most surprising. It was different from the first two—almost peaceful in intent. This melody was meant for druidic use, able to quicken the growth of Spirit plants and herbs, bringing them to full maturity in moments.

The flute’s effects were far-reaching. Whether he was targeting one person or an entire crowd, Aksai could influence them all, adjusting the intensity as his mastery grew.

For the most part, as long as Aksai got skilled in playing the notes mentioned in the song with the flute, the effects of the songs would be near instantaneous. It meant that Aksai could use the flute during intense battles as well.

The most surprising thing was the fact that the artifact’s effects bypassed conventional defenses like ear-blocking charms or silencing spells, operating directly on the soul.

It didn’t drain his Spirit essence, either. Instead, it drew from Soul essence—or Aether essence—a natural advantage that made the flute perfect for both Spirit cultivators and Aether practitioners alike. It meant that Aksai could make use of the flute as a trump card when his Spirit essence reserves were completely depleted.

The flute’s effects would be more prominent on those whose mental ability to defend against such attacks was lower, which meant that it would work more prominently on demon beasts.

Of course, as long as Aksai’s cultivation base was sufficient, it would work on a large group of low stage Spirit cultivators effectively as well.

“It seems I was wrong in judging this book by its cover. This thing can be used mid-battle as well. It’s just that it would look odd when I suddenly take out a music instrument and start playing it in front of my enemies,” Aksai murmured to himself and shook his head.

He could already imagine the scenes: opponents paralyzed in confusion mid-battle, groups breaking into frenzied retreat, and fields of stubborn Spirit plants bursting to life under the Melody of Green Growth.

Furthermore, the flute was versatile in its use. It could be used in various settings as long as Aksai had compatible tunes.

***

“This thing is truly versatile.”

Aksai studied the flute, processing its unique strengths with a growing sense of appreciation. Intent-based abilities were nearly impossible to guard against, especially for most cultivators in the Dadangar Subcontinent.

Only those who had trained in intent-based spells or possessed similar artifacts could hope to resist the flute’s effects. This made it a weapon of serious advantage, particularly in the hands of a druid like Aksai. He felt a faint but certain connection to the flute, almost like it was a long-lost tool crafted specifically for him.

He could sense that the flute held even more hidden capabilities, waiting to be unlocked as his strength in intent-based skills grew. It was almost as if the flute itself was guiding him, silently conveying that it would reveal more secrets, more melodies, as he developed.

“Hm? You want me to create new songs?”

The idea intrigued him; he would not only be mastering an artifact but potentially learning to craft his own melodies that could induce new emotions, control opponents, or even create physical effects.

The sheer versatility promised to make the flute invaluable, especially with its Area-of-Effect properties.

Considering its potential effects on demon beasts, Aksai thought about his upcoming mission in the Duya Forest to hunt the elusive Aether Beast.

“This might be the perfect tool for keeping it off-balance,” he muttered, already envisioning the ways he could use it to turn the tides against powerful opponents.

“Alright. It’s time for you to give you a new home.”

As he moved to place the flute in his storage ring, Aksai felt a wave of resistance coming from it—a clear reluctance.

“You don’t want to be kept inside a ring?”

It felt oddly personal, like the flute didn’t want to be stowed away in such a mundane place. Then, in a quick, wordless impression, it conveyed its preference: his Soul Space.

Aksai paused, realizing that this was no ordinary artifact—it was a true Soul Weapon. Within his Soul Space, the flute could be nurtured by his own Aether essence, growing alongside him and growing stronger over time.

“Alright,” he said before tossing the flute into the air. He wrapped it gently with his Soul Essence, guiding it inward. In a flash, the flute disappeared, and Aksai felt its presence settle within the expanse of his Soul Space.

Inside, the flute dived toward the boundless sea of Aether essence that was his reserve. He felt it begin to draw deeply, drinking in volumes of his Aether essence.

The sensation left him light-headed, a bit dizzy from the sudden consumption, but the flute finally stopped just before he felt completely drained.

As if to convey its satisfaction, a bright, almost playful note rang out in his mind.