A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Clearing the 5th Stage
Aksai took a deep breath, letting the last remnants of pain ebb away as the healing pill did its work.

The bruises faded, cuts sealed themselves, and warmth spread through his limbs.

The sense of relief washed over, and he flexed his fingers, feeling the returning strength in them.

He glanced down at his torn, sweat-soaked robes and shook his head. “I can’t wear these anymore,” he muttered, pulling out a clean set of dark blue robes from his storage ring.

“Without a doubt, that woodland bear was a tough nut to crack.”

As he changed, the torn fabric crumbled to the ground, a stark reminder of how close he had come to being overpowered.

“Now… what do we have here?”

His eyes returned to the green core that hovered at the center of the stage, glowing with an ethereal light. Stepping closer, he noticed fine, almost imperceptible runes on its surface, pulsating softly like a heartbeat. Inside the core, the spectral form of the bear’s spirit flickered, its eyes half-closed as if it were in a deep slumber.

Aksai narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t I break this thing? How is it still intact?” He reached out hesitantly, fingers brushing the warm surface, feeling an odd mix of residual energy thrumming beneath.

Yelia’s voice echoed in his mind, smooth and unwavering. *’My lord, this should be your reward for clearing the 4th stage.’*

Aksai’s brows shot up. “Rewards? Woodland bear’s green core as a reward? This… wait… I thought they only came after clearing three stages together,” he said aloud, more to himself than anyone else, as he examined the core again, turning it over in his hands.

*’I believe that rule applied to the initial set of stages, where they tested resilience more than strength. Beyond that, each stage has its own unique trials and spoils,’* Yelia clarified.

Aksai’s lips quirked into a grin.

“I see… no wonder the 4th stage’s difficulty was raised so abruptly. Well, I’m not going to complain about that anymore now. A bonus is a bonus.” He twirled the core in his hands, a newfound appreciation growing as he considered the implications.

Aksai also quickly realized how to activate the green core and summon the woodland bear. This time, not as his opponent but as his ally.

The bear had been an incredible opponent, a blend of ferocity and near-impenetrable defense. To have the core of such a powerful creature at his disposal was a boon he hadn’t anticipated.

He took a brief moment to close his eyes, centering himself and extending his senses. The essence of the cave seemed calmer now, the tension that hung in the air during the fight dissipating. With a deep exhale, he stored the green core safely in his storage ring, its glow winking out as it disappeared.

“Alright, time to see what other surprises this place has in store for me,” he said, rolling his shoulders to ease out the last bit of stiffness.

He glanced over at Lini, who had been sitting quietly and recovering her strength. She gave him a nod.

***

A few minutes later.

Aksai’s heart thudded against his chest as he stepped onto the expansive 5th stage platform. It was massive—easily twice the size of the previous one, with high ceilings that seemed to disappear into darkness.

“Damn it. This… this is why I hate going to inheritance grounds. I’m not an adrenaline junkie damn it.”

He swallowed, half-expecting another colossal woodland creature to emerge from the shadows.

But what met his eyes was both more unnerving and surreal than he could have imagined. The array etched into the platform flared to life, a deep emerald glow radiating outwards as an unfamiliar, mechanical voice echoed through the cavern.

[Adjusting the stage’s difficulty level as per the disciple’s previous results.]

Aksai barely had time to process the words before the platform quivered, and the ground ruptured, paving the way for cracks and rustling foliage.

All around him, green cores materialized in mid-air, glowing with a pulsating verdant energy. Vines shot out from the ground and coiled around each core with startling speed, twisting and knotting as they took form.

Horns curved and stretched upward, thick as tree branches, and the earth rumbled as hooves as large as shields stomped into being.

They were woodland bulls, each standing a daunting 10 feet tall.

Their bodies were composed of tangled roots and gnarled wood, with patches of moss draped over their broad, muscular forms. Green eyes glowed beneath their jagged brows, emitting a low, menacing light.

Every time one of the bulls snorted, bursts of misty, greenish vapor curled from its nostrils, making the air smell faintly of crushed leaves and damp earth.

Aksai exchanged a tense look with Lini. Her eyes were also wide. ‘It’s a good thing that I have been turned into a living puppet. Otherwise, my heart would have stopped beating,’ she thought to herself. It was as if her mind was trying to cope by letting her see the positive aspect inside hell.

Around them, the bulls pawed the ground, lowering their heads, readying for a charge. The platform felt like a ticking bomb, seconds away from erupting into chaos.

A chill swept through Aksai as he clenched his fists, glancing at the green core of the woodland bear still clutched in his hand.

The thought of commanding such power still felt risky—he hadn’t fully figured out how to control it—but there was no time to second-guess. The bulls’ eyes flared brighter, muscles tensed, and their hooves scraped the ground with an ominous rhythm.

“Alright, big guy. Let’s see what you can do,” Aksai muttered, activating the core with a swift pulse of Spirit essence.

A bright surge of energy erupted from the core, and in moments, the spectral form of the woodland bear took shape before him, solidifying into a towering behemoth. Its eyes gleamed with raw, primal power as it let out a deep, resonant roar that shook the platform.

Aksai leapt onto his Lian Sword, channeling Spirit essence into the blade as it lifted him into the air with a surge of wind. Lini did the same, mounting her sword with practiced ease.

Below them, the woodland bulls hesitated only for a heartbeat, then charged as one, a stampede of thunderous hooves and cracking wood.

The bear, summoned and ready, lowered its own massive body, vines creaking as it prepared to meet the bulls’ onslaught. It swung a colossal paw, sweeping three bulls off their feet and smashing them into splinters and leaves. But more rushed forward, undeterred, their horns aimed like spears.

Aksai directed his flying sword in a swift arc, launching a barrage of condensed Spirit essence slashes at the approaching bulls. The energy blades struck true, slicing through their thick vine hides and scattering fragments of wood and moss. Each slash sapped more of his energy, the familiar strain biting at his muscles.

Lini added her spells to the fray, sending spirals of fire that licked and crackled through the air. The fire seared the bulls’ flanks, but their sheer numbers made them relentless. They barreled forward, their collective roars blending into one deafening cry.

The summoned woodland bear lashed out again, crushing another group under its massive weight, but it, too, began to show signs of wear as the relentless bulls closed in. Green roots tangled around its legs, trying to immobilize it.

“Lini! Cover me!” Aksai shouted, guiding his sword higher for a moment to gather his focus. He glanced down at the bear, its luminous eyes meeting his for the briefest of moments. He nodded, channeling more nature energy and Spirit essence through his core, preparing for a decisive move.

“Right behind you!” Lini called, casting a wave of ice that froze a line of bulls in their tracks, giving them a moment of reprieve.

With a final surge, Aksai raised his sword high and launched a powerful, sweeping slash imbued with both Qi and Spirit essence. The energy rippled out like a crescent moon, slicing through a row of bulls and leaving a jagged path of cracked wood and scattered vines.

The bulls wavered, some collapsing, while the rest faltered in their charge. The bear roared again, breaking free of its entanglements and sweeping aside the last of its opponents with a forceful lunge.

10 minutes later….

As the dust settled, Aksai floated back down to the platform, breathing hard. Lini landed beside him, sweat glistening on her brow. She was heavily injured and could not be of any use to Aksai in his future battles.

The 5th stage had been conquered, and they stood among the wreckage of their latest trial, battered but unbowed.

Aksai sat down on the cool, cracked surface of the platform, sweat trickling down the sides of his face. His body ached with exhaustion, muscles protesting even the slightest movement.

“I… I don’t think I’m ready for the next stage with my current level,” he admitted, his voice low and strained.

A soft hum echoed in his mind, familiar and calming. Yelia, his ever-wise Spirit guide, spoke, her tone gentle but firm. “My lord, sometimes brute force isn’t the answer,” she said.

Aksai lifted his head, brow furrowing as he tried to catch her meaning. “What do you mean?” he asked aloud, glancing around as if the answer would materialize before him.

“That flute you received as a reward… perhaps now is the time to use it,” Yelia suggested.