A Farmer's Journey To Immortality - Chapter 410

Chapter 410: Clearing the 6th Stage: Receiving an Egg As a Reward!
The battlefield turned into a scene of utter disarray.

The woodland bulls maintained their defensive circle around him, their powerful forms providing an unyielding barrier against any stray attacks.

The snakes were in complete disarray. The intricate coordination they once held was completely shattered.

Some attempted to flee, their long bodies coiling and uncoiling frantically as they slithered toward the edges of the platform. Others became trapped in a vicious cycle of attacking anything that moved, whether friend or foe.

Their hissing cries filled the cavern, echoing off the stone walls and blending with the frantic tune of Aksai’s flute.

Handling a Soul Artifact took a toll on one’s soul. Sweat beaded on Aksai’s forehead, but he maintained his composure, fingers moving deftly over the instrument as he drove the melody further into the realm of chaos.

However, all good and bad things in life would come with an expiry date.

As the effects of the Melody of Daze and Melody of Panic began to wane, the woodland snakes started shaking off their confusion. Their eyes focused on Aksai with a menacing glare, their movements sharpening with renewed fury.

The hisses filled the air, a chorus of venomous rage as the snakes prepared to launch an assault that would finally overwhelm the defensive wall of woodland bulls surrounding Aksai.

Aksai felt the urgency as the front line of snakes reared back, preparing to strike. Just as their bodies coiled for an all-out assault, Aksai shifted the tune on his flute. The notes transformed seamlessly, giving rise to the Melody of Green Growth.

The shift was immediate. The air around Aksai thrummed with life as the wood-element Spirit pulse surged outward. Aksai only needed to channel a few simple wood-element spells, and the melody did the rest.

The ground rumbled beneath him as roots and vines burst forth, stretching and weaving into a dense, living fortress. Thorny vines lashed out like whips, catching the advancing snakes mid-strike. The hardened thorns pierced through their tough, metallic scales, drawing thick, oozing sap-like blood.

Aksai’s woodland bulls held their formation, their mighty frames standing guard while the vines and roots worked in tandem to protect their master.

However, one by one the woodland bulls started to falter as the injuries kept piling on their spirit bodies. After all, 12 woodland bulls against more than 100 woodland snakes wasn’t exactly a fair match. Plus, some of the snakes had access to Spirit spells as well, which then made the defensive-type Spirit spells cast by the woodland bulls almost null and void.

One could see that it wouldn’t be long before the green cores sustaining the presence of the woodland bulls suddenly turning dull.

The snakes that managed to get close found themselves ensnared by the ever-growing thicket. Thick roots coiled around their bodies, constricting them until the sound of snapping scales echoed across the platform.

Sensing that the crowd of snakes was beginning to adapt, Aksai transitioned back to the Melody of Daze. The haunting tune washed over the battlefield, but fewer snakes fell under its spell. Yet those that did were left helpless, eyes glazing over just before the relentless vines tightened their hold, crushing them in an instant.

Aksai alternated between the melodies, weaving chaos and control seamlessly. His multitasking prowess, bolstered by the neural link fabric, allowed him to maintain the momentum.

Each note and spell was meticulously synchronized, turning the battlefield into a choreographed dance of woodland magic and musical might.

As the number of woodland snakes dwindled to fewer than 30, they launched one last desperate charge. Their scaled bodies glistened under the dim light as they coiled and struck, their fangs aimed directly at Aksai.

Some of them used movement-type Spirit spells to enhance their attack potential while the others made use of their fire-spitting abilities to overwhelm Aksai’s woodland bulls. Four out of the 12 bulls immediately fell prey to such a high-intensity attack and three more were severely injured.

“This… this should be enough. Time to fly.”

Seeing the situation, Aksai retracted five intact green cores of the woodland bulls before the woodland snakes would damage them any further.

Aksai made the three injured woodland bulls change their size temporarily, turning a bit more massive than their original shape. With a quick command, he directed the bulls to intercept the charging snakes, their massive bodies colliding with the enemy and buying him precious seconds.

Aksai leaped into the air, calling upon the Lian Flying Sword. The sword hummed beneath his feet, lifting him just high enough to keep him safe from the snakes’ reach.

With the flute in his left hand and the Celestial Fang in his right, Aksai began his final assault. He unleashed compressed flying slash attacks with swift, decisive movements, each strike slicing through the restrained snakes below. The vines continued their relentless assault, gripping and tearing at their scaled foes.

[ Automating the flute-playing task using the macros saved earlier ]

[ Calculating optimal time duration for Melody of Daze, Melody of Panic, and Melody of Green Growth ]

[ Creating a flute algorithm for maximum efficiency ]

Aksai coordinated his sword attacks with the music, creating a perfect harmony between offensive and defensive maneuvers. As a result, the battlefield actions became repetitive for Aksai—vines writhing, snakes snapping and slithering, and flying slashes cutting through the chaos.

A few minutes later…

The cave’s restrictions activated, sending a pulse of energy that forced Aksai back to the ground.

He landed lightly, but the last few remaining snakes had already been dispatched by the combined effort of his attacks and the encroaching forest he had summoned.

The stage was quiet now, save for the faint, residual hum of Spirit essence clusters in the surroundings. Aksai lowered the flute, taking a deep breath. His fingers ached, and a sheen of sweat coated his skin, but he felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.

For the first time, he had cleared a stage without directly engaging in close combat. The battle had been mentally draining, leaving him with the distinct mental weariness that came from manipulating a powerful Soul Artifact, yet his body was unscathed.

A small, triumphant smile tugged at his lips as he surveyed the scene.

Aksai steadied his breath, the adrenaline from the battle slowly ebbing away. He scanned the platform.

A slight hum echoed through the cavern as the defensive enchantments embedded in the platform finally quieted down, signaling the stage’s conclusion.

Moments later, the air shimmered with a subtle, green glow. Aksai’s gaze snapped toward the center of the platform as small orbs of light began materializing. The green cores of the defeated woodland snakes floated into view, forming a neat pile.

There were about 50 of them—an astonishing number, considering the power each snake had wielded.

“This… this is a massive haul.”

Aksai’s lips twitched into a faint smile as he stored the cores into his spatial ring. They would serve as potent tools, perhaps even vital allies for future battles.

“Haa! The trump cards that I was forced to use weren’t gone in vain.”

He couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief; the sacrifices he made during the cave’s previous stages were now at least partially repaid.

Just as he was mentally cataloging his newly gained resources, another shimmer caught his attention. This time, it was brighter, almost blinding.

Aksai’s eyes widened as a radiant cluster of light formed in front of him, hovering inches above the platform. The glow pulsed softly, emitting waves of energy that tickled his skin and raised the hairs on his arms. Intrigued, he reached out cautiously and touched the luminous mass.

The light was warm, and as soon as his fingers made contact, the cluster shifted, condensing and solidifying. Before he knew it, he was holding an egg.

Not just any egg—it was massive, easily the size of an ostrich’s egg but far denser.

“Holy fu… ooof!”

Aksai grunted, his arm muscles straining as the unexpected weight threatened to slip from his grasp. He scrambled for a better hold and exhaled sharply once he steadied it.

“Damn. This thing weighs half a ton. What… What kind of egg is this?”

The egg’s surface was something to marvel at. Mysterious Essence Equation runes spiraled across its shell, glowing faintly with a verdant hue. The runes were intricate, almost hypnotic, and Aksai’s mind raced to decipher their meaning.

While he couldn’t fully grasp the equations without deeper study, he sensed an immense power dormant within the egg. It practically vibrated with potential.

Suddenly, a message echoed in his mind, clear and commanding

[Feed the egg with a drop of blood to bind the demon beast. Feed it consistently with nature energy in order to hatch the egg.]

Aksai’s heart thumped a little harder. A demon beast companion? This was beyond his expectations. The potential that lay in nurturing and hatching a demon beast was immense.

“I… I hope it’s a flying beast!”

The demon beasts offered by the Holy Land Torel had to be special, especially those bound through blood pacts, which formed an unbreakable bond between beast and master.

The thought sent a ripple of excitement through him, briefly pushing aside his fatigue.

He shifted the egg to his left hand, holding it close as he inspected the runes once more.

Aksai rolled up his sleeve, exposing a scarred forearm. Without hesitation, he nicked his skin with a small, sharp blade and let a drop of crimson blood drip onto the egg.

The shell seemed to absorb the blood instantly, the runes flaring up in a brilliant, momentary blaze before settling into a soft, steady glow.