Aksai stood silently as the rewards he had selected materialized in front of him.
Without hesitation, he swept them into his storage ring. His eyes scanned the surroundings briefly, but he didn't examine the rewards further.
'Hmm. I'll check them out later,' he thought, steadying his breathing. Suddenly, a crisp announcement echoed within his mind.
"Now…. only the final stage huh?"
Aksai's expression remained calm, though his heart beat slightly faster. The 9th stage was the final hurdle.
Despite the growing anticipation, Aksai chose not to rush. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the cave floor, the dim glow of the surrounding walls flickering like dying embers.
He began cultivating, his hands forming precise Mudras as strands of Spirit essence swirled around him like a gentle storm. His breathing slowed, his focus sharpening.
For a few days, he cycled through techniques, consolidating his strength and ensuring his body and mind were in perfect harmony.
