Velia seemed to sense his unease. She tilted her head slightly, her smile softening.
"You have done well to make it this far, lad. Few have reached this place, and even fewer have stood where you are now.
Not to mention, you broke all the previous records set by the original disciples. Tell me—how does it feel to carry the mantle of a core disciple of the Holy Land Torel?"
"I…" Aksai clenched his fists, his mind flashing back to the trials and battles he had endured to reach this point.
"I am humbled by the sheer number of geniuses this place must have had during its peak. As for breaking those records, I don't think much about it. Not because I underestimate myself or am pretending to be humble, but because the tests I managed to pass happened to align with the advantages I have over other Spirit cultivators."
Velia's smile widened, her golden eyes shimmering with approval.
