Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1010 - 1009 - Princess Rises

Teegan still felt odd looking out over the mountainous terrain outside her ancestral cavern. Both Maester Cord and she had assumed the humans would want to leave or go to family if they had any but nearly 99% chose to stay with her.

With Senior Tsunade and Cord's help a small city had begun to be built in the remote area. The major reason it was able to thrive was the profound stone circle slightly glowing in her line of sight.

It was not the same as the Gates she was used to as it was shockingly cheap to use but also far faster!

To cross the realm would normally take weeks even by a Gate, but even a short distance like the former Kun City took days to save months of travel.

The current iteration was near instant!

With only a handful of Immortal Qi stones, the new gateway could be used to reach the now reclaimed Starhide Forest in only a few moments!

It had only been completed a few days ago but had been working hard since then to transfer materials kept in the Golden Vermillion Inn that were of not much use with beasts as their main customers.

The humans, however, needed a lot.

She had not heard if they had a new name but Maester Cord had turned over all his notes and comprehensions after refining the process. It did not even take a Law Maester to pull it off!

He had put his full strength into it but weavers at grade 6 or 7 were easily able to replicate what he had done. It might take teams to do it, but they could do it!

He had recommended she spread the new design and discovered how refined the new possibilities were!

Just like a teleportation array, it could be blocked by the host of it to deny entry if they desired. Before, so long as the prerequisite mountain of resources were given, the Gates could not be blocked at all.

They barely worked and the world was currently difficult enough that battles like what Shandor Syndicate and Eternal Flame Sect unleashed were quite rare.

As such, Starhide Forest had full control of who could come and go. A Law Binding had been rebuilt by Senior Delenn and Tsunade that was made even better by the Starhide Wolves. Their ability to make such excellent Law Bindings surpassed most humans she had heard of.

The reason that clan had thrived was clear to her. That thought led her to rub her belly nervously.

Her clan was nearly extinguished but her duty was becoming clear. Not just to lead the current people but to the now future generations that could exist thanks to Maester Cord's guidance.

"Your ancestors would be proud, Princess Teegan." A familiar voice made her smile and turn to find the old Elder standing there. He looked much better than he had in the last few decades.

The heavy responsibility of keeping her safe and trying to carve out an existence for themselves had been lifted. The ancestral grounds were slowly thriving as buildings were erected around them.

There were no threats nearby and the few beasts would dare defy them but instead ran to be protected!

Maester Cord had corralled many of them to raise as livestock or beasts of burden. None had sentience but the current generation were not in any danger either. They needed to breed and multiply.

Her thoughts made her blush! She seemed to be stuck on that aspect!

The Elder looked knowing but made no comment as he joined her on the balcony looking out at the growing city.

It had only been a few months but the once barren stretch of mountainous terrain in front of their cliff was now covered by streets, bridges, and structures being carved into or built upon the slopes around them.

"The True Lord will be leaving soon, Princess. If you wish to tell him how you feel, do it soon." He did not turn to her but the heat coming off her cheeks must have been clear to all!

"T-t-t-there is nothing to discuss! He is the True Lord! I will not dishonor him by being annoying!" Her previously calm demeanor was fleeing to the hills and the Elder felt glad.

He was glad his charge could be so happy to experience such things in the dark times around them.

"I am not saying you demand from him, but heart demons are born from regrets. Speak your heart and he will understand. He is impressive even if he was not the True Lord." The Elder's words were simple truth. The evidence of the glowing gateway was proof enough of that!

Near that very gateway was a puff of emerald that marked the True Lord working on that very gate to connect to the current Gates.

"I will consider it!" Teegan then ran off as the Elder shook with some laughter. It had been dark for so long that laughter felt alien even after so much joy had been brought back to them.

She descended the steps that were far too large for the human form but she slowed as she walked past the empty alcoves in the cavern.

The main cavern was used to host the elites of her clan but were now empty.

Deeper in the earth were caves and passages that made up her greater clan area but they were as empty as the current one. The elites defended the clan until only 1 remained.

She was the last child born and her mother died bringing her into the world. The Corruption had permeated all the levels until Maester Cord had allowed her to become the inheritor of her clan.

The authority of the patriarch or matriarch had been lost too suddenly to pass it on but now it was back!

Teegan felt funny again as she realized what she was thinking about was ludicrous but made her instincts scream for release. It had started slowly but she realized that her transformation had suppressed her draconic instincts.

Now they were rising and getting stronger yet she refused to be a slave to her instincts!

It did not help that not only was Maester Cord handsome to her human sensibilities, his dragon form made her want to lay on her back for him!

Her face was a deep crimson as she walked out into daylight without realizing. She immediately heard some shouts and followed them to the nearest gathering of structures.

Several men were screaming about the allocation of resources again. It was fairly common as a steady flow was not yet up and running. Maester Cord had created some areas to plant and harvest but it would take some time for that cycle to really get going.

Until then, shipments for Senior Tsunade were all they had.

"You are hoarding them! I saw you take an extra bag!" A large man with a gash on his cheek and blonde hair was screaming at a young woman with a child hiding behind her. The woman was not cowering but looking at the man like he was an idiot.

"Did you expect my child to carry that big of a bag? He has only just started cultivating and is not even at the middle of Body Refining Realm." Her words were calm. It did not seem to affect the raging man.

He was about to pull out a dagger when a pressure washed over them all. Teegan slowly walked out and her eyes were like liquid gold at that moment.

Her tanned skin shimmered as scales flashed but she retained her human form.

"Each bag to a person. That was the rule. I am working to get more food and resources for cultivation but it takes time. The new gateway is being connected to the greater Gates in the world. Maester Cord has given of himself as well to supply all of you with food." She was not shouting nor sneering. She simply was calm.

The mother and child felt relief while the man looked frustrated.

"If you are unhappy, you are free to return to another city. No one is being forced to stay here. You will be given 3 days worth of food and Qi stones to start over. That offer stands." Her words made everyone gathered around slowly nod.

They had chosen to stay so complaining about distribution was not only idiotic but useless. They could just leave.

The man was flushed but clearly knew he had no place to stand. He was about to leave when a massive dragon claw of amber scales surrounded him.

"Something about aether beasts you should know, our senses are as acute in human form as natural form. Your anger is clouded by lust. You were warned that crimes will not be tolerated. This is my final warning and lesson." Before anyone could grasp her words blood flew in the air as the man lost his left arm!

The blood was burned by a sudden wave of heat and the wound seared to stop it bleeding. The man wailed as he looked ashen at his lost limb.

"Do not assume I am tolerant because of my kindness. I will protect my people but I will not let you run rampant. If any of you have a problem with that, you are free to leave." She turned and stopped as she found the looming form of Maester Cord!

How much had he seen?!

"You are more merciful than I am, Princess Teegan. If it had been me, he would be dead." He then vanished before picking up the injured man. His emerald eyes flared and were cold. "Understand, you only live by her mercy. If I had caught you, death would have been your fondest wish."

He dropped the man and walked off. Many of the humans bowed as he passed but she noticed many looked at her with fondness. The little child ran up and hugged her. She patted his head slowly as she processed what had just happened.

She had a very strange thought.

Maestor Cord was wrong. He was not in the right. Her eyes narrowed but she comforted the child as the man stumbled off. His fate was his own to decide but she felt he would cross her rules again. She made a note to observe him and eventually made her way towards the new gateway.

She had to have some words with Maester Cord.