Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1091 - 1090 - Take Responsibility

Gilgamesh was nearing the end of his life. He had already been close to the end of a Sky Realm's lifespan when he finally broke through to the Star Tier. It only added a few thousand years but the vitality of his body was restored to the end it seemed.

His technique focused on the body and it suited him well as a man that thrived in battle. He had heard of many miracles before the Corruption that Immortals could do, yet when he set foot inside the wagon he was shocked.

How was it so big on the inside with no feeling of distortion? He could easily look outside the cover flap that was centered on the back or front side without issue!

He saw the demon but was stunned further to see a wee baby in his arms. It was in the Body Refining Realm!

There was a large kitchen and dining area where he was currently enjoying rich beast meat and vegetables with wine. It was a sumptuous meal that he rarely got to enjoy even as the Man at Arms of the kingdom.

"Jur, take care of Katerina." The rogue Immortal spoke. He had not asked for a name as he knew it would be a lie. A Dao title would be just as unlikely as he understood a group wanting to keep a low profile when he saw them.

The clues were all there as no names were given and the selfless gift of elixirs without cost. He was not new to the game of politics. The group in front of him were trying to avoid leaving a trail.

He noticed all looked with softness at the baby and knew at that moment they were no threat to his kingdom.

"You have no objection to demons, it seems, Lord Gilgamesh." He straightened up as the Immortal addressed him.

"It was more true surprise at such a mixed group but you are the mystery. I can't sense what you are despite being able to sense them" He pointed at the partial beast features of the 2 men 3 women.

"Ah, I simply judge people by their actions and truths. What they are is usually immaterial but there is a single exception to that. Although even then I was proven wrong at least once." Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes.

The man was an Immortal in front of him, so he likely lived before the Corruption. There was only a few races he had never encountered but one that endured even to the present.

Fiends.

Still, that was all far above his concerns.

"I would love to hear more but my current concern is the expectation you are setting up. While I appreciate the unstable situation after an abusive noble is a tragedy, I can't have you raising hopes to only have it come crashing down." He actually was happy to see an Immortal care. But care without resolution was more harmful than good.

The man smiled at him and nodded in understanding.

"I am not so foolish to simply heal and leave. However, I cannot abandon a dying child no matter my needs. I have a goal I am moving towards and if you can help me, I am willing to lay a foundation to help these people without many resources." Gilgamesh felt his instincts flare.

Healing for a day was free but now a cost would be incurred?

"I am only here at his majesty's request to stomp out the rebellion. While I am in charge, I am not a noble. One is being dispatched–eventually." That last word brought a smile from the Immortal and his companions.

A county was a decent noble title but it was also near the bottom rung of the ladder. Assigning a child that might inherit a higher title would be taking some time to overcome many arguments that boiled down to pride and arrogance.

It was clear the Immortal had dealt with such things which earned Gilgamesh's sympathy.

"In that case let me reassure you. I ask only for up to grade 3 herbs and World Stones at most. Even then, they will be common. I just need quantity more than quality." That was a relief and understandable.

"What sort of foundation?" The Immortal smiled but answered by summoning an elixir that glowed to his eyes. Gilgamesh picked it up and saw the colors shift across the spectrum of natural Qi. It was like living elements in a bottle!

He saw strange glitters of gold flecks as well but his aura told him it was grade 6 at least! What was it?

"May I know what this is?" The Immortal smiled and pointed at him.

"Your foundation is corrupted by tainted Qi. That is an Immortal Grade elixir. It is the Foundation Cleansing Elixir. It will not be as effective as it could be but it should resolve some of your issues. Is that payment enough for permission?" Gilgamesh felt tempted. He wanted to believe but he put the vial down.

"I am at the end of my life. Such an elixir is wasted on me." The Immortal frowned and he thought he saw the dark green eyes flash before a deeper frown filled his face.

"Your vitality is indeed low but not that low. Take it." He looked at the vial and distrusted it. He was going to die soon so what would a few more years bring him?

He sighed as he felt no pressure but the villagers and city commoners were perfectly fine. He uncorked the vial and felt the profound wave of Qi from it. It felt so pure!

He quickly downed it and a burning sensation coursed down his throat. His body began to feel like it was melting but he had felt it before! It was like a tempering pool for body cultivation!

A familiar sensation of impurities being removed from his body ensued but it was deeper. His flow of Qi in his dantian and meridians was becoming smoother and more powerful!

He also felt like his flesh was coming back to life! Aches and pains that had started to plague him, indications of the end he had felt before, faded away!

He felt an itch on his skin as old flesh fell away and even his hair did! He had been proud of it!

The itching continued until finally it all stopped. A weird emerald flame passed over him but it just removed the impurities and discarded old flesh. As his senses stabilized he felt like just breathing was easier.

"Husband, did you–" He saw the Immortal wave off the beast woman's words. He seemed satisfied.

"He distributed the food evenly. He also paid fair wages for the food those commoners forced themselves to gather. We are both selfish fools." Gilgamesh felt a smile across his face before he saw a strand of dark hair enter his vision.

It was black! Pure black!

He summoned a dagger and used its reflection to see a face he had not seen in centuries!

His wrinkles were still there but far less. His hair was vibrantly black and longer than before. The leather tong was laying on the floor and he picked it up to tie back the mess.

He was about to speak when he felt his dantian stir. He immediately looked at his constellations and was floored by what he saw!

He had originally been a 4 primary elemental. Air, fire, water, and earth had made him a powerful warrior. He had just barely grasped darkness and light elements to create the constellations.

Now, however, he felt like all the stars shone with power he had never seen before, even his original ones! The secondary elements looked far more complete and just examining his dantian made him comprehend things he had never been able to grasp before!

"So? How do you feel?" Gilgamesh blinked before he began to shake. Deep and pure laughter left him that made the little baby demoness coo at him adorably.

"That was more than a Foundation Cleansing! It feels like centuries were added to my life!" The Immortal shook his head.

"The Corruption has made advancement far too costly but Heaven is fair. If your foundation can be purified, the vitality sacrificed can be partially recovered. It was there but locked up in those impurities." Shock flooded him as he understood.

It was no wonder so few could make it to Heaven Realm anymore. If they had not sufficiently grasped the elements or had help with pills, they would run out of life entirely!

"Can–can you help us?" The words escaped him but the Immortal looked at him sadly as 3 more vials appeared.

"Immortal grade elixirs, like pills, are not easy to make. The consumption of materials and purity are massive issues. The current world is impossible but I am hoping to change that." The Immortal then summoned a different vial with a simple grade 3 aura to it.

He uncorked the vial and let it sit as they all watched the pure aura quickly fall and decay.

"Even sealed, this happens just more slowly. I have better protections on higher grades obviously but even then, it is only a matter of time." Understanding flooded Gilgamesh.

The problem was deeper than just cultivators! It was the whole world!

"Can anything be done? You clearly found a way to purify them." His observation brought a frustrated look to the Immortal who nodded slowly.

"In the short term, in limited quantities, I can get decent results but the Qi consumption is insane even by my standards. If I put my all into it, I can make a single Immortal Grade elixir of that purity every century." Disappointment flooded Gilgamesh and shame that he had given into temptation when his King needed such an elixir more!

As if reading his mind, the Immortal smiled and put the vials away.

"Things are not free. I am looking for a place I have only heard of tangentially but will help the situation. I am looking for something called the inverted mountain. Do you know of such a place?" Gilgamesh shook his head but then smiled.

"I am a soldier first and foremost but I know scholars that study the land extensively. Such records are in the capital, however. Would I be able to invite you there?" The Immortal considered that and slowly nodded.

"It will take some months to finish here so that is fine. Please send word to your King as you need to. Inform him I am teaching the commoners here how to cultivate. Nothing excessive but they seem to lack even basic knowledge and were given inferior pills to advance for the needs of the county." Gilgamesh could not deny that at all.

"I will do so! Thank you sir–?" Gilgamesh looked up expectantly but saw consternation on the Immortal's face. A tired sigh escaped him before he seemed to decide something.

"I suppose I am overdue to introduce myself. I am the Emerald Immortal." It was a Dao title! He had not heard of it but he recalled the strange flames from before. He bowed low and left to inform the capital of their visitor.

He moves so much faster than before it was exhilarating! The Rubyfire Kingdom could help an Immortal that is so kind! They had to give it their all!