Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1120 - 1119 - Mortal Stories

Lind and Chu were allowed to eat first and actual pleasant conversation was had. It was at that moment that Lind learned of a strange trend in the Rubyfire Kingdom.

Noble and royal children had to earn their names. Sometimes it could be given if they were the only child for instance with no hope of more but otherwise they were numbered by the current place from inheritance.

It meant that the Marquis' children had served or performed some service to earn their names long ago but the royal family operated by some rather odd rules.

The current King could only have children within a certain amount of time. War and beast tides could allow for more but the King would only rule until he was 5 million years old before handing off his crown to the next generation.

To prevent infighting and split courts, they could not have children until within 500 thousand years of their retirement. Should something happen before then, the old King or Queen would take over once more or if siblings survived of appropriate stature, they would assume leadership.

It meant rivalry was taken seriously but not to the point of alienation. Whoever came up with such a weird system must have suffered under simpler ones before.

Cultivation also introduced the lifespan variable far beyond a few decades under a leader. Heirs could plot to kill each other when that was more detrimental without good cause. By ensuring a back up for both the King and his heirs, led to a closer feeling of family than before.

Having to rely on and impart the ruling of the kingdom to possible successors meant ties between family were strong enough to prevent normal treachery nobles would experience.

The long history of the Rubyfire Kingdom showed the process worked from what he had learned.

After Princess Fyre and the 5th Prince boasted about their kingdom, the inquiries turned to Lind.

"So, Lord Emerald Immortal, from where did you begin your cultivation journey?" Lind could be truthful at that point.

He described his clan and how he had stumbled into being accepted into the clan by curing the daughter of the Clan Head. He spoke how he did not know he had the gift for making elixirs until he was sent off to the academy.

He spoke of how he got on the wrong side of some backwater nobility among other things. He described everything without names or references but no one called him out on it. Still, many were stunned by how far he had come.

"Such humble beginnings are a reminder to our more fortunate members to not take their gifts for granted." Princess Fyre's words were odd. They did not seem like an insult to him but made the 5th Prince blanche.

"On the contrary, I can safely say I was far too blessed. The work of many deceased ancestors gave me clues without which I certainly would not be here at all. I would be long dead." Lind made her narrow her eyes at him but he spoke only the truth.

If not for the Gu Clan and the Primordial Ruin with the staff, he would have likely long made a mistake many 6 elementals made.

Once the imbalance ruined his foundation, fixing it would take a miracle only he had barely scraped up himself. The sad truth was it was uncounted billions of years before all that knowledge coalesced into a single person.

Even with that, he barely survived several battles and close calls thanks to his much stronger friends stepping in to protect him. His elixirs especially could have landed him in a lot of trouble if not for Shoti being at the auction that day.

His early days were blessed to be sure.

"True, but many take for granted their advantageous start. It makes them weak." Lind felt like he was getting in the middle of something now.

The 5th Prince looked ill but said nothing. His ranking was not his birth but his quality yet Lind found he did not understand the animosity.

He had just heard how their system worked so why was Princess Fyre pushing him that much?

"Your Highness 5th Prince, what would it take for you to stand up to an Immortal?" Lind suddenly asked an odd question but the Princess laughed out loud.

"My brother is many things but he is not a fool! A Heaven Realm has no chance even at the Sun Tier. Or are you referring to the negotiations he had to secure that Yin Nurture Physique once you are done training her?" The mention of Mills made Gilgamesh flinch.

The poor girl could not train on the journey due the limited space in the Strider but had been kept near him as a compromise to show Lind was not trying to steal her away. He still spoke with her about her Battle Aura outside of his seclusion.

"No, your Highness Fyre, I mean to have the courage to fight even when facing impossible odds. The will to stand when convention says you should bend and accept your fate. That is what I am referring to." The 5th Prince looked worse which Lind thought was impossible and his sister seemed to frown when she noticed.

"Surely you know, Lord Emerald Immortal, that such a discrepancy is impossible to overcome." Lind sneered.

"I faced an Immortal as a World Realm and won." Silence filled the room. He sipped at his tea while even the dangerous butler did not seem to believe him. "I swear to Heaven and Earth all I will say next is true."

The rumble of the skies made all flinch but then he relayed his encounter with the Immortal Artificer and his false Ruin. He spoke about how it was a trap to find a compatible body and he faced total extinction of his soul.

Karma played its part but it would not have if he had not held on. He distinctly recalled how it felt to be on the brink of annihilation and his words carried that weight. His eyes showed the depth of his fear that day was still inside his memory.

A pin would have been like thunder after he spoke. Chu snuggled up next to him but he only smiled and patted her head. He was alive and fine so it was ok.

"I see. I misspoke." Princess Fyre bowed her head in respect but then Lind pointed at the 5th Prince.

"I am sure you heard that my wife made a mistake and took the Piercer of the Veil Immortal hostage due to her worries over my goal and my well being. Although I went to apologize and set things right, he stood up to me without hesitation." Lind recalled the fire in his pink eyes. The man was ready to go to war.

"He was within his right to call on the army to stop you taking an important servant of our family. Of course he would be–" Her words were interrupted by his aura flaring.

"He asked for no army. He stood in front of me and demanded her return. I fully respect anyone that can do that in the face of impossible odds. He stood before 2 Immortals and did not even flinch." The 5th Prince was now crimson but no longer ill.

"Please, Lord Emerald Immortal, that is enough!" He whispered the words but Chu and Gilgamesh smiled at him.

"Is that so? Well, perhaps he should be considered a fool for wasting his fire that way." Lind now looked seriously at her.

"Chu." He spoke only her name but she vanished instantly from his side and Piercer of the Veil Immortal was in her grasp. Even Princess Fyre was shocked at the turn of events but the 5th Prince did not even pause.

The sword was in his hand and he struck at Chu without any desire to hold back. Instead of being blocked, however, he dodged her tail and free fist at the same time and brought his blade to her neck.

She smiled wide at him with her fangs showing.

"Not bad." The blade had not cut her because black scales covered her neck.

"Brother! Do not–" The room froze as an aura locked them all in place. They all looked over to see Lind calmly sipping at his tea as he ate a steamed bun. It was quite tasty.

"You can still move your heads but I would point out I am having trouble holding only 2 people here. You–" He pointed at the butler who looked enraged but then all were shocked as the clink of metal on scales were heard. "His highness is feeling the same pressure yet he moves! I do not give praise lightly, Highness, but when I do, I dislike it being disparaged."

The aura lifted and the 5th Prince with Gilgamesh and the servants collapsed.

Only the Immortals stayed standing, which included the butler.

"Are you satisfied now, former King of the Rubyfire Kingdom?" All flinched but the butler finally smiled as a massive 2 headed axe appeared on his back.

"How do you know I am not the current King?" All seemed intensely curious but Lind pointed to the roof of the Strider.

"I would find it unlikely the King would be put in danger but the former King certainly would insist on facing 2 unknown Immortals so he could judge them himself." A man appeared at the roof of the Strider with several powerful Sliver Tier guards around him.

Laughter filled the air as the fake butler held his side in amusement.

"Little Fyre, apologize to our guest. You did push him too far." The formerly austere and cold princess blushed and pouted like a little child!

"Grandfather! Why would you–" He eyed her sternly and only then did his eyes shift to the crimson color even more vibrant than hers. So, it was their technique.

"Lord Emerald Immortal, I apologize for my actions." He waved them off as he looked up at the man with vibrant red hair that looked down at them.

"I assume aside from true curiosity, you were testing us. I also apologize for my extreme reaction but I grew weary of being watched. I would offer a piece of advice for the future, a direct heir should not be without appropriate guards." The former king laughed and nodded.

The buffet was taken away and the true meeting between the royals and Lind would resume inside the Strider.