Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1140 - 1139 - Aura Stone

Lind was now in the lower area of the Rubyfire Kingdom's capital. The populace was fully recovered after a year of recovery but he noticed several people still looking forlornly at newly built structures.

The crowd was easily 90% humans but he did see a few demons and Heaven Realm beasts in human form. He currently had a dark hood over his head to hide his features but he was hardly unique.

Many cultivators would hide their features as the longer one lived, the more likely their identity would draw too much attention.

His party was small as it was Mills and Jur. Chu was angry with him but her bestial features were hard to hide let alone her over protective actions. Jur was a compromise but also because it was time to look to the future.

She was a grown woman and she had not really learned how the world worked outside their small family. Mills was coming with him as with her Yin Nurture Physique, she would need resources from a trusted contact in the markets.

The King had been willing to set up the connection but both Princess Fyre and the 5th Prince were quick to put a stop to that. The harsh insistence made him think there were some disastrous stories he would find amusing but his own goals took precedence.

Lind had studied elixirs in theory for so long but he wanted to meet fellow masters and maesters. He had on all 3 of his badges at the recommendation of Piercer of the Veil Immortal. She said his distinctive features were hard to miss but would draw far too much attention.

Experts with badges could get a quiet meeting set up far easier.

Their destination was where the sounds of metal on metal could be heard with hawkers calling from their stalls outside large towers looming over the open air markets. Lind noticed grades 1 to 4 were readily available in all directions but the quality was massively wild.

Whether refiners or even weavers, they were shouting impossible feats that his own Eyes confirmed were exaggerations at best to outright lies at worst.

Sales were driven by attention but some of the young men and women were trying far too hard.

"Master, something is drawing me in." Mills suddenly spoke up and Lind let his senses roll around the trio. All 3 were in cloaks but the quality was only middle grades for anyone that tried to scan them.

Underneath were Law Grade armor for each of them. Lind feared nothing at the moment but he felt the slight pull to the north of the market. It was not a refined item but a material. He could tell.

"Follow me. We can take a detour on the way to the Stonelight Guild." The tower looming over them was one of the branch headquarters of said guild. Between the floating lands, several powerful guilds had facilitated trade and auctions to allow for ease of access to fellow highlands and the lower lands.

Compared to how the Floating Isles had been quite harsh in isolation in his own mortal realm, it was actually refreshing to see such a guild. Still, it was in shambles in the current world.

The customers and hawkers made for a congested street but the pale stone buildings were neatly aligned so he could see ahead with his naked eyes.

He saw the materials section and the pull increased.

The stalls were of better quality of stone rather than just wood like the rest. Clearly materials were taken more seriously but it made sense. Pills and other products depended on the maker whereas materials spoke for themselves.

Older men and women were carefully observing the crowd but the auras were retracted to hide their realms. They could not hide from his Eyes.

The stall they came to was a bit larger than most and had slanted displays pointed to the street with stones, ores, cores, and even herbs. Many of the items were not preserved perfectly but he quickly noticed a strange stone on the corner display.

It shimmered with something other than Qi. It was aura!

"Careful, Papa, the owner is strong." Jur's instincts were vastly improved. She could not get an accurate measure yet, but she knew when someone was strong despite hiding their realm.

Lind looked up to see an older woman with fine white hair neatly tied into braids down to her mid back. The beads woven in were grade 6 artifacts but their compounded power could be dangerous to Immortals.

She had pale blue eyes and the fine wrinkles showed that while aged, she was still very powerful. Her limbs were falsely presented as frail but he could tell she had weapons ready to come to her command.

He smiled at her and bowed while cupping his hands.

"Fellow Daoist, this stone is holding an aura, may I know what it is?" Mills was resisting looking at it but the woman stood up and her white robes were smooth like silk and made Lind narrow his own eyes. Mid grade 7!

"You have good eyes, young man. Aura stones are rare and created by accident. They have been studied for epochs but the best anyone can guess is that with the right conditions, cultivators can leave an imprint of their aura behind." The steel gray stone was brought into her hands and she held it gently.

She seemed to fear it.

"This aura is dangerous. Full of weapons and death but they can be helpful for cultivators trying to comprehend their own path." Her voice was mesmerizing and Lind detected no Arts being used! She was just that charming!

"What do you seek for it?" The woman looked at him seriously before shaking her head.

"Aura stones are precious but no one can say they will help. I need to know it is safe for you to take it." She set it on a dark stone slab that Lind realized was a stabilizing tool. It was a bit worse than the one he used for volatile ingredients but the stone was calm as it sat there.

It would easily fit in Mills' palm but he appreciated the stall owner's honesty.

"Mills." He spoke her name and she jumped but then looked at the stone in excitement. She took a breath before the air shifted around her. Where once a slim woman was standing was now a chilly threat.

The stone leapt into the air in joy and actually glowed! The old woman was shocked but then smiled!

"Battle Aura in one so young! The next generation is still strong!" Her voice was not too loud but tears were trailing down her face. Lind did not miss that she knew what aura the stone held.

He let a wisp of his own leak which made him sense a faint echo in the old woman. She had partially mastered it but not enough to do more than carefully hold the stone.

"How much?" His voice broke the spell for both and the stone gently floated down to the top of the black slab. The old woman brought out a worn leather bag and coaxed the aura stone into it.

"I would ask to see her aura. That is my price." Lind found that odd but slowly nodded before his hands glowed.

A weaving flew from his hands and suddenly space opened up around them yet no one seemed to notice. A perception field was far easier than an actual ward.

"Mills, 10% and no more." The field could only do so much as it was not able to stop lethal attacks directed outward or inward. It was simply to keep people from being annoying.

She nodded and then the air shifted around her even more powerfully. Ice weapons formed until the Battle Aura flowed in all its glory around her. Her control was far more impressive and she was much closer to being able to continue on her own.

Gilgamesh had been chosen as her future guardian as he also had Battle Aura. He would benefit but also be able to help her in the future.

The man was being run ragged until lately with all the repairs and lost soldiers. He had to work 3 roles actively since the men and women holding them had died in the attack.

The old woman looked so happy it was easy to grasp she was thinking of someone and Lind carefully recalled the aura of the stone. It was not familiar but the echo in the woman was similar.

Mills brought her demonstration to an end. She was a little pale but she had not lost control at any point. He saw a need to train her on holding back more as it seemed to cause her more issues under pressure than in training.

"Thank you, here." She handed the bag to Mills who took it happily. He waved at her to keep it in the bag. He found it an interesting artifact as it handily contained the stone.

"Fellow Daoist, do you have any questions for me?" Lind was curious if she would ask him anything as she looked between Mills and himself. Understanding came to her before she now bowed but shook her head after.

"I am too old to start again. It is enough to know I lived to see the next generation get that stone." Lind bowed but still wondered at the history of the stone and the old woman. It would help Mills get more experience outside of his own guidance so it would be a very good resource until it collapsed.

The trio bowed to her before heading back to the looming tower. Lind was the only one that heard her crying and mumbled something.

"It was worth it, brother. Your death was not in vain." Lind felt a heaviness on his heart but there was nothing he could do. Jur looked sad as her own hearing was as keen as his. He took her hand and they made their way into the ground floor of the guild.