novelraw Chapter 1173 - 1172 - Carving Out Hope
Chapter 1173 - 1172 - Carving Out Hope
Lind was mostly an observer as the meeting began. All had come to see him and demand a piece of the pie but he had passed it off to the 5 Beast Lords and King Risselle. While it was beneficial to not be mired in such things, it also sent a message.
He was willing to protect the kingdom but not decide its future. It made those that would normally try to strong arm a weaker power proceed cautiously. He also noted the strange silence on the missing Adan.
Did no one care?
Regardless, things broke down almost immediately as each power aside from the Stonelight Guild, demanded lands for themselves. Some gave concrete offers that might be considered but most were more promises and favors.
The Fionan Emperor was rather stunning in that he only asked for future generations to come and purify their foundations during their training.
It would allow for a solid foundation to build on in the future as current Immortals were far weaker than older ones. The Corruption was progressively weakening each generation of cultivators.
It was a rather humble request given the advantage offered to his Empire but it changed the dynamic of the negotiations.
After that, things shifted to a month-long outline of what the supreme powers wanted.
The Fionan Empire would be granted leave with other powers to build and create a training facility for cultivators of all realms. Access to the facility would be paid in tribute to the Rubyfire Kingdom as its lands would be used.
Mostly, the tribute would be Qi stones, rare materials, or even a portion of their forces to protect the lands from invaders in the future.
The agreement was not without end as all knew the Corruption would return eventually but until that time, it was a precious place for all to protect.
The Bloodmoon Sect pointed out the need to allow future powers to gain access to the facility but since they were not involved in the construction, they would be charged higher fees.
It was agreed by nearly all. The only hold out was the Dawn Imperium.
Their servants and aids objected as the missing Adan meant they would also be charged higher fees. When asked where he was, the group became sullen and said they were not allowed to answer that question.
Lind arched an eyebrow at that but suspected Oz's old flame was at the heart of that. Who would dare deny a Radiant Tier?
WIth that little hiccup brushed past, the Stonelight Guild had a much more mundane but problematic request.
They wanted larger fields of herbs to grow and harvest for transport out of the Rubyfire Kingdom.
Maester Atla was the current representative but Lind had to point out the error in their thinking.
"Fellow Maester, while making larger fields is likely acceptable as all would benefit, transporting them away is an act of uselessness." Lind's disturbance made all look at him as if they had forgotten he was there.
"Please explain, junior." She smirked at him but her words were not wrong. He then shocked the room as a contaminated herb was summoned from his ring.
"As you can see, this herb is the norm for the current 2nd layer, but here it is recovering despite not being replanted. I can speed up that process but that is all I can do. If I take this herb back into the wider world, it will quickly return to its original state." A frown crossed some faces as they did not see the problem.
He had just shown that a storage treasure could protect the herbs, but them Maester Atla yelped in understanding.
"The alchemists and others are still under the Corruption! The tainted Qi will destroy the pristine herbs on both ends!" He nodded as she understood the issue.
"Conversely, making things here would allow finished products to spread safely in storage rings or other treasures. The Corruption would still affect them eventually but they could be used long before it brought it as low as current products." Some smiles spread but deeper frowns appeared on King Risselle and Emperor Fionan.
They grasped the larger issue.
While the current Stonelight Guild branch was able to make enough for trade or auctions in the Rubyfire Kingdom, the massive 2nd layer could never be satisfied with such a low rate of production.
Even if they turned the entire floating land into a field of herbs, pills and elixirs could never keep up with demand!
That still left ores and crystals for all the other professions! There simply was not enough.
"Lord Emerald Immortal, do you have a suggestion?" The 5th Prince spoke up which drew an approving nod from the Fionan Empire and Maester Atla. Lind smiled but shook his head.
"Any solution would be met with rage and frustration. The chance for pure products is just too high. Rather than try to meet any demand, why not include it in the training facility? There would not need to be extra charges either unless an excessive amount is needed." Confusion spread as no one seemed to grasp what he meant.
"Emperor Fionan, you will send your youths to cultivate and purify their foundations here, correct?" The man with the silvery circlet nodded. "Why would you allow them then to consume impure pills and elixirs as part of their cultivation?"
Understanding flooded the room as no one had considered the needs of the new facility completely! They all just assumed resources provided to the trainees would be sufficient but indeed, why settle for tainted goods?
The high price of admittance could easily help cover the cost of production!
The Stonelight Guild could still charge its fees to the Kingdom or customers but nothing could leave the floating lands without losing its potency!
"We will come back to this as it may still have issues with demands for direct sales." King Risselle spoke up and all nodded as they moved on.
The 5 Beast Lords only wished to expand their lands slightly in terms of what was added directly next to their current lands. It was easily agreed as most of it was wilderness already.
Lind felt things were getting in the right direction when something tricky was brought up at last.
"The Heavenly Maiden Sect would like to know if the method to raise and purify a land is available to us?" It was surprising at how long it took to get to that point but Lind could only look at King Risselle.
The secret lay not only with LInd but his own source of cultivation. The dark crimson eyes glinted fiercely but only the truth could avert disaster.
[If I may speak?] A new voice caught them all off guard.
All looked up to see the ephemeral form of the dragon-phoenix! He was a bit more opaque that before but that bit of vitality seemed to be fading fast. It was not enough to save him.
"Great Protector of the Rubyfire Kingdom, you are always welcome at my table!" King Risselle's fervor was not feigned. He was dead serious.
The living soul bowed from the ceiling before looking out over the varied Immortals and others.
[My former master left behind a piece of herself. An heir has been found but that has awakened the previously dormant Law Crystal. It is a very unique Law Crystal in that is it not the culmination of Fire Laws as all suspected but of my former Master and my own existence being tied together.] Lind found some truth in that.
It would explain why the Crimson Harmon Law Crystal attained such a profound state when the originator died at the World Realm.
[The conditions that birthed it cannot be replicated again. I am the only 1 of my kind in all of the Celestial Fields. I know this to still be true.] Lind felt the sadness at that revelation but then the soul looked at him firmly.
[The True Lord faced a unique tribulation as well. A Dao Tribulation. Some of you may not know about those but it is rare for a Crystal Tier to ever face one let alone survive it. Thus, what you ask for is not for us to give. It was the Heavens and Fate alone that brought it about.]
A rumble from above only seemed to confirm its words. The forlorn look on many faces made it clear it was not purely a greed driven request so Lind felt forced to speak.
"While what the dragon-phoenix says is absolutely true, there is one piece of information I will now explain." Lind looked out at them all and felt a brief relief that the unique resurrection of the floating lands also purged any remaining alcoves of Fiend power all over the Rubyfire Kingdom.
"I know the source of the Corruption and that it can be stopped." He did not dare say reversed as it could take centuries or more for it to completely disperse.
Many sharpened their gazes but none so much as the Bloodmoon Sect.
"Lord Emerald Immortal, where did this curse on us all come from?" The Fionan Emperor spoke firmly but Lind could only sigh as they would not like the answer.
"It is known as the inverted mountain." The 2 demons shot to their feet in shock while the True Maiden went pale. Maester Atla was not surprised as Lind had long ago explained what he was doing.
Emperor Fionan summoned a jade slip and tossed it to Lind. He looked confused but the man simply said something stunning.
"You will need all that is known about it in that slip. Many died trying to find it long ago but it was narrowed down to a few places. There are also notes of those that escaped raiding parties that were on their way to that wretched place." Lind's eyes narrowed before a feral grin crossed his face.
"I will make them pay." The Emperor nodded smartly before leaving the room. The meetings were over it seemed and all left with a newfound grasp of the truth.
The Emerald Immortal did not need a base of support because any sane power would throw resources at him to solve it. The entire 2nd layer was his foundation!