Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1175 - 1174 - Striking Out

Lind was slammed into the stone wall and shattered it. He felt sore but no blood was drawn out as his body was far more resilient than ever before.

Dusting off his shoulders as he looked at the perpetrator calmly with his emerald eyes.

Chu was heaving heavily as anger burned in her black and emerald eyes. Her body was tensed and ready to strike until a small pale hand touched her shoulder.

"Mother, you did not let him finish." Jur was not happy but Lind had only gotten as far as that they had to split up before Chu attacked. He smiled at her but kept an eye on Chu.

"As I was saying, I have confirmed a few things about my destination. Chief of it being many of you cannot join me or you will die." His sentence calmed Chu remarkably. He only said 'many,' not all.

"I take it that thing you showed before is the reason?" Oz spoke up and Lind nodded as he conjured the orb of Celestial Qi once more. The instant all saw it, many reacted viscerally with fear.

They instinctively understood it was a threat to their life.

He saw Chu flinch as well which confirmed something he had suspected. He stepped up to her and she seemed to accept it as a challenge. Her hand was covered in black and emerald flames. Black was far stronger but she fearlessly put her hand into the sphere of Celestial Qi.

Lind did nothing but saw her hand was fine at first. Yet, after a short time, her black flame was destroyed and the emerald traces were dispersed with ease. He sighed but she tried to keep her hand inside even as it began to bleed.

"Chu, look at the aura of the elements." His words brought surprise to them all as they checked and shock flooded the room.

World Realm! It was only World Realm elemental Qi! How could World Realm overpower Immortal Qi?!

Chu had tears form before an arm pulled her in.

"I did not know for sure and wanted you to come. I will not say I am not glad somewhere you cannot come because it is extremely dangerous even for me with my advantage." He hid nothing from them.

"Ranger, you need to continue to train and raise Katerina. I have given you enough to see her through to the Heaven Realm for the most part but she will need to explore her harmony on her own." The demon nodded solemnly as Nana came up behind him holding her.

The little girl looked sad but did not object despite a clear desire to do so.

"Nana, I think it safe to say you are attached to Katerina as well. I trust you to teach her the lessons that make Ranger blush." A ripple of smiles broke the grim mood. She bowed low.

"I can never repay you for all you have done, True Lord. I will happily continue to teach her." He turned to the 2 brothers Bori and Lan. They looked so different compared to before.

Lan was now a true White Tiger but Bori had become a Soul Flame Phoenix. While they retained the white features, Bori's almost glowed to his eyes. Lan was powerful limbs and muscles but Bori was far more lithe and leaned towards speed.

"Both of you are now firmly on your path. It is past time to walk on your own but I will always call you my dear friends. Should you wish to continue with us, I happily welcome you and hope to see you when I return." Both bowed low reverently.

He noticed Bori glance at Jur but only smiled.

"Mills. You have always belonged to your home. I know you have wanted to return to the orphanage and you are now more than capable of honing your battle aura going forward. Gilgamesh will likely benefit from sparring with you but your future is your own. I have been honored to be your teacher." He bowed to her but she was wiping tears from her eyes as she bowed back.

"The honor was mine, Master." Jur hugged her tight and they smiled at each other.

"Jur. We might have met randomly but you have truly become my daughter. I could never be prouder how far you have come. I have been deeply reluctant to admit you have become an adult in your own right but fathers rarely want to admit it most of the time. It means we have to let go and let you move on your own." Jur was weeping as she ran into his arms.

He put his mouth near her ears and isolated his voice.

"Bori has been waiting for you to be sure and has tempered his will. The choice is yours and his." She flinched but then held him tighter as he smiled down at her.

He turned to Chu and saw her reject any words. He frowned but then sighed as he blurred to all their senses before pulling her into his arms.

"You cling so tightly due to being treated like an object for so long back then. This will become a heart demon unless you address it. The only way you can is away from me. You know about the others. How will you greet them and treat them if you are so reluctant to stand on your own?" Lind spoke harshly but he knew he had to be harsh. The signs were all there and he refused to lose someone else to a heart demon.

The pain in his eyes seemed to breach whatever wall she was building as Jur took her hand.

Lind turned to Oz at last.

The old man seemed confused why he was last but before anyone could react, 18 elemental orbs appeared around him. Emerald flames seared his body and pain unlike anything he had ever known filled his very soul.

Time became an eternity but finally the weaving and conjured elements faded to reveal a much more hale man. He still had a lot of gray but his wrinkles were practically erased!

"Ozymandias, you cannot hide any longer. I cannot restore your cultivation but the ravages of your body's fall were a different matter. I have bought you time, a few centuries but if you use your full strength, I think your estimated limit will remain the same." Oz slowly nodded as all the aches that he had grown used to were gone!

He was not as good as his pique but he was far better able to utilize his Diamond Tier Qi.

"I believe you have an appointment in the Dawn Imperium. I will not stop you but I do ask that you come back alive. I would be saddened if you did not." Oz looked up at him sharply and pointed back at him.

"You do the same, brat!" A smile cracked his face and Lind joined him.

"I have been blessed to have you all with me but I must strike out on my own now that I know where to go. Only I can walk there safely and only I can hope to return. If I do not, at least I will end the Corruption one way or the other. Be prepared for the Fiends to return." His warning was clear as his aura washed over them.

Artifacts infused with his harmony were tossed to them all in storage rings and bracelets.

They then had a bit of a party. Katerina refused to leave Lind's lap and he indulged her all she wanted that night. He noticed Lan and Nana were being more open to each other so he knew Ranger would not only have her as a companion.

The demon had no eyes for any woman as of yet but once Katerina was grown, hopefully that would change.

A doting father was fine when they were young but he knew all too well how prickly a grown daughter could be about such attention.

Chu refused to let him slip away to cultivate at the end and Jur quickly left the vicinity as it was clear what was about to happen was far more intense than usual. Lan and Bori quickly followed her.

Nana was already safely isolated with Katerina but the rest were too dull in their senses to be affected.

Lind vaguely recalled the sun rising before Chu finally let him loose!

He kissed her forehead and then carefully engraved a weaving over her to monitor for a heart demon. If she faced her heart demon without issue, the weaving would only help mend the aftermath. If the worst happened, it would give her a chance.

He prayed hard that the latter would not be needed.

He left his courtyard and noticed all were conveniently in their rooms. They had said their goodbyes and did not want more tears.

He bowed low and went out into the late morning light. He was not surprised to find Teegan and Shea waiting for him.

"Petryn will freak out when he can't find you." Teegan smirked but then looked sad.

"We sensed you were leaving but you did not reach out so you do not want the others to know." He nodded but Shea ran up and hugged his leg. He patted her head while smiling.

"Only I can go where I am heading. Death awaits anyone else." Teegan nodded but then knelt on one knee before him.

"May the souls of all dragons protect you, True Lord." The moment she stopped speaking, a wave of amber energy emerged and Lind felt a much stronger presence in it than she could possibly produce.

The amber orbs snapped open and Lind felt like something in his soul resonated. He felt like it was not just a single dragon but all dragons that the Blessed Ambercale Clan ever had were supporting him! He had never heard of such an Art or skill!

He looked in wonder as the apparition faded and Teegan got up looking pale but all right.

"What–what just happened?" Teegan smiled and pointed at herself.

"Did you think my clan name was simply a haughty choice? The Blessed Amberscale Dragons can literally bless with intent from their ancestors. You have done so much for us and give hope for our return. It is the least I could do." Lind bowed low and then flew off into the sky.

Both waved at him as Shea began to cry while Teegan comforted her.

"It will be all right. The ancestors will watch over him." The small head nodded and they flew off to their quarters. The True Lord was on his way and hopefully he would being light back to the world.