novelraw Chapter 1194 - 1193 - Mystery of the 3rd Layer
Chapter 1194 - 1193 - Mystery of the 3rd Layer
Oz felt old. His body had been restored considerably thanks to his former Master's final acts but even then, he was stuck at the Diamond Tier. The gray had returned to his hair but only due to time.
His body was still fairly hale but the aches were slowly returning.
He luxuriated on the silken sheets as the draped bed kept the no doubt long since risen sun. The open balcony had been full of starlight according to his last memory but the gorgeous woman lying next to him had nearly drained him dry of all his stamina.
Once Radiant Tiers could safely walk the world again, the Seducer of Stars Immortal had happily taken him in. She was the true power of the Dawn Imperium, now changed to the Starlit Empire.
The Emperor had long since passed and Adan had been ruling from the shadows with her help. The poor fool was now little more than a disenfranchised noble. A lot of his nobility had been purged but not killed per Oz's request.
Instead, all their crimes were published and they were punished under them. Some were actually quite minor, embezzling resources and such without causing harm, but others were more grave.
The process actually made the newly minted Starlit Empire look good to the public and other powers. The Fionan Empire also endorsed them but they fell to a high power after all was said and done despite having a Radiant Tier Empress.
The reason was because she just did not care to manage it at the Supreme Power level.
It had been 2 centuries since then and the Corruption was finally purged from the entire 2nd layer. The shocking arrival en masse of new Crystal Tiers had shocked all the powers, especially the majority of them being 6 elementals!
A particular Clan drew the eyes of those that knew the truth of the Emerald Immortal. The Frey Clan was the largest by far next to some dragons and finally a few notable sects. The Heavenly Maiden Sect had been thrilled their Maidens had survived.
They were less pleased in the culture shock of how the lower Heavenly Maidens were very different from them despite using similar techniques and history. The newly arrived Heavenly Maidens cared more about the world than the older one.
The Divine Sword Sect, in comparison, barely even nodded at its new members before leaving them to their own pursuits!
Oz had been amused at first until the family of his former Master came calling. He had no answers about where Lind had gone. Chu and Jur had been waiting for so long and had actually been glad to meet their family.
The wives of his Master were as magnanimous as he had claimed. Further, they approved of Jur and Chu both. There was no attempt at suppression nor anything else. That Ethry, though, was a terror when enraged.
Cyntilla had taken up the training of young Katerina after she turned 15 but Nana was always with her. The woman treated Katerina as her Mistress while the girl thought of her more as a step-mother.
Ranger had been also put through the ringer by the demoness and the former Heavenly Maiden Shoti. He would never dream of crossing those 2 even at the peak of his power.
It had been enjoyable to share stories and bond as they waited. Many assumed the battle had been brutal and the dragons returning to their old enclaves confirmed a terrifying tribulation had occurred.
Had Lind ascended? He did not have to. A newly minted Radiant Tier could resist the pull and stay for a time, at least a few centuries, before having to head up to the 3rd layer.
Seducer of Stars Immortal had in fact been shocked she was not being forced to ascend and the pressure was slowly building as if it had reset somehow.
She was in no rush but that was the least of the mystery.
The barriers keeping them locked away were gone with the Corruption. The 1st and 2nd layer had vanished nearly instantly as the 1st layer had been quietly eroding it on their end for millennia.
The upper barrier had weakened considerably that he was assured she could safely ascend anytime but then why did not Radiant Tier descend? It had been 2 centuries and despite efforts to contact the other side, nothing had come back.
If Lind ascended, something was keeping him away like everything else but it left a question that clearly bothered everyone. Why did Lind ascend?
The dragons tried to reach out to him but it was like he was not there. Ethry and Chu both felt disturbed to know he was alive but ignoring them. They had revealed that fact to Oz in trying to understand if something had happened.
The man that left had all intentions of coming back, Oz had seen it in his eyes but had something happened?
The reason he was worried today was that some of the peak Crystal Tiers were finally confident to face their own tribulations. One of them was in his empire and they were going to witness it.
He hoped all would go well but his old instincts were screaming at him. There was some kind of danger. Had Lind felt it and gone to face it?
He was not sure but the truth would hopefully be known soon.
"You are not able to rest, husband?" The alluring voice snapped him out of his memories. He smiled as he was pulled back into bed but his concerns were never fully dismissed. Still, he made sure to do his job properly!
The distended belly of his wife made him take care as he smiled. He was going to be a father!
⬧⬧⬧⬧
A gorgeous woman with sapphire and gold features checked over the formations on the newly repaired ascension platform. The crystalline and metal veins glowed happily as she swept her shoulder length hair back. It had been getting too much in the way so she had chopped most of it off.
Qing had been upset but only because she really liked Annabelle's hair.
"I appreciate you coming to help, Lady Frey." The Immortal aether child smiled as the old man piloted a simple floating platform to her. The flying artifact was one of the few that survived but she was amused that the ships Lind had created long ago had been popular once flying was possible once more.
Many floating lands had risen back into the sky but only the newly promoted Supreme power of the Rubyfire Alliance was greater than before. Most had lost pieces that never rose up again.
The teleportation network had been left to complete neglect but the gateways were resource intensive compared to the ships. It was likely they would always exist as they were far easier to purchase and maintain rather than the constant need to feed arrays.
"It is not a problem since we hope to find our own answers. If the barrier is cutting us off, then we know what is going on, but if Lind is still beyond us–" Her face turned gloomy but Oz had no consolation.
Two centuries was not a long time for Immorals but for families it could be eternity.
An older woman suddenly appeared from the very air. Her arrogance flashed before a solemn look came over her. She had gray and brown hair. Her face was slightly wrinkled which showed she was millions of years old but she was the peak Crystal Tier that would be ascending in a few moments.
"Emperor Consort, I am honored for this aid today." Oz waved it off. They were all working in their own interests so it mattered little.
Space distorted as many Immortals and powers gathered. None were disrespectful to him due to his backing and history. The former assassin found it amusing how some had to swallow the desire to avenge fallen comrades as they would fail.
His wife arrived on an artifact smiling at the green faces around them all.
"You really got under people's skin! I love that about you!" He rolled his eyes before she summoned a large couch covered in red velvet cushions and lined in gold.
It was a bit ostentatious for his taste but she liked it so he did not argue. They all erected their own barriers with Annabelle nodding that all was ready.
"Whenever you are ready, Lady Night." The Immortal bowed and then assumed a lotus position. The tension rose until the rumble of the skies told them it was time.
Lady Night was a peak Crystal Tier but she was not that remarkable. The tribulation was very basic in that sense in that she only had to survive the 9 initial rounds and then face anything related to her Laws or comprehension thus far.
The power was real, a true terror to Oz's senses even behind the barriers but she was doing well. Her robes were singed and flesh blackened but she was enduring just as expected.
Even so, he became convinced that the explosion of Crystal Tiers from the 1st layer had more to do with being suppressed by the barrier than a sheer wave of talent. He expected the flood of arrivals to slow and taper off.
Lady Night faced all 9 bolts and was in terrible shape but alive. She quickly took a pill and recovered 70 to 80% of her strength. The pressure built but Oz felt disconnected from it that time.
A Law Tribulation was a natural course of events and usually tied to their elements as well. The lightning was gold in color which tied to light Qi. He watched as Lady Night faced it with far greater ease than the first 9 rounds.
She was clearly well prepared.
It had been several days since she started but now all were on the edge of their seats as the sky tore open and a shaft of light was supposed to slam down to allow the new Radiant Tier to heal and ascend.
It did, but that was not all! Oz barely saw something flash and close in on Lady Night. She was too busy receiving the ascension and solidifying her gains to notice but his wife tensed.
"WHAT IS THAT THING?!" Voices rose in the audience but an emerald claw snapped out and crushed a black something like it was a bug. Cold reptilian emerald eyes appeared in the sky.
[Do not do this again. Stay away.] The corpse was allowed to fall and Oz gave orders to collect it immediately as Lady Night flew into the sky. The tear was about to close when Annabelle sent out her most powerful telepathic signal.
[LIND!] The emerald eyes froze and glanced down before coldly disappearing.
[Stay away.] It was his voice but Oz did not recognize his Master in it. The coldness, the disinterest, and almost casual murder were nothing like the man he knew. Just what was going on in the 3rd layer and what had happened to Lind Frey?