Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1266 - 1265 - Starting Over

Lind Frey had returned! The news shook the various worlds and realms. Some celebrated his return, others cursed, but a great many simply felt grateful as he worked his miracles to heal the devastated lands.

The Fiend Frenzy had lasted for 50 years and many had been nearly wiped out or paid steep prices to aid his clan. He was not stingy with his aid so many powers that had held back felt regret for not coming forth.

Elixirs of powerful potency seemed to restore cultivators to better conditions than they were before! Immortals that lost their bodies suddenly received profound techniques to create a new one that could be adapted to their needs in a fraction of the time any other technique had before!

Alliances that had been tested were reassured by his flow of artifacts, weapons, and armor Forged to replace what was lost in the Frenzy. Some made a massive profit while others hid them away in their treasuries without revealing them to the world.

His weaving was also disseminated to the various powers that nurtured them to make far more effective sigils and traces but those were far more difficult to digest in the higher circles. Some powers saw it as a method to rope in promising seeds but then supplementary lessons were spread out.

It was up to the cultivators to comprehend it all but it was far better than nothing!

He even included a far better way to engrave a plate for making a product that could be sold like a formation plate was! It had severe limits of materials but that was fine. He gave examples from 1st through Law Grade Circles!

To the wider world, Lind Frey was a legend once more! His Clan had established a floating isle in the 2nd layer and it was said he retreated with his family to recover before returning to the 3rd.

A Radiant Tier could descend for a few thousand years before having to return. The storm of chaos would take centuries to settle but those powers that had not been as affected as others eyed his Clan with jealousy and greed.

They did not make overt moves as the Frey Clan had allies to rely on, but they did start to make plans. Peace was a fleeting thing in the cultivation world.

The Frey Clan would know it, but for how long?

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Lind was in a lotus position in a simple garden with some subtle but very well made frescos to make its walls. The doors were even hidden to let them blend in to make the room feel totally isolated.

He was bathing in sunlight as he consolidated his progress and his body after months of nearly frenetic production. He was not alone in the garden as his mother was right next to him. She looked far more healthy than before but the toll on her body was still clear.

She would stop at the Radiant Tier for certain. Lind and she were living together once more as his punishment was being decided.

He was to be punished indeed for his foolish choices. While some of his actions while separated were unimportant, advancing to the Radiant Tier was not a choice for instance, others were conscious choices.

He had cut off his family and held everyone at arm's length. Further, he intended to abandon them. He had lost himself in his selfish anger and pursuit of power.

While the rest of the world was licking its wounds or expanding their power even further in the aftermath of the Frenzy, he was simply stabilizing himself and reassuring his mother he was really back.

She had watched him fade away and it had broken her. She had suffered severe Qi deviation because of it but his wives had done their best to repair it. Even he doubted he could have done better.

"You should stop worrying, Lind." Her voice intruded on his thoughts and he could only smile. He was still in his original gray robes, or rather vest and lower robes. His muscles were exposed on both arms but he had been able to wrap up the rest of his torso. His lower legs were a bit exposed as he sat though!

"They have every right to punish me. I made the rules myself so I am hardly above them. Further, I was very very wrong. Lina tried to beg them to forgive me but she only knew me as that infuriatingly rude version of me." The little Spiritwalker had come down with them when she had heard of his return.

She had lost one of her tails but he was able to repair that damage with his new insights from the spirit world. He did remember going there and a lot of his revelations, but there were large gaps.

He knew his harmony still as that was critical but the steps leading up to that discovery were gone. He remembered the little spirit girl sacrificing herself too. The old woman was a blank though.

He also had no idea how he got his body back! He remembered having that goal but how he actually got it was totally gone.

The only other thing he remembered was a Fiend. He was not sure at first but he suspected who it was but how he got to the spirit world and why were not entirely there either. Given the Frenzy and knowing it was targeted at his family, he could make a few guesses.

Tribulations had to have been faced to become an Immortal again in body and soul so even the Great One could not interfere then. Thus, the bastard went after his family!

The price was steep. For the first time even in the living memory of the 4th layer, the Fiend threat was almost a joke. No one fully dismissed it as tiny pockets would remain and the Sovereign Tier Fiends were not all dead, but it was so reduced as to no longer be a consideration.

Lind disagreed with that and had communicated to all the lower realms to continue to assume the Fiends are there. Given what just happened, he had no dissension on that front.

His mother frowned but could not argue against his words. She had come after him to knock some sense into him but then saw him 'die,' so it was easier for her to forgive now that he had returned.

She also had seen the truly horrifying state of the 3rd layer when facing against the soulless creatures and the Sovereign Tier Fiend later.

She was unsure if he had truly made a mistake distancing from his usually warm approach in such a dire situation. Compared to even the 1st layer, the 3rd layer had been on a knife edge of life and death unlike anything she had seen.

The pair resumed cultivating until a gentle rumble was heard and part of the eastern fresco slid aside to reveal a corridor in black and gold colors beyond. Crimson banners hung with the symbol of the Clan.

Fey stood there with her swords on her hips. She was in a simple white battle dress but he could tell it was peak mid grade 7. He could make her something better but had not yet offered anything to his family.

He wanted to know if they would even accept anything from him. Her eyes looked tired but she smiled when looking at him. Before he could ask she seemed to vanish before crushing him in a hug. She had not been there when he was sent to isolation.

"I am so happy you are alive, Father." He patted her back and she sat between them. Mira patted her head and Fey looked so happy that he almost did not want to ask.

"You forgave him already, didn't you?" His mother, on the other hand, had no need to hold back it seemed!

Fey cocked her head before shaking it.

"There is nothing to forgive. We all lose our way and Father never held it against me. I would be a hypocrite if I did so now." A warm feeling spread but he wanted to correct her on one point.

"There is a difference between a heart demon and being a stubborn idiot but I thank you, Little Fey." He saw her pout at him but a sparkle was in her eyes. He noticed the white in her hair had lessened from the last time he had seen it.

It seemed she was recovering her lost vitality as well as she advanced.

"What about the others?" Mira once more prodded the elephant in the room but Fey became serious at it.

"They have decided. I am to bring you to them but before that, I was tasked with telling you that you will not be imprisoned or exiled." Lind assumed that. While he had hurt his family, he had not done so out of malice or to cause harm.

He quickly ran possible scenarios and a weight came over his heart.

"I am to start over then?" Fey froze and Mira frowned deeply but neither spoke as that seemed likely. It meant Lind would be treated as an outsider to the Clan of sorts. They could not push him out as that was idiotic, but he may no longer be married.

"I don't know but it might lean that way." He nodded and then stood up. Fey led him out as his Mother refused to leave his side. She took his hand and he felt happy she was next to him. He was more afraid now than any time previously in his life.

He had faced obliteration and insanely powerful creatures with less fear in his heart than now.

He could not deny the verdict, no matter what, but he hoped he had not shattered his bonds to the extent he would have to act the stranger to those he loved.

They walked down the corridors until they came to 2 massive double doors that would let him walk through with room to spare. The doors swung outward and revealed a massive hall beyond.

He closed his eyes and took a breath before following Fey in to find out his fate.