Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1277 - 1276 - Awkward Gathering

The 2nd layer was doing better than the 1st and 3rd layers. Compared to them, the majority of the powers had survived and established themselves back to their old levels of influence or more once the Corruption was lifted.

Beast powers had suffered the most but they came back with a vengeance. In a remote area of ravines and brush, a beautiful young girl was fighting with some humans.

They had come to steal the young from a pride of azure tigers. They were used as combat pets, pill concoction ingredients, or simply a decoration for young masters. In other words, it was not about survival.

It was simply the vanity of humans.

The hunters, however, were being hunted instead. The woman fighting them was able to harden her skin and robes into stone that shattered steel with ease.

Her dark brown robes were clearly transformed flesh. She was a beast!

"Get the nets! They will weaken her!" A slim man with blood trailing down his face screamed but it was like the woman knew his orders. The pair that ran to their horses were suddenly missing their heads!

She then appeared and he understood she was much higher in cultivation than him!

A Crystal Tier Immortal beast!

He was only a Shard Tier!

A roar then made his blood drain from his face. The older azure tigers had returned!

"Ret–" He was screaming when his skull cracked from an impact. Blood splattered across the dirt and scrub brush. The whimpering kittens in the cage mewed loudly as they heard their parents returning.

Tal used some water Qi to clean herself before she shattered the locks on the cages. The little tigers were adorable but she simply turned away. The adults were closing in and she did not want to deal with prideful tigers.

She was about to fly off when she felt a disturbance in her storage ring. She wondered if something had gone wrong inside but was shocked when a deep red jade stone was glowing.

She had walked away from the Frey Clan over 500 years ago but she still had fond memories of it. It was not their fault but she just could not stay anymore.

Her Papa had betrayed her. He had treated her like a burden! Worse, he had dismissed all of their history as some kind of plot by Heaven and Earth to bind him.

Never a word or argument given at all, just walked away from them all.

She had been hurt by that more than anything in her life. She still held onto that jade stone, though.

While Lind had ascended to the 2nd layer, the remaining family had spread out. They had created that jade stone artifact. It served the sole purpose of calling in an extreme emergency.

Lind did not have it.

The people that did were still dear to her. She took a breath to steady herself before sinking her aura into it.

The simple message from Mama Cyntilla was shocking. Mama Annabelle was in trouble? How?!

She changed her direction and shot across the skies until she reached the nearest city to have a teleportation array.

It was only when she was asked about her destination that she froze. Why was she going? What could she do as a Crystal Tier?

Still, she committed to it.

"The Frey Clan." The guard about to enter her destination was now the one to freeze.

"Senior Tal, I will need authorization." Tal produced her identity token. The instant he saw the emerald dragon on a banner of crimson, he relaxed. He inputted the destination and calculated the Qi stones needed.

It took 7 mid Immortal grade Qi Stone! Highway robbery at its finest!

She felt the shift in space before she appeared in a place that was both familiar and foreign. She was about to step off when a guard with an emerald cape lowered a spear tip at her.

"Identify yourself!" She realized she did not recognize the man at all! Was 500 years enough time for a new face to appear in the Emerald Cloaks?

Before Tal could speak, the teleportation array lit up and a human woman appeared there. She was a Radiant Tier!

The guard, to his credit, did not waver and crushed a talisman to summon backup.

Tal, however, ran into the woman and hugged her.

"Mama Lysanna!" The cold look vanished as a warm smile appeared on the woman's face. Her pale eyes looked at her fondly as Tal felt a pat on her head.

"You really need to act your age, Tal." The guard heard their names and began to shake before kneeling down.

"Please forgiv–" Tal smiled and waved him off.

"You were doing your job well. You should be commended." The guards rushing in were not all familiar but some recognized Lysanna if not Tal. The pair were escorted to the Clan Head quickly.

The meeting was not just them either as a woman with panther ears and tail with black scales was with them.

Tal smiled at Lady Chu. While she was married to her Papa, she was not as close to her.

"Well, this is a surprise. All 3 of those that abandoned the Founder are here." A voice pulled their attention as the slim figure of the current Clan Head arrived. Her dirty blonde hair was glowing as her crimson, black, and gold robes confirmed her identity.

There were no elders present but Tal felt a flush to her face while the other 2 did not react.

The woman looked at them silently but no one spoke. The silence stretched until Tal raised her hand.

"Can we get permission to use the ascension platform?" Chu and Lysanna glanced at her but said nothing. Lysanna, at least, took her hand.

"Oh? Well, the 2 Radiant Tiers aside, why should the Clan use the platform for you, Tal of the Stone Dral?" Tal flinched but it was Chu that suddenly flared her aura.

"You dare?! He was in the wrong! A personal matter should not be brought up to–" The Clan Head flared right back.

"She made it clear she was done. For that matter, so did Lady Lysanna but she is a Radiant Tier so if she wishes to ascend, I will not stop her." Lysanna had officially broken off but a Radiant Tier of long standing with their clan would not be turned away.

Tal summoned the crimson jade slip and the Clan Head became grim.

"So, you were called? All of you?" The 3 women nodded and the Clan Head stopped being obstructive but she did not sugar coat it either.

"Just to be clear. You 3 chose to walk away. Not just from the Founder but from all of us. You expect us to just help you because one of our own sent for you?" She locked each of them with a stare that made Tal fidget. "You 3 understand what awaits you there?"

Tal knew. She would be welcomed by a few but others would stare at her like a traitor.

"I still love my Mamas. I will not abandon them as they did not abandon me." Her words made the Clan Head narrow her eyes.

"So, you still care about our Clan but not enough to help those that were in your lands for the last 5 centuries?" Tal flinched as she could not deny that.

Anytime she had seen the Frey Clan symbol or colors, she had avoided them. Sometimes she found their corpses later.

She regretted that but she could not change the past. She had made her choice.

"You chose to forgive him. We did not. This is a separate matter. Cyntilla calls us and we are answering. Get out of our way, child." Lysanna finally spoke and it was ruthlessly distant.

Tal never wished to be spoken to like that from her.

The Clan Head clearly did not like being called a child but it was hard to argue with someone thousands of years older than you.

Tal was too but she always felt small in front of authority.

"Sigh, very well but understand we are not a service you can abuse. Furthermore, Tal is still only a Crystal Tier. You will be respons–" Chu suddenly had the Clan Head by her throat.

"I may not have the same tenure as my sisters, but Tal is a respected member of your Clan. If you continue to treat her like a child, you will regret it." A warm feeling spread in Tal's chest.

"Chu, let her go. She is doing her job. It was why she was selected. I should know, I nominated her." Lysanna spoke calmly but the grip she had on Tal spoke volumes. She was angry.

The trio left the meeting hall for the ascension platform. Tal felt so damn awkward.

She had been so focused on coming back to the Clan she had not considered how weak she was!

"No matter what he did, family called for your help. It is good you came, Tal." Chu spoke as they walked and Lysanna smiled warmly at her.

Tears formed as Tal looked down. She felt head pats from both of them but an image flickered in her mind.

A man with dark green eyes smiling at her as he saved her life. Pain lanced in her heart but she hid it away.

He had treated her like a shackle! She could not forgive that!

They got to the ascension platform and waited to ascend. She was going to see her other Mamas soon! She hoped she could be useful to them!