Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1361 - 1360 - Accepting the Truth

Lind had not been back to the Phantom Peak since the rise of the Illusion Goddess title Annabelle achieved.

Things had changed drastically. Despite their distance between each other now, the Frey Clan was still close to her by her choosing. They were her family and she distinguished between the 2.

His wives had found a way to still be close despite their differences of opinion in regards to his actions. He was glad of that immensely but he was not there today to impose his will or try and get Annabelle back.

He was there for one reason only.

He landed on the pier on the tallest mountain. The spires faintly visible to most were all clear to him. He was one of a handful that could pierce Annabelle's illusions.

It was easier now but there were still places he could not reach. He appreciated her artistry. Still, he did not walk in but looked around until a section of fog stood out to him.

He used his aura to concentrate the fog into a solid block of ice. A ripple flowed outward and he felt many auras wash over him. He did nothing else and waited.

He assumed a lotus position and began to cultivate in preparation for what was to come. He had been through the trials and had to consolidate his gains. He was close to his peak but he did not want to trigger his tribulations just yet.

A few days passed before a young man appeared from the fog. He seemed nervous as his short hair shimmered with ruby and topaz colors. An aether child Immortal was not uncommon here.

His robes, however, blended in and made it hard for both aura and eyes to lock onto him. It was an impressive formation.

"Senior Frey. Welcome to Phantom Peak." He bowed low but Lind smiled warmly at him.

"You have come a long way Fero. I saw your performance before I went into the Inheritances. Now, you are a peak Shard Tier." Surprise and then joy flashed on the young man's face.

"You honor me, Lord Frey. I, um, that is to say–" Lind smiled widely and held up his hand to the boy. It was strange to think of someone as a boy that was thousands of years old but there it was.

"Tell her I have had a revelation in the Divine Inheritance that affects her. I swear to Heaven and Earth all I say is true and separate from our issues." A loud bang actually made some of the illusions nearly fade but they rebounded quickly.

Even Lind was surprised by the reaction but it was simply affirmation and a sign that Heaven and Earth were a bit tetchy.

He smirked at it. He sent a mental apology and that seemed to mollify the world.

The youth quickly left but a full week passed before a very familiar figure emerged from the fog. She was not clear to him as her robes were beyond even his power to pierce.

An ache filled his heart as he looked at her but he buried it. He had promised her and he kept his word. Her sapphire and gold eyes were not as cold as he remembered but they were far from as warm as he fondly recalled.

"Speak." The tone was cold and distant. It hurt to hear that but he nodded and then quickly engraved sigils into the air around them until he was sure no one could see or hear them. She recognized his intent but noticed she could leave anytime she wanted.

He had isolated them but only as she wished to allow.

He felt the strain as the pressure wanted to be unleashed to call the tribulation but he got it under control.

Concern flashed through her eyes but he simply smiled and waved it off.

"I have a little time left. To make it short, we have been influenced, both of us. Do not mistake me, we still made the choices but things were exacerbated." His words made her own narrow and he simply conjured his harmony.

The feeling of the flames exceeded the world. The very air distorted as he imbued it with his intent.

The instant it worked, faint chains appeared all around them. Some moved but others were stationary. The peak itself was tied down by fate?

He pushed it aside as he noticed something he had missed with himself. Some of the chains were tainted!

Annabelle looked around in shock before anger scrunched up her gorgeous face. Her own Qi flared and the corrupt chains were shattered by Dao! Her aura rose and he could tell she too would become a Sovereign Tier soon too.

He dismissed his harmony but he noticed she quickly created a formation that restored a vision of the chains.

"Are you saying that bastard tricked us?" Lind sighed and shook his head.

"The potential for good and evil is in all of us, the same with smart and foolish choices. He can't implant something we would never do, but he could point us in the direction he wanted us to go. I still made the choice. All that changed was the likelihood of me making it." She frowned at his words but then stepped forward.

Her cool fingers brushed his face but he held perfectly still. The raging heart tried to escape his chest but he gave no outward sign. She looked into his eyes and he knew she could read him like a book.

"Lysanna?" He nodded but then looked sad.

"I can't see her or the others, but I hope you can help them. You are the closest to my power." He did not hide why he had come and she smiled sadly at him.

"I was hurt by your actions, but I never wanted you to die. You know that right?" He nodded. "Then do not assume I am a fool. We will meet again and we will revisit this. Promise me."

He swallowed hard as tears tried to form but he coughed before kneeling.

"I swear to meet you again, Annabelle." Pressure fell over them both but neither was affected by it much.

He then tore through space away from her as he did not trust himself to stay there any longer.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Annabelle blinked at his retreat but then smirked.

"Still love me so much you can't control yourself, huh?" She then looked up and anger was in her eyes.

"How dare you?! How dare you do that to us?!" Lind was right, she knew. The potential existed within them to fall out with each other and be irreconcilable but the Great Bastard had pushed them in the direction that it could no longer be clear how much was all her own choice.

She then brushed her fingers to her left as Fey was revealed. She looked tired but smiling ear to ear.

"You need to get ready. You will ascend tomorrow so why are you here?" Fey had gone on a bender of sorts when she returned. The Sigma Empire had been completely cowed by her but that was not all.

She had imparted her wisdom to her family and friends to help them advance. It had taken immense effort to resist ascending but now she had come to Annabelle to prepare for the final step.

"I am so happy! You and Father will get back together!" She smacked Fey on the head.

"Don't assume things! It changes the context but you heard him. He still chose. Lind Frey is many things but he does not make excuses without a good reason. He wanted us to know and you will need help too." The formation activated but Annabelle was stunned to see no sign of the corrupted chains at all on Fey!

Fey smirked and shrugged.

"What will you do after I ascend?" Annabelle answered by summoning a jade communication stone.

[To all my Sisters and children. Come to Phantom Peak within the month. This is the highest priority. I will explain when you arrive.] Fey arched an eyebrow but both looked up as clouds were starting to gather.

"Go, now!" Fey hugged her and tore through space to the ascension platform they had prepared deep in the peaks.

She knew other Radiant Tiers would try to spy on Fey but they would fail. Her illusions would protect her daughter.

She felt the jade stone buzz but she prepared new formations for the Phantom Peak. She would make it her mission to strip away the bastard's influence!

She was about to turn back in when a chill passed over her. She looked around but could not find the source. She then used her full power and a figure was revealed to her.

A Fiend!

She used beams of light to slice them apart but the creature smirked at her until horror crossed its features.

"Lind is not the only one that can kill you. He came to me because I can make illusions reality. I can kill you stone dead!" It was ironic. The Illusion Goddess was also the one that could change the reality around her.

It seemed she had to make quite a few changes to her formations!

She then vanished in the fog and missed the dark glance in the remaining eye of the Fiend from a being far more powerful than her. Yet, it was impotent to stop her.

The Great One was forced to swallow the truth that his plans were in danger. He had to act quickly or it would all fall apart!