Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1366 - 1365 - Dualtiy

The ice storm never stopped. It had been tamed in some places but only with immense effort by Immortals to carve out a place for them to live. Some cultivators had immense benefits from the environment but they needed the support of resources and supplies to get the maximum result.

Thus the Icy Path had been slowly carved out but the natural residents of the beasts did not give up their lands willingly.

Lind Frey had made those slow attempts laughable when he established a Haven for his Clan to thrive in only a few decades compared to the slow centuries it took others to lay even a basic formation to push back the storm.

The Frey Clan had thrived and in time, needed a standard piece of equipment all supreme powers had for their members or allies.

An ascension platform was a kind of status symbol as they were resource intensive to not only build but maintain over time and use. Lind, being a Triple Maester, had studied other such platforms as the Icy Path had none of them before.

None knew how he chose the location but one of the lonely peaks in the neverending ice storm, had the top of it cut away and protected by formations and weavings that only peak Radiant Tiers could bring down given time.

The storm's power was actually used to fuel it which meant either someone had to end the storm or be strong enough to ignore it for the duration it took to break the defenses.

There were some strategic gains to claim such a platform but even bandits did not hide in the Icy Path unless they were that desperate to live. Laying low in the storm laden peaks could extend life but there was no way to grow without the massive support of a city at least.

Trade was sparse and not worth raiding as it would just be cut off at the source to let the bandits die.

On top of all that, the Frey Clan's defenses were nothing to sneeze at. Even those that thought they could hide in the storm were disillusioned when Clan soldiers found them in weeks.

In that context, many wondered if the platform could really contain the damage with the strain of the storms as well as possible rogues interfering to let the damage try to reach the Frey Clan's borders.

Currently, Cyntilla, Qing, and Lysanna were overseeing the platform as it had gathered power over the last few weeks. It had taken years to find the resources needed for the first member of their Clan to attempt ascension.

Most had expected it to be Lind when he entered the 3rd Inheritance but another had made the leap.

Fey had changed drastically from her fair features. In reality, she seemed closer to Chu now in coloring save her skin. Chu had darker skin due to being mostly obsidian in her scales and fur.

Fey had been cultivating at the heart of the massive platform as she finally felt it resonate with her power. She had gone far beyond others in power and Laws. She could feel it but also she felt off.

In the last week, something had felt wrong to her but it was like an itch she could not scratch.

The Dao of Nihility finally gave her a solution as it reacted to something and she frowned as she looked to the west.

A male figure was revealed in the storm and he did not seem bothered by it at all. His skin of all 6 natural elements shimmered and she could see he had actually reduced his solid state to let the storm pass through him.

"Fellow daoist, I am about to face my tribulation. I hope you are not here to waste my mothers' efforts?" She could feel Cyntilla's literal daggers for eyes locked on the enemy.

The Elemental was still recovering at being discovered but he quickly waved his hands and kept his Qi focused on protecting himself only.

"My apologies. I only meant to avoid the predators of this place and it was hard to find you, Goddess of Life & Death. My Mistress sent me to give you a message only. I can speak it but I was told to give it to you." He made no move to summon a slip and Fey was not in the mood to take chances so close to her tribulation.

"Speak, quickly, or be caught in what is coming." The storm hid it but her tribulation was building strength. It was going to start soon.

As if sensing the danger he was in, he swallowed and bowed before speaking.

"The essence is the following: Lord Lind Frey had become an enemy of Heaven and Earth. He must be stopped if he cannot be convinced to cease his actions." Fey did not even get to blink when Shoti's whip appeared out of the storm and solidified the Elemental.

He was shocked as he slammed into the ice of the slope before she appeared with a look that made even Fey shiver.

"Focus on–" Fey held up her hand. Something had shifted above. It was as if Heaven and Earth were waiting for her to choose now.

"Explain. It seems Heaven and Earth want me to know." Surprise bloomed but also a grim feeling in all their hearts. She could read them like a book, but Lysanna's reaction was surprising.

It was like she felt conflicted about something. The fallout was public and Lind, himself, had shouldered all the blame as his wives were innocent.

"I was in a hurry, I apologize again. Lady Shoti, I do not mean to harm him at all! Just stop him! A disaster will come if he is not stopped! We feel it!" He then explained how the Elementals felt the will of Heaven and Earth as they cultivated.

The stronger they became, the closer to it they felt. A little over 2 weeks ago, they felt a shift in Heaven and Earth. Pain and panic was the closest they could put to it before a clear intent was sent to them all.

{Find Lind Frey and make him submit.}

It was their interpretation but it was the closest they could come to the will of Heaven and Earth.

"I swear to Heaven and Earth, all I have said is the absolute truth!" A clear snap of thunder was heard to affirm his Oath.

It did not mean the command was true, only his words and belief in them being the truth. It did also mean he did not mean harm to Lind.

"Submit to what?" Lysanna was the one that asked. All were surprised by the bound Elemental nodded from his prone state and answered.

"The will of fate. He has somehow severed his fate and that means he is beyond it. He must continue to follow the path laid out for him for us all to survive." Most did not understand but anger surged in Fey. She understood!

She walked the path of Life and Death. She was between Oblivion and Creation. Fate was necessary to curtail powerful beings from messing with the lower realms, but it did have a tradeoff.

It had no soul or mind behind it. It was, so as to be completely fair and impartial, without care for the effects of its choices. It was also ignorant if anyone meddled with it until an extreme event happened.

The fall of the Celestials was a prime example as it was supposed to end them but led to the creation of the Fiend race instead.

An aberration Heaven and Earth was desperately fighting.

A thought suddenly occurred to her as she looked above. She lit up with her aura of Life and Death to the maximum. She had been taught personally by Lind more than anyone else alive.

She also had faced heart demons so harsh she should have died from deviation long ago but had been able to hold on until he saved her. Her di-chromatic eyes glowed as the storm changed to her senses.

She felt the blinding power of Heaven and Earth but she looked past it. She wanted to see what did not belong there.

It took an unknown amount of time but something resonated with her far to the west. It was like an echo of power she had but greater than her own enhanced her aura to suddenly perceive it.

Faint auras mingled with the lightning! It was not Heaven and Earth but a bastard she knew well!

"The Great One has influenced fate." Her words were ground shaking. It made the elemental blanch in denial but the sky above became still. It was as if something had heard and was checking.

It only was a breath but it was like a switch was flipped as all of them were slammed into the icy surface aside from Fey. She felt a massive presence focused on her but it seemed to approve.

A feeling of wrath filled the skies but it was directed elsewhere. No one knew what was happening but Fey had a vicious sneer on her face as she looked up.

"I hope it burns your soul out, you bastard!" She doubted it would. The Great One seemed hellbent on hedging his bets on all fronts. Enticing her Father at one point then trying to kill him without drawing the ire of Heaven and Earth.

The attempt to kill him may have been some kind of karmic balancing act too but she was unsure.

In all of existence though, she was the only one between 2 extremes that let her see what no one else could. The duality she now lived meant she could strip away the lies unless they somehow matched her power.

She nearly collapsed but a cry drew her eyes as she saw an emerald glow on her Mothers! What was going on?! That was not her power!

"Apologies, Sisters. It seemed like a good opportunity to free you." Annabelle appeared next to the trio by the platform controls.

She held an artifact that shimmered with a familiar aura.

"I can't sever our fates but I can absolutely purge the influence of the Great Bastard!" Fey felt her eyes narrow but then her spine had a chill go down it. Her tribulation was moving again!

"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" She was not at her peak anymore but a stunning beam slammed into her. Rather than lighting, she felt her Qi and Laws reach the absolute peak before the first bolt began to build.

It was golden in color which was a degree higher in quality that it had been before! She sighed in gratitude but also that the difficulty had just increased. The group scattered and she could only hope they could resolve how much the Great Bastard had messed with them all.

She became determined and focused on a single goal once more. To ascend!