Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1396 - 1395 - Hollow Lands

A carriage was a bit obsolete for most cultivators.

Even if they had artifacts to travel, most would simply travel to the nearest teleportation array for any kind of long distance expedition. They would get as close to their ultimate destination and use an artifact or their own skill to get where they wanted to go.

The Under Lands had no such option but Lind realized even the 2nd layer had been in better shape than he realized. Instead, the ancient method of carriages had been revived.

They were not even artifacts but honest to goodness wooden carriages!

Lind was reluctant to use them at first but some comforts were allowed for. The rough ride was made smooth by much more modern suspension and other mechanical compensation. Still, he was sitting on a wooden bench and getting rocked back and forth as he made his way to the only open connection to the Hollow Lands.

Qing had returned to the Frey Clan as things had become tense and her skills would be needed. Lind was moving on his own through the Under Lands as it made it harder to find him again.

The people with him were dressed raggedly but they were simply the best they could cobble together. They were farmers or other laborers on their way to the next village where work was available.

Lind had to get a bit inventive to hide himself. Elixirs and Arts to alter his appearance took too much Qi to work for long in the current place he was in.

Much older methods could hide his hair and even his skin could be colored with dirt and other plant dyes to change his physical appearance. His aura was easier to hide since most natives did not have the ability to sense it anyway.

The real problem was his height and his eyes. He was a towering figure compared to a human.

Most people were only 2 meters tall at best on average but he clocked in at 4! Even if he hunched or used baggy clothes, he was just too damned tall!

Fortunately, many beasts in the Heaven Realm had issues with humanoid height. His eyes, however, could not be so easily hidden. No beast known had reptilian emerald eyes like his.

While many colors existed, his particular shade was too closely tied to him.

It was the witch demoness that suggested the simple solution of a binding to cover them. Many species were sensitive to light in the transition stages between beast and humanoid form.

Still, it would only fool Heaven Realms and below. An Immortal would see right through the ruse.

So he sat with his own worn out robes of indeterminate color and a rag tied around his head to cover his eyes. The humans and demons had no idea what he was for sure but any beast catching his scent was in for a shock.

The creatures pulling the wagon were the mortal versions of qilin so they were the most reactive to him. The handler got them under control but Lind had also calmed them mentally.

It had been over a month since he started his journey and he was finally closing in on an area that was heavily regulated by the next leg of his journey.

The Hollow Lands.

The Under Lands and Sovereign Lands both had a day and night cycle just inverted from the other. Night meant day on the other side from what he could tell.

It irked him as it should not be that way but he suspected the Sovereign Tiers manifesting lands extended to that part as well. The moons he saw in the sky seemed the same as always but he was not on a globe or a solar system.

The stars in the sky always changed with each realm he advanced or layer he reached. Only the sun and moons were constant.

Yet, he knew for a fact that the 1st through 3rd layers were essentially 1 place separated by the density of the quality of the Qi. The rules of Heaven and Earth might dictate parts of that as it was convenient in some ways, but the 4th layer broke too many rules!

It may as well have been its own realm.

The carriage driver was an older man but Lind could sense he was a Moon Tier. He had a wrinkled visage but his body was hale and powerful. The road was barely passable as one but as they got closer to their destination, it became smoother.

The horizon that had been dotted with trees and small hills suddenly flattened and the glow of Qi was visible to all.

A massive formation made a ward ahead and the carriage slowed as it came to the only entrance made of solid metal. Lind dared not extend his aura but his senses placed it near the middle of grade 7.

For a compatible ore it would have to be an alloy of green arcite and purple gold.

"Everyone, get out for inspection!" A new voice called out and the people in the carriage walked out the back as the gate was lowered. A pair of soldiers with spears at the ready greeted them.

Their armor was not made up of artifacts but of their own flesh. They were beasts! Lind frowned but did his best to suppress his scent with a few oils and other means. It would only last a short while but he hoped it would be enough.

The eyes of the soldiers were neither reptilian nor like humans and demons. They were square shaped like some animals but he did not know to which race they belonged. The fact they were peak Sun Tiers told him enough.

He felt them scan everyone and the single aspect Lind had to hide was now behind enough weavings to briefly disguise what he was.

The soldiers were nearly 5 meters tall so they loomed over everyone until they got to him. The tanned skin was contrasting with the metallic sheen on their armor.

The pair separated them into 2 groups. One was much smaller but he noticed that the group was also towards the barrier. They finally got to him.

"Pathetic. You should be more dedicated to your cultivation you mongrel. A partial transformation shows you are never going to amount to anything." Lind let the words wash over him but he fidgeted as if they made him nervous.

A sneer crossed one guard but the other swung his spear shaft right at his leg. Lind could fake a lot, but the resilience of his body was not something he could modify or fool a beast about.

In that case, however, he did not want to. The solid thunk of wood on flesh made both guards narrow their sky blue eyes at him but then they nodded and shoved him over to the small group.

Shortly afterward, the larger half was carted away and Lind's group was left with the guards.

"For those of you that have never been here before, rejoice! The mines are a far better place than anywhere in the Under Lands, even your little forests!" The guards preened but they were not exaggerating.

Even the best forest that Lind knew of paled in comparison to the environment of the Hollow Land's worst location.

The gate shimmered and then swung outward. The group walked into darkness with only the light of the gateway behind them. The soldiers were not bothered by the sudden shift but the humans and demons became wary.

Some summoned small globes of Qi to light the way but Lind noticed they did not last long. It was better in the Hollow Lands but without the strength to maintain it, external Qi was still sucked away at a pace few cultivators could keep up with.

Lind wanted the guards to hurry a bit as his tricks would wear off soon and his scent would fill the tunnels far faster than being outdoors.

Finally, they came to a massive cavern lit up with crystal lamps and even a flickering fire near a vent that presumably led back outside. To the Under Lands or the Sovereign Lands, Lind did not know.

"You will find a pick axe or tool that will aid you here. Food break is called but if you miss it, you don't eat. The quota must be filled before the share of your villages can be taken. Anyone caught hiding anything will be crippled." Lind understood the advantage for all in the operation.

The Hollow Lands were far more beasts than people. While beasts could transform, they had far better things to do than mine ores and crystals. Also, refiners and Forgers were rare enough to not waste time similarly.

Thus, labor from the Under Lands was helpful. It gave a steady supply of materials to both lands. The Under Lands was of course screwed over as much as possible but they had limited uses for the ores anyway.

The trip back would likely drain most materials of their Qi.

Still, the point was to get inside for Lind. After that, he had to make his own way in the dark and hope he did not get trapped until he reached his destination.

The first step was done, now he had to find a chance to slip away.