Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1409 - 1408 - There is Always a Fool

Lind frowned as he felt the vibrations as his new ship sliced through the air. It was an unexpected issue but he could not have possibly planned for it.

The changing nature of the Sovereign Lands caused significant changes in the air and other environmental factors.

In other words, the normal flow of events while flying were shifting constantly. At the speed he was going, they were changing dramatically faster.

Based on rough calculations, his top speed without causing damage was close to 1200 kilometers an hour. It was not as fast as his best skyship but that was not where the new ship shined.

Massive trees, mountains, and other obstacles would constantly pop up but he easily maneuvered around them. Compared to the sky ship that required a rather wide berth to turn and the starship that needed so many systems to turn at all, his new ship was a dream.

Yet, it was showing glaring issues. The differential in Qi and simple wind forces was wearing it far faster than he had anticipated. The main crystal channels were showing signs of wear that would normally take months!

He made mental notes as he kept an eye on his course. He was trying to get to another Throne but it seemed fools came in all sizes.

[HALT! You are crossing the border of–] Lind did not even register the rest as he buzzed by. While Immortals could tear through space, he knew it was just as unstable for them as him.

Flying discs and other artifacts sprang up but their speed was a joke compared to him.

"Grade 6, not even the peak of it too. Are they insane?" Whoever they were, he left them far behind.

They were far from the last but none of them were Immortals nor at a level of artifact control to even slow him down.

A few weavers or formation masters did try some more effective techniques but a simple blast of his own harmony shattered those like glass.

The problem, as he well knew, was that word would be spreading of an intruder or at least a vagrant ignoring the honor of various powers.

While some would not care if lower realm powers were ignored, the unique description and speed with agility would draw eyes sooner or later.

Greed was the most certain factor in existence.

Foolish pride was a close second.

Immortal pressure finally brought him to a halt. His new ship had power, but even he could not yet bring it up to the power of its own materials. Still, the structures held despite the creaking and cracking heard by him.

A few panels went dark but he quickly fixed them with Forging.

A small force floated in midair but he frowned. They were only Shard Tiers, and mid tier at best. Surely they got an accurate reading on his harmony's aura at least? They would know what they were dealing with and not send some group of weaklings?

He felt caution rise as he powered down the ship and stepped out. He stored it away but the parties silently evaluated the other.

Lind saw a mix of humans and demons. A human man with almond shaped eyes was staring at him in a way that creeped Lind out.

It was not demeaning nor dismissive but intense desire!

Please do not be a battle maniac! Anything but that!

The demons were wearing a mix of leather and chainmail armor he was not used to seeing but at least all their equipment was mid grade 7 at the lowest.

The man with pale brown eyes smiled at last before he waved behind him.

A short woman with close cut auburn hair and simple white robes summoned a flag. A condor or something close was unfurled on a field of blue and red. Lind quickly went down the list Barbatos and his wives gave him but he frowned even more deeply.

Surely—surely no one would be that stupid?

"So, the rumors were true! An emerald harmony and a strange ship. Heading straight for the Divine Ryuu Throne. The information was well worth the 50 thousand Immortal stones." Lind felt a vein throb on his forehead.

Yep, there was indeed someone that stupid.

"You are from the Duchy of Vargas, correct?" The young man finally preened and his followers were the same save the young girl holding the flag. She looked like she was trying not to vomit.

She was wise. She understood the depth of how badly the group had mis-stepped.

"So, you have heard of my family's great power. We are on the rise to become a high level pow–" Lind suddenly transformed to his full dragon form. He towered over the small group and he simply looked down at them.

Beasts in all directions fled from him but the small group were locked in place save 1.

[What is your name, young one?] The girl was sweating buckets but she dared not delay in answering him.

"Be–be–begging your pardon, Sovereign One, but I am only known as my lord's servant. I am one of many but we are all tied to him alone." His eyes narrowed as he felt no dishonesty in her words. Further, he saw several disturbing arrays carved into her robes.

He turned his full power on the now pathetic looking young human.

[In what delusion did you imagine this meeting going well?] The group squirmed but he did not let them go. He was not in the mood to indulge or teach.

Blades of wind seared at the group and stopped exactly a millimeter from decapitating them.

[Burn this moment into your minds. I could have killed you all but you are beneath my concern. Warn any related parties I will not be so merciful. Also–] Lind's massive eyes focused on the young woman. He waved his claws and the arrays shattered. [She is free. She knew better than to stop me but was forced here. She is the only one I am sparing. If any harm comes to her, I will know. You will not like what happens after that.]

He then flew off as he was close to his goal.

He could sense them! The dragons of the Divine Ryuu Clan!

He came to another strange wall quickly and realized it was made of literal scales! They shimmered with all the natural Qi power he had ever felt. There was no convenient gate but he did not need one.

[Kneel.] He spoke with Authority and the scales shook until an opening was made. He flew through it and saw massive mountains and forests as far his aura could take in.

Dragons of all sizes and cultivation realms lived there but he zeroed in on the sinuous forms he wanted to find.

He also noted who was not there for sure. Ethry was not in their Throne.

He was nearly certain but he had to be sure. He was about to leave when several auras far above him locked onto his location. He felt strange though.

Compared to other Sovereign Tiers, it was like these posed no threat to him at all.

[You are their True Lord, Master. They cannot defy you.] Lind sighed but waited. They may have a lead for him as they were missing one of their own too.

Three dragons flew over. One was a deep crimson with a golden mane and eyes, another with cerulean eyes and viridian scales but with a fin instead of mane, and finally a dragon with dark gray scales and bright green eyes.

They all lacked limbs but their tails were powerful weapons that even he could not mimic.

All 3 put their heads to the grassy plain surface before him.

[[[We greet the True Lord.]]]

The 3 voices were in perfect sync but Lind was not in the mood.

[You know why I am here. Where is my wife?] The 3 flinched but he noticed the dark grey scaled one looked at the other 2 in anger.

[I told you that brat had gone after her! Get his father to tell us–] Lind's aura slammed into them instantly.

[WHERE?!] The 3 glanced somewhere behind them but he felt someone fleeing.

He vanished instantly. Outside the Throne, space was random, but inside it was perfectly fine.

He appeared in front of a robust looking man with shimmering scales randomly dispersed across his body. He leapt back but a massive spear appeared in his hands. The attack was impressive but the man was only a Radiant Tier.

Lind did not even raise a barrier as the tip of metal shattered like glass on his scales.

"I will not let you take me! I am the great–" Lind's tail smashed into the man before he could expound on whatever delusion he lived in. Why were fools seeking him out today?!

Lind thrashed the man with ease until the 3 ryuu finally caught up.

[He knows nothing. Where are the Stonehide Clan known to hide?" His words made the gray scaled one quickly look enraged but he noticed the crimson one flinch. His talons slammed that one into the loose shale of the current area.

[I am not in the mood for speeches. Tell me what I want or I will take it from you.] It was not an idle threat. For his family, there was no boundary he would not cross!

The dragon stilled as it felt the truth in his words.

[T–t–they do not have a fixed home. They take from the wastes of others. I do not know the current place. I swear it.] Anger filled Lind but he tossed the traitor to the other 2.

[Do what you will, I will not waste more time here.] He nearly split the Throne in half as he left it. Ethry was somewhere nearby but the signal was muddled.

He would find her and spirits help her captors when he did!