novelraw Chapter 1436 - 1435 - Guidance
Chapter 1436 - 1435 - Guidance
Lind had confirmed via a test subject that breakthroughs could happen for outsiders inside the arena. It was something he had struggled with but it worked.
It required a direct intervention from him or another Sovereign Tier to do it, but once he explained that to the incoming contenders, it should allow for more cooperation between them. At least in theory.
Death was going to happen. There was no way to avoid that for the Sovereign Tiers especially.
True death was also possible but they would try to avoid it. So long as the soul survived, a new body could be constructed.
Lind observed the various people learning what they had to do and what was expected when the contestants arrived.
The vast majority would work behind the scenes for the shops and support staff for healing as well. There were also those that were setting up the resources for the various contests.
The production challenges would consume mountains since there were thousands of participants. He had areas set up for Heaven Realm and above.
The battle arena was massive but could be broken into smaller sections to allow multiple battles to happen at once.
VIP suites had many amenities that needed people to attend to the guest but even the common areas could access displays via crystal artifacts in each seat.
To be frank, it was a lot for people to take in. It was why he prioritized making a hierarchy for the Harmonic Dragons. Some had chosen to abstain entirely but the rest happily joined to help him.
Some would be participating as well but guiding the staff was still helpful from them.
"You really have prepared for what is to come." A voice that brought a smile to his face made him put down the jade slip.
His mother leaned in the doorway with her lithe figure, dark hair, and dark green eyes as vibrant as ever. He noted a few gray hairs showing but she was far from running out of time.
The strain he put her through could mostly be blamed. He regretted it more each time he saw her.
She was only Radiant Tier and was unable to advance. She still had millions of years but most of her potential had been consumed due to her forced advancement to that tier.
At a rough guess, she had 10 to 15 million years to live barring injury or illness. While Immortals rarely became ill, when they did, it was very bad.
It was usually due to a poison or exposure to a beast and plant attack.
Lind hugged her close before inviting her to some tea and cakes.
"I stirred up the hornet's nest myself, the least I could do was settle it before everyone died." She smacked him but she then gave him a jade slip he stored away.
Despite being only Radiant Tier, she had touched on Law Grade in the last 50,000 years.
"You have kept everyone so busy they do not realize they will not need you soon." He froze his tea cup before taking a sip. He looked up and saw her looking fiercely at him.
"I was never going to stay forever. I need to keep progressing, Mother." She nodded but her firm glare did not wane. He sighed.
He then activated the isolation weaving as he did not want anyone walking in on them.
"How long?" Her question was quite direct but he did not have a good answer.
"I have rather high requirements and my current bottleneck feels like a solid wall of metal. I think the tournament will help but I doubt I can progress any further here." Her eyes went wide.
He was being very frank but she leaned forward. Her own thoughts were nearly visible to him but he waited.
"How bad is it?" She was more aware of his focus than others but for once, he could assure her.
"The Fiends will always be there but they will not help me advance like before. There is no machine or scheme to unravel. I have to do things the old fashioned way. I have created a situation that needs action in extremes but it is feasible. The issue is the last step." He was only a peak mid Sovereign Tier but he could tell the wall between Immortal and Divine for him was a chasm.
He needed something unknown but it was still a long way off. His current issue was just loosening the bottleneck. He really was up against a wall recently.
"What about Fiend agents infiltrating the tournament?" He smiled at her concern. He already knew they would be there but they would be untouched. Any thrall would be instantly incinerated by coming to his Throne.
Anyone with a Fiend artifact or even a hint of Fiend Qi, would never know how they died.
That left willing agents but even those were limited.
He explained all his protections in place and she slowly nodded. She then fixed him with a harsh look.
"Are you going to poach from them?" He smiled at her question and nodded.
"They nurture seeds like anyone else but to be in the tournament will be under a precise lens. They dare not mark them but I will take them. I will cripple them." She looked at him and seemed sad. He did not know why until she stood up and hugged him tight.
"I won't see you after this tournament, will I?" Lind froze. He had planned and understood he had to go out into the Sovereign Lands to find a path forward but he had not considered the full price.
Always before, it was about jumping ahead or catching up to his loved ones, but after the tournament would truly be the last time he saw most of them.
His wives and children would have to walk their own paths as well as the Harmonic Dragons. They would be the administrators of the tournament going forward, but he only then realized he would be alone.
He would be out in the world on his own and he truly might never see his family again.
If he succeeded, he would ascend to the Divine Lands and there was no telling if they would live to see each other.
Based on what he had discerned, only 1 or 2 of his wives might become Divine Realm cultivators.
Intervention might change that, but he was unsure if he could help them once he ascended.
His situation was different but the restriction on Divine Realms was quite clear.
He grasped onto his Mother tightly and they sat silently like that for a time.
Eventually, they had to part as Mira and he had a lot on their plate.
Lind helped a few more of the new staff purify their cultivation foundation and breakthrough so they would share the experience later.
Some might stay but they would have to earn that possibility themselves.
He was focusing on the next steps when he thought on his Mother's words. She was telling him that time was running out in one sense and he should acknowledge that.
He put down the jade slips and communication stones. The Harmonic Dragons knew what they were doing now. He had trained them and they were Immortals themselves. He needed to let them go for the moment.
He called his wives and children. He even reached out to Fey who was still at the Frey Clan.
He prepared food, drinks, and even games. Chess, and other challenges were set up as his family gathered.
They laughed, bet on the tournament battles, and even just sparred a bit. He spent the remaining years with them.
The Harmonic Dragons and new staff were more than capable of finishing the preparations.
No one spoke on his actions as they all understood. The tournament would consume his focus for however many years it took.
After that, he had to go out into the world.
Lind embraced the time for all it was worth. He had lived for over 150,000 years but the last 3 years before the tournament passed far too quickly!
The contestants started to arrive and he had to let them in personally as only he could control the wall of flames currently. It was not a matter of passing it to someone worthy, but the Throne letting him go.
Once the contestants began to show up. The audience flowed like an army across the Sovereign Lands.
The various areas began to fill with traffic but he still found time for his family. It would take several weeks to allow everyone to arrive but the chaos was already rising.
No fights broke out but many were trying to flex their backing or power in various ways. He let his subordinates handle most of it but the Sovereign Tiers were all his.
He sighed as he realized even just setting up the tournament brackets was going to cause a massive headache. People would demand better matchups or more fair competitions but he had to take a firm stance against their idiocy.
The tournament would finally begin come hell or high water!