Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1523 - 1522 - Karma Repaid

Lethargy filled his body as Lind slowly opened his eyes. He saw an unfamiliar ceiling of pure white tiles lined in gold. He recognized the coloring instantly but the person he last remembered was not a member of their sect.

His body felt full of lead, yet he looked around and noticed he was on a large bed in a bedroom that was part of a courtyard. He noticed the wards were at full power as well.

He tried to lift his arm, but the injuries he suffered were stopping him.

He had not been out long!

"Mistress, he is awake." A voice pierced his foggy mind in shock. He had not even realized others were in the room!

A cool hand was pressed against his forehead as his vision took time to focus. He saw Astra's worried face as she put a jade vial to his lips. He accepted the elixir and relief partially flowed through his body.

He was too damn strong for even Law Grade to have much effect, but anything helped at the moment.

His body became light enough that he could move his ring up to his lips. Pseudo-Dao elixirs flowed into him and sped up his recovery.

Time became fluid but he was aware things had become chaotic after he passed out.

The Fiends had been mostly dealt with but a few were captured. The revelations that they were actively ordered to kill him was something they bragged about.

Yet, no power present knew where he was. He was not sure how the pair pulled that off but he was grateful.

One of them would leave occasionally but the other always stayed with him. Lind began to cultivate once more and repaired the damage to his soul and body. He had not unraveled it entirely but he had not done himself any favors!

After 3 months, he was back to his best condition but he still hit the wall again.

"Lord Frey, the Heavenly Maiden Grand Elder Gilda would like to speak with you." Astra finally bowed and told him the truth. The Heavenly Maiden Sect had been protecting him!

He nodded and sat in the lotus position as the door to the room opened. A gorgeous woman entered in the robes of the sect. He bowed with respect and she smiled at him as she returned the respect in kind.

"True Lord Lind Frey, you have weakened the Fiends once–" He held up his hand to stop her.

"They were from the Divine Lands?" She paused but then slowly nodded. He frowned as that presented a problem.

How were they descending without anyone noticing?

The elder understood his implication but she could only shake her head.

"It is an old issue we have no answer for. My sect descended with many cultivators long ago but it was found out immediately. We had to send Sovereign Tiers with them to protect them and establish our new branch." He understood the process and why it had to be done, but it still left the question.

How could Fiends descend unnoticed while other powers were found immediately?

It was likely they had long ago determined methods to hide that fact but he still found it infuriating.

If the Divine Lands were anything like the 4th layer, than Sovereign Tiers were far more common up there like the other Immortal Tiers were in the 4th layer!

In other words, his troubles were far from over!

The Grand Elder Gilda grasped that too but there was little she could do to stop it.

She still bowed low to him before she spoke next.

"We can allow you to recuperate but are you aware of your condition?" Lind narrowed his eyes at her before nodding. She seemed relieved that he knew. "I can offer this for you then."

She summoned a massive jade bowl and he felt his soul respond! The material inside was unlike anything he had ever encountered!

"You have done so much for our Sisters and our sect. Let us repay a small part of that debt to you." He accepted the vessel and began to cultivate.

The bottleneck finally gave way as the liquid inside was absorbed into his body.

[It is a catalyst for souls, Master. Perfectly safe and not created through vile means but very expensive.] He appreciated the context but focused on finally healing his soul.

It took over 4 months but he was finally back at his peak! His full power was restored!

"What was that material?" The elder had never left his side and she smiled as she felt his solid foundation return.

"It is something that can be found in the Divine Lands but it is rare. It is called the Heart of Existence." Lind had so many questions but knew better than to pry into the Divine Realm without restraint.

It was enough that he was finally healed. Still, hadn't Haro said nothing could help him?

[I do not have such materials inside my ring, Master. Also, you would need to be a Divine Realm to access that area anyway.] Lind perked up as there had been many resources left behind by the previous wielder of the ring.

They had been a dragon but the fact the ring had grade 8 materials really motivated him!

"Thank you for that gift–" Gilda held up her hand with a smile.

"I told you, that was but a small repayment for all you have done. I know some of my Sisters would not agree but even they would not deny you have earned it. The faction also asked us to help you with your injuries to the soul." Lind perked up once more but far more seriously than before.

"Faction, I have heard something about those." Gilda also became solemn before glancing at the others in the room. They took the hint and left. Lind then felt a powerful formation activate but it was above Law Grade!

"I do not know everything as the Heavenly Maiden Sect is but a minor power in the faction–" Lind fell off his bed.

Minor power. The undisputed supreme power right next to the Divine Sword Sect that he ran into them everywhere was a minor power in the Divine Lands?!

How could he not react to that news?! Gilda seemed to understand as she waited patiently for him to collect himself.

"I apologize, but you should know very few sects can stand alone up there. The concept of a supreme power is ridiculous. A single Divine Beast could smash what most would call a supreme power down here." Lind had not contemplated that but the power structure was the point of their discussion.

"What faction are you with then?" She became silent before sighing once more.

"I am not allowed to answer that question and I think you know why. The names have power and Heaven does not let Immortals speak them lightly." Lind nodded seriously at that. He suffered headaches or just heard garbled messes but he had also seen Dao fracture the 4th layer with ease.

It was possible a name could kill them both trying to utter it.

"What I can tell you is that you have drawn the attention of many factions. Most are allied against the Fiends but some, of course, are not." He now understood why he was receiving such a revelation.

"It is not just Fiends trying to kill me anymore?" She nodded seriously at him.

"Your attempts to move quietly worked for the most part but honestly, your needs will always reveal you. You have made progress and now healed but that will only motivate them to go after you more. You need to speed up your cultivation." He sighed in agreement but there was simply no way to do it!

He was too far advanced for most external help. He had made progress to the high Sovereign Tier but just barely!

"I am open to suggestions. I was going to explore similar regions to the battleground here but I suspect they will figure that out soon." Gilda nodded but then offered a surprising alternative.

"There are many ways forward but for you, the only path left might be the edge of life and death. In the short journey here, you have crossed into being a high Sovereign Tier. While you did spend thousands of years as a mid Sovereign Tier, such progress is not so easy just with a solid foundation." Lind was familiar with her suggestion.

It was part of why cultivators led such bloody lives. Desperate battle, holding on by the tips of your fingers to life, would push the crystal in the dantian to its limits. Rather than accept death, a cultivator would try to push forward to greater heights, but there was a problem in his case.

"Unless I was actually cornered like today, is there anyone left that can stop me?" While he was restricted on Dao weapons, little else was. It was a plain fact he had been in danger earlier in part due to injury and ambush, but without the former, his odds would have dramatically improved.

Gilda sighed before smacking him on the head!

"Powerful as you are, there are things that can threaten you. The issue is choosing one and focusing on it while also living to get there. We cannot protect you better than your own methods, plus the larger your entourage, the more likely you will get killed while protecting them." Lind knew that.

It was why he traveled alone. If he had to protect and fight, it would leave openings a skilled adversary could use.

Gilda began to discuss plans with him. He would need her help just to get out of Carta but a niggling question was still stuck in the back of his mind.

While once in Carta, finding him had been easy, how had the Fiends known he was in Carta in the first place?