Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1549 - 1548 - Meeting the Spirit

It took Lind a full week to just wake up and 3 more to fully recover. His Art demanded a high price but if he could access his Laws and elements once more, he saw ways to make it so it did not drain him so much.

A month after he was finally recovered, he got the report on the Water Seed. Previously, the Throne of the Living Flame would not tolerate it at all. The resources were nearly all converted to fire elements or some variation it found acceptable.

Now, however, it was better than fine! The water core happily churned out its aura to nurture the plants, crystals, and other resources that phoenixes usually had to trade for. The grade was still only at the Sky Realm but that would improve over time.

Lind then tweaked the Fire Seed but in a different way. He actually made it produce an aura that was immensely beneficial to the phoenix race!

It was far easier to adapt the Seed to the Throne than adapt the Throne to a Seed. Still, it had drained him heavily, just not to the point of passing out.

WIth 2 seeds showing both varieties he could make, even the most ardent cold shoulder softened to him.

The Water Seed, especially, was precious as it let the races of phoenix that had that rare alignment as a primary element to finally have access to resources they badly needed.

The demonic elements were an entirely different issue but Lind could tell they would be on par with the Water Seed in difficulty.

"All in all, you have already done us a great service, fellow Daoist." Helsgath was serving Lind tea in a pavilion set in a very odd garden. Rather than grass, trees, and herbs, it was a variety of flaming stalks gently swaying to the breeze as large fire crystals shimmered at several points.

It was like being surrounded by a tamped down camp fire. Comfortably warm but not a blazing inferno.

The crystals actually gave more illumination in place of the sun that did not shine in the sky. The Living Flame Crystal was the primary light source but as it was on the ground, it could not reach everywhere.

"It is actually good practice for me to master my new Art. It has nuances and drawbacks I do not yet fully grasp." The issue was mostly his sealed aura. Without the ability to directly analyze it, Lind was forced to use trial and error to suss out his new Art.

Helgath nodded but then became more serious.

"I have met with the Rebirth Grounds spirit. If I was to gauge its reaction to meeting you, it would be bad. It seemed to have no logical reason other than it was not supposed to meet other races." That was better than they had feared.

"You explained the situation?" Helsgath nodded at his question.

"It did not care about the Fiends at all. It did, however, seem curious about the Throne changes. Your Guardian Spirit may have been right on that track at least. As such, it wants to meet you." Lind glanced up.

It? Not a gender or even a description? His questions must have been written on his face as Helsgath shrugged.

"I met it twice and it was both a man and a woman each time. I would say it does not have a strong identity but the faces were familiar to me. I could not place them, however, as they were lost in my last rebirth." Lind found that odd.

Helsgath could not remember but the spirit could pull up the images regardless? Would that not mean the memories are still there but cut off in some way? It was a fascinating idea but he had no ability to test it!

If his new Art had not fixed the issue, then something else had to be at play!

Regardless, the pair finished the tea and then flew up into the air. Lind followed his host as they left the central area of the Throne for the more mountainous regions. Many nests were made here and he saw several phoenixes on the ground and in the air bow to their True Lord as they passed.

Just as he was wondering where they were going, the world changed. Lind actually felt his Nodes respond! He briefly tried to tap into them but they were not answering to him! They were reacting to the environment.

The mountains were suddenly gone in front of them. He could have sworn the range continued unbroken yet he now saw a massive basin with a shining surface.

Glass! It was solid glass!

Lind carefully touched it as they landed and his hand nearly slid off it like it was pure silk. Tribulation Glass! It was usually only found in very small shards at best and the quality was also bad, but the basin was full of the highest quality he had ever seen!

"Amazing." The word was an honest compliment. The effect of the Tribulation Glass would actually enhance the power and quality of any tribulation faced there. It would be like forcibly pushing a tribulation to the next level to help a cultivator attempt a massive leap in the quality of their foundation.

Dangerous, but impressive. The crafter in him could recognize that it was not simply an accident that it was there. Someone had carefully nurtured and fused pieces until they met the requirements.

An extremely long and tedious process but the commitment was worth it for the result.

"This is truly well done. A true master of their craft and patience." He spoke aloud once more and gave honest praise. He was not unaware what was listening but his mind was far from looking for them.

Haro sighed in his mind and appeared while bowing.

"Forgive my Master, he truly loves making things. He is a Triple Maester." Lind finally snapped out of his appreciation as Helsgath was smiling at him.

He then looked at the center of the basin to see a floating cloud of energy. He felt something press against his soul but it was not dangerous.

Slowly, a figure formed out of the bluish cloud and an older human woman stood before them. She had on simple blue jeans with a white blouse. Her graying hair was neatly tied back as a smile bloomed on her face.

Lind felt a jolt in his heart. His knees went weak and he almost fell. He knew that face! He would know it anywhere!

Tears formed as he took in a person he had not personally seen since he was reborn!

"Why?" So much pain and loss in his tone made the other 2 stare in shock at him. Haro had some idea and was getting angry but Lind held him back. Helsgath was just confused.

"You are not what I expected. A dragon that is not a dragon, yet a True Lord. Your origin responded to my needs." Her voice! It was her voice! He had not heard it in so long but he would recognize it anywhere!

His memory of his old life had grown clearer every day but as time passed, it became harder to just sit and recall it. He had too much to do and too much to carry forward.

Now, he thought he understood.

"Rebirth Grounds, a place a phoenix can try their hand at ascending but must acknowledge how they began?" Surprise bloomed on the woman's face. She looked just like her when he got an answer right!

"My purpose is to test candidates. Abusing this area will only lead to doom for the Throne otherwise." Helsgath now paled. Lind was confused at first but then looked around again.

He could not use his aura but his harmony flared easily enough. The feedback told him all he needed.

"Magnification pushes it too far too many times, the 4th layer will collapse." It was similar to his Dao Weapon. Too many phoenixes attempting to ascend too quickly would fracture the very fabric of the 4th layer.

Tribulations would allow some leeway but the Rebirth Grounds magnified the power beyond natural limits. It also answered a question he had.

"If things go too far, you regulate it, don't you?" The other 2 looked at the spirit who put her hands behind her back and nodded at him with that gentle smile.

"Very good. Yes, I stop the process if I detect it will threaten the Celestial Fields. My highest priority is the safety of the future." The words seemed to dash all hope in Helsgath and Haro.

"Does that mean Lind Frey cannot even survive no matter what?" An all too familiar frown crossed her face that made Lind giggle. He had seen that many times when he asked questions that showed he was not paying attention.

"The issue is if a cultivator that is wildly under powered to face ascension tries to use this place, the reaction will go out of control. The Rebirth Grounds are a knife edge. Too weak, and the tribulation will kill you outright. Demanding too much from the Grounds, however, and the tribulation could destroy the world as the price to let one phoenix ascend." A gentle pat on his head surprised Lind as he had not seen her move!

"I like smart children. You already meet 2 requirements but I cannot alter my guidelines. If not for the phoenix factor now in you, I would have forcibly removed you from the Throne for attempting to ask me anything." An idea occurred to Lind.

"Whose face would you have chosen if I was unqualified?" A smirk crossed her face but no answer came. Lind then took that as confirmation.

The spirit was both guide and guard. Whoever made the Rebirth Grounds knew the stark dangers and did not trust future generations not to be swayed by temptation.

"I will go perform the rituals but at least answer me this, do I really have to do the tedious ones?" The spirit looked confused so he relayed all that had been discussed at the council meeting.

It was like she could not accept what she was being told.

"Aside from the Soul Cleansing and the Path of Rebrith Flames, you need no other ritual. You are already far beyond the need for them. The rest is up to you." She then vanished and the trio found themselves back at the pavilion!

A sigh of relief flowed through Lind but also melancholy. He had not seen his Earth mother in such a long time. Even as a projection, it had not been unpleasant at all. He felt lighter in his heart for some reason but damned if he knew why.

He had a lot to do and thankfully, not as much tedium to get through!