Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 164 - 163 - New POV

Sabrina was near crying as Lind questioned her.  All she had done was use her Soul Eyes, which he was harshly pushing her to learn more as well, to examine how Lady Delia used her Qi.  It had been intriguing to watch and she had been made to examine Lady Delia's Qi points as well.

The odd use of Qi was interesting to examine but then her Master was grilling her for hours until the sun rose.  He only stopped when Elder Shoti came in unannounced and bopped him on the head.

Sabrina instantly pretended to see nothing but she noticed how the usually serious Elder was more playful with Master Lind.  She had only heard of Elder Shoti but the stories did not match the woman she had met.

Shoti was strict on her training and pushed the acolytes and Outer Sect disciples hard.  Her standards were brutal but reachable.  She nearly fell asleep on the couch but the crack of a whip made Sabrina jump as now cold eyes suggested she get back to her shared room.

Sabrina bowed and nearly ran out of the quarters.

She had just entered the large room when she saw a pillow flying at her.  She ducked in time but turned to find a grim faced demoness staring at her.  Vibrant orange hair was tied up in a ponytail and was clearly wet.  Sabrina suddenly felt guilty.

"It was your turn to make breakfast."  Sutra's words made tears form but she could not complain that Master Frey was a slave driver!

"I am sorry, I will get to it now!"  She went towards the basic stove but then the world tilted before gentle arms caught her.

"I think you need more rest, sister."  A wonderful voice filled Sabrina's ears as she was practically carried by Athena to her bed.  Both of them saw how tired she was and nodded in unison.  "Rest, we will tell the Elders you worked through the night."

Soul Realms were more resilient than mortals but only just.  They still needed sleep or at least cultivation meditation to recover.  They had been in lessons with Master Frey and then Sabrina had been examining a client followed by intense questioning.

"Thank you, I love you Athena!"  A pillow smacked her head but Sabrina smiled as the oblivion of sleep welcomed her.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

"Master Frey is a demon, impressive."  Sutra's words made Athena frown but she knew he was so busy.  His display of skill had left her in awe at the competition.  She had thought she was doing quite well in elixirs but compared to what he did, they were ants.

The fact he was a peak Soul Realm meant nothing as he had reached the peak of grade 3.  She had also heard him mention low grade 4 troubles but it had to be impossible.  A Soul Realm reaching grade 4 would be a god.

Her face blushed until Sutra pinched her waist.  Her blue, red, and green hair reacted by floating as she jumped away from the demoness.  The wide smile made Athena want to slap her but she repressed the urge.

"He already had 3 goddesses attending him, are you trying to be the 4th?"  Athena nearly stumbled at Sutra's teasing.  She could not deny she would be interested but she felt it the first time they met, Master Lind guarded his heart.

He did not deny it but he clearly only saw them as students.  He would be kind and warm, but it would have a firm boundary between friend and lover.  She felt sad in her heart as she admired him so much but she knew Sutra was right.

Elder Shoti, Senior Qing, and Senior Sister Annabelle were already stiff competition.  They were kind but Shoti at least gave them sharp glances to warn them off.  Well, to warn Athena and Sabrina off, Sutra did not get glared at for some reason.

"Don't pretend you do not admire him as much as I do."  Athena moved to the kitchen. The smell of a simple breakfast quickly filled the room.  Unlike Master Frey, there was only really 1 room for acolytes but they had slightly larger quarters as they were the future elixir masters of Heavenly Maiden Sect.

Technically, Athena and Sutra were already Outer Sect Disciples.

Athena had chosen to go through the proper channels but she had been stunned when Sutra did the same.  They had gained popularity due to their choice as they were serious about their attempt.

Elder Yi had warned them she would be strict but Athena had still stated she did not want to bypass the path.  It would have been understandable if she was as skilled as Lind Frey but she was nowhere close.

"What do you think Master Lind wanted with Sabrina for a whole evening?"  Sutra was teasing in her voice but Athena actually knew as she had heard on her morning run about the owner of the Forging plate had come.

"Likely a female owned the Forging plate and Master Lind did not feel like angering his wives."  Sutra's gray eyes narrowed but then she looked in pity at Sabrina.  Master Lind was a wonderful teacher but he was a monster incarnate when it came to the details.  Athena pretended not to see Sutra fluff the pillow and tuck in Sabrina tighter to the bed.

"I admire his will."  Athena froze until she realized Sutra was commenting on her admiration.  Athena looked at her in some confusion.  A cultivator, a decent one at least, should have a strong will, but Sutra seemed to be specific.

"He is a 6 elemental.  You know what they say, 6 elementals are wastrels, but he never gave up."  Sutra was not fawning, there was true admiration in her eyes.  "He moved forward step by step and found the world was wrong.  He could have hidden it but he shared it openly."

Athena had heard and it only made her feel in awe of Master Frey more, but Sutra seemed focused on something else.  She laid out some bread and eggs for them both while packing away some meat and bread for Sabrina later.

"He was isolated, alone, but never gave up.  He faced the Blood Empire without flinching and hid his ability as an elixir master.  He negotiated support from the Heavenly Maiden Sect and the Sapphire Auction House when no one was looking."  Sutra seemed to quickly consume her breakfast and stared at Sabrina's helping before Athena shared hers.

"I know all this, what is your point?"  Athena had heard many stories of cultivators with harsh lives.  Master Frey had definitely faced a lot, but she did not understand what Sutra was aiming for.

"You missed it.  He is a warrior.  Impossible odds, no way forward, but he forged it himself.  He never stopped fighting for his future.  He collected allies but did not let them control him.  I admire his will."  Sutra stopped talking as Athena finally grasped it.

Master Frey had no road map for his cultivation due to the fact that the cultivation world had abandoned 6 elementals.  He had a stroke of luck in a Ruin but it took a hard worker to grasp it.  He could have rested on his laurels and enjoyed his status as a peak grade 3 elixir master but discovered he was a Forger as well.

He never stopped.

Athena realized she was so hung up on the emotions when the man as a cultivator should be held in awe.  He was dealt the worst hand the cultivation world had but had forged a path ahead.

His revelations on the relationships between all 6 elements had helped all of them.  It also cemented the fact that the complications of cultivation were in part because assumptions were made that were wrong.

Her own cultivation had benefited immensely but when Master Frey taught them, it was far better.  The way he spoke about the elements was as if a grand master was in front of them, yet he was only in his mid twenties!

"I feel you have a better grasp of our Master than any of us."  Sutra smiled at Athena's words but then the tone that told them they had to head to their lessons as acolytes made them finish breakfast and head out.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

The Inner Disciples were moving to their lessons or grabbing missions at the Mission Hall but many stared as a celebrity passed by.  She had brown hair braided beautifully on each side.  Her tiny body was testament to her extraordinary talent.

Fey skipped as she was escorted by Elder Felica.  The tall woman smiled in joy as the little girl hummed next to her.  Fey had been inducted directly as an Inner Disciple as there was no doubt of her gifts.  She was a 10 year old World Realm!

Felicia brushed her auburn hair behind her ears as Fey smiled up at her.

"Will Big Brother be free today?"  Felicia frowned as she knew Master Frey was busy but he had made it clear that Fey could ask for him anytime.  Even so, the Elders made sure to moderate as Fey was a little girl that wanted to be indulged.

Lind spoiled her too much!

"He had the Forging plate owner stop by last night so he will be busy today but I will see if he is free later, I promise."  Fey frowned for a moment but then smiled wide as she skipped down the path.

"Big Brother is so amazing!"  Felicia had to agree as Master Frey had never stopped supplying elixirs to the Heavenly Maiden sect.  Fey, though, was simply adoring the person who had believed in her.  Felicia could not doubt him as the proof was right in front of her.

They finally reached the lesson hall for Fey.  She was still consolidating her foundation in the Sand Tier but she had a lot to learn about World Arts and controlling her Qi.

Lind could not help her but Fey always listened to him.  She worshiped him.  Felicia could not deny his contribution to this prodigy's cultivation.

"Ah, Little Fey, welcome back."  Elder Kara had graying hair but her power was formidable at the Iron Tier.  The many Inner Disciples smiled at the little girl as Felicia took her place at the back of the room.

All knew why she was there.  The attack on Fey had made Lind Frey very angry.  The Heavenly Maiden Sect valued her above and beyond a prodigy.  She was another direct tie to the interesting 6 elemental.

The Vice-Sect Masters Cora and Lydia had both shown strong faith in him.  The Elders had heard the stories from Sarth and now seeing him in person made them far more believable.  His confrontation with his heart demons were legendary.

"Now, as we advance to the World Realm we can affect the very essence of the Qi in the world itself.  Storms are ours to command and forces unleashed by the world are at our fingertips."  Felicia was at the Gold Tier but she remembered hearing similar lessons when she was young.  Fey was an excellent student and she would brag to Lind Frey when she could.

Honestly, the day Shoti brought Lind Frey into the fold was the day the Heavenly Maiden Sect received the blessings of the Heavens.  He had brought an insane illusion master and now a World Realm at the age of 10!  How much more could he bring?  Felicia looked towards his quarters and promised herself to get Fey some time with her 'Big Brother.'