Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1667 - 1666 - Maw Island

Lind stared as the ground closed over the massive mouth before the surface became calm once more. The surrounding structures fractured and fell into further disrepair. They had erected a barrier and cultivated without issue but contacting Sun had summoned a worm?

He did not understand but Haro did.

"Master, some beasts react badly to communication and other artifacts' wavelengths. Even your flying ships would be a problem if they were not concealed enough. If I am not mistaken, Sun has met these beasts before." Lind could only nod but it left a mystery.

His Master had sent him here and said it was safe. Why?

Neither could answer but a stirring youth might hold the answers. They quickly found another structure and finally understood why no one lived in them. They were deathtraps if they could not fly away in time!

As they settled and set up a weaving once more, Lind confirmed he was right. His weavings were still fine but there were instabilities he had missed last time. As his aura came under his finer control, he knew he would get back to his peak condition soon.

The pair then waited as the young man slowly awoke before he whipped around and tried to escape.

Neither moved as the boy slammed into the dome and was flung back onto the tile floor. Loose tiles scattered and some sharp edges cut him with ease.

The boy was unharmed otherwise but Lind realized his senses were still too dull. He had no idea such materials used for common purpose had the ability to harm an Immortal with ease!

He sighed but addressed the confused boy.

"The weaving is keyed to me alone. Not even my ring spirit can leave unless I allow it let alone you. I mean you no harm and I have some questions." The boy quickly leapt up and moved with considerable agility across the barrier area from them.

A slim rod made of wood but inscribed with metal began to tap on the barrier. Lind felt a reaction shockingly but it only made him smile.

"You have never tried to break a weaving with the creator present, have you?" The wild haired youth tilted his head but said nothing. The tapping was not random but quickly discerned weaknesses.

Lind was impressed but a simple wave of his hair was enough for shock to cross the boy's face! He then looked back at Lind and consternation was deeply etched on his face.

Lind sighed before sitting down and waiting. The 3 women were still passed out but their conditions had improved far better. Still, it was time to administer the next dose of elixirs.

Haro took them yet when he went to give them, the boy actually became a blur. Lind narrowed his eyes.

He now knew the boy had a physique. Such speed was not possible for an Immortal otherwise.

It likely also explained his cultivation speed. Such people gained twice the result with half the effort. Such ability would allow for the harsh conditions of the island to not impede them.

Lind casually huffed his breath. It was one of the aspects he could control thanks to being a dragon. Even a baby could control their breath!

The boy was sent tumbling and his strange artifact was also left flung across the room. Lind would have tried to catch it but he did not think his strength was fully under control.

Lind did try something else. He resummoned the gold jade stone. The boy finally reacted in fear.

"DON'T!" He moved like the wind but Lind calmly put it away. A knowing look in his eyes finally registered in the dark eyes of the boy.

"As I said, I want to talk only. I am now aware of the danger but was not before. My companions are in the midst of a delicate recovery so we need a safe place for a time. So, are you willing to answer?" The boy watched as the colors of each woman improved before he blushed in embarrassment.

"I am sorry, senior. Maw Island is not a place of mercy. We all scrape out our own existence everyday while avoiding the true masters of this island." The name made Haro's head snap up.

"MAW ISLAND?! IT STILL EXISTS?!" Lind was shocked at Haro's reaction. The dark skinned man was now pale and seemed to quickly finish his task before bowing before Lind.

"Master, avoid using artifacts, even me, if at all possible. They will draw the various worms of this place like a moth to flame!" Lind was shocked but then glanced at the rod now sitting on the cracked tile floor.

Both boy and spirit nodded at each other.

"Master, there are artifacts with no innate Qi flowing in them. They are mostly conductors and do not attract the worms but still allow for some effects. I believe that is a variation of the Delving Rods made by all grades of refiners. It is likely the True Spirit Delving Rod?" The boy looked surprised and nodded.

He gently picked it up and looked concerned. Lind narrowed his eyes and saw there were fine cracks in it.

It seemed the trade off of no innate Qi was material weakness.

"Let me see it." Lind had no confidence in anything grade 8 and above at the moment but Grade 7? No problem!

The boy was reluctant but eventually handed it over. Lind examined it and it was very simple but elegant.

There was the usual output and feed back nodes on one end but the palm side was very different from what he was used to.

Normally, there would be inscriptions to simply accept activation or to unleash a pre-inscribed effect but instead it was simple contact points.

No inscriptions at all! It was purely on the user to achieve the results.

He dared not get fancy but the simplicity of the item did not require him to do much. Emerald light flared and not only the external cracks but the wear and tear were repaired in an instant.

The wood became much lighter and the metal took on a silver sheen. A shocked yelp came from the boy who snatched it from his hands.

Lind smiled as the boy checked it over before awe and tears filled his face.

"My–my mother made it for me. She was very kind and because she did metal work she was protected. After she died, they all turned on me and my sister. She left me too when I couldn't keep up." The words left him almost unconsciously.

Lind nodded as he was all too familiar with the nature of humans.

The boy finally sat down calmly and Lind was able to ask some questions.

Maw Island was not exactly a good place but it was safe. No Fiend could come there! Something about them drove the worms mad and Master Tier beasts were far from easy to deal with!

It was suspected there were at least 5 of them at any given time but there could be more. Worse, they were very hard to detect!

Even other Master Tiers could not do it!

Billions of Fiends had died despite injuring the worms in the process, they seemed to recover in time!

Lind had felt a shiver at that. It meant there was a factor in the beasts resilient to Fiend Qi.

Most beasts would not go near Fiends at all, repelled like everyone else when exposed to their Qi, but the worms did not care.

True omnivores!

He also learned what the buildings were. It was all bits and pieces but the worms were not originally on the island. It had been a haven off the Western Continent long ago for research in all fields due to rich veins of ore, crystals, and rare herbs.

For some reason, Void Ocean beasts stayed far away from the island despite being some distance from the mainland.

Lind felt a headache come on at that comment. Rich ores, crystals, and herbs should have been giant neon signs of danger but greed blinded them all!

Beasts that consumed on such a scale often had cycles of dormancy where they would exude a profound aura to protect themselves by attracting other beasts.

The rich treasures lure in strong protectors that would flourish and be a ready made food supply when the beasts awakened from their slumber!

Technically, it had worked just not in the way the beasts intended. Followed by the destruction of the Western Continent, it was likely the whole cycle was thrown off and too many worms were awake!

Maw Island was now a cursed land few could survive on and escape was next to impossible! Lind had great confidence as a dragon but others would not be so lucky.

The boy looked parched so he offered some conjured water. It was safer than using his ring it seemed.

Conjuring used native Qi so it would not draw the worm but it was likely only 1 way to bring them calling.

Lind sighed and focused on consolidating his foundation and told Haro to keep an eye on everyone. They had to make sure the 3 women did not try to use their artifacts on waking!

Hopefully, nothing else would happ–

Lind had not even finished the thought when the metal vibrated slightly. He sighed as it seemed they were too close to the last sighting that even the slight use of his ring brought it in.

They gathered the 4 up and took off once more. It was going to be a long time recovering to his peak let alone refining his new Mystery!