Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1737 1736 - Reunion

Thanks to his clear dominance of the most powerful cultivators of the land, Lind stopped meeting any kind of resistance to his ideas. He also stopped getting a slew of questions about how he knew things that had not happened yet.

The scouting reports also brought a grim reminder that time was shrinking down from uncountable billions of years to less than a handful left.

Ethry finally woke up after a year in a coma. Now that things were moving to prepare to attack the Eastern Continent, Lind was freed up for the more important matters.

At the top floors of a central tower, Lind found people he had not seen in a very long time. Not all of them were Divine Realm cultivators but had been brought up before things went to hell.

Lysanna was still only a Sovereign Tier but her power was enough to inhibit most Apprentice Tiers. Her hair was now tied in a tight bun as her smile revealed very faint wrinkle lines.

It seemed she had spent some time in a special realm so she was far older than even him now.

Kora was wrapped comfortably in her golden robes that ended in black lining just like her wings in her natural Roc form. She was actually just started on her 2nd Mystery in the Journeyman Tier. She had focused on gathering allies more than her own strength as she had the ability to quickly command and guide armies from above.

He had heard she had helped the Harmonic Dragons with key victories that had driven back the Fiends with far less losses on their side.

Annabelle, Shoti, Ethry, and the rest were all serving food to young men and women he quickly recognized as well. Children and grandchildren retained strong resemblance to him or his wives.

The buffet style suited them as all were happily chatting and he just took in the warm glow. Annabelle was like an ephemeral fairy as she cast a few illusions to emphasize her stories.

He enjoyed them as Shoti was clearly trying to out drink everyone in the room. Her battle robes were still pristinely white and her whip was always at hand.

Ethry was the one surrounded by the most little children. She seemed to spoil their grandchildren who were already Immortals!

Lind was happily hiding to the side when Chu silently appeared to his right. Her dark scales and fur shimmered under the light crystal sconces along the walls.

"It has been too long, Husband." The tone of her voice made him laugh. The final war preparation was going on and she wanted to do that?!

"If you think you can get me away, feel free to try." Instantly, several auras locked onto them which only made Lind smile wider as Chu rolled her eyes.

The smiles in the room turned warmer as he came into the room. Rather than silence, happy cries from his children were followed by nervous movements of the smaller kids.

He immersed himself while keeping an eye for anyone else he hoped to see. The feast resumed while he began to tell stories or answer questions.

He noticed Karu had tried to sneak in but Qing and Shoti brought her to the front. He was laughing heartily when Fey walked in.

The various groups stood up and bowed respectfully at her. She waved them away as she ran up to Lind. Her balance of life and death was even better and she was also a Master Tier!

When?! How?!

Before he could ask, Yue came in behind her with a pair of faces he never expected to see in such a setting again.

Jur and Tal! Jur was looking far more mature as she carried in a small toddler with a young man trailing behind her nervously. Tal was a bit colder but when she saw him, a crack formed before tears began to fall.

The room became silent as she ran into his arms. Jur also joined her while introducing her 2 youngest children to him.

Any rifts were now healed by the horror of the current world. The burden he had been shouldering had only increased yet now all saw it plainly.

More friends new and old poured in but having his family back was more than he could ever ask for.

The night waned deeply and all went off to bed or to relax. Lind assumed he would be dragged off but instead his wives got weird smiles on their faces. They looked like they were anticipating something.

An older woman came in. She was still in the fullness of her life but some gray hairs had begun to appear. Her round face was forever etched into his heart as her crimson, black, and gold robes were like the old days.

She was only a Radiant Tier, but that was as far as she could go after using external methods to knock some sense into her son.

Tears fell as his Mother gently embraced him and patted his head. No words were spoken but a feeling washed over him. A feeling of peace he had not felt in a very long time.

"Mom, why–how?" She smiled and waved her arm at the group behind him.

"They knew you would need to see me. They also hid me entirely so not even a peep got out that I was here. I would be a prime target. You look tired." He nodded as they sat down for tea and talk.

She had become a renowned healer in the Celestial Fields raising up generation after generation of disciples. She made no sect or guild, just taught.

It was much like her!

The sun broke the horizon before they were done and Lind felt like time should slow down. He wanted to spend more time with his family like that night!

Yet, time was not something he had a large amount of to spare. He had to move on to what he had to do.

Meetings were held on what to do for those that were going. No one could stay behind but Immortals were not all helpful. Only Radiant or Sovereign Tiers at best were to be taken.

The Blessed Crimson Range would be heavily defended. It was only after all that was settled that Lind was ambushed.

Chu and Shoti practically tried to knock him out and drag him away.

"Come, Lind, we will not let you slip away to those next round of boring meetings. You owe us for all that time apart!" Shoti was laughing like a maniacal villain while Chu was a predator that had found her prey.

He could resist but he really had no need to. Still, the people smiling as they passed them was getting somewhat annoying!

They always did this!

As he was dragged to his rooms, enough seals and arrays lit up that most fortresses would love to have! Did they think he would run away?!

Before he could speak, clothes were lost and his senses were inundated until reason left him entirely.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

The Fiends were afraid. The once unstoppable forward path had been seriously derailed. Yet, that was not the source of their fear.

They had known the Great One was their leader and their source but their long lives had let them believe they were destined to ultimately win once enough Master Tier Fiends existed.

Now, they knew the truth.

They were just fodder. They wanted to live but were horrified to learn they had no way to stop it! They had used so many as resources and consumed thralls without regard for how well that technique worked.

It had never occurred to them that the very connection to the Great One was their doom.

The figure of their leader was no longer a source of pride nor confidence. It was just terror.

He walked among them and sneered. They were so powerful with their thralls and food but now that they knew they were just stepping stones for his own ascension, they had become docile lambs.

He sent out a command and all were forced to arrange themselves in a battle array.

[You have all enjoyed the gifts I gave you. You have all–] The speech stopped as the Great One felt something impossible. He looked up and a spirit, an actual spirit of Heaven and Earth appeared.

He was currently in the shape of an old man with a bent back and a cane but the Great One knew better.

He also knew the spirit. The scar across his chest was made by him afterall.

"Why have you come?" There was a tremor in his voice he disliked but the spirit before him was different from all others.

[For a reverted timeline, you have never once learned a lesson. Only become more cruel. Now that the end comes, I will speak words. This is your final chance to save yourself.] The Great One became calm before his vile laugh echoed across the plains.

The old man was unmoved but the scar festered.

"Teacher, you still do not understand my goals. I refuse to bend the knee. I will be free!" He turned to leave when a thick laugh made him turn around.

[Free? You will never be free. You built the cage with your own hands and then were given a gift to undo it, but you never do. My penance will never end either. I was granted this moment by the others so I will tell you now. You are already damned. Even if you live, you lose.]

The Great One slashed out but the old man simply faded into mist, unable to be harmed in the Divine Lands even by him.

"Just you wait, I will come for you all once more too. Everything will feed my rise!" His words made all shiver. As soon as the Great One was ready, the Divine Lands would be consumed!