Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 184 - 183 - Rebirth

After Lind's declaration, there was some tea served as the weeping aether children were returned to the sect.  Some were simply stoic until they were free while others had clearly been beaten.

Arathi was relieved when only shackles were on his but the Republic of Sil looked like he was extracting their souls as the collars were opened up.

"Senior Tyr and Barb, please work with Lady Su and Mythra to determine any known offenders from those that simply defended the sect."  Lind spoke that where everyone could hear.  Some nodded, but Desire deeply looked upset as clearly his gains would be all lost due to being stuck at the table.

"Ha, ha, ha!  I like this kid!"  Cynthia sipped at her tea and Lind only nodded at her while the time of midday finally brought an end to the return.  He looked over the lists and noted a few confirmed corpses but some of those dead aether children clearly were killed in captivity.

He would address it later.  Now he had to show his words had weight.

He flexed his Qi once more and a final array began to display images and listed crimes.

"These are the known dead.  I have their corpses available for inspection but I will not allow refining."  The group noted it down and frowned but accepted it.  More than a few at the table smiled in joy seeing their enemy dead.

The final dead was Lord Rain.  He was only peak Gold Tier but his red and green features were well known to most at the table.  He had spearheaded many raids and attacks on caravans.  The list of known crimes went much further back than most.  Some reactions revealed not all knew how extensive this man's career was.

Lind had not been surprised but Sage had been devastated to know Lord Rain had essentially been drawing all the karmic retribution only to escape by dying to his heart demon at the very end.

"If there is anyone that has no more desire after seeing this list, the corpses are under the joint control of the Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect.  They will guide you to the tent to identify them."  Many were surprised at how forthright Lind was being, but some of the smaller powers bowed and left the table.

None were surprised.  Benefits were why many remained but smaller powers knew the larger would punish them if they pushed too far.  Moving back now would lead to greater rewards from their overlords or allies that remained behind.

Lind sighed as he felt a headache but he then waved his hands and the dead list was replaced by a much larger list.

"In front of each of you are the known raiders and other people I can confirm were involved for a fact.  Those tagged with only a single power by them can of course face justice but they will face it in Cimmerian courts."  Some frowned but could not argue that the Stardust Emporium would happily act in a neutral stance they could trust.

"As to those that have multiple tags, if you cannot reach an agreement, arbitration can be done here or in Cimmeria as well."  Lind saw them all finally grasp that he was not merely passing off the work to Cimmerian courts but had received authorization to do so.  A glance at Mythra made them all re-evaluate the man once more.

He had been gone, considered dead, for 6 years, but what came back was a very assured Stone Tier ready to use the connections he had forged during his time as a Soul Realm.  All cultivators do it, but the platinum badge on his right breast was missed by no one. The silver badge next to it confirmed he had only advanced his elixirs but it was only a matter of time.

"Master Frey, while sects and kingdoms may be satisfied with this arrangement, I run a business that has suffered significant financial losses.  Justice will not pay for my losses."  Desire seemed to finally feel confident at last but Lind smiled coldly in his heart.  What that man wanted was not money, but products to replace his losses which meant bodies.

"I am loathe to agree with this man on anything, Master Frey, but many guilds and merchants were affected.  While some may not have legal ground to stand on, a lot of us do."  Lind bowed to that and waved his hand one more time.

A group of various aged aether children came in.  They were escorted by Sage who looked grim but Lind had spent 3 days confirming no signs of wicked arts or other external influence on any individual.  A few had such things that were his trump cards when dealing with them later, but for now, this was the easy part.

"Senior Lioness.  I believe you recognize some here.  We have spoken with all of these aether children and so long as no issue was found, they are actually willing to return to who owned them before."  Some had no one to return to but had been treated well by the organization so had no issue going back.

Many merchants and guilds smiled as the aether children moved to the seat they were told had who they wanted.  Tyr and Barb watched like a hawk the whole area so no one even dreamed of acting up.

The only person who had none come back to him, was Desire who was now glaring at Lind.  Cynthia looked confused at this as well as it was well known Desire Brothel had been burnt to the ground when the Aether Sect attacked.

"What is the meaning of this?!"  Desire was not alone but he was in the minority.

"First, is there anyone who is done with this conference?"  A few looked conflicted but as their lost property was returned, they bowed and left as well.  It was only a handful but it was that much less of a fight.

"Well?"  Desire still looked handsome outwardly but Lind knew the truth.

"I know of some aether children that are alive that do not wish to return.  I am happy to report the Starfire House has held my account open and all elixirs were sold and continued to raise my resources.  I use them now."  Storage bags were summoned from his ring and tossed to several people.  Instant smiles came on their faces as their senses went into the bags.

"I have been insulted enough!"  Desire's low Gold Tier aura was unleashed but then he looked shocked as a jade slip was tossed at him.  He sunk his senses into it and then weakly sank into his chair.

The open blue sky was shifting to late afternoon but all felt a chill come upon them.  Lind looked less like a scholar and more like a predator that had let prey walk into a trap.

"Since he volunteered.  Morn of Desire, you are accused of illegally enslaving humans, demons, and aether children for the use of the rich and powerful to use as they wish.  Your brothel was found to house slaves that had been full of aether children caught shortly after manifestation as well as holding slaves past contracts for made up reasons."  Lind then swept his dark green eyes across the table.  "Anyone else want to object?"

His question made all glance around.  It was clear the implication was that Desire was not the only one guilty of such a practice.  Slavery was not the only way to bind a cultivator.

Silence reigned while Lind waited but no one else volunteered.

"Senior Tyr, Mythra, if you would?"  The 2 women practically smiled in joy as they quickly circled around Morn who now looked desperate but no one would help him.  The 2 women chosen were backed by supreme powers on the 3 continents.

"I will not lie and say I did not enjoy that, but that still leaves reparations of the Aether Sect.  I doubt you can cover that?"  Cynthia was not being condescending but it was a valid question.

Covering the costs lost or contracts violated was feasible since elixir masters were making money hand over fist in the last 6 years.  The issue left was the Aether Sect itself.  Regardless of anything else, it remained that either members of the sect up to the elder status participated in attacks on other powers or allowed it to happen by not stopping it.

At that point, Sage and Raistar moved from behind Lind and held out something that made all there freeze.

Any sect, no matter how large or small, had something issued so their identity tokens could not be faked.  There were still ways to trick if a token belonged to someone specifically, but that actual veracity of the token itself was an artifact imbued with the founder's Qi.

It would then create an artifact token issued to each disciple at the design desired from the founder.  The artifact was an ingenious design that no one knew where it came from originally, but any refiner could only make it after a sect submitted itself to the leading power of their region.

The artifact would then be commissioned and issued publicly.  It was a rather informal process but a sect had to pay tribute in resources or services depending on their focus or suffer being forcibly disbanded.  The artifact would then be destroyed.

Various auras flowed over and confirmed an aether child imprint on the device at the Sky Realm.  Lind waited until all were looking at him.  Some seemed to understand what was coming but a few looked in disappointment.

"While there are those in the disciples that would never be held accountable, the Aether Sect had crossed a line we all live by.  The strong rule over the weak so do not rile the strong unless you are ready to accept the consequences."  Sage and Raistar stepped forward and looked at the group.

Among all the elders remaining, they were the most powerful and well known.  Jon had died protecting Soul Realm disciples during the battle which made Lind sad.  Several other Gold and Diamond Tier elders had been crippled or died as well.

"I am Sage, some of you know me.  I am the second highest remaining authority in the Aether Sect.  I swear by Heaven and Earth none of my former superiors aside from Senior Raistar remain alive or as a cultivator."  Shock flooded the table.  Cynthia was actually staring at Sage as they saw him place his hand against his abdomen and Qi flowed sharply before there was a shattering inside his body.

Sage's aura dropped dramatically and he aged severely but did not die in front of them.  He then bowed to the table and stepped back.

Raistar stepped forward and smiled sadly at Lind.  He had argued vehemently against this but both of them had insisted.

"We cannot escape our responsibility.  Those that survived are willing to die as well but I have one last duty."  She used her peak Diamond Tier power and the artifact broke right in front of them.  The Aether Sect was effectively destroyed and was followed by Raistar aging rapidly compared to Sage.

Her once youthful face was now wrinkled and she seemed to be barely able to move until Lind gently had her take a seat.

The once haughty and arrogant cultivators looked on solemnly as Lind stood up.

"The Aether Sect is dispersed, but I have proposed a new sect to take its place here.  Also, they would be the teachers of how to learn from the Relic inside the Silver Peaks.  It is a place to learn how to cooperate with primary elements in the World Realm."  Mythra led a Sky Realm that wore the blues of Stardust Emporium.  In his hands was the same kind of artifact they had just seen destroyed.

Lind saw the artifact placed down but all were confused as he looked behind him.

They all saw 6 peak Iron Tier mono-elemental aether children step forth.  Some from Cimmeria quickly figured out who they were.  The legend of how Lind Frey rose in fame before the once in a century contest recalled the pillar of emerald light that had blazed across Cimmeria.

"You all know what to do."  Lind stepped back as all 6 bowed low to him before approaching the artifact.  All were stunned as they combined all 6 of their elements into a single art that infused the artifact in front of them.

"We swear by Heaven and Earth to found the Elemental Truth Sect.  We will administer the Relic and teach all who wish to come how to work together to produce combined arts."  The artifact glowed as the oath was taken and all smiled as they understood what was created.  A service sect.

"The Aether Sect is gone and the Elemental Truth Sect has risen from its ashes.  As a witness from the great council of the Stardust Emporium, my duty is complete."  The strong Sky Realm bowed to Lind which made several arch their eyebrows before he flew off towards the teleportation array.

"I will now leave you with these 6 former disciples that stayed in the Relic for the last 6 years as they swore before the arbiter."  The Lioness smirked at Lind as he withdrew but left the Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect behind the 6 aether children.  The message was clear.

The new sect is not strong but it will not be toyed with.  Lind Frey had begun his march back to prominence.