Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 212 - 211 - Entourage to the Capital

Obsidian Cliff was a city in the sense it had a lot of people, a market, and production area but compared to even the lowliest city in the world Lind had been to, including in the Dread Desert, it was bare bones.  There was thin Qi but the city worked as a collection and distribution point for the crops from the outlying villages.

It made Lind angry to see the vast warehouses holding the weakened crops handed out to the commoners but as he moved closer to a more robust building carved into the cliff face, the food quality jumped much higher.

Lind recognized some of the very birds he hunted being fried openly but only peak Soul realms to some Sand Tiers could afford the prices he saw.  It demonstrated the state of the Kingdom of Altair.

They were surviving but only just.  It was small wonder that the royal family had suffered after the war when Darkmoor's intervention stopped their raiding of their neighbor.  Lind just ignored it and came to the gate into the City Lord mansion.

The guards were more peak Soul Realms who were confused until they say their superiors wave at them fiercely to open the gate.

"All greet his royal Highness, Prince Lind Frey!"  The words came from the functionary but Lind ignored all the kneeling servants as would be expected of him.  His Eyes, however, noted the sensation of a peak Iron Tier observing him from within.  He could see a formation being used to watch the grounds.

Whether that was normal or something special, Lind did not know but no one made a comment on it so he swept inside.  The layout was fairly straightforward to the main hall in the mansion.  Guests were shown the collection of the city lord on their way to meet with him.

There was not a single woman in sight which was a little odd but then Lind realized that was the other reason to announce his arrival.  The functionary was afraid Lind would take some women from him!  He also realized he still did not know the man's name but it did not matter to Lind truly.

His fate was already sealed.

"Ah, this is my–"  The man tried to jump up to be near Lind but a spike in aura warned him off as Lind entered a hall lined with fine silken white drapes.  There was a large platter of uneaten meat that had cooled clearly from when it was set out.  There were also signs of servants being present that were now gone.

Lind began to suspect how the man lived.  He saw an ornate wooden seat with a very soft cushion at the head of the aisle.  He did not even pause and ascended to the chair.  The functionary clearly was displeased but Lind only smiled wide at him as he waved to Marie to come up to him.

"Now, before I address my need for moving on from this place.  Marie, please explain how things came to this?  I already know your sect is primarily female so you can skip why you have come yourself."  The annoyance of dealing with Altair usually stopped most female sects from ever coming there but there had to be something Marie needed.  She nodded fervently as her blue eyes looked fiercely at him.

"My Lord!  We have discovered a combination of ingredients that is able to produce an art enhancing elixir.  It requires some natural treasures that can only be found in certain places and this time I needed some veined craltite."  Lind was intrigued.  His elixirs were mostly recovery, tempering, or curing, but enhancing was of great interest to him.  He knew the ingredient though.

It was a type of stone that was very dark but criss crossed with yellow veins on it.  It could not be grown, obviously, and only found in very mountainous or rocky regions.  Mountain ranges were not a certainty but also had the danger of fierce aether beasts nesting there.

Altair was indeed a good choice to harvest that stone.

"I see and you came to Obsidian Cliff likely due to being a known source for it?"  Marie nodded and Lind turned to see the functionary now sweating even more.  The man finally realized exactly how much trouble he was in.  His own guards very carefully moved away as they wanted nothing to do with the man.

"You understand what you have done, yes?"  Lind's voice was neutral but his cold dark green eyes left no doubt of his anger.  The functionary's blonde hair was fading as it was removed by his sweat alone.  A glance to his guards already told him he was trapped.

"P-please, your highness.  I know my sins but I can do better!  I have several maids here that–"  Lind had heard enough.  He seemed to vanish to all their eyes which made all 3 Iron Tiers' eyes bulge.  Suddenly, the functionary felt a shattering force to his dantian he could not stop.

"NO!"  His cry did nothing as he was now crippled beyond any hope of repair.  His cultivation dispersed as his body became heavy and so frail.  Death would have been preferable as Lind reappeared on the chair.  He did not seem to have moved which, indeed, he had not.

He had used one of Annabelle's formation plates to hide his Sky Touch attack.  Shattering the fonts was easy and the rest of the dantian self destructed before the functionary could realize what happened.  Lind could repair it, but he would not.

"I trust that result is satisfactory?"  Lind's tone left no room for interpretation and the guards stood firmly at attention with a slight sweat of their own.  Their prince was merciless!

"Y-yes, that was most satisfactory."  Lind nodded at Marie's words then waved for the man to be taken away.  One of the guards quickly complied while the other waited.  Lind glanced at the food and other signs of recent human actions.

"What is your name?"  The guard stiffened but bowed low.

"I am Steven, sire!"  Lind nodded and pointed at the room in general.

"Am I right in guessing the previous owner has 'special' servants?"  The guard flinched at the emphasis but nodded firmly at Lind's guess.  Lind sighed and held the bridge of his nose before moving ahead.

"They were indecent!"  Marie volunteered the part Lind guessed and just wanted to move on to the capital but he had to take responsibility.

"I want them presented in decent robes immediately.  If any are injured, I want them given healing pills immediately.  To be clear, do not harm them!"  Lind's dark green eyes left no room for leeway and the last guard rushed off.  He wanted to relax but Marie was now looking at him rather strangely.

"What will you be doing with all those women?"  Lind felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise as her tone was one he was very familiar with but not from strangers.  It was a question that only had one right answer and if he was wrong, he would regret it.

Lind did not answer right away.  He actually considered the laws he knew of for his options and grimaced at his limits.

While he was an heir, he could not alter the laws of the land as yet.  There were some things he could do, however they had their own complications.  His status as a guest elder of the Heavenly Maiden Sect remained but he could not simply ship them off as it would be an abuse of his authority on 2 fronts.

It would also ignore the source of the problem, the laws of Altair.

He wracked his brain but then an idea came to him that made him smirk.  There was something he could do!

"Marie, you said you are an inner disciple?"  The sudden question surprised her, but she nodded.  Lind smiled wider as the idea firmed up.  "Clearly, we have inconvenienced you and offended your sect.  As it is a fairly new sect, you must be in dire need of help with the more mundane tasks?"

Lind looked hard at her and Marie looked troubled but seemed to understand his idea.

"While we do need some help, it is unlikely we could take more than a handful and I saw at least 100 women in this mansion."  Lind nearly fell off his chair.  At least 100?!  What in blazes was wrong with this kingdom?!

"Sigh, I really will have you select some and test the rest for potential.  I can't send that many to the Maidens even if they truly would let me."  Lind saw Marie suddenly smile at him.  He was confused but was glad she did not assume anything about him.  Lind then thought of something else.

"What would be a normal entourage for a returning prince?"  Lind had only met a handful of actual royalty and only in official functions where they may have had a partner or guard but that was all.  Marie was thrown at first but then realized what he was asking.

"My Lord, it would not be unusual to travel with a personal set of specialists or trusted aides.  I assume you do not have such with you, now?"  Marie seemed strangely excited by such a prospect but Lind had no idea why.

He saw her eyes sparkle but then he suddenly understood.  No, nope, not a chance in hell.  He had not become tired of living yet!

"I am a grade 4 elixir master, Marie, and you are a member of a sect I have no alliance with.  I am afraid you will be given the stone you need and can return to your sect to complete your mission with some prospective members in tow."  Her hopes were dashed but she could not argue his logic.  Lind was far above her in expertise.  He did throw her a little hope, though.

"I will stop by your sect, however, once all this is settled."  Marie was back on cloud 9 and he heard many footsteps approaching.  Lind looked up to see both guards return and leading a very large group of women.

A quick headcount gave Lind a headache as it easily passed 200!  The room was fairly large which he was grateful for.  He saw the robes were white but were new.  It was clear they had not worn these robes before as many were having trouble moving in them but Lind did not want to imagine what they wore before.

"Is this all of them?"  Lind had to restrain the sarcasm in his voice as the room could barely hold any more.  The guards, however, both looked at each other before one ran off.  Lind waited but then was nearly enraged when the guard returned with a girl that was clearly beaten and bruised.

She also had signs of her hair being torn out as her hair was dark and patchy on her skull.  Her eyes were almost crimson which showed she had demon blood in her ancestry.  Lind made no noise but his face was clear.

"She displeased his honor and he has, ah, um, a place to rectify such defiant servants."  The guard had seen Lind cripple their previous master for offending Marie.  They could only imagine what he would do to them but they saw Lind close his eyes and calm himself down.

"Evaluate her, Marie."  The woman bowed and was allowed to enter the crowd of women easily.  Their nervousness died down as they saw the new man on the chair was not looking at them lewdly and allowed them to wear full robes.

"While that is going on, I will have each of you tested by Marie and myself later.  Some of you will be going with her to see if you can join the Dancing Flame Sect.  Please keep in mind she is only a disciple so she can only guide you."  Hope bloomed on some faces but Lind noted a few that looked truly confused that made him sigh.  It was not only men's minds that were twisted by Altair.

"What about the rest of us?"  A voice called out in the crowd but Lind made no motion to look at them specifically as all the faces reflected that question.

"You will be allowed to choose.  I have some spots I can give to qualified people to become acolytes of the Heavenly Maiden Sect.  I can only recommend, however, not certify you.  An elder will come to collect you if I request it.  She would have the final say."  More hope bloomed but a few glanced more towards Marie as they knew little of the Dancing Flame Sect so getting in would be easier.

"And the other choice?"  Lind smirked at last as it was not so simple.

"Choices, not choice.  You can choose to remain here, if you wish.  I will not force you.  You can head to the west, again under my recommendation to the Lotus Empire.  Your future would be yours to decide.  I would not help you beyond getting there."  Lind then finally became very serious and looked out over the crowd.  "The last choice is if you are willing to serve me as I travel to the capital.  I am heading to the Trial of Stone.  I swear by Heaven and Earth you will be only asked to serve as true maids and no more."

His oath stunned all in the room.  Lind was not done.

"I swear by Heaven and Earth, maids help clean rooms, relay messages, and attend to duties regarding cooking and serving their master while he ensures they are taken care of."  Lind looked dead serious at them and they all swallowed.  The 2 guards at the door felt a chill in their spines as it was clear if Lind ascended the throne, Altair would be changing, changing a lot.

"I will serve his highness, Prince Lind Frey!"  A voice called out from the back.  It was the woman Marie had been examining.  One of her eyes was bloodshot and she clearly could barely stand but her fierce declaration left no room for argument.

Lind really moved that time and confirmed she was a peak Body Refining Realm before he gave her a peak grade 1 elixir.  Her body healed right in front of their eyes and made all understand how serious Lind was.

"Welcome to my service, miss?"  Lind looked down at her as her hair began to regrow at a frightening rate.  Lind wondered why that happened but filed it away for later as she knelt to him.

"I am Reya, master."  Lind nodded and returned to the main chair.  She followed swiftly while Marie stood opposite to her.

"We begin."  Lind smiled at them as his Eyes roamed the crowed.