Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 243 - 242 - Rise in Value

Lind had taken 3 days to recover after the procedure with Sherri.  Midnight had been giddy but passed out as well as the stress fell from his shoulders.

The twins had been far from stoic all 3 days from what Lind heard but he could understand it.  They were not emotionless, simply their emotion was tied to their use of Qi.

His memory replayed the horrifying rebuilding of a body.  He had expected blood and viscera at some point but he had not expected it to essentially take her apart in front of his eyes.  He had acted quickly to guide the Qi and hold the fluids and flesh inside a sphere.

He had used at least 4 Recovery Elixirs to make it through the process but he was shocked at the complete breakdown that happened.  It was not as simple as just her bloodline, it was her entire body that had been broken down.

The remaining 3 vials were now in his storage ring for further study.  He was not sure if they would only work for her or if he could use it to help others.  It would need some testing.

Still, the moment she started to come back together had been horrifying in a few ways.  All that had been left was a softly glowing ball of burnt orange light where her dantian should be and something he barely perceived where her head had been.

The nerves and meridians were the first to rebuild and swiftly filled with the vital organs, bones, and flesh.  He had kept talking the whole time to console her and she confirmed to have heard most of it.

Once he recovered, he examined her and confirmed her body was now harmonized with Qi absorption rather than demanding it.  Her body actually complimented her innate cultivation talent better than his own!

He thought his rebuilt body and meridians from karma and other lucky chances had given him an advantage but seeing hers made him realize he simply got more resilient.  Sherri's body actually sang with Qi far better than anyone he ever saw.

Midnight took some of Lind's advice on her cultivation but she quickly adapted and easily reached tier 2 of the Soul Realm.  It had been expected since she had been rebuilt in the 1st tier so completely.  Her tempering was far better than his own but she still had to work on it.

"Master Frey, I can get you anything you ask, I promise you!"  Midnight had been a cool customer when Lind first met him.  He had been in control of the situation and only Lind's status as a Forger got him out of being under Midnight's thumb.  Now he was basically a fan and gushing in joy to Lind.

It had not even been a decade since that first meeting yet so much had changed.  It made Lind appreciate how much had changed with him as well.  He had been a lowly Soul Realm with a few tricks up his sleeve and some good friends helping him.

Now, he was a considerable master of elixirs and becoming one of Forging.  He was sought out for his expertise as well in regards to 6 elementals.  The respect he now held put him on par with most Gold Tiers and in some powers, at the Diamond Tier as well.

He still was far below Sky Realms and the major powers merely had cordial relations with him to be generous.  Still, he was far more respected than just over 8 years ago.

"I am glad your daughter is better.  As for payment, I am looking to learn more about the tournament in the Saint Kingdom."  Midnight's face was surprised but satisfied.  The exclusive tournament was rumored to have set a slot for Master Frey.

"Anything specific?"  Lind waved for Midnight to sit as tea was brought out by Reya.  They enjoyed the aroma and the tea calmed their emotions just by that alone.  The taste was pleasing as well which made Midnight look in surprise but happy.

"I have confirmed they offered me one of Darkmoor's slots.  Should I accept that?"  Lind looked over at Midnight who ruminated for a moment before answering.  It was clear Midnight was thinking from the point of view of how Lind looked at the world.

"I would not accept a slot from Darkmoor if I were you.  While you were born here, this tournament is special and using a slot from a major power could send a message you do not want.  Of course, it may not be a problem if Darkmoor offered the slot to you.  Do you know?"  Lind shook his head.  The invitation came from the Saint Kingdom proper but did not state why he was given a slot.

"I am not known for my martial skill, will that be a problem?"  Lind only had the words of his wives to go on, but all agreed the tournament focused heavily on martial skill.  There were no production contests.

Midnight frowned but then looked at Reya.  Lind waved and she bowed before leaving the courtyard.  The arrays activated to isolate the room and Midnight smiled after that.

"It is not well known, in fact it is unheard of, but there are times the Saint Kingdom has tried to garner favor with specialists by giving them a slot and then those specialists just happen to have shall we say…simple battles."  Lind frowned.  While he could understand the need for such a thing politically, he did not like it being used for him.

It meant that the Saint Kingdom was simply trying to bribe him.

"How could I tell?"  The invitation had nothing unusual save the fact it was sent to him directly but Lind suspected that was enough.  Midnight's words confirmed it.

"I am not sure you realize how differently coming back from that Relic and then dismantling the Kingdom of Altair you are now viewed by the major powers.  A backwater power is nothing to them, but your achievements and methods garnished a lot of interest and hope for those that took in 6 elementals at the Soul Realm."  Lind now understood.

His greatest asset was his clear stable cultivation foundation at the now mid Iron Tier.  He had achieved the dream so many 6 elementals had hunted for and now that his theories had created a generation of powerful Soul Realms, the investment was even more tantalizing for when Lind Frey shares his revelations about the World Realm.

"So I would not be wrong in that both Darkmoor and Saint Kingdoms are trying to garner my good will?"  Midnight nodded and seemed pleased that Lind was catching onto things quickly.  Lind pinched his nose as exhaustion plagued his soul.  "Is there another way to get a slot on my own worth?"

Midnight seemed confused but then a spear appeared in Lind's hand.  Further, intent flared as if Lind had honed it for centuries.  The middle aged man was shocked!  There were zero record of Lind Frey using anything aside from his staff which had been destroyed in the Trial of Stone according to witnesses.

Midnight sipped once more at his tea as Lind put away the spear.  It was only a peak grade 2 item.  He had to focus more on Forging after current events were passed.  He wanted to try and make something just for himself.

"There are slots that have small battles for.  Those powers that value battle over anything else often have such a competition setup but if I were you, Master Frey, I would be careful about pursuing those."  Midnight seemed almost grim as he spoke.  "No matter what power you approach, they will expect something in return for taking a slot to such a prestigious tournament."

Lind grasped that but he did not want to be gifted a chance, he wanted to fight for it.  He simply wanted to have an equal chance as others and test himself in battle that need not be life and death.

"What about the Divine Sword Sect?"  A pause was followed by Lind's question.  Midnight poured himself a new cup of tea and savored it before answering.

"That is actually not a bad idea.  It is known that you have good relations with one of their key disciples and honored Elders.  You also know they are sword obsessed fools so you would not be considered as patronage from them either.  They would really want you to fight for their slots."  The battle crazy sect was so legendary all knew of it.  Midnight could see the appeal of earning a slot from the Divine Sword Sect.

It would show that Lind Frey was more than he appeared and give a statement to the other powers wooing Lind.  Cultivators respected strength, and fighting for a place in the tournament rather than just accepting it was something they could respect a lot.

"It is not a bad idea but you only have a year left.  Surely their slots are full by now?"  Midnight's level of knowledge on the tournament was limited.  Slots were always something good to know but some powers kept their secrets close on how they were assigned.

Lind frowned as the time left was not long, but he was not far from the Divine Sword Sect compared to other major powers.  Darkmoor Kingdom was directly south of it after all.

"What are the rules of the tournament?"  Lind moved the question on as the slot would be up to him to figure out at that point.  Midnight though, could only shrug.

"History shows most of it was a simple tournament to the last 50 but the number and methods have varied.  The Saint Kingdom seems to keep the details a secret until the tournament begins.  Likely it is a power play but there may also be restrictions on the artifacts involved that dictate how things will go."  Lind could accept that.  Such a powerful artifact could have weird restrictions or unknown factors that had to be evaluated as they became apparent.

"Anything else you can tell me?"  Lind left it more general and now Midnight frowned deeply.  The man glanced at the protections around them before leaning forward over the dark wooden table.

Lind joined him and Midnight spoke very softly.

"There are some dark rumors that the Saint Kingdom uses the tournament to get rid of enemies publicly.  Nothing overt, or it would come back to them, but a lot of people die each time the tournament is held."  Lind looked darkly but waved for him to go on.  "I only have hearsay to go on, but promising cultivators have won the tournament but then never return from the Inheritance at all.  Something like that is odd and happens too often to be just random."

Lind flashed to the false Ruin he had faced.  The odds of the Immortal Artificer having another spirit was low, but his Inheritance was just as false.  It had been clearly destroyed, yet could others have mimicked him?

He doubted it.  If such a thing was happening, the Saint Kingdom would gain nothing but enmity and would work against such forces.  Benefits have to be gained, afterall, and such dark things would eat into them if found out.

Lind relayed what he had once experienced but Midnight confirmed not a whisper of anything like that even in the tournament.  If such a terrible thing existed, he agreed it would be in the interest of all to reveal it, not hide it.

Lind then contemplated but he would only get answers if he went.  He wanted to know.  A plan came together and messengers were sent to Darkmoor Kingdom, Saint Kingdom, and Divine Sword Sect.  He wanted his slot issue settled before moving to the next step.