Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 248 - 247 - Invincible Body

The Divine Sword Sect had set up an area for challenges to be officially overseen by elders.  It was not an arena so much as an open area of grass outside of all the camps to ensure safety.  Spars occurred wherever a pair wished but they restrained themselves to physical combat only, but in the open grass arena, all power could be used.

Formation plates and arrays had been set up to create a shield to allow full Iron Tier Arts on display.  It also allowed an audience to watch if they so wished and as the sun rose, there was a man standing in the arena already.

He had his chest bare while dark pants and shoes were on him.  He had no weapons or artifacts apparent, but his well built body was clear to even the untrained eye.  His dirty blonde hair was tied back by a leather tong while his dark green eyes seemed to be looking at deeper mysteries as the light revealed his handsome face.

There were 4 women also nearby, but they were outside the arena.  What drew eyes first, aside from their beauty, was the shining scales of what appeared to be a drake of some kind but it felt far more profound.  The silver eyes looking at the arena were endearing.  The beast clearly wanted to be with the man but was being comforted by the demoness currently holding it.

"They are late."  Lind heard Shoti's words but he doubted they were late, more as they likely thought he would be late so had gone to his tent.  He had a full day of challenges ahead of him so long as he won.

Indeed, not long after the sun rose, a crowd gathered and some murmured disapproval of the outsider being a show off but others appreciated his commitment to be ready.  All wondered what weapon he would use since none was apparent but Lind felt a few piercing stares.

He glanced at them and saw they were from his fellow slot holders.  He recognized the silver haired woman as well as a fiery haired young man.  Of the rest he had yet to meet or put names to so he would have to do so later.  Still, those 9 faces looked at him with the most interest but with no pre-conception.

"At least you are punctual."  An arrogant voice broke the murmuring as a slim young man emerged from the crowd.  His dark eyes matched his dark hair.  The sword at his hip had a well worn hilt so it was not a spoiled young master yet his arrogance reeked of it.

"Greetings to my first challenger.  I am Lind Frey."  Lind bowed respectfully even though he was slightly higher than the boy in front of him.  His manners made many pleased in the crowd though a few sneered as well.

"Yes, we know who you are, outsider.  Your name will be forgotten shortly.  Draw your weapon!"  The youth pulled out his sword and did not introduce himself but Lind knew his name was Tolan.  Even so, Lind carefully evaluated the hum of sword Qi and the aura of his foundation before deciding he was fine to stay as he was.

He crossed his arms and assumed a stable stance.  There was no sneering smile nor angry look on his face, rather there was disinterest.  His bored look made the youth's face inflame in anger.

"DRAW YOUR WEAPON OR I WILL KILL YOU!"  Lind frowned barely at the thin skin of the boy in front of him.  He had made it to the Iron Tier but his inaction caused such a massive response emotionally?  It did not speak well of his training.

"I am fine.  Attack as you wish."  Lind was not kidding.  He felt no threat from the aura and sword Qi in front of him.  His words acted as a trigger as the elder to the side nodded at him.  The boy seemed to vanish to most but Lind followed him with his eyes.

The steps were not bad, but the anger made them predictable.  Lind merely looked to his left as Tolan reappeared and swung his blade with a vicious smile.  The blade glinted with pure sword Qi yet Lind did not even flare his own aura.

All were blown away by the arrogance of the outsider, but the expected lethal strike never occurred.  Instead, the dull thud of a sword hitting flesh was heard yet no blood came out.  Lind Frey did not budge but Tolan felt his arms go numb as the force was rebounded back to him.

He stumbled away as Lind turned his head slightly towards him.

"Is that all you can do?"  His tone was not arrogant but actually curious.  Lind felt like the boy had more ability than he was showing.  If he held back, Lind was going to win without moving.

Tolan's face turned bright red in rage but he did not give in to it.

His stance changed which caused many to sound surprised.  Apparently it was an important technique to the sect.  Tolan had his sword raised above his head as his feet were spread with the right in front and left back.  Lind could see some potential but then Qi began to flow.

Earth and light Qi flowed into the blade and robes.  Lind felt some danger but still, he did not move.  He wanted to see what would happen.  He had to know his limits.

A Gold Tier conjuring could not really hurt him, but arts that incorporated weapons were different.  They were not simply Qi that Lind could counteract and use his body to endure, it was a variable he was curious to test in a real fight.

"You will regret underestimating me!"  The insane rage finally let loose as Tolan's aura flared far more than before.  The sword became a blinding finger of light while Tolan seemed to dance across the arena.

Lind was impressed.  The light Qi made the sword impossible to look at while the earth Qi made blade and man one.  The movement technique was far more impressive as it was deceptive.

On anyone else, it would make them believe Tolan was moving simply but Lind could see with his Eyes that the ground was shifting beneath his feet to shift him in any direction the boy chose to go.

If Lind dodged, Tolan could simply make the ground carry him to where Lind would be.  It was an impressive technique.  Unfortunately, that was all it was.

Lind did not even move as the blade closed in on his head.  His dark green eyes looked dead on as the blade impacted onto his skull.  Once more, the expected bloodbath did not occur.

Instead, the crack of metal was heard as the sword broke in two.  The blowback of force and Qi was too much for it!  Tolan did not react in time as the top half of his own blade snapped into his arm.

Blood flew in the air as he cried out and dropped the other half of his blade.

Lind quickly examined the injury but determined there was no permanent damage.  The boy was lucky.  Lind saw a few of his hairs fall but that was it.  His skin had not even been cut at all by the technique.

Shock spread through the crowd to the point the healers did not immediately move until the elder screamed at them.  Tolan was thrashing on the ground but his dark eyes were full of hatred looking at Lind Frey.

Lind sighed as he realized he was going to be the cause of a heart demon for the boy if nothing was done.

"Thank you for allowing me to test my body, fellow daoist.  Please take this as compensation for your loss."  A sword materialized in Lind's hands.  It was clear to all that quality was at grade 3, a high grade 3, and was excellent.

Tolan sneered and tossed the blade away.

"I need no junk from a useless man like you!"  Up to that point, Tolan's arrogance was tolerated and even expected as Lind Frey was indeed an outsider, but his showing proved he had won his slot through battle.

He had made accurate judgements on the threat to his body and proven how strong he was.  His body was a weapon.  It was clear that a very strong Art or technique was needed to harm his body.  It was also obvious that he was sincere about replacing the damaged sword.

Last, he was a Forger.  It was not acceptable to insult a Forger or refiner's work when its quality was publicly acknowledged as Lind Frey was.  It would be like rejecting his elixirs under the pretense pills in the same grade were better.

"As you wish.  Then I gift the blade to the sect as compensation for the loss of one."  Many nodded in approval at Lind's words and proof of his character.  The elder bowed with respect and happily took the blade offered.  He could tell it was a worthy blade for any Iron Tier.

"I have some more challengers, I believe."  Lind looked out over the crowd and a few members hunkered down to try and disappear but those that knew the names on Lind's board looked hard at them.

"If they will not fight you, I will."  Lind looked over to see the woman with silver hair staring at him hard.  Lind looked confused to the elder who frowned with disapproval.

"Slot holders are not allowed to fight each other until the tournament.  What is the meaning of this?"  Cara looked up at the elder and bowed before she stepped forward.  Rather than a sword, she pulled out a staff.

"I will not use my full power, instead I want to test myself against a fellow slot holder in a spar.  Victory or defeat is not my goal, but a measure of someone who is on my side."  The elder was less sure now.  Technically a spar was allowed but clearly Cara was not using a sword so it should be fine.

Lind saw where it was going and shrugged to show he was fine with it.

They all backed out of the arena and Lind evaluated once more.  Compared to Tolan, Cara was an entirely different beast of fighter.  Her Qi was the 4 primary elements which were very powerful fonts as well.

Lind was confused why no one had a way to hide their fonts from his Eyes but maybe they did not care.  Still, he felt far more threat this time and took a stance with his arms spread to respond as needed.

"You still will not wield a weapon?"  She did not seem angry, more curious.  He smiled at her and let his aura flare.  His body was his weapon right then and he was going to test it.  His smile made her smile back in kind.  "Very well!"

She picked up the staff and her Qi flared at full power.  Before the elder could stop her, she seemed to vanish into thin air before directly appearing behind Lind Frey.  His eyes never moved but he jumped instantly as the staff went through where he had been standing.

Clearly, he felt threatened but then all were stunned as the air flow changed to slam into Cara and she had to resist it.  She was stunned at the power she felt as the staff was snapped up to block an incoming fist.

The crowd felt their jaws drop as the fist smashed through the staff as it was a twig.  That was a peak grade 3 staff!  In Cara's hands it should be stronger than any steel and her elements further enhance it.  Yet, Lind Frey snapped it effortlessly and stopped his fist just before her face.

It was only a battle of heartbeats but all felt their blood thunder in their veins.  More, they wanted more!

"You are worthy!  Thank you for indulging me, Master Frey."  Cara backed up and bowed with respect.  Lind bowed back and there was not a drop of sweat on either of them.  Compared to Tolan, these 2 were clearly on another level.

"Anyone else?"  Lind called out but no one stepped forward.  He bowed low to the elder who declared the challenges over for Lind Frey for today.  It was not even far after sunrise but his dominance was certain.

Only the most gifted could challenge that man.  Whispers began to spread and left the Divine Sword Sect.  While many felt details were exaggerated, all the stories agreed on one thing.

Lind Frey had an invincible body that had to be overcome for any chance to win.