Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 292 - 291 - 6 Elemental Haven

Lind saw a group approach.  Their robes were leather mixed with some metal, but he at least could perceive arrays at last.  Unlike the simple wall, they had cloths refined for protection in the harsh landscape.

The men were fairly normal, but Lind noticed their skin was scarred heavily.  Some were what he would expect from being struck by lightning but others seemed to come from within.  Their bodies were worn down but their cultivation was in the World Realm at least.

"Senior, may I ask for the corpse of that beast?"  Lind had already taken the core so he had no issue leaving the meat, but he worried they wanted the core.  He waved and they took the beast corpse with no comment.

They had no storage artifacts, but Lind could understand why.  The storms would shatter such artifacts

His ring was more powerful and it was the only reason it survived.  Immortal level artifacts seemed to be designed for extreme environments.

The group spoke nothing but did not stop him from following them back to the village.  They also allowed him in before sealing the gate.  The lever on the inside was made of the same wood as the wall boards he had seen.

He saw that the circuit was completed once the latch locked the gate.  The seal on the other side was the trap Lind had assumed.  Once the gate closed, the disruptive nature seemed to reduce but a bolt of lightning still was strong enough to disrupt the flow of Qi.

Even inside shelter, no one could escape the wrath of Heaven and Earth.

"Senior, what is your purpose here?"  The leader of the group pulled back his leather hood to reveal a full head of white hair down to his shoulders.  His wrinkled visage also confirmed he was nearing the end of his life as a World Realm.

The others also pulled back their hoods but Lind did not find anyone without graying hair of some kind.  That was odd.  Why were so many reaching the end of their life?  Cultivators had various potentials but it was rather rare to see so many World Realms aging like mortal generations.

Lind was caught off guard but shook himself  to clear his head.

"I am Taren Cord.  I am currently on a journey to try and make progress on my Dao."  Lind used his old cover name as a century had passed.  While he could still be found out, he chose to wear his normal crimson robes once more.

The older man's glacial eyes narrowed but Lind was honest about his reasons, if not his name.  Hiding your name in the Wastes was not an usual thing either.  In Lind's case, he was likely being hunted so leaving a trail no matter how remote was unacceptable.

Telling his name to the Immortal dragon earlier was just the only option but humans had to earn trust.

"Very well, I can feel you are a fellow 6 elemental, but I thought that Moebius Sect had resolved a lot of our issues."  Shock flooded Lind's brain as he realized he could safely use his talents again inside the village.

His Eyes exploded with the colors of Qi but he could not look up as the storms never stopped.  The group in front of him numbered barely 6 but they were all 6 elementals!

His shock and confusion actually made a few crack a smile.

"You are not the only one to think secrets could be found in the Rakathi Wastes for 6 elementals.  Some of us were born here, but most came here centuries ago when nowhere else could help us."  The leader looked very tired but something finally clicked into place.

"You are all the oldest living 6 elementals and the Moebius Sect teachings helped correct your foundations?"  Nods all around.  Lind realized they had likely been old Soul Realms or Sand Tiers that had to slowly correct the flaws in their bodies.

The Dantian Restoration elixir was up for auction constantly as it worked for more than just 6 elementals.  Clearly, some had gotten to the people in front of him as he recognized his own work.  He did not mention it though.

"Exactly how many of us are here?"  Lind was no longer cautious.  It was different from a century ago, but even in the present, 6 elemental cultivators felt a kinship to each other.  His excitement made the tense atmosphere completely disperse as a laugh or two were heard.

"I think we best head to the nearest tavern.  Katie's should still be open."  Lind blinked at a very Earth like name and more, a reference to time of day.  Since heading deeper into Rakathi, he could no longer see the horizon.

He had no idea when dawn, noon, or night could be.  He then saw artifacts hanging on each building.  He had taken them to be lights at first but he then saw the illumination slowly dimming.

The recreated the cycle artificially!  Lind had almost tried to penetrate the layers to see the truth when the older man pulled him along.  As they moved away from the wall, they saw more people.

There were finally some younger people but Lind frowned at what he saw.  While there were a very high number of 6 elementals, their foundations were damaged.  Soul Realms seemed especially unstable.  It was not simply a matter of cultivation, the very air around them caused issues.

Why were they in the village if it was so painful to even live there?  The world had changed and his sect was always happy to have more 6 elementals.

"They would die."  Lind nearly jumped at the older man's voice.  "As we said, you are not the first to come to the wastes.  The same conditions that seem to cause a higher number to be born also traps them here."

Lind looked up and grasped it.  The constant flow of all 6 elements was a level like nowhere else in the world.  Even the higher realms were unlikely to have such a place.  The normally rare 6 elementals were much more common here but they could never leave until it was far too late.

The lightning outside the village disrupted a World Realm, it would shatter the cores of a Soul Realm in moments.

"I take it the Moebius Sect teachings are only partially effective?"  Lind knew the answer with his Eyes but confirmation was good to have.  Several of them nodded but then Lind was stunned to see a teenager in the 2nd tier of the Soul Realm down a grade 3 elixir!

"The elixirs are a blessing from the spirits and Senior Lind Frey.  You are correct though, they are not enough.  It is not his fault, afterall very few know of us here."  They finally arrived at a sturdy structure that was not a processing building.  They walked for nearly the time it took to burn an incense stick but all the buildings were for refining, beast processing, and what looked like storehouses.

Katie's was boisterous and light spilled into the darkening streets.  Lind felt the atmosphere was a place to ignore the outside world.  While bars or taverns were often the focus of nightlife, the feeling of this one was closer to family restaurants back on Earth.

He entered with the men to roars of laughter and cheers.  There was a massive seating area with waitresses weaving between the laughing tables.  The smell of food was wafting through the air.

The bar off to the side was not small by any means.  Lind glanced at the door in search of any arrays or space manipulation as the inside seemed much larger than the outside.  He then spotted that the color of the walls changed part way back.

He realized they had merged more than one building together to make this large place.  Behind the bar were 2 women.  They were peak Iron Tiers but Lind was stunned to see they were 5 elementals.

Unlike the 6 elementals, their dantains were incredibly strong.  What was the difference?  The blonde was broad shouldered and very energetic as the smile never dimmed.  Her yellow eyes were infectious pools of joy that made Lind smile involuntarily.

There was no attraction, it was as if she was happiness personified at that moment as she picked up six mugs at once to whisk them down the bar to waiting patrons.  She used her water and air Qi to make sure nothing spilled or missed the customers.

The other woman was lithe and seemed to nearly slip between gaps no human should be able to.  Her hair was a fiery red but Lind suspected it was because her fire Qi was powerful compared to the other 4 fonts in her dantian.

Both women were wearing leather aprons over what appeared to be simple white dresses made of cloth.  It was simple but effective.  The smell of alcohol was very strong, much stronger than anywhere Lind had been before.

"Come, Taren, let us drink and get to know one another!"  The old man was no longer grim and the others hauled the meat back to a kitchen most likely.  Cheers went up but a few sharp eyed people noticed Lind's odd garb.

He immediately grasped a flare of harmony from one of the men still with them.  It was white!  He had never seen white before.  A wave of color exploded across the room as Lind swiveled his head, a smile spread from one ear to the other.

"EVERYONE!  We were on watch tonight and this senior arrived.  He is a 6 elemental and very strong.  He has learned from the Great Savior like others we have seen!"  The smile stretching on Lind's face froze but he quickly kept it up.

Great Savior?!  Who in blazes was the Great Savior?!

Lind had a bad premonition that quickly materialized.

"All toast, to the Great Savior, Master Lind Frey!"  Cheers shook the rafters as mugs rose in unison.  One was slammed into his hands and Lind quickly mimicked them.  They all downed theirs but Lind did a quick scan of his to be sure there was nothing too terrible.

He then took a sip and nearly coughed to death.

Whiskey, strong whiskey at that!  They were drinking it like water!

The symbol of the Moebius Strip was hung up suddenly on a handmade crest.  The ambiance went upward as many talked about Moebius Sect as if it was run by a God made manifest.

What sort of image did these people have of him and his sect?!

Lind was warmly welcomed but none asked him to show his harmony which he was grateful for but found odd.  The clear question was answered by the man that led him there.

"We like to show off now that it is safe but that is our way.  We are aware that out in the world it is not something encouraged."  That was not entirely correct.  It was simply that it drained Qi very quickly for most 6 elementals to do so.

Wyndam had been experimenting along that very line of thought and had some success.  Still, like any cultivator, it was not wise to drain the dantian so quickly.

"Welcome, Taren Cord, to the Haven!"  Lind smiled and felt relaxed.  The burn of the whiskey was making it a little easier to drink more but he kept his head clear.  Whoever made the stuff definitely could make a fortune if they got it out.

Questions plagued him on how they lived but for the moment, he embraced the party feeling and enjoyed himself.