Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 302 - 301 - Skinwalker Inheritance

Lind did not understand the question.  Why would an Inheritance risk his existence?  His confusion must have been apparent as the beast pulled back.

"Let me show you."  The beast's skin began to ripple.  It was not a flow of Qi, it was an inherent ability.  Lind had never seen such an ability before in his current world, but there was a slight connection to normal animal techniques.

Chameleons and undersea creatures could use their skin to blend or at least draw attention as desired.  It was no extra skill but natural ability.

The aether beast became a sort of humanoid.  It still had pale skin, but the golden eyes became orbs like a human.  The scaly skin became leathers, yet Lind understood it was still its skin.

There was no sign of sex specific organs but Lind did not really try to see.

"Father explored the depths of the ******* to the height of *******"  Lind's head nearly burst at those words he could not understand.  Concern flashed before an apologetic look spread on the beings narrow face.

"Apologies, your comprehension and realm are too low to withstand those concepts."  Lind was unsure what they meant but then senior dragon soul spoke up.

"I felt pain as well, but no on par with yours.  It confirms you are right, this is a Divine Inheritance."  He was unsure but it also called back to when he was originally reborn.  Mortals could not withstand the truth of cultivation.

Explaining even the comprehension of the World Realm to a mortal could hurt them if they had no start in the Body Refining Realm.

Lind stabilized himself before he realized the humanoid had become a bull like creature while he was recovering.  Its fur was still gray but it looked more like plates compared to the scales previously.

The yellow eyes were once more filling the entire cavity than just orbs.  Why the difference?

"We are not as proficient as Father.  We have been cultivating for billions of years but this is the best we can do."  The concept of billions of years took some accepting from Lind but understanding the name clicked.

"Skinwalker literally could become other forms of life?"  Awe filled him as a smirk spread on the bovine face.  It was a little creepy but the warmth was clear.

"Father's Dao was from the path of life.  He wanted to understand all life in existence but the only true way to understand is to become it."  The being returned to its massive form.  Lind then had a question but he felt it was unwise to ask.

Still, his mind was clearly an open book to them.

"We are not sure how Father started, but when we were born, we all had his gift as part of us.  The idea of an original race does not exist for us, but this shape is an amalgam of preferred characteristics."  He instantly understood.  A true master of life could not only assume the shapes but as they comprehended it, they could reorganize themselves to produce the best results.

"Dragons, your form is based off of dragons."  Lind blurted out but a smile spread while irritation came from senior dragon soul.  Lind, strangely, felt curious because he thought he understood why.  "You can't become a dragon, can you?"

A firm nod made Lind understand as he looked towards the citadel.

"There is something about dragons Father could never grasp.  It was not just them, though, all the divine beasts."  Lind understood.  It meant that the bloodlines of dragons, phoenix, black shelled turtle, and white tigers were beyond the Skinwalker.

"So this Inheritance risks me by losing myself?"  Lind grasped several things at last.  The mental, body, and cultivation test all were good measures to gauge potential inheritors.

The beast nodded once more but became very grim.

"Father did not tell us what was inside, only that a worthy candidate would find their way here."  Lind understood but then wondered how they knew the danger?  The next words froze his soul.  "Divine Inheritance is not like others.  Inside that place is not a realm, but a true legacy of our Father.  In a way, it is the last of our Father."

Lind did not understand but he still wanted to try.

He was about to head in when the beasts all lowered to be in front of him.  He turned in confusion to the one that had been speaking to him.

"You can only go in alone, Lind Frey.  The junior with you must stay outside."  Lind frowned but the beasts did not seem malicious.  "You do not need to fear.  Protecting a living soul is much easier than a spirit."

Before Lind could speak, he felt something snap inside him.  There was no pain but an ephemeral dragon of western nature appeared.  It had a massive wing span and horns as the woman that appeared back in the village.

Senior dragon soul appeared to roar, but no sounds came out now.  Despite how powerful her descendant had been, meaning senior dragon soul should be far more powerful, these beasts far exceeded that.

Lind had a far deeper appreciation of what kind of power that could be.  These beasts could crush him like an ant if they sneezed.

"May I say something to her?"  The beast nodded and the pressure in the area spiked.  A strange atmosphere permeated the air and the lightning clouds above seemed almost to disperse.

"These beings are far more powerful than any I know of!"  Lind heard her voice but smiled at her steady feeling despite being irritated.  He also realized she had no connection to his thoughts anymore but she still understood how he thought.

"I am aware, senior, but I simply wish you to understand I am going in.  If I do not return, please find peace in your remaining lifespan."  Lind was trying to reassure her but instead of calm acceptance, he felt her try to break free.

"NO! You are not allowed to die!"  All were stunned at her vehemence.  Lind was curious but he saw her suddenly pull back.  Clearly, she had not intended to reveal that information.  He wanted to know more but doubted he would get any clarity.

"I do not intend to die, but I do not deny reality either.  I have faced death too many times to not acknowledge the risk."  Lind simply made sure she would have a gentle end.  Cultivation was synonymous with danger and Lind had long since overcome his fear of death.

"Seniors, I thank you for this chance.  Please take care of senior dragon soul if I do not return."  Lind saw them nod as he turned to the citadel.  Unlike the other Inheritances, it was rather simple stone.

There were no colors, no complex engravings, or even simple formations.  He could feel the profound aura, but without it, the citadel would be a simple stone fortress with 3 towers coming out of the base.

"Simplicity from complexity."  Lind had read the words in many scrolls and slips, but he actually appreciated it now.  He may not understand the concept behind the construction, but he could see the results.

He looked back and saw the small audience looking on.  He also felt the rumble of thunder above and wondered if even the Heavens wished him luck.

He approached the dark stone doors and put his hand against them.

He expected a pressure, scan, or some reaction, but instead the world simply became foggy.  He had no sensation of existence for a brief moment but then Lind was blinded by light and sounds.

It had been nearly 4 months since he had last seen the sun, but it felt like coming home.  Sunlight blazed from a strange sky.  It was blue but it seemed to glitter as if many crystals were in the air.

It was actually very beautiful.  The clouds were just as odd as they seemed to be of various colors and viscosity.  In fact, he thought some were liquid from the way they swirled in the skies.

Lind found himself smiling as the world became clear around him.  Shadows from leaves, branches, and the sounds of life rose around him.  Life, it was a plethora of life.

It was more like a jungle than a forest but the trees were like nothing he had ever heard of.  The bark seemed to breathe and Lind had the distinct impression the plants could move.  The vines and massive green leaves were so vibrant it nearly brought tears to Lind's eyes.

What was more, his dragon soul seemed to want to fly.  He wanted to soar the skies and look down on the lands like a god.  It was so strong he almost leapt off the ground but then the aura came crashing down on him.

Everything around him was far stronger than him.  A single leaf brushed his skin and sliced it as if it was a hot knife through butter!

He bent down and the roots above the earth tried to snap at him!  The plants were indeed aware!  They also saw him as food.

His instincts reacted with rages and emerald light flared on his skin as a mighty roar came from his throat.  His muscles ached as the roar echoed across the jungle.  The response was immediate as all the plants suddenly retracted as if they had touched fire.

His wound also healed instantly but his Qi drained very quickly.  Lind's transformation came undone quickly and he summoned water to soothe his throat.  It irked him that his dragon soul could heal a cut but did not bother with the damage to his throat.

The auras retracted from him but their strength was still pressing on him.

"Interesting.  I have never encountered a human with a dragon soul before."  Lind whipped around as one of the trees began to shift and crack until a human stood before him.  There was not a trace of any plant or beastial features.

"Senior Skinwalker, I presume?"  A smile appeared on the handsome face as dark hair stopped growing around it.  He was tanned skin with a well muscled body covered in robes of greens and browns.

"You met my children?  How are they?"  Lind smirked at the warmth and joy in the voice as he relayed his journey and meeting with the aether beasts.  Skinwalker commanded some of the plants to make simple stools to sit on.

"Excellent, truly excellent.  They have improved since I died."  Lind felt a little odd at that sentence but the being in front of him felt nothing like the spirits he had met so far.  Even Immortal Artificer felt like a faded image compared to the being before him.

"Senior, this does not feel like a realm or illusion.  While I am clearly nothing compared to you, how did you create this place?"  Skinwalker smiled down at Lind as if he was a young child asking about adult things.

"This is not a recreation, little junior.  This is reality.  A Divine Realm cultivator has no need to create an artificial realm like an Immortal.  This is actual reality.  A Divine Memory."  Lind felt shocked at the implication but further, he felt no pain at the revelation.

He was not in a realm, but in a memory?