novelraw Chapter 338 - 337 - Strange Demon
Chapter 338 - 337 - Strange Demon
The once simply barren stretch of land was not ripped up and craters of varying depths were all over it. The artifacts had held up to contain excess damage but only just. The power of an ascension tribulation was not to be taken lightly.
Analysis would come later as the group quickly reached the slowly recovering Lysanna. She had made it! The last bolt of blessing had stopped her blood flow but she still looked very rough.
Compared to the beast tribulation that Lind had barely escaped, Lysanna's was far more directed as she had been prepared and not distracted.
Still, it did not reduce the terrifying nature of the tribulation. Compared to the experience Lind had at the end of the Heavenly Wrath in Rakathi, it was far more intimidating. It told Lind that the suffering he had been through was nothing compared to what was to come.
The main issue was how he had to endure the quantity of lightning rather than the quality. World Realm advancement was about mastery while ascension seemed like the breaking of some kind of restrictions.
The difference was clear in the newly blasted tribulation grounds.
"Take this." Lind quickly offered an elixir to Lysanna who finally opened her eyes. She smiled sweetly up at him and took the elixir while grasping his hand at the same time. Since his return, she had been very clear on her feelings.
Lind did not push her away and Ethry was clearly irked, but did nothing.
Her instincts wanted Lind all to herself but she also acknowledged that she came after her 4 big sisters. They had also explained that while Lind was willing to marry all of them, he had to be convinced they were not sacrificing or hurting themselves to be with him.
They were all equals in the marriage and Lind seemed disinclined to increase the circle. Ethry became an exception due to various circumstances but it still took some convincing to get Lind to realize his relationships don't simply stop because he is married.
Cultivators live long lives and their current situation is a good example of why large families are needed. Some would advance faster while others would be left behind. Some would die and such events could form heart demons without support.
Lind's kind heart was well known to them all. The fact he guarded his heart and stayed loyal to them regardless of many temptations also blinded him to true affection from others. His 4 wives had worked hard to keep his heart open to possibilities.
It was odd because many of them knew the vast majority of men usually had to be restrained.
Ethry realized how strong Lind's will was when he had returned. Dragon instincts were incredibly powerful, yet he was in full control of himself despite clear signs he had affection for Lysanna and acknowledged her as his mate.
Her heart warmed at the memory every time!
"No matter how many times I see them, those elixirs of yours are ridiculous in power." Wyndam's words brought them all back to see Lysanna had nearly completely recovered. A low Heaven grade 5 elixir was indeed stunning in its effects.
"Let us head back to the sect. Lysanna needs to stabilize her cultivation and we need to deal with the Demon Empire envoy that is arriving in a few days." Lind's words were law as he picked up Lysanna who began to blush deeply.
Her tribulation was successful but it was clear she was still wiped out. Ethry clearly felt superior but a sudden wisp of Qi made her shrink in on herself. Lind looked at her sternly and she knew who had admonished her for being prideful.
She flew next to the boat as they flew back to the sect. Tal was in the boat as well but that was as many as it could hold. Kora flew in her natural form as a giant bird of prey. Rocs were unknown in the mortal world outside of Ruins or Inheritances, but Kora's existence had left a deep impression on the world.
The 2 auras of dragon and roc had brought all the aether beasts under control of the sect in the immediate area.
No other sect had such a calm time with their forests or other natural predators. It was why they were able to transition so much of the forest so quickly.
The walls of the city soon came into sight but none did more than glance at they flew over. Most of the crowd below were mortals or Body Refining Realm. As they approached the sect proper, cheers began to go up.
Lysanna blushed as many used their Qi to create impromptu fireworks to celebrate her breaking through into the Sky Realm.
"Why are they doing that?!" Lind smirked at her embarrassment but found it cute. Still, he did not dally. They crossed the sect back to the central tower. None of the barriers set up stopped them at all due to Lind's person boat being used.
After putting Lysanna into a courtyard to recover, Lind and Wyndam returned to his office. On the table was a jade slip of a dark violet color. It contained a request for a special envoy to come to the Moebius Sect.
What made the request different enough to make to Lind's desk was its origin. It was not from Emperor Yor, but his father. Lind had been under the impression he was dead as the Demon Empire was not as forgiving about succession as Darkmoor was.
[A special envoy requests an audience with Master Lind Frey of the Moebius Sect. Your specialty is the only one that can resolve a certain issue]
As messages went, it was short, to the point, and vague all at once.
"I have confirmed there is an envoy enroute from the Demon Empire. It has gone out of its way to accommodate all procedures and steps to enter Sarth without issue." Lind found that odd.
The singular contest in Cimmeria was one of the few places the Demon Empire could send a large force without raising eyebrows. Any other location or place would find the 2 supreme sects waiting to receive them.
After that it could be a battle or a staring contest. There had been the incident with the Akashic Physique but as that was a legacy of their Empire, they had the right to send a representative.
Even then, they had made sure to send someone few would object to.
This time, a true caravan of demons was asking to come south of Demon't Teeth, pass through the Heavenly Maiden Sect, since the Divine Sword Sect would fight them on sight, and end up at their doorstep.
If not for going so far out of their way to be above board and open, Lind would be more suspicious. His sources confirmed the former Emperor had not been seen for over 20 years but the usual chaos of one of the heirs ascending had somehow been avoided.
Emperor Yor also made it clear he had no desire to remain in the lower world. He had already raised a demoness that would replace him and she was just as terrifying in demonic lightning as he was.
Lind was unsure how that would be implemented if Yor ascended, but it was likely to be a bloody battle knowing the demon as he did.
"Nothing we can find contradicts their intentions or any discrepancy in the caravan. I had Sapphire Auction House pull me some information yet there were no issues they could find. The only oddity was that the purpose behind the caravan seemed completely unknown." Lind had also tried to confirm the status of the former emperor but all he could find was that the man was dead.
There were many confirmations that somehow he was killed in a swift battle with many of his trusted ministers and allies following him into death. Many bodies had been identified, where bodies were left anyway, which did include the former emperor.
It left the mystery of why a jade slip was delivered and an envoy on the way even more, but only that, a mystery.
The 2 men looked over the map that showed the rough location of the caravan.
"What do you want us to do?" Wyndam was against allowing such a large envoy since the last time the Demon Empire had lost a true genius to Darkmoor.
Lind looked hard and then sighed before nodding his head.
"Let them come. I want Ethry to be here and Lysanna too if she is ready to face them. Just in case, I want them to protect the outer and inner disciples from any issues. The rest of the sect can be covered by the Core Elders." Lind used the term for the current batch of Diamond Tier 6 elementals.
Many of them were working with Wyndam to upgrade or create new Arts and techniques for their dantain style. He nodded at Lind's words and went to relay the orders to the elders. The envoy would be there in a few days at the latest.
⬧⬧⬧⬧
The beasts that pulled the carriages of the envoy looked like a mix between wolves and scorpions. They had 4 paws but the chitin covered tail with a stinger was clearly some kind of hybrid creature.
Chimeras were not naturally occurring but some beasts could awaken bloodlines that changed their abilities and shape dramatically. It was similar to how Elder Tyr had blue skin and slitted golden eyes.
Lind had never learned what bloodline she had but it was rude to ask.
There were 3 carriages with ornate designs but oddly the emblem of the Demon Empire was missing. The high grade 4 materials were not so cheap to be easily used to make carriages. Lind could also tell each one was densely inscribed with formations.
The demon guards were all Gold Tier as well which spoke volumes of the importance of the people inside.
"I welcome you all to the Moebius Sect, I received the message from the former Emperor and accepted it." Lind used a little formality to buy some time but not a single demon soldier so much as glanced at him.
The dark metal over leather and chainmail were all refined items at grade 4 as well. Most had spears or halberds, but the coachmen were all wielding short swords and daggers.
Finally, the middle carriage slowly opened. A demoness smartly emerged and glanced around. Her eyes seemed to glow with blue light which told Lind she was using an Art.
Once she saw Lind, she bowed before pulling out a small set of stairs to disembark. The other 2 carriages quickly opened and more maids came out. They all wore dark lace but he was not fooled.
Those outfits would stop a grade 3 sword without breaking a sweat. None of the soldiers or maids had a single emblem in sight which put Lind on guard. Something was wrong but the next event shattered his expectations.
A very pale hand reached out and the maids all knelt, save the first one. A petite demoness in a pure black silk robe was guided out of the carriage but unlike any demon he had ever met, her skin was not a shade of lavender. She had no color at all.
His Eyes narrowed but then he nearly stumbled backwards. Wyndam and 2 other Elders went to jump out but he waved them back.
"I know why they are here. Ethry and Lysanna, isolate the entrance yard now. Wyndam, get the special guest courtyard set up immediately and accommodations for all these men and women." Lind began to give orders but did not elaborate on what he saw. The pale waif of a demoness was looked at in reverence by the maids while the soldiers smartly rotated to kneel to her as well.
Lind waited at the end of the aisle they created but he was still trying to contain his shock.
The small girl was definitely a demon, but she was something no one had seen before to his knowledge. She was at the Demon Soul Realm and more importantly, she was a 6 elemental!