novelraw Chapter 341 - 340 - Price of Domination
Chapter 341 - 340 - Price of Domination
Nearly 20 years had passed since Moebius Sect had become another supreme power of the 3 continents. The chaos at its rise was quelled by it as well. That act endeared the sect to the other powers, even the Demon Empire grudgingly, but shortly afterwards tension was created.
The Moebius Demon Hall became a third demon power on par with Darkmoor Kingdom and the Demon Empire. Unlike those 2, however, it was also under the umbrella of the Moebius Sect.
The situation caused many clans from the 2 demon supreme powers to be irritable and and frankly egging on a conflict. The demonic resources were already fairly rare in the 3 continents but then something strange happened.
Rather than consume demonic Qi stones and the very rare elemental shards, things began to be produced by Moebius Sect!
There had been a rare demonic elixir master and Forger but unlike the humans and aether children, they did not seem able to progress as easily as them. Still, Master Frey had produced elixirs and artifacts to keep the balance of power on an even keel.
It spoke to his skill how powerful those items were that a single man could do so.
He had made sure to resume such work when he returned but now there was a massive surge that no one could explain. Unlike before, Lind Frey was not forthcoming with how the Moebius Sect could produce so many elixirs and items without a flow of resources from the Floating Isles or other access.
Deep underground from the Moebius Sect proper, a massive cavern was currently being fortified and formations set up to hide its existence. The expected darkness was not present as it was separated into 6 massive chunks.
If any demon were to find out what it was, they would be tempted to invade immediately.
"How did no one notice you were doing this?" Lind stood next to a much healthier Kexin as the members of Demon Hall took care of the various needs of the cavern. They were currently in a section that had flickering blue flames inside crystals and aligned to grow more while nurturing many herbs that loved the environment as well.
Certain metals were slowly transforming as well under those conditions and some demonic formations used for refining.
The other 5 sections had the other demonic element crystals, some that were nearly impossible to find naturally in the 3 continents save mines held by Darkmoor and the Demon Empire.
The center of the cavern had several combination isolation rooms to make those herbs and resources that required a combination of demonic elements. At the edge of each section were what was once low grade 2 Qi stone veins.
The only place to get those were from the Floating Isles but no one really needed them to create mines, but Lind had done so.
"I had a century to kill and while classes and building the sect took up a bit of it, I had a lot of free time since I was not allowed to use a single iota of my own Qi." Lind had been bored and had ideas.
He studied many formations and setups. Cyntilla had helped with most of the work but Lind took over as he had recovered. Lady Estelle had been happy to indulge Lind after all he had done and the Floating Isles had been happy to reward him so cheaply.
"Still, how did you get such growth?" Kexin had seen similar setups when she was a child but they were barely functional compared to the wonder around her.
"Ah, that." Lind scratched the side of his cheek as he summoned a lick of emerald flame. The moment it appeared, the demonic Qi around them seemed to be revitalized until he dispersed it. "My harmony seems to invigorate Qi, any Qi, but I have no idea why."
In other words, the entire cavern was the result of Lind applying his harmony in the latter half of his century of recovery.
"Once the cycle was set up, I left it alone, save the few pieces I needed. Herbs are not terribly difficult but they are not as potent as those found in the world. At least, not yet. We can dig down farther for the shadow, dark light, and metal sections but the other 3 will need some thought.
The corrosive nature of the acidic section was quite troublesome but poison had obvious issues as well. Demons with the poison element would be fine, but everyone else would have serious issues.
Kexin felt her own cores, now tempered to tier 6 just recently, resonate with the cold flame around her. Her black harmony immediately tried to escape to her consternation. Much like Lind had back in the Soul Realm, if she let her concentration slip for a moment, her foundation would advance!
"I wish I had your talent for Soul Touch." It was not the first time she had lamented the lack of Talents. She was not an Innate Cultivator, but her harmony seemed inclined to barge ahead anyway.
"You really do not. Your harmony is bad enough on its own." Lind meant it. If she was also an Innate Cultivator on top of her harmony's nature, she would be long dead. Nothing he tried could have stopped it.
"So why are we here today?" She had been there as part of her duties was to administer the collection and assessment of the cavern. It had been a great joy to realize the sect did not need to pull in trade at the moment as Lind had made a nest egg of demonic resources no one knew about!
"I want you to sit in the center today. I feel we need to get a feel of your harmony better than we have." Thus far, Lind had been forced to tame the harmony for her but part of the reason it was hard to control it was the environment.
The Moebius Sect, by volume, used standard Qi on a daily basis. Demonic Qi was on the rise but would never over power the other. Sheer numbers would always make that true. Lind suspected Kexin's harmony was trying to replace what it considered its enemy all around it.
Kexin paled but nodded as they moved towards the very center of the cavern. She noticed a new addition at that point. It was a pavilion with strong demonic formations. She could not clearly tell but they were above grade 2 for sure!
"You built this for me?" Lind nodded and patted her head. She was not shy, but she was not used to kindness even after 20 years in the sect. She had far more years in pain and left to her own devices that would never be erased.
Delilah had been over the moon when Lind showed her the pavilion. The head maid, now the Vice Hall Master of Demon Hall, seemed to retain her cold attitude with most people but if you got through that thick wall, she was surprisingly a happy person.
Lind found it odd to meet a demon that could be so positive around him. Cyntilla was loving to him, but she was still combative with it. They were equals but she would not let him rest on his laurels.
Kexin moved to the center and examined the dark wood of the pavilion as she saw peak grade 2 demonic elemental crystals embedded facing their respective section.
"I will step outside the pavilion, once I do, cultivate but let your harmony loose a bit. I want to see what it can do." Lind was still only at the Heaven Eyes, but had been able to comprehend more as time passed.
Just as it took longer with each cultivation Realm, pushing his talents to the next level took longer and far more comprehension at each level.
Kexin nodded and assumed the lotus position once Lind was outside the pavilion. An oppressive aura filled it immediately as all 6 crystals lit up. A black glaze covered the once open gaps of the pavilion but unlike any time before, it was not wild.
It was the lord of the realm! It would not be denied! Kexin frowned as she felt she was losing control and began to assert her will. Resistance was immediate but there was no pain! It was a battle, but it was not damaging her to fight it!
Lind watched with his Eyes and began to frown.
"It is far more stable but it is trying to take all the Qi in range. If my harmony invigorates, hers consumes." The once peak crystals were dimming fast. The black mist was trying to spread but the pavilion then had 6 standard crystals light up due to a formation. It was hidden on the roof where it could not be seen nor felt.
Lind watched as the formation tried to contain the black harmony but it was draining that Qi far faster than expected.
"Qi consumption is at least twice what it should be. However, it has a benefit." Lind narrowed his Eyes on her cores and saw them being tempered far more easily than his ever had been. The Qi consumption was not fueling the harmony alone but being used to temper her cores to maintain the balance.
He had been right, the environment had been the issue but there were still more.
"I think that is quite enough." Lind did not bother telling Kexin to stop, they had already established that her harmony did not understand such a concept as stopping. Emerald flames encircled the pavilion and all the demons felt sweat break out on their bodies.
The black mist had been something they wanted to adore and obey, but the emerald flames were power unbridled. They dared not get close to those flames right then!
It was the draconic soul showing itself that was needed to tame the black harmony. It seemed to respect that part of Lind. Sure enough, the mist pulled back and retracted willingly into Kexin.
Lind was stunned. He had expected the pull back, but he had seen with his Eyes that Kexin pulled it back the rest of the way. She was sweating from the effort, but her harmony was now licking around her dantian happily after the session.
"I DID IT!" Lind dispersed his flames as he nodded slowly at her while examining her from head to toe. There were no issues and while she had advanced her tempering, the foundation was nearly at the peak of Tier 5 already.
"You did well but while there were improvements, there are still serious issues. Your harmony consumes and if left unchecked would drain this cavern dry. You also tempered your cores well but do you understand the elements better?" Lind saw her eyes droop as she shook her head.
He smiled and patted it to comfort her.
"You have a strong will, the price of domination is to become a slave of it unless you can control it. If you can control it, this cavern could become your salvation. We will keep training until you can tame that harmony all on your own." The smile broke out once more and Lind laughed.
` His laugh cut off as a tug on a bond took his attention. He looked up and to the north a bit. It was where his quarters would be. Kexin saw the change in him and became solemn.
"Lady Ethry has to go, doesn't she?" Lind nodded as he no longer was the teacher but a husband about to be parted once more from his wife. It was not only Ethry, but Lysanna and Kora too.
The roc girl had become a Sky Realm 10 years ago. Both beasts had told him the desire to advance was pushing them to leave soon. Tal was just reaching the mid Diamond Tier but she would leave him soon too.
Even after 20 years, Lind was only at the peak of the mid Diamond Tier. A journey might help but there were few places left to go.
"You should not let your past become a chain to your future." Kexin suddenly spoke and her eyes were very serious. Lind felt like a door had opened as he understood something important.
He was very attached to the people around him. He was not one to throw away a person just because he had moved on. It was not a heart demon but it could become one if not addressed. He had to move forward, but how?
It would take some thought.