Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 343 - 342 - Shadow Sect Arrives

Lind was cultivating peacefully a few days after Ethry, Lysanna, and Kora left.  He missed them already but he swore to catch up.  Tal also seemed to focus on her cultivation more.

It was a bit infuriating to be surpassed by those that started after him, but it was a fact of life for 6 elementals.  Still, Kexin's words seemed to give Lind guidance.

He was holding on to his connections in the lower world, but he could not just cut them off.  Many had moved on that he wanted to see again, yet others could not.  He had to resolve the issue in his mind and heart but thankfully it was not a demon, just a personal restraint.

He suddenly felt a presence in his chamber but did not react.  The formations had been bypassed but his instincts knew there was no danger.  The person was here to test him as it was another Diamond Tier.

"I thought we had an agreement long ago about your involvement in my sect."  Lind spoke out loud and smirked as he could feel surprise just by his senses.  He looked directly at a corner as a woman seemed to appear out of thin air there.

She was covered head to toe in a tight wrap of dark cloth that was easily peak grade 4 as well as inscribed with refining to increase her concealment skills.

"Master Frey, I was sent not as a threat but as per the agreement with the other supreme powers, we have disturbing news."  Lind frowned as he had not made any such agreement.  His displeasure was clear but the woman seemed undisturbed.

"We made a contract 50,000 years ago after the last Continental War.  We work in the shadows for the right price but there are things that are bad for business we have to take a side on."  Lind narrowed his eyes as the implication was clear.

"Yor went to the Floating Isles and now the Demon Empire marches to war."  The woman was still unperturbed as she held out a dark jade slip.  Lind sunk his senses into it and saw that the Demon Empire was moving beyond the Demon's Teeth.

The force was not small and it was well supplied.  Still, it was hardly an issue currently..  Rith was only divided between 2 real forces of the Conclave and the Demon Empire.  Few would mourn the loss of the Conclave.

"Are you sure it is for war?"  Lind felt the last few Emperors had understood the cost of war, but Yor had been odd.  He loved battle as much as Ryu but aside from a few skirmishes, he never took overt actions.

The woman did not move but a bit of a sneer was felt by Lind.

His aura flared and for the first time the woman flinched in fear.  She no longer acted mysterious and answered his question.

"If they wished to crush the Conclave, few would care, but we evaluate the move as the first step.  Empress Resha seems to want to move south into Sarth as her ancestors once wished to."  Lind reviewed the info but a last question came to his mind.

"Is it not possible that it is a way to remove troublesome opposition as pawns?"  It would not be the first time warlike demon nobles had been allowed to die for useless ambitions.  The woman actually paused as she was likely consulting her superiors.

It was possible things had changed since she was dispatched.

After a pause she seemed disturbed.

"It is not just noble house forces, there are the Imperial Knights and Beast Riders sent forth.  The Conclave has fallen already."  Lind finally stood up and looked solemn.  The distance from the Shadow Sect was not small.

It would take a member some months to reach the Moebius Sect if they left directly from the supposed area they existed.

The Demon Empire would have to cross the Demon's Teeth and gather their forces before heading east to the Conclave.  Further, they would have to secure a path for resources through the nests of wurms, wolves, and other beasts that called the Dread Desert home.

If it had already happened, it spoke of a well planned and well implemented assault.

"You will stand aside or be involved?"  Lind looked hard at his visitor who seemed to feel like an ant despite being in the same Tier as him.  She had read what details they had on him but it seemed they still fell short of the reality.

"Officially we do not exist, but compared to other powers, the Demon Empire is troublesome.  It will be bad for business if we let them trample everyone without opposition."  Lind frowned at the careful wording.

It meant the Shadow Sect would not stand completely aside but they would not threaten their interests.  They were not the standard sect and closer to mercenaries.  Still, they knew the Demon Empire would not let them be.

"The Heavenly Maiden Sect quashed them before, has something changed?"  Lind knew that part of history well.  The last Continental War had been ended by the Heavenly Maiden Sect for the most part.

He knew their power better than anyone but the Shadow Sect visitor seemed to be frustrated at that moment.

"The attack was well timed.  The current elders are new to their positions or in the process of transition.  Even the Sect Masters are rotating in new faces.  They have the power but not the experience."  Lind had not known that.

The Demon Empire had Sky Realms on par with most of the supreme powers' numbers.  They had elders and ancestors that could not advance any farther or wished to see the Empire expand so stayed behind to fight.

It seemed Empress Resha had not randomly chosen her time to attack.  Part of the reason the supreme powers felt reassured was the deep foundation of the Divine Sword Sect and Heavenly Maiden Sect.

If a rare moment of weakness was available, it was poor planning on their part and good planning on the demons.

"Ryu surely would not be unprepared?"  Lind regretted the words the moment he spoke them.  The battle maniac was so focused on getting stronger he hardly ruled the Darkmoor Kingdom.  Callisto was not much better.

Lind suddenly understood.

"They all had the core of their groups go up to the Floating Isles?"  A nod from the woman made Lind frustrated.  What had they been thinking?!  Even if the newly ascended Sky Realms wanted to return, the process was not exactly swift.

The ascension pool could only accommodate a handful of people at a time and had to recharge before working again.  The reverse was also true.

They could get artifacts to fly back but it would take months to arrive!

Lind looked at his desk before summoning a map.  It was a highly detailed map of the 3 continents.  Unlike the inaccurate ones he had to use over his journeys, the Moebius Sect had made a point of mapping properly as a request for disciples to get points.

It was an annual request as well so the map was always being updated.

Lind summoned some pieces from a game very close to chess and began placing them at the Conclave port as well as key powers.  He reviewed the information he last received and began to frown deeply.

The Heavenly Maiden Sect would have roughly the same number of Sky Realms, but they were divided between Sarth and Indelia.  Also, while they would have an influx of Diamond Tiers, they would be as inexperienced at running the sect branches as the Sky Realms.

The Divine Sword Sect was a variable since those that could advance moved forward as if they were a force of nature.  The Stardust Emporium was neutral and would only intervene if their interests were threatened.

They would certainly curtail the Demon Empire but so long as only Sarth was affected, they may not act.

Darkmoor Kingdom was ready to fight but were currently short Sky Realms due to a few passing on from old age.  Lind only knew of it due to the Demon Hall connections.

"How many Sky Realms?"  Lind saw the women look at his arrangement and swiftly added the knight pieces from the game until a deep frown filled his face.

"Why do they have so many?!"  The Demon Empire seemed to have been stockpiling Sky Realms for the last 50,000 years.  Compared to Sarth, they had at least twice the number of Sky Realms alone!

"From what we understood, the Demon Empire has had a loss of resources so many Sky Realms could not advance.  This is a war of your own making."  Lind looked sharply at her before she actually fidgeted.  "I mean the ancestors of the other supreme powers."

Lind nodded but then pointed to Rakathi.

"They could go after the open resources there without threatening war, so why come here?"  Lind wanted to understand the underlying cause.  If he could grasp Empress Resha's reasoning, perhaps there was still a way to avoid what was to come.

As if reading his mind, the woman smirked at him as if he was still a naive boy.

"It is not resources the Empress wants, but domination.  Rival demon powers are not acceptable to her.  She believes all demons should be part of the Empire."  Lind massaged his temple at the idiocy of that train of thought.

Even if the Demon Empire was the only official demonic power, he would bet all he owned small Clans or kingdoms would still exist in opposition to it.  Not all demons agreed just as not all humans agreed on a way of living.

"I want the Frey Clan kept out of this, how much?"  Surprise was clear in the woman's movements but she  actually waved it off.

"You have benefited us greatly over the last century.  I will relay the message to the elders and assure you it will be done."  A small clan like that would be easy to protect.  Lind bowed in gratitude before he began to summon the elders of the sect.

War was coming and they would not be caught off guard!