Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 395 - 394 - Loggerheads

Lind enjoyed the Lily Sect immensely.  He currently had black hair and his pale blue robes but the medallion around his neck revealed he was temporarily in charge of the caravan.  No one had a problem with it and the sect disciples quickly warmed up to him.

Seline was their direct contact but Lind quickly figured out things the sect needed and had the caravan work on fulfilling some jobs.  It helped them make some money and increased the members' experiences.

After 4 years in Scorched Gorge, it was a very welcome change of jobs.  Lind saw the twins rarely since they arrived over a month ago but from what he could tell, Sword Breakers were not giving an inch.

They had no problem compensating for damages, in fact that had been settled quite quickly.  The sticking point was the pull back of their forces.

They refused, flat out, to stop.

While all knew why, it had been 5 years.  If they had not found the culprit by then, they were not finding them by randomly hurting other islands.  Many powers did welcome the intrusion either!

Divine Sword Sect was not much better as anything less than complete capitulation on the part of Sword Breakers was not acceptable.  Strangely, the Hellfire Sect had been incredibly helpful.

The twins found their actions odd, but Lind did not.

Demons had their own code and they stuck to it stubbornly.  Killing an enemy was normal but letting your battles go wild was saying they had no control of themselves.  That was a weakness they could not accept.

It was strong to admit their wrongs and face the consequences.

It also probably pleased them to watch the other races act like children while they took the high ground.  Demons were vicious even in politics.

Lind ignored it all and simply did his work.  He felt guilt for all that had suffered but he was not responsible for the over zealous actions of a sect master.  He had kept to his own moral code.

Still, he saw the suffering caused by his actions and wanted to help as much as he could.  He quietly looked into how elixirs worked in the Floating Isles but they were somewhat rare.

There were some powers that nurtured them but their range was severely limited.  Lind smiled as a wild old man explaining how alchemists never understood elixirs came back to him.  Still, there were some in the Lily Sect and he offered to speak the Dao with them.

Seline was more than happy to introduce them and Lind spent many happy hours with them.

They had artifacts for assistance in the Floating Isles.  Compared to what he Forged in the Skinwalker Inheritance, they were toys, but they had the right idea!  Lind was careful, but he found the elixir masters lapping up his knowledge!

They were mostly grade 3 and 4 but after he was done, he was sure they would reach grade 5 in a few years.  He dared not do any more but he made sure to mention that Seline made it all possible.

She was a good administrator and coordinator so he wanted her to get due credit.

"Master Cord!  Thank you so much!"  Seline was smiling widely as she held a new elixir in her hands.  Lind saw that they had progressed quickly and given her a grade 4 Qi gathering elixir.  It would help greatly reach the peak of the Diamond Tier.

"I merely repaid your help.  Resources to repair our wagons as well as keeping things smooth between us and the sect while we stay–"  Lind had been having a pleasant conversation when they all felt a powerful aura flare.

To feel it outside the meeting hall was bad, it meant battle!

Lind moved before realizing and was already at the door.  It had been knocked open but the guards hardly noticed him as he ducked in.  They were reinforcing the meeting halls' defenses.

Lind entered chaos.

A sickly looking man was actually using his fell sect members as human shields to avoid a woman Lind recognized as Divine Sword Sect.  The demon was quietly sipping his tea while the twins looked at their wits end.

"I dare you to insult my sect again you twig!"  The woman was clearly angry but the sickly man did not seem repentant.

"We all know the real reason you won't let us look, it was one of your disciples that killed the young master!  You are hiding them from us!"  Lind frowned.  How did they arrive at that solution?

Lind used a perception formation plate to carefully walk up to the twins without being noticed.  He saw a Maiden leaning against the wall but he was stunned at her power.  A tier 9!  Why was a tier 9 there?

"Are you 2 all right?"  The twins nearly jumped but his voice actually perked them up.

"We are fine, they are worse than usual but no one is hurt badly as you can see."  Azylea was calm but Lind arched an eyebrow at her words.  There were Sky Realms and World Realms with broken legs, arms, and some serious head wounds.

That was not hurt badly?

"Remind me to have a talk about triage with you in the future.  Why is the Maiden not moving?"  Both women shrugged but Lind could see progress had not only stalled but devolved into a land of no compromise.

He dared not act directly but he could, at least, prevail on someone to act.

He moved across the room with no one noticing him.  The twins lost him and were confused why they could not find him but knew he was there.

It took some time as the 2 envoys shouted and seemed to mock battle.  The woman truly did not go for the kill but she seemed to enjoy hurting them.  None of her people moved but they were cheering her on.

When he heard her name of Yanmi he nearly stumbled.  If he was not mistaken that was very close to annihilation in some languages.  Seeing her brutal style, he could believe it.  The sword was a Forged item.

It was also above Lind's skill level which meant it was indeed terrifying.

A Heaven grade 5 weapon could lay waste to an entire area of the cultivator could pull the full power out of it.

He finally reached his goal.

"If I may be so bold, senior, the defenses of the hall have been breached, could you calm them please?"  Lind bowed at his waist deeply.  He was being very rude but he gave context as the hood turned towards him.

Suddenly, a horrifying pressure was on all in the room.  It was the peak of tier 9!  Yanmi and Hilden froze mid-step as all turned to look at the Maiden but she did not see them at all!  She only saw the tier 2 Sky Realm in front of her.

Slowly, the aura retracted before she stood up.

"We are done for today.  If the Babylon Guild permits, may I leave?"  Shock flooded the room.  Aside from a few pointed threats, the Maiden had hardly spoken but the deep respect she sent the 2 tier 3 women made several look at them in a new light.

The Maidens bowed to few powers and Babylon Guild was one of them.

"Senior, you have been very generous.  We will be dismissed for the day and come back tomorrow."  Lind was glad and about to retreat when a firm grip clasped his elbow.

"You are coming with me, now."  Lind was confused but now that he processed the voice, shock flooded him.  It couldn't be!

All shuffled out of the room as the twins frowned at the Maiden taking Lind away.  There was nothing anyone could do to stop her though.

They went through several halls where disciples bowed deeply to the Maiden while a few that recognized Lind wondered why he was with her.  Lind was in shock for more than 1 reason as finally they entered a resplendent room.

It smelled wonderful and soothed the soul.  It was the best place to meditate Lind had ever encountered.  A balcony looked out at the sect grounds while the furniture and bed were all a mix of plants and artifacts.

The pale yellows had some bright blue to make chairs and bed covers stand out.  It was a relaxing room but Lind slowly turned around.

The hooded Maiden seemed to be frozen until she slowly pulled her hood down.

A soft brown hair framing a pale face that once smiled often but no longer seemed to.  The pale amber eyes were colder than he remembered but light, darkness, and fire flared in her peak tier 9 Sky Core.

It was impossible.

How could Little Fey be at tier 9?!

"F-Fey, I did not–"  He never got to finish when a slap sent him flying into the far wall.  His draconic enhancements allowed him to heal quickly but she had not held back at all!  It was her full strength!

"How dare you!  How dare you call me by name after all these years!"  Lind was confused.  He certainly had not been in touch the last decades but he had been very busy.  Surely some of it had been relayed?

"I apologize for losing touch but that was out of my control.  You know why.  I was cut off from the Heavenly Maiden Sect."  Lind was not denying her rage but he slowly stood before her openly.  "I wanted to reach you but I was told I was not allowed.  Why was that and what happened to you?  Are you ok?"

His words seemed to chip away at the ice in her eyes but then tears formed before her aura slammed into him.

"NO!  You will not trick me again!  I will never be tricked again!"  Lind was confused until he used his dragon soul to resist and felt something dangerous.  A familiar danger.

A heart demon!  Fey was under the thrall of a heart demon!