Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 433 - 432 - Landlords

Wild Heart Isle was one of the few islands with a very low human or demon population.  There would be some teleportation arrays set up for use as well as connection bridges but outside of that, they were left alone.

Unlike in the lower world, aether beasts achieve a level of intelligence to band together and unify against the other races.  Unlike other cultivators, aether beasts did not need techniques, or other normal activities humans, demons, and aether children needed to advance.

They just needed the life and death struggle to advance.  While some beasts could learn techniques, they usually only needed to rely on their instincts and strength.  All of the Sky Realm that held true so it was not unusual to have tier 8 or 9 Sky Realm aether beasts in large numbers.

Thus, several isles have been claimed by them and refused all attempts to invade them.

It was odd, therefore, to have a large tower surrounded by an organized concentric rings built near a pristine azure lake deep inside a jungle.  It was clearly artificial and not a Ruin nor an Inheritance.

Such things fell randomly and even aether beasts could not stop them.  The few expeditions to go to known ones was the only time mass numbers of humans or demons could come to Wild Heart Isle.

While it was clearly built with humans in mind, there were other structures that definitely were not.  Massive paddocks were arranged not as stables but to allow for beings of larger size to attend lessons like all the rest of the disciples.

The symbol of the Moebius Strip was everywhere.

Lind was helping settle the people from Yinande and deciding where to set up the Weaving Hall when he was tackled once more!

"PAPA!"

"LIND!"

Two women bowled him over and he smiled wide as Kora and Tal had displaced his wives from his side on arrival.  The villagers' children laughed once more and many adults had to hide their shaking shoulders.

All could see how beloved Lind was by his family.

"I missed you all too!" Lind hugged them tight and then felt a chill go down his spine.  His wives were staring at the 3 of them.  Clearly his enthusiastic hugs and words were better than the greeting he gave them.

"I did mean you all!  Please, show me everything and tell me everything!"  Lind was not lying but Fey seemed to giggle as he was put on the spot!

The group quickly had disciples take over the villagers aside from the Circle.  Lind asked for and was shown to an open hall he had the weavers take over.  They had permission to engrave protections as needed to teach and experiment for the future.

After that, he finally headed to the central tower.  His crimson robes were well known and many of the 6 elementals knew him on sight.  Old friends were waving but dared not impede the family's progress to their home.

The answer to the question of where all of Lind's former associations had gone was all around him.  At first, they simply ascended and tried to find a home for themselves.  Some were still out there truly integrating into their chosen sects or powers.

Most, however, had vanished nearly 11 years ago and no one could find them.  His wives had vanished for nearly 30 years once he fell out with the Heavenly Maiden Sect.  Originally, it had been to simply make a home for their family, but that goal changed 11 years ago.

Lind declared the decision to re-found the Moebius Sect in the Floating Isles.  That was a logistical and resource heavy endeavor.  Many dismissed his words as simply a tantrum from an ascender.

He would hardly be the first and while some really did found sects or powers, they hardly amounted to anything.

Resources were just too scarce and trying to negotiate priority with such little backing had no effect.  They had to scrimp and scrape just to survive day to day.  So many fell apart as it was easier to get into more established powers than create a new one.

So when presented with places to build, the Wild Heart Isle was a tempting one as it was virtually untapped, but how could any human power get in when they were so adamantly against it?

Ethry, Kora, and Tal were part of the solution.  All 3 were aether beasts, one a Divine Dragon, and thus at first it was all about a home away from prying eyes.  Lind had no discrimination against beasts as they simply followed instincts.

He was also changing and such a thing was a curiosity even to aether beasts.  So they were not immediately rejected.

The result of nearly 30 years was now before him.  The stone and wood were not easy to get ahold of.  They could not be overt in their activities, but they had time.  There was no flow of goods since everything was self-contained to the Wild Heart Isle.

All of it was negotiated and settled but Lind only knew the overarching facts, not the details.

"Lady Cyntilla, Lady Gua has come to see you again."  Cyntilla sighed as if she was long used to such a sentence from the disciple.

"I don't suppose she was relaxing?"  Lind found the question odd but the male disciple looked uncomfortable.  Lind was curious what was going on, but Cyntilla then smiled at him in a way that put chills down his spine.

"Sect Master Frey will meet Lady Gua as he is now here to assume his post."  Lind noticed his other wives looked odd at Cyntilla's words but no one explained.  Who was Lady Gua?

"I guess I will attend to her.  Is there anything she likes as I need to freshen up first?"  Cyntilla waved the disciple off.

"She is a regular guest, but first I think you will want to see the arrangements we have made."  They passed through the gate and the wall attracted him first.  It was stone but also seemed to allow the plants to thrive around them.

The jungle had its own way of defending itself and seemed to be protecting the sect's wall as well.  He wondered how that was achieved but then saw someone surprising.  It was something Earth called a lamia.

Half woman and half snake slithered across the path in harmony with humans, demons, and aether children.  Her features were odd, however.  Aether beasts did not have hybrids like that.

There were no minotaurs, lamias, or any other mythological cross between man and beast, but they could assume human form.

It was a true change but the lamia-like creature in front of him seemed off.

"The Illusion Pythons are the natives to this part of the jungle.  Few bother them as they are highly effective at their namesake.  They can play you to death if they like.  They assume this shape for effective communication but it is only an illusion, not transformation."  Annabelle spoke up but the female python saw her and smiled widely.

"Missstressss hasss returned?"  Lind noted the emphasis on 's' and wondered if that was an affectation as well or truly her speech.  The woman was quite beautiful but he noticed the color of dark hair shifted to azure as she spoke to Annabelle.

"They are our landlords?"  Lind's question was met with silence.  He was confused as he made it clear they would not claim land but pay for it with services and sharing the Dao.  The outer sect had massive areas for aether beasts that wished to join the sect.

His policies had expanded as he learned how aether beasts lived.  It made perfect sense to make a connection but easier to establish the sect where the beasts were comfortable.  They had all the power for that aspect.

"Ssssss."  Lind was snapped out of his question as a tail wrapped him up and the woman came close.  "Pretty."  He let the python look but he also exuded a sliver of his soul.  The effect was immediate.

The python pulled back in shock and awe as it looked at him.  Her eyes then became full of desire as the illusion fell away.  A massive snout was exposed with ruby eyes and a large black tongue flicked out in excitement.

"Calm yourself, please.  I am Lind Frey, the Sect Master."  The python calmed herself and bowed before leaving.

"You are not allowed to play with snakes!"  Ethry was stern but Lind merely pinched her cheek.

"No worries, I am perfectly content."  He meant it and they could feel it.  They led him through the inner and core areas.  The various halls and facilities were well done.  There was still construction going on but it was mostly done by what he could see.

The tower at the center looked lonely but was still under the tree cover of the massive jungle trees all around them.  The sunlight fell down onto them but it would be hard to see the sect from the air.

Despite being over 200 meters tall, the trees were easily close to 500 meters or more!

Lind flew up to an open balcony, a privilege only he could enjoy as a formation washed over them.  They were authorized so nothing happened.

He landed with his rather large group and found a massive office full of scrolls, jade slips, and books.  A desire to read filled him but a woman was sitting on one of the couches near the center of the room.

Lind froze as he saw her.

She was not an Illusion Python.  If he was not much mistaken by the black leathers and giant red triangles that met at the tips on her back, she was a spider but in human form.

Lady Gua was a Star Tier aether beast!