novelraw Chapter 438 - 437 - Price of Progress
Chapter 438 - 437 - Price of Progress
Lind was unconscious for a week. Whatever he had done to bring the Wrath of Heaven down on the heart devil had a steep cost. Still, it bought them much needed time. The race memories of the Star Tiers were much more thorough than Sky Realms and lower.
The only beasts that could directly invoke such an act from Heaven were Divine Bloodlines and very pure ones at that! Lady Gua never realized both Lind and Ethry were Divine Dragons.
She had 2 Divine Dragons in her territory! Those that had ridiculed her choice to allow the sect to be built would burn with jealousy to learn that!
She frowned as she looked over the report the interrogations had garnished. Lady Gua had an ability to mesmerize her target if it was a male, but she had been expanding that to work on females as well.
It was not as effective but still produced results. It was part of why she rose to lead the Illusion Pythons. They had similar skills and could learn much from each other. Also, her bloodline was very pure and strong, so it had been appealing to live under her protection for nearly 1200 years.
The Light Ravens had long since occupied the far mountain range with the Fire Hawks. Their common ancestor gave them some grounds to cooperate with each other but something seemed to have pushed Lira over the edge.
If Han wanted to battle, he would march boldly out into the open and had fought with Lady Gua on her rise to Star Tier.
He was the oldest Heaven Realm she knew in Wild Heart Isle.
He was also the most widely liked but his life span was rumored to be running out. His waning life meant he was no longer the strongest, yet it still surprised her Lira could sway things that much!
All the prisoners confirmed it was Lira ordering the battle while Lady Gua was away. The Light Ravens had been proud but the Fire Hawks had been ashamed. It matched their temperaments.
Nothing higher than tier 8 Sky Realm had been sent but if Lind had not been prepared, many would have died not knowing the cause.
"So, it will be war." Lady Gua looked to the closed doors of Lind's chambers. He had gone straight to cultivation when he awoke yesterday. Apparently, that display of power was very costly but Ethry would not give any details.
"We are still building our foundation here. While some are more than battle ready, I would not put the number over 2000 at best." Cyntilla was also cultivating but lightly. She was in peak condition for being a peak 5th tier.
Next to Ethry, she was the strongest in terms of cultivation but Lady Gua suspected Cyntilla would win in a fight. Ethry rarely challenged her and for a dragon that was very telling of someone's power.
"Soldiers? Ha! Only cultivators think in terms of soldiers or Arts. We are beasts! There will be blood a plenty when all is said and done." Lady Gua smiled at the upcoming festival of carnage but then she felt the disapproval from the young demoness.
Surprise flared in Lady Gua's heart. Since when did the cold heart of Cyntilla Fang care about a few beasts?
Her thoughts must have been plain as Cyntilla sighed and stood up.
"You do not understand him. I think he understands your attitude, but he will not accept it. You capitulated to him, Lady Gua. The Mengcong is now Lind's. He will not let people die in chaos. That is the price." Lady Gua was confused. What price? A dragon, even a lower realm one, was supposed to lord over a region.
Why not nurture a rising power and finally ascend?!
"She is right, husband will not allow his followers to die needlessly. He will strike for victory or not allow it at all." Qing surprised them both by coming around the corner. She looked tired but she had been quite busy with the healers after the surprise attack.
They had not lost anyone, but there were severe injuries everywhere. Lind had also asked that the prisoners be healed. It was not unusual to take in defeated foes so it was not unusual to Lady Gua's mind.
The pack, as some beasts would say, must adapt and become stronger!
Flight was a serious weakness of some beasts. Despite being able to fly, they did not have the instinct of flight. Sky Realm avians were far more terrifying in the skies than any other beast save perhaps dragons.
"It is not our way. He may be well intentioned but war is not the same for us. We do not believe in symbols or silly ideals. We simply move to kill or be killed. If you live, you advance, if you die, you are fuel for the other side's future." Lady Gua was quite calm talking about her possible death.
Afterall, they were facing 2 Star Tiers far older than her. They were supposedly well advanced and she did not do well in the air. Her strengths were on the ground. Even with adding a sliver of fire to her dantian, that had not changed.
"That was before. The Moebius Sect is in charge now. In exchange for letting us come here, we have given you all the knowledge our husband accrued from his studies. He has not really grasped what he wants us to become up here but there is one thing we know has not changed." Qing looked at the closed doors in some concern but turned to Cyntilla.
The demoness smiled a gentle smile and nodded. Qing bowed and then carefully entered the chamber. Lady Gua was confused. She just left?
"Lind does not let people be treated as disposable tools. He will never view anyone as an object or simply something to allow to die because it was how it was always done." Cyntilla's smile made Lady Gua jealous. What inspired that smile?! She wanted to know!
"Fine sentiments, but it will not change how the pythons, the bears, or other beasts will fight. Their instincts will over power them and they will recklessly run out to grow stronger." It was common sense to her. Beasts grew by consuming.
Wars were not feared, they were welcome. It was the price of progress and they reveled in it. Cyntilla looked at her in pity. Why?!
"You really need to go over the slips we gave you. Look at his history again. Traditions, rules, and empires did not stop him. He faced an Immortal that wanted to cannibalize other cultivators and returned alive. Do you really think he will allow such chaos to occur?" Lady Gua suddenly recalled some of the more outlandish things she had read.
During the confrontation with Jing, Lind had nonchalantly confirmed some of it. Her senses told her he had been serious! She suddenly wondered what he would do. How would he control the overwhelming desire to grow stronger that all beasts possessed?
She found herself looking forward to it!
She went back to looking at her reports but then occasionally glancing at the closed doors in wonder. She wanted to know! Could the war come faster please?!
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Han had to restrain a smirk as the few survivors returned. The Fire Hawks were injured but invigorated by the battle. An open attack was much preferred to the trickery of the Light Ravens.
Still, he was no longer the supreme leader. Strength was everything, yet Lira was now weakened after losing so many fighters. Normally, he would challenge her but there were other considerations.
Han wanted to fight the newcomers! He had not had a good fight in too long and his time was slipping away!
Each year he could feel his power wane but that was not how he wished to die. He wanted to fuel the next generation!
"Idiot! How could he not keep one spider busy?!" Han frowned as Lira threw a tantrum. Her human shape shimmered as she grew in size until the cave was too small for her! Han merely brushed off the waves each entrancing wing but the others were not so fortunate.
Han protected his own and watched the surviving Light Ravens become clouds of blood and feathers.
More good fighters lost for no reason.
It was the greatest sticking point to Han. Lira did not really care about the humans. She merely wanted an excuse others could accept. Attacking left one vulnerable but attacking a common enemy earned respect.
Lira had not earned enough respect in her eyes and now a prime opportunity had come. She loathed humans but did not care if they lived or died but many in the Wild Heart Isle would praise her if she could defeat such a powerful enemy from the cultivation world.
Han did not like that method at all. She was merely wasting lives on a pointless battle. The target was too weak but if Lady Gua stepped forward, Han could have a good fight!
"Tch, fools should know when to retreat." Lira had resumed her beautiful human form but Han noted the blood on her robes was still clear to see. It was bad taste to kill your kin like that yet she did not seem to care.
"Han! We will get the shrikes and the zheng to fight! They have complained of not having enough food, well now we do!" Han frowned deeply. The zheng had incredible dexterity with their 5 tails and deep penetrating power with their single horn but they were vindictive creatures.
They toyed with their prey, enjoying the fear more than the consumption of their foe. The shrikes were not much better.
It would not be wrong to call them assassins in bird form. Their long beaks were as sharp as any sword and most of them had darkness as their element. They would blend with shadows day or night and strike from ambush!
They took their victims into the sky and then ripped them apart with no hope of escape. While they lived in the mountains, he refused to tolerate them on his western slopes.
Lira was not telling him to go collect them?! His pride roared to challenge her but his instinct to respect strength won out. He bowed and went to collect the 2 leaders of each race. The coming war left only one sour taste in his mouth after the other.