Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 541 - 540 - Dimensional Weaving

The grade 3 and peak mortal grade experts barely finished before sunset.  Many were exhausted and collapsed where they were but the proctors took their items and began to evaluate them.

"We have reached the end of today and while a few struggled, all our competitors were able to submit for examination.  The results will take some time to process, so before everyone heads out, let the Heaven grade commence!"  Mythra surprised many but when they thought about it, it would take time for the Heaven Grade round to finish.

The 100 competitors headed to the arena and, same as the other 2 levels, submitted a jade slip.  Unlike before, more were rejected before all of them got going.  More than a few laymen wondered why so much rejection occurred but the masters all knew.

Resources for Heaven grade were scarce.

The peak mortal grade would be vying for such resources to progress!

While some stayed to watch, the rest of the arena dispersed to celebrate and talk about what they saw.

Lind never moved as Solea was guided to his suite.  Kexin welcomed her in but everyone else left as isolation wards were set up.

"Please, relax and recover.  I can see how much strain that put you under."  Solea bowed and assumed a lotus position to recover her Qi.  Lind had tea and food set out and once she was able to resume moving around, she happily partook of the fare.

"Master Frey, do you know when the top 10 will be decided?"  Lind smirked but he knew a few.

"Ishin will be number 1 in peak mortal grade.  His enlightenment cemented his lead and his testing was equally unable to be overcome.  He will be followed by Yuan who is a direct disciple of Master Ye.  Aside from them, the arrangement will be a bit varied."  Solea nodded but she appreciated how much Lind paid attention.

"I am unsure what I can share with a master like you, but I am happy to be invited."  Lind waved it off but then saw Kexin examining a jade communication stone before smiling.

"The grade 3 top ten are settled, do you want to see them?"  Lind nodded as Solea had perked up.  Was there someone she wanted to know about?

Lind smiled as he looked over the list.

"Master Ye should be very happy.  Lady Cara also had a few but others will be frustrated."  Lind saw the name Elise once more but she had jumped up to 3rd place.

She had made Body Strengthening Pill at mid grade 4.  It was one of the pills used to overcome tribulations and her pill had been very good.  Combined with the other results, she jumped all the way to number 3.

He saw several of his disciples in the derivative professions had done well but only 2 made it to the top 5.

"Was there someone you were interested in?"  Lind did not look up but saw the woman flinch at his question.  She seemed to consider for a time before a tired sigh left her.

"There was an aether child, her name was Hyldi."  Lind looked at the list and found her.

"She is ranked 9th for refining a Gorgon Shield at peak grade 4."  It was exactly as the name suggested.  The shield had the ability to lock an opponent up with a strong illusion making the enemy a statue in effect.

It was very powerful too.

She had been 15th but the points from the final round brought her just over the line to 9th.

A happy smile spread on Solea's face but Lind did not pry.  It was not his place to.

"Have the results displayed in the morning.  Let them have the night to recover and relax."  Lind knew that while some did not make the top 10, they had done very well.

Kexin bowed and relayed the information to Mythra.

"Now, how are you feeling?"  Lind spoke to Solea who had auburn hair framing her well tanned face.  There were a few wrinkles but her vitality felt very strong to him.

"I am much better.  These cookies and tea helped a lot."  Lind smiled as Kexin felt pride nearby.  She had made those snacks!

"Dragon leaf tea is hard to come by but its recuperative effects on a cultivator are not to be underestimated."  The moment he said the name, Solea nearly choked.  She looked at the dark colored tea and back up at Lind.

She realized he was not joking at all!  Dragon leaf tea was a grade 6 item!  Where had he gotten it?!

"Um, ah, thank you."  Solea felt her nerves were now on edge but Lind smiled warmly and began with his questions.

"Where did you learn weaving from?"  It was a bit rude to ask but she had agreed to discuss it with him.  Kexin stepped back and left them to it.

"I was actually running from a Gold Tier blood saber when I fell into a Ruin."  Solea began her story and Lind paid rapt attention.  It seemed Solea was native to the Floating Isles but had stumbled on a Ruin that was for weaving!

She had the skill dorman in her but learned quickly.  Rather than a large foundation, it focused on an aspect Lind had never heard of.  Dimensional Arrangement.

It was apparently not uncommon for weavers to keep thinking 2 dimensionally but they would be stuck forever if they did so.

Weaving was liberated from limits like formation plates or surfaces.  It did not even need eyes to work properly as the engraving pattern itself was all that mattered.

Lind recalled the Immortal Weaving that kept Delenn in her pocket alley and it too had clearly been more than 2 dimensions.

He could not perceive it all but Solea opened his eyes to how limited he had been.

The first 2 circles had been passed by him by sheer will and comprehension but the 3rd circle was finally showing signs of becoming clearer.  He understood that to advance, he had to study this aspect of weaving!

"So the sigils can be arranged to connect in any direction?"  Lind had begun to ask question but Solea shook her head at that one.

"You still have to have the intent and harmony between all 3 directions for it to work."  Lind recalled her final result and nodded.  It was not as easy as connecting sigils willy nilly, it had to all work together at the end.

"How would you connect these?"  Sigils appeared around Lind and Solea studied them for a bit before fine threads came off several angles to make a small 3 dimensional weaving.

Qi density increased and Lind felt refreshed!

It held for a short time before the sigils cracked and dispersed.  He frowned but then studied what she had done.  He did not quite grasp it but he could see the path slowly coming to him.

"While I would like to take you into my sect, I assume you are against that?"  Solea was stunned at his question and blushed deeply.  It would be a lie to say a part of her was not thrilled at the idea but she shook her head.

"I like my freedom.  Sects and guilds force you to do things to contribute.  I am not blind to their benefits but I want to pursue my Dao at my own discretion."  Lind smiled wide at her words.

He felt like he had found a kindred spirit but he had sacrificed his freedom for his ultimate goals.

A pale jade token appeared on the table between them.

"Other powers will make offers but a guest Elder will have the freedom you seek.  You are welcome at the sect and can exchange ideas with the Weaving Hall.  I would also like to talk to you more if I could."  Solea looked at the token and confirmed it said 'Guest Elder' below the Moebius Strip symbol.

Tears came to her eyes as she carefully picked it up and held it to her chest.

"Yes!  I would be happy to come in that capacity."  Lind was glad.  He badly needed to talk to her and see if their teachings were compatible with hers.

"Then welcome, guest Elder Solea.  Please, ask anything you want."  Lind spent the rest of the night talking about the Dao of weaving as well as other topics.

Solea had heard about the mass ascension of the Star Tiers and he confirmed the Wilds had seemingly joined his sect in alliance.  It was weird as it changed little of the power balance in practice but made many powers leery of him.

The sun was cresting the horizon when they noticed some of the Heaven Grade were truly hitting their stride.  Smoke billowed from the Forging and Refining areas while medicinal smell flowed strongly from the elixir masters and alchemists.

Both were staring hard at the weavers and formation masters but Lind enjoyed his time with her.

He examined her dantian and found she was a tri-elemental of darkness, light, and earth.  A powerful combination but limited.  He also saw she had some issues with her shards but he simply would wait to bring it up later.

He did not want to overwhelm her.

As they watched the Heaven Grade competitors finally get to the meat of their process, the final restriction circle around his dantian became clearer as he pondered what she said.  He began to understand what Solea meant.

He had been too limited with weaving.  Her ideas opened the floodgate but it was a long road of experimentation and practice.

Still, he finally had a lead and if he could get weaving to Heaven grade 5, he knew he could finally work on becoming a Star Tier!