novelraw Chapter 587 - 586 - Two Rivers Empire
Chapter 587 - 586 - Two Rivers Empire
Lind spent only 2 days recovering before he quickly upgraded the defenses of the Two Rivers City. He consumed massive amounts of elemental crystal powder and ore shards to make the Heaven grade 6 weavings.
He only got to midHeaven grade 6 but it was enough after experiencing the attack more than once. He knew its limit and rough power level. It was far beyond his ability to take on directly but deflecting it or dispersing it with some more impressive artifacts and weavings.
It was like a flood of knowledge had been just waiting for him to figure out the trick to Heaven grade 6. It was so much easier than previous grades and he felt foolish for not realizing it sooner.
Heaven was in the name for the grade of Heaven Realms.
It also sparked an idea in his mind but he would need to research that later, yet he looked at the Law Binding and wondered what his limits in production were. He would look into it once he mastered Heaven grade for all 3.
He was so busy, however, that he missed something rather important happening.
The prisoners had practically wept in relief at the battle being over. They gave no problem and happily volunteered any information that was asked.
Further, the remaining Soulless that were not killed during the battle were quietly being processed by Lind. Each time he got better at it but it was far easier with the artifact in his possession compared to being far away.
He was still limited to 10 at a time but if he cut it in half he ran into different issues. Still, after nearly a month, he had liberated all the Soulless.
Some demanded to die no matter what he said and their fellow comrades did not try to help. They understood that some had been trapped in that hell for centuries. The things they had done and been unable to stop broke even demons.
Lind granted them a quick death and burned their bodies. Almost 20 had chosen to go down that path and all the former Soulless had attended as well as a few of the leaders from the battle. Orbas had surprised him by escorting the broken Livera to it.
Despite how the Fire Hawk had lost a lot of himself and acted much like a child, he was solemn during the entire ritual. Lind had offered to take Livera in but Orbas had refused yet thanked Lind for offering.
Lind suspected Livera would either start over or be killed to preserve his bestial pride. He did not personally agree but since Orbas was his rival, it made him actually the closest friend Livera had.
So many had died but his elixirs were able to not only preserve the life of many more, he could now use Heaven grade 6 elixirs to restore meridians or dantians that had suffered damage.
Three of the stone drals were dead and it made Lind very angry at his powerlessness. He recalled what to do and took the cores and heart stones to the survivors who accepted it gladly.
They would be fed to the young of their packs. It would, in a way, preserve the race memory of those 3 directly.
Lind focused so much on such activities he missed how people looked at him. They had always respected him and gave him a strong voice in council but things had changed. A Lifemancer was a power to follow out of respect, but now they instantly obeyed his orders as if given by God.
It took Lind two months after the battle to understand the change but it was far too late to stop it. The thing that snapped him to reality was a change in the fortress, specifically the former council room.
He had made a fairly large room with long tables to let the leaders and relevant members meet and discuss what had to be done.
Now, there was a massive throne carved with dragons!
It was not like with the small statues the locals made before. He could not stop that and accepted some looked up to him a bit too much, that throne was a serious shift.
He found Glenda, Sheena, and so many other leaders of the Two Rivers kneeling to the sides. He also found 4 of the stone drals splayed out on their paws in a show of submission!
A few other aether beasts were there as well but they were in pseudo human form as they were only Star Tiers. He saw some Fire Hawks, Azure Eagles, and others from Livera's group.
Apparently Orbas had let it slip that Lind wanted to take responsibility for Livera. He saw that the entire bloody tribe had come!
To make matters just soul crushing, he saw a force of nearly 50 demons and an aether child standing behind the throne in emerald lined cloaks! Where had they gotten that material?!
Lind took a breath as Benny looked guilty off to the side as he recalled she had a knack for carving. She could not refine but as an artist she was very good. His emerald eyes narrowed as he suspected where those statues had come from.
"Anyone care to explain? Keep in mind, I have a temper." Lind wanted to deny it to the end but Sheena looked over and Gravis stepped forward. He sported a massive scar down his face but his eye had been able to be saved so he could still use both.
Lind noticed a very pregnant Gail behind him looking in pity at him!
"Lord–no, Emperor Frey, you fought fiercely not only to protect this land but you have worked miracle after miracle to give us hope. We have lived under the darkness of the Soulmancers for so long, it was simply a fact." Lind felt a vein twitch on his forehead. He did not just hear the E-word!
"We all fought and bled together. We lost far too many friends and frankly far too many died that need not. Still, a cultivator does not shirk from their path. So, I ask again, explain." He wanted to know how serious they were.
If they asked him to step up, things would change. The battles they survived would be but a stepping stone to a larger war with all 6 empires. Lind had learned enough to know he wanted nothing to do with them.
He had been a sect master but that was essentially a negotiator and teacher. He guided the next generation while accruing resources for all his members to advance. An Emperor was very different.
Taking on such a role would change the Two Rivers from top to bottom. Further, Lind was not like other cultivators. He had no tolerance for political backstabbing or one upmanship but he knew with time it would be unavoidable. It was also not unreasonable to expect factions to form if they had not already.
A sect could function like that because competition actually helped and they could still maintain a semblance of unity.
An Empire with enemies could be united but peace could shatter it like fine glass.
If Lind actually took that throne, he would be taking on a responsibility for more than just himself but all that were under him and would be in the future.
While before they took his advice mostly, they would still object fiercely or even do things on their own without telling him. An Emperor could not allow that. He would listen to advice but his orders would be edicts, not just suggestions.
The greatest sticking point was the future. He had a long list of things to do and an Emperor was not able to have that much time unless they were an idiot. Cultivating was his new focus now that he had grasped Heaven grade production but things were far from stable enough to simply go off into seclusion!
"Emper–" Sheena was about to speak when Glenda elbowed her in the ribs. Lind appreciated that but everyone seemed to be silent until a lovely woman stepped forward. Melody had lost her arm in the battle and was in the process of growing a new one with elixirs but it took time.
Star Tiers were far more complex than mortals.
"Lind, you came back for us. In this world, everyone keeps their head down and does what they need to to survive. If that means abandoning friends and lovers, they do it. You know this." Melody spoke from her heart as her nephew, now a strapping young man, looked on warmly.
"It is my Dao and how I live. To deny either is to deny myself." Lind was not letting them off that easy. A kind heart was not a good enough reason. He was far from the only Moon Tier also. He counted at least a dozen just in his sight alone!
Some were even farther along than him!
"I know, but that is not the point. You have worked tirelessly and made a place where we can be free. You did that. No one else. The exiles already carved out places to live but they were hunted often until new ones replaced them. You changed that." Lind found that hard to argue but he could simply be a Lifemancer or a good Soulmancer.
Emperor was a far larger ask. His eyes remained cold looking at her but she did not flinch.
"You, alone, took down 3 Soulmancers. No one had done this and lived to tell the tale. You, alone, protected the city from the Immortal Punishment that was thought to be invincible. You, alone, freed the Soulless." Lind felt like he had dug the grave himself.
Keke then stepped forward and stood next to his aunt. He smiled at Lind.
"You gave me a reason to live when I wanted to die. You gave everyone a reason to smile where none existed before. You, alone, changed the world one step at a time." The little boy that had grasped onto Lind dealt the death blow.
"For the record, I have a whole host of former disciples ascending right now that would do the same. I taught them well enough I hope, but they are not here. If I do this, understand that things will change. I will no longer be the same person as before." He looked hard at them all.
They had to understand what they were asking so he made it clear.
"I will set up the hierarchy as I see fit and expect you to obey. I will give orders and they cannot be interpreted but carried out as I desire. I will create laws that seem stifling but I deem necessary. That is what you are all asking me to become. Are you really sure you want to go that far?" At least a few became uncomfortable with his words.
Getting lost in the heat of the moment was easy but there was no medicine for regret. Lind waited but no one objected. A long sigh came from him that made Sheena smile.
"I will accept the role of Emperor but there is a condition. I will not be Emperor forever. I have goals and plans that will take me far from her and back to my family. I will choose an heir rather than make a family here. It is my bottom line and I will not bend on it." He was not lying. He made a promise to his wives but he refused to tie them to an Empire without speaking to them at all. Further, he enjoyed living so no new wife either!
There were deep frowns at that point but then Glenda finally spoke up.
"May we ask that before you pass on the role, you consult your family?" Lind suddenly wished to throttle the roc girl! He had really hoped to glide past that particular idea! Hopeful looks sprung up and Lind sighed once more.
"Fine but understand my wives are my equals. I will discuss it with them but make no promise beyond that!" Lind shouted but it was drowned out after 'Fine' as the chamber filled with shouts and roars.
The Two Rivers Empire was born.