Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 588 - 587 - Mountain of Death

Lind actually enjoyed the looks on Gravis and Sheena's faces when he made them important ministers in his new regime.  Gravis, despite not being originally of high rank, had more than enough experience after a little over a decade in the Two Rivers training up the ragtag exiles.

Further, Gail had been blushing up a storm at all the praise Lind gave to her husband and how he had to set a good example for their soon to be born child.

Lind had noticed that once he removed the brand, pregnancy had skyrocketed like it had been waiting for it.

Now that the battle was over and their power had increased exponentially, the feeling of security gave them the choice to make families.

It was nearly 6 months before the organization got all worked out.  Some of the humans were perturbed by beasts being given authority over them but Lind simply transformed and asked them if they had any further issues.

They had none.

He also had many meetings about what rules would become actual laws and how they would be enforced.  If the paperwork of a Sect Master had depressed Lind before, building an Empire made it look like child's play.

At least with a sect there were guidelines, assistance from friendly powers, and even just straight up pre-existing structure he could abrogate for his own use!

The few empires Lind knew of were not favorable in his mind and riddled with problems.  Earth empires were useless as well due to archaic rules of nobility and myriad other issues.

In other words, Lind had to make something from scratch without being buried by it!

It was essentially a year before things truly began to take shape but that was all he got to!  He barely cultivated, nevermind progressing his professions!  As ministers and other leaders were set up, he also made one other addition.

Picking people to be nobles was anathema not only to Lind but to the Two Rivers.  Instead, he made 3 councils.

The ministers council would be the direct advisor to the Emperor and relay his orders to the other 2 councils.  The other 2 would be split between the city administration and production.  In other words, a city council and a guild council.

There were almost no production masters officially but farming, repairs, and other things fell under the Guild Council for the moment while making sure the laws were enforced fell to the City Council.

As the work was picked up by others and things were shaping up, Lind recalled a request during the war.

When he told his ministers, most were ignorant but Glenda and Aveina, one of the Azure Eagles, blanched.  They knew who had talked to Lind.

The name of her home was not inspiring either and Lind made a note to find Orbas once more and give him an earful!  Carla, an obsidian dral, ducked her head from Lind's glare as she knew his thoughts!

Still, a flood dragon was no threat to him so he made sure things could function without his presence for a short time before he tried to fly off.

Emphasis on tried.

When he woke up, he found 25 of the Emerald Souls, as they called themselves, waiting to escort him to the Mountain of Death.  The former Soulless used all their skills learned to become a terrifying personal guard for Lind.

He could squash most of them like bugs with his strength but he understood their sentiment at least.  It also helped them work through their heart demons so he let it be but he refused to walk or ride a carriage through the Hinterlands!

It would take years to get there!

A rather large argument ensued, the Emerald Souls being the only ones that could argue with him, and Aveina resolved it by offering mounts to the guards.  Lind felt betrayed and embarrassed as they followed him.

They were so slow!  He could have gotten there in a day or two but it took weeks instead!

They also insisted he be in the center of them!  He drew the line there!  He may not be a full dragon yet but he had pride in his scales and his senses!  If anything, he would protect them!

The birds, a mix of cranes, eagles, and what looked a great deal like a vermillion bird but the feathers were only a deep red, not on fire, balked at his power.  They all had strong colors related to their elements or bloodline much like his eyes and hair changed when he ascended to the Moon Tier.

With some grumbling, the Emerald Souls accepted being eyes for attacks but Lind did not have the heart to tell them a dragon aura would keep away just about damn near anything.

Only similar beasts or stronger beasts would come looking and even then, Lind was a Divine bloodline.  Regardless of race, he could suppress them if he flexed his bloodline.

After a rather annoying journey, they finally came into sight of a lone mountain surrounded by a massive swamp.

Lind wanted to advance but froze.  He felt a suppressive aura that was far above him but what really gave him pause was what his Eyes saw.

Thin tendrils from above were moving around the mountain.  He could just barely make it out but did not recognize it as Qi.  What was he seeing?

The mounts all suddenly screeched in unison in fear.

[Only the boy may advance.  No one else.]

The voice boomed and all heard it in their minds.  The former Soulless did not heed it as they pulled out various weapons.  Lind actually wondered if they were right in the head.

"If an Immortal wants to kill us, there is nothing any of us can do.  I was invited and she is one of my kind.  Do not be afraid and wait for me."  Lind spoke forcefully and they could only nod.  He also felt no other beasts anywhere near them which was odd.

A dragon might dominate an area, but they would not drive off everything.  Many beasts would be glad to live under a powerful beast, regardless of its race, so long as they could thrive.

Lind floated down and entered the swamp.  The ground looked like a dark sponge fully soaked so he just floated above it.

A few trees drifted on bits of land that were clearly free from any anchor!

He smelled the rotting stench of decay but it was only plants.  There were no beasts or any sense of them at all!

It struck him as very odd as the kind of time to pass for World or Sky Realm beasts to completely decay was a damned long time.

[You seem aware of the issues here.]  Her voice was much quieter now but Lind only nodded as he knew he must be under her vision.

"What are those tendrils attached to you for?"  He actually felt her surprise flare in his mind before a massive area bulged and a gorgeous flood dragon with azure scales and a dark mane emerged from the waters.

Lind noticed similarities to his own sinuous form but she had a fin going down her spine where he had only his emerald mane.  She also had more aquatic features with fan-like whiskers attached by fleshy skin to the sides of her snout.

Her azure eyes were just as cold as his or Ethry's but strangely had black flecks in them.  Based on a rough guess, she was close to 20 or 30 kilometers long.  Ethry had grown larger in her dragon form but she was not even half that size yet Lind felt like her Qi was far more potent than his.

The flood dragon, while powerful, was instinctively below him.  They both reacted without thought to their bestial heirarchy which made Lind irritated.

"I did not mean to do that."  Lind dispersed his aura and the flood dragon seemed to be confused.

"You are a Divine Progenitor and a dragon soul.  If anything, you are much higher than me despite being a Heaven Realm."  Lind scratched the side of his cheek as all his secrets were seen through with ease.  He really had to work on his cultivation and master it!

"I am glad you are not hostile to me being here.  This is still your territory, not mine.  So, are we able to work together?"  Lind got down to business but the flood dragon simply looked at him for a moment before he felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck.

Emerald light flared as a massive dragon took shape where Lind had been.  If the flood dragon was a giant, the emerald dragon was a god!  It was nearly manifested but still flickered here or there as its emerald scales glistened.

Not only the flood dragon, but every beast in 1000 kilometers instantly bowed in the direction of Lind.

"You challenge me?!"  Anger was clear in his voice.  He had hoped to find an ally as he was invited but she had tried to test him!  He had a lot of things to do and no time for games.

Her Immortal aura tried to rise but his Divine Bloodline smashed it to pieces like glass.

A flood dragon, despite having a dragon in its name, was only an inferior creature to Lind.  He could be in the World Realm and she would still have to obey!

"Enough!  I am done here."  Lind turned to fly away but then stopped as he saw the tendrils flare before the screams began.

He looked on in horror as azure scales were burned like they did not exist until she simply passed out.  He had never seen anything like it.  It was like the world punished her but it was not Heaven that did so.

Lind transformed back into his normal body and quickly assessed the damage to her.  It was vicious but not lethal.  She was already healing and woke up a few moments later.

"I–I would never challenge you, ancestor.  I simply wanted to show you my situation and that this is not my territory, but my cage."  Lind pieced it all together and looked way up.  A part of the Law Binding was focused on her and shimmered as she moved.

"A few simple words would have worked.  Sigh, start from the beginning.  I want to hear it all."  Lind summoned a nostalgic artifact.  A black disk that used all 6 elements appeared and he gestured for her to join him but she shook her head.

Not even allowed to transform?  His eyes narrowed but waved for her to continue.  Maybe now, he would get answers to his many questions.