Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 609 - 608 - Empire of Souls

Lili felt odd.  Her brand was gone and replaced yet she never felt better.  Her crimson robes were stored away in a ring for the moment as she wore her massive broadsword on her back and the black armor with steel chainmail now was her attire.

Just 6 months ago, she was a prisoner wasting away of her own choosing, now a massive mountain floated over the horizon as she rode a simple wagon in the long line to enter Celestia.

The jewel of Orwellia on the surface was also the entrance to it.  Aside from Celestia, all the other major structures and cities were above the clouds.

Legend had it that the founder of Orwellia moved the floating land masses to create their version of utopia in the skies while lording over the commoners below.

She rarely left Requera but the few times she came to the nearest neighbor to the south had always been disturbing.

The long line of people ranged from those on foot with bales of food or beast parts to decent carriages.  Those that could fly with artifacts were not bound by the mere entry of mortals.

So far as that went, it was fairly normal, but once inside, the silence became bothersome.  It was like an itch that could not be scratched.

There were no homeless yet she could always recall the vacant look of most commoners she passed in the streets. If not for being a Soulmancer, she would have thought they were Soulless.

That was the other part that felt odd.  All her skills as a Soulmancer were sealed but her cultivation was completely free.  She was a peak Sun Tier but her travel companion felt no threat from her.

She at first thought he had simply used the brand he made to be a threat but she saw no connection at all between them.  She had the Heaven Eyes, a rare trait to be cultivated so far and she confirmed over and over there was nothing tying the brand inside her dantian to Lind Frey.

He now wore simply faded blue robes and looked like a scholar.  In fact, he looked as if he was born to be a scholar but she recalled all too well how fiercely he fought in the final days of the war.

We was like a God of Death and Life.  He would either destroy his enemies or be the shield for his allies.

He was also a Lifemancer and Blessed Creator!  All 3 professions in one person was unheard of!

His claims and arguments never changed but he never forced her to capitulate on those.  His desire for knowledge was normal and she frowned knowing a force none could detect was making its way to her empire.

The soldiers that had come with her were broken but never killed.  It was contradictory but the more time she spent as his prisoner, the more she questioned all she knew to be true.

"What is that?"  Lind pointed to the floating mountain and Lili smiled.  Everyone always asked about that.

"The floating lands usually move on the currents of Qi but they are secured in place by special formations and weavings.  They have been like that since before the Cataclysm."  She saw him frown but did not know why.

"Can only we see it?"  He also had the same Eyes as her which was shocking since his seemed far more profound.

"No, all Soulmancers can."  She found his question even stranger since such strong tethers should obviously be visible to any kind of Soulmancer with weavings involved.

"Those are not normal weavings."  His tone became cold but he said no more and she looked at the glittering blue strands connecting the mountain to the surface.  She never got close to them but had studied them at home.

The light of day was nearly gone by the time they came to the gate.  She was about to give her usual greeting when she remembered she was not a Soulmancer at the moment.

"What is your business in Celestia?"  The guards all wore opaque faceguards.  She had never seen them without their helmets now that she thought of it.  The more her mind picked at the oddities the more stood out.

"We are escaping the war in the south and have brought trade goods to continue our journey."  Lind bowed low and offered up a token to the guard.  It was not exactly a forgery as he had somehow re-tuned one of the prisoner's identity badges and hers to simple farmers from outside Dar.

It was true that many homesteads that had been protected by Dar had begun to flee over the years but even on their start they passed some still occupied.

The guard found no issue with the token and another began to inspect the open bed wagon.  He ripped open a barrel without a care as easily as he whisked away the white cotton cover.

She saw Lind was cool as a placid lake while wheat and other seasonal goods were exposed.  The faint smell of commoner wine came from the barrel as well.

Nothing seemed to phase the guards as they looked like shadows in metal as the twilight deepened.

"There is no issue."  The deadpan voice now drew attention from Lili as she realized the guards never wavered in their speech and she had never heard of issues of robbery like other cities.

The token was returned and they were waved in.  Lili felt a pinch near her navel as always but nothing else happened.

They were past the barrier!  She had never wondered why those barriers existed before but now she understood that if anyone was ever without a brand, they would be instantly exposed!

Lind's eyes became colder as well for some reason.

He was looking around at the tan and black sea of people rushing home at the end of the day as a few moved to leave the city before full darkness came.

He was slowly guiding the wagon up the street but his head was looking at the people and frowning more deeply as he did.

"What is wrong?"  She also thought they were a little vacant but the backbreaking life of commoners could leave them like empty shells at the end of the day.

"They are all Soul Realms, every single one."  Lili suddenly looked around and she saw it!  How had she missed that?!  There were thousands of people in her range yet every single person was a Soul Realm.

That was impossible!  The guards were Sky Realms, she was sure, yet every commoner was a Soul Realm?  Where were the World and Sky Realms mixed into the crowd?

"There are no mortals nor Body Refining Realms at all.  Only Soul Realms."  Lind's grim voice brought it home of how odd it was.  Lili was confused.  She was supposed to be a crusader of justice so details like that should not pass her by.

How had she never noticed it before?!

"There is a subtle perception effect working on us.  It is trying to make us not look at the crowd."  Lili could only take his word at that point.  She was not skilled in dissecting formations like that.

She usually had a partner along for that very reason.

"Why is it not working on us?"  Lind pointed to his navel area and she understood.  His brand!  They were outside the Law Binding!

"Something is very wrong here but we can't dally for now."  They finally came to a large tavern that had more lively noise and joy coming from it.  It was only a few storeys tall but Lili actually wanted to rush inside.

The stifling and odd situation seemed to press in on her.

Lind found an open slot at the stable and unhitched the horses before he paused, then continued but Lili noticed.  She put a hand at the back of her head and kept an alert sense out yet she felt nothing.

"Grab the barrel they opened.  We will give it to the owner."  Lind spoke like the simple farmer he pretended to be and she nodded.

They made their way in and found a refreshingly rowdy crowd talking and drinking as they wiled the night away.

The woman behind the bar was a World Realm and seemed lively but Lili could not help but notice the deadpan Soul Realm barmaids and servers.  All of them were Soul Realms again!

"Welcome to the Hawk's End!  We have 1 room left unless you want to stay with your wagon?"  Lili's eyes narrowed as no one had been outside to see them arrive.

"No, no, we can stay in our wagon easily enough!  I simply wanted some dinner for my daughter and I."  Lili felt a vein twitch in her forehead.  Technically speaking, she was around 500 years older than Lind yet he was her 'father!'

She did not like that feeling but she knew it would be easier to explain.

"Aye, and you bring a gift!"  The large woman's eyes glowed as she sipped from the open barrel in appreciation.  She called to the back where a wonderful smell came from.

Once the platters arrived, Lind bowed and led Lili back to the wagon.  She noticed nothing wrong but the steaming plates remained untouched until they were safely back inside the bed.

"Do not react."  His voice barely whispered before she saw the food slowly turn to ash!  She had seen that before!

She made a motion to eat but felt shock in her bones.  It was the same reaction as that black plate!  If not for her Heaven Eyes she would think she was being tricked but she saw the foul Qi finally appear once it began to break down.

"What does that mean?"  She was suddenly convinced that Fiends still lived inside the 6 empires.  She may not believe a Supreme Lord was one, but what she just saw was beyond any doubt.

"I am unsure.  It was more like the food picked it up than intentional poisoning but it would explain the people.  Their souls are being damaged."  LInd seemed confused but still cold.

"I think I know where the food comes from but we have no authority to go there."  Lind looked up at her and his emerald eyes were now vertical slits as he spoke.

"I am the only authority we need."  His voice was like an edict from on high and Lili found she could only nod as they set the watch for the evening.