Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 666 - 665 - A Changed World

A woman appeared outside the Lady Sheena's tomb.  It was a strange thing to call a room but Reagent Gravis had insisted on it.  She had on silver robes but her aura was well hidden.  None would know she was a Star Tier to look at her.

Elena had served as the Core Hall administrator for 3 centuries now, but she had never seen anyone disturb the formations like had just happened.  All had been fine, then it was like a wave of powerful aura flared with the formations and weavings almost dancing with Qi.

Why?

She was stunned to find the seal was hanging in midair somehow!  The door was open but she breathed a sigh of relief that the body was undisturbed.  Still, she saw the empty space where something had been.

"This is the Core Hall Administrator.  There is an intruder!  Find them!"  Her words were relayed to the guards but shortly afterward a new voice came back.

"Cease all actions.  There is no intruder.  Teleportation array is off limits."  Elena recognized that voice!  It was Lord Linghu!  She blushed deeply as she rushed to the Core Room as he was likely there.

Just what was going on?

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Lind heard the 2 announcements.  Linghu had countermanded the order, but why?  Lind eventually saw him rush by in the hall looking concerned but Lind did not call out.

He came to the teleportation array and saw the guards were sealing the entrance.  He smirked as walked back to a room just up the hall and touched just to the left of it.  The door slid sideways silently as he carefully stepped inside.

Another array was there but it was unguarded.  It was something he had built long ago in case anyone tried to block the main array.

He stepped into the center of it and infused his Qi into it.  The lines lit up until space distorted.  He found himself in the middle of the Hinterlands just inside a small cave.  The bright sunlight showed him it was just after midday.

Lind slowly flew out and was floored as he looked around.

There were many structures and flying people as he looked on.  Artifacts also flew in the air but it was all well regulated.  His vision let him see that the Ward of Blood, not too far from him, was far more developed than before.

He could hear cheering from likely a few arenas as people dueled.  It was clear things had flourished and it made him happy.

Lind also saw that Lili's memorial was left untouched despite the growth of the Ward.  He moved deeper into the Hinterlands and the comforting stretches of forest welcomed him.  He kept his weavings working while he carefully inspected the land he no longer knew.

Cities had spread and he could see many sects as well.  The thing he noticed however was a new area near the center of the Hinterlands between all the wards with a direct road to the Two Rivers.

He realized it was the Haven Lands after listening to several children being scolded by their parents.  They spoke of the terrible wars in the mortal realm and how 'Saint Frey' had saved them all.

He cringed at that title.  He prayed fervently it was a local thing only but his hopes were dashed as he came to the center of the city.  A massive statue that looked too damned familiar stood over all.

It was Lind with an arm stretched forth and a small seed floated over it.

He pulled his hood low even though no one should be able to see him.  Why did they always make statues?!

Who ever wanted a statue of themselves?!

Lind saw a plaque and confirmed it was the first structure built after negotiations were settled with the aether beasts.  It seemed his act to invoke the Restitution Rain had made the beasts acknowledge how serious he was about saving people.

The beasts had been gracious but only with those Lind had specifically saved.  Hence it was called Haven Lands.

Lind let out a tired sigh but he was glad to see all those refugees were safe and prospering.  Still, he saw at least 3 thieves just on his simple walk, but they did not kill anyone.

He was about to fly on when the scent of fresh blood filled his nose.  He was passing an alley far from the center and his eyes grew cold as he carefully picked his way down it.

There were signs of people running but he turned a few corners before he found a little girl curled around her bleeding stomach.  She was just a mortal girl.

She could only be 3 or 4 years old but the far too thin limbs told the story for him.  A homeless girl.  He examined the wound and saw it was a shard of glass so likely a fight with others in the same boat.

He found no one nearby but they could not be far, yet he did not hunt them.  He summoned a low grade 1 elixir and paste.  He quickly applied the paste while he gently administered the elixir.

Her wounds healed as the elixir did its work.  Any more and it would damage her but he guided it for her with his senses.  Her breath got easier as color returned to it.

He gently picked her up and walked out of the alley.  He allowed some of his weavings to fall away.  The passing crowd noticed his fine robes but then looked with disdain at the tiny girl covered in blood.

The majority were World Realms but Lind hid his aura so he looked like nothing but a Soul Realm.

"Does anyone know where a healers shop is?"  He spoke quietly but his voice carried to all.  No one answered but a few looked with disdain while they moved on.  How quickly time changes people.

He was about to use more power when a young woman in blue and white robes rushed over as her friends tried to stop her.

"Follow me!  I will take you."  Lind bowed and they swiftly moved.  He recognized the robes.  The Starlight Array Sect had survived it seemed and thrived.  The other boys and girls sneered but followed after them.

They were all in the Soul Realm and the markings likely meant they were outer sect disciples.

"Your sect is honorable."  Lind spoke it neutrally but while the young woman blushed in pride, her friends looked guilty.  Still, they became arrogant while they followed.  It only took a few more moments before the medicinal smell of herbs entered his nose.

A shop with a brass plaque of a cauldron came into view.  The bell rang as they entered and several patrons looked over.  They were in various states of injury but when they saw the little girl, many looked disgusted.

"Don't bring urchins in here!"  An older man with a cane waved angrily while a young man tried to calm him down.

Lind again was about to flare a powerful aura when the young woman jumped forward and slapped the old man.

"The little girl is injured and my fellow daoist is trying to save her.  It is a good deed and deserves respect.  We all benefited from such kindness once!"  Her words had a visible effect on the crowd.

It seemed they were not totally lost.

"Nicely said, young Starlight Disciple.  Please, bring the girl to me."  Lind saw an older woman with faint traces of white in her hair behind the counter.  The side had a flip up section to let others in the back but Lind set the tiny girl down.

A very familiar artifact appeared but Lind noticed the crystal display was far more detailed.  He saw a surprised look on the older woman's face and she glanced at him but she could not see his true face.

"I did what I could but disease in a mortal is harder to treat easily."  She nodded as she mixed a few herbs quickly and made an oil she proceeded to scrub the girl with.  The whole room tried to watch but Lind had had enough.

He twitched his fingers and the counter was isolated instantly.  Shock flooded the room as many realized what kind of being was in front of them.  The other disciples felt fear flow through their bodies while the other young woman smiled even wider than before.

"Senior, you should not scare people so much."  The healer admonished him but Lind said nothing.  After a bit, the oil was absorbed which improved the little girl's health even more.

"You do well.  I would have included amber lilies for some muscle restoration but I am greedy with my results."  His words made her eyes widen as she bowed to him.  "Is there somewhere to take her for safety?"

The woman slipped a few lochs of hair behind her ear before she slowly shook her head.

"She has no talent for cultivation.  If she did, even orphanages would have plucked her up."  Lind's emerald eyes glowed and the woman felt all the blood drain from her face.

"It would seem some things have been allowed to happen, I forbid.  Speak, tell me why any life is not worth nurturing when we live off of Qi stones and pills?  Tell me why mortals, who live such short lives, should not be allowed to enjoy them?"  His anger was rumbling but the woman paled as she got a look at his face.

It was him!  It was the Saint!  He was awake!

"S-s-saint–"  She was trying to speak when his aura suppressed her.

"I am no saint!  Tell me what I want to know!"  She nodded quickly and simply felt fear in her heart.

"There are only so many resources, even food.  If someone has no potential, it is considered a waste.  The only ones that do not think so are the Heavenly Maiden Sect and the demons of the Ward of Hope.  The Two Rivers capital also takes them in but there are just so many now."  Lind calmed himself.

It was inevitable.  When population was low, it was a lot easier to take in mortals and others but as cultivators lived on and numbers increased, there would come a point that there was simply not enough.

Lind looked at the little girl before he bowed to the woman and gathered up the little girl.

"The world may have changed, but I have not."  He let the partition drop and found the small crowd bowing low at him.  He waved them off before he vanished to all their senses.

All looked at the healer and found her in a daze.  It took quite a while to get a straight story out of her, but all she said was that it was a Sun Tier senior who happened to find the little girl injured.

Some broke out into cold sweats at that while the disciples of the Starlight Array Sect sprinted back to their dorms to inform the elders.  A Sun Tier in the Haven Lands was a big deal!

None knew save the healer that a legend had come to their city and found it wanting, but they would soon.