Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 701 - 700 - Goodbye Lanbao

The following month was simply chaotic as bodies were interred or returned to their respective powers.  Also, the sudden influx of Sun Tiers ready to become Immortals shocked the entire Alliance but the Heavenly Maiden Sect helped administer the incoming people.

Many that had found Lind Frey's rule and laws restrictive suddenly saw the world he truly came from.  The devastation and the truth of the Heaven Realm made some regret giving him a hard time.

He had been trying to prepare them.

Others simply reveled in finally being able to advance!

Many open areas existed to the west that no one cared about at the moment so several groups set up massive areas to allow them to begin the attempts but the sheer number was just massive!

Lind, himself, had already laid out plans for his followers and they organized a schedule.  He emphasized the danger to them over and over, but many still had to advance or begin to give up advancing entirely.

The demons opted to head to the Hellfire Sect and share what they knew as a favor.  The Heartsplitter Sect also got some guidance as well.  Lind was thankful to them for all the help they gave and sacrificed to his family.

The benefits many powers saw made them gift resources the newly christened Sanctuary Empire needed.

Lind did not care but Shi, Kin, and Lysanna worked hard to safely store everything.

Linghu received a lot of materials as well to improve his own cultivation as he was not restricted from advancing inside the Law Binding.

His sister was in charge of his resources for the moment.

Fey had taken Lua under her wing happily too with Shoti as they began to teach her as well as hear stories about Lind in the time they had been apart.

Still, for all the good and tragic unfolding, Lind remained cold.  He was hardly seen by anyone save his very close circle or by requirement.

It was very unnatural as he was known to travel and study anything he could at any time he found of interest but few worried too much.  The death of Lanbao had shocked everyone, friend and foe, from the Law Binding.

Even if they felt suppressed, they knew Lind could have pushed far harder with Lanbao's power alone.  Thus they had great respect for her, especially hearing how she died.

Lind sat in a room alone.  It was rare lately as his wives, adopted children, and some close friends had come to see him.  He tried to smile for them but he felt hollow.

He just could not summon the desire to care.

It would become a heart demon if he sunk much lower but he stopped from going that far.  Still, he had to grieve.  He looked inside his storage ring where the massive azure corpse lay.  He had collected it when he first awoke.

The temptation for powers to collect materials was just too high and while his forces were not bad, Immortals could easily overpower them.

There had already been people staying suspiciously long that came from production or other support powers.

The lack of body made all think it was already consumed which he was fine with.

Suddenly, his senses felt someone very familiar at his door.  They did not knock, nor did they say anything as their arms encircled him tightly.

"My son, I am so sorry."  Tears began to form as no one had been sure if Mira was caught by the Fiends or not and he was never so glad she was safe.  He turned and let her hug him tight as he cried.

He felt his heart shatter at last and he just was reduced to back to when he was a tiny child as she soothed him.

"I couldn't save her!  I could not do anything!"  He had hoped her transformation under his blood would protect her soul but there was nothing.  The body was stone dead and had begun to solidify due to her being an Immortal dragon.

Given time, the body would become a highly sought after mountain of treasure for Immortals looking for armor, weapons, or any catalyst of true dragon methods at their disposal.

The worst for him was the void where she used to be in his mind.  He had grown used to her being there but now there was nothing.  Ethry sent soothing thoughts to him constantly now.

Mira sang to him and he finally had no more tears to give.  His heart, that had felt so distant, finally felt like it had moved beyond something heavy.  The dark green eyes, like his had once been, were full of only love and understanding.

"I never told you about your aunt before, not about when she left me."  Lind felt like he was closer as his mother spoke of how her heart had died when her sister died in childbirth.  She wanted to take Kor in but the elders would not let her.

She was so angry at it all and her grief made her cross the line to punish the Clan, Altair, and the Lotus Empire.  She had been a promising alchemist back then that was favored by the Frey Clan, yet they still sacrificed her sister.

All because she had less talent than Mira.

There had never been jealousy between them but deep love and affection.  Mira wished he could have met her.

"I only got my heart back because of you, my son.  I learned to love again for you."  Lind felt tears once more as he understood.  He was not alone and he was not expected to face his pain alone.

"Thank you, Mom."  She smiled at him before she leaned in and whispered to him.

"Tell me all about her when you are ready.  I will listen."  He nodded slowly and smiled for the first time since Lanbao died.  It was a real smile of love.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Ethry was cutting down several trees not far from the newly forming capital of the Sanctuary Empire.  Her eyes were red but none dared speak to her as they helped collect the wood.

It was a massive pyre and the wood was all from Heaven Realm plants that were already dead.  The war had killed many of them so it made it easier for her to harvest what was needed.

Every now and again, some would hear a cry but made no acknowledgement.  Suddenly she froze in midair and whipped her head back to the floating landmass but a slow smile spread over her face.

"Thank you, Mother."  Her words made no sense but the speed of collection and building increased.  Each tree was massive enough to let 10 people encircle the base of most but the wood itself was fairly common.

It was just the small matter of Heaven Realm plants being aware and able to fight back normally.  Plants could turn their leaves into lethal blades to whipping a branch with air Qi creating wind.

Earth Qi could be at their command quite often to trap an enemy as well which many cultivators had paid with their lives since time began!

Now, however, much of the area was dead and free to use.

After nearly 3 days, a massive pyre that stretched over 1 kilometer in diameter.  No one could recall such a massive pyre before but many bodies were brought over.

After all of that, emerald cloaked soldiers finally arrived on the day of with Lind and all his surviving family.  Many noticed those kneeling to him but no one called out those still standing.

The rumors of him becoming an emperor was clearly true but the current day was not about that.  It was about those lost.  The top of the pyre was left open but Lind flew up and held forth his right hand.

A glow of Qi nearly blinded all as a massive corpse appeared.

Lind had also changed to his dragon form as he very gently lay the azure colored corpse down.  All recalled the valiant move to save Lind as the dragon took on the threat summoned by whatever the Fiends had done.

Such bravery was hard for any to forget.

Lind turned back into a man as he floated over all.

"I was trapped far away for a long time.  In that time I faced many challenges but I met someone that became essential to finding my way home to you all.  She took care of things when I was unable to do so and she never lost faith I could find my way out."  Lind's voice boomed but it was not telepathy.  He was speaking for all to hear in all directions.

He then floated down and gently held a hand to the massive snout of the azure dragon.

"Lanbao, like many here, fought to save life from the Fiends.  She was trapped by them for so long but never even paused to rush into danger to protect life.  To protect me."  The last was barely heard but most grasped it.  "Now, I have to say goodbye as many of you have to.  We will see them off together as dragons do."

Ethry suddenly transformed and so did Lind.  They began to circle around the pyre as all felt power build between them.  Prismatic and emerald flames entwined almost reverentially to light the pyre.

Rather than disintegrating it as most expected, the Qi danced in the flames as the wood ignited.  The flames were of all elements and felt profound as the bodies began to be consumed.

The humans, demons, aether children, and aether beasts that were brought were quickly reduced to ash but then released something bright and cheerful to the sky.

Weeping rocked the crowd but the heavy grief felt lighter as the massive azure dragon began to glow!  Her massive body began to break apart into Qi rather than burn as it began to disperse into the gathered crowd.

None knew what was happening but suddenly felt all injuries and Qi deviation resolved!  They also felt stronger and invigorated but looked up to see the two wailing dragons as they roared at the sky.

The Heavens rumbled as lightning suddenly slammed down but no threat was felt.  The feeling all perceived was sadness.

"Goodbye Lanbao."  Lind's voice spoke into the silence afterward and many bowed low to the now smoldering pyre.  The new emperor was escorted away but he looked back several times and those that knew him of old sent a prayer for his soul to heal.

The Sanctuary Empire was not born in the wider world in joy, but in loss and grief.  All that sacrificed for its arrival would never be forgotten.  Lind would make sure of it.