Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 726 - 725 - Sentient Plants

The main palace was mostly offices, servants quarters, and general patrol areas for the guards to be ready at need.  While Immortals were like rain drops at the moment, the peak Sun Tiers were currently getting closer for a new wave of Immortals to come in the next decade or so.

Lind's own wives, after they recovered from their pregnancies, made it their goal to reach Immortality but Lysanna had gotten pregnant again suddenly so they focused on her.  Thankfully, all their foundations were profound so their recovery would be fairly quick and efficient.

As they moved deeper into the palace, the feeling of the halls changed.  Where the outer halls felt cold with the dark stone and tapestries hung to show the history of the Sanctuary Empire and Lind in particular.

Artisans had depicted when he took on the karmic debt of the Law Binding while his blessing went out in response.  A sinuous emerald dragon stoically enduring the black lightning as golden rays shot out was impressive.

It was but one of many for visitors to see, but after a certain point the feeling changed.  Rather than profound artifacts and images, instead there were rough bowls left out or a crumpled robe tossed barely in a doorway.

Lind smiled but most of his wives' eyes narrowed.

There was the sound of laughter and yelling from younger voices as they came to a garden courtyard under a protective dome.  Sunlight beamed down from the setting sun to see their children being rambunctious when they were likely supposed to be training.

Sora noticed them first and froze.  She signaled the others which made all of them look very guilty as they noticed the ripped up grass and a few shredded herbs were but a few signs of their messing around.

"So, who wants to explain why you are not cultivating or sparring in the training area?"  Shoti's voice sounded calm but her eyes were dangerous.  Her daughter ducked behind Hei who looked like he really wanted to revert to his natural state rather than be a human shield!

"It is all right.  We were all young and they are still very young."  Lind had some hard stares but his children ran up to him in joy to hug him.  It was at that moment they understood.  He would be leaving for an unknown amount of time soon.

The children were lucky.

"Come, come.  Let's find Mother Lys and see how your new sibling is too!"  Miles nodded quickly while Hei and Zao both looked at their father with some exasperation.  Still, he had just saved their hides so they went along to the family quarters.

Planning for the future, Lind had a large section for a growing family so they would not be cramped.  It helped that he accommodated Ethry and Kora's full size to make it larger than a human palace would be.

The large area was once so empty but with a single new generation, it had become full of the feeling of home.  Lind saw his mother suddenly come out of Lysanna's room.  His flash of concern was met with a wave and smile.

It was simply a check up.

"Granny!"  Sora and Sally went running up to her as she smiled warmly down at them.  Mira seemed confused why there were all coming but just saw Lind nod to show he would explain later.

"Don't overcrowd her.  She is resting after a long day.  Your little sibling is a bit more rambunctious than any of you were."  Lind knew that was a massive lie but did not correct her.  Sora alone had nearly outdone all her siblings while in the womb!

Lind let the children go first but his other wives stayed back as he followed them in.  Lysanna was smiling and chatting with them as she held her bulging belly.  He enjoyed the view and burned it into his mind.

A cultivator's longevity meant that normal life was long gone.  He had been fortunate to be able to see his children grow up as long as he had and it had been marred by a damned heart demon festering inside him.

It made him doubly swear to avoid the trap of believing all was well with him.  His family was his bottom line but it was also his greatest threat if he let it be so.

"Are you just going to stand there, husband?"  Lysanna teased him and he smiled as he sat next to her.  She carefully looked him over but smiled at what she saw.  He gently put his hand on her belly and closed his eyes.

A feeling of recognition and joy came to him.  His baby knew he was there!

"So, you have to leave for a while then?"  Lind snapped his eyes open as Lysanna was looking at him so close he could feel her breath on his skin.

He was that open to his wives?!

"I have an opportunity but unlike other kingdoms, I have to go myself.  It is the greatest sign of respect."  She narrowed her eyes but then slowly nodded.

"They lost a lot of people too but I heard they were honored 2 Divine Dragons sent them on their way.  They do not view time the way we do so you might be considered very rude or very early."  Lind smiled at her ready knowledge.

"I don't suppose you have suggestions for when I address sentient plants?"  That was where Lind had to go.  The Elementals had told him to head east to a place not too different from the Hinterlands in the Law Binding save 2 things.

The first being animals were not the rulers there and second, cultivators could collect treasures but never stay.

It was appropriately named the Forest of Gaia.  Lind highly suspected the name came from Earth but there was so much of it in the Heaven Realm it was impossible to avoid it.

Stories he recognized as ancient history of his old world yet no one dismissed them despite lack of proof.  A few cultivators even suspected they were reincarnations.

What bothered him was that many legends from Earth did exist in the current world as well.  Could Earth have been part of a mortal realm at one time?

Ents, for instance, did exist after a fashion.  They did not wander the land but stuck to their forests.  They could not leave until they ascended but it was supposedly different from cultivators.

"Is there a rush for it suddenly?"  Lind nodded and sent a quick rundown of the most recent meeting.

None of his children could feel the communication yet as they were far from such realms, but Hei and Zao felt something.  They said nothing as if their father wanted to, he could include them.

Lysanna nodded and kissed him which made his children either say 'ew' or 'awe' depending on how they thought about the public expression of affection.

"I will hurry back but I did not want to leave without–"  Both froze as the baby kicked and Lind smiled at the concern he felt from the small body inside.  "I love you and want to be here when you come into the world but I have responsibilities I have to carry out too."

Lind kissed her stomach which made her blush deeply while the kids actually teared up a bit.

They understood their father had to leave for a time.

He saw them and waved them forward.  He could not normally hug them all but his arms transformed into the larger claws and emerald scales but it was a gentle hug they all felt.

"I need you all to train and honor your various teachers.  Think about what you want to be too.  Some of you can do wonderful things I cannot.  I look forward to you showing them off.  Be safe and keep your moms safe."  Hei, Miles, and Zao saluted like the soldiers but the girls simply looked like steel to his eyes.

His children had long seen how much stronger they were than others of their races.  There could be complications as they ascended the realms but hopefully he would be back before that became an issue.

He kissed the top of Lysanna's head and let her get back to resting.  Sally stayed back with her and tears were falling down her face.  It broke his heart but he could not put off the meeting.

Once back out in the hall, Annabelle and Qing moved to be with Lysanna while Mira carted off the children.

They all waved to him while being brave.  Lind actually did not want to go at all but he knew it was time to move forward from his issues.

"Gravis, Shi, and Kin are waiting for your orders."  Cyntilla spoke up but he simply pulled her into a kiss.  It caught her off guard but when he pulled back he looked at her carefully.

"Business can wait.  I will not leave without being with each of you."  His words made them all blush madly but he simply laughed as a weight seemed to lift from his heart.

"I am glad you are intent on giving me more grandchildren but perhaps there is a better place for such conversations?"  A voice made them all jump as an older demoness smirked at them all.

Lind strangely felt laughter bubble up while everyone else blushed deeply.

"I am afraid that will be put off until they reach the Immortal Realm and then it will be much harder for me, Mother."  Firella smirked at his cheeky response but then swayed forward before seeming to glide across the room.

He could not stop her pulling him into a tight hug.

"Don't carry all that weight on your shoulders alone, my son.  You have wonderful wives all around you.  Don't make them worry again."  Lind nodded as she patted his head and then she actually blurred away!

He just barely could track her.  Her speed was unreal even at the peak of the Sun Tier she had recently reached.

"Where were we?"  Lind turned back before his wives began griping at him that it was too embarrassing now!  He laughed and simply took them to dinner.

The next few days were spent with his wives and making sure the Empire would be fine while he was gone.

If nothing else, he would not miss those blasted meetings!