Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 757 - 756 - Negotiations for Knowledge

Addison felt irked to be so polite to what had been a backwater nobody merchant power.  To mortal realms, any power based in the Heaven Realm was supreme but in the real lands of power it was basically a grain of sand in the desert.

Actually, Lade Estelle, the former guild master of Starfire House, had been an interesting business partner.  She had cracked open the market of elixirs and Forged items for the lower realms even in the Heaven Realm.

The Babylon Guild had helped her hold onto it as well but only later did they learn why.  It was one man that would rewrite the balance of power across the realms!

Lind Frey.

His unique approach not only freed up new markets but also his theories on cultivation helped all levels consolidate their foundations or make breakthroughs in their progress.

Estelle had shrewdly made exclusive contracts with him and Helion Trading Guild could only applaud her business acumen.  She also wisely made some distribution contracts with them so they could make a killing as well.

They tried very hard to gobble up the Starfire House but their ties to the Heavenly Maiden Sect were strong enough to avoid it.  The Maidens disliked Helion due to a few decisions they made in the past.

Addison sighed as she sat across from the gorgeous woman in front of him.  While some disliked aether children, he was far from one of them.  What he disliked was Mythra, herself.

She had become an Immortal before him and now had a massive power backing her.  He was immensely annoyed at how Fate toyed with him.

He had worked hard for nearly 3000 years but this ascended upstart had left him in the dust!

She simply exuded vitality thanks to breaking through so early in her life.  A thousand years made a huge difference in the Heaven Realm but also in the breakthrough to the Immortal realm.

Reaching it in less than 2 thousand years was considered very impressive.

The Guild Master had given Addison orders to make the Sanctuary Empire pay a hefty price but they sent someone troublesome like Mythra.  It would not be so easy.

"So, the Emperor Frey wants access to the Inheritance?  What would he like to offer to offend so many people in line for it?"  The Lost Knowledge Inheritance was a strange one.  It had been discovered over a billion years ago but no one had been able to find anything but a massive library inside of it.

There were no trials or other standard experiences but there were limits.  Entrance was only allowed 100 at a time and they could only stay for 3 months.  They would then have to wait for nearly 10,000 years before being allowed back in.

Cultivation realm did not seem to matter on those restrictions but anything below Sky Realm was rejected.

Thus the Guild had made a killing regulating the Inheritance since they gained control over it.  In the current environment, they were the only ones that could do it since all sects, kingdoms, and empires were busy fighting the Fiends.

The current era of relative peace was rare but it never lasted.

It did give them some time to collect resources and hold better auctions but that had nothing to do with giving a slot to Lind Frey for the Inheritance.

"Offer?  You seem to forget, Addison, that supreme powers always get 2 slots.  Also, your elixir trade and Forged items department exist on the backbone of the now Sanctuary Empire.  The fact he has never abused holding his slots, does not mean he is not entitled."  A frown marred his face.

While technically correct, the Sanctuary Empire and Moebius Sect had never petitioned for their slots.  They were never told to also but their level of power could not be denied.  Also, her slight threat to reveal where the majority of their elixirs and Forged items came from was not a small one.

While many experts had been nurtured over the centuries, the best products still came from a single source.  The former Moebius Sect and now the Sanctuary Empire.  Emperor Frey had honored previous agreements as well without an issue as it brought resources to them both in a fair way.

What had changed was all profits and future negotiations went through Mythra and the Starfire House.  The intent was clear, the Sanctuary Empire planned to rival the Guild in the future!

That was how the Guild Master interpreted it so now that he needed something, they would try to cut off the issue at the root!

"While that is true, you should also know how the other powers work their slots.  If they do not use them, they are auctioned off and the profits split between us.  Your slots were already auctioned away for the current entry."  Addison suspected where she would go and he was not disappointed.

"That is not an issue, Emperor Frey will simply take the next round."  He smirked as he laid out the next card.

"Those slots have been auctioned as well.  The proceeds in fact for the next 3 rounds are all gone."  They had not been of course, but they had acted instantly to the joy of powers that normally could not get in the Inheritance.

All for the upcoming negotiation.  Mythra was the one to frown now.  She knew exactly what they did and why but could not call them out on it.

"I see.  I will have to discuss the issue with them then."  Addison was caught off guard as she got up to leave.  He had not expected her to directly seek out those that bought the slots!

It was not forbidden but it would weaken the hold Helion Trading Guild had on them if powers used proxies to get more slots!

It might be worth it for concrete resources aside from possible knowledge in the Inheritance.

"You cannot do that!  The rules were set–"  He tried to stop her but she merely sneered at him.

"There is nothing in any rule about the power owning the slots purchasing them back.  You and I both know that."  His fists balled in frustration.  It was not going according to the plan!

"Elric, stop her!"  The old Immortal finally moved but Mythra suddenly had a barrier flare that stopped him cold!  It was grade 7!

"You accuse me of being improper for trying to purchase our own slots back but then try to restrict me against your own rules?  Tell me, have I broken any?"  Elric actually paused as he considered her words as correct.

He glanced at Addison but saw the frustration on the Vice-Guild Master.

"Sir–"  He was a higher realm but Addison was of a higher office.  Addison simply glared at him and Elric had no choice but to proceed.

He tried to stop her when a powerful aura appeared around her.  It took the shape of a dragon!

[ENOUGH!]  A voice boomed in all their heads.

Far away, in the Sanctuary Empire, Lind was in the lotus position as he had felt a rather special artifact activate.

It had but one purpose, and that was to allow him to project his draconic soul to the location it was activated.  It was made of his scales and crystals bound together with a weaving.

His Forging skill could not quite pull it off alone.

Now, he was in a room with an Immortal and peak Sun Tier.  The Immortal was barely bothered but the Sun Tier made Lind narrow his eyes.

[YOU!]  His aura spiked as the crystal creaked at his power.  Emerald light flared around Mythra suddenly as it solidified the draconic projection.  [HOW DARE YOU BE IN THIS PLACE!]

He moved before anyone could react and snapped his jaws around Addison.  Of course, the projection had no corporeal existence, yet the man was screaming in pain the instant it happened.

Both Mythra and Elric were stunned.  She knew more about the limits of the projector than others so how was Lind hurting someone at such a distance?

"Stop it!  We meant no–" Elric was trying to diffuse the situation but froze as vile Qi began to emerge from Addison!  His body also began to wither and repair at an alarming rate.

Before they could process the change, Addison fell over dead!

[So much for your vaunted security!  You have thralls in your midst!]  Lind's words made Elric recoil but his own sense confirmed the faint traces of Fiend Qi.  He watched in near awe as it was transformed into natural Qi by just touching the emerald Qi in the air.

"Deploying countermeasures!"  Mythra summoned 3 cylinders that quickly connected together and triggered an emerald shield around her.

They were part of a number of defensive artifacts Forged to store harmonic Qi.  Lind had given them to Mythra long ago after he returned.

All his close friends and family had something similar that he infused for them.

"I–I will address this immediately, Emperor Frey!"  Elric quickly broke a jade stone and the doors burst open shortly afterward with peak Sun Tiers but in full armor.  They also looked grim but Elric restrained them.

"Where is the Guild Master?!  This is serious!"  The guards confirmed his words but no one answered as they saw the corpse of one of their Vice Guild Masters.  They trained their various weapons on Mythra who held still as Lind's projection coiled around her.

Even the most dull person recognized his dragon form after his spectacular arrival in the world.

"Allow us to restrain–"  One of the guards began to advance with a binding collar of some kind when Lind's aura flared in the rooms.

[DO NOT TOUCH HER!]  Elric actually broke out in a sweat as things were getting out of control.  He took comfort that Lind did not act further on anyone in the room.

"STAND DOWN!  He revealed a thrall so do not harm his envoy!"  The guards looked confused as there was no one else in the room.  Who was the thrall?  It never occurred to them it was the dead Addison.

"Just wait–"  A powerful Immortal aura swept the room at last and let Elric relax.  He knew who it was.  He took a knee as the guards followed suit.  A set of footsteps slowly came from the hall before a slim woman walked around the corner.

She had bright sapphire hair and similar colored eyes.  Her healthy skin showed she did not stay indoors too much but her aura was more terrifying as it was a Shard Tier.

The Guild Master of Helion Trading Guild had come!