Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 849 - 848 - Tale of True Lords

"Why is this possible?" Lind understood the reason for the convoluted process but he did not understand why the original True Lords felt the need to have new ones be chosen. The vast history he had been able to pick up made it seem like none had existed for a long time.

"Ah, first, my own introductions are overdue, young man. I am Zhihui. I am close to 20 million years old. That is about as extreme as our lifespan extension can be expected as you can see, but in your case I suppose that has changed." Lind narrowed his eyes. Lanbao had confirmed that if he reached the Shard Tier he would have a much longer lifespan compared to a human or a demon.

They would get a jump to 5 to 6 million depending on quality, potential, and many other factors but not much more than that. Any divine bloodline at any amount can affect that limit but a progenitor skipped straight to the maximum.

Thus, Zhihui stating his had changed made him wonder why once more.

"I will make it brief as I do not have the time to be flowery about this. A progenitor already can hit the maximum ever recorded of 25 million years. Whether you get that or not is entirely up to your own ability and progress in each cultivation realm. Good so far?" He nodded but then froze as he felt something prick his attention.

He closed his eyes and felt something far away was happening before he realized it was death. A dragon at the Moon Tier was dying.

Zhihui let him focus on whatever got his attention before a frown crossed his face.

"Wasteful." He made no other comment and turned back to her.

"A long story short, the few records I am able to read about True Lords show they have extremely long lifespans. There is no special exception to injury or stupidity, but if left alone, even as you are, you will live far beyond 50 million years." Lind found a lot of doubt about that.

Lifespan, as she noted, was just a best estimate and he suspected there was a massive drawback to gift him that kind of time. He was not wrong.

"Your tribulations will be a joy from what I understand. Our race has only had 3 True Lords recorded. The first was there when it was born but a few epochs passed between them after that. Due to their nature, not much is safely kept and sadly, likely lost forever now." Lind nodded as he understood knowledge could be lost.

In the case of cultivators, that span of knowledge could be huge if an entire country was destroyed and buried intentionally.

"So why the need for new True Lords at all?" It was the thing he still wanted to know.

"Patience, young man, patience. I am not wasting my breath for no reason. So, why is divine blood considered so special? Care to guess?" She smiled at him lopsidedly as she sipped at her steaming tea slowly.

Lind had wondered about it himself but then felt a bolt of shock go through him!

"It originates with the True Lords?!" She smiled but shook her head.

"Not quite. Now, this bit you cannot repeat outside of this room, but the origin of Divine Bloodlines are from the Divine Lords. Legends speak of how the universe was born with Heaven, Earth, and the Dao. Out of that chaos came order. And a whole lot of drama later, life." LInd began to piece it together.

"Divine Realms can die but the role of Divine Lord must be filled?" She patted him on the head like a child.

"I like bright children." Lind was regretting not insisting on her treating him better as when he first emerged. "Before you ask, I have no idea."

He nodded as the Divine Realm was far beyond them.

"What I am allowed to know as the head priestess here is that Divine Lords need to come from True Lords. Here, only one can exist for each race of divine blood, but up there, who knows?" She began to cough but got it under control as she grasped her staff tighter to stabilize herself.

"So True Lords are needed for future Divine Lords, but it finally begs the question, what am I for?" The role was needed in an abstract way but in the current circumstances, what was expected of him?

"Not so bright. You are only a candidate, not a complete True Lord. You have been acknowledged as worthy but have to cross the finish line. As to what good that does, I suggest you look outside. See if you notice anything." He already knew the crumbling has stopped but he shot to his feet as he saw something stunning.

The border of the temple area had grown! It had gotten larger!

"True Lords have often been called on to protect the realm from threats. As such, those that want to harm it have hunted them and their ilk vociferously. The reason the Fiends and many other powers want us is not just for materials but to prevent the rise of a True Lord." Lind slowly nodded.

"We are the guardians of the Celestial Fields?" Zhihui nodded and then became solemn.

"Before the Cataclysm, the white tigers and the rocs had True Lords I knew of. They were killed less than a month apart. The power they held was limited in many ways but dying so easily should have been impossible. The hunts that followed decimated our populations. I have no idea if this temple could have withstood the power I saw in those days." Lind swallowed as his throat had become dry.

It was clear that the groundwork for the Cataclysm had been well thought out and that long view and attention to detail fit the Fiends to a 'T.'

They drank their tea to warm their chilled bodies from the dark talk. Lind had to process a lot. He had to adapt and accept the changes to his existence but he also had to focus more than before as he felt far more.

[Master, we need to talk.] Haro sounded far more serious but Lind was tired. He needed a moment to breathe!

"Just come out, Haro. If there is a restriction, I feel safe in saying she is authorized more than I am." The spirit manifested but he had changed. His shape was far more solid than before and the powerful aura was higher than anyone he had met!

"Junior greets senior." Zhihui bowed low but Haro waved it off.

"You have done and served well. However, our unique circumstances require some adjustment. My Master cannot complete his trials and something unexpected has occurred. The Dance of Dragons has manifested." Shock flashed over her face but LInd was confused.

He knew what Haro was talking about, but what was the importance of that event?

"Master, the Dance of Dragons has only occurred once. It was when the realm first settled. It welcomed the birth of life, Dao, and Qi. The only reason it would return is that you ARE a True Lord, not a candidate." Zhihui tried to stand up but she stumbled and was caught by Lind.

He was completely confused now. Even the knowledge in his head told him that he had one more Inheritance to face. So what was going on?

"Senior, what does it mean?" Haro looked solemn as he looked at Lind. For the first time in a while, Lind felt like he was an ant looking at a mountain.

"There is no precedent nor explanation in my memory for it. However, this entire current set of events is well outside all of the cultivation world as I know it. I have seen many epochs come and go but nothing like what we currently face." Both nodded at Haro's words but then he seemed to come to a decision.

"I have a skill I can use. It is normally not available until you are certified, but I can tell it works now. It is why I had to speak. You have heard many cultivators invoke the spirits of Heaven and Earth, Master?" Lind nodded as Zhihui looked hopeful.

"I know they exist after living with the Elementals but what of them?" Haro smirked and looked grim.

"True Lords are allowed to speak directly to them. Whether they make sense or not, is difficult to say but it is the very same spirits that have the power to certify you in place of an Inheritance. It is not impossible one could be lost before new arbiters could be chosen." Lind suddenly realized something.

"Senior Dragon Soul's Ruin! They were reclaiming her to choose a new one?!" Haro nodded.

"It bothers me that did that as well. They should not have had to do that at all. As you have advanced, Master, I have become more concerned. The devastated Celestial Fields cemented it but now this is too much. Something is going on more than normal even for a True Lord's harsh journey." Haro then moved to the balcony and frowned as he looked up into the sunny sky.

His dark skin made him stand out but his robes remained as humble as ever.

Lind never realized that Haro always suppressed his aura but now he had unleashed it, it was clear he was more powerful than anyone he had ever met. That included Lord Skinwalker!

"What do I have to do?" Lind moved to stand beside him before he heard a tired sigh from Haro.

"Permission is all I need but there is a price.. You are too weak to pay for it, so I must. I was enjoying being awake." Lind frowned in concern. Haro had been with him for quite some time so he felt he had a good handle on reading him by tone alone.

"What is the price?" Haro flinched as he recognized the tone from him. Lind was not going to let even a half-truth slip by.

"To speak to the closest thing we have to gods, only life can satisfy them." Lind suddenly grasped why he had such an insane lifespan. It was a fee he could invoke to talk to the spirits of Heaven and Earth!

"Haro, I do not give permission." Both Haro and Zhihui stared at him like he was insane. "I will not let you die for me when I already know what I have to do. I need materials and to plan a trip. That won't change, no matter what you might buy me from them."

He would not sacrifice a friend, no matter what he might need to know.

He was about to sit back down when all the hair on his body stood on end. Zhihui also looked alarmed as both turned to Haro.

[We were correct in our assessment. You are worthy of being a True Lord, Lind Frey.] Haro's eyes had turned into a rainbow of colors and his aura had skyrocketed! It seemed the spirits of Heaven and Earth had been listening and still came to speak with him!