Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 880 - 879 - Sanctuary Empire Torch Passed

The supreme power of the Sanctuary Empire was in full celebration. Their Emperor had returned! Further, he had informed all that the Celestial Fields were restored!

The ascension pool he reconnected was growing into a torrent but he had helped it along and brought a force to turn the tide of the war.

He had not expected for the Fiends to begin to adapt to 6 elemental attacks so well but it seemed his own still stymied them plenty. The Wings of Freedom also was just beyond their comprehension.

The power systems had made his children laugh at how complex it was but his wives had been in awe of how far he had pushed artifacts and technology in regards to harmonies and 6 elementals.

The Nautilus Class ships were already impressive and popular but the starships would not be unless the many issues could be resolved. Not the least of which was the creation of harmonic crystals, let alone its many support systems.

In the Heaven Realm lands, the systems were wholly reliant on the Hacore so it was already about half drained after the single battle. The Immortals were refueling it as best they could but only Lind was really capable of it.

Regardless, he enjoyed being back at the palace with his family and he was saddened to know more friends had been lost in his absence.

The beasts had suffered brutal defeats. Lady Gua had bought time with her web Arts and profound Qi conjurings to save many lives but lost her own.

Carla and Jorn had been crippled but were able to live out the rest of their lives peacefully with a family. He had been surprised more about the last part than the crippled part!

A few hit close to home for him.

The Law Binding had suffered another attack but Linghu had suffered a severe backlash and the power of the binding had stumbled because of it. They had been able to repair it but it would be collapsing a lot sooner than expected.

Shi and Kin had suffered grievous injuries. Kin recovered but Shi did not. She suffered horrible Qi deviation due to not being focused on her recovery. No one gave her good odds of progressing anymore, despite being an Immortal.

Lian had actually been doing well but had then been taken by a demonic sect that was an ally of the Fiends. She had been brutalized, yet survived. She then wiped the sect off the face of the map with a fleet of skyships until nothing lived.

She trusted no one anymore save Lind's family as she had been betrayed by a member of her crew. When he first returned, she had smiled and hugged him but her eyes were so much colder.

The list went on and while some were alive to tell their own tales, far too many had died bravely fighting to save others or buy time.

He was so glad to see those alive but went to the memorial stones for the rest.

Ethry was floored to learn her parent's souls endured and were safe in a dragon temple. He already told her they would see them after they returned. He had to get the dragons back there afterall.

A few of the older dragons would stay behind to live more free lives in the Heaven Realm lands but the young would all return to keep progressing. The Celestial Fields were getting more vital with each passing day and Laws were everywhere to explore now!

While all of those many meetings and updates were going on, Lind carefully looked over his Empire. It had not changed much in the decades he was gone but he could see a large segment of it was ready to move on.

Immortals could be born in the Heaven Realm lands, but true progress awaited them above. There was also the enticing information that vast stretches of unclaimed land existed. Even with the frenzy of 6 months since it was saved, not even a millionth of a square kilometer had been taken.

The plain fact was most of it was empty and still recovering. Many secrets may still exist but the sheer distance to be covered was insane for even an Immortal to contemplate!

Lind had some plans but for once it was mostly about his family and not setting up an organization. He left that to others to do as he was ready for some peace and quiet!

Other ascension pools would start to reconnect and the Fiends would be desperate to head up there themselves as actual resources could be found! A single branch of an empire had survived so other enclaves could have as well. He had barely covered any territory in his explorations.

He was in his office reviewing several things with Lysanna when Shi walked in. She looked far older than he remembered but the chaotic aura around her was clear to explain why.

Her Qi deviation had burnt up a lot of potential.

"It is good to see you, Lind." He smiled at her much more relaxed address of him.

"And you. Please take a seat. I have some excellent tea for us!" He summoned an ancient jade tea set that made Lysanna arch an eyebrow at him. He only smiled and a pleasant aroma quickly filled the room.

Shi carefully took up the cup and smiled. The wrinkles on her face were more evident then but the streaks of white in her hair already told the story of her predicament.

Lind sipped at the tea as he watched her carefully drink as well before a relaxed look crossed her face.

"That is good tea. I do not recall ever hearing of any that made a body feel so warm before?" Lind shrugged before proceeding with the chat.

"I was given it as a gift for resolving a small issue. The kind woman who gave it to me passed away peacefully a few days later. Her name was not known to me outside of High Priestess of the Soul Temple." Both women stared hard at his nonchalance but did not begrudge his secrets. "Her soul endures but she is much happier not carrying the burden anymore."

Both of them had heard of how dragon souls were kept safely on the temple grounds. It was an interesting concept but it was unknown if other powers practiced it much as humans and demons tended to be far more selfish.

It was no doubt expected they would try to possess anyone foolish enough to come in range of their soul.

"Well, thank her for me–" Shi froze as the warmth inside her began to spread and expand. Her mangled meridians and aged body seemed to flow in reverse until a young woman with white streaked black hair sat in front of them.

Lysanna nearly spilled tea on herself before staring at the liquid intensely but she could not sense any profound aura from it.

"It is not the tea, although it likely did help, it is the tea set. It is an artifact used for a particular ritual among dragons. There are several variations of it but I chose this one." He calmly dropped that bomb on them as if it was everyday an impossible to cure condition was just undone like it was nothing!

Shi carefully touched her Qi and felt how tender everything was. It was also stronger, but her vitality had not improved much. She would be lucky to live 300 thousand years by her rough estimate.

"Lind, just what did you do to the poor girl?" Lind sighed as he touched the pot and both saw a drop of blood was extracted from his body! He then poured it into a cup and both could see that the cup in front of them felt far closer to Shi's than the other 2!

"It takes a drop of blood and 1 cup of tea to work. It also requires the feeling of trust between the 2 to be very high. The last requirement is a bit tricky as the one getting the benefit cannot know it in advance. Something about changing the effect of the results badly from what she told me." Lind looked apologetic but his description made both women blanch.

Only a very high grade item could have such stringent requirements for such a powerful result!

"You are what the dragons would call a hybrid now. My blood is a part of you but do not worry, you are still human. From what I can tell, the blood was burnt up repairing your body. I was not sure it would work entirely but it would not hurt at all." Both Lysanna and Shi knew of Linds strange ability to heal things no one else could but his elixirs had been unable to help her before!

The Empresses had easily doled out the most powerful grade 7 elixirs Lind had made to help Shi but it only saved her life, no more.

Tears formed in Shi's eyes but Lysanna quickly pulled her into an embrace.

"You perform miracles too easily, husband." Lysanna was crying a bit too but in joy more than admonishment.

Lind smiled wide but then became serious.

"While I absolutely would have healed you either way, there is another reason I wanted to use this method. I was hoping you could become Empress." Silence filled the room but Lysanna was not surprised at all.

While Shi could ascend with them regardless of her condition, her potential to advance had been burned badly. She now had a better chance compared to before but there was another reason she would not want to leave.

"Linghu will not be free by the time I die. Still, I do not want to leave him." The siblings had been through far too much to be parted but Linghu would insist she go if it could help her become a Shard Tier. If she could reach that level, she would have a chance to live far longer!

"Ah about that, I can help get him out of there early. It sounds like things are getting nasty anyway so I will not leave it to chance anymore. I have a plethora of experts on Law Bindings with me now too so it should be child's play." Shi looked up at him in hope.

"I am asking if you are ok with taking on the burden of the Empire for the next 50,000 years. After that, choose another successor and get up there. I will study all I can to improve my elixirs and maybe find a treasure or two to help you." New tears formed as Shi clung to Lysanna.

It was so easy to forget when he was gone, but when he was back, Lind Frey did not abandon anyone. If he could help he would, if he could not, he would damned well exhaust reality trying!

"Of course, it would be my honor!" Shi spoke up and he smiled at her. The celebration outside would continue but he knew the days to come would find a new chaos across all the powers and sects.

The Immortals would not be staying that could advance. Shard Tiers especially would leave if they thought they could still advance!

One piece among many were now done but one last major one was left before Lind could leave for the Celestial Fields once more.