Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 981 - 980 - Strange Sensations

Lind was watching over Belia as she tested and monitored the demon children. Their advancements were stunning in the few months they had stayed at the inn.

Despite being told he owed nothing, Lind had sent over peak high grade 7 elixirs instead of Qi stones. The inn had kept his charges safe but also not pried into his personal matters. He prized both treatments well.

Felicia had fully recovered and finally stopped by. She had been much warmer compared to when she first came to guide them to the inn. Even the small demon children had been excited to see her but he noticed the girl never once scanned anyone with her aura.

He appreciated that even more.

"Belia, you have everything in hand. If you have any questions on your own cultivation, please ask Master for any help you need." The young woman smiled and waved. They had become so full of life in the short time they had been together but it warmed his heart.

The young should be able to be more carefree in his opinion but it was not always possible.

Sorcha was at his side as he left the Oberon Suite but he noticed the owner was gazing at him as he emerged from the mists. The Ra Suite was the home of the owner of the inn as he suspected but he saw Felicia come running not long after the sensation.

Likely she wanted to see them off.

Her robes seemed like a living fire at times even in the early dawn light.

"Maester Cord! I can escort you to the gate!" Her smile was wide as he nodded. It was a gesture plus he knew his little hints had likely helped her progress. He could not temper her as he had the others as it would not only lead to unwelcome questions but reveal more than he wanted of himself to someone he did not yet fully trust.

It was definitely another Immortal but if it was a phoenix, they were being quite accommodating to a dragon.

The trio made their way out to find his carriage had been pulled up. Despite what was expected, Lind hopped up onto the driver's seat and both Sorcha and Felicia were staring at him like he was an idiot.

"Just get in, I prefer to drive." The 2 did not argue. Sorcha now had on a black set of robes to be treated like his assistant for the sake of the public but she was actually quite interested in learning too.

She had failed Forging and elixir mastery tests but weaving was not impossible. She did not have a strong gift for it but he did confirm she could refine very well. Her hands were able to make excellent inscriptions that his old Masters would have wept for joy to see.

Both girls were advancing in the World Realm like a storm. Once they had been tempered by his harmony and started their cultivation over, it was like a floodgate had opened.

Delenn had told him their speed was not bad for the Celestial Fields which gave him an eye-opening realization of how different the environment of the Immortals was compared to a mortal realm.

What took decades in a mortal realm could be done in 3 to 4 years here!

Even the Heaven Realm lands still took close to a decade to advance to the peak of the World Realm and that was an average. Gifted cultivators or those with access to resources could advance far faster.

If he had the resources, Delenn confirmed most of the girls could be in the Sky Realm before they left the inn!

He did not know what to do about the upcoming tribulations but she assured him it would not be a problem.

The carriage made its way through the city streets and he noticed a different energy from before. It was still very busy and full of shouts and murmurs but the feel of it was more positive. It was like the hum drum from before was replaced by a boundless optimism that was hard to find in life.

"Whatever you did that day, Maester, helped many to breakthrough and advance in a single day what some have spent centuries struggling with. Even my own brother finally broke through to the Star Tier thanks to that day!" Lind was shocked. He had not even felt a shift in the Qi that should come with such an advancement.

He also realized what else was different. The taint was thinner. It was thickening but it was very slow. Only his Eyes and Touch could probably discern that but he also wondered why such a drastic reaction occurred with his harmony.

Like any Qi, unless he sustained it, it should disperse very quickly. It was not a naturally occurring Qi in the wild and needed his dantian to produce it.

The number of things he had to study just kept increasing!

He already had too many Laws and his elements to grasp just to advance his cultivation and his crystal now needed to be studied on top of that to make sure he continued to increase his foundation in his Dao!

The list of things to keep cultivating were not small as one advanced!

He sighed as the 2 girls chatted about the things they saw. A few artifacts caught his eye but his expertise let him see the flaws after a deeper look. He noticed a few glances at them but no one got in their way.

He did notice the guards.

Before, they patrolled in simple 5 to 6 men to a unit but mingled more than anything into the crowd.

Now, he felt they were trying a bit too hard to blend in along his path. He smirked as the common populace gave them away.

They reacted in surprise to men they were used to seeing in armor as they were still in groups of 6!

He ignored them as they left the high end district for the lower. Here, the guards remained overt but the number was higher than before. It seemed finding a Fiend and some agents made them a bit leery even over a month later.

He was about to signal Felicia to announce them when a familiar feeling crawled over him. That time he knew it was coming from nearby but the source was still diffused enough to evade his detection.

He was about to chalk it up to an overprotective parent when he narrowed his eyes.

It was not the same being!

"Felicia, do you have someone meeting you at the gate?" The girl looked up at him confused.

"No one needs to come for me, Maester Cord. The security has been increased and the City Lord has also mandated any expert will be escorted by a full squad." He nodded as that confirmed his own sensations but the source of aura was clear to him.

A powerful Immortal was nearby. If his previous state was anything to go by, they should be within 50 meters, maybe 75 if they had a way to mitigate the effects of the taint.

"Are you willing to go on a trip with us?" His question caught both girls off guard but Felcia broke into a smile!

"Of course!" Lind nodded and kept guiding the carriage forward and the Thunderhooves happily complied. The beasts had come to trust him over time not only because of his good treatment but because he listened to them.

He could understand most of what they wanted and knew the pair was looking for mates if possible. Lind knew that could take some luck on his part as Delenn confirmed they did not naturally occur where they were.

It was not impossible to find a breeder or tamer but letting a random pair mate in their herd.

He pushed the random thoughts aside as the northern exit appeared in front of them. It was the closest gate to reach the sect.

As they approached, he noticed 2 more auras swept over them. That was a lot of Immortals watching them but the first one seemed to fight them off!

"Sigh. Fellow Daoists, if you try to fight here, things will not go well for the juniors here." His words were not loud but it brought a stillness to the immediate area. The auras all retracted to their respective corners.

"Maestor Cord?" Lind turned to Felicia but saw Sorcha was holding her hand. They had felt the minor conflict it seemed.

"It is of no concern. If I am to guess, a member of your family is watching over you and 2 others came to look for me. They had a small tiff and I told them to calm down." He spoke in a voice all could hear and 3 blurs rushed off but only he saw them.

That would teach them for acting like children!

He patted her head and turned back to join the line out yet the crowd parted as soon as some saw his emerald hair. It seemed his distinctive features had spread to the populace at large.

The trio left with the guards waving them through. The sunlit grasslands welcomed them and he saw a well paved road ahead. The taint increased but only by a minor amount. Still, he noticed it.

He could see their destination was not too far away but he was in no hurry. They should get there before the day was out. The small adventure was out of the way and the sect was now ahead. Lind prepared himself as it would be his first experience with a sect that had literally existed for possibly several epochs.

Just what awaited him there and what could they show him?