Eternal Emerald Dragon

Lind imagined if he had lost the use of his limbs and then got them back after becoming used to his existence, it would be similar to his current state. He had become used to using Qi, Laws, Daos, and Mysteries as he advanced.

After each major breakthrough, it was more about stabilization and adaptation to the new plateau. Yet, the Eternal Realm was like returning to mortality.

When a mortal became a Soul Realm, it was like trying to walk, talk, and run all at once. Someone could suddenly wield Qi like it was an extension of their limbs but not regulate for crap.

It took decades to truly master it and Lind had to pile on top of that the issue of 6 Soul Cores trying to run rampant over his foundation.

Now, he was back to that feeling. The power was there, he could unleash it, but not regulate for any hope of trying. Simple things like fly, stop, or conjure pure elements was easy.

All it took was a thought and the dantian would respond. More complex things were an issue. Haro, despite his changed appearance, retained a far more profound knowledge base. Lind envied the spirit the ease of his transition.

He dared not summon the grass fan as the empty space felt dangerous to Haro. His aura was supremely lacking in feedback but he at least had a partial sense of his area.

The pure darkness was replaced with the various energies of the dark spheres around him. He noticed there was indeed a drift but it was not random.

It seemed like the spheres closer to the barrier were far more powerful and potent in vitality while the ones farther away were ancient yet waning.

The interaction of those various forces told a tale as old as time. Eventually, the cycle of consumption and condensation reached a limit. Cultivators consumed resources, nature nurtured treasures, but it could not be a perfect balance.

The fading of Divine Realm cultivators probably drastically delayed the process. Still, it was just a theory. As to what that horrifying vortex exactly did he dared not explore in his current state.

He simply moved away from where he had appeared and slowly made his way back to the barrier. There was nowhere else to go.

He had at least gained basic control but it was trial and error going forward. He could not fight in such a state.

The Original Bastard was clearly outclassing him on that front.

Lind flew on faster and faster until the shimmer of the barrier returned. He slowed at that point and carefully scanned as best he could. He did not want to draw attention but he also had no idea how large the area inside the barrier was.

He had encountered no one at all in the entire time he flew. It was not totally surprising as the various Master Tiers had affirmed it had been a very long time since anyone ascended.

For them, that meant epochs could pass before it happened.

Now, Lind faced a choice. Stay safe in the sea of realms or cross the barrier into what was likely the Eternal Realm proper. The barrier was like the vortex, could even be directly powered by it, so he suspected he could leave but never return.

He looked around and knew waiting was not an option. He was stuck and fumbling. He could not stay that way.

Strangely, he saw nothing beyond the barrier. There was no sun, moons, or lands. There were no signs of anything at all, yet he recalled the meetings in the comfortable den with his future self.

He had not recreated that den intentionally but now he wondered if he had faced his Eternal Realm self in that place.

He was unsure how Eternal Realm cultivators lived. He had encountered exactly 1 aside from the Original Bastard. He was unsure how much of that was real or what his senses could handle at the time.

He carefully flew closer until he was just at the last row of spheres. He noticed some were smaller than others. He observed them for a time and saw they were growing. He had no idea of the relative time but he could be seeing billions of years of growth in a few moments.

He had not seen any spring into existence yet, but it was clear the newest ones were born at the barrier.

Were the Eternal Realm cultivators a part of the process as well? He had no way to know but it begged a question that had bothered him for a long time. Heaven and Earth did not just spring into existence. It had to come from somewhere, yet it felt totally lacking in personality nor bias.

No living being could be like that. While Heaven and Earth had favored him against the Fiends that was more about repairing damage caused by extreme violations than bias. It would be like suppressing most of his personality to only observe.

He could never do it.

He floated at the final step. He carefully suppressed what he could before pressing against the barrier.

It flared emerald and gold still. He was surprised but not so shocked at what happened next.

A piece of information came back to him from his ascension. He could not claim it before. He had been too different and some piece of his old selves still existed.

[I am the Eternal Emerald Dragon.] The world shifted and he was pulled through the barrier. He could not resist at all!

The instant he crossed the barrier he expected light, sounds, or even lands to appear but there was nothing. Just more darkness.

The force pulling on him did not stop and he could not resist at all. Eventually, he sensed a change and a burst of pressure washed over him before he felt his dantian react violently.

Massive amounts of energy were extracted to the point he actually felt exhaustion closing in! Light burst on the horizon but he saw it at last. A vast stretch of dead land!

Yet, it had various ruined structures upon it. One of them was a massive cabin with extended buildings. It was rather wholesome and relaxed compared to the palaces he had lived in recently.

There were mountains all around and a few dried sea beds. A familiar feeling washed over him as the pale blue sky seemed barely alive.

He had seen that sky before!

Eventually he slammed into the surface like a meteor. A plume of dust rose into the air as he slowly ascertained if he had been harmed. His body had not even been scratched!

He stood up and surveyed the land. Where was he? What was this place?

He had been there before but now he realized it was not what he expected. He had been operating under the assumption his previous versions had made that study in the Divine Lands but he had been very wrong!

The cabin was in the best shape and he moved up the worn path. The dead soil was littered with dessicated materials but nothing remained enough to identify them.

Haro appeared and seemed much more relaxed.

"Master, this is not a Divine Continent. It feels closer to your Emerald Haven." He shook his head. He could understand why Haro thought that as an echo of harmonic Qi was present but it was not his.

It was also not a haven. There was no portal nor had there been any sign of anything until he was right upon it. A haven was connected solely to its creator and would follow them like a mobile special realm.

It was only when opened that it would become fixed in place. Yet, he had not felt like the current space was fixed. It was moved by some principle he did not understand.

He had even more questions but he noticed something. The sky was becoming more vibrant and the feeling of life was returning. Yet it was because his own harmony seemed to be overwriting what was there before.

The pair quickly reached the entrance of the compound and a broken wooden gate barely hung on metal hinges. It was clear a battle had been waged there as burnt areas were still there.

Pieces were missing as well in a few areas now that he looked closely.

The main cabin was intact but had been assaulted heavily. The barn and other structures were heavily damaged. He came to a gate that was closed firmly. He felt it then. A weaving still stood!

He placed his hand on the center of the gate and it reacted.

A figure appeared that was all too familiar. It was himself.

{If you are here, then we failed again. We are rather unique, in several aspects but this place was made by one of us long ago. Even though we died, so long as a spark survives, this endures. You have come to the point of no return. The Bastard will know you have arrived but he cannot enter no matter how much he wishes to. Once you leave, the final battle will ensue. We have left things behind to help you but that only applies if you follow the Mystery of Fusion.}

Those words gave him some explanation and a kind of relief but the last part made him worried. Yet, the projection did not disperse.

{If you are the last hope, the final step we have worked so hard to achieve, you are still safe but you will need to mold your Eternal Hold in your image. It will help you learn how to control your power. The Bastard will be outside but be unable to affect you. He will blather and threaten but he cannot come in. If he tries, he will only make things in your favor. It was something he learned the hard way and the closest we came to killing him before.}

Lind perked up. So there was a time the Bastard had nearly failed. That gave him hope even more. That meant the Bastard really was vulnerable!

{If you are the last, I am sorry. Many have died to give you time to ascend. Friends and allies awaited your arrival. They were ready to hold off that Bastard at the cost of feeding him in death. You may be alone now. I pray not, but assume you are. Good luck.}

The words of the Bastard came back to him then. The massive size and feeling of power were clear. How could other Eternal Realms not be enough to ascend?! Just how large was the requirement now?

Lind felt new fear. The sea of realms was the Fiend's goal. Such a vast amount of life must hold more of a secret than he realized. He needed answers and hoped his other selves left them behind.

The gate opened and the weaving collapsed. He had a lot of work to do!

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