Chapter 77: Chapter 76 - Negotiations

"A Sky Realm is coming?" Lind was fully recuperated after 2 days. He had pushed himself to his limits but it had excellent benefits to stabilize his tiers between his cores and his foundation. Lind was now peak tier 6 in his foundation and peak tier 7 in his elements.

"I asked the reason and it has to do with your recent success as a grade 3 elixir master." Lind looked over to see Qing had set out his recent batch by each element. Thus far, he had only succeeded in making the elemental tempering elixirs at grade 3. He had been experimenting with essences but his access to grade 3 materials was fairly limited while he was at the Academy.

Both of them had agreed that since Qing had never requested such materials, it would be too risky to start collecting them from the treasure hall now. The Sapphire Auction House could protect Lind but again, asking for materials from them would draw attention.

Right now, no one knew where the elixir master was as the branches had advertised the elixirs up through peak grade 2. Lind was actually quite happy with the elemental stones he had in his account as when he left the Lotus Academy, he would have a good financial start to his life.

For now, he worked with what he and Qing collected on his missions.

"Your elixirs are more precious than you know, Lind. Alchemists can make pills that help the speed of cultivation to stabilize a foundation at grades 3 and above, but tempering elements at the World and Sky Realms is very difficult even for above average cultivators." Qing, herself had benefited from his grade 3 elixirs. They were low grade, but highly effective through tier 2 Sky Realm.

She was seeing the possibility of breaking through to Gold Tier in the future much sooner than expected. Shoti was the same as she had introduced Lind to the Sect. The elders were carefully doling out the elixirs for now and no one spread it around at all as there would be war due to the limited supply.

Lind Frey had become very precious to the Heavenly Maiden Sect and the current issue of Crown Prince Ryu had made them make a clear statement to the Darkmoor Kingdom. Lind wondered how much longer he could stay in the Lotus Empire at the current rate of events unfolding around him.

He still was learning a great deal but most of it was from the library or other sources. The lectures were no longer helpful as Qing, herself, was a far more profound source of cultivation knowledge. Regardless, there was little guidance to be given for a 6 elemental. His limits on continuing his grade 3 elixir research could only begin once he was gone as well.

"What, exactly, are they going to do?" Lind was nervous that his life was no longer his own. Qing saw his fear and carefully moved to embrace him. Her hugs had become a source of comfort during their sessions dealing with the heart demons but their progress had stagnated there also.

She told him that was normal as heart demons were not an easy thing, but compared to before he was at far less risk. The battle with the 8 demons had tempted his rage but he had stayed in control. It still showed a risk if the right trigger came along, but the fact Lind never felt close to possession was a very good sign.

Lind suddenly realized he had grown taller in the time he had known Qing. He had been a little short when she first arrived, but now that his 18th birthday was coming, he had hit a growth spurt. He now could look into her eyes directly, in fact he might be a little taller, but right then he felt like a little kid that needed comforting.

"It will all be okay. The point of sending a Sky Realm is in part to keep Shoti and myself out of these talks. You are in our care which we would take seriously regardless. You can't pretend, however, that our sect wants to rope you in. You understand, right?" Qing did not lie to him or obfuscate anything as their trust bond was very important.

Lind smiled. Shoti was like a bright star that refused to let anyone walk by without knowing she was there, but Qing was no less brilliant if far more subtle. They were both Heavenly Maidens, but they were far removed from each other. He was about to speak when a formal knock was heard on their door.

Neither of them had noticed someone coming close so it was either a message from the Head Elder or a mortal. Lind was about to open the door when he froze. His eyes began to burn when the room tilted.

Qing caught him but he waved to her and smiled as the world slowly came back into focus. Lind was stunned as he could now see faint signs of Qing's dantian! His Eyes had broken through! Lind was so focused on seeing the more profound Qi flow in her body and the various wards that he almost forgot about the door.

The knock repeated and Lind turned to see a storm. There was a very powerful Qi outside the door he could not see before but it was there. He must have been forced to breakthrough as he could barely perceive it and it forced it through.

"I think the Sky Realm is here." Qing looked at him in confusion until her eyes widened. She took out her artifact that she often ran over him if they pushed his heart demon to the brink, but she could only stare at the results.

"Sky Eyes. Your Eyes broke through." Lind was always training the 2 talents for his elixir making, but it was unheard of for a cultivator to breakthrough 2 major realms above with them.

Lind smiled and walked over to the door. He had to close off his Eyes as it was painful to just look at the door. He would need to carefully practice later. A gorgeous woman stood on the other side that towered over him. Her hair was a vibrant blue as was her skin. Lind thought it was an aether child but then he noticed the eyes were vertically slit rather than human eyes.

"Greetings Senior, welcome to my quarters." Lind quickly bowed and moved out of her way. The smile sent his way instinctually made him shiver. Sharp teeth were in her mouth but he felt no malice.

"Elder Sister Tyr!" Qing shot up and bowed to the Heavenly Maiden. The pristine white robes were of a very high quality that even without his Eyes stood out for the aura coming off of them.

"Little Qing! It has been too long!" Lind was amused to see Qing swept up like a little kid into a hug. The warmth of the scene made him feel at ease. He glanced into the hallway but no one else was present. Lind only had time to close the door before laughter burst out of him.

Qing usually kept her platinum lochs neat and often tied back but now her hair was wildly spread out as her face was deep crimson. It was very cute but Lind could not hold in the laughter to see her so flustered.

"ELDER SISTER!" Qing was now pouting but it was not bad to see her like that.

"Apologies, I just missed you these last few months. My rotation is coming to an end this year so I volunteered when they asked for someone to come." Lind was once more the focus of the slitted eyes. He felt like he was being measured within an inch of his life. A very human but pale blue skinned hand reached out to his chest. "Far too many scars for one so young."

Lind looked to Qing and saw a gentle smile as she straightened out her hair.

"Elder Sister Tyr is a bit different as you can see. She can feel by instinct what takes decades of experience for others to learn. She was one of my favorite teachers." Lind suddenly felt the pressure increase in his courtyard.

"One of your favorites?" The cold eyes seemed to bore a hole in Qing as she froze in place. Lind suddenly was reminded of someone else he knew.

"You taught Shoti too, right?" Both women looked in surprise at him before giggling ensued. Tyr then nodded as she moved deeper into the rooms until she noticed the new elixirs.

"Truly amazing that you can make so many of these, young man." The honest praise made Lind scratch the side of his cheek before moving to make tea. He heard the 2 women chat as they caught up and enjoyed the warmth of this feeling in his heart.

The steaming tea was only World Realm leaves but Lind was just barely able to prepare them thanks to his work with elixirs. The 2 women happily enjoyed the tea as Lind stood to the side. He knew at this moment he was only an observer as they reassured their relationship.

After a few rounds of tea, Tyr finally signaled for Lind to join them.

"First, we will not be revealing that you are our guest elder. If we did, Darkmoor's Queen would instantly come for you, herself. Any sane cultivator of peak World Realm to Sky Realm would treasure your current status." Lind felt some relief at this. He was then confused at what message the sect was sending by making Tyr their representative.

"The Heavenly Maiden Sect is currently treating you for heart demons able to possess you. You are a good friend to an Outer Sect Elder, so we take such a relationship seriously." Qing offered further clarity and Lind began to see the shape of the negotiations to come.

"So, you are here because of the serious nature of my condition as well as my relationship with Shoti had a positive result for the sect?" Tyr nodded at his quick understanding but placed her tea down before proceeding.

"Our legacy is quite deep but Shoti is something of a promising candidate to be far more than she already is. When she seemed to lose interest it was concerning but the cultivation is very much a personal journey. Your contribution to her changes has not been small." Lind was stunned to learn this. He knew Shoti and he had a rather in depth conversation about her elements and their use back in the Southern District, but he did not think it was that profound.

"I was just talking to her. She had questions about how to hone her elements better and I could use my talents to see what worked and what did not." Lind saw Tyr glance at Qing before the other slowly nodded.

"Do you know what Sky Realms achieve when they corroborate their Dao?" The sudden change in topic made Lind think about all he had learned and he knew what she was looking for.

"Sky Realms can be given a title if they stay down here. A Dao title." Lind knew part of the journey in Sky Realm was consolidating the actual Daos in preparation for the Heaven Realm. That was all Lind understood as Qing, herself, could not explain the specifics.

"Correct. You are a good seedling! My Dao Title is Broken Soulsky." Lind thought it sounded kind of interesting but it meant nothing to him. He looked to Qing but she gave no clue until Lind turned back and suddenly he recognized something in Elder Tyr's face. It was not something that could be put into words easily but LInd recognized it even so.

"The 3 of us have something in common. At some point in the past, a damned foolish creature broke us down to our very soul. It takes someone on a similar path to truly heal someone like that." Lind now understood. He glanced at Qing and realized what she had been going to reveal all those months ago.

"I thank you very much senior Tyr, but I do not need to know more than that. I already trust Qing very much." A surprise flashed on the blue face but then a wide smile appeared that still gave a chill to Lind to see such sharp teeth.

"Unexpected, but then you understand that Shoti is the same as us. None of us are identical but the pain is similar. I will leave Qing for your healing, but I have come as her superior." Lind now grasped the whole picture.

These negotiations would be from the perspective of his condition. Lind felt slightly frustrated but he could not totally argue the risk. Crown Prince Ryu was tied up with both of his heart demons indirectly, thus it was a very real possibility Lind could lose himself in a challenge.

"Please tell me more, senior." Lind settled in to hear the whole plan.

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
mythosarcana

So got the notice I might be getting a contract. This novel is being added to "Promising Novels" so any contribution there is welcome. Please keep voting and look forward to mass release this weekend. Thank you all for kind words.

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