Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1794 - 1793 - Sky Realm?

Whatever Lind imagined once he found a clue to his next layer, it was immensely slow compared to any other layer! He realized the extreme pressure of the Fiends, war, and survival all pushed him so hard that he put all he had into each advancement.

He was not alone in that explosive growth either. Many millions of ascenders not just from his old realms but all the lower realms had it happen.

After the main Fiend force died, the Bastard had still been known to be out there so no one truly slacked off in the higher echelons. The Divine Realms seemed to condense Mysteries left and right.

Now, after a few thousands of years of the Bastard’s deaths, only the 6 elementals were still bursting on the scene. Even they were slowing down drastically the higher the realm.

From what the seniors had told him, it was much closer to normal in that regard. There was still a severe lack of people compared to before in the Divine Lands.

Sun was actually the strongest in that arena. The islands in the west were so isolated and useless to the Fiends, they were largely untouched.

Lind was cultivating once more when a whine pulled him back to the present. Ryl had been acting odd lately.

They had become very large, yet still small for a dragon. Compared to his full size, Ryl only came to a quarter of his tail.

For the last few months, they had shown a decline in hunting or even just traveling. They had almost been hiding next to him and he suspected what that meant.

Some beasts could feel the danger of their tribulations. The World Realm tribulations were dangerous but the easiest compared to anything that came later. The true demarcation even in the Divine Lands was the Sky Realm Ascension.

It is the first major realm tribulation. If Ryl was so reluctant, it was going to be bad. Lind recalled the first one he had ever seen.

That desert chase that resulted in running for their lives from the lightning when he was so much weaker had imprinted on his mind ever since. Even his own tribulation was not easily dismissed.

Yet, he patted their head to comfort them and reassure them.

"You are strong, Ryl. I have faith you can overcome this." Ryl had been responding more to his words correctly. It showed they had gained more intelligence as they reached the peak of the Diamond Tier.

The awareness also told him a great change was coming in the next tribulation. Ryl’s bloodlines were still distinct, yet they were not as strong as the third force he had detected before.

It was clear that the true trial was awaiting them. They were currently not far from a city. Beast cities were quite different from those made in primarily human and demon dominated realms.

If the chance of humanoid interaction was low, they were made much more comfortable for beasts. There was also a massive expanse of territory used to make that work.

Most structures were built to allow beasts to rest in their natural forms. They also grew to a massive size in most cases as they ascended the path of cultivation. There would be structures for beasts that preferred to stay in a humanoid shape.

That would include things like a teleportation array or other shared facilities for traveling cultivators. Lind and Ryl had not used teleportation even once. The life of a pack had become quite appealing to Lind.

Yet, since Ryl was clearly about to face their next tribulation soon, there were some rules he had to follow.

A World Realm tribulation was generally allowed anywhere. They were far too weak to harm anyone in the Divine Lands unless they interfered.

The lightning wouldn’t even scorch grade 8 materials let alone Dao or Mystery Grade.

The Sky Realm Ascension tribulation, however, was taken seriously. It was the first major realm and it was drastically stronger across too great a range to predict. Some Sky Realms would be just the 9 rounds of lightning followed by core path rounds.

The average tribulation was dangerous to any Soul or World Realm obviously, yet the issue was the coverage. A Sky Realm tribulation extended for several kilometers around the cultivator.

There was not always a way to confirm who was in range when it happened and not all structures were made of more powerful materials perfectly.

A poor grade 8 home could have weak points that the tribulation could shatter with ease.

Thus, rules existed even for beasts.

In the more wild areas, similar to how he had in several of his powers, an area was designated as a tribulation zone. It was rare for many to face a tribulation at the same time or not be able to wait their turn if needed so a single zone for a certain distance was normal.

Mountains or deserts were ideal for obvious reasons.

Cities, however, created tribulation platforms. The increase in population raised the chance of multiple tribulations. A zone still existed as well, but it was harder to ensure it was free.

Sadly, Lind could feel someone was facing a tribulation that just started. The zone was lost to them.

They would have to go to the city and reserve a platform. He frowned, however, as he suspected Ryl’s ascension would not be so simple.

If it truly was a trial, the zone would be better by far. Given the aura and whining from Ryl, they had no time to find another.

He gently gathered up Ryl in his dragon claws before flying towards the city.

The sprawling complexes towered everywhere. He saw a building with a massive ramp for grounded beasts easily able to go up or down on the same spiral path. The large to small openings allowed for a wide range of beasts in just one place.

He saw a pair of guards at an entrance in a wall. He was about to fly down when a powerful surge of power came from his claws!

It was too soon!

[EMERGENCY TRIBULATION PLATFORM NEEDED!] His voice thundered and he tossed out Divine Qi Stones to expedite things. The aura was felt by the guards who also clearly recognized him.

One bowed and flew up. He followed and they quickly came to an area heavily warded by formations. There was a massive elk laying next to the entrance who only glanced at them before a door opened.

[Payment will come later, place the potential Sky Realm in the platform.] Lind paused as the power was increasing above. There were no black clouds but as a Divine Lord he innately felt shock as the power was far beyond the Sky Realm!

[Heaven Realm.] His words actually made both the elk and the guard jump but then a crack of thunder shocked them. A precursor was unheard of for a Sky Realm Ascension!

The elk quickly used their aura to shift the entrances to a much larger platform.

Lind shot inside and quickly placed Ryl in the center of the brass colored dias. He patted their head and wished them luck.

He then left and the formations slammed shut. He had not even had time to thank them when a massive gathering of black clouds shocked them all! Ryl had been holding it back!

The power was so off the scale of what it should be, it drew the eyes of many auras that noted Lind’s arrival. He wanted to focus on Ryl but his instincts screamed at him.

[FLEE FROM HERE NOW!] His massive main flared as weavings were erected to make even more powerful barriers. He had never felt anything like he was seeing now. What in the blazes was that tribulation?

It was not Wrath nor any judgement version. He was more than well versed in the punishment tribulations by personal experience. The vicious tribulations he faced as a progenitor and True Lord also were not easy but they felt like child’s play compared to what he was sensing.

Had Heaven decided Ryl was to die? He did not think so. Yet, the power made even him at the Divine Realm take pause.

All the lower realm cultivators had fled before he slammed the barriers in place. He was alone now but he also scanned the other platforms. None were active thankfully.

He was about to return his focus on Ryl when he was forcibly sent flying into the barrier he erected.

Heaven and Earth had expelled him?!

He was about to be crushed when his Divine Authority tried to flare. It did nothing. The flashes of Ryl’s life went through his mind and the pressure pushed him to the brink.

{I am the pack leader.} The instant he sent out the declaration, the pressure vanished. The tribulation also seemed to pause before it resumed gathering power.

Lind was bleeding everywhere and his bones were cracked. He had not even noticed how fast the damage occurred. His massive body was shrinking as he collapsed in his human form.

A powerful howl came from the platform and made him smile. Ryl knew. They knew he was still there.

[I believe in you.] He transmitted encouragement once more as the lightning shifted colors. It went from blue white to dark gold to crimson to black and then settled on a color that made his jaw go slack.

Azure and black lightning merged to make a very rich dark blue. The merging finally clued Lind in.

It was such a rare tribulation that many thought of it as a legend, yet dragons and other Divine Bloodlines knew it was possible for them to trigger it. The merging of 2 bloodlines did not always result in a choice of either or parent bloodline.

Sometimes it led to a different path.

Existential Tribulation! A trial and an acknowledgement of Heaven and Earth. Ryl was becoming something of their own choosing!