Chapter 1793: Chapter 1792 - A Step Forward

A trio of Master Tier beasts looked on as a massive statue was being erected at the mouth of the valley they called home. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

It had been 2 years since their leader faded, yet it felt like no time at all had passed. The one that killed her was not some villain but an honorably Divine Lord.

They had cared for him after he collapsed and he took over a year to recover while his companion revealed stunning power at just the Diamond Tier of the World Realm.

The beast was of mixed races that should have been impossible but given the Divine Lord, the trio knew nothing was impossible.

Now, after a year of recovery followed by a year of cultivation to reach his peak, Lind Frey was Forging something they never expected.

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Lind almost had his eyes closed as his hands glowed with emerald light. He had found a mine of several ores at the Divine Grade. Their makeup did not matter as he could Forge what he needed.

He mostly needed metal but there were 2 ores that were essential. One was a demonic ore called Bleeding Dagger Ore. It was a dark metal streaked with crimson lines. It usually formed an almost natural blade, even if very blunt, that could react with shadow Qi to pierce skin if unprotected.

It was named by demons for that very effect but also recognized as a powerful catalyst for shadow Qi in weapons or artifacts.

The other was not rare but very difficult to use. It shimmered almost like it was covered in glitter of a soft cyan color. It was Soul Song Ore. It was a very delicate metal that flaked apart in the bare hands of anyone.

It was not just physically delicate either but notorious for its limited applications. Its name derived from its ability to react to the soul of its user. The issue was the creator that made use of the ore would also resonate so the intended recipient had to be compatible with the refiner or Forger as well!

It had very limited use because of such a simple conflict. The souls of Divine Realm cultivators naturally repelled each other. Even familial connection could not guarantee it would work.

They were both peak Divine Grade ores. The rest were more for strength, endurance, and some self repair tolerance from formations or Forging.

His mind held the woman in the battle. He had known nothing much about her more than the small history of what led to her Qi deviation and their fight. He recalled everything after he had recovered to his peak and the tug on his Mysteries told him it was important to follow his impulse.

He had casually scanned the area around the valley all the way to the opposing coast in the eastern side of the Northern Continent. He was not trying to see everything, just what he needed.

Haro had confirmed he had the critical ores but he was too low on many general use ores.

Thus, he had carved out from the mines he found. No one stopped him as his aura was too much and too firm to deny him. He returned to the valley and began to process the raw ores with his bare hands and his breath.

Now, he had built a massive statue at the real height of Luxor. The fierce Nightmare Shadow Bear loomed over the mouth of the valley if one was looking at it from the outside. Its dark fur bristled with power as the maw was wide open baring her fangs.

Her massive claws were spread out with the clear ability to rend her enemies into mist. It invoked a fearsome reaction just looking at it as he had infused all his memory into it via his Forging.

Yet, it was not so simple.

If a person walked around the statue, they would see it transform. On the other side, with almost no incongruity, her humanoid form would be revealed ready to pounce as well but with a very different vibe.

Her hands ended in claws as she held them before her in a stance ready to fight. Her dark hair flowed like a cape behind her as her muscles were tensed to react to any move.

Her face, however, was smiling in pure joy. It was the joy of battle! She was no longer the fierce beast alone but the true seeker of impossible battles she had been.

It had taken Lind nearly 3 months to make it as he felt his mind strain from holding onto the memory. His dantian had been drained almost daily the further along he got in the project.

He had never known anyone to attempt what he was doing. Divine Memory had limited but horrifyingly powerful applications. Mostly, it could recreate the world, even in the Divine Lands, for an Inheritance or other use.

He had seen several examples and also confirmed that a currently living soul could not be replicated without destroying the original. Divine Memory was that dangerous.

Yet, he was not trying to recreate Luxor in the statue. She had chosen how to live and how to die. He respected that.

What he wanted was something more than a simple memorial to another lost companion for her friends and loved ones to perhaps visit and reminisce over. He wanted people to see Luxor as he had.

He felt like something was growing stronger but he could not put words to it as he finished the statue. His emerald flames and energies ceased. He stood sweating and exhausted but smiling up at the woman that he had killed.

Ryl popped up covered in some snow as they wagged their tail at the looming figure before them.

Viera turned into her beast body, a decently large hawk flapped her dark wings and landed on the shoulder of the statue.

Xuye also changed and the oddly shaped dual jian body appeared with 2 heads. One head was active while the other seemed to be asleep. She took the other shoulder.

The snow dragon man, who refused to give his name for some reason, stood stiffly at Lind’s side.

"Divine Lord Frey, thank you." His stoic words were barely expressed as it was clear he was grappling with his emotions. Lind smiled but said nothing.

He had already done more than any words could say.

Ryl rubbed their head against him and he looked down at them. The bond between them had become clearer in his mind. They were a pack but they were more than that. It was not simply the nature of Ryl at play nor him being a dragon.

Luxor had made her own ’pack’ without any such connection to her 3 companions. As he looked at the 2 birds and the snow dragon man arranged around the statue, he finally felt what he was reaching for.

Bonds had been forged by him in battle, in love, and in the myriad ways all living beings could do but for him in particular, it had been critical. The twins in the Frey Clan led to Shoti and Solon who would become very important to him later.

Cyntilla would be his only salvation as he barely hung on in the Lotus Empire until Qing came to heal him.

The various events and steps were like a finely woven foundation. Without it, he would not have his family or have come as far. He would not have been able to mentally keep facing the Fiends nor the trials his own 6 elemental path placed before him.

He still could not bring it together but Ryl and Luxor had been the keys to get him on the next step. He now had to grasp what he wanted to condense. Origin Mysteries were not the only form of power in his life.

Ryl was wagging their tail as he summoned a swirling gold and azure elixir. He downed it and felt the flow of power surge in him. He needed it for the final step.

He walked up to his creation and placed his hands on it. His aura surged but it was not Forging but resonance he was doing.

The statue, once simply inspiring and resonant with his memory, shimmered as he recalled the final moments of Luxor.

A field began to spread across the valley and all the animals or beasts gathered. Birds, bears, and all forms of life in the valley appeared in a circle around them.

They, too, were part of the bond Luxor made. They all roared, chirped, or did whatever they could to respond to the feeling in them.

The statue could not answer but it was like something completed at that moment.

The statue was no longer separate from the valley but a part of it! The woman inspired by it was gone, yet her connections lived on.

Lind felt tired but satisfied. The trio of Master Tiers would likely be there for a while. He bowed low and Ryl mimicked him. They then headed out of the valley. He now knew what he had to find.

He had to study the bonds not only of himself but of the Divine Lands to all things. It would be a long journey to his next layer. He felt lighter, though, as he now had a feeling of what he was seeking.

Ryl yipped suddenly as they found some new prey and Lind actually followed along that time. It started with Ryl. He no longer believed in the coincidence that an impossible beast had bonded with him.

He had chosen to help them come to the world and that instinct was part of it. He could not stand aside and always acted. He would make his next layer and he would then need only 1 more.

His emerald eyes were bright as the looked ahead to what was to come.