Lind's group lost a large portion after Shoti and Fey split off. The inner area was larger than they could cover in a short time.
He had hoped they could rejoin but things did not go as hoped. His rapid progress was brought to a halt by pure materials. There was no trace of Fiend Qi so he had to find a normal way in.
It was a bright violet metal he recognized as a variation of Demonic Heart Steel. It was not known to him at the Eternal Realm so it had to have come from somewhere else. A demon hold that had a blacksmith or other refiner.
It was clearly stolen and adapted to the fortress and he found other natural materials blocking the way. As a final safeguard against his harmony, it was a good plan.
He could not breakthrough easily and Forging was too great a risk. If he tried, he likely would find the Bastard waiting to connect to him and absorb him.
Annabelle and Qing quickly organized a search.
