"Why change territories? Haven’t we been doing well in Iron Pine Hills?"
Samantha asked in confusion.
She hadn’t considered that the appearance of the Earth-Splitting Centipede was just the beginning, which likely ant a larger Black Rock Team could follow.
Moreover, due to the natural laziness of the Dragon Race, she had gotten used to life in Iron Pine Hills and wasn’t ready to relocate.
"Use your head and think. Do you really think the appearance of these Alchemy Golems is just a coincidence? Others will soon follow."
Galos said.
Samantha tilted her head, contemplating seriously and gradually understanding the reason.
In reality, Red Dragons aren’t stupid. On the contrary, their intelligence ranks fairly high among the Dragon Race. It’s just that their logic often goes, "My wisdom allows to solve problems with power."
Only when brute force couldn’t solve the problem would a Red Dragon think differently.
"Oh, you’re afraid an army will co to surround and kill us, so you’re planning to escape."
After a few seconds of thought, Samantha suddenly realized and said.
Snap!
Galos whipped her on the head with his tail, his dragon face serious.
"This is a strategic retreat, not an escape, so don’t speak carelessly if you don’t understand."
Rubbing her head with her claws, Samantha bared her teeth but instinctively suppressed her urge to retaliate, imdiately becoming ek when eting Galos’ gaze.
"Dragon Lord, where are we headed next?"
Violent Bear Möbel asked cautiously.
Hearing this, Galos pondered deeply.
In Dragon Race culture, there’s a saying:
—"A Dragon that sees a spring rose must still heed the tracks of winter giants."
This essentially ans to remain vigilant and prepare in advance.
And Galos had followed this wisdom well.
While residing in Iron Pine Hills, knowing it was just a resource-limited transitional area, he hadn’t forgotten to survey other suitable places for habitation.
After weighing options over recent periods.
He had three targets in mind.
Gray Stone Ridge.
—The cliffs are covered with natural caves, ideal for building a highly concealed Dragon’s Nest; plus, its towering and steep nature makes it easy to defend and hard to attack, with surrounding lakes and forests rich in biological and water resources.
Silver Moss Plain.
—Once had a large Secret Silver Ore mine; now the soil still contains so mithril micro-particles, resulting in the mutated growth of many Silver Bud Mosses, which help the developnt of dragon scale armor and claws; large numbers of beast groups roam here.
Needleleaf Valley.
—A bowl-shaped valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, with hot springs steaming inside; the sulfur sll can mask the scent of dragons, and a large river branch anders through.
All three locations were far richer in various resources than Iron Pine Hills.
Territories like these in the Sel Wilderness were already claid by others.
After brief contemplation, Galos finally chose Needleleaf Valley.
The dominators of Gray Stone Ridge are a group of Giant-tailed Steel Scorpions.
These are enormous and highly venomous beasts, whose toxins pose a life-threatening danger to young dragons.
Galos had not specifically strengthened his resistance to toxins, and he was unsure if he could withstand a Giant-tailed Steel Scorpion’s venom.
Although Silver Moss Plain lacked dominant species or individuals, the many beast groups engaged in survival of the fittest enticed Galos the most, until he later discovered frequent expeditions collecting Silver Moss and other mutated plant samples, which actually posed the highest potential risk there.
As for Needleleaf Valley...
It carried the least inherent risk and lay at a moderate distance from a branch of the Thousand Snake Mark, traversing the Sel Wilderness like a lifeline, potentially connecting to passing rchant caravans or parties transporting minerals, oil, and other resources.
The downside was the many residing tribes of intelligent species like goblins and Jackal-Wolf Folk nearby.
"Needleleaf Valley? Ha ha ha, splendid!"
Upon hearing Galos’ decision, Violent Bear Möbel widened his eyes, shouting excitedly.
The reason for its excitent was simple.
Needleleaf Valley also possessed a more formal na given by surrounding intelligent species clans:
—Violent Bear Ridge.
It was originally the habitat of Möbel’s forr Earth Bear Group and was the site he recomnded to Galos, driven by nostalgia for his father’s legacy and smiling with anticipation.
It was during an exploration of the Violent Bear Group that Galos accidentally discovered a tributary of the Thousand Snake Mark.
"My esteed Dragon Lord, I wish to be your sharpest blade to seize Needleleaf Valley for you!"
Möbel kneeled before Galos, speaking gruffly.
The night wind ruffled his fur, revealing densely engraved runes on the skin underneath, a masterpiece by Red Dragon Alchemist Samantha over the past half-year.
Strengthened by these Alchemy Runes, Möbel had grown much stronger.
However, he knew he could still not rival the old bear, but his strongest assurance lay not with himself but in the Dragon Race ahead of him.
"Hmph, that despised old thing."
"I shall reclaim everything lost, seize your territory, and claim your she-bears!"
Möbel thought gleefully.
Galos hadn’t forgotten his promise, patting the shoulder of the Violent Bear.
"Once the bear group is subdued, you’ll lead them, but don’t forget, if any issues arise with the group, I’ll break your legs."
With that said.
The Earth Bear rushed across the land carrying the mostly intact Earth-Splitting Centipede and other necessary items, heading toward Needleleaf Valley.
Galos soared through the sky, flapping his wings.
The outline of Iron Pine Hills gradually faded into the evening twilight.
He glanced back at the territory he’d lived in for nearly a year.
The hemlocks shredded by explosive scales, the crooked ruins of the Alchemy Workshop, the winding tunnels dug by earth spiders, and the collapse cracks he had struck.
All would return to the wilderness with his departure.
Seeming to recall sothing.
Galos suddenly paused, then diverted back to Iron Pine Hills, instructing Samantha to follow the Earth Bear and proceed toward Needleleaf Valley.
Samantha didn’t know what Galos intended but refrained from asking.
A while later, as she flew overhead, she glanced back at the direction of Iron Pine Hills.
A blaze suddenly ignited, spreading rapidly like wildfire and eventually engulfing the entire hills, turning them into a blazing torch in the night, illuminating a section of the dark sky and warping the surrounding air with heat.
Reflections of radiant fla shimred on her scale armor.
The Red Iron Young Dragon soared from ’the volcano,’ like a teor, swiftly catching up.
In this world, alchemy tools and magic with peculiar effects abound.
Though there was so lingering attachnt, for safety’s sake, to prevent further tracking, Galos decided to incinerate Iron Pine Hills, using fire to cleanse all and erase as many traces of his presence as possible.
He wasn’t sure if it would work.
But it at least offered so peace of mind.
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