“The imps are trash in the Abyss, but they still hold so value in the Material Plane.”
Iron Dragon Sorog pondered aloud, “Demon blood is a rare component for spellcasting and will fetch high prices from spellcasters. If this rift continuously spawns imps, harvesting their blood, and if properly controlled, it could bring us a great deal of resources.”
Red Dragon Samantha carefully examined and pulled out a relatively intact demon bat wing.
She blinked and said, “In my alchemy inheritance, there is a blueprint for a flying device made from demon wings. Quasits’ wings are of lower quality, but they should still be usable.”
Flying alchemical tools are quite expensive.
If we can set up an assembly line using demon wings as materials to produce flying devices, the Molten Iron Tribe will have its own specialty products, allowing it to acquire more resources.
“Our ancestors seem to have been to the Abyss and knew a lot about demons, leaving behind this inheritance.”
Garoth reflected thoughtfully, feeling that the inheritance contained detailed and rich records about demons.
At the sa ti, he increasingly realized the value of this Abyssal Rift.
Even low-level quasits could produce valuable Abyss materials; if higher-level demons appeared, their worth could be priceless, comparable even to dragons.
It could also be used for military training.
The demonic aura disrupts the mind, but everything has two sides. Warriors who grow stronger by fighting demons will have wills as firm as steel.
Of course, opportunity and danger coexist.
Garoth restrained his greedy thoughts, not forgetting that the Abyssal Rift was, at its core, an extrely dangerous entity.
If conditions allowed, the best choice would be to eradicate it. For now, since it cannot be eliminated, it can be exploited for resources based on circumstances.
After the imps appeared, out of curiosity and caution toward demons, the young dragons waited here for a while longer, hoping to see real demons instead of the insignificant imps that were worthless in the Abyss.
However, things did not go as they wished.
To the young dragons’ disappointnt, there was no sign of any other demons appearing afterward.
“The appearance of quasits is just accidental.”
Garoth said, “This Abyssal Rift has not yet been discovered by a large number of demons.”
Both the red dragon and iron dragon looked sowhat regretful and said, “If that’s the case, it can’t bring us much value. The number of demons is too small.”
“Perhaps we can try to expand the Abyssal Rift?”
Greed flickered in their eyes.
Elder dragons found it difficult to remove the Abyssal Rift, but attacking and damaging it had a chance to cause it to expand.
The Red Iron Dragon shook his head slightly, his expression solemn and serious: “Don’t forget the danger of the Abyssal Rift. It is ultimately a huge hidden threat. We only keep it because we cannot deal with it now, not for its benefits.”
The Rift’s benefits tempted him.
But he believed its danger outweighed any gains.
This thing was a ticking bomb; a single misstep could destroy Dragon Valley’s holdings in the southwest of the Convergence Lands.
“Profiting from guarding and dealing with demons is acceptable.”
“But under no circumstances should we allow it to expand, much less cause it intentionally.”
The Red Iron Dragon’s face hardened coldly.
Samantha and Sorog rarely saw this side of the Red Iron Dragon, and both felt a chill in their hearts, knowing he was deadly serious and beyond dispute at this mont.
“I understand.”
The iron dragon said quietly, “The Molten Iron Tribe’s developnt is already rapid; there is no need to rush. Expanding the Rift could backfire.”
Garoth’s cold expression softened slightly as he nodded.
Arrogance and greed are the two leading causes of dragons’ premature downfall. As leader of Dragon Valley, he must lead by example and control desires with reason, while also guarding against dragons who may ruin things out of arrogance and greed.
Not long after, a mixed-unit team from various warhost divisions arrived here at the summons, led by Elvy, tasked with guarding the Abyssal Rift. White Dragon Trixie also stayed behind as the trump card enforcer.
The Ignas three brothers returned to Dragon Valley, greeted by the rising morning light.
“Tell about the changes in the Molten Iron Tribe during this ti.”
Garoth said.
Though he was not in charge, he needed at least a general understanding of his tribe.
Iron Dragon nodded and began to explain in detail to Garoth.
He had been asleep for a total of seven years, waking around Garoth’s fifth year of slumber, then taking charge of managing the territory and vassals’ developnt, revitalizing the Molten Iron Tribe which had nearly retracted completely due to lack of leadership.
First was the population of the Molten Iron Tribe.
Gnolls and kobolds.
Their leisure activity was mating, breeding extrely fast. They had one litter every three months, sotis giving birth to over ten offspring at once, and reached adulthood around six years old. They were like wild grass in the wilderness, growing generation after generation.
Their numbers multiplied like locusts.
If Iron Dragon Sorog did not restrain them with whip punishnt and hunger, their population could have flooded the Fertile Plains.
Even so, the Steel Will Warhost’s size surpassed all other warhosts combined, which also beca a burden on the Molten Iron Tribe.
With so many gnolls and kobolds, the tribe’s existing pastures could barely support them.
To reduce their numbers, when hunting powerful ferocious beasts and magical creatures, they were ordered to charge at the front, filling the lairs of southwest wild beast lords with their flesh and blood.
At present, the ferocious beasts and magical creature lords in the southwest have basically been cleared by the Molten Iron Tribe, and so stubborn minor clans have been absorbed or crushed.
The Molten Iron Tribe has fully taken over the southwest of the Convergence Lands, with only a few tough wild beast lords remaining.
The Steel Will Warhost deserves great credit for this.
Ogres, centaurs, and gray-fanged werewolves, although not as nurous as gnolls and kobolds, also breed well, but have longer maturity periods.
Thanks to a good growth environnt, their young adult numbers have also increased substantially.
With the growing population base, the number of gifted warrior units, sorcerers, and shamans steadily rose, adding many elite leaders.
When Garoth was in dragon sleep, he felt the Molten Iron Tribe’s population lagged behind territorial developnt, causing so tension.
Now, the limited resources in the southwest territory restrict population growth.
“These naturally wild and ignorant intelligent beings still manage to hold a place in many parts of the Material Plane for a reason.”
Garoth silently thought.
For example, gnolls and kobolds are weak and lowly, with few powerful individuals, yet they can take root and survive in any harsh environnt, like wildfire that cannot be extinguished, always returning with the spring breeze.
“Don’t forget about and my Sulfur Hills. We’re now the backbone of Dragon Valley!”
Red Dragon Samantha held her head high, like a proud swan, boasting about the Sulfur Hills’ current situation.
She had created the assembly line Garoth ntioned.
Kobold miners delivered raw ore to the furnace, ogre craftsn forged steel blanks with quenching hamrs, and alchemists inscribed runes…
In the Sulfur Hills, specially trained vassals and other alchemists handled different steps, processing the raw ore into various alchemical industrial products, then sold them to caravans passing through the Estonian Great River, earning countless wealth.
The Molten Iron Tribe’s alchemists also improved.
Forr alchemical apprentices have grown over the years to beco true alchemists, capable of using magic to inscribe and solidify alchemical runes on refined steel armor. The number of new alchemical apprentices has tripled.
It is also worth ntioning that the specific distribution of profits was long ago discussed by the Ignas brothers.
Even among blood brothers, accounts must be clear, especially since elder dragons are extrely sensitive about wealth.
The wealth earned by Samantha’s alchemical industry partially serves as her own pay, flowing into her private stash, while the rest belongs to Dragon Valley’s treasury under Garoth’s leadership.
Iron Dragon manages the territory and vassals; his remuneration is paid directly by Garoth.
For Iron Dragon, witnessing the gradual growth of his subordinate White was more alluring than wealth; his greed was less than the Red Dragon’s.
As for White Dragon Trixie, only the spoils from her own kills partly belong to her.
She is essentially Garoth’s “slave,” serving Dragon Valley without pay.
If she agrees to continue working after fifty years, she may have a chance to receive corresponding rewards.
“Now let’s talk about the four great tribes.”
After gaining a basic understanding of the territory, Garoth shifted the topic and said to Iron Dragon Sorog, “From what you said earlier, there was a minor conflict with the Gold Fang Tribe while I was asleep.”
The Gold Fang Tribe is the official na of the goblin tribe.
Iron Dragon nodded.
“Before we appeared, the Gold Fang Tribe here in the Convergence Lands understood the importance of trade best.”
“They are located in the southeast near the Estonian Great River, trading year-round with the caravans on the river, with fixed trade routes and a more developed alchemical industry than ours.”
Iron Dragon snorted coldly, “Those cunning and lowly reptiles want to completely control the Estonian Great River’s trade routes. They set up defenses along the riverbanks east and west, and we clashed occasionally, which caused friction.”
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