The western sky still held the dying glow of the setting sun, while the eastern horizon had already draped a gray-blue canopy studded with stars.
In this rift of light and shadow, Garoth’s wings burned with a layer of crimson flas as he soared through the sky. After a brief circle, he dove toward the foot of a desolate mountain.
The ground was riddled with pits of varying depths.
The mountain’s surface was scarred with countless collapsed and fractured marks.
The cracks, resembling both spiderwebs and lightning, crisscrossed densely, almost everywhere.
—This place had beco Garoth’s newly chosen training ground during this period.
Because it was relatively remote and surrounded entirely by barren mountains and wastelands with scarce resources, no powerful creatures road here.
As for the place he frequented before, where he once encountered the Brass Dragon, he had abandoned it to avoid trouble—just in case the aggrieved Brass Dragon returned with its parents for revenge.
His wings folded in, and the flas faded as the runes on the wing rings dimd.
Having just consud black oil, Garoth shook his head, feeling an endless surge of strength throughout his body. He took a deep breath and used the Frost Silver Ring to exhale cold air, freezing and hardening the mountain. As usual, he charged forward using his body as a battering ram.
It had been more than a week since the Earth Spiders first brought back the oil-bearing soil.
During this ti, underground tunnels had been dug, allowing the Earth Spiders to travel faster than before. Occasionally, they returned with so oil-bearing soil, which Samantha refined through alchemy into black oil that gave Garoth a potent, invigorating buzz. Although the quantity was scarce and limited, it greatly improved his training efficiency.
This one week was equivalent to a whole month previously.
Combined with past accumulation, his efforts were paying off.
He felt he was about to evolve. Apart from a tingling sensation inside and out, it was as if a fla was burning within him. The most obvious change was that the edges of his originally gray-black buffer scales had begun to show a gradient of glowing iron-red. They weren’t sharp but radiated high heat and beca very fragile.
“It seems the black oil’s energy stimulation is causing my buffer scales to evolve in so unknown direction.”
“Although they still absorb recoil, they’ve beco more brittle and prone to shattering.”
“I don’t know if this evolution is good or bad.”
Garoth silently pondered.
He couldn’t precisely control the direction of evolution yet, but so far, there had been no negative developnts. Feeling the gradually fragile buffer scales, he was not too worried. Once the evolution completed, he would understand its effects.
The young Red Iron Dragon collided with the ice-covered mountain with a dull thunderous sound.
So of the outermost buffer scales shattered, and the flying fragnts cut deep grooves into the hardened ice.
The cold air emitted by the ice hit Garoth’s body but was rapidly evaporated by his high-temperature scales.
Accompanied by the hissing clash of fire and ice, a misty cloud ford around him, wrapping the young dragon in fog, revealing only parts of his scales faintly.
Previously, every collision with the icy mountain or exposure to its cold shards had caused Garoth severe discomfort, like icy needles piercing his skin.
But with this period of training, although the cold sting remained, its effect was sowhat reduced.
He estimated that his resistance to ice elents had improved to so degree.
The last rays of the sunset faded, and night fully enveloped the sky. Garoth continued his training while the black oil’s energy still lasted. The heavy, dull collisions echoed continuously, resonating through the night.
anwhile, about ten kiloters from the Iron Fir Hills, on so unnad low hills of the wasteland, five adventurers treaded the cracked earth, pushing deeper into the wilderness.
Under the clear glow of twin moons, ti slowly passed.
Soon, as the adventuring group crossed the final ridge, they noticed the densely iron-fir-covered, relatively tall hills ahead.
“The water in my storage ring is almost gone.”
“The lush vegetation on the hills ans there must be a water source.”
The blonde warrior licked his dry lips and said.
Exploring the wilderness was no easy task. During this period, the group had encountered no fewer than ten battles, large and small. Fortunately, none of the ferocious beasts or monsters were too strong. Aside from so scrapes and claw marks and a bit of dust and dirt, no serious injuries threatened their lives.
“Wait.”
The spellcaster suddenly spoke, then took out a white crystal glowing red and heating up from his bosom.
In an uncertain tone, tinged with fear and greed, he said, “There seems to be the presence of dragon aura in the hills ahead.”
At this, the others stiffened their gazes.
“Haven, are you sure?”
The blonde warrior lowered his voice and asked.
“This crystal has a magic enchantnt that detects dragon aura. It’s a magical tool. When near lingering dragon aura, it emits a warning light.”
Haven, the spellcaster, explained. “Red light ans it’s a fire-type dragon.”
Thinking of the dragon’s power and reputation, the white-robed priest whispered, “Then let’s avoid the hills. If we et a strong dragon, it would be bad.”
The spellcaster pondered, “Judging by the intensity of the crystal’s flicker, the dragon here doesn’t seem very strong.”
He did not hide his desire and greed, saying, “If it’s a young dragon or a relatively weak juvenile dragon, we have a chance to hunt it, maybe even capture it alive.”
“Should we detour or investigate?” The wanderer toyed with her dagger and said,
“You’ve probably heard: recently, a young Iron Dragon was gifted to the Little Princess of the Lothrian Federation. The reward was sothing an ordinary person couldn’t spend in ten lifetis.”
This news had spread widely outside.
The necromancer chuckled twice, “That Iron Dragon was caught in the Ser Wilderness. There are many evil dragons in that wasteland, so many young dragons survive alone... I really want to catch a young dragon and turn it into a flesh puppet. I’d hug it every night and arm it with the best materials.”
Every dragon ant a fortune.
After so discussion, the group couldn’t resist the lure of wealth. They decided to cautiously approach and scout the Iron Fir Hills. If the target was not strong, they would try to ambush and capture it.
If the target wasn’t there, that was even better—they could set traps in advance.
Under the night sky, the group slowly approached the Iron Fir Hills.
When they reached a certain distance, they stopped. The wanderer took out an alchemical tool resembling binoculars and carefully observed the hills.
After more than ten minutes, the wanderer suddenly shuddered, breathing heavily.
In her sight was the clear reflection of a red young dragon. It was lifting its rear, clawing at the ground, drawing unknown shapes. Its scales glowed like flas in the darkness, shining like sparkling gems.
“Mishel, what did you see?”
Noticing her abnormality, the blonde warrior urged.
Tying the alchemical tool to her waist, the wanderer couldn’t help but smile, flashing a set of white teeth. “I saw unimaginable wealth.”
The rumored alchemical relics of an abandoned mine?
If they could catch this red young dragon, there was no need for anything else. This wilderness expedition would be a huge payday.
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