I Am Willing

"Gah?" Little Dream Dragon didn't understand. After Russell's repeated explanations and gestures, it seemed to grasp something.

Then, a disgusted expression appeared on the dragon's face. It reluctantly opened its mouth and took a breath towards the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound.

The next moment.

The blue and white light entangled around the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound separated bit by bit, and then all the blue light flew into Little Dream Dragon's mouth.

"Gaga!" Little Dream Dragon swallowed the blue light. Instead of showing the happy expression it had when eating Hail Beads, it stuck out its tongue, looking disgusted as if it had eaten feces. It turned its head and glanced resentfully at Russell.

"Haha, alright, alright, I know you're wronged!" Russell quickly comforted Little Dream Dragon, "I'll definitely bring you Hail Beads next time!"

"Gah!"

"Good boy!"

After comforting Little Dream Dragon, Russell carefully observed the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound. After the Snow Demon's interference power was extracted, it seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, motionless, with only white light flowing slowly within its body.

Everything that could be done had been done. Whether it could survive now depended on fate, or on the wolfhound's will to live.

"Let's go, we're going to the big tree." Russell rode Little Dream Dragon and flew towards the big tree that served as the boundary beacon.

One minute later.

Russell sighed, "No change. The Dark Dreamscape hasn't expanded at all. The Half-Ghost Beast's power isn't enough to expand the Dark Dreamscape... that makes sense. If it could, Snowflake would have absorbed it willingly, not so reluctantly."

He stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, not quite understanding.

Logically speaking, the Hail Beads condensed after the Snow Ghost died and the Snow Demon's interference power within the Half-Ghost Beast were of the same origin.

Why could one expand the Dark Dreamscape, while the other had no effect?

"Could it be that there's too little power within the Half-Ghost Beast?" Russell thought, but quickly dismissed it. "No, even if it were less, it should at least expand a little. But I can see very clearly now, the Dark Dreamscape hasn't expanded at all."

Suddenly.

Russell thought of something. "I've overlooked an important point. The power within the Half-Ghost Beast originates directly from the Snow Demon. However, the Hail Beads condensed by the Snow Ghost are actually condensed after Battle Qi is transformed, or Origin Power within a Phantom Beast is transformed."

In this process, the Snow Demon's power only acted as a catalyst and was not directly stored within the Snow Ghost.

So, the power of the Hail Beads, to put it bluntly, was essentially Earth Power.

"No wonder!" Russell suddenly realized. "No wonder Snowflake likes to eat Hail Beads. It's equivalent to refined Earth Power... while the entangled power within the Half-Ghost Beast is the Snow Demon's power, which conflicts with Little Dream Dragon's power."

Dragons are born from beneath the earth and are naturally of the same origin as Earth Power. It's only natural that they like to eat Hail Beads.

With that thought.

Russell apologetically stroked Little Dream Dragon's neck. "I'm sorry, Snowflake. Eating the Snow Demon's power from the Half-Ghost Beast must have harmed you... I'll never let you eat it so easily again. It's no different from forcing you to eat shit!"

"Gah!" Little Dream Dragon raised its head, not understanding.

Often, their interactions weren't a dialogue but two separate monologues. Without a true contract, true telepathy was impossible.

Besides, Russell didn't understand Dragon language—if Little Dream Dragon's cries could even be considered Dragon language.

Then Russell felt a bit fortunate. "Fortunately, I didn't go to my father to ask Lord Ross for help in treating the Half-Ghost Beast... Forcing Lord Ross to eat shit, I don't know if he would break the contract's limits and burn me to death with a Dragon Breath."

However.

His eyes rolled, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips. "This Clay Dragon was disrespectful to me, and I'll make it eat shit sooner or later!"

Little Dream Dragon only felt disgusted after eating shit. The Clay Dragon was just a Wyvern. Eating shit would probably make it go mad for a long time.

Thinking this, he felt much better.

"Gah!" Little Dream Dragon shook its body, seeming a bit unhappy, tired of it already.

"Okay, let's go back and rest well." Russell knew it must feel uncomfortable after eating shit and quickly waved goodbye.

The Dark Dreamscape collapsed instantly, and consciousness plunged into endless darkness.

Until the crowing of a rooster woke Russell from his sleep. He glanced at the wall clock; it was already nine in the morning.

He had stayed up late frequently these past few days, successfully breaking the sleep schedule his previous self had maintained for over a decade, not waking up before seven-thirty.

After washing up, he went downstairs.

He ate some fried eggs and bacon, and then Russell headed outside.

He saw Eric and several Knight Retainers finishing their morning practice and arguing heatedly around the doghouse.

"Sir!"

"Good morning, sir!"

Upon seeing Russell, they stopped arguing and bowed.

"What's wrong?" Russell asked knowingly, as something had clearly changed with the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound. "What are you all arguing about here?"

Eric moved aside, gesturing for Russell to see for himself. "Sir, it's very strange."

Russell looked over and saw that the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound, which had been on the verge of death yesterday, now had its tumors reduced by half. Although it was still ugly, it at least had a spark of vitality. It could get up on its own and then whined towards Russell.

"It seems very affectionate towards you, sir!" Knight Retainer James exclaimed.

John also said in surprise, "Yes, it's amazing. It bites us when we try to touch it, but it's incredibly docile when it sees you!"

"We thought it was going to die, but it actually survived," Jack said.

"Isn't that so, my lord? We were just betting on whether this wolfhound would die. It feels like it won't."

No one could explain what was happening to the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound, except for Russell, but it was clear Russell had no intention of revealing his cheat.

Therefore, the Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound's transformation could only be described as incredible.

Finally, Eric said, "My lord, the Snow Demon's interference on Kevin has faded. Perhaps it really can survive."

This Half-Ghost Beast Wolfhound was named Kevin by the Wildcat Sisters.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?" Russell chuckled.

"But it's strange. The other power within it, the power from the Earth, doesn't seem to have faded. It's even changing towards... Origin Power, towards the Origin Power of a Phantom Beast."

"Oh?" Russell finally showed surprise. "You mean it might evolve into a Phantom Beast?"

Eric frowned. "It's hard to say. It seems to be missing something."

"Missing what?"

"I don't know. I haven't experienced it before."

"Maybe it's missing a Knight to ride it, Knight Captain," James chuckled from behind. "Perhaps riding it will truly make it evolve into a Phantom Beast."

He had only meant it as a joke.

However, Russell raised an eyebrow. "Teacher Eric, as a Great Knight, your Battle Qi chains should be quite skilled..."

"Tempered a thousand times, my lord!" Eric seemed to realize something, clenching his fist and holding his breath as he replied.

A wolfhound that could potentially evolve into a Phantom Beast.

A chance to be promoted to Phantom Beast Knight, a chance of extreme rarity.

Eric felt his heart about to leap out of his chest. He looked at Russell with hopeful eyes, awaiting Russell's decision.

With a slight smile, Russell calmly asked, "So, Eric, are you willing to pledge allegiance to me and become the sharp sword in my hand?"

There was no surprise.

Eric knelt on one knee. "I am willing, my lord, I am willing!"