"Hey, Old Sand, are you really going to keep it as a mount?"
With the world shaking and the earth trembling all around them.
Shukaku had just returned to the territory from Alubarna when he could not help asking.
With Crocodile's strength, dealing with a Nether Crystal Dragon would naturally be no problem.
But instead of killing it or releasing it back into the desert, he had brought it straight back with him.
Shukaku knew he was asking a pointless question. He just felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.
"A mount is only one reason. What I really value are these crystals."
Crocodile examined the glowing blue crystals on the Nether Crystal Dragon's body.
From time to time, he reached out to touch them, sensing the energy contained within.
The latter had already been terrified into submission by him. Its eyes were filled with fear as it lay on the ground, helplessly allowing him to do as he pleased.
Then Crocodile suddenly snapped off a crystal from the side of its foreclaw and tossed it to Shukaku.
"Take a close look. This should be good stuff!"
Shukaku caught it and toyed with it in his hand. Before long, he understood what Crocodile meant.
"What a dense natural energy aura. It's heavy, too—somewhat like a ninja's Earth Release Chakra."
Crocodile said thoughtfully, "That's right. It uses its dragon tail to absorb the energy of the earth veins, then converts it inside its body into this so-called Nether Crystal mineral, using it to strengthen every aspect of itself."
"And once the land has been drained of earth vein energy, it naturally withers and turns to sand, eventually becoming the desert environment it likes best."
"But what I care about is that this Nether Crystal is clearly an excellent cultivation resource. Both you and