The Black Dragon is Born

"How long does it take to hatch a dragon egg?" In the basement, Li Junshan circled the Black Dragon egg soaking in acid inside the large wooden tub several times, then looked suspiciously at Fate beside him and said, "Are you sure the acid you mixed can speed up the hatching of the Black Dragon egg?"

Fate's hand was still tucked inside his sleeve, fondling the level-six Saber-toothed Dragon crystal core he had gotten that day. Hearing this, he hurriedly said, "Master, I'm sure. Black Dragons are magical beasts of the dark attribute. My grandfather and father both said before that soaking them in acid can speed up a Black Dragon egg's hatching. It's the same principle as hatching Dark Water Black Snake eggs. I've seen my grandfather mix it for others before. It can't be wrong."

"How is your magic training going?" After circling a few more times, Li Junshan figured the Black Dragon egg would not hatch that quickly, so he turned and walked out, asking Fate as he went.

Fate followed behind him, shrinking his neck as he said awkwardly, "I'm much more practiced at using it, but it's still only those basic spells of each element."

Training was all about talent first and effort second. Li Junshan knew there was no use rushing him, and since Fate had always worked fairly hard at his training, he said nothing more.

"Stay here and watch it." Li Junshan stepped outside and said, "I heard Black Dragon horn is good material for making magic staffs. When I get the chance, I'll get one for you."

Fate was overjoyed when he heard this. He trotted along behind Li Junshan, thanking him over and over. Only after he saw Li Junshan go upstairs did he excitedly turn back into the stone chamber, calm his mind, sit down on the ground, and before long, enter meditation.

Early the next morning, news arrived that they were moving back to the original viscount's manor. The Claur residence was filled with joy, and everyone's face carried heartfelt delight.

"Has everything been arranged?" In the room, Linda held a cup of top-grade black tea, a specialty of Molly, and took a light sip.

"The servants are all very eager. Everything is basically packed and ready. We're just waiting to move over," the old steward Raymond replied respectfully.

Claur sat beside Linda. The black tea in his hands had already gone cold, yet he had not taken a single sip. The excitement on his face could not be concealed.

"Old steward, how many gold coins do we still have in the household?" Linda set down the clear, sparkling crystal teacup and asked softly.

"The level-six magical beast Saber-toothed Dragon hide the young master obtained yesterday was sold according to his instructions. Because it was very complete, it sold for ten thousand gold coins. Together with the magical beast furs sold last time, after paying and rewarding the guards and servants, there are a total of thirty thousand two hundred more gold coins in the account." As he spoke, Raymond took out the account book and handed it over.

Linda took it and flipped through it casually a few times, then sighed and said, "That child Nicholas really is unexpected. Such a large pile of magical beast hides and furs, and he actually hunted them himself. The Falling Moon Mountains are so dangerous, yet he dared to go on his own."

Closing the account book, Linda continued, "Those who can still remain in the manor now are all loyal, devoted people with feeling and integrity. Whether in sentiment or reason, they should be rewarded."

"Yes." The old steward bowed and said, "We're moving back to the viscount's manor this afternoon. The current servants definitely won't be enough. When the time comes, I'd like to recruit some decent people from their families. First, they'll be reliable to use, and second, it will help support them a little."

"Mm." Lady Linda nodded approvingly and waved her hand. "Handle it as you see fit."

The old steward nodded and respectfully withdrew.

"My lord viscount." Linda turned to look at Claur and smiled. "Are you ready?"

"Mm." Claur set down his teacup and nodded somewhat excitedly.

Linda could not help bursting into laughter. Her pleasant laughter carried straight out into the courtyard, drawing the servants who were moving things to crane their necks and look over.

"You..." Claur was a little embarrassed. He stood and closed the door, but worry suddenly appeared on his face.

Linda was quick-witted. Without needing to ask, she knew what Claur was thinking, so she said, "Do you feel as if Nicholas has become a different person? Completely different?"

Claur nodded, sat back down, and said, "The more I think about it, the more confused I get. I can't make sense of it."

"He is our son, Nicholas." Linda put away her smile and said, "Could we possibly mistake our own son? Nicholas has stayed by our side since childhood and never suffered much hardship. Although he refuses to speak plainly about what he experienced this time, I think he has his own reasons. No matter what he does, I will support him, because he is my Nicholas."

Looking at the firmness and calm on Linda's face, Claur's mood also settled, but he frowned again and said, "I think he was a little impulsive yesterday."

"That wasn't impulsive." Linda shook her head and said, "On the first day he returned, he knocked York down in front of Earl Ross and dealt with the earl's guards in passing. It looked somewhat arrogant and impulsive, but in fact, it was the best way to reclaim our title and prove his strength to the Harriman Family. In extraordinary times, one must use thunderous methods. I agree very much with what Nicholas did yesterday."

At this moment, Raymond knocked on the door and said from outside, "My lord, my lady, a large convoy of carriages has arrived outside. They say the earl sent them to help us move."

"Do not interfere with Nicholas." Linda stood up and said to Claur, "Nicholas will handle his own affairs properly. Even if he causes some enormous trouble, the Harriman Family shouldn't just stand by and do nothing."

Mixed emotions filled Claur. He stood up, sighed with feeling, and followed Linda out.

Earl Ross had sent many people. Aside from fifteen enormous carriages, he had also sent more than a hundred servants to help move things. During Linda's illness, in order to gather enough gold coins to hire a high-ranking priest, Claur had practically sold off all valuable family property, so there was not much left to move now.

A dozen or so guards sealed off the rear courtyard, saying the young master was meditating there to cultivate his spiritual power. Those servants also lightened their hands and feet, afraid of disturbing the newest young summoner to rise in Floro City.

Before long, under the envious gazes of the gathered civilians, the grand convoy set off toward the viscount's manor.

The viscount's manor had been repaired very neatly. Two new stone lions, each more than four meters tall, had been placed at the entrance to guard the residence, and the streets damaged in yesterday's battle had been restored to their original state overnight.

Claur and Linda entered the viscount's manor beaming with smiles, only to discover that not a single necessary furnishing inside the manor was missing, and everything was brand-new. Their mood grew even better.

Amid the clamor of the servants, Earl Ross's carriage arrived outside the viscount's manor. Claur and Linda hurried to greet him, leading Earl Ross and a clerk from the imperial court of Floro City into the reception hall.

A long while later, Earl Ross, all smiles and glowing with satisfaction, was seen off respectfully by Claur and his wife, then boarded his carriage with a smile.

On Claur's chest, there was now an additional medal—the Sword and Violet Medal that symbolized the Harriman Family.

Only late at night did Li Junshan and Fate, escorted by several guards, quietly move back to the viscount's manor in a carriage with the Black Dragon egg soaking inside the acid barrel.

After dinner, Linda dismissed the servants waiting at the side and stopped Li Junshan, who was trying to slip away.

"Nicholas." Linda's delicate, boneless hands lifted the crystal teacup, and she took a light sip before saying, "The Black Dragon egg, and how you suddenly became a summoner—whether by sentiment or reason, you should tell your father and me about these things, shouldn't you?"

Li Junshan gave a few dry laughs. The fragrant black tea in his mouth instinctively tasted sour and bitter as he said, "I met a woman in Windfire Town. A very good woman?"

"Mm?" Linda's curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "What kind of woman?"

"Uh, she was a fat woman whose husband had died, but she had a very good heart. At that time, the people who captured me were attacked by a group of mercenaries and all killed. I survived only because I played dead. Later, I ran to Windfire Town and met that fat woman—Anna. She took me in, so I finally had a place to stay."

"Then we must thank her properly. If she's willing, invite her back to our viscount's manor. She won't have to work, and we absolutely won't treat her poorly." Linda's eyes reddened a little.

"Forget it." Li Junshan waved his hand and said, "Anna has a wild nature and is used to it. Only a place like Windfire Town lets her live happily and freely. She won't come."

"Then we still have to leave a message for her. If she runs into any difficulties in the future, we won't stand by and do nothing," Claur added from the side.

Li Junshan nodded. At this moment, Linda asked again, "What happened afterward? What took place?"

"Uh, I'd planned to hurry back, but I was alone at the time, I didn't know the roads, and I didn't dare tell strangers who I was. Later... one day, I met an old man with white hair."

"An old man with white hair?" Lady Linda and Claur exchanged a glance, both looking curious.

Li Junshan's mind spun rapidly. Putting on a mysterious air, he said, "One day, I was wandering around town when I suddenly came across an old white-haired man by the roadside, cold and hungry. I felt he was rather pitiful, so I gave him some food and clothes. He didn't say anything at the time. He ate what there was to eat and wore what there was to wear, as if it were only natural."

"After that, for days on end, he kept staying there, so I brought him food every day. Then, on the night ten days later, he stopped me and gave me a secret manual on summoning, saying he saw that I was a good person and wanted to repay me."

Claur and Linda listened, absorbed, and could not help leaning a little closer.

The more Li Junshan spoke, the smoother he became. He said, "A few days after that, the old white-haired man disappeared. I searched the whole town but couldn't find him. With just that summoning manual, I wouldn't have been able to cultivate anything much, but then I ran into Fate, who had ended up in Windfire Town. As it happened, he came from a summoner family—his grandfather and father were both summoners. With his help, I was finally able to start practicing summoning."

As he spoke, Li Junshan took out the summoning booklet he had exchanged with the old beggar for Malatang and handed it to Linda, then went on, "Maybe this summoning manual really was useful, too. Not long after I started cultivating, I actually opened up a mental space, and my spiritual power grew greatly as well. After that, everything went smoothly. I successfully summoned a few summoned beasts in the Falling Moon Mountains—the same ones Father saw yesterday."

Linda flipped through the booklet but could not make anything of it, then handed it to Claur. The latter took it and looked it over for a few moments, then nodded and said, "This booklet is quite old. You can tell just from these pages. It has to be at least a hundred years old."

"What about the black dragon egg? Don't tell me you defeated a black dragon and stole it. I wouldn't believe that even if you beat me to death," Linda asked, turning back to him.

Li Junshan smiled slightly, then recounted the matter of the black dragon from beginning to end. Naturally, he did not mention the Xenomorph Black Dragon. He only said the mage and the war saint had both injured each other badly, and that he had ridden his summoned beast, snatched the black dragon egg, and run.

"You're far too bold." Linda scolded him, "Someone who could ride a Golden-Eyed Magic Eagle—could that be any ordinary mage? And that war saint, you..." As she spoke, tears suddenly sprang to Linda's eyes.

Li Junshan hurriedly smiled apologetically. "Am I not fine? Besides, even if my summoned beasts couldn't beat them, they might not lose when it came to running."

"Nicholas has already come back, and he's all right, isn't he?" Claur comforted Lady Linda.

Linda had only been too nervous and emotional for a moment. After composing herself, she gave a little "pfft" of laughter.

"When Nicholas had his spiritual power tested back then, everyone said his aptitude was mediocre. Some even said he was trash. I'd like to see who still dares say that now. Nicholas, the Harriman Family will be proud of you in the future." Linda's face was full of pride.

"As long as you're proud of me, that's enough. As for the Harriman Family, we'll see," Li Junshan said with a smile.

At least I managed to bluff my way through. Li Junshan said inwardly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Compared with the commoner's underground chamber, the viscount manor's underground secret room was much brighter and more spacious. The walls and floor were built from huge slabs of bluestone, and every ten steps or so along the walls was inlaid with a Fat-headed Eagle's crystal core. The crystal core of this second-level magical beast gave off a soft yet bright light, making it perfect for installation in a dark underground chamber.

Of course, the price of Fat-headed Eagle crystal cores was not low either. The crystal cores of adult Fat-headed Eagles cost around five gold coins each, so ordinary commoners naturally could not afford to use them, but they were very common in noble estates.

"Master." Fate suddenly ran over from the far end of the underground chamber and met Li Junshan, who had just come down, his face full of excitement. "The black dragon... the black dragon egg is about to hatch."

Li Junshan was overjoyed when he heard this. With a whoosh, he flashed into the chamber at the end of the passage. Inside, in the wooden barrel, the black dragon egg was trembling slightly, sending rings of ripples across the acid.

Li Junshan watched the black dragon egg nervously. It had not been shaking for long when the dragon egg suddenly stopped and became completely still, making his heart tighten.

Crack. With a faint sound, a fissure split open in the dragon egg's shell. Immediately afterward, the crack spread like a spiderweb. A fist-sized piece of eggshell was pushed open, revealing a little head. Its eyes were tightly shut, and two tiny fleshy buds grew from its wet head.

As if afraid of startling it, Li Junshan and Fate held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly. Breaking out of the shell was a necessary process in the life of an oviparous creature, and they had no intention of helping the little black dragon.

As the little black dragon's head pushed against it, the hole in the eggshell grew larger and larger. The little black dragon's entire head poked out, followed by its two front claws, which stretched outward with all their strength.

With a splash, the little black dragon used too much force and abruptly shattered the eggshell, its half-human-tall body falling into the acid.

Li Junshan was startled and hurried to the side of the wooden barrel to look in. He saw the little black dragon float up from the acid, then sneeze several times in a remarkably human-like manner.

"Heh." Finding it amusing, Li Junshan could not help laughing. Just then, the black dragon opened its innocent eyes and looked at him blankly, its mouth opening and closing slightly.

"What should I do now?" Li Junshan stared at the black dragon without blinking and asked Fate in a low voice.

"Mm... well... it's probably recognizing someone," Fate said from behind Li Junshan, pressed close, though he sounded uncertain. After all, this was also his first time seeing a dragon being born.

With a splash, the pitch-black little black dragon suddenly leaped out of the acid, threw itself onto Li Junshan, and stuck out its tongue to lick his face.

Li Junshan jumped in fright. Fortunately, the acid was not very corrosive, so he was not going to be injured. He did not dare push hard either, afraid he might hurt the little black dragon, so he strained his neck backward and dodged the little black dragon's tongue.

"What's going on?"

Fate blinked, his face full of uncertainty. "I've heard that some intelligent magical beasts develop an inexplicable sense of closeness toward the first creature they see when they're born. It couldn't have taken you for its mo... oh... for its family, could it?"

"Ah!" Li Junshan was dumbfounded. He gently held the little black dragon and set it on the ground, but who knew that the moment he let go, it jumped back up, burrowed into Li Junshan's arms, and used the soft horns on its head to nudge his chest.

Li Junshan's plan in soaking the black dragon egg in acid to speed up its hatching had been to let the only remaining Xenomorph Egg implant it after the little black dragon was born, so he could have one more impressive Xenomorph Black Dragon. Now that the little black dragon had truly emerged, however, Li Junshan found himself somewhat unable to bear it.

Its body was half as tall as a person, covered from head to toe in black scales. Its hind legs kicked lightly and unconsciously, while its foreclaws clutched the collar at Li Junshan's chest. The little black dragon blinked its large eyes, its clear pupils turning about intelligently, and let out soft "mm-mm" cries as it quietly looked at Li Junshan.

Li Junshan's heart softened at once. He knew the little black dragon had taken him for its mother.

"Master," Fate said excitedly, "hurry and use summoning to turn it into your summoned beast. It's just been born and has no guard up against you. It'll definitely succeed."

"Forget it. The little black dragon is too small right now. Better to wait until it grows a bit before implanting it. It's not that I'm soft-hearted. Maybe having a pure black dragon wouldn't be bad either."

Li Junshan comforted himself inwardly, focused his attention, and concentrated his spiritual power. With his hand, he traced a contract pattern in the air. White light flickered, and the contract pattern flew toward the little black dragon's head. Sure enough, just as Fate had said, the little black dragon's mind offered no resistance at all, allowing the contract pattern to sink into its mind and brand a summoning mark upon its spirit.

After completing the summoning, Li Junshan felt a subtle spiritual connection appear between himself and the little black dragon, one even much closer than his connection with the xenomorphs.

With a slight movement of his will, the little black dragon vanished from before his eyes and appeared in Li Junshan's mental space.

The most wondrous thing about the mental space was that if summoned beasts within it did not receive a summoner's mental command, they would fall into a deep sleep within a very short time. The little black dragon was the same. After entering Li Junshan's mental space, it immediately fell asleep.

It slept leaning against that huge Xenomorph Black Dragon.

The Alien Queen was still the same as when Li Junshan had first discovered the existence of his mental space; even her posture was exactly unchanged. She had not engaged in any spiritual communication with him at all. If not for "looking," Li Junshan would not have been able to sense her existence at all.