New Calendar Year 362, spring.
Dusk fell quietly as usual, with only a touch of faded orange remaining on the horizon and the clouds moving slowly.
There is no earth shaking, no mountains shaking, no rays of sunshine stretching across the sky.
Red Emperor, Garos·Ignas, it was after such an ordinary twilight that the consciousness gradually sank and fell into silence, officially entering the long sleep that an adult dragon must go through.
Aura Kingdom, which carries the emperor's will, has not stopped.
This behemoth, composed of a giant dragon and many races, after a brief adjustment like breathing, continued to operate according to the strategy formulated by the king before he fell asleep.
The powerful legions are still stationed at various dangerous passes, and the battle flags are flapping in the cold wind.
The soldier's armor and Dragonkin's scales glowed with a cold luster in the sunlight.
But the changes are clear.
The horn of attack no longer sounds, and large-scale forward reconnaissance and cross-border deterrence operations have almost disappeared.
Patrol shifts have become more regular, defense lines have been repeatedly reinforced and repaired, and the focus of strategy has shifted from advancing aggressively to expand territory to impregnable defense.
Within the vast territory, the tone of development has also shifted to deep cultivation and accumulation.
Due to the emperor's clear instructions before he fell asleep, a kind of attention that had been ignored in the past began to be directed to those areas that had been covered up by conquests.
--The inheritance of knowledge and the cultivation of people.
"A kingdom that only knows how to wield a sword is rough and fragile."
These words of Red Emperor are engraved on the cornerstone of every newly established college.
"Basic Knowledge Academy" was first established in Crimson Flame Royal City, and soon became a model, and then sprung up in towns on the frontier and hinterland.
These academies were open to all heirs of the free people and taught the most basic writing, arithmetic, and general history of the kingdom.
There are two main types of language courses.
The first is Dragon Language, which is the official language and administrative term of Aura; the second is Continental Common Tongue, which facilitates communication with other races.
The textbooks have been reviewed and eliminated content that may shake loyalty to the emperor and the kingdom, and a large number of chapters praising the emperor's great achievements and legendary epics have been included, so that the concept of loyalty, along with literacy and counting, can be rooted in the minds of the younger generation.
On the other hand, large-scale conquests and predatory resource acquisition were suspended and replaced by meticulous management of the territory under control.
In the hinterland of the kingdom, craftsmen and farmers from various settled races were organized to receive simple knowledge on agriculture, water conservancy, mineral exploration, etc.
in a relatively stable environment.
Then cooperate with the on-the-spot guidance of Aura scholars.
Wasteland was reclaimed in a planned way, dilapidated canals were dredged, and some cold- and drought-resistant crop varieties were promoted.
Mineral mining has abandoned the previous method of fishing from all sources and instead emphasized planning and long-term utilization to extend the life of mineral veins.
The roads connecting major towns and resource producing areas have been widened and solidified, and regular patrols of guards ensure the safety of caravans, allowing materials to flow more smoothly within the territory.
Everything seemed smooth and steady, yet there was a solid sense of prosperity.
The entire Aura Kingdom is like a giant dragon entrenched in its lair. It has put away its sharp claws and sharp edges that are reaching into the distance, curled up its huge body more closely, and focused on polishing its scales, strengthening its muscles and bones, and digesting the harvest in its belly. At the same time, it watched the changing world outside the lair with vigilant and calm eyes.
It is waiting and gathering strength.
However, time never stopped because of the sleep of any king, nor did it speed up because of the development of a certain kingdom.
It is like an invisible hand, gently touching everything in the world.
Every seemingly small choice, every casual encounter, is fiddled with, or quietly staggered, gradually drifting away; or suddenly intertwined, tangled into a web.
Unknowingly, the seeds of a new storyline have been planted.
Some are unknown and will eventually dissipate with the wind; some are quietly brewing and will eventually be widely circulated.
The wind rises at the end of Qingping, clouds surge between the valleys, everything changes its trajectory silently, and the gears of fate are slowly turning.
New Calendar 364, Fey Wilds, Verdant Garden.
The scenery here is slightly different from Material Plane, the scenery is like spring all year round.
Glowing moss is like a soft emerald carpet, covering the woodlands and hillsides; giant flowers are like colorful lanterns, blooming quietly from hanging vines, emitting a soft halo and elegant fragrance; a clear stream meanders through it, and Song Lotus floating on the water plays crisp notes in the breeze.
This is a paradise for many gentle Fae creatures.
Flower Fairy danced lightly among the bushes, little Tree Sprite peeked out from behind the tree trunk, and Light Elf drew a flickering trajectory in the air like a flowing firefly.
At this moment, almost all Fae gathered in a forest clearing, forming a loose circle, looking towards the center with excitement and awe.
There stood a Red-Iron Dragon that was over forty meters long.
Its scales are a metallic color of dark red and dark black, with a cold and hard texture under the warm light of the countryside; on the half-open wings of the wings, energy like magma lines flows slowly; the rugged dragon horns and spines point directly to the sky, and the deep black vertical pupils look down calmly ahead.
On the ground in front of the giant dragon, there was only a piece of blackened ashes.
What can be vaguely seen is the outline of some huge creature that fell to the ground.
Then this is the remains of a Rot-Earth Colossus.
"Master Vera! That's amazing! It's amazing!"
Flower Fairys flew closer with joyful shouts, circling around the dragon's head, and sprinkled with dots of rainbow light powder.
The little Tree Sprites ran out of their hiding places and jumped and screamed around the dragon's footprints; the Light Elfs swarmed around the dragon, making a dreamy river of starry light surround it.
Buzz!
A burst of light surged, and the huge Red Iron Dragon's figure quickly shrank and changed, finally turning back into the familiar Fairy Dragon Vera.
"Calm down, calm down."
"This stupid guy fell down before I even took it seriously. It's really not worth mentioning."
Fairy Dragon curled his lips and said calmly.
However, her straight back, slightly narrowed eyes, and cheerfully tilted corners of her mouth completely betrayed her inner pride.
Rot-Earth Colossus is a polluting monster that appears periodically from Fey Wilds.
They are composed of rotting soil, dead plants and accumulated negative emotions. They resemble moving hills, with foul-smelling mushrooms and wriggling vines growing on their bodies.
This monster eats glowing moss, pollutes clean streams, and turns beautiful gardens into putrid swamps.
In the past, every time a giant monster attacked, the Fae people in the countryside had to pay a high price to repel or kill them, but now, the situation is different.
Because they have "Vera-sama".
A few years ago, Fairy Dragon Vera returned to Verdant Garden.
The young Fae was unfamiliar with this compatriot who suddenly appeared, and the older generation who remembered her were also quite surprised by her changes.
Vera quickly integrated into the group in her own unique way.
She used harmless paints to draw interesting patterns on Flower Fairy's wings, taught the little Tree Sprites to play novel games learned from the outside world, and would also tell the Material Plane stories that fascinated the Faes the most by the campfire at night.
She tells how she struggled in that distant and dangerous world and acquired powerful transformation skills; how she rose from the crisis-ridden wilderness under the alias "Garos·Ignas", unified the clans, recruited tribes, defeated powerful enemies, and finally established a huge kingdom; and how the weak Fairy Dragon became the "Red Emperor" who is respected by countless creatures.
These stories are full of details and lifelike.
For most Fae who have never left Fey Wilds, it is Legendary Realm epic.
Of course, there are also Fae who privately questioned that some of the plots were too bizarre or that the details could not withstand scrutiny, but all these doubts disappeared when one Rot-Earth Colossus struck.
When the stinking monster trampled on the moss again, the Faes panicked.
Vera flew out calmly and transformed into Red-Iron Dragon in front of everyone. In just ten breaths, the fiery Dragon Breath turned the giant monster into ashes all over the ground.
From that day on, all doubts turned to admiration and awe.
Vera became the recognized guardian of Verdant Garden, the most powerful Fae, the hero who brought miracles.
Flower Fairy weaved fresh flower crowns for her every day, little Tree Sprite presented the sweetest berries, Light Elf held a special luminous dance for her under the night sky, and even Fae from neighboring areas came from far away just to see this Red Emperor with their own eyes.
"Vera-sama... can you, can you change again? Just once..."
A little flower demon the size of a palm and with wings as thin as cicada wings flew closer timidly, looking up at Fairy Dragon with bright eyes, and softly requested, "Just... it will look like "Red Emperor"..."
The surroundings suddenly became silent, and then more expectant eyes came.
Even though they have seen it several times, the shock brought by the majestic body and majestic power can make Fae people's hearts surge every time.
If there are strange giant beasts in the outside world, they will only be afraid.
But knowing that it was transformed by Fairy Dragon, I was filled with pride and longing in awe.
Vera blinked his eyes, looked around at the adoring faces, and felt almost overflowing with pride.
She cleared her throat deliberately and put on an expression that said, "Since you are so sincere, I will reluctantly do it."
"Okay, just this once, look carefully. This is a symbol of strength, a manifestation of majesty, and..."
"Vera."
A gentle but worried voice came from behind the Faes.
Fae people were quiet and got out of the way.
The person approaching was an elegant Unicorn, with a mane as silver as moonlight, a crystal clear horn on his forehead, and a calm and ancient aura all over his body.
The true guardian of Verdant Garden, elder Elwin.
Unicorn walked slowly to Vera, staring at her with clear eyes.
"Have you forgotten my last warning again?"
Vera The wings folded involuntarily.
Of course she remembers.
Half a year ago, after she used Red Emperor Descent Art to drive away a group of Fierce Wolf, Elwin had a long and serious talk with her.
Elder Unicorn pointed out that she needs to rest now. Every time she uses that transformation skill, it consumes her life source and accelerates her aging process.
"You are no longer young, Vera," Elwin said, "Fairy Dragon's lifespan is limited. You already have a long life among your kind. Frequently using power beyond your own limits will only make the remaining time pass faster."
At this moment, facing the worried gaze of the elder, Vera puffed up his chest again.
"Elder Elwin, you are worrying too much!" She responded in a cheerful and confident tone, "I am Lord Vera who established a kingdom in Material Plane! This consumption is nothing at all."
She turned around and grinned at the expectant little flower demon. "Watch it, little one!"
Boom!
The light suddenly burst out, and the petite figure expanded rapidly. The dark red and dark black scales once again covered the whole body. Red-Iron Dragon, which was more than 40 meters tall, stood in the open space, with its wings spread out and casting a large shadow.
"Wow--!"
Fae all exclaimed in unison. Although some were timid and subconsciously took half a step back, the excitement and admiration in their eyes far outweighed the fear.
The little flower demon happily flew onto the dragon's front paws, and other Fae also gathered around. Some climbed up the dragon's spine, some touched the cold scales, and some flew around and played around the dragon's wings.
Red-Iron Dragon stood quietly and allowed Fae to play on it, appearing very patient.
The sunlight passes through the gaps between the branches and leaves, casting mottled light spots on the dark red scales; the gurgling stream in the distance, Song Lotus singing softly, interweaves with the laughter and humming of Fae nearby, forming a strange and harmonious picture.
The majestic giant beast, and the gentle paradise.
Elwin stood quietly and watched, with no blame in his eyes, only deep worry.
As a guardian, it can see more.
Within that majestic dragon body, Vera's fire of life is weakening, and every heartbeat and breath is burning the remaining source.
"That's enough, Vera."
About ten minutes later, Elwin spoke again, with a gentle but firm voice, "Change back."
Red-Iron Dragon lowered his head and looked into Unicorn's calm eyes for a moment.
The light surged again, and the huge body shrank, turning back to Fairy Dragon in an instant.
Vera's wings were slightly drooped, and her breathing was slightly rapid, but she immediately straightened her body and tried to make her expression look relaxed.
"Did you see it, Elder Elwin?"
She smiled and said, "I just said that this little consumption is nothing."
She turned to look at the Faes who were still immersed in excitement, and raised her voice. "Don't worry, everyone! Sooner or later, Mr. Vera will be recognized by Ancestral Land, accept the baptism of Primal Breath, reshape the foundation of life, and live a brand new second life!"
"Haha, when I return to Material Plane, I will take you to play in my kingdom!"
The Fae people around were jumping up and down and cheering. "Okay, okay! We are going to Material Plane too!"
Elwin stepped forward slowly, lowered his head and touched Vera's forehead with his horn.
A cool and warm energy flowed in, slightly relieving Fairy Dragon's fatigue.
"Vera," Unicorn said softly, "You don't always have to show off in front of everyone. We all know that you are strong and we all know that you are the hero of our hometown."
"But heroes also need to be protected, and heroes also have the right to feel tired."
Vera was stunned for a moment.
She saw her reflection in Elwin's clear eyes.
The edges of the scales on one head have turned gray, the wing membranes have fine wrinkles, and the iridescent luster is not as bright as before. Fairy Dragon.
That's not the person she remembers.
When Material Plane and Garos are around her, although she is the smallest, she is always the one with the brightest colors, the most lively and active ones, and seemingly endless energy.
She had jumped up and down on the armrests of the throne, dashed through the corridors, and played countless harmless pranks...
At that time, she always felt that aging was a distant thing that had nothing to do with her.
"I..."
Vera opened his mouth, his expression darkened, and what he wanted to say was choked in his throat.
Just then.
Buzz!
The whole Verdant Garden suddenly shook slightly.
All the luminous moss increased in brightness at the same moment, the hanging lantern flowers moved automatically without wind, and the Song Lotus in the stream played the Qingyue scale in unison.
Fae people stopped in shock and looked around.
Then, they saw that in the oldest and tallest giant tree on the east side, the texture of all the trees simultaneously revealed a soft golden light. The light flowed and converged along the veins of the branches, and finally formed a pure light pillar, rising into the sky, directly penetrating the clouds, and making circles and ripples on the blue sky.
"Ancestral Land...Ancestral Land is calling..."
Elwin raised his head and murmured, his voice full of awe.
All Fae held their breath and concentrated.
They understood what this scene meant. Ancestral Land recognized a certain Fae and was about to baptize the legendary Primal Breath!
Buzz!
At the same moment, a soft but bright golden light beam fell from the sky, accurately covering Vera.
Warm, abundant, and vital energy wraps around the whole body like a hot spring, dispelling all fatigue and weakness.
This is just the aftermath of the light shining.
If I could truly accept the baptism...Vera would feel strong anticipation and joy in my heart.
Just wait, Garos, I will definitely go back! With a new and more powerful attitude!
Fairy Dragon hummed softly in comfort, and the sadness disappeared from his eyes.
"Vera, go ahead, child," Elwin walked up to her, his eyes full of relief and blessings, "This is the opportunity you deserve."
Vera took a deep breath and turned to look around.
Fae are looking at her with a mixture of envy, admiration and sincere blessings.
Fairy Dragon slowly raised the corners of his mouth, straightened his back, spread his wings, and let his scales shine in the golden light and iridescence.
Then, she looked at Elder Unicorn and said in a relaxed tone as if she was just taking a walk in the forest, "Look, Elder Elwin, I said that the great Lord Vera will live a second life."
Elwin was silent for a moment, and a helpless and loving look flashed across his eyes.
Who did this kid learn such an accent from?
In his memory, the little Fairy Dragon was just playfully pulling its mane. After a trip to Material Plane, it has now become... even more unpredictable to him.
Vera no longer delayed, flapped its wings lightly, and flew towards Ancestral Land's location following the guidance of the light beam.
The golden light gradually converged as she approached, and finally disappeared into the depths of the ancient forest together with her figure.
This year, Fairy Dragon Vera and Fey Wilds Verdant Garden were recognized by Ancestral Land and accepted the baptism of Primal Breath.
The invisible hand of time flicks again, and the gears of fate continue to turn.
New Calendar 368, Theo Kingdom, Wangdu, Silverglow City.
The early spring sunshine penetrates the haze that pervades the city all year round, casting a faint light and shadow on the white marble buildings.
The streets were crowded and packed with people.
Citizens, businessmen, minor aristocrats, scholars, or men and women who looked like Spellcaster all stood on tiptoe, focusing their gazes on the temporary high platform built in the city center square.
There was no one on the stage yet, but there were uniformed guards around to maintain order.
The air was filled with irrepressible excitement and a certain collective eagerness.
Rumors about the "youngster Legendary Realm" have been fermenting in the royal capital for several months. Today is the day of official confirmation and award. Whispers, discussions, and irrepressible exclamations mingled among the crowd.
"Eighteen-year-old Legendary Realm... By the gods, when I was eighteen, I was still awake at night worrying about whether I could pass the Knight Squire test!"
"The observers sent by Aura have personally checked and confirmed that there are no traces of illegal training. It is purely their own talent!"
"Nolin Family? That small border barony in the south near Black Forest? It's simply unbelievable..."
"We Theo... we Theo finally..."
Before I could finish my words, I was choked up.
Twenty-four years have passed since Theo suffered a disastrous defeat in the previous war and was forced to sign the humiliating <Nolton Treaty>.
The younger generation has never experienced it personally, but the older generation Theo people will never forget it.
The despair of the dragon's shadow covering the sky, the humiliation of the country's deathly silence when the treaty was signed, and the continuous compensation, restrictions and repression that followed. "Prohibition of possession of strategic war equipment" and "Restriction on the scale of cultivating Legendary Realm and above strong men." These clauses were like iron shackles that choked the kingdom for more than twenty years.
Theo's national power is declining and morale is low.
Now, an eighteen-year-old boy, who comes from a humble background, has stepped into the realm of the Legendary Realm with an undisputed attitude.
For Theo, this is not just one person's success.
It is a ray of dawn that pierces the long dark night sky, igniting the fire of national restoration that is buried deep in the hearts of all Theo and is almost buried in despair.
At noon, the bell tower chimes.
On the high platform, Theo King Oliver Chapman came in person.
The king has a pale face, with deep lines carved by time on his face, his hair on the temples is like frost, and his back is slightly hunched, showing his age.
But at this moment, his deep-set eyes were astonishingly bright and blazing, as if he had returned to his prime.
After signing Nolton Treaty and betting on the future, he overcame all objections and focused the few remaining national resources on education, popularizing basic magic and tapping the potential of the people.
This huge gamble finally saw its first amazing return today.
His eyes were firmly fixed on the young figure who was steadily walking up the steps.
Reinhart Nolin.
Legendary Realm, who is only eighteen years old.
The young man's figure is as tall and straight as a pine. He is not wearing the luxurious formal attire common among aristocratic youths. Instead, he is wearing a well-fitting, simple and deep Blue Dragon stand-up collar uniform. The style is close to military casual clothes. Except for a slightly worn Nolin Family badge on the left chest, there are no extra accessories.
His face is still a bit green, but his contours have become firmer, and his complexion is a wheat color formed from long-term outdoor activities.
Her dark brown short hair is clean and tidy, her eyes are as calm as autumn lake water, her steps are steady and even when walking, and she has no stage fright or exaggeration in the face of thousands of gazes.
Reinhart walked steadily to the steps of the throne, put his right hand on his chest, and bowed to the king with smooth and respectful movements.
"Good day, Your Majesty."
The boy's voice was clear and steady.
Hearing this, King Oliver slowly stood up.
The attendant held up a tray covered with dark blue velvet, on which lay a medal and a sheepskin edict tied with silver satin.
"Reinhart Nolin,"
The king spoke and said, "I, Oliver Chapman, in the name of King Theo, hereby grant you "Dawn Silverglow Medal"!"
He picked up the medal.
Its shape is a long sword that pierces the entangled clouds and mist. The sword body is surrounded by olive branches and star patterns. It is made of Mithril and Adamantine, and sheds a cool brilliance in the sun.
"There is only one of this medal, and it is only awarded to heroes who have made epoch-making contributions to the kingdom, bringing hope and historical turning points!"
The king personally wore the medal on Reinhart's chest.
The silver glow contrasts with the dark blue uniform and shines brightly.
Then, the king unfolded the parchment edict and read it aloud.
"From now on, Reinhart Nolin is canonized as "Knight of the Stars", enjoys the title of marquis, is awarded the governor Divine Authority, and the southern border of the kingdom Sar Province is designated as As a hereditary fief, I hope you will always maintain a sincere heart, forge ahead, use the sword in your hand and the wisdom in your heart to protect the territory of the kingdom, inspire future generations, and light the way forward for the revival of our Theo!"
The title of marquis, the real power of the governor, and the fiefdom of a province.
This is a reward that is far beyond the ordinary Legendary Realm powerful person, and even breaks the centuries-old practice of the kingdom.
The king's intentions were clear.
He wants to use this young boy Legendary Realm who was born out of the blue as the core to reunite the scattered hearts and destiny of the kingdom, and take advantage of the recent strategic contraction of the Aura Kingdom and the suspected sleep of Red Emperor to try his best to promote the revival of Theo!
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
The young man Legendary Realm stroked his chest and bowed again, his voice still calm, but in the depths of his eyes, a blazing flame that was consistent with his age finally ignited.
"Reinhart will live up to your majesty's trust and the kingdom's expectations! The silver light guides us and we are determined!"
The king patted him hard on the shoulder, then turned around, faced the tens of thousands of eager citizens in the square, took a deep breath, and spoke loudly with all his strength.
"Today, we are not only honoring a young Legendary Realm! Today, we are crowning the future of Theo! May the silver glow never go out! May Theo be reborn!"
The humiliation, unwillingness and desire that had been suppressed for twenty-four years erupted like a volcano at this moment.
The crowd erupted into a deafening roar, with thousands of arms raised in the air, and their shouts turned into a torrent.
"The silver glow is immortal! Theo lives forever!"
"The silver glow is immortal! Theo lives forever!"
"The silver glow is immortal! Theo lives forever!"
The sound was so surging that it soared into the sky, as if even the clouds above the city were being driven away.
At the edge of the crowd, several Aura Kingdom observers wearing dark travel attire and with restrained auras were recording everything calmly.
At first, they looked calm and looked on with cold eyes, but before the wave of fanatical emotions swept the whole place, they couldn't help but be slightly moved and exchanged glances with each other.
One of them silently adjusted the angle of the magic crystal recording the image in his hand to capture the scene completely.
After the ceremony, the crowd refused to disperse for a long time and was still chanting slogans.
At the same time, the news, together with the image that recorded the complete ceremony, was quickly sent back to the distant Aura Kingdom with the highest priority.
Dragonspine Mountains, Crimson Flame Royal City.
"Eighteen-year-old boy Legendary Realm... heh, it's really amazing."
Iron Dragon whispered to himself, with no joy or anger in his vertical pupils, "We, the younger generation of Aura, all know that when a powerful enemy is on the side, we need to lie dormant and patiently, and accumulate strength, instead of... celebrating and encouraging in such a flamboyant way."
He was talking to himself, then changed the topic
"However, Theo has no choice. They really need a flag to unite the hearts of those who are about to collapse."
The bad news is that he has been feeling sleepy and tired recently, and his sleep period is approaching. Samantha is in a similar situation.
The good news is, he's not officially asleep yet.
"The dream of revival... let's dream it for now. After all, you have to wake up from the dream."
Iron Dragon looked in the direction of the Theo Kingdom, his eyes seemed to penetrate the space and fall on the land where they were celebrating.
"And the process of breaking a beautiful dream is often the cruelest."
He paused, and a trace of pleasure flashed across his eyes. "--It just so happens that I enjoy this process very much."