Lain Plateau, Red Emperor Royal City.
Garos stood on the edge of the high platform, looking in the direction of the Central Continent.
The strong and brilliant sunlight pours down, shining on the giant dragon's red scales. The flow of light and shadow increasingly highlights the majesty and majesty of his figure.
"In this turbulent era, who can stand out?"
This question was swirling in his mind, but there was no answer.
Garos has seen too many rises and falls, and he himself climbed out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. But the higher he stands and the farther he looks, the more he can feel the silent turbulence that permeates the gaps of the times, and the more he feels his own limitations.
For now, the situation at the Atlant Continent seems to be stable.
Floating City of the Holden Empire still covers the sky, and the countries on the surface have divided up the fertile land of the Central Continent. Because the resources are abundant enough, the forces of all parties maintain a balance. Under normal circumstances, this balance may last for hundreds of years.
However, everyone standing high up knows that this is just an appearance.
Under the seemingly stable water surface, there are turbulent undercurrents.
Although Abyssal Rift has been temporarily suppressed, the danger has never really disappeared; Holden Empire's giant city hangs overhead, and no one knows what is brewing in those behemoths; Orotara Continent's Frenzied Flame disaster is still spreading; it is inevitable that disputes will arise between the countries on the surface because of borders, resources, and historical grievances.
No one knows when or where the next crisis will break out.
"But no matter what, I at least have a way out."
Garos thought silently in his heart.
This thought made the tight muscles under his scales relax a little.
The original choice to develop Fey Wilds was not only for the special resources contained in that plane, but also to have a retreat when encountering a world-class crisis that is difficult to contend with.
Of course, this is just a layer of insurance and a last resort.
Unless absolutely necessary, Garos is unwilling to give up his established business in Bernardo Planet.
This is related to his growth rate and environment.
Especially, after acquiring the territory of the Central Continent.
Its richness is completely sufficient for Garos's needs for a long time.
Not to mention all kinds of unexpected situations, at least he can be promoted to the Destiny Rank level while maintaining a growth rate far exceeding the normal Dragonkin.
As for the Immortal Realm above----
That definitely requires more.
A quarter of the continent cannot meet that level of consumption. It may be necessary to integrate the resources of the entire Atlant, or even extend its minions to other continents.
However, this is a matter for the future, and there is no need to think too much about it now.
The meal must be eaten one bite at a time, the road must be walked step by step, and there must be no rush.
Garos already understood this when he was still Adolescent Dragon.
Phew! Phew!
Two blasts of sound interrupted his thoughts.
The dragon shadow penetrated straight through the clouds, hovered briefly in the sky, adjusted its attitude, and then landed on the wide platform in front of Red Iron Dragon.
"Good day, Father."
Black Dragon lowered his head, lowered his body, his posture was submissive, and his voice was very soft.
Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly and said calmly, "Salia, get up, we don't need to be so formal in private between father and daughter."
Hearing this, Black Dragon changed from a low posture to a normal standing position.
But she still looked a little nervous, her front paws gently scratching the ground, and the tip of her tail was slightly curled.
Unlike other Emperor's Children, she is mostly in a relaxed state when facing the Dragon Father in private. After all, as long as there are intelligent creatures gathering, it is difficult to have complete equality.
Even among Emperor's Children, who has a special status, there is still a subtle class.
For example, an adopted son or daughter like Salia has a lower status than the emperor's biological bloodline.
This is a natural formation and not a regulation by Garos.
Those descendants born directly from his bloodline generally have higher growth potential, are also very powerful themselves, and naturally have a higher status than adopted sons and daughters. Among the biological bloodlines, the fourth son of the first child is the leader.
Among these four, Galkro and Laria have the highest prestige.
Needless to say, the former always rushes to the front in every battle and takes the lead. The scales all over Battleworn Mark are his medals. The other Emperor's Children are convinced by him and will never belittle his bravery; the latter is a dragon lord who is quite powerful in his own right. He also controls a large number of dependents and his territory is well managed.
Among the other Emperor's Children who are still underage, Red Gold Dragon Gabriel is currently attracting the most attention.
It is foreseeable that as the number of Emperor's Children increases, and even more generations of bloodline Dragonkin increase, only the best or most special Dragonkin will stand out and gain the attention of Red Emperor.
Resources are limited, and so is attention. This is a screening process that no ethnic group can avoid.
At the same time.
The red dragon Galkro, who came with Black Dragon, showed an impatient expression.
He landed with greater force, causing the platform to tremble slightly, and then strode forward, his scales rubbing together with a clanging sound.
He was not as nervous as Black Dragon. He took a few more steps forward, almost getting in front of Garos, then grinned, showing his sharp teeth, and said in a rough voice, "Haha, my dear father, I have good news here! Do you want to hear it?"
Garos glanced at the eldest son.
"Don't want to."
he said succinctly.
"Since you want to know, I'll tell you."
Galkro pretended not to hear the word "no" clearly.
He straightened his chest, showed a proud expression, and said in a loud voice, "Father, you are going to be a grandfather!"
The voice paused, and he raised his front paws and pointed at Black Dragon, who had his head lowered beside him.
"Haha, Salia is pregnant with my child. Your bloodline will soon usher in the second generation!"
There was only the sound of wind on the platform for a while.
Garos slowly turned his head, his eyes moved away from the proud face of his eldest son, and then fell on Salia.
Can the second generation of descendants continue to inherit their talents?
Garos is thoughtful.
This is related to one's future development route and is very important.
Black Dragon was already nervous, but now under the gaze of Garos, his whole body was even more tense.
She lowered her head lower, the scales on her neck stood up slightly and then slowly flattened out, her tail swung from side to side behind her, making a soft rustling sound as it swept across the ground.
"When did it happen?"
Red Iron Dragon asked.
"Just a month ago!"
Galkro is the first to answer.
He had obviously been holding back for a long time, and he couldn't stop talking once he started. "After the Central Continent's war ended, I still wondered why she became lazy. She always slept in her nest, but her appetite gradually increased."
The red dragon was beaming as he spoke, and made famous gestures with his front paws. "I asked Salia if she had any serious illness. She glared at me and said that you are the only one who is sick, and your whole family is sick"----Oh, I didn't mean you, father, I meant that she scolded me at that time----Hey, that's what she meant anyway!"
He scratched his head and added, "The more I thought about it, the more I felt wrong...
"Galkro."
Red Iron Dragon interrupted the eldest son's eloquence and said, "I'm asking about her."
Galkro closed his mouth slyly, but the corners of his mouth were still grinning, obviously he was in a very good mood.
He thought that when his child was born, he would educate him the same way his father educated him. It would be better if this descendant could be a little more rebellious and he could show off his talents.
Red Iron Dragon's eyes fell on Salia again.
He softened his tone and asked, "How do you feel now?"
Salia raised his eyes, met his father's gaze and quickly lowered it.
She whispered, "I'm fine. Although I feel tired more easily than before and my appetite has increased, the degree is very mild and the impact is not big."
Garos listened quietly, and then asked, "Can we still fight?"
This sentence made both Salia and Galkro stunned for a moment.
"Yes!"
Salia was silent for a moment, and then said firmly, "My claws are still sharp, and as long as my father orders me, I can still go into battle to kill the enemy, no matter who the enemy is."
Garos stared at her for a second.
Then, he stretched out his huge paw and gently patted Black Dragon's lowered head.
"Okay."
He said, "If you can fight, it means the problem is not big."
Withdrawing his claws, he continued, "However, I will not send you to charge and fight. During the period when you are giving birth to descendants, all your original tasks will be handed over to Galkro."
He turned to the red dragon. "Salia's mission is entrusted to you. Do you have any objections?"
Hearing this, the red dragon Galkro patted its breastplate, making a dull clanging sound.
He straightened his body and said in a loud voice, "Of course not, just leave it to me!"
"In the battle of Middle-earth, I didn't have enough fun killing them. Just in time, I can use Demon of Abyssal Rift in our territory to vent my anger. Those bastards have started to make trouble again recently. I will deal with it myself!"
His tone was impatient.
Red Iron Dragon's eyes swept across the eldest son's body and landed on the few purple textures that still existed on his chest armor.
Those lines were like living things, meandering slowly between the gaps in the scales, and the color was so deep that it was almost black.
Seeing this, Garos slightly wrinkled the scales on his forehead.
"After all this time, you still have Abyss's aura left on you?"
Galkro raised his front paws and touched the texture on his body.
He said carelessly, "These things grew out because I ate too much Demon flesh and blood on the battlefield, not the residual Abyss breath."
This sounds even more abnormal.
Garos narrowed his eyes slightly, and some inherited knowledge came to mind.
An example of "eating too much Demon, causing Abyssal Mark to appear on the body" is recorded in the inheritance.
That usually happens to some giant dragons that have been fighting Abyss for a long time. They feed on Demon in fierce battles and convert the enemy's power into their own nutrients. However, in this process, some Abyss characteristics will also subtly seep into the body.
However, there is no specific content in the inheritance as to whether this is good or bad.
It only mentions that if you eat Demon, there is a slight chance that Abyssal Mark will grow on your body, but there is no other follow-up and it does not say what the consequences will be.
"It's called Abyssal Mark. There are corresponding records in the inheritance. You should already know it."
Garos said.
The red dragon nodded heavily.
He was not worried at all. Instead, he opened his mouth and showed a smile, "The extremely small probability that something like this will happen to me just shows how powerful I am and the excellence of your bloodline, father."
"Not everyone can eat those Demon flesh and blood, but I did it!"
"Not only did they digest them, they became a part of me!"
Obviously, Galkro doesn't care about it.
He even regarded Abyssal Mark as a "trace of glory similar to Battleworn Mark" and was very proud of it.
He turned sideways and showed his father several lines on his flank. They started from Galkro's heart and spread along the muscles.
Under the gaze of Father Long, Galkro pondered for a moment and continued, "It makes me look more powerful."
"And I feel that these lines are not decoration - I am thinking about eating more Demon. This may increase the number of Abyssal Mark on my body. If it can be covered all over my body, it will be very shocking."
He turned his head and looked at his father with serious eyes. "I want more Abyssal Mark. Father, what do you think?"
Although Galkro seems carefree on the surface, he is also aware of the danger of Abyss in his heart.
There is a high probability that this thing is a double-edged sword, which can bring power but also unpredictable changes, so he asked Garos for his opinion.
Red Iron Dragon looked at him deeply.
"You are already an adult. I will not interfere too much with your choices. Besides, you have already made a decision in your mind, right?"
Galkro was startled for a moment, then the corners of his mouth raised, revealing a genuine smile.
"Father, you understand me best."
His expression became serious and his voice deepened. "I have a feeling that it will make me stronger."
"It will definitely be accompanied by some temptation or corruption from Abyss. This is an inevitable price, I know it in my heart.
"Dan Heng, how can everything be smooth sailing on the road to pursuing strength?"
"Father, along the way, you have overcome thorns and thorns, encountered countless dangers, been attacked and killed by rumors, surrounded and suppressed by strong men, and struggled on the edge of life and death - and I, as your best heir, will never stop because of fear of danger!"
In Galkro's heart, he has always been proud of his status as the eldest son.
He was the first one to break the shell, the first Emperor's Children.
But at the same time, he also knows very well that at the Aura Kingdom, strength is valued, not age.
Dragonkin was born later, each one is more talented than the other.
In order to maintain his strength and live up to his status as the eldest son, Galkro worked harder than other blood relatives.
However, although his pulse talent is excellent, it is not top-notch.
For example, that Red Gold Dragon Gabriel grew up significantly faster than Galkro at the same age, and his character was quite overbearing, which made him feel a little threatened.
And as time goes by, my father may have other more outstanding descendants born.
His) pulse will only get stronger and stronger.
Only by seizing every opportunity and becoming stronger at all costs can we stand out among the many Emperor's Childrens, can we always stand at the forefront, and make our father always proud of ourselves.
This is the most persistent thought in the heart of Heng Galkro.
He does not allow himself to be surpassed by other brothers and sisters.
Garos stared at his eldest son.
He knows that he is persistent in his heart.
He saw all that unwillingness, those anxiety, those burning ambitions.
But----Garos actually doesn't care whether the heir is strong or not.
Because no matter what, he will always be at the forefront.
He, Emperor Heng, the one who created all this existence, has already cast his gaze to a more distant place. The growth of his descendants is more like the icing on the cake to him than a necessity.
However, he did not persuade the eldest son.
Garos himself also has some obsessions that are difficult to get rid of.
For example, he is actually extremely insecure.
As long as he has not yet reached the top position, as long as there is someone above him who can determine his own destiny, Garos will always feel a little uneasy in the bottom of his heart.
It follows you like a shadow and never really dissipates.
His pursuit of power is largely driven by this unease.
Such thoughts can be dissipated in just a few words.
Moreover, its existence does not necessarily bring bad luck.
Obsession can become a driving force and can drive living beings to break through their limits. It depends on how to use it, how to stay awake in the process of pursuing power, and how to make the right choice when facing temptation.
"Follow your heart, my eldest son."
Red Iron Dragon said slowly, "Dan Heng, you have to remember not to chase power too blindly."
"Strength serves tools, not ends."
"If you lose yourself for the sake of power, the power you gain will eventually come back to you."
He paused, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. "Otherwise, Gorsas will learn from your mistakes."
Galkro lowered his head slightly and said calmly, "You know, my mentality may not be as calm as the fourth child, but I will never be as stupid and reckless as the dragon."
"I will carefully test the power of those lines and record every change."
"If the risks outweigh the benefits, if I feel that my sanity is being eroded and it is difficult to control, I will stop without hesitation."
"What I want is power that Heng can control, not being controlled by power."
Red Iron Dragon nodded slightly.
"Okay, let's get down."
The two giant dragons bowed their heads and saluted at the same time, then turned around and rose into the sky, flying below Dragon Court.
Garos stood alone, watching the two figures gradually receding.
"Pay attention to the status of Galkro. If there is any abnormality, report it to me as soon as possible."
Red Iron Dragon's voice sounded in Salia's heart.
Since he concurrently studied Psion Path, although the level is not high yet, it has become very convenient to use such mental communication.
The other side.
Black Dragon's movements paused for a moment, but soon returned to normal and continued to glide.
"I will, father, please don't worry.
She responded silently in her heart.
The orchid passed through the clouds, caressing Red Iron Dragon's scales, and the sun began to slant westward.
He stood alone at Summit of the Dragon Court, looking at the dusk gradually rising on the skyline.
"Times have changed - before I knew it, my bloodline was about to usher in the second generation.
Garos whispered in his heart.
He suddenly felt that Dragonkin's lifespan did not seem to be that long.
The days of struggling in the wilderness are still vivid in his mind, but in the blink of an eye, he has stood on the top of Northern Frontier O
He has the royal city at his feet, the country in front of him, and countless family members and people who look up to him behind him... He has several friends, many heirs, and now even his grandchildren are coming.
Time flies so fast.
"Thousand-year time·----The crow is short."
Red Iron Dragon whispered slowly.
For many mortal beings and even living beings, thousands of years have been an unimaginably long time.
But for Garos, who aims to reach the top of evil and explore the end of evolution, what does this little time count?
In the past, his small goal was to live a thousand years old, and then Heng Adolescent Dragon had a vague vision of the distant future.
But after he saw a broader world, this goal had changed unknowingly.
A thousand years? That one is Qidian.
What he wants is to continue to climb higher and higher for thousands of years, tens of thousands of years, and even more time, until he stands at the apex of all existence, completely feels at ease, and allows his heart to truly calm down.
The dusk is getting darker, and the outlines of the mountains in the distance are beginning to blur.
At the same time.
Between the flowing orchids and floating clouds, Holden Empire.
Whispers were quietly ringing in the shadows of the majestic building.
"Zhenheng didn't expect that Red Iron Dragon, whose country name is Aura, could show the power of Destiny Rank and directly smooth the Yiyuan rift at the critical moment."
"This dragon is more powerful than expected. Pay more attention to it."
"The time for my king to bring down evil has been postponed. The important link in the Rift Benheng plan no longer exists."
"Be patient, the whispers of Supreme Will have already sounded in Holden Nexus, and there are more and more awake people like us."
"In the upper echelons of the Holden Empire, some people have begun to listen to Yiyuan's call."
"Haha, this Material Plane empire will come to Yiyuan sooner or later, and then the whole world will belong to us."
"Proceed with caution, Holden's resistance is still very tenacious...
The exchange gradually became silent.
The magnificent city still hangs in the sky, like a trace in a myth.
The lights on the tower were turned on one by one, and magic light and blood flowed between the buildings. It seemed orderly and prosperous, but under the light and blood, no one knew how many shadows were slowly growing and spreading.