Meditation

With Kelaili Belivy's defeat, the Cobalt-Blue Overlord's path of challenges finally came to an end.

But now that the Cobalt Dragons had become active, they would not easily fall silent again. Even if Kelaili no longer wished to stir up trouble, the other Cobalt Dragons were each seeking opponents to challenge.

And with their challenges, the valley became lively again for a time.

Ferrum's life remained much the same. He spent a week recovering from his injuries, then, due to his growing body, increased the intensity of his training considerably.

After summer, the weather noticeably began to turn hot. After discussing it with his companions, he moved their gathering place from beneath the broken cliff to Bay Lake. Swimming and diving, catching fish and crabs, became commonplace. Later, Moqi discovered that many female dragons had a habit of licking flower dew in the early mornings, so she dragged Ferrum along to try it. Ferrum tasted it several times, but felt it had no particular flavor.

Recently, the young dragons' attitude toward Ferrum had become noticeably more respectful.

If defeating Hidorivi could once have been described as luck, then defeating the largest and strongest Cobalt-Blue Overlord this time was unquestionable proof of strength.

Ferrum had defended his ranking within the dragon flock through strength. Moreover, because of his exploits in brutally beating the Nickel Dragon and the Cobalt Dragon, the Tungsten Dragons of Ironwood Forest felt much closer to him. With Moqi spreading the word everywhere, he had almost gained treatment equal to Jelierion's, faintly carrying the air of a dragon flock leader.

After this period, the only one troubled by it was probably Hidorivi.

Hidorivi himself did not know what had happened. After Ferrum and Kelaili's battle ended, the victor Ferrum's prestige rose ever higher, while the defeated Kelaili remained the overlord of the Cobalt Dragons.

Yet for some reason, Hidorivi's momentum seemed to have suddenly plunged from a great height. He was still one of the powerful figures among the dragon flock, but he had become the target that dragon hatchlings rushed to challenge. Whether Iron Dragons or Chrome Dragons, Cobalt Dragons or Tungsten Dragons, all wanted to test his strength.

There were even Lesser Dragons cautiously asking whether they could spar with him.

Lesser Dragons!

Even Hidorivi's calm and steadiness were thrown into irritation and confusion by these disturbances.

In truth, Ferrum privately felt that Hidorivi was a decent fellow. It was simply that this Iron Dragon seemed a little too mature, always keeping his emotions hidden from view, as though he bore some heavy fate upon his back. He could not blend in with Ferrum and the others.

In the end, they would find it difficult to become friends.

Ultimately, Ferrum abandoned the idea of befriending him. Though he longed for a powerful Destiny Alliance to pry open the Star Inscription, as a True Dragon, Ferrum had his own pride.

Since they were not dragons walking the same road, forcing themselves together would bring no good result.

In a nest on the reverse slope of Eaglebeak Cliff, Ferrum opened his eyes and awoke from a brief nap.

His throat felt somewhat uncomfortable, as though something were lodged inside. He rose, coughed lowly for a while, then dry-heaved several times.

A howling torrent of cold erupted forth, freezing the stone wall before him solid and forming a broad expanse of crystalline white frost.

Ferrum blinked at the sight and knew that he had awakened his breath ability.

Heavy-Metal Dragons awakened their magic late. Their bodies were filled with heavy metallic elements, and unlike many Metallic Dragons and Chromatic Dragons, who were born able to fly and breathe, Heavy-Metal Dragons needed to slowly master such abilities as they continued to grow older.

This was perfectly normal. Heavy-Metal Dragons developed physically at an astonishing rate and were born with a degree of elemental resistance. When other dragons encountered Heavy-Metal Dragons during their hatchling and juvenile stages, they had no power to fight back.

If Heavy-Metal Dragons could also swiftly master flight and all kinds of auxiliary spells under such circumstances, then Chromatic Dragons and Exotic Dragons would not be the ones hunting Heavy-Metal Dragons. To seize ecological niches, Heavy-Metal Dragons would instead hunt every kind of dragon.

Having awakened a new ability, Ferrum was naturally delighted. On the road to the Nurturer's nest, he wanted to try it on everything he saw—

He breathed at trees and smashed them apart with a claw, chased Roe Deer and Rust Rabbits to freeze them solid, and exhausted himself trying to seal streams beneath ice...

Only when his throat spasmed and his gullet turned weak and sore did the dragon hatchling realize he had lost the ability to use it. He finally gave up his novel and amusing play and hurried toward his destination.

By the time he reached the Young Dragon nest, Hidorivi and Jelierion were already waiting. A Feather Dragon and a Thunderclap Dragon also stood in the corner.

Including Ferrum, who had just entered, five dragon hatchlings in total had passed Valyria's Wall-Facing Trial.

The so-called Wall-Facing Trial gathered all dragon hatchlings before a stone wall, where they had to sit facing it and maintain absolute silence throughout. They were forbidden to speak or move, even forbidden to flex their scales or swish their tails.

After issuing this command, Valyria began teaching the method of meditation. Although her tone this time was exceedingly slow and patient, the young dragons still listened in a muddle. Their inherited memories contained no relevant knowledge, making it difficult for them to form any similar concept.

At last, Valyria declared that the Wall-Facing Trial had nothing to do with talent or strength, judging only the young dragons' will. She possessed five portions of magic potion, and dragon hatchlings who completed the trial could experience a complete meditation by drinking one.

They were the five dragon hatchlings before her.

Valyria's gaze slowly swept across their faces, her eyes flickering faintly.

The five spots she had originally planned belonged to Jelierion, Ferrum, Kelaili, Hidorivi, and Gax—the top five youngsters in the dragon flock. Three Iron Dragons, one Chrome Dragon, and one Cobalt Dragon; whether in identity or strength, all suited her wishes.

Yet Gax Karajeg turned out to be hot-tempered. He only endured the trial for a short while before he could no longer control himself and began moving about.

Kelaili did not move, but the Cobalt-Blue Overlord simply fell asleep while sitting through the Wall-Facing Trial. All the Cobalt Dragons followed suit and began sleeping, their snores shaking the heavens.

Valyria could endure it no longer and could only throw them all out.

In the end, it was instead a Thunderclap Dragon and a Feather Dragon who persevered. The Young Dragon's gaze lingered briefly on them as she recalled the names she had given them.

In Tas, Afterglow.

"I said everything that needed to be said yesterday."

Without any opening remarks, once the young dragons had all arrived, Valyria nodded in greeting. Kobolds carefully carried clay jars and approached each young dragon in turn.

"After drinking the magic potion, whether you gain insight or achieve anything will be your own concern from now on."

Ferrum looked at the clay jar. It contained a pale greenish-white liquid that appeared somewhat viscous, not particularly precious.

He swallowed it in one gulp, curled down on the spot, and began breathing steadily, emptying his mind as he followed the Nurturer's teachings and attempted to explore the ocean of his bloodline.

Valyria's nest was plain in style, without any bright colors. There was only a small hanging brazier crackling in the corner, while a tranquil scent of pine branches drifted through the air.

Only after a long while did the dragon hatchlings awaken one after another. They looked at each other, all seeming as though they wanted to speak but held back, deep in thought.

"I have nothing else to teach you. While the aftertaste remains, go back and contemplate it carefully."

Having waited for quite some time, Valyria had changed positions and now lay in the center of the nest. She lightly raised her head, signaling for them to leave.

The dragon hatchlings obediently backed away.

"Oh, Ferrum, stay behind." The Young Dragon spoke again.