Meditation

With Kelaili Belivi's defeat, the Cobalt Overlord's road of challenges finally came to an end.

But now that the Cobalt Dragons had become active, they would not easily sink back into silence. Even if Kelaili no longer wanted 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.

Xilong's life remained much the same. He spent a week recovering from his injuries, then increased the intensity of his system training considerably because his body had grown.

After summer arrived, the weather clearly began to grow hotter. After discussing it with his companions, he moved their gathering place from beneath the cliff to Bay Lake. Swimming and diving, catching fish and crabs—these became everyday affairs. Later, Moqi discovered that many female dragons had a habit of licking flower dew in the early morning, so he dragged Xilong along to try it as well. After tasting it several times, Xilong felt it had no flavor at all.

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

If defeating Hidorivi before could still be attributed to luck, then defeating the largest and strongest Cobalt-Blue Overlord this time was unquestionable proof of strength.

Xilong had defended his standing within the dragon flock with his power. Moreover, because of his exploits in viciously beating Nickel Dragons and Cobalt Dragons, the Tungsten Dragons of Ironwood Forest felt far closer to him. Coupled with Moqi's enthusiastic publicity everywhere, Xilong had nearly gained treatment equal to Jelierion's, faintly carrying the bearing of a leader among the dragon flock.

After this period passed, the only one who felt troubled was probably Hidorivi.

Hidorivi himself did not know what was going on. After Xilong and Kelaili's battle ended, the victor Xilong'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 plummeted. He was still one of the powerful dragons in the flock, but he had become a target the 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 who cautiously asked whether they could spar with him.

Lesser Dragons!

Even Hidorivi's calm and steadiness had been thrown into irritation and disorder by all this harassment.

In truth, Xilong privately thought Hidorivi was a decent fellow. It was just that this Iron Dragon seemed a little too mature, always keeping his joys and anger hidden from his face, as though he bore some heavy fate on his back. He simply could not mingle with Xilong and the others.

In the end, it would still be difficult for them to become friends.

At last, Xilong gave up on trying to befriend him. Though he desperately wanted a powerful Destiny Alliance to pry loose the Star Inscription, as a True Dragon, Xilong had his own pride as well.

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, Xilong opened his eyes and woke from a brief nap.

His throat felt somewhat uncomfortable, as though something were lodged inside it. He rose, coughed low for a while, then retched several times.

A howling stream of frigid air burst forth, freezing the stone wall before him completely and forming a broad expanse of glittering white frost.

Xilong blinked at the sight, knowing that he had awakened his breath ability.

Heavy-Metal Dragons awakened their magic late. Their bodies were filled with weighty metallic elements, and unlike many Metallic Dragons and Chromatic Dragons, which could fly and breathe from birth, Heavy-Metal Dragons needed to slowly master such abilities as they continually grew older.

This was perfectly normal. Heavy-Metal Dragons developed physically at an extremely rapid pace and possessed a degree of elemental resistance from birth. When other dragonkind faced Heavy-Metal Dragons during their hatchling years, they had no power to fight back at all.

If Heavy-Metal Dragons could also swiftly master flight and all manner 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, Xilong was naturally delighted. On the road to the feeder's nest, he tried it on everything he saw—

He breathed at trees before smashing them apart with a claw, chased roe deer and Rust Rabbits to freeze them, and exhausted himself trying to seal streams in ice...

Only when his throat spasmed and his gullet grew sore and weak did the hatchling realize he could no longer use it. He finally abandoned the novel and amusing game and hurried toward his destination.

By the time he arrived at the young dragons' nest, Hidorivi and Jelierion were already waiting. In the corner stood a Feather Dragon and a Thunderclap Dragon.

Including Xilong, who had just entered, five hatchlings in total had passed Jiazhuosa's Wall-Facing Trial.

The so-called "Wall-Facing Trial" meant gathering all hatchlings together and having them crouch before a stone wall, maintaining absolute silence throughout. They were not permitted to speak or move, not even to flex their scales or sway their tails.

After giving this order, Jiazhuosa began explaining the method of meditation. Though her tone this time was exceptionally slow and patient, the young dragons still listened in a fog. Their inherited knowledge contained nothing related to it, making it difficult for them to form any comparable concept.

Finally, Jiazhuosa stated that the Wall-Facing Trial had nothing to do with talent or strength; it tested only the hatchlings' willpower. She possessed five doses of potion, and hatchlings who completed the trial could experience one complete meditation by drinking it.

Those were the five hatchlings before her.

Jiazhuosa's gaze slowly swept across their faces, her eyes flickering slightly.

The five places she had originally intended belonged to Jelierion, Xilong, Kelaili, Hidorivi, and Gax—the top five youngsters in the dragon flock. There were three Iron Dragons, one Chrome Dragon, and one Cobalt Dragon. Whether in status or strength, they suited her wishes.

But she had not expected Gax Karajeg to be so impatient by nature. He endured only briefly during the trial before losing control and fidgeting.

Kेलaili had not moved either. The Cobalt-Blue Overlord had simply fallen asleep sitting in the Wall-Facing Trial, prompting every Cobalt Dragon to start sleeping as well, their snores rumbling loud enough to shake the heavens.

Unable to endure it any longer, Jiazhuosa could only throw them all out.

In the end, a Thunderclap Dragon and a Feather Dragon were the ones who persevered. The young dragon's gaze lingered briefly on them as she recalled the names she had given them back then.

In Tas, Afterglow.

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

Without any opening remarks, once all the young dragons had arrived, Jiazhuosa nodded in greeting. Kobolds carefully carried clay jars and approached the hatchlings one by one.

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

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

He swallowed it in one gulp, curled up on the spot, and began breathing evenly. Emptying his mind, he followed the feeder's instruction and attempted to explore the ocean of his own bloodline.

Jiazhuosa's nest was simple in style, without any bright colors. There was only a small hanging brazier in the corner, crackling as it burned, while the quiet scent of pine branches drifted through the air.

Only after a long time did the hatchlings gradually awaken. They looked at one another, all seeming as though they wanted to speak yet hesitated, lost in thought.

"I have nothing more to teach you. While the lingering taste remains, go back and reflect on it properly."

Perhaps because she had waited a long time, Jiazhuosa had already changed positions. She lay prone in the center of the nest and lightly raised her head, signaling for them to leave.

The hatchlings obediently backed away.

"Oh, Xilong, stay behind," the young dragon added.