New Rules

The Dragon Hatchlings gradually left, and the nest fell quiet, leaving only Xilong and Jiazhuosa silently facing each other.

After this period of growth, Xilong's Disaster Level was about to reach Level Four. Yet when facing Jiazhuosa, there was still an enormous disparity in size, making him seem like an immature little cub.

"You once told me that by devouring metal, you could gain an increase in potential."

After a moment of silence, Jiazhuosa took the initiative to speak. "Once every half year, correct?"

"Yes."

"The first thing you devoured was ore, containing only trace amounts of iron. The second was iron grease concentrated by the Mushroom People."

Jiazhuosa tilted her head and asked, "In terms of how it felt, what was the difference?"

"The difference was huge."

Xilong honestly explained, "Potential is hard to describe, but I could feel my vitality becoming much fuller. After being injured and bleeding, my body also recovered much faster."

"Hidorivi broke your wing bones, while Kelaili corroded through your forelimb. The severity of those injuries was completely different, yet both times, you healed in only one week."

Jiazhuosa glanced at Xilong. "So the more valuable the metal you devour, the better the effect for you?"

"That can't exactly be concluded."

After thinking for a while, Xilong said, "In my estimation, expensive magical metals like Vein Gold and Mithril would definitely have the best effects if eaten. But metals as potent as osmium and uranium probably wouldn't yield poor gains either."

"It's just that they're equally rare."

Jiazhuosa wore a faintly contemplative expression. "This is Nuenlongdun's ability. He was called the Goldstar Forger, one of the strongest forces at the Supreme One's side. It is said that he could alter his life form by devouring metal. Could you do that as well?"

Xilong did not indulge in fantasies. He merely swished his tail and smiled. "Perhaps I can in the future."

"There is no need to speak of the future. Not long ago, the Tagoma Kingdom discovered a gigantic gold mine. Along with the giant treasures brought back by a group of adventurers, gold fever and exploration fever erupted one after another, throwing the entire Red Earth Region into turmoil and sending prices soaring."

As Jiazhuosa spoke, she sighed softly. "In other words, the gold in our hands is losing value, while the cost of raising you is rising rapidly. For both the Lineage and myself, it is an extremely heavy burden. Once you enter the juvenile dragon stage, you must leave Ochre Valley."

Xilong was slightly startled. He had not expected even a dragon Lineage to be affected by mortal kingdoms. It made him even more curious about the outside world.

But there was something else he was even more curious about.

"Nurturer, after we become juvenile dragons, what will the Lineage arrange for us to do?" Seizing the opportunity, Xilong asked.

Hearing this, Jiazhuosa lowered her head and carefully examined Xilong for a while.

She still remembered how this Chrome Dragon had looked just after hatching: his membrane wings limp and soft, his limbs short, his head large and belly round.

But in the blink of an eye, he had grown up. Agile and sturdy, he no longer resembled a Dragon Hatchling. He carried something of an adolescent dragon's appearance, even possessing a hint of heroic bearing.

This was the mindset of Great Dragons. They hoped their descendants would be both strong and obedient, both mature and innocent, capable of everything yet compliant in all things. They always wanted Dragon Hatchlings to grow up quickly, yet wished adolescent dragons could become smaller again.

Thinking this, Jiazhuosa could not help extending her claws, nudging the Chrome Dragon before her back and forth, knocking him onto the ground, then pinning him between her toes. One hooked toe pressed against his lower jaw as she teased him for a while.

Even though they were both Iron Dragons, compared with those powerful and proud Iron Dragon descendants, Jiazhuosa still preferred Xilong and Kelaili when they acted like little cubs.

"What does this mean?"

Xilong was utterly baffled. Baring his teeth, he struggled and kicked beneath the Great Dragon's toes, though he did not use all his strength.

If he used all his strength, he could probably leave a few bloody scratches... right?

"What juvenile dragons can do depends on your own abilities."

Only after a while did Jiazhuosa release him. "The current plan is to send all Lesser Dragons to Red Fort. At that time, the Lineage will hire a great spellcaster to teach them magic courses. At the same time, they will become the Lineage's patrol hunters, traveling through our territory in the Lost Wilderness, strengthening the Lineage's control over the various clans and consolidating dragon rule."

"As for the Heavy-Metal Dragons."

Jiazhuosa paused before continuing. "The Lineage's feeding and training are not free. You are the strongest military force in the hands of the dragon lords, and you will become pioneers, heading to the Lineage's various frontiers."

"Expanding into untamed lands and reclaiming lost territory will become your most important task, as well as a responsibility you cannot shirk."

"That sounds rather dangerous," Xilong said.

"Not merely dangerous. It may be fatal."

"You will face foreign enemies: fishfolk and pirates, mountain folk and desert folk, ogres and giant clans. That is why, although I detest Dragon Hatchlings coming into contact with retainers, I do not mind you forming your own groups. Because on the day you leave Ochre Valley, you will all need companions who can fight shoulder to shoulder with you."

Jiazhuosa fell silent for a while before speaking again. "When all is said and done, you still need to become stronger as soon as possible."

Xilong also sank into silence. Once again, the nest held only the crackling of the hanging furnace as it burned, leaking wisps of smoke that seemed both present and absent.

He could also smell the pine-branch scent favored by Young Dragons, thread by thread seeping into his mind—gentle and tranquil.

"What will I devour in half a year? Iron grease again?" Jiazhuosa asked.

Xilong shook his head, indicating that he had nothing on hand.

"Come with me."

Jiazhuosa suddenly turned. Her strides were enormous, and in only four or five steps, she entered the depths of the nest. Lowering herself, she circled into a side cave and pushed aside the stone slab serving as a cover.

With Jiazhuosa's deep breathing, the candles within the cave slowly brightened.

This was a hidden deep cavern. Skulls of unknown origin hung from the rock walls, every one of them ferocious and savage. Dragons liked collecting the skulls of powerful monsters to display their strength.

On the low stone shelves beneath the rock walls lay layers of beast hides, perfectly preserved and of superb quality, clearly worth a fortune. Looking farther inside, an oak barrel full of gold coins stood there. Beside it lay a long carpet, covered in gold and silver fragments of varying purity and shapes.

Xilong's eyes brightened. He knew this was Jiazhuosa's treasure cave. Her treasury was just like her nest—simple and unadorned. Only because he was still weak and not regarded as a threat by a Young Dragon could he possibly be allowed to see her treasures.

"From now on, go work at the lumberyard for me. Half a year later, I will pay you a batch of refined iron ingots as compensation. When you can defeat Jelierion, I will take out a batch of gold from here and feed it to you. If you can defeat Ladon..."

Jiazhuosa hesitated for an instant, then continued, "If you can defeat Ladon, I will prepare a piece of magical metal for you as your reward."

After hearing this, Xilong stood stunned for a long while before raising his head to gaze at the Young Dragon's majestic figure.

"Are you and Xisilanwei good friends?" he asked softly.

Jiazhuosa lowered her head. "Who is Xisilanwei?"

"That is the name of Moqi's mother and mine."

Xilong said, "I feel that you treat me very well, Feeder, and I like you very much too. But is there some special reason why you value training me so highly?"

After hearing him out, Jiazhuosa did not answer. Instead, she brought up something else. "You just underwent a complete meditation session. Did you have any special insights or gains?"

Xilong shook his head. His talent had not reached that level yet.

"Since you had no special insight, I have no special reason either. I value and train you because you can be trained. If other dragons can defeat Jelierion and Ladon, they will receive the same treatment."

"So do not think too much. Within a dragon flock, the weak need a goal to strive to catch up to, while the strong need opponents who can threaten them. Only then will they possess greater fighting spirit."

Jiazhuosa said, "As for me, I treat all of you equally and show no favoritism. I only hope you can grow up quickly, so I can fulfill my obligations to the Lineage."

"I understand."

Xilong nodded lightly. "I should be able to challenge Jelierion very soon. But I still cannot see through Ladon's strength. I want to know exactly how powerful he is, or rather, how far apart we still are."

"Go back."

Jiazhuosa shook her head without answering, only saying softly, "You will see soon enough."

Xilong did not understand. He could only lower his head and leave Jiazhuosa's nest.

After that, his days proceeded in an orderly fashion. While improving his physical strength, he added meditation training and a job cutting timber.

Xilong's daily life was extremely regular. During that time, he also received a small jar of honey from a Thorn Dragon, and spent a pleasant, refreshing summer.

Until the north wind swept up the dust of Ochre Valley and the weather turned cold with the arrival of autumn, the Feeder suddenly announced a shocking piece of news.

"From now on, food will no longer be distributed equally among Dragon Hatchlings. All bloody meat may be taken by any dragon that can claim it. From this day forward, the Feeding-Seizure Period and the Food-Sharing Period will alternate in cycles, each lasting one month."

Once the announcement ended, Ladon stepped out from behind the Feeder and stood atop the mountain-like pile of bloody meat, coldly looking down upon the dragon flock as he monopolized all the food.