The Road Xilong Walked

Jili Ember Scar could be called the leader of the Iron Dragons.

He was descended from Taigo and Veloya, with the blood of the Lineage's master flowing through him and the mission of reviving his kind upon his shoulders. Unlike Leijieduolei's laziness or Hidorivi's excessive worries, the only thing he had ever pursued was strength.

On the night the Nurturers first had the Dragon Hatchlings chew ore, Jelierion awakened his talent: accelerated growth, allowing him to gain greater enhancement during every stage of a dragon's growth cycle.

Because of this powerful talent, Jelierion, though only a Dragon Hatchling, possessed a Disaster Level as high as four. He had always considered himself a prodigy among the dragons and regarded Ladon, the naturally blessed Archaic Species, as the only opponent worth taking seriously.

But at this very moment, another dragon stood before him.

Jili dodged and retreated violently. His powerful body trembled amid the sharp twist, his breathing heavy.

To the watching Iron Dragons, this scene was almost unbelievable. Yet Jelierion had to admit that he truly did not dare receive that razor-sharp claw strike head-on.

Xilong slowly withdrew his claws. Where the strike had landed, it had torn a savage trench into the ground. He watched Jelierion's heaving chest and readjusted his stance.

"If you were an ordinary Chrome Dragon, you could never have defeated Hidorivi, much less challenged me."

Jili stared at Xilong's claws. "It seems the rumors were right. You truly are a Variant Species among Chrome Dragons. Those ordinary, plain forms of training produce little effect on other dragons, yet they benefit you enormously."

"I also think I'm the most perfect of the Chrome Dragons, so I can't refute you if that's what you say."

Xilong nodded. "But the injuries I suffered, the blood I shed, and the time I spent were no less real."

"That sounds far too dismissive of other dragons."

Jili sneered. "Do you think every dragon is like that idiot brother of yours, wasting his days sprawled beneath the sun?"

"Moqi isn't an idiot."

Xilong shook his head. "There's no point in saying such things. I'm not comparing talent with you, but strength. The time to decide victory and defeat has come. Use whatever moves you have left."

"Fine."

Jili drew a deep breath, suddenly lowered himself onto all four limbs, then sprang upward like a launched projectile. His body stretched out and hung in midair like a warhammer laid sideways.

"Axe Form."

Jili drew upon the strength of his entire body. His long tail carved a full arc through the air, and with a deep, resounding growl, it suddenly spun down in a slash.

Jili had forged his entire body into a weapon, like a flying axe hurled by a giant god. With this strike, the ancient Iron Dragons had once cleaved off a Titan's head, while his father, Taigo Ashmark, had likewise used it to tear open the body of an adult Purple Dragon.

There had never been any time wasted. During his Dragon Hatchling days, Jelierion had already perfectly mastered the second killing art of the Ember Scar inheritance.

As he descended from the air, there was grim killing intent everywhere.

Xilong's heartbeat quickened, forcing out an enormous volume of blood. It surged through his body like a breached dam, so fervent it nearly made him tremble. The Chrome Dragon's pupils brightened, reflecting golden light.

In that instant, every muscle in Xilong's body sank downward, making him seem to shrink out of thin air. He gathered all his strength, darted out in a pale afterimage, and burst forward, the spaces between his claws blazing hot.

The two sides crossed and collided.

Xilong was sent flying by the tremendous force. His body plowed and scraped across the ground, carving four vicious claw marks, yet he still could not control himself and had to roll twice before finally stabilizing himself, looking thoroughly bedraggled.

Jili remained where he was, then collapsed like a mountain crumbling. A huge wound appeared in his abdomen, as though it had been pierced through by the bolt of a Dragon-Hunting Crossbow, blood gushing out in torrents.

"Jili!"

Leijieduolei, watching the battle, let out a low growl and hurried forward.

The Iron Dragons stepped forward as one, clustering around Jelierion. They could fear Ladon and respect Xilong, but the one the Iron Dragons truly believed in was ultimately only Jelierion. Even if Jelierion had been defeated, he was still the leader of the Iron Dragons.

"I'm fine."

Jili stopped his companions, pressed down on his wound, and sat. Looking at Xilong, he said, "That wasn't Wedge Form. You changed how it was used."

"Wedge Form is very good, but it is ultimately a grappling technique for Iron Dragons and doesn't suit Chrome Dragons. I studied how it exerted force and experimentally turned it into a thrust."

Xilong said, "Your killing arts are excellent, beyond the reach of other techniques. I only hope my little tricks can be of use to you."

"Hidorivi once described your battle with the Cobalt-Blue Overlord to me, but you are stronger now than you were then."

Jili looked into Xilong's eyes. "And your scent is wrong. You don't smell like an ordinary dragon."

Xilong was silent for a while before saying, "I can now meditate completely."

Jili's pupils abruptly widened, then rapidly contracted. After that, he too fell into a long silence.

"So it turns out I was the one who underestimated you. There are so many gifted dragons in the valley. The Lineage should be pleased."

Only after a long while did he speak again. "Another Feeding-Seizure Period is approaching. I know that challenging me now means you want to borrow the Iron Dragons' strength. But even if we agreed, I'm afraid we still couldn't do it. There is still a vast gap between you and Ladon."

"The Iron Dragons failed last time because you were too proud and never considered the strength of the other dragon groups."

Xilong shook his head. "But I'm different."

"You don't understand. The strength of the Iron Dragons comes precisely from their pride."

Jili said, "Still, Ladon truly cannot be allowed to run rampant forever. Even during the Feeding-Seizure Period, there should be order in the valley, not chaos."

He considered for a moment, then continued, "I'm injured, so I won't go. Let them help you instead."

"Alright."

Xilong withdrew his gaze and ended the conversation.

The winter sky was somewhat gloomy. Heavy black clouds piled up, gathered, and rolled above the valley. With a crack of thunder, rain suddenly poured down, adding several degrees of chill to the already harsh air.

The Kobolds pushed carts through the mud with difficulty, piling mountain-like heaps of Kodo Beast meat once more in the gathering ground.

Ladon stood atop an impossibly high cliff, coldly looking down at the scene as torrential rain poured before his face.

At the same time, Xilong walked out of his nest.

"What awful weather."

Beneath the curtain of pouring rain, Xilong spoke softly, as if murmuring to himself.

He stretched his body and paced slowly through the downpour around Ochre Valley, as though he wished to measure this land with his footsteps. He had hatched, lived, and grown up in the valley, and knew every blade of grass and tree here intimately.

He arrived at the abandoned mine, where Xilong had defeated Leijieduolei and Hidorivi, then completed his challenge against Jelierion. By the time he arrived, the Iron Dragons were already waiting in the downpour, like reefs standing firm against the waves.

Hidorivi stepped forward and nodded at Xilong without speaking, merely following slowly behind him.

He arrived at Eaglebeak Cliff, where Xilong had hung from the sheer cliffs and raced madly with the Dragon Hatchlings along the mountain paths. Moqi eagerly crowded forward, while several other Chrome Dragons, sharp and lean as blades, stood to one side.

For the first time, the solitary Chrome Dragons gathered together and met the gaze of the strongest Chrome Dragon.

One of them said, "We'll help you, but only this once."

Xilong nodded, then headed downward into Sunken Hollow, the dwelling place of the Cobalt Dragons.

Kaili led the Cobalt Dragons out from Sunken Hollow. He glanced at the Iron Dragons and Chrome Dragons behind Xilong, drew a deep breath, and said, "Then we can strike back now."

Xilong went to Ironwood Forest, the place where he had snapped the slide rope and also the dwelling place of the Tungsten Dragons. The Tungsten Dragons struck the ground and sang, as though beating war drums.

Bido also came over with the Nickel Dragons, stepping through mud that covered the ground. Reverent and ingratiating, he called out, "Boss Xilong!"

Bay Lake churned beneath the heavy rain. This was where Xilong and his companions had frolicked in the water, caught fish, and hunted crabs. In Tas came to Xilong's side with the Lesser Dragons. There was no longer any need for words between them.

Afterglow also nodded faintly. "This is how it should have been from the first day."

At last, Xilong entered the gathering ground and looked up. Through layer upon layer of rain, he could see the Nurturers' enormous molten-cave nest.

Ladon felt the faint tremor. He narrowed his eyes, looked toward the dragon shapes slowly emerging from the other end, then rose to his feet.

It was a stare-down of one against forty-five. The dragons did not avoid his gaze, and the bloodline suppression of the Archaic Species had utterly lost its effect at this moment.

But Ladon did not retreat. He stepped down from the mountain of meat, slowly baring his fangs.

"Blood Frenzy."

The Archaic Species raised both claws and smashed them heavily into the ground, sending up enormous splashes. Scalding currents of air burst from his body, dragging out a savage afterimage.

Ladon roared to the heavens and leaped toward the dragons' encirclement.

"Roar!"

The dragons also hissed and roared. One after another, they charged out from Xilong's side and pounced upon the Archaic Species' majestic body.

After the torrential rain, the Dragon Hatchlings established new rules. During the Feeding-Seizure Period, food would be distributed according to each dragon group's ranking. Competition was still encouraged, but chaos would no longer be allowed to arise.

From then on, Ochre Valley truly entered a stable transitional period.