A long while passed.
Only after all the wyrmlings' droppings had been weighed did the humans leave with Barbara.
The wyrmlings were now awash in joy, each happily kissing their money.
The Red Dragon Whelp sat on the ground, counting his assets with an unusually serious expression.
Xiluo was doing the same.
From this round of trading,
he had earned eighty-one silver coins and twenty-five copper coins. Overall, that was fairly decent.
If he included the magic crystal he held, his total assets had now exceeded two gold coins... Although that made him wealthy among the wyrmlings,
it was still a far cry from the five gold coins he had possessed before.
He inwardly regretted that, but there had been no other choice.
He had been weak and hungry back then. Without paying a price, he could never have tricked these Dragon Cubs out of their food.
Still, the thought that those three humans should return after a while gave him a little comfort.
Before long, he should have five gold coins' worth of assets again.
Hmm... as long as I poop enough...
About half an hour passed.
Barbara returned to her lair.
Seeing this, the Red Dragon Whelp immediately ran to the giant tree and began climbing.
Xiluo was startled at the sight. Was this hatchling still dissatisfied and planning to make trouble for Barbara?
Remembering what had just happened, Xiluo hurried over, grabbed the Red Dragon Whelp's tail, and growled:
"Gordon! Don't do anything stupid! You're only a wyrmling! Before Lady Barbara, you're no different from an ant!"
"Huh? What are you talking about, Xiluo? What do you mean, do anything stupid?"
The Red Dragon Whelp looked at him in bewilderment.
"Are you still angry about the price of dragon scales?" Xiluo continued.
"Hmm... that really is rather irritating, but... I know there's nothing I can do about it."
The Red Dragon Whelp sighed with a somewhat dejected expression before saying:
"Don't worry. I just want to ask Lady Barbara for a small favor!"
Don't worry? How could I not worry about a brainless idiot like you?
Xiluo was inwardly speechless.
But he said nothing more.
Instead, he climbed up with the Red Dragon Whelp.
They reached the treetop.
The young adult green dragon cast a glance at Gordon with her enormous eyes, then turned to Xiluo and smiled.
"Xiluo, what brings you here this time? If it's something I can help with, I'll certainly do my best."
The Young Green Dragon's manner was unusually gentle.
"Esteemed Lady Barbara, I came with Gordon," Xiluo said quietly and respectfully.
"Oh... Gordon, then. What is it?"
Barbara's expression immediately changed, becoming impassive.
Even the Red Dragon Whelp could tell that this change did not bode well.
But he still gritted his teeth and said:
"Lady Barbara, I'd like to ask you for a small favor. I need some blazing flame crystal. Please help me buy some and bring it back."
"Blazing flame crystal?"
Barbara raised her brows, somewhat surprised.
Even Xiluo looked at the Red Dragon Whelp in astonishment.
Blazing flame crystal was a Fire Attribute crystal, a rare ore similar to fire element magic crystal.
Although both could be used to craft equipment and items,
there were also some differences.
Fire element magic crystal could enhance spellcasting.
Blazing flame crystal, on the other hand, was a food that certain monsters particularly loved. Eating it could strengthen their own flame energy.
If consumed over a long period, it might strengthen a dragon's Breath Weapon to match the boost Xiluo received from his talent enhancement... Of course, that might require an astronomical expenditure.
Although this could make a dragon stronger,
even wealthy adult dragons were rarely willing to spend such an enormous sum.
Dragons were already powerful, after all. Gaining even greater power on top of that foundation was far harder for them than for ordinary creatures.
A red dragon who guarded his wealth with his life was voluntarily spending money on blazing flame crystal?
Was Gordon really a red dragon? Was he sure there was nothing wrong with his head?
Or was he someone from Blue Star, just like Xiluo?
In an instant, Xiluo could not help questioning the other dragon's identity, his gaze shifting slightly.
Even Barbara wore a subtle expression. She looked at Gordon's serious face, then at the astonished, doubtful Xiluo. Understanding dawned on her face, and she grinned.
"Since you're doing this of your own accord, naturally, there's no problem.
"But blazing flame crystal is expensive. A single ounce costs a full thirty-five silver coins. Your wealth won't buy very much at all, and the effect will be negligible. Even so, you still want it?"
"Yes! I need it!"
The Red Dragon Whelp nodded.
He opened his mouth and spat out all the money he had just acquired, along with a piece of ice element magic crystal.
"You're spending everything you have?" Barbara was even more surprised.
"Yes! I need greater power!" The Red Dragon Whelp's gaze was exceptionally firm.
"Hehehe... it seems Xiluo is putting you under even more pressure than I imagined..." Barbara chuckled meaningfully, reaching out a claw to gather up all the treasure.
"All right. Your blazing flame crystal will be here in a few days. Wait patiently. You may leave now."
Barbara dismissed them.
Xiluo and Gordon immediately climbed down.
On the way, Xiluo stared hard at the Red Dragon Whelp. After a long while, he suddenly said:
"The heavenly king subdues the earthly tiger!"
"Huh? What's that? Heavenly what? Subdues what tiger? Do you want to eat a tiger?"
The Red Dragon Whelp stared blankly at Xiluo beside him and asked.
"Nothing... I just feel you're rather different from ordinary red dragons, Gordon. You're actually willing to spend your entire fortune on blazing flame crystal. It caught me a little off guard, that's all."
Xiluo hurriedly replied.
The Red Dragon Whelp's astonishment did not look like an act. He really should be a genuine red dragon, though his personality was certainly a little odd.
"What do you mean by that? Shouldn't I be the one who's surprised?
"You haven't even thought of asking Lady Barbara to bring back some extreme thunder crystal to accelerate your Mutated Bloodline?
"Are you looking down on me? Do you think I'm no match for you? What a stupid decision!"
The Red Dragon Whelp snorted through his nostrils, thoroughly displeased.
Xiluo froze at his words.
By then, the two dragons had reached the ground. The little white dragon was waiting nearby and sighed in relief upon seeing that both were unharmed.
The Red Dragon Whelp looked at the somewhat dazed Xiluo.
"Why do you look so blank? Could it be that you haven't awakened the inherited memories of the Bloodline Refinement Technique yet?"
The Red Dragon Whelp gave a teasing smile.
Xiluo understood at once.
This little hatchling had taken him for the same kind of mutated dragon as himself!
But thinking about it, that made sense.
Since he was little, Xiluo had displayed a powerful Breath Weapon. Later, he had gained strength second only to a red dragon's, along with a rapidly growing body.
Wasn't that clearly telling the other dragons that his mutated bloodline was awakening too? And that the bloodline he was mutating into must belong to an exceptionally powerful dragon breed!
Perhaps all the dragons thought so...
Unfortunately, he had no mutated bloodline. He was merely relying on the innate abilities of his cheat!
Still, this Bloodline Refinement Technique was something good!
(End of chapter)
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