What did he mean by “the volume is already big enough, so what's the big deal if you mix a bit of your own in?”
Are you mixing fried rice here?!
Do you need to stir-fry it with a spatula too?!
The Red Dragon Demon froze in midair on the spot, his brain lagging for over ten seconds.
Feeling that his words had touched the other's soul, Bai Xiaodu crossed his arms and waited patiently.
Director-General Shen was still waiting for him outside!
Bai Xiaodu considered himself competitive.
Even if he had to act like a dog, he would be the most efficient one!
After a long while, the Red Dragon Demon's expression turned complex. He looked as if he had finally understood something, a hint of relief washing over him.
“You beast, you win.”
“Hey, you're just a remnant spirit of a Secret Realm, why are you calling me names...”
“I'm just telling the truth.”
The Red Dragon Demon merely floated in a half-circle on his own in midair. The entire dragon had the look of someone who had seen through the mortal world and achieved sudden enlightenment.
“In the days I spent living alone after waking up, I privately pondered countless solutions. How could I keep this Secret Realm functioning normally? How could I find Kiru's successor? How could I ensure his inheritance wouldn't be buried? And most importantly, how could I fulfill his trust and allow him to completely let go of this obsession?”
“I imagined a coward obtaining the inheritance and growing from weak to strong; I imagined a powerful, cold individual obtaining the inheritance and finding warmth... No matter what, it always came down to cultivating a new person, letting them live on in Kiru's place to make up for all his past regrets.”
“Until you arrived.”
The Red Dragon Demon let out a long breath.
“I've let it go. Really. I never thought this matter could be analyzed from such a perspective. I acknowledge you, you damn white-hair.”
“Kiru really was a dumbass.”
Bai Xiaodu: “...”
“Whatever, as long as you're happy.”
“Hurry up and bring out the third trial. I'm actually undergoing an assessment right now, and dragging this out isn't great for my score.”
Waving his large hand, the Red Dragon Demon said calmly,
“The original content of the third trial was to wrestle with a bull beast enhanced by the 【Fearless】 Pathway, but I feel there's no need for that anymore.”
“You provided the perfect solution to resolve Kiru's regrets, which is the very reason this Secret Realm exists. This is exactly what I wanted. Therefore, you pass!”
As his voice fell, the scene shifted once again, and the light suddenly grew bright. Bai Xiaodu looked up. The entire scene had turned upside down.
The ground beneath his feet was filled with reddish-brown rocks. Atop the sprawling earth rose a towering volcano, its body split by thousands of fissures running downward, with bubbling, crimson lava churning inside.
Accompanied by a heatwave that made the air shimmer, a scorching, pungent smell of sulfur rushed over him.
Without him realizing it, the Red Dragon Demon flashed and appeared atop that grand volcano.
He raised a hand and waved it gently toward the lava pool directly below. The lava surged instantly, vast sheets of crimson twisting restlessly, and the hot air currents in the atmosphere grew intensely fierce. Bai Xiaodu couldn't help but frown and step back.
He had quite a lot of fur, and his tail was covered in dense, fluffy hair that he groomed regularly. If a stray spark landed on it, Bai Xiaodu couldn't bear the thought of walking out with a bald tail.
Fortunately, the Red Dragon Demon had no such intentions. The scorching wave lasted for only a few seconds before a streak of red light shot out from the center of the lava pool. It was caught firmly in his hand, and with another flash, he vanished and reappeared right in front of Bai Xiaodu, handing it over.
“Here, take it. This is the most precious thing in my Secret Realm. Look at how beautiful it is.”
Bai Xiaodu squinted to take a closer look. It was a skill book that resembled a torn magic page.
The latter proactively began to explain, “This is a body-tempering method that Kiru modified for his half-dragon, half-human body. Your Human Federation calls its original form the 【Dragon-Burning Refining Art】.”
“The method of use is very simple. Swallow fire-type potions or biological materials, and circulate it within your body to improve your Constitution.”
He paused, his tone carrying a trace of helplessness. “I know what you might be thinking. Why would a Warlock like you need a body-tempering method?”
“But that's actually a misconception. Once you reach higher realms, you'll find that those Mages, Wizards, Warlocks... they're all searching for various ways to quickly improve their Constitution.”
“Because high-level battles are exceptionally brutal. No one wants to get blown to bits by a stray shockwave just because they forgot to raise their shield in a moment of carelessness. At that point, increasing your Constitution, thickening your health bar, and raising your endurance is the universal solution.”
“Though the results might not be as good as those trained by Warriors... but that's fine. This new refining method is highly valuable just by selling it.”
After briefly studying it, Bai Xiaodu agreed with his words. It was indeed a very good reward. This made him feel a bit sentimental. “Heh, there really are more good people in this world. It seems I was judging a noble dragon by my own petty standards, Red Dragon.”
The Red Dragon Demon nodded. “You performed the best, so naturally you get the best reward. Since I said I'm a fair and just judge, I will never go back on my word!”
Speaking up to this point, he suddenly stopped, rubbing his dragon horn with his right hand, looking a bit embarrassed. “Haha, it's just that there's a tiny, minor side effect...”
Bai Xiaodu instantly detected that slight anomaly. Alarm bells immediately rang in his heart!
The original owner of the Secret Realm was a half-dragon, half-human who grew up among the dragon clan. Who could be sure whether he leaned more toward the dragons or humans? Thinking of this, Bai Xiaodu became even more vigilant. Heretics were never to be trusted! What if this excellent technique was intentionally released for him to learn so they could possess his body?
One should always have a heart of suspicion, and a mind of defense even more so! This damn dragon clan is too fucking wicked!
In just a few seconds, the slight gratitude Bai Xiaodu had felt earlier completely transformed into cold rationality. Faintly harboring a trace of killing intent, he kept his face expressionless. “Then please do tell, so I have a reference when I practice.”
The Red Dragon Demon chuckled, deliberately dodging the subject. “There's no real need. You'll find out once you practice it yourself.”
Bai Xiaodu's wine-red eyes grew colder. “There are no minor matters on the path of cultivation. Please, speak.”
Seeing that he really couldn't escape, the Red Dragon Demon could only spread his hands helplessly. “Alright, this body-tempering method is great and all, but it causes swelling during cultivation.”
“...Swelling?”
“Is it because the cultivated fire energy accumulates in the dantian and fails to flow into the meridians?”
“You're overthinking it.” The Red Dragon Demon pointed downward with his claw and answered him very honestly, “It just swells.”
Bai Xiaodu: “...”
Why did that sound like a good thing?
Seeing his speechless look, the Red Dragon Demon quickly added a few more words, “Never ignore this feedback. When the fire flares up, it hurts a lot and can easily cause your cultivation progress to regress! So you must remember.”
“Let nature take its course, and learn to guide it. Don't worry if the blockage can't be released for a while; that's just because the fire energy hasn't dissipated. Just keep going.”
Bai Xiaodu indicated that he understood. At the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of these dragons. Even practicing a technique wasn't peaceful; who knew how chaotic these giant lizards were in their private lives!
He listened to a few more of the Red Dragon Demon's instructions. Now that all three trials were passed and the rewards were in hand, there was nothing left to linger for.
As for his other two teammates, Liu Qingzhu had received a brand-new fire bow, which she was carefully holding and wiping down.
The Winged human had also obtained a secret technique that allowed him to fling his feathers, causing them to instantly ignite and explode.
Although Bai Xiaodu had taken the lion's share, both of them wore the same expression on their faces. They had passed the trial having barely done anything. A sweet carry!
Once he confirmed everyone was ready, the Red Dragon Demon summoned a burning portal identical to the one they had entered through. The orange-red glow illuminated their faces, and he actually waved his claw in a very human-like gesture, signaling them to say goodbye.
Liu Qingzhu waved her hands enthusiastically in response and was the first to step through the portal.
The Winged human adopted the same posture, nodded heavily, and was the second to step through.
Bai Xiaodu didn't make any parting gestures. Just as he was about to enter the portal, he suddenly stopped, his fluffy silver-white tail trembling slightly with the movement.
The Red Dragon Demon was somewhat surprised and was about to ask what was going on.
The next moment, however, he saw Bai Xiaodu turn around. A strange, eerie light gleamed in his wine-red eyes.
Rate on N.U.
