novelraw Chapter 191-1: The Sacred Dragon Nest, The Half-Dragon’s Plan (1)
Chapter 191-1: The Sacred Dragon Nest, The Half-Dragon’s Plan (1)
[Do you wish to obey your Shell’s instincts and follow the assembly bell to go mining?]
To mine or not to mine, that was the question.
Seeing how pathetic the Mixed-Blood Half-Dragon’s attributes were, Lin Xun, by his usual nature, would simply have exterminated the entire half-dragon tribe, leaving none alive.
But thinking carefully, how could the Dark Dragon Knight’s path of inheritance be so simple?
Lin Xun noticed that the little half-dragon he was possessing now was the lowest of the low, a mining slave of debased blood.
In other words, there were surely much stronger beings among the half-dragon tribe, and recklessly charging in was unwise.
Besides, dying here meant the 24-hour anti-addiction penalty, so he had no choice but to proceed with caution.
“Fine, I’ll mine then. It’s not like I’m the one getting tired anyway, right, little half-dragon?”
[You step out of the cave. Many other Mixed-Blood Half-Dragons, naked and caked in black soot, also emerge.]
[As you watch them closely, you see that they share the same dull expressions and vacant stares, clearly their spines had been broken by endless labor.][You follow these half-dragons deeper into the canyon…]
[Soon, the half-dragons halt. You stand on tiptoe to look ahead…]
[Upon a black stone platform stands a half-dragon unlike any of the others.]
[Unlike you, filthy and unclothed, this one wore fine, ornate robes. Exposed upon its neck and limbs you even saw mottled, pitch-black scales, though not covering the entire body, just scattered patches here and there.]
[You have discovered Descendant of the Hermit – Hybrid Half-Dragon Who Gazes Upward!]
[It clapped its claws and roared loudly…]
[“Wretched mining slaves, look at this worthless trash you’ve dug up!”]
[“The Lords in the Dragon Nest are very displeased with your recent output. If you don’t produce high-purity Obsidian Venom Ore today, every one of you will be punished!”]
[“Now immediately, get back to mining!”]
[The Hybrid Half-Dragon swung its claw fiercely, its fangs bared.]
[Hearing the word ‘punished,’ you shudder uncontrollably, recalling bloody, harrowing memories.]
[You instinctively quicken your steps, joining the line of mining slaves heading deeper into the canyon.]
As expected, by choosing to mine, Lin Xun gathered some crucial information.
The Hybrid Half-Dragon was clearly of higher rank and power, and from its words, the mining slaves were extracting ore to satisfy ‘the Lords in the Dragon Nest.’
[Soon, you and the others arrive at your destination, the mining pit.]
[Looking beyond the pit, you see, looming in the depths of the canyon, a grand structure, an enormous nest built from pitch-black stone.]
[This was the sacred place revered by all half-dragons, the Dragon Nest!]
[A hint of yearning stirs within you, longing for that rich and bountiful sanctuary.]
[You look around. The other mining slaves crawl into the pit one by one. You remain behind a large tree, unnoticed.]
[Do you wish to quietly slip away from the miners and head to the Dragon Nest?]
“Mining… bah, I’m no mining slave. Why not go take a look at the Dragon Nest first?”
Lin Xun’s eyes lit up.
But he didn’t act rashly, he switched back to the Dancer Shell and activated stealth.
[You hide behind the tree, open a pair of dim eyes, and step forward with fluid dance motions…]
[Maintaining invisibility, you slip past the long line of miners and approach deeper into the canyon…]
[The road to the Dragon Nest is deserted. You walk this path of pilgrimage alone.]
[Step by step, the massive, black nest draws nearer, and you grow more awed by its colossal scale.]
[As you approach, you are shocked to feel a formless pressure pressing down on you.]
[This pressure is overwhelmingly strong, making each step harder; gradually, you cannot lift your foot to continue.]
[And you are still over a hundred meters away.]
[This tremendous pressure feels strangely familiar. You think carefully and recall that in the Dark Dragon Knight’s memories, you felt the same when standing before the Ancient Black Dragon.]
[You realize you cannot go any further. The sacred Dragon Nest only accepts descendants of pure blood. Entry by outsiders is desecration.]
“…Descendants of pure blood, huh. I wonder if the little half-dragon can get in?”
Lin Xun considered switching back to the little half-dragon’s Shell but hesitated, worried about revealing himself.
After a moment of indecision, he gritted his teeth and switched Shells.
[You have possessed the Mixed-Blood Half-Dragon Who Gazes Upward’s Shell!]
[You feel the invisible pressure lighten, and you catch your breath as you continue walking down the empty road…]
[But after only a few steps, the pressure intensifies again. Before you can reach the Dragon Nest, you collapse to your knees, unable to proceed.]
[Do you wish to return to the mining pit?]
“Damn this cursed game, you’re toying with me again!”
Lin Xun clenched his teeth, but there was nothing he could do.
According to the description, only descendants of pure blood could enter this place.
The Mixed-Blood Half-Dragon clearly didn’t meet the criteria. But that Hybrid Half-Dragon from earlier seemed promising.
He narrowed his eyes, mulling it over.
Then he chose the option to stealthily return to the mining pit.
[Most of the mining slave half-dragons had already crawled into the dark pit. Only a few were still waiting their turn.]
[Looking back toward the black stone platform, you see the supervising Hybrid Half-Dragon is long gone.]
[Perhaps it will reappear at night when the mining ends and the ore must be collected.]
[You hide behind the large tree, resume your half-dragon form, and quietly take your place at the end of the line.]
[Watching the numb, unfeeling mining slaves, you can’t help but pull out the Worn Cross Copper Pickaxe and sling the Linen Sack over your shoulder…]
[You are just about to follow the line into the mine when suddenly a claw pats you on the shoulder.]
[You turn your head to see a half-dragon with a broken horn quietly drawing near, questioning you in a low voice…]
[“Where did you run off to? It’s been looking for you all over!”]
[Before you can answer, it continues in a hushed tone.]
[“Remember to save some of your strength. Don’t be like you always are, wearing yourself out like a fool.”]
[“Once night falls, when the time you agreed on arrives, come to the mine entrance. Everything goes according to plan.”]
[The broken horn half-dragon finished speaking softly, then immediately slipped into the dark mine…]
Lin Xun frowned.
What plan? Why didn’t he know anything about this?
He waited silently for a while, but no text appeared indicating that the Shell had recalled the plan’s details.
[You step into the mine. There are no lights inside, only pitch darkness. Yet your gaze pierces the gloom, clearly seeing Obsidian Venom Ore embedded in the rock walls.]
[Guided by a slightly more robust half-dragon, you soon crawl along the winding tunnels and find your assigned mining spot.]
[No one else is around. From the distance comes the ding, ding, ding, of pickaxes striking stone, the sound echoing layer upon layer through the twisting shafts.]
[Do you wish to begin mining?]
At this moment, Lin Xun was most concerned with the Hybrid Half-Dragon’s Shell.
Once he obtained that Shell, perhaps he could enter the Dragon Nest.
According to the text, when the night shift ended, the overseer dragon would reappear. At that time, he could find a way to claim the Shell.
[You raise the Worn Cross Copper Pickaxe and begin the mechanical, drawn-out labor of mining…]