Chapter 148
Chapter 148
“This is bad!”
Dragon God Abel and Yun An, both racing toward the cavern, sensed the disturbance at the same time. “He actually found where the sacred dragon eggs are hidden!”
Neither dared hesitate. They rushed forward at full speed, determined to prevent the intruder from succeeding.
A journey of only a few minutes suddenly felt impossibly long.
“Quickly, send a long-distance message to the guards outside and have them enter the cavern to stop him!” Cork urged.
The cavern containing the dragon eggs was forbidden ground, and numerous powerful dragons guarded its exterior. They could stop the intruder’s scheme immediately.
Before, the three men had feared alerting their quarry. Now, that was no longer a concern.
“No!”
Yun An shook his head.
Cork could not understand. “W-Why not?”
“Because the guards outside the cavern are already fighting them!” Yun An answered helplessly. “More than one enemy infiltrated the Dragon Domain!”
Cork was dumbfounded.
…
Inside the dim cavern…
The three finest dragon eggs had been placed in a separate chamber. Intense elemental energy flowed within them, and each rested upon a unique pedestal that continuously nourished it from below. Their treatment far surpassed that of the other eggs.
So they were here!
Zhou Ming’s eyes lit up.
It went without saying that not every dragon egg would be offered to a Dragon Knight to form an equal contract.
Once these three hatched, they would surely become pillars of the dragon race. One of them might even become the next Dragon God.
Zhou Ming reached out and touched the barrier. He could sense that it completely enclosed the eggs from every direction, making it impossible for an outsider to reach them.
“How am I supposed to get one?”
Zhou Ming’s breathing quickened. The treasure lay only a few meters away, yet he could not cross that distance.
With his strength, breaking the barrier was impossible!
This defensive barrier was undoubtedly difficult for even a god-tier powerhouse to shatter!
Hum!
Suddenly, the Crimsonflame Sacred Dragon Egg trembled, then began to roll. The tiny life within it appeared to possess exceptionally high intelligence, even though the time for its birth had not yet come.
Clack!
The dragon egg dropped onto the ground. Zhou Ming’s heart lurched at the sight, terrified that it might crack.
After rolling several times, the Crimsonflame Sacred Dragon Egg reached the edge of the barrier, separated from Zhou Ming by the thinnest of boundaries!
“So you were the one calling to me!” Zhou Ming placed his hand against the barrier. He now understood that this very Crimsonflame Sacred Dragon Egg had released the fire-element power that allowed him to discover the cavern’s hidden depths.
This was the companion he needed!
The Black Dragon Egg had thought far too highly of itself and refused even to connect with him. The moment that happened, Zhou Ming knew a dragon species incapable of recognizing his potential had no future worth mentioning.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
At the same time, the ground and mountains shook.
An intense battle seemed to be raging outside, accompanied by intermittent draconic roars.
“Wait for me, little one!”
Zhou Ming’s gaze softened, but his voice rang with iron conviction. “I’ll make you the strongest dragon on the Destiny Continent!”
With that, he turned and left without sparing another glance for any of the other dragon eggs.
Outside the cavern…
Several god-tier powerhouses were locked in fierce battle with the dragons.
Qianying, Renee, Yun Wuyou, Cangxuan, and Ye Zhibei had all arrived outside the cavern.
“Well?”
Renee remained perfectly steady beneath the dragons’ attacks and turned to ask, “Did you get the dragon egg?”
With so much at stake, their plan had naturally changed. They could no longer afford to maintain their disguises and had to use their full strength to help Zhouyou Shijie obtain the egg.
Zhou Ming shook his head.
“Why didn’t you take it?” Renee asked in surprise.
“Because I’m going to take that dragon egg openly and honorably, not steal or rob it!” Zhou Ming replied with a smile. Then his voice deepened. “Everyone, stop fighting for now!”
“ROAR!”
A deafening roar came from the distance.
Everyone looked over and saw Dragon God Abel and Dragon Domain Guardian · Yun An racing toward them.
At the sight, the dragons also stopped attacking.
“Zhouyou Shijie, secretly infiltrating the Dragon Domain to seize a dragon egg is hardly conduct befitting the leader of a faction.” Yun An frowned, anger in his voice, but he did not act rashly.
One glance was enough to tell him how terrifying the enemy lineup was.
If they truly fought to the death, even mobilizing every dragon in the Dragon Domain might not be enough to defeat them. The battle would inevitably end in mutual ruin.
“What?”
The Dragon Domain Guardian’s revelation left Submit and Perish, who stood at the cavern entrance, dumbfounded. “Zhouyou Shijie, it really is you?!”
“I wouldn’t call it stealing.”
Since his identity had been exposed, Zhou Ming stopped hiding. He canceled Perfect Disguise on the spot and revealed his true appearance. “First place in the Dragon Domain Trial Tournament was supposed to receive a dragon egg. You could say I earned that reward through my own ability, don’t you think?”
“But the trial was only open to members of the Dragon Domain faction. You do not belong to the Dragon Domain, or even the Light Faction!” Abel rejected his argument.
Zhou Ming nodded. “Which is why I haven’t taken the dragon egg yet. I want to negotiate with you!”
“Negotiate?”
One of the dragons flew into a rage. “What is there to negotiate?!”
Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. “That isn’t for you to decide. Dragon God, Dragon Domain Guardian, will you fight or will you talk?”
“Well…”
Yun An and Abel exchanged a look. Naturally, neither wanted to launch a major conflict.
The Divine Ember Queen, the Abyssal Sword Demon, and the Sword Saint were all top-tier powerhouses. A battle against them was no laughing matter.
“Let’s hear your proposal first,” Yun An said.
Zhou Ming spoke frankly. “I want one dragon egg. In return, should the Dragon Domain face danger in the future, the Hope Faction will lend its full support!”
“Why should we give you one?” another dragon demanded, equally dissatisfied with those terms.
“As I said, we’re negotiating!” Zhou Ming replied evenly. “If you object, then we can continue discussing the terms.”
“You can have a dragon egg!” The Dragon God understood exactly what Zhouyou Shijie wanted. “But forget about a sacred dragon egg!”
Trading an ordinary dragon egg for diplomatic relations with the Hope Faction would certainly not be a loss.
After all, although the Dragon Domain maintained close relations with the Light Faction, it remained a regional hegemon in its own right and did not need to bow to anyone.
“Xiaoyou!”
Zhou Ming did not answer him directly.
“Chirp, chirp!”
The black Xuanniao spread its wings and flew out of the pet space.
“First, any sacred dragon that comes with me will never be mistreated. Second…” Zhou Ming said solemnly, “I’ll give you two SSS-Rank dragon eggs in return!”
One good trick could take you anywhere!
For a single chance to benefit from Super Lucky Star, the Mysterious Merchant had not only offered Perfect Disguise, but also fifty thousand in free purchasing credit.
How could the Dragon Domain remain unmoved?
“!!”
The expressions of the Dragon God and Dragon Domain Guardian shifted at once.
They understood Xuanniao’s ability all too well!
The Dragon Domain would certainly not lose out in this trade!
“You absolutely can’t agree! If you make a deal with him, the Light Faction will probably come demanding an explanation again. That would put the Dragon Domain in a very awkward position,” Submit and Perish hurriedly objected.
A sacred dragon egg!
That was even more valuable than the Water-Fire Dragon Egg in his arms.
If Zhouyou Shijie obtained it, wouldn’t his strength soar beyond reach?
“Dragon Domain Guardian, what do you think we should do?” Dragon God Abel secretly transmitted to Yun An. “I’m rather tempted to accept the deal…”
Sacred dragon eggs were certainly precious, but raising the dragons within them, including the hatching process itself, was extraordinarily difficult.
Maintaining three of them at once was already placing some strain on the Dragon Domain.
“You must not agree so easily!” Yun An rebuked him. “You are the Dragon God. How can such a tiny profit cloud your judgment?”
“My mistake!”
Abel looked ashamed. “Then I’ll leave the decision to you!”
“Very well!”
…
After the two secretly conferred for a moment, Dragon Domain Guardian · Yun An stepped forward. His silver eyes fixed upon Zhou Ming as he spoke with utmost seriousness. “Zhouyou Shijie, there is something you do not understand. Dragon eggs are exceedingly precious. They are treasured offspring that dragons bring into this world only after enduring unimaginable hardship!”
“In the future, they will become the brothers, sisters, family, and dearest friends of everyone in the Dragon Domain!”
The Dragon Domain Guardian’s words deeply moved everyone present.
“Oh?”
Zhou Ming had not expected the Dragon Domain Guardian to possess so much more restraint than the Dragon God. “Then what do you propose?”
…