Ashen Dragon

"Get out of the way! Everyone, get out of my way!" A youthful roar erupted from the Dragon's Maw, sharp yet impossible to underestimate.

This was the transcendent status of the giant dragons within the Dragon Worship Church; even a hatchling dragon commanded the utmost respect from the cultist priests.

The cultist priest bowed his head and said cautiously, "My Lord, please wait a moment. The enemies have been increasing lately, and we must obey orders from above..."

"Orders? We dragonkin are the true masters of the Dragon Worship Church! How dare you inspect me?" Mantou continued to act with arrogance and rude demeanor.

The cultists of the Dragon Worship Church did not doubt; instead, they became more convinced of the Red Dragon's identity.

After all, such is the nature of Red Dragons—brutal, unruly, capricious—committing murder on the streets would be commonplace.

If this Red Dragon were docile and reasonable, they would begin to doubt its true identity.

The cultist priest gave a dry laugh and whispered to the soldier conveying orders, "Quickly, go find Lord Grotar and inform him there's a cocky young Red Dragon at the city gate."

"Yes, Lord Elon." The messenger mounted a skinny Bipedal Wyvern and flew straight into Lin Ying City.

Soon, accompanied by a foul wind, a massive green figure descended from the skies, appearing before the crowd, causing them to look up.

A colossal body over ten meters long, olive green scales, with a crest extending over half its spine—it was a Green Dragon, and a Mature Green Dragon at that.

The cultist priests and dragonborn soldiers knelt down, saluting this mighty giant dragon.

Grotar let out a fierce roar, looking down at the crowd below, "Who dares cause trouble in our Green Dragon's territory?"

It really came!

Mantou's heart skipped a beat in fear but still tried to remain calm as he stepped forward, "I believe...you must be Grotar."

The Mature Green Dragon narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at the notably tiny Red Dragon before him, an eerie light flashed in his eyes, "A Red Dragon hatchling that hasn't even left its nest yet?

"Interesting, did your parents not teach you to remain humble before the strong?"

The Green Dragon's voice grew thicker, gradually turning into a roar, the expansive Dragon's Might spreading out, causing Mantou to involuntarily step back.

Suddenly, Grotar's actions halted abruptly.

The Mature Green Dragon tilted his head, scrutinizing Summer Night Autumn Rain behind Mantou, a wary light gleaming in his narrow vertical pupils.

—He sensed a familiar aura.

"This aura...is identical to that damned woman's!" Grotar gritted his teeth, recalling the humiliating pursuit by a dragonborn woman several days ago.

Even now, recollecting that day, he would still feel an impulse to flay and skin the woman, often resorting to murder to vent his anger.

Grotar eyed Mantou maliciously, "Has your Red Dragon Sect finally confessed to that deed?"

Hmm?

Did they accidentally stumble into some strange side plot? It's not part of their plan at all, is it?

Mantou was full of doubt.

Singo said in the chat box: No matter what he says, just play along; the main priority is to infiltrate the core area of Lin Ying City, sneak into the Dragon Breeding Ground.

Remember, be evasive with your words, make it confusing for the Green Dragon, and if necessary, play dumb.

Grotar stepped forward, fixing a piercing gaze on him, "Heh, is this the sincerity of the Red Dragon Sect? Sending a hatchling that hasn't fully grown its scales yet! Do you intend to insult me?"

Under the Green Dragon's pressure, Mantou trembled, feeling the dragon form nearly collapsing, barely maintaining it.

He forced himself, saying, "Green Dragon, you—"

Grotar sneered, "Laughable Red Dragon hatchling, so timid, can't even speak in front of me."

He grinned, revealing a ferocious smile, "But it's just right, I'll take you hostage, and those Red Dragon Sect members should shell out quite a few gold coins."

"Of course, the most important thing is to get them to hand over that damned woman! I want to tear her to pieces!"

However, despite the conflict among sects, the five-colored dragons seldom resorted to killing each other, as they shared a common divine—Mother of Evil Dragons, Five-Colored Dragon Queen Tiamat.

Thinking of this, the Green Dragon swung his claw, ordering, "Take this Red Dragon hatchling and his retainers to the inner city area, keep them under strict watch, do not let them leave at will."

"Yes, my Lord."

The dragonborn soldiers quickly surrounded them but did not lay a hand on them, considering how the other party was a noble giant dragon, vastly different in status.

The cultist priest then bent forward, gesturing invitingly, displaying a smirk, "Red Dragon sire, my apologies, please proceed inside."

Currently, Bod Gate is governed by a four-person council, all of whom are Grand Dukes. One of them serves as the council leader; if the votes are deadlocked, Great Duke Elder Ravenclaw makes the decision. The Upper City's security is managed by the official police force Watch from the elite ranks, while other areas are maintained by a mercenary corps known as "Flaming Fist," Great Duke Elder Ravenclaw also serves as the mercenary corps' supreme leader. The headquarters are housed in Bodlan Sea Tower, the strongest fortress against naval invasions at Bod Gate. Like a crescent enveloping the economic heart of Bod Gate—Gray Harbor—hundreds of merchant ships enter and leave every day, bringing gold coins along with greed and evil. The upper district is higher in elevation, consisting of Castle District, Temple District, Manoburn District, and Wide Alley District, with numerous religious buildings, Miracle Hall, and Supreme Miracle House, serving as the church centers of God of Craft Gund in Bod Gate. Miracle Hall showcases Gund's great inventions, while Supreme Miracle House doubles as a workshop facility. The architecture in the lower district largely consists of stone houses, spanning six districts, namely Sea Tower District, Blonrich District, Steep District, Crowded Side District, East Road District, and Branpton District. The middle class generally resides in Blonrich District, close to the noble territory of the upper district, while East Road District near Stone Lizard Gate connecting the outer district is relatively mixed with a variety of people. Many lively bars and cheap inns populate here; Sea Tower District is where Flaming Fist mercenary corps are stationed, with their headquarters Bodlan Sea Tower built on the largest rocky offshore island near the district. Branpton District and Steep District are relatively rundown, serving as living communities for sailors and laborers. The outer city district is spread along the Chongsar River, gathering temporary structures and slums, marked by a stone bridge—Flying Dragon Crossroad—that spans across the Chongsar River, gathering numerous vendors, even expanding the bridge with boards and adding many buildings on top. Law and order don't exist here; Flaming Fist can only protect a very limited scope. Poor people or criminals who cannot settle within the city congregate here. The sewer arch's moss glimmers a ghostly green under the dim phosphorescent lamp, the murky sewage swamps over the boot soles, each step stirs a viscous "gurgling" sound. Purple-black ooze seeped from wall cracks, converging towards the drain like veins—this is the neuro-corrosion unique to the Spirit Sucking Monster Nest; ordinary people inhaling it experiences auditory hallucinations as if countless tiny tendrils squirm within the ear canal. Suddenly, a "click" of misplaced bones came from behind a broken cast iron pipe, as if something was twisting through the narrow space. A Spirit Sucking Monster burst from the water, its pale humanoid body covered in decaying matter, octopus-like head tentacles vibrating rapidly, releasing visible purple Mind Shock Wave. The guard at the front had his helmet dented, his eyeballs burst into a blood mist under the heightened cranial pressure; the second person had the tentacles pierced into his ear without a scream, his spinal cord extracted like a puppet. The only survivor stumbled back, the roar of a misfiring musket was utterly devoured by the collective sub-frequency screech from the Spirit Sucking Monsters.