Chapter 198

Roar!

The white dragon, controlled by fear, let out a roar, and a mist appeared within the Reincarnation Barrier.

The mist covered a considerable area, like a heavy winter fog, almost enveloping a radius of a hundred meters, and beyond five meters visibility became poor.

The soldiers surrounding the white dragon cautiously drew back; in this mist they dared not act rashly, awaiting Mu Yi's command.

"Now you want to run? Too late!"

Mu Yi coldly pointed, and the Hungry Ghost Path unfolded, countless hungry ghosts frenziedly devouring the mist.

Dragons possess spellcasting ability, but the white dragon usually lacks much draconic magic, as it often behaves more like a beast.

And this evidently special white dragon can use magic, which Mu Yi did not find surprising.

The mist was devoured by the hungry ghosts, yet the white dragon's massive form continued to strain against the cloud-energy chains, the bonds binding it about to snap.

"You have gained the special feat 【Dragon Blood Baptism LV1】"

【Dragon Blood Baptism LV1】:

You successfully slew an adult white dragon, and after completing this dragon-slaying feat, you underwent your first Dragon Blood Baptism.

Suddenly, the white dragon let out a cry as if struck by lightning, its massive body instantly going limp on the ground, causing the earth to tremble.

If fortunate, perhaps all the living soldiers could undergo a Dragon Blood Baptism.

There was no such thing as serious injury; basically, any soldier struck by the white dragon had no hope of survival.

"You have performed the 【Dragon Blood Baptism】 ritual! …Now conducting physique check…"

Mu Yi nodded.

Mu Yi felt no turmoil, took the Wild Breath necklace from Xinya's neck, sighed, and thought karma truly elusive.

"Please, General, dispose of this woman!" Li Xian threw Xinya to the ground, clasped his fists, and said.

"I told you, greed will be your downfall!" Mu Yi raised his battle blade, pointing at Xinya, speaking with regret.

The white dragon's entire blood flowed into the blood sea of the barrier, and under Mu Yi's control, all living soldiers underwent the Dragon Blood Baptism.

Watching the soldiers begin the baptism, Mu Yi turned back to the limp Xinya on the ground.

"Ah~"

"I know I was wrong, spare me, there won't be a next time……please, please spare me……" The limp Xinya on the ground begged Mu Yi frantically.

"Go over there and receive the baptism!"

After cleaning the battlefield, Mu Yi led the soldiers to empty the dragon's nest; although he had only glimpsed it before, the white dragon's lair contained no shortage of gold and silver treasure.

To take down this big beast, many died, an unavoidable loss; after all, compared to Mu Yi and his men, this white dragon was quite strong, and being able to encircle and slay it was an honor.

The blade's light seemed to split the heavens themselves, the thunder-flashing blade cut through the air and slashed at the white dragon's neck, exactly where it had first struck.

However, within the Reincarnation Barrier, this gave Mu Yi more time to complete the Dragon Blood Baptism for the soldiers; the power hidden in the dragon's blood, even if it spilled out, would not dissipate, so there would be no waste.

Mu Yi understood that the white dragon's sudden collapse was related to Li Xian.

(Physique 1, Natural Armor 1, Toughness 1, each Dragon Blood Baptism attribute bonus increases)

Just as Mu Yi was checking the Zongwang news, Li Xian, covered in wounds, stumbled down from the white dragon's back, one hand holding Xinya, the other holding the dragon-slaying spear!

The blade's light lingered on the neck bone for an instant, then swept straight across.

However, for them, death was not the end, especially when dying within the Reincarnation Barrier.

Mu Yi counted the soldiers, couldn't help shaking his head; this loss was truly heavy.

Mu Yi's keen perception let him feel that within the dragon's blood covering his body, a power seeped into him—a force hidden in the dragon's bloodline, and the essence of the baptism.

"Die!"

Dragon blood makes you stronger and your skin tougher, granting you permanently +1 natural armor and an additional +1 toughness; this ability can gradually increase with the number of Dragon Blood Baptisms.

"Nearly a third died?"

Mu Yi calmly raised his blade, then brought it down without hesitation.

"Be a good person in your next life!"

Xinya's body fell to the ground, her head rolling a few times, filled with disbelief, as if even at the moment of death she could not believe Mu Yi would really kill her.

Some dragon blood splashed onto Mu Yi, giving him a burning sensation.

Instead, letting the dragon's blood cover his whole body, he seemed to be soaked in dragon blood; this is a special baptism ritual that can strengthen the body, and one of the foundations of the dragon-slaying warrior profession's strength.

Then he sent Li Xian over to receive the Dragon Blood Baptism; the dragon's blood is only this hot when the dragon has just died, making it easier to absorb the power hidden in the dragon's bloodline, and before long the blood will gradually cool and even solidify.

Mu Yi's eyes lit up; he gathered all Cloud Energy onto his battle blade, his form vanished in an instant, he activated tenfold acceleration, and rushed to the white dragon's side at top speed.

However, he did not leave.

——Ten Thousand Armies Take Head

The white dragon's head was severed by a single blade.

"You don't realize you're wrong; you're just afraid of dying!"

"Check passed, baptism successful!"

A spray of blood jetted from the severed neck, staining the ground red, then slowly seeping into the barrier.

Basically, all the deceased soldiers were reduced to two parts in the Hell Path's cremation.

The pure soul essence goes to the Human Path's Purchasing Virtue Platform for reincarnation; Mu Yi only needs to spend an equivalent amount of Zongwang Disaster Coins to retrieve them.

The other part, consisting of the soul's obsessions, grudges, battle intent, killing intent, etc., is reborn in the Asura Path as Asura warriors.

Going back and forth, for Mu Yi the loss is acceptable, after all what's lacking is only Zongwang Disaster Coins.

Instead, it achieved a numerical balance between the soldiers and the Asura equipment to some extent.

Previously, the Asura equipment could not cover every soldier, providing combat convenience; now it happens to be balanced, overall the legion's combat strength has not weakened, but rather improved somewhat.

While the soldiers bustled about moving the treasure from the dragon's nest, Mu Yi browsed the Zongwang news he hadn't had time to check earlier.

"Dragon slaying successful! ……"

You have successfully slain an adult dragon!! You have obtained partial information about the Epic Background Feat 【Dragon Slayer Lv1】!!......

【Dragon Slayer Lv1】 (Epic Background Feat):

In battle with the dragon, you gain an extra will bonus, and at the same time you inflict extra will intimidation on the dragon.

This feat can be improved by slaying dragons.

【Current Progress: Slay Dragon (1/5)】

It's something barely better than nothing, but from this Mu Yi roughly saw the principle of how the dragonslaying stone is made, which is likely inseparable from this Dragon Slayer feat.

Besides personal enhancement, there is also enhancement for the legion.

You led the legion to successfully slay an adult dragon!

Your troops, under your command, gained an extra will bonus in the process of challenging the dragon!... All survivors permanently gain 1 point of will!... All survivors permanently gain 1 point of morale! (Constant Ring Inspire Divine Art buff)

All the troops received the dragon blood baptism, becoming much stronger than before; the remaining dragon blood, after flowing into the Asura Path's blood sea, also let the Asuras reap this benefit.

"The Asura Path combined with dragon blood essence; all Asura warriors have innate armor 1 and toughness 1!"

Seeing the faint dragon scales appearing on the battle armor conjured by the Asura warriors, Mu Yi felt he could cooperate more with La Ge Na in the future; a mere sub‑legendary dragon yields such gains, so slaying a few legendary dragons would surely let him take off directly.

However, this dragon is indeed hard to kill; over two thousand people, surrounded by cloud energy, hacked at it for half a day and still couldn't slay this white dragon—such tenacious vitality makes one blush.

……

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The assembled bell rang, and a large number of northern barbarian warriors blocked Mu Yi's path.

"Halt, stranger! This is the Frostclaw Tribe!"

The tribal chief, riding a giant boar, looked with ill will at the distant newcomer; the visitor was clearly not a northerner, and being able to move freely in this icy snowfield fully demonstrated their strength.

Yet, seeing the banner insignia displayed by the other party, the tribal chief could not recall any related information; logically, someone this powerful should not be completely unknown.

Although the Frostclaw Tribe resides in a remote northern region, their information flow is not blocked.

"Frostclaw Tribe? Then I haven't come to the wrong place!"

Mu Yi looked at the barbarian warriors blocking his front; he could feel they were not weak, but only that much.

In short, they are merely a rabble.

"I came to make a deal: hand over your tribe's wilderness secrets, and I will help you become the Mother of Winter!" Mu Yi said indifferently.

First courtesy, then force; if they agree, all will be well; if not, we can only seize it by force.

"What a big mouth! What gives you the right to say that!"

The tribal chief narrowed her eyes, sizing up Mu Yi up and down; she could hear strong confidence in his words.

"You know this, right? This is my confidence!" Mu Yi threw the white dragon's head out from the barrier.

Mu Yi certainly didn't come to stir trouble; the three largest tribes in the north are, respectively, the Avarosa Tribe that once sheltered the white dragon, the Frostclaw Tribe aimed at hunting the white dragon, and the Northern Witch Tribe with many witches.

Xinya came from the Avarosa Tribe, so Mu Yi's desire for the wilderness secrets meant he could only come here to ally with the Frostclaw Tribe.

After all, for warfare, forming alliances is also indispensable.

"Frostclaw, did you kill it?"

Serenida's pupils quaked; she had never imagined their tribe's ultimate goal would appear here.

You should know, to maintain combat strength, the tribe almost always sends each batch of adult warriors, led by the chief, to hunt frost sub‑dragons; even a frost sub‑dragon inflicts heavy losses, and nearly every hunt kills many.

But it is precisely because they persist unyieldingly in survival against adversity that their tribe's combat power is very strong, after all, sub‑dragons are entirely treasure.

The barbarians fell into great confusion; some had approached that mountain peak, and merely the dragon's aura made them feel unable to move an inch, yet that was precisely that mysterious and mighty existence.

At this moment, only a single head lay before them, and some could not believe what they were seeing.

"We killed it! Now do you think I am qualified to cooperate with you?" Mu Yi asked Serenida.

"How do you want to cooperate?"

Serenida fell silent for a moment, then asked; her heart was moved, for with Mu Yi's help she could completely defeat the Avarosa Tribe and the Northern Witch Tribe, unite the entire north—this was her tribe's cherished wish, and the previous chief died for it.

"I only want the wilderness secrets; I can help you train your troops, and then we will march out together and crush the other Frostclaw tribes directly!"

Mu Yi calmly stated his demands; although Xinya is dead, her suggestion was actually quite good.

The fundamental reason Xinya died was not being stabbed, nor greed, but being his enemy.

If she had not been Mu Yi's enemy, perhaps she could truly have used the white dragon's power to sweep the tribes, unify all northern tribes, become the Mother of Winter, and wield a regional power.

"Good!" After a brief hesitation, Serenida decided to seize this once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.

"You have triggered a special quest: Winter's Sovereignty!"

Quest: Winter's Sovereignty

Recommended Quest Level: 15

Quest Difficulty: Hard

Quest Reward: Wilderness Secrets (quantity unknown)

Quest Requirement: Assist Serenida in becoming the Mother of Winter; the harvested wilderness secrets will all be handed over to you.

After the agreement was reached, Mu Yi brought his large army to reside in the Frostclaw Tribe and began training the tribe's barbarian warriors.

Though called cooperation, Mu Yi actually just wanted to recruit troops on the spot.

No need to master any talent; simply being able to form a basic formation and contribute to the cloud energy is enough.

Yet the outcome exceeded Mu Yi's expectations: the elite talent that he could never produce in his own troops somehow appeared in these northern barbarians.

Mu Yi looked at these barbarians, his face showing utter bewilderment—how exactly did this succeed?

"Intentional planting yields no blossoms; unintentional planting yields shade."

Clearly they succeeded, achieving this without any embellishment, relying solely on his own ability to train a force with elite talent, yet Mu Yi simply could not fathom how he did it.

Seeing them wield ice‑forged weapons as large as wheels, whirling in the snow, and wearing heavy armor, Mu Yi felt utterly perplexed.

Mu Yi named the talent born in these barbarians 'Ice Disaster'; it lets troops ignore the drawbacks of cold, using frost as weapons and armor, essentially a special force that requires no logistical support.

Even as the environment becomes more hostile, combat power grows stronger and weapons and armor become harder; after all, merely surviving in an ice‑filled wasteland is already a difficult task.

After acquiring this talent, those barbarians are like ice‑element giants, completely unafraid of the low temperatures of the ice‑filled wasteland.

However, this talent is extremely dependent on the environment; as long as Mu Yi drags the ice‑plague barbarians into the barrier, their combat power is almost instantly reduced to its original state, yet in the North such strong combat power is terrifying.

Even Li Xian cannot defeat the strongest ice‑plague barbarian of Winter's Claw in this icy snow.