Chapter 35

"These are all changes brought by the master's grace." Diwuges spoke frankly.

"Maybe." Lai Ang also didn't argue, nodding slightly.

Although both the contract and the dragon veins can strengthen Diwuges's power, they mainly increase its limit.

Increasing strength still requires sweating and effort.

Previously, one needed to put in ten parts of sweat to gain one part of harvest; now only two or three parts of sweat yield one part of harvest, efficiency has greatly increased.

"Perfect, you're also on the verge of breaking through; slaughter and battle can let you break through to the fourth stage faster." Lai Ang, after a moment's thought, used his mental power to control a scroll map placed at the corner of the dragon's nest.

A map five meters wide and ten-odd meters long unfolded between them.

The map is very detailed; at its center is Emerald City.

Around it is the sphere of influence radiating from Emerald City.

Countless large and small mountains, rivers, marshes, and the various outposts established by Emerald City are marked on it with different symbols.

Lai Ang's thought moved, and a blue water-element particle condensed in midair.

The blue element particle drifted down, finally landing in a corner slightly east of the map's southern edge, staining that part of the map blue.

Diwuges watched this scene silently, instead slightly raising his head to look up at the black dragon overlooking it, appearing attentive.

"I've inquired; this region has a large outflow lake." The black dragon spoke slowly.

An outflow lake refers to a lake whose water connects with rivers and eventually flows into the ocean.

"This outflow lake is called Fish Spirit Marsh, mainly occupied by large and small fishfolk tribes, plus some scattered other monster tribes; I want you to go there and take root for me."

After hearing this, Diwuges did not speak immediately, because they knew the master certainly had not finished speaking.

Indeed—

"I bestow upon you the surname—Darkscale. You shall, in the name of the Darkscale tribe, summon those gray-scaled dragonfolk who willingly follow you to Fish Spirit Marsh, or other monsters, on the Emerald Dream territory."

"I will do everything I can." Diwuges accepted this arduous and dangerous task in a low voice.

Fish Spirit Marsh is vast, with intertwining and complex waterways; agile fish swim there to exhaustion, and the scenery they pass through is merely an insignificant part of Fish Spirit Marsh.

There live many intelligent monsters and wild monsters.

Nominally, it is also territory of the Emerald Dream, but because it is far from Emerald City, the influence a dragon can exert there is already negligible.

But Lai Ang took a liking to that place.

They basically already planned to wait until graduating from the academy, then take Fish Spirit Marsh as their territory.

The Emerald Dream occupies over thirty percent of the Dark Marsh Forest's territory, and this thirty percent at least gathers more than half of the Dark Marsh Forest's essence.

On this territory there are copper, iron, silver, gold, magic stone, and various other ordinary or rare mineral veins.

Monster types number in the tens of thousands, breeding here.

Terrifying high-level demons, hidden yet powerful underground wise kingdoms, and rare fairies with special abilities—even as powerful as the Emerald Dream cannot fully master this land; it can only, over long ages, cultivate one lord dragon after another and many elite monsters to slowly erode it.

With lord dragons as the core and elite monsters as the backbone, like nails, centered on Emerald City and radiating outward, this makes the Emerald Dream's power ever stronger.

"Remember, act with caution, putting your life first." Lai Ang gave this advice. The gray-scaled dragonfolk named Diwuges has decent talent, and gray-scaled dragonfolk are innately close to black dragons, plus they are bound by the dragon kin contract; as a confidant to cultivate, that is certainly an excellent choice.

Naturally, Lai Ang also does not want them to die accidentally in Fish Spirit Marsh.

However, it's fine; Diwuges's strength is not weak now, and after breaking through to the fourth stage, Fish Spirit Marsh should not pose too great a threat to them.

The fourth to sixth stages belong to the intermediate level; even placed in the Emerald Dream, they are sufficient to serve as a captain of an elite monster squad.

Reaching the seventh stage and above means entering the realm of true powerhouses; even if Fish Spirit Marsh harbors such beings, in fact it certainly does, given its vastness—hiding a hundred-meter ancient demon would not be surprising.

However, such powerhouses probably would not want to clash with the Emerald Dream's monsters, for once marked on the Emerald Dream's extermination or subjugation list, they would likely have to flee for their lives.

Diwuges left the Dragon Fort Plains carrying Lai Ang's mission.

Lai Ang also began to cultivate in tranquility.

In the idle slot, the experience of the second-circle spell "Water Magic Cannon" is increasing bit by bit.

They themselves, meanwhile, one side cultivates the Black Dragon Contemplation Diagram to boost mental power, while also cultivating Black Water Battle Qi.

Although the improvement speed is much slower than idle training, gaining even a bit of experience is still something.

On the other side.

Having received the master's task, Diwuges immediately returned to the academy dormitory and found their good friend—the Black-furred hyena person 'Huoge'.

"Going to Fish Spirit Marsh?" Huoge's greenish wolf pupils narrowed slightly; once, when going out on an academy mission, they happened to have learned about that place.

Chaotic, dangerous, complex.

"Are you afraid?" Diwuges retorted.

They actually know their friend Huoge is not really afraid of the so-called danger; they merely show this look out of concern.

Therefore Diwuges deliberately provoked Huoge with words.

Indeed, the black-furred hyena person's face instantly darkened (though you can't tell), they slammed a fist against the wall and snorted disdainfully, "I, Huoge, would be afraid? The monsters I've killed with my own hands exceed double digits! Let's go."

The indignant Huoge looked up and saw Diwuges laughing, then immediately reacted, angrily saying,

"You damn thick-scaled dragon person, daring to play tricks on me, Huoge the great!"

One dragon person and one hyena person laughed, trading insults, then began packing their luggage and equipment, and afterwards left the Emerald Academy together.

"The master bestowed upon me a surname, granting me the right to found a tribe. Next, you shall accompany me to the various gray-scaled dragonfolk tribes to recruit a batch of strong and brave youths." Diwuges obviously had a plan in mind.

"You were granted a surname?" Upon hearing this, Huoge's greenish wolf eyes immediately revealed undisguised envy.

In the Emerald Dream, having a surname is extremely glorious; among monsters it already constitutes a noble class.

Possessing many rights, recruiting monsters to form a tribe is merely one of the more important ones.

"Rest assured, as long as you achieve merit in this mission, I will surely report to the master. The master's mind is broad, and they will certainly give you a reward." Diwuges comforted their friend.

"Perhaps not only will they bestow upon you a surname, but also grant you the dragon kin contract."

Upon hearing this, the black-furred hyena person's eyes flashed with a glint of light and anticipation.

(End of chapter)