Chapter 36: Recruiting Followers

Dark Mire Forest.

Southeast of Emerald City, after advancing several hundred kilometers, there is a gray-scaled Dragonfolk tribe near a lake.

This tribe, under Emerald City's division, is a small tribe with a population under a thousand.

"Quick, quick, the adult of the Diwu family has returned."

"The Diwu family? Is that the genius selected by the Emerald Academy?"

"Of course, in our Azure Water Tribe, besides that Diwu, who else is famous?"

Throughout the tribe, discussions of the gray-scaled Dragonfolk residents can be heard everywhere.

The elderly gray-scaled Dragonfolk feel gratified, while the young gray-scaled Dragonfolk show anticipation, admiration, longing, and other emotions in their pupils.

The Diwu family's residence, viewed by the gray-scaled Dragonfolk of the Azure Water Tribe, is absolutely a luxurious wooden house.

The old Diwu, whose scales are somewhat grayish-white, grasps the arm of his youngest son, "Diwu Gesi," with a sense of sorrow and nostalgia, saying, "It's been eight years, Diwu Gesi, you've grown truly strong." The aging gray-scaled Dragonfolk looks at this strong Dragonfolk standing before him, who is 2.2 meters tall, and feels gratified.

Eight years ago, the eight-year-old Diwu Gesi was discovered by a team from the Emerald Academy sent to test talent, his exceptional talent found, and he was directly recruited and taken away from the Azure Water Tribe that same day.

Afterwards, although Diwu Gesi had undertaken missions dispatched by the Academy abroad, he never once returned to the tribe to visit his family.

Diwu Gesi silently embraced his father, after a long while took a deep breath, and began to speak of the matter at hand,

"Father, I now serve a Black Dragon Prince; I have returned to the tribe for"

"Black Dragon Prince, recruiting followers?" After hearing his son's explanation, the old Diwu's pupils flashed with a gleam; he set aside his excess feelings and said eagerly, "Does that Prince have any criteria for recruiting followers?"

Diwu Gesi spoke frankly, "The Prince didn't mention any criteria; he left it entirely to me to handle."

Upon hearing this, the old Diwu's anticipation and excitement became unbearable; he said, "Can your several brothers"

"I can bring them, but." Diwu Gesi hesitated, then reminded, "Father, the place I'm going is quite dangerous."

"Dangerous? This is an opportunity to turn things around; if there were no danger, that would be strange."

The old Diwu laughed heartily at his son's reminder, not caring about the so-called danger.

In its view, the Black Dragon Prince would never let his genius kin foolishly go to their deaths under such circumstances; his several older children could still receive help from the young Diwu Gesi.

If even this frightens and cowers them, they might as well remain ordinary monsters for life! "Your several brothers will surely agree; I understand their nature—though not brave, they are certainly not cowards." The old Diwu said solemnly.

"Alright."

Having said all this, the father, as the young Diwu Gesi, indeed has no reason to object.

Moreover, Diwu Gesi returning home also indeed harbors this thought.

"Then I'll first post a recruitment notice in the tribe's square; Father, you go inform my several brothers."

At noon, the central largest square of the Azure Water Tribe.

Everywhere are spectating gray-scaled Dragonfolk, from children to elders; a glance shows over a thousand Dragonfolk, nearly the entire tribe mobilized.

On the stage, Diwu Gesi glanced around, spoke without preamble in a deep voice: "I am Diwu Gesi, indeed the Diwu Gesi selected by the Emerald Academy eight years ago. Now I have returned, bearing the Black Dragon Prince's mission, to recruit a retinue for a distant dangerous place. Anyone meeting any of the following conditions may become a follower."

First condition: reach at least Second Rank, age limit fifty years or younger.

Second condition: possess a special talent, such as construction, planting, forging, etc.

Third condition: age between fifteen and twenty, and at least First Rank Peak.

The gray-scaled Dragonfolk species stands at the threshold of higher races; after adulthood, they need not cultivate qi or magic, relying solely on their bodies they can tear apart lions, tigers, and other beasts untouched by elemental forces.

In terms of rank, that is First Rank Peak (biological level); a small portion of excellent individuals can reach Second Rank.

Biological rank requires no cultivation; it is a level naturally attained through growth, an innate racial talent.

After adulthood, humans are generally Zero Rank; some strong beasts that have not been nourished by elemental infusion can reach First Rank.

At Second Rank and above, whether beast or other species, they have intertwined with elemental forces.

For example, the Second Rank beast hunted by Lai Ang, the "Fierce Ox," though a beast, has been nourished by elemental forces, its physique surpassing ordinary beasts to become a supermundane beast.

Such creatures have low intelligence but possess powerful physiques.

As Diwu Gesi's words fell, the area beneath the stage instantly erupted in heated discussion.

"I meet the first condition and have no hindrances; I must seize this opportunity!" a middle-aged gray-scaled Dragonfolk thought deeply.

Although the Giant Dragon Prince has many opportunities to recruit followers, the monsters on the Emerald Dream Territory are truly too many; compared to the number of monsters, the number of giant dragons appears very scarce.

Moreover, monsters can breed a new generation after ten or twenty years; a few, such as Goblins and Dog-headed people, these lowly monster races, can produce a new generation in less than five years.

For the long-lived Giant Dragons, they are willing to cast some attention on powerful or promising monsters, while paying little heed to others.

Those that are too weak, with lifespans of twenty or thirty years, may die of old age while the Giant Dragon takes a nap. "Mother, I wish to become the Prince's follower and follow Lord Diwu Gesi!"

A young, still tender gray-scaled Dragonfolk said to the female gray-scaled Dragonfolk beside him, his tone firm, his eyes revealing longing and desire.

The female gray-scaled Dragonfolk, though somewhat reluctant, still agreed to her child's decision.

In the depths of the Dragonfolk's bloodline, there inherently flows a factor of belligerence and valor.

Diwu Gesi's recruitment of followers is proceeding smoothly here.

On the other side, the black-haired hyena-man Huo Ge wanders among various monster tribes, there are hyena-men, also dog-headed people, and even the territories of snakefolk and ogres.

Relying on the Emerald Academy's insignia, he has deterred some malicious monsters with ill intent, and Huo Ge's recruitment of followers is also proceeding vigorously.

Everything is developing toward a better direction.

Ten days later, Huo Ge and Diwu Gesi gathered the monster retinue they had recruited at a certain location.

(End of chapter)