Chapter 45: The Knowledge God Ougma

"Alright, you've completed your task of bringing me back, you may go now," Sgena said warily, looking at Juan Ce Long.

She, judging others by her own petty mind, is now terrified that the dragon might take advantage of her still‑unhealed severe injury! She nonchalantly says, "Ah, a wasted trip. I originally planned to earn some gold coins to stock my dragon nest, hiding in this swamp, and now I haven't amassed more than, um… one gold coin!"

Sgena thought for a while and decided to state a number she herself probably wouldn't be interested in.

But she didn't expect that her ulterior motive had already been seen through by the other side.

"Humph, bringing you back wasn't a free service; do you know how much sweat I shed, how much growth time I wasted!"

Naimi Xisi said with an incredulous expression, "Time is priceless. I lost such a precious treasure for you, and you have not shown any gratitude before trying to drive me away?!"

"Are you looking down on me? You have insulted the great White Mystery!"

Seeing Juan Ce Long's posture of wanting to fight over a single word, Sgena realized.

She realized completely, just as she coveted the other's treasure; this hateful black dragon had already set its sights on her!

She let out a threatening roar—her head could be severed, blood could flow, but gold coins are the black dragon's only bottom line! Unfortunately, the hot blood comes fast and goes fast.

The severely wounded black dragon barely managed to open its maw to spew acid when Juan Ce Long knocked it down with a three‑to‑two spell.

Even though Naimi Xisi, now advanced to a juvenile dragon, has not yet completed the synchronization of 【Darkest Hour】, he can still crush a black dragon of the same age.

From this stage onward, the otherwise frail, ordinary‑bodied Juan Ce Long begins to possess the capital to contend with other True Dragons of the same tier.

The badly battered Sgena, unable to move, grimly extended a claw, and let out a heart‑rending scream as Juan Ce Long entered her nest to loot.

"No!!!"

After a long while, the emerging Naimi Xisi wore a disgruntled look and, with contempt, said, "Just over ten thousand gold coins? How can you be so poor?"

One should know that Naimi Xisi is a wealthy dragon worth two hundred thousand gold coins; this mere ten‑plus thousand gold coins truly disappoints him.

Sgena's gaze was hollow, as if she had lost her soul, and she said blankly, "Give the gold coins back to me, give them back to me."

Naimi Xisi rolled his eyes, "What do you mean give them back to you? This is my payment. Look at you—destitute and barren, with nothing. If not gold coins, what else? Your own self?"

He gave the scruffy dragon a once‑over, looking disdainful, "Then let's just forget it."

Sgena, upon hearing that, seemed to recall something, and her eyes brightened.

She tried to force a charming smile onto her skull‑like dragon head, looking hopeful.

"Right, look at me—how about it? As long as you give the gold coins back, I'll do anything; I'm even willing to sign a slave contract!"

Naimi Xisi pondered for a moment; ten thousand gold coins for a juvenile black dragon as a henchman—though the scruffy dragon's appearance was rather unsightly, it was indeed a decent deal.

He thought a while longer, extended five fingers, and said, "Five thousand gold coins."

"Five thousand gold coins, and you serve me for five hundred years!"

This harsh offer was intolerable for Sgena; she, with a scornful expression toward the dragon, said, "Five thousand?! Are you sending a beggar?"

"Ten thousand gold coins! Otherwise, no talk!"

Naimi Xisi breathed a sigh of relief; at least the dragon had some dignity, albeit little.

He nodded in agreement. Seeing him accept so readily, Sgena couldn't help but wonder if she was being shortchanged, and suddenly felt heartache.

But the die was cast; she could only bow her head and accept fate. Naimi Xisi raised his claw and swore, "I, Naimi Xisi, hereby pledge to the great Knowledge God—Ougma, that as long as Sgena serves me for five hundred years, worshipping me as master during that period, I will return the ten thousand gold coins to her!"

Sgena was somewhat surprised, but then she also extended a claw and made the same oath to the Knowledge God.

Swearing an oath to a deity is a guarantee among mortal beings that the other will keep their promise; should they break it, divine punishment descends.

However, this binding power can only restrain beings of level 17 or lower; any life that has stepped onto the Legendary path is beyond the reach of a divine oath.

For the Legendary, even the gods, if they wish to swear an oath, they must pledge to a more powerful entity.

Such as the Magic Net, or the Nether River that spans the Multiverse.

Sgena had assumed the other would choose to swear to the benevolent Dragon God, the Lord of the North Wind—Bahamut, but instead chose Ougma.

Thinking of the rumors about Juan Ce Long, she understood.

Naimi Xisi's choice to swear to Ougma was also considered; the vast majority of True Dragons have no faith, and they generally hold respect for their dragon gods.

Juan Ce Long is the same.

But the Knowledge God is a Juan Ce Long enthusiast; even though Juan Ce Long does not worship Him, Ougma responds to any request from a Juan Ce Long.

This powerful sage is extremely fond of creatures like Juan Ce Long that pursue knowledge (and gold) as everything, even establishing a spellcasting profession—Juan Ce Sage—for Feren Continent beings in Juan Ce Long's name.

It is said that before ancient Juan Ce Long die, Ougma even appears to preach, hoping these Juan Ce Long will continue living in his divine realm, and he will grant them the status of his holy spirit.

Regarding this deity, Naimi Xisi has a natural fondness; if he ever wishes to take up the Divine Spellcaster profession, Ougma would be his first consideration.

Having sealed the contract, Naimi Xisi hurriedly flapped his wings and rose, no longer wanting to linger in this foul place.

"When your wounds heal, bring your Dependents to my domain; do not damage the environment!" The flying Naimi Xisi scattered a shower of gold coins as he departed.

Those gold coins clinked as they fell onto the damp soil and water; Sgena's eyes lit up, and despite the pain she began forcibly dragging her body to gather the coins. — One month later, near the Cold Iron Vein.

The massive Naimi Xisi, coiling his plump fish‑fin tail, slid his slender fingers across the Light Screen before him, watching the data displayed.

True Name: Naimi Xisi

Race: Juan Ce Long (Psychic Dragon) Variant Growth Stage: Juvenile Dragon

Strength: 14, Dexterity: 16, Constitution: 17, Intelligence: 26 (16+10)

Perception: 21 (16+5)

Charisma: 25 (16+9)

Supernatural Abilities: Four times per day — Juan Ce Long Elemental Breath; three times per day — Darkvision; at will — Memory Reading; at will — Memory Modification; at will — Common Sense Modification; at will — Mind Control; four times per day — Psychic Gas Breath; at will — Mana Shockwave; at will — True Dragon Shape‑shift.

Traits: Immunity to psychic damage, immunity to mind control.

Class: Sorcerer (Spellcraft, Prophecy) — Level 8; Mage — Level 8; Psychic Sorcerer — Level 8

Mage (Sorcerer) casting resources: Cantrips — at will; First-circle Spell — 16 (Intelligence +10); Second-circle Spell — 14 (Intelligence +9); Third-circle Spell — 12 (Intelligence +8); Fourth-circle Spell — 10 (Intelligence +7)

Mana Point casting resources: 900; Activated Gem: Mind Gem; Activated Ability: Mind Control, tenfold amplification of casting resources.

Miracle Witnessed: The Birth of Naimi Xisi

(End of Chapter)