Chapter 86: Evolution, Evolution!

After a small amount of turmoil.

The Red-Eye Clan of Howling Cliff officially became Luo Si’s vassal clan.

He gazed at the blood-tooth commandant, whose face was dripping with flattery and tail wagging, and considered whether to perform a Dragon Vein transformation upon it.

The Iron Dragon Mother already had Dragon Vein vassals among her subordinates—her most trusted bodyguards, used to guard her treasure vaults or carry out orders. In fact, her trust in her Dragon Vein vassals surpassed even that she placed in her own offspring.

The core vassals of dragons almost always undergo Dragon Vein transformation.

Dragon Vein vassals are dragons’ confidants, their extended claws and fangs, and they possess absolute loyalty to the dragon that bestows upon them dragon blood.

“The cost is too high—I cannot afford it now.”

Luo Si shook his head slightly, rejecting the idea.

Only young dragons over fifty years of age qualify for Dragon Vein transformation, and it requires the expenditure of vital blood, at the cost of weakening one’s own strength.

Transforming an ordinary creature into a Dragon Vein being is akin to a rebirth.

The process demands torment akin to death, requiring immense resolve and mental fortitude to be reborn from the flames; if chosen carelessly, the success rate falls below ten percent.

This wolf-man commander did not look like he could survive Dragon Vein transformation.

Moreover, the target of Dragon Vein transformation is not chosen lightly.

Only creatures with exceptional innate talent and considerable potential are granted the privilege of transformation.

Otherwise, what use is expending vast amounts of dragon blood only to end up with a worthless creature?

No dragon could tolerate such a disgrace.

An adult dragon may have many vassals, but the number of core Dragon Vein leaders remains always few.

Wolf-men.

Earth Storm Bears.

Gray-Mane Wolf-men.

Luo Si saw no potential in any of them worthy of Dragon Vein transformation. Upon reflection, he thought that if the original Storm Bear chieftain had been willing to submit, he might have granted him favor.

“Perhaps among the lizardmen of the Rift-Claw Clan, or the ogres of the Chew-Bone Clan.”

“Could there be any candidates worthy of transformation?”

Luo Si mused.

But given his nature, unless he had grown strong enough that Dragon Vein transformation would no longer weaken him, he would never waste his own blood and power to elevate another creature.

In Luo Si’s view,

Only one’s own strength matters most.

If he was not strong, even a host of Dragon Vein vassals would be useless.

Pushing aside his thoughts, Luo Si lowered his gaze to the blood-tooth commandant and said: “The Moon-Howl Clan’s Gray-Mane Wolf-men now serve under me as well. You both serve me together.”

The blood-tooth commandant immediately flattered: “It is their honor to follow you!”

The words sounded as if he himself had been the first to submit.

Then Luo Si began issuing orders, establishing regulations to stagger the raiding and ambush schedules of the Red-Eye Clan from those of the Moon-Howl Clan along the Scaled Earth Rift Road.

This would increase the likelihood of encountering caravans, while preventing conflict between the two clans.

A dragon’s vassals obey only the dragon.

Different vassal clans, competing for favor, often fight violently, and dragon lords rarely intervene in such “rivalry”—sometimes even inciting it themselves.

In dragon tradition,

“The Lord’s Doctrine” and even “The Monarch’s Doctrine” are nearly mandatory knowledge.

“Not just the Moon-Howl Clan.”

“The lizardmen of the Rift-Claw Clan. The ogres of the Chew-Bone Clan.”

“They will all soon kneel beneath my Dragon Wing, ruling the Scaled Earth Rift Road alongside you.”

Luo Si said.

“It is inevitable—they will all bow before you, submitting to your power.”

“Should any need arise, the Red-Eye Clan will charge ahead as your vanguard.”

The blood-tooth commandant said respectfully.

“Hochi, I appreciate your cunning and wit.”

Luo Si said with deep meaning: “Among you and the other clan leaders, whoever performs better shall be granted the chance of Dragon Vein transformation.”

Upon hearing this, the blood-tooth commandant froze for a moment, then burst into ecstatic joy.

“Great Dragon Lord, I shall never disappoint you!”

His spirit surged, brimming with anticipation.

In the oral tales and legends passed among wolf-man clans, the honor of Dragon Vein transformation was deeply coveted.

The natural lifespan of ordinary wolf-men is a pitiful thirty-five years; even powerful individuals like commanders rarely live beyond a century. But if one succeeds in Dragon Vein transformation and gains even a trace of immortal blood, living two or three hundred years becomes possible.

Beyond lifespan,

the strength of Dragon Vein wolf-men is beyond the reach of ordinary ones.

Driven by the pursuit of survival and power, the blood-tooth commandant now thought of nothing but how to please Luo Si, win against other clans, and earn the right to Dragon Vein transformation.

Not long after, Luo Si departed Howling Cliff.

He would not remain indefinitely at Howling Cliff or the New Moon Valley.

He gave no precise timetable for his return, nor did he reveal where they might find him.

He only demanded they follow his orders: raid passing caravans, control merchants, and establish supply routes to secure black oil and magic energy stones.

When he returned next, he would evaluate their performance and reward or punish accordingly.

This was not deliberate mystification—it was caution.

Raiding caravans and controlling merchants carried risks; they might attract attention and trigger future dangers, just as when the earth-spiders stole black oil and were discovered by the Blackrock Dwarves. Caution was necessary.

As for why he did this despite knowing the risks,

it was the result of Luo Si’s careful deliberation and cost-benefit analysis.

He was cautious, but not weak or cowardly.

When the stakes were high enough, he was willing to bear certain risks.

Hiding entirely in the wilderness, avoiding all danger, might bring temporary peace—but it would slow his growth.

Luo Si’s daily training already generated noticeable disturbances, risking exposure; to fully avoid risk, he would have to reduce the intensity of his training.

Moreover,

in Luo Si’s view,

his own weakness was the greatest risk of all!

Every danger stems from weakness.

The longer one remains weak, the more dangers multiply from all directions.

To grow strong is to make the entire world gradually peaceful and calm.

Fine rain fell continuously across the night sky, the wind never ceasing.

Luo Si thought to strike while the iron was hot—go and subdue the Rift-Claw Clan’s lizardmen and the Chew-Bone Clan’s ogres, fully unifying the surrounding beast clans and firmly controlling this branch road.

But before he reached his destination,

Luo Si suddenly felt a wave of fatigue.

This fatigue was unnatural, unusual.

He had not expended much energy among the Red-Eye Clan; with his physical capacity, such activities should not have caused him weariness.

Along with the fatigue came

a sense of weariness, a growing drowsiness.

“My Dragon Sleep is approaching.”

These sensations surprised Luo Si.

They were not true fatigue or drowsiness—they were a signal, reminding him to set aside all other matters and prepare for Dragon Sleep.

Dragon Sleep is not ordinary slumber.

A dragon’s growth is not linear; during Dragon Sleep, its growth accelerates dramatically. All experience gained from daily training or battle, all accumulated energy, becomes nourishment, propelling the dragon into a major leap forward.

Ordinary naps do not count.

Before becoming an ancient dragon, each age stage grants only one true Dragon Sleep.

The duration of a young dragon’s slumber is typically one to five years.

The richer the accumulation, the longer the slumber—and the greater the growth achieved.

Due to their inherent laziness and neglect of training, most young dragons sleep only one or two years.

Moreover, during the young dragon stage (ages six to fifteen), Dragon Sleep usually occurs only after age twelve; if delayed further, awakening directly as a juvenile dragon is common.

Luo Si is now over eight years old, but not yet nine.

The signs of Dragon Sleep now appearing surprised him.

Upon reflection, he suspected it was due to his daily relentless conditioning of his body, honing his claws and fangs, and consuming black oil and fairy scales—his body and spirit had matured prematurely, triggering early Dragon Sleep.

But regardless of the exact cause,

it was a good thing.

It would allow him to rapidly strengthen himself and pass through his weak phase.

“My Dragon Sleep will likely last three to four years, perhaps even up to five.”

Luo Si thought.

As a result, some of his plans would have to be disrupted.

It no longer makes sense to subdue the Claw-Tear Clan and the Bone-Chew Clan; even if the caravans brought back black oil or magic energy stones, he could not use them during his slumber.

Accidents and uncertainties are normal in life.

Garos was not troubled by this and began to ponder how he could evolve during his slumber.

Undoubtedly,

Slumber would not only allow him to grow.

The accumulated training and adaptations over time would also evolve during his slumber.

Garos first discovered his adaptive evolution talent after his juvenile dragon slumber ended.

“To evolve into wings with jet-powered burst speed, this slumber is the best opportunity!”

Garos rallied his focus and turned back toward the Coniferous Valley.

(End of Chapter)