Chapter 224: Dragon God Covered Rice

I'm really stupid, truly.

I only knew that surrendering to the Pioneers could let me scrape by, but I didn't know they were all perverts.

Not only would I be put on display at the city gate like a clown for anyone to gawk at, but I'd also be forced to talk about some bizarre topics……

He chattered on about a bunch of nonsense, and the Purple Squad Leader felt like he was about to cry like a tough guy.

But the Big Black Wolf, after hearing that, didn't offer comfort; instead, he shook his head.

What are you calling suffering? Actually, it's already pretty good.

She gazed up at the black sky, light glinting in the corner of her eye.

When I was first captured, I was first locked in a pure black cage for who knows how long, then exiled to a northern bitter cold land where nobody would ever come, and then……

All kinds of extremely cruel torture methods were described, just thinking about them makes one's scalp tingle, and the Lizardfolk listening grew more and more horrified.

They looked at each other, speechless, only fear remained.

——We're done, we're done, we've stumbled into a den of thieves!

But the fact that the Purple Squad Leader could think of the desperate move of surrendering at lightning speed means he's a clever lizard who knows how to adapt.

Now the senior is right before us; we must quickly curry favor to gain more survival experience.

So he respectfully bowed, leading his perceptive subordinates in a deep salute.

Sir, we've chatted this long, but I still don't know your honorable name.

The Big Black Wolf held back his tears, his voice hoarse.

I'm Cloi, a werewolf, oh, the weird kind.

Ah?!

The Purple Squad Leader still thought the other was just an ordinary high-rank magic wolf, never expecting they'd actually be a weird werewolf?

Wait, weird?

In an instant, he felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

After all, in the horror tales passed down by word of mouth, it's always the weird ones torturing other races for fun.

What man-eaters eating meat, witches refining souls, ghouls digging graves, liches resurrecting the dead…… in short, it's all about serving a dragon.

Where have you ever seen other races repeatedly torturing the weird ones, or training wolves like dogs? This is as absurd as a succubus being subdued by humans!

——It's over, completely over, everyone prepare to count the days and get by.

Seeing the Lizardfolk all drooping, looking like they'd just turned eighteen and come down with a case of the 'yuyu syndrome', Cloi hastily added.

Wait, you guys also shouldn't think things are that bad; actually, sometimes the doctor is still pretty……

Still what?

Still kind of like a good person……ah!

Cloi immediately let out a sharp explosive sound, then flopped onto the ground, lying motionless like a dead cockroach with limbs tucked in.

Although objectively speaking, the Lizardfolk were summoned back by the players.

But as the master of the dungeon, now that we have guests at home, we ought to meet them at least once.

So after finishing morning training, Ji Ming didn't even eat, and hurried back to the dungeon to greet the Purple Squad Leader.

Result: he came running over happily, hadn't even uttered a word yet, when he overheard someone whispering nasty remarks.

Doing that is really not good; we should probably educate them a little later.

He glanced at the feigning-death Cloi, then approached the Lizardfolk who wanted to retreat but didn't dare, speaking earnestly.

Purple Squad Leader, don't just listen to others' bad talk.

Whether a person is truly good or not, whether a group is worth befriending, that has to be summed up from one's own daily life.

Lizardfolk: hold it in, can't laugh!

Seeing they had no reaction, Ji Ming gave a reminder.

Right?

Yes yes yes, you're absolutely right!

Actually, we Pioneers, including the Soul Spirit Holy See, are all very good people; you just need to observe carefully and you'll see it—we are absolutely lawful good.

Yes yes yes, what you said is totally correct!

Besides, don't think guarding the dungeon gate is a bad job; our dungeon's defenses are actually especially strong, and the Pioneers outside have always been on good terms with all the tribes, so nobody will come attack here—this is basically a cushy job where you can just stand around and slack off……

Ji Ming's well-meaning advice was cut short when a long-handled shovel suddenly appeared in his hand, swinging sideways at his side.

Only a dull 'thud' was heard as the stone originally aimed at the Purple Squad Leader's head was blocked by the shovel's blade, falling limp to the ground.

Do players still pull this kind of boring prank?

Ji Ming was pondering, but when he turned around he saw that what had appeared behind him wasn't players, but a large crowd……

What the hell, what is this thing?

All that could be seen was a large flock of birds and beasts, beastfolk, appearing on the hill opposite the city gate, each one strangely entirely brown.

As for their origin, no need to guess, because among this pile of figurine-white-model-like things, a few fully colored Lizardfolk were also standing.

That was the Golden King, already fully flushed pink, trembling as he pointed his finger at the Purple Squad Leader's head.

Purple! You actually dare betray me!

Last night, the despondent Golden King, with the remnants of his royal guard, fled under cover of darkness, finally shaking off all pursuers.

After barely surviving, a quick-witted royal guard finally reacted, asking in a low voice.

Your Majesty, if we run, what are we to do with the people back in the tribe? Or rather……

If it were before, the Golden King would immediately order his subordinates to chop that doubter of his orders into mincemeat.

But after using his gaze to drive back the royal guard without being able to finish the latter half of that sentence, the manpower‑short him just let out a cold snort.

Those humans are incredibly brutal. Maybe they've already stormed our tribe and slaughtered everyone to the last.

"So don't think about them; now you should think about how to take revenge!"

Seeing the personal guards obediently bow their heads, the Golden King gave a slight nod.

"All right, let's go."

To avoid enemies from all directions, the Tribes of the Underground Plain usually back up against a wall.

Only one place is an exception: the inverted castle built on the ceiling in the middle of the Underground Plain.

Arriving directly beneath the castle, the Golden King spread his robe sleeves and knelt reverently first.

"Great Dragon God, I am your most loyal follower Du Ke. Now my Tribe has suffered an unprecedented disaster."

"Please have mercy on us and allow the humble me to re‑enter your divine realm to hear your holy words…"

He and his guards repeated the prayer many times until the castle finally responded.

In a silent tremor, the roof of a tower‑shaped structure at the castle's apex slowly opened, lowering a steep staircase.

No matter how many times he watches, the Golden King Du Ke always feels envy and his heart surge.

The Dragon God's residence is "alive"; it can carve out a path on its own—how magnificent!

When they finally climbed into the castle, the gravity beneath their feet changed instantly, sending them sprawling onto the "ceiling."

They landed in a mess, yet no one was angry; instead, everyone was wildly excited.

"The divine lord is so great, what a wondrous structure—it's like stepping into another world!"

Although the Golden King knew the Dragon God had set a gravity‑altering formation inside the castle, it didn't stop his subordinates from excitedly kissing the ground.

After they vented their excitement and worship, a brown, long‑robed creature with a dragon's head slowly approached.

"Lizard King, the Dragon God has accepted your request; please follow me."

Though his voice sounded both awkward and sluggish, he is the Dragon God's earth‑element priest, one of the first followers.

This wondrous elemental being can, according to its level and power, shape earth and stone of various volumes, types, and masses into its own shell.

When linked together, they can create an "alive" inverted castle.

Acting alone, they can form various "beings," such as the dragon‑head priest before them.

The Golden King is usually arrogant, but when facing the leading secretary he dares not be even slightly negligent and immediately extends his hand.

"Greetings, thank you for your trouble!"

Walking down the corridor, the party soon arrived at a tall double‑door.

Looking at the lizard guards peering with fanatic eyes, the priest turned his head toward the Golden King.

"Dragon God Xi Jing is pleased; this time only you may enter, and your subordinates shall wait outside for now."

The Golden King bowed obediently.

"It is natural."

Though the great door was pushed open just enough for the Golden King to slip through, the guards were nearly blinded by the flash.

According to normal castle architecture, this massive hall should be used for holding banquets.

Yet at this moment every inch of floor was covered with gold and jewels—a sea of wealth.

On a bed made of gold lay a gray giant dragon about seven or eight meters long, coiled and sleeping.

Hearing the door's sound, it slowly opened its eyelids; the dragon's voice carried anger.

"Mortal, how dare you disturb the Dragon God's slumber!"

The Golden King was instantly terrified and collapsed, kneeling on the ground.

"Please, Dragon God, calm your anger; the little king never meant to disturb your peace!"

Seeing the old lizard bow so smoothly, the half‑large rock dragon that liked to feign sleep nodded in satisfaction.

"Rise, I forgive you."

"Thank you, my master."

The Dragon God, feigning modesty, lay atop his treasure and lightly tossed out a line.

"Speak, what happened to the Scale‑Armor Tribe?"

No sooner had he spoken than the Golden King burst into tears on the spot.

"Everyone… is dead!"

!!!

Lizardfolk, like dog‑head folk, are almost fanatically obsessed with dragons.

Thus the rock dragon residing in this castle is sanctified in their eyes as the so‑called Dragon God.

As the most noble bloodline in the Underground Plain, the Dragon God's subordinates are actually numerous.

But aside from the earth‑element that formed the castle and a few scattered dog‑head tribes, the Scale‑Armor Tribe is the strongest.

So, in a sense, the "Dragon God" and the Scale‑Armor Tribe are mutually dependent.

After all, when he first roamed here alone, it was these lizardfolk who first offered loyalty and coined the title "Dragon God."

Therefore, after hearing the Golden King's embellished lament, the Dragon God became incensed.

"Ah!"

He casually grabbed a silver cup brimming with gold coins and slammed it onto the table.

"Those mere humans—where did they get such audacity to ambush my followers!"

The Golden King trembled and hurried to explain.

"Lord, they came from the west."

The Dragon God's face clearly froze for a moment, snorting as he murmured.

"That explains it, that explains it—so they came from the underground city…"

Damn, why did it suddenly stall?

The Golden King had come to file a complaint and ask for aid; a leader who is so uninterested makes it hard to get things done, so he urged.

"Lord, once the Scale Armor Tribe falls, my sect's tens of thousands of believers will be greatly reduced."

Listening to his words, the Dragon God's expression was not pleasant either.

After all, even though it is merely an elemental dragon beneath the five colors and metal, it can sense an unusual aura in the dungeon.

If possible, it does not wish to clash with these strange humans; the bloodshed would be too great…

Oh, right!

"Did you not tell them that you are protected by the Dragon God?"

"I said so!"

The Golden King almost shouted hoarsely.

"But it's useless, they still say…"

At this point, he seemed to recall something and stopped abruptly.

The Dragon God's blood pressure spiked, and he immediately urged.

"What did they say?"

"They said…"

Seeing the Golden King still hesitating, it grabbed a handful of gold coins and tossed them over.

"Tell me!"

"Lord!"

He shouted, and the Golden King first knelt on the ground and bowed his head, then spoke word by word.

"They said, what a damn Dragon God, it's just a big winged lizard!"

Roar!

Before he could finish, the Dragon God, enraged, let out a deafening long roar, causing the entire hall to tremble.

This is a direct questioning of its own existence, shaking its foundation—no deity can permit that!

So it vented its fury fiercely, raising its neck high.

"My priests, convey my command!"

The walls began to writhe, and brown specks floated up one after another.

"Go! Follow the lizardfolk king into battle and give those humans a lesson!"

Sss… is this handing the command to me?

The Golden King pounded his head excitedly.

"Thank you, Lord Dragon God, thank you, Lord Dragon God! I will not disappoint you!"

But as a deity one must learn restraint; after briefly adjusting its demeanor, the Dragon God quickly regained its composure.

Raising its little paw, it calmly waved.

"Go, I want to hear swift news."

Watching the Golden King leave the castle with a portion of earth element, it finally lowered its neck and sighed.

It picked up the cup again, and, with extreme distress, put the gold coins it had poured out back inside.

In truth, it did not wish to delegate authority, but these tiny specks are too dim‑witted; without a commander they behave like a pack of puppies.

It only hopes Golden King Du Ke can be steadier, expressing his anger precisely, so those humans know his power is enough.

…Actually, being a bit more aggressive isn't a problem, as long as one doesn't go so far as to smash the others' mountain gate.

Damn, after all he is a manager of a great Tribe; Xiao Du should still have some wisdom.

Alright? Good.

Golden King: I won't.

With hundreds of earth element priests, he felt the ground beneath his feet was whipping up wind.

This is the favor of Lord Dragon God; with this combat power, this status, this level, one cannot possibly scorch ten humans?

Lord Dragon God trusts me so much, having thrown such a massive peach; if I don't strike a dungeon and present it to the Lord, offering a modest peach in return, would I still be human?

Damn, charge with me!