Chapter 160: Dragon Mage

"Captain Pan Xi'er, hold on."

Lei En quickly signaled Pan Xi'er not to act hastily; he sensed no hostility from the dragon who had taken a human female form.

Even though, in his Soul Eye, the other's soul color was extremely strange.

A normal human soul shows different colors for different emotions, and as moods shift, the soul changes constantly like pigment in water.

But this dragon lady's soul was a riot of colors, a full seven‑hued rainbow, yet remained perfectly steady with no hint of change.

It was Lei En's first time encountering such a peculiar soul.

What shocked him even more was how powerful the soul was; its structure and form were worlds apart from a human's.

Deep within the rainbow‑shimmering soul, a phantom of a strange dragon materialized!

It was precisely this trait that allowed Lei En to discern she was not human.

The dragon's phantom hovered within the rainbow light, its posture elegant and vastly different from ordinary dragons, surrounded by dozens of Element runes, each representing a spell or ability.

Lei En gave it a casual glance and felt his scalp tingle.

It was his first time seeing a legendary dragon in person, and he ran into a Rainbow Dragon!

He had a very famous book in his phone library called *Dragon Chronicle*, which studied the dragon species of the Ai Lun E Si world in detail.

Dragons are among the strongest races in history.

They are born with spellcasting ability, possess massive physical strength, are hard to wound with blades, enjoy long lifespans, and have virtually no natural predators.

In the Second Era, dragons once ruled the world alongside giants, dominating the skies while all other races were their vassals or slaves. Now in the Fourth Era, dragon numbers have plummeted; most hide in remote regions, yet a few still cohabit with humans, and rumors of their sightings persist everywhere.

Dragon species are diverse, usually classified as true dragons, sub‑dragons, and dragon‑born.

The term 'giant dragon' refers to true dragons, which are further divided by bloodline and ability into Five‑Color Dragons, Metal Dragons, Gem Dragons, and Exotic Dragons.

Above these four true‑dragon categories lie the most powerful legendary dragon breeds.

A typical dragon, when hatched from its egg, has the strength of a Mid-stage or High-stage Transcendent; only upon reaching adulthood does it enter the legendary realm.

Legendary dragons, however, possess legendary power from birth!

The *Dragon Chronicle* records that only three legendary dragon breeds are known, and the Rainbow Dragon is one of them; they are the most adept at spellcasting among all dragons, especially the various rainbow‑light Arcane spells.

Rainbow Dragons are innate spellcasters; live long enough and they can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Holy Soul Wizards.

However, Lei En detected an anomaly in the witch's soul: she was not a pure dragon, her soul carried a human scent, and she had practiced meditation!

He recalled clearly that a dragon's spellcasting ability is innate; once it reaches the proper age, it naturally masters the relevant spells without meditation.

Even though the meditation she practiced should be an elven technique, entirely different from a wizard's, essentially that of a mage, it was still bizarre.

"A dragon‑human hybrid mage?"

Strange thoughts flitted through Lei En's mind: can humans still produce offspring with dragons? No reproductive barrier?

Which senior was so formidable as to mount a dragon and bear children?

Or perhaps a male Rainbow Dragon consorted with a human woman?

Just as his imagination ran wild, a lady in black‑and‑white robes stepped onto the deck, halted a few steps away, and let her clear gaze linger on Lei En for several seconds.

"Earl of Glamorgan?"

The Dragon Mage spoke, her voice clear and melodious, yet carrying an inexplicable chill.

"It is I. May I ask who you are, madam?" At such close range, Lei En faintly detected a distinctive scent, like the sky after rain—fresh and natural.

As he spoke, his eyes turned toward her.

The Willpower of Truth took effect, instantly seeing through the Dragon Mage's disguise and revealing her true form.

Beneath the disguise lay a breathtakingly beautiful face, features like a master artist's lifelong masterpiece—perfect and flawless, with a faint aristocratic air. Most striking were her eyes, pupils like rainbows, not odd at all but adding a unique beauty.

A head of lightly curled black hair fell to her shoulders, the tips shimmering with a small strand of flowing colored light.

Lei En's face remained impassive, though his mind was awestruck.

She was a lady comparable to Viola; both possessed distinct charms, their beauty equally supreme, standing at the pinnacle of female allure.

He couldn't help but think: Viola is a Half-elf, this one a Half‑dragon; perhaps mixed blood easily produces beauties?

"My name is Ao Xiliya."

The Dragon Mage introduced herself: "My master asked me to contact you. I was waiting in Mo Du, but the Earl of Glamorgan seemed reluctant to depart. If delayed another day, I'd have to go to Winter Thunder City myself."

Lei En suddenly realized she was the one sent by Master Anxiwodasi.

"Sorry, I was delayed by something," he blurted, then, curious, whispered, "May I ask, Lady Ao Xiliya, are you a student of Master Anxiwodasi?"

Ao Xiliya gave a slight nod.

She produced a badge, bearing a purple abstract eye with three straight arrows extending below, the pupil radiating outward, tiny runes drifting within the light— the emblem of Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng.

Only spellcasters who reach the upper levels of Weizelan Fu Kong Cheng may receive the badge, signifying their status.

Seeing the badge, Lei En harbored no further doubt.

Ao Xiliya's background was impressive: a legendary mage and a student of a Holy Soul Wizard; throughout the Empire, no one dares disrespect her.

The thought of possibly becoming a disciple of Anxiwodasi filled Lei En with even greater enthusiasm.

"Lady Ao Xiliya, welcome aboard," he said with a smile, introducing, "This is Lady Pan Xi'er, captain of the Secret Fire Guard."

Pan Xi'er had received orders from the Duke of Silver Star before arriving, so she knew some inside details.

She lowered her guard and said gently, "I've long heard that Master Anxiwodasi took an exceptionally outstanding student a few years ago—likely Lady Ao Xiliya."

"You've heard of me?" Ao Xiliya asked, surprised.

"Yes, I've heard of you,"

To ordinary eyes, Ao Xiliya seemed a plain witch, yet still exuded an unmistakable pride; after nodding at Pan Xi'er, she turned to Lei En and said, "Earl of Glamorgan, you've wasted too much time; let's get down to business."

"Very well, follow me," Lei En surveyed the deck, noting it wasn't a place for conversation.

He led the two into a cabin on the ship; after Ao Xiliya followed, she raised her hand, and an invisible force field spread, enveloping the entire room.

"Three‑ring Spell Soundproof Force Field?"

Lei En was surprised in his heart; the temperament of this dragon wizard was far too cautious.

This room was the ship's finest cabin, spacious, luxuriously decorated, and stocked with all kinds of alcoholic and non‑alcoholic drinks; Lei En seated the two ladies, politely asked after them, and then served tea.

Oshilia did not object, seeming quite interested in the red tea in her hand; she pretended to glance casually, then took a sip, and her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.

In her soul‑eye, her colored soul faintly glowed, showing a hint of delight.

Lei En noticed the detail and kept it in mind.

"Lady Oshilia," he took a sip of dark beer to soothe his throat, then asked, "What exactly is Master Anxiwodasi's command, and what should I do when I arrive at Mo Du?"

"You only need to do one thing."

Oshilia looked at Lei En seriously and said slowly, "Survive, and the longer you live, the better."

"Survive?"

Lei En was first startled, then his expression grew solemn, which was somewhat unexpected to him. He had assumed Anxiwodasi would assign a mission, but none was given.

That indicated the situation was more dangerous than anticipated.

Beside him, Pansir was also heavy‑hearted; she had been assigned by the Silver Star Duke to protect Lei En, and now hearing Oshilia's words, she felt little confidence.

A high‑rank Wizard might be a big figure elsewhere, but in Mo Du, where the strong gather, he is only middle‑tier.

Even a Legend would not dare to stride across Mo Du.

The cabin fell silent, with only Oshilia occasionally lifting her red tea for a careful sip.

Lei En's expression shifted unpredictably, and he couldn't help asking, "Madam, I don't understand—what does Master Anxiwodasi's sending the Earl of Glamorgan to Mo Du actually mean?"

Oshilia set down her teacup, thought for a moment, then explained, "Last summer, the teacher received a prophecy that Weizelan would face a massive threat and might collapse."

Lei En and Pansir were startled to the point they could barely stay seated.

Weizelan Floating City collapsing?

If that truly happened, it would be the most astonishing event in Empire history, its impact so great it could even shake the entire Ai Lun E Si.

The Oriense Empire has seven Floating Cities, each representing the world's pinnacle of magical power; Weizelan's Floating City ranks second‑to‑first, not far behind the oldest Naiser Floating City.

A Floating City guarded by a Holy Soul Wizard cannot be easily shaken even if a deity incarnates and descends.

Not to mention, as the hub of the Mo Du faction, Weizelan's Floating City, besides Master Anxiwodasi, hosts more than a double‑digit number of Legendary Wizards!

Pansir asked in disbelief, "Is this prophecy accurate?"

Prophecy Art is an Eight‑ring Arcane; at least a Legendary High‑rank Wizard must master it, and the prophecy is not necessarily accurate—sometimes it is vague, or even yields the opposite result.

"The one who made the prophecy was Master Meidifu," Oshilia replied lightly.

Pansir's face was full of astonishment.

Lei En was also silent.

Master Meidifu is also a Holy Soul Wizard, a dual‑cultivator of Arcane and elemental arts, but he is best known for his achievements in Prophecy Art, having foretold many important events that were later verified.

Therefore, Master Meidifu is respectfully called "Prophet," and sometimes "Great Prophet."

Who dares to despise the prophecy made by the greatest Prophet in Empire history?

Lei En can imagine that when Master Anxiwodasi received this prophecy, he would never doubt its truth and would certainly take it seriously.

"Master Meidifu's Prophecy Art was affected by unknown interference; it only saw that Weizelan was threatened and might collapse, but the source of danger was unknown," Oshilia said.

Lei En nodded lightly; the result of Prophecy Art is never very clear to begin with.

This High‑ring Arcane allows the caster to glimpse fragments of future information, like peering at a leopard through a tube, yet it never pinpoints key points or specific individuals, forcing reliance on inference and interpretation.

Moreover, Prophecy Art can be distorted by interference from other great beings, obscuring truth and warping outcomes.

Oshilia took a sip of red tea and continued, "After the teacher received the prophecy, he immediately began covert investigations, suspecting the threat might originate within Mo Du, but there were no clear leads."

"Within Mo Du?" Lei En realized, "Those native Mo Du nobles?"

Oshilia replied, "Yes."

Upon hearing this, Lei En had already guessed Master Anxiwodasi's intention.

Since the day he was ennobled, he had been consulting the mobile library, roughly clarifying the entanglements between Weizelan Floating City and Mo Du.

Weizelan Floating City was founded around the year 1000 of the New Era Calendar, when the Empire still had an emperor; a dozen major Mo Du nobles, to counter the capital Nuosiruier's influence, pooled resources and, in just over thirty years, lifted the Floating City into the sky.

However, at that time the Floating City had no Holy Soul Wizard stationed there.

The noble families, after negotiation and compromise, sent Legendary Wizards representing their own interests, forming a Six‑Person Council that held all authority over the Floating City.

Each member of the Six‑Person Council was called a Speaker, and they elected one GrandSpeaker.

On major issues, the council voted by raise of hands; a regular Speaker had one vote, while the GrandSpeaker wielded two votes.

The mechanism worked well until, centuries later, the common‑born Anxiwodasi rose to prominence, initially a student at the Wizard Academy, gradually advancing to Legend, entering the Six‑Person Council, eventually ascending to Holy Soul Wizard and, without dispute, becoming the council's GrandSpeaker and the Floating City's leader.

For nearly a thousand years thereafter, Weizelan Floating City and the native Mo Du nobles drifted further apart.

The Speakers in the Six‑Person Council rotated; as generations changed, many families declined, and the native Mo Du nobles gradually lost control over Weizelan Floating City.

Today, Weizelan Floating City is a world‑renowned city of magic.

Master Anxiwodasi is generous and merciful, not exterminating the Mo Du nobles; although they still wield great influence over the Floating City, they are no longer its masters.

However, even with a kind temperament, if the Floating City's survival is threatened, Master Anxiwodasi would never tolerate it.

Lei En speculated that Master Anxiwodasi could not immediately uncover the Mo Du nobles' hidden hand, and unwilling to expose his face, he would simply cast five Nine‑ring Fireball Techniques to annihilate those nobles, so he sent himself—namely the Earl of Glamorgan—to Mo Du.

At this moment Mo Du resembled a lake before a storm, appearing calm while hidden currents churned beneath.

The Earl of Glamorgan's arrival disturbed the Mo Du nobles' interests, like a massive stone thrown into the lake, raising countless waves and exposing the submerged conspiracy.

The most clever part was that Longshande had just suffered an earthquake; the Silver Star Duke urgently needed funds to cover losses, making the plan seem reasonable, and no one would suspect it was Master Anxiwodasi's idea.

The plan was indeed very ingenious.

Lei En felt somewhat displeased, as this meant he would be besieged by the Mo Du nobles, placing him in great danger.

In this scheme, he was the bait cast by Master Anxiwodasi!

A single misstep could cost his life in Mo Du.

But withdrawing now is impossible; neither Duke Silver Star nor Master Anxi would allow it.

In the eyes of the two Holy Soul Wizards, I am ultimately just a pawn.

Lei En twitched the corner of his mouth, looked at the giant dragon mage opposite him, and said, "Ms. Ao Xiliya, you may return to report to Master Anxi; I know what to do now."

"I won't go back."

Ao Xiliya's reply was unexpected; she seemed to have read Lei En's thoughts and said calmly, "The teacher will not let anyone die in vain; I will take responsibility for your safety during the Mo Du period."

(End of chapter)