Chapter 36

The Young Dragon seemed to comprehend his vigilance, or perhaps it was merely drawn to the candlelight; its tiny nostrils flared again, this time unmistakably aimed at Li Feifei.

Its small head tilted slightly, pupils constricting to pinpricks; the previously relaxed tail snapped taut like a drawn bowstring, the fine blue scales over its body bristling, a threatening growl issuing from its throat, its forepaws scoring shallow marks on the ground while it kept three steps from the two. Its gaze alternated between locking onto their throats, its jade‑like eyes reflecting the flickering flame and Li Feifei's held‑breath, focused face.

Suddenly, the Young Dragon's small mouth opened a crack, as if something were brewing deep in its throat. A wisp of extremely faint, almost imperceptible cool wind rose without warning inside the Study, making the candle flame sputter wildly, light and shadow violently shaking on the walls.

The air was suffused with a barely there freshness—the scent of rain‑soaked earth and grass—yet mingled with a trace of chill that did not belong here.

"U…h…" the Young Dragon uttered a short, peculiar syllable, like an unconscious murmur, or the first cry of a nascent power.

It clearly could not yet control this fluctuation; the breeze vanished as quickly as a night‑blooming cereus, and the candle flame steadied again.

Yet its dense blue scales seemed activated by that tiny force, instantly suffused with an almost invisible pale blue gleam, like a glimmer glimpsed in the deep sea—there and gone.

Li Qingxuan's pupils contracted sharply! He clearly sensed the disturbance in that breeze and the faint gleam on its scales. Summon Wind and Rain? The ability described here actually showed its first hint at birth? This hatchling's potential… is beyond imagination!

His vigilance spiked to its peak instantly. Power, no matter how slight, signifies uncontrollable risk.

Almost the instant that wisp of wind faded—

"Moo——!"

Outside, the Black Goat, which had maintained a vigilant stance, suddenly bellowed a low roar louder and more urgent than any before.

That roar rang like muffled thunder exploding outside the silent fortress, filled with a strong warning!

Its hill‑sized massive frame tensed instantly; the heavy thud of its hooves striking the ground was clearly audible through the Iron Gate, as if it were ready to charge at any moment, its long exhalations turning into a coarse, heavy breath charged with killing intent.

The air inside the fortress seemed to freeze over, instantly shifting from a still hush to a bone‑chilling freeze!

The faint warmth that had risen from the Young Dragon's cute demeanor, as fragile as thin ice, was utterly shattered by the Black Goat's warning.

Li Qingxuan and Li Feifei almost simultaneously snapped their heads, gazing past the Study doorframe and locking onto the fortress's tightly shut Iron Gate—the Black Goat would never act like this for no reason!

"The Chi Tiger Cub looks fine in form and potential; let's contract it." Li Qingxuan spoke in a low voice, turning his head to Li Feifei, his eyes fixed on the small beast exuding menace within the Study.

Outside, the Black Goat's warning‑filled low roar echoed through the empty fortress, waves of urgent soul‑like surges rolling in, heralding the hatchling's latent threat.

Li Feifei's hand trembled slightly from excitement; she knew Li Qingxuan's judgment would not be baseless.

She swiftly fished the Contract Scroll from her Backpack, used it on the Chi Tiger Cub, a white light flashed, and Li Feifei and the Chi Tiger Cub forged a soul link.

【World Announcement: Congratulations Li Feifei for contracting a high‑bloodline intelligent creature, reward: Diamond Treasure Chest +1】

【World Announcement: Congratulations Li Feifei for contracting a high‑bloodline intelligent creature, reward: Diamond Treasure Chest +1】

【World Announcement: Congratulations Li Feifei for contracting a high‑bloodline intelligent creature, reward: Diamond Treasure Chest +1】

After hearing three World Announcements in a row, both were stunned, then they embraced excitedly, the warm hug dispelling Li Feifei's earlier tension.

Li Qingxuan's arms held Li Feifei tightly, he could clearly feel her chest heaving with a rapid heartbeat from excitement.

Li Feifei buried her face deep in his chest, clutching the fabric at his back with both hands, as if trying to merge herself into Li Qingxuan's body.

"Diamond Treasure Chest… Diamond Treasure Chest!" Li Feifei's voice muffled against Li Qingxuan's shoulder, trembling with disbelief and ecstasy, "Qingxuan, did you hear that? It's a Diamond Treasure Chest!"

"I heard! I heard!" Li Qingxuan's voice also carried a hint of excitement; he loosened his embrace slightly and lowered his head to look at the person in his arms.

In the candle's flicker, Li Feifei's cheeks flushed with excitement, her eyes sparkling like stars; the earlier fear and anxiety were washed away by this immense joy.

He couldn't help hugging her again before finally letting go, his gaze burning as he looked at the partner that had just successfully contracted on the ground—the Young Dragon tilted its small head, its jade‑like eyes full of confusion, clearly bewildered by the humans' intense reaction.

"Moo…" outside, the Black Goat's low roar sounded again, this time not a warning but rather an inquisitive inquiry tinged with doubt.

Its massive body paced restlessly outside the gate, the heavy thud of its hooves unusually clear in the silent night; it keenly sensed the violent emotional fluctuations of the fortress's master within.

Li Qingxuan drew a deep breath, striving to calm the surging heat in his chest.

Diamond Treasure Chest! In this world of strange descent, it is absolutely the highest‑grade reward available!

Each represents unimaginably precious resources, powerful equipment, or rare blueprints!

They bring tangible survival capital and the possibility of a leap in strength!

"Feifei," he said, his voice settling into a calm urgency, "Where's the Treasure Chest? After the announcement, it should have been issued."

Li Feifei snapped out of her dream, quickly stepped back from Li Qingxuan's embrace, and eagerly opened her System Backpack space.

Inside the Backpack grid lay a Treasure Chest gleaming with pure, deep light, its entire body suffused with diamond‑like brilliance.

"It's in the Backpack!" Li Feifei's voice rose with excitement, her fingertips trembling slightly as she immediately pulled it out.

Li Qingxuan's gaze was also locked onto that sparkling Treasure Chest, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

But having experienced more, he forcibly suppressed the urge to open it at once, saying in a low voice, "Don't rush! Don't open it yet. First bathe and change, pick an auspicious moment, and strive to get something good out of it."

She drew a deep breath, reluctantly shifting her gaze from the Treasure Chest to Li Qingxuan: "You're right; as long as we can get something good, a little superstition is fine. So… when shall we open it?"

Li Feifei's gaze fell on the Chi Tiger Cub she had just contracted; the little creature seemed to sense her stare, struggling to lift its wet little head and letting out a faint "uh," its jade‑like eyes reflecting the candlelight and Li Qingxuan's figure.

"Wait until dawn." He said firmly, "When the sun rises, the view opens up, and the Black Goat can better guard the perimeter. We'll open the Treasure Chest in the fortress hall. Now…" He paused, his eyes returning to Li Feifei, "First rest, replenish your spirit."

His words had barely fallen when, as if to confirm him—

"Uh——!"

A shrill, ghost‑like wail surged suddenly, slamming hard against the fortress's Iron Gate with a deafening "clang!" The wind seemed to carry an indistinct, scalp‑tingling murmur, fragmented and fleeting.

(PS: Free of charge, I'm sending some love‑powered electricity; this motivates the author to write more, please.)