Chapter Ninety-Nine: Kindred Spirits

“It really is magma that nourishes dragons…”

The Black Dragon wasted little time reaching the volcano. It dove straight into the volcanic crater, plunging into the searing lava and swimming about with great ease. Occasionally, it gulped down thick, molten magma, savoring the exhilarating sensation.

Since transforming into a great dragon, Huang Ze had also bathed regularly—not only out of concern for dragon hygiene but also because conditions were harsh back then. Often starving, he would bathe in lakes to drink and catch fish to quell his hunger.

However, ordinary lake water, only around twenty or thirty degrees Celsius, clearly could not provide the Black Dragon a satisfying experience. The perfect bathhouse for it had to be a high-class venue like a volcano.

“Strange… I’ve already invaded its home, yet that Flame Demon shows no reaction?”

After soaking for over half an hour and exploring nearly every corner—marking its territory in a rather undignified manner by urinating—the Black Dragon was surprised that the Flame Demon still hadn’t appeared to protest or retaliate. It seemed to have taken on the guise of a timid turtle.

Not satisfied with such a passive attitude, the Black Dragon decided to take the initiative since the Flame Demon refused to come out.

With a powerful dive, the Black Dragon descended to the volcano’s base, using its draconic aura as a biological radar to search for the Flame Demon.

Soon enough, it found the demon curled up and sleeping at the volcano’s bottom. It hadn’t intended to be disturbed that day and had resolved to sleep peacefully. Even knowing the Black Dragon had barged in, it chose to feign ignorance, acting as if nothing had happened.

But to its surprise, despite its restraint, the Black Dragon persisted and dragged it out for a beating.

There’s a limit to patience, and the Flame Demon, instantly enraged, launched a fierce battle against the Black Dragon.

A seventh-level lifeform was truly formidable. The clash between them shook the earth and mountains so violently that the Black Dragon’s freshly reinforced dragon tooth accidentally broke.

This infuriated the Black Dragon immensely, causing an eruption of inner power that nearly twisted the Flame Demon’s head off.

This exhilarating battle raged on for a full day and night, after which the Black Dragon, thoroughly spent, patted its rump, refreshed, and departed.

Originally, it had hoped to bind the Flame Demon with the Black Gold Dragon’s blood pact. However, the demon’s heart revealed it was not a bloodline creature but an energy-based lifeform, immune to such pacts. Thus, the Black Dragon reluctantly gave up, planning instead to visit often and slowly conquer it through affection and heartfelt connection—body, mind, and soul—until one day the Flame Demon would be won over.

As the Black Dragon hummed a tune and flew out from the volcano’s mouth, it spotted a golden dragon confronting its hellhound.

“Huh?”

Its eyes brightened instantly with interest—this was only the second great dragon it had ever encountered.

In the material world, great dragons were exceedingly rare. Even across a vast territory of a hundred thousand square kilometers, a single great dragon might not be found. Though the Black Dragon had learned from internal documents of the Shako Institute that nearly forty great dragons roamed the borders of the Xia Kingdom, it had never intended to seek them out.

The reason was simple: it doubted there would be much common ground between itself and other dragons. Recklessly approaching them might yield no benefit and risk exposing its true identity—that of a Xia Kingdom human cloaked in dragon skin.

Still, unexpectedly encountering a great dragon at the volcano, probably there for a bath as well, pleased the Black Dragon. Whether or not it could build a rapport mattered less than observing how unfamiliar dragons naturally behaved and reacted upon meeting.

The opposing dragon appeared to be a golden bronze dragon, male, adult, sixth level, weighing about forty tons.

The Black Dragon appraised the other discreetly, unsure how it gleaned such information.

A male, huh… that’s no fun.

A vague sense of disappointment settled over the Black Dragon.

The golden bronze dragon, upon first sighting the Black Dragon, was immediately on high alert, silently staring with tense muscles.

“Roar…”

The Black Dragon could tell it wanted to flee but, for some reason, hadn’t made a move yet. It couldn’t resist bellowing at it to gauge its reaction.

Startled, the golden bronze dragon flapped its wings decisively and turned to flee.

The Black Dragon gave chase without hesitation.

It had no intention of capturing the other but mainly wished to learn how fast an ordinary great dragon could fly.

After pursuing the golden bronze dragon for half an hour, the Black Dragon gathered the data it sought and stopped.

“So it’s about one hundred to one hundred twenty kilometers per hour, not very fast…”

The Black Dragon pondered this realization. It had noticed that flying creatures in the material world generally weren’t very fast.

Even the phoenix, an extraordinary creature adept at flight, barely reached supersonic speeds. While much stronger than earthly creatures, it was still within the realm of comprehension.

Could this be some kind of limitation imposed by the material world?

The Black Dragon considered this possibility. Logically, without speeds reaching several times the speed of sound, a creature would hardly qualify as truly extraordinary.

Yet, on further reflection, if material-world supernaturals routinely flew at multiple Mach speeds, humanity would be doomed—obliterated at every turn, finding no safe footing.

Thus, for the stability and longevity of the material world, the world’s will likely restrict speed, which made sense.

…

Once the Black Dragon ceased pursuit, the golden bronze dragon finally exhaled in relief.

“Terrifying… such a powerful Black Dragon. Could it be an ancient dragon?”

“But aren’t ancient dragons forbidden in the material world?”

The golden bronze dragon was puzzled. “Such a mighty being, yet it’s not suppressed or rejected by the world’s will?”

“...No matter. It’s best I keep my distance. If it catches me, my fate will be dire.”

The golden bronze dragon decided to relocate immediately. With such a massive Black Dragon nearby, the northern region was no longer safe.

“Fortunately, Lady Red is gathering friends in the south, seemingly preparing for a grand endeavor. I can join her.”

Lady Red had even established official contact with the Xia Kingdom, aiming to build her own city in the south—an achievement that earned the golden bronze dragon’s respect.

Not all great dragons are fools or brutes. This ancient race sometimes receives the world’s favor and blessings over the ages.

Lady Red was one such fortunate soul. Gifted and independent, she was a capable and distinctive great dragon, and despite the generally poor social nature of dragons, her reputation was known to many.

Page 3 of 3.