DADH Chapter 26

Jing Nian was hunched over, writing a reply to Ga’erfu in the grand dragon palace.

Outside the palace, a few giant dragons cast satisfied glances at the two young masters inside the palace and then retreated silently, making soft “DuangDuangDuang” sounds with their steps.

Once they were far enough that their movements wouldn’t disturb the grand dragon palace, Cang Sen, the wind giant dragon, stopped with a somber “Duang” sound. The surrounding earth trembled and shook for a moment. Because it had been a little distracted, its tail accidentally snapped a tree nearby at its waist level, making a loud “crack” sound.

Several playful squirrels nearby were instantly frightened and scampered away.

Several other giant dragons also halted their steps and looked disapprovingly at Cang Sen. However, they quickly realized that their own commotion was not insignificant. So, they averted their gazes and, as if nothing had happened, refocused their attention on each other.

“The prophecy has come true,” Cang Sen said solemnly to the other giant dragons.

The dragons present were among the most powerful in the dragon clan. Besides the elderly and overly aged elder dragon Hesse, He Yao, Chi Yan, Cang Sen, Xuan Jing, and Lan Miao were the five backup and oldest dragons in the clan.

Thousands of years ago, their achievements had once spread throughout the continent of Grans, and they were hailed by other races as the Five Dragon Generals. However, they had rarely left the depths of the Dragon Abyss in recent times and had become legendary figures in the history of the Grans continent.

Upon hearing Cang Sen’s words, the other dragons didn’t show any surprise on their faces. Clearly, they had already learned this news through their own means.

The mutated Thunderstorm Dragon, Xuan Jing, suddenly took a step forward and extended its tightly clenched dragon claw, gradually opening it to reveal a pale purple image-recording crystal ball that floated out from its palm.

The crystal ball floated to the middle of the giant dragons, emitting a radiant light that gradually formed a three-dimensional image visible from all sides.

Each of the dragons standing in different positions saw the same scene but from a different angle.

Due to the excessive accumulation of lightning elements within its body, Xuan Jing’s dragon scales had been tempered to display a purple lightning pattern on its surface. Its voice had also become unusually deep and thunderous. When it spoke in the dragon language, those who couldn’t understand often mistook it for thunder.

“The image recorded in the crystal ball is of a remote border town.”

As Xuan Jing spoke, it got a bit excited and let out a burp, shooting out a lightning serpent from its mouth, which landed on Lan Miao nearby.

This was one of the manifestations of the excessive accumulation of elements.

Lan Miao: “…”

It glanced nervously at Xuan Jing, who was covering its mouth, and took a step back, choosing not to argue with this goofball at such a serious moment.

Chi Yan furrowed its brow as it observed for a moment and then said somewhat disdainfully, “Are these fragile humans the outsiders mentioned in the prophecy?”

None of the giant dragons contradicted Chi Yan’s words.

Because it was correct.

These outsiders appeared to be no different from the humans on the Grans continent.

If anything, they were a bit oddly dressed and appeared somewhat weaker.

Is this the disaster of Grans? This was not only the immediate reaction of the dragon clan upon seeing these outsiders, but even the ancient beings who had been alarmed by the prophecy had the same thoughts.

However, even the dragon clan did not slacken because of this. Instead, they were caught in a state of uncertainty.

Though they had always been disdainful of the prophecy that had echoed throughout the continent for centuries, their disdain wasn’t because they didn’t believe in it.

It was because they looked down upon the calamity and the “outsiders” mentioned in the prophecy, stemming from their absolute self-confidence as powerful beings.

But when the prophecy gradually became associated with the young masters who had not yet grown strong, the dragon clan had no choice but to reevaluate it.

The unexpected event with the twin suns was just the beginning. Apart from the messages received from the Light and Dark Temples, the Dragon Clan also gathered information through other races possessing foresight and prophetic abilities.

Almost all prophecies ultimately pointed towards the Dragon Clan, or more precisely, the Dragon Lord.

The disaster originated with the Dragon Lord, and the hope to resolve it rested with the Dragon Lord.

The dragons watched the outsiders in the image quietly, not speaking further, trying to discern the threat they posed to the Dragon Lord.

Until the scene shifted to a town where a suspicious-looking human in black was inquiring about the whereabouts of dragons and their nests within the city.

Only then did the dragons become alert and enlarge the image for a closer look.

It was then revealed that the black-clad individual was asking about “juvenile dragons.”

Juvenile!

Dragons!

The “composed and mature” dragons present were suddenly on their feet!

The temporary council meeting site was instantly filled with turmoil and dust as the dragons expressed their outrage.

Xuan Jing struck a boulder with a lightning bolt as thick as a dragon’s wrist, angrily exclaiming, “These ants actually dare!”

Chi Yan’s body radiated flames, and it roared, “Damn it! Have I, Chi Yan, been absent outside for so long that the Grans continent no longer recognizes my name?”

“How about we crush their ignorant notions in their cradle?” Lan Miao, with a deep-sea-like azure color, had its dragon eyes turn even deeper, revealing hidden murderous intent.

Only Hesse remained the most composed.

After everyone’s anger had poured out, it slowly suppressed them and calmly spoke to stop them.

“Since the prophecy points to these ordinary and unremarkable people as the disaster, things can’t be that simple. It concerns the young masters, so we shouldn’t act recklessly for now…”

Although the dragons weren’t entirely satisfied with this statement, they temporarily restrained their anger in the face of Hesse’s earnest gaze.

Hesse had been the de facto leader of the dragon clan since their birth, and they had grown under its care and guidance. Hesse’s words still held great respect among them.

Seeing everyone calm down, Hesse took out a pale golden image recording crystal ball. However, this crystal ball did not contain as detailed records as Xuan Jing’s. It only sporadically recorded a few scenes.

The scenes showed different outsiders in various situations. The only similarity was that these outsiders had conflicts with the native residents of the continent, resulting in combat scenes.

However, the combat scenes were quite peculiar. These outsiders, who appeared weaker than the native residents, seemed to be protected by an invisible shield that allowed them to easily withstand the powerful attacks of the natives.

There was even a more bizarre scene.

In this scene, after the outsider was defeated and injured, they did not hesitate to flee in a certain direction. The enraged native residents naturally pursued relentlessly.

However, at a sudden moment, the outsider glanced in a certain direction, stopped in their tracks, heaved a sigh of relief, and sat down to rest right where they stood. They even looked interestedly at the direction from which the native residents were approaching.

The miraculous thing happened right at that moment—the native resident who had been relentlessly pursuing suddenly lost their memory upon arriving at the spot where the outsider was resting.

It gave a strange look to the outsider sitting on the ground, its expression filled with puzzlement as it searched the area where the outsider had stopped earlier. It searched the area twice but didn’t show any hostility, as if it had forgotten about him.

The dragons crowded their heads together, studying the situation, their brows furrowing with concern.

“Could it be that these outsiders possess some special abilities?” someone asked, uncertain of who.

The other dragons, while still concerned, agreed with this notion.

Hesse had not yet shared the secret that both the Light and Dark Temples had unveiled during the Hatching Festival with the five “generals.” It wasn’t because of a lack of trust but because it wanted to investigate further.

And… because this was a matter of utmost importance, not only for the Dragon Clan but also for the entire Grans continent.

It had the intention to make the five generals treat the outsiders with great caution and not underestimate them.

As the dragons pondered, none of them noticed that the crystal ball Hesse had taken out didn’t have the same earth element properties as Hesse’s.

It wasn’t light brown; it was pale gold…

Moreover, it carried the familiar aura of their second young master, whom they adored.

Indeed, this crystal ball was able to record those peculiar scenes because it borrowed Jing Nian’s “eyes” through a secret technique, allowing it to see those images and record them.

Ordinary beings native to the Grans continent couldn’t perceive the anomalies of the outsiders.

One of the secrets the Light and Dark Temples had revealed during the Hatching Festival to Hesse was that Jing Nian’s true origin was the same as that of the outsiders.

–

In order to prevent his deep friendship with Ga’erfu from deteriorating before he could maintain it properly, Jing Nian decided to tell him that he was still in the Lost Forest.

– The Dragon Abyss within the Lost Forest doesn’t exactly count as a lie.

As he was writing, Jing Nian suddenly hissed and stopped. His expression showed a hint of frustration.

The little dragonling’s small claws weren’t very convenient for holding a pen, and this was his first time writing in the common language of the Grans continent, which was less familiar to him than writing in the Dragon Language.

As a result, the characters appearing on the magical parchment looked as if they were drawn by a dog.

Jing Nian facepalmed.

Inside the Dragon Soul Space, the little dragonling curiously followed Jing Nian’s gaze, watching him with admiration. It didn’t understand the common language of the continent, so all it saw was Jing Nian holding a pen and writing a lot of things, which made it think that Jing Nian was incredibly talented, and it looked at him with envy.

One dragon and one person have been undergoing urgent magic training these past few days.

In addition to elemental magic, they also have courses on magic runes and other related subjects.

The little dragon, who finds even holding a pen difficult, can imagine the results of its learning.

If it weren’t for having a younger brother like Jing Nian, it would have given up long ago.

No, it should be said that the little dragon has given up countless times already.

Every time, it was lured back by the “older brother” like a carrot on a stick.

Therefore, the little dragon’s eyes, one left and one right, filled with envy and admiration, looking at Jing Nian, made him feel a bit embarrassed.

Jing Nian: “…” There was no good way to explain.

He could only clear his throat lightly and accept it with a guilty conscience.

Parental baggage can be so vain sometimes.

So he adopted the demeanor of a calligraphy master and started writing with an air of importance.

After finishing writing, the parchment paper shimmered for a moment.

The words on the parchment paper here began to disappear, and on the other side, Ga’erfu received the reply.

Thinking back to the situation when he met Ga’erfu, Jing Nian felt a bit embarrassed. The exodus of creatures from the Lost Forest that day was a result of his running away from home.

He never expected that, despite the dragons usually not disturbing the little dragon when it was asleep, according to the accounts he heard these past few days from the Lost Forest natives who moved into Mini Street, as soon as he left the Lost Forest, the dragons discovered it!

Afterward, the dragons mobilized in full force, conducting a thorough search of the Lost Forest. It was said that not only did they comb through the Mini Forest, but they also sent challenges to anyone who had ever coveted dragon eggs from the dragon clan.

They didn’t even spare those who had passed by the abyss eight hundred years ago!

Knowing the true story of this incident, Jing Nian felt a bit guilty because when the dragons found him and the little dragon, they all appeared joyful and without any signs of previous anxiety.

He thought that stirring up the Lost Forest was just routine.

Now that he knew, Jing Nian couldn’t just disappear for a few hours and do missions with a clear conscience. Fortunately, a group of free magic teachers had arrived, and it didn’t matter which side he upgraded first.

So he decided to stay in the abyss for now to learn.

Ga’erfu’s reply came quickly.

It was almost an instant response.

Looking at the hastily written response, which was about as messy as his own, Jing Nian couldn’t help but love his friend Ga’erfu even more.

He happily told the little dragon that a friend had sent him a gift in the Lost Forest.

The little dragon’s eyes lit up at the mention of a gift.

Then it suddenly realized something.

Friend?

Yours?

When did you make another friend behind my back?

Inside the Dragon Soul Space, the little dragon, suddenly seized by possessiveness, frowned unhappily. It tilted its head in confusion, needing some comfort from Jing Nian.

Jing Nian: “…”

“Now, what’s mine is yours, and what’s given to me is given to you. So, are you not going to accept the gift?”

The little dragon, with its tilted head, straightened up and said, “I want!”

Jing Nian said, “Then let’s go!”

The little dragon’s clear eyes were somewhat dazed, feeling that something was not quite right, but Jing Nian had already summoned the sand vulture and was flying to the Lost Forest without a word to retrieve the gift.

After taking to the skies, the little dragon had completely forgotten its previous doubts and was now joyfully cuddling with Jing Nian.

Having successfully taken control of the body from Jing Nian, the little dragon tilted its head, closed its eyes, and basked in the happiness, almost melting in the wind.

Jing Nian: “…”

Dragon Rearing Manual: Sometimes, a child’s joy comes from a simple high-flying adventure.

This time, Jing Nian knew that the dragons were tracking his every move, so he casually set out on his journey. Sure enough, not long after leaving the abyss, he spotted a dragon tail clumsily trying to hide behind clouds.

Indeed, for the enormous bodies of the dragons, protecting their young master in stealth was extremely challenging. Especially after the incident of temporarily losing sight of him, the dragons dared not hide in the clouds to protect him, fearing another unexpected mishap that would make it impossible for them to even see their young master’s shadow.

—

On the other side, Huo Yi, who had upgraded his way from a small fishing village to a big city, finally learned about the rumored location of the dragons – the Lost Forest.

With his bootleg player system, Huo Yi also had a system map. However, when he opened it, he discovered that the Lost Forest was located in a high-level area that he couldn’t access at his current level.

Huo Yi: “…”

After some thought, he decided to use the identity of “Uncle PiPiLu” to see if he could get to that place.

However, as soon as he transferred his consciousness to the “Uncle PiPiLu” character, he saw a large group of people gathered outside his little farmhouse.

The moment they saw him, this group of people started chattering excitedly.

“Wow, this NPC is so handsome!”

“Wuwuwu, I choose this uncle!”

“Ahaha, he’s too handsome!”

“Just for this handsome uncle, I’m playing this game!”

“Haha, didn’t you come for Jing Nian?”

“I’m a fan of Jing Nian’s technique, and this uncle’s face doesn’t conflict with that!”

“Well…”

Huo Yi, who was being pointed and talked about by these players as if he couldn’t hear them, felt his temples throbbing.

When he saw that all of these people had semi-transparent blue quest markers above their heads, he took a deep breath.

Thinking back to the news he had heard from those game planners through Uncle PiPiLu about many players joining soon and potentially delaying his dragon egg search, Huo Yi realized that the obstacle these players posed was even greater than he had imagined.

He decided to create some challenges for them.

—

In just half a day since the server opened.

The Dragon Slayer once again dominated several top trending topics:

#The Handsomest NPC Uncle PiPiLu in the Entire Internet#

#The Most Challenging Newbie Mission in History#

#Offering a Fortune for a Woodcutter’s Axe!!!#

 

Author’s Note:

I apologize for the slight delay.

I noticed a cute question in the comments, so I’ll provide a unified response here~

1. Jing Nian and the little dragon won’t be harmed by players, only clowns can do that, hahaha.

2. Regarding what the little bear people look like, they are small, golden-furred, and fluffy mini bears, somewhat resembling beast folk but with more animal-like features. The baby bear people can be held in the little dragon’s arms for cuddles, so they are quite small.

P.S. Regarding answering some of the small questions, would you prefer I answer in the comments or in the story itself?

If you prefer answers in the story, deduct 1. If you prefer comments, deduct 2. Is that too much to ask? (Puppy eyes)