Chapter 153: Dragon Girl Velia and Edirth Preaching Rights

Velia hung her head, walking slowly along the street.

She didn’t dare go home.

She wished this road home would never end.

She feared her mother’s scolding.

Today her wages were six copper coins short. Her boss said she sold too much wine, and the money didn’t add up, so he docked her pay.

She didn’t dare tell her mother. It would only bring unfounded scolding and cursing.

Scolding her as useless, calling her ungrateful, definitely accusing her of sneaking food and making excuses.

Even cursing her to die miserably.

This world sings of motherly love, but who knows hers is like this?

“Ding-ding…”

The clear mechanical bell sound made Velia instinctively step aside.

A young man rode past on a luxurious bicycle. His graceful figure appeared especially dashing.

This metal creation suddenly became popular in the city a month ago. They sell for tens of thousands of copper coins.

Velia enviously watched the bicycle disappear and wondered what a life without poverty was like. Can one ride a bicycle freely?

Velia had a pair of beautiful pale gold vertical pupils, looking much like a white cat crouching on a roof.

This was the mark of a dragonborn.

In the Edirth Empire, only dragonborn can be considered citizens. Other non-dragon races are mere pariahs!

Velia’s mother was a pariah.

Though she was an adult doing the heaviest work, her wages weren’t even as much as the underage Velia’s.

Even so, Velia wasn’t considered noble.

She could only say she was barely considered dragonborn!

Her dragon traits were too faint, her eye color nearly nonexistent. Such a bloodline couldn’t awaken the bloodline heritage, let alone master dragon magic.

Her life was destined to be without a future.

Rumor had it that east of the Edirth Empire, beyond the vast Dark Moon Desert, there was a magical kingdom—Kewell!

People there were said to practice magic. Who knows if it’s true?

Velia always felt it was a comforting story devised by the pariahs who couldn’t change their fate.

In this world, how could humans possibly grasp magic beyond the great dragon race?

But if such a place really exists, how wonderful would that be?

Thinking about it, Velia became a little dreamy.

Suddenly, Velia’s pale gold vertical pupils dilated. She stopped instinctively and looked at a nearby alley.

In the originally dim alley, a brilliant light suddenly illuminated.

A complex magic array bloomed like a stunning flower in the alley.

As the light of the teleportation array dimmed, a tall and a short figure appeared.

The tall one was a young man with black hair wearing a white sword outfit.

The short one was a child who appeared three to five years younger than Velia.

Velia was stunned. How could she have ever seen such a magical scene?

For a moment, she stood there stiffly, not knowing what to do.

“Little girl, is this Edirth’s capital, Hiliar?” The black-haired man looked at her with a warm smile.

“Yes… yes, it is.”

Velia nodded instinctively, nervously glancing again at the young man’s black hair.

Even near Hiliar and the Olito Forest, black-haired humans were still rare.

You must know, the Edirth Empire is bordering the Olito Forest, an immense gene library of the multiverse.

All sorts of peculiar intelligent races lived there, including, but not limited to, humans, elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, goblins, troglodytes, ogres, centaurs, etc.

If lucky, one might even catch a glimpse of a dragon.

In fact, the golden dragon Ulysses, who protected the Edirth Empire, came from the Olito Forest.

The Olito Forest is one of the rare places on the Azaea Continent not ruled by gods.

Even the Five Prime Gods have only one enclave here, in the Ollier Elf City within the Province of the God of Life.

The reasons are simple:

One, the forest is vast and sparsely populated, mostly tribal, with little value for preaching.

Two, the intelligent species living there mostly belong to low-intellect chaotic types.

For example, goblins, who have no faith. Today they might follow ogres flaunting, and tomorrow might bow under centaur hooves, making governance costly.

Moreover, the dragons residing there are a significant reason even the gods tread lightly.

“Damn! How long have I slept? The dragons have fallen this far?”

The child by the black-haired man’s side cursed like an old man, sensing thick mixed dragon blood in the city.

Even the girl in front of him had a thin dragon bloodline in her body.

To the great dragon race, this was an insult!

The black-haired man ignored his curses, casually tossing a Mithril Ring: “Thank you, little sister!”

Then he beckoned the child and walked off.

Velia clearly saw the contempt in the child’s eyes as he passed her.

But that wasn’t the point. The point was… as he passed by, the thin dragon bloodline in her body suddenly boiled, and her eye color deepened.

A strand of information awakened from the depths of her soul. It was a fragment of her bloodline inheritance.

Was that boy a pureblood dragon?

Velia shivered all over!

Only a pureblood dragon could awaken hidden powers in a dragonborn’s bloodline.

In the Edirth Empire, the only pureblood dragon father god is the golden dragon Ulysses!

Velia could clearly tell that child couldn’t possibly be the great father god.

So, was he a mysterious and noble sacred dragon?

If he was a great sacred dragon?

Then what about the black-haired young man?

Velia didn’t have time to perceive her awakened power. She hurriedly picked up the ring the black-haired man tossed.

Her vertical pupils split open. As a trace of awakening soul power penetrated the Mithril Ring, a Phantom Scroll unfolded slowly before her.

As the scroll unfolded, Velia hurriedly ceased activation as if she were a thief.

Her pupils dilated, her breath quickened.

——She had seen such a mysterious virtual screen summoned by a noble lord.

She hurriedly looked around and, seeing no one, breathed a sigh of relief and left quickly.

It was half an hour later when she returned home.

Sneaking into the door, feeling guilty, as opposed to half an hour ago’s dejection, she was ready for her mother’s curses.

She didn’t care anymore.

Because she had gained the most precious thing in the world.

It turns out the Kewell Empire really exists!

The Kewell Empire is under the protection of the Internet God. With the Internet God’s help, everyone can practice magic!

It turns out magic isn’t exclusive to the dragon race!

“You wicked girl, why are you so late? Ah, are you planning to leave me like your damn father? Oh, my life is so bitter…”

The hysterical yelling suddenly stopped.

Velia’s mother, a pure human, stared blankly at Velia.

She suddenly rushed over, trembling hands cupping Velia’s face, looking at Velia’s golden eyes, lips quivering with excitement.

“When… when did this happen?”

“On the way home.”

“Good, good… hahaha, good, good… we can finally have a good life…”

Velia stared dumbfounded at her ecstatic mother. For some reason, a phrase she saw on the Internet flashed through her mind.

Can scholars and generals arise from anywhere?

Does bloodline really matter?

…

…

“Tsk-tsk, this is like a person—no, a dragon creating a race! Hey, didn’t you say your dragon race has low fertility?”

Yu Sheng’an, the black-haired man who had just handed Velia a Mithril Ring, clicked his tongue in astonishment.

“Damn Ulysses, utterly disgusting. It tarnishes the noble dragon race!” Dillon Adam, looking like a nine-year-old boy, scorned like an old sage.

“What’s disgusting? It’s the dream of many men!”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

Yu Sheng’an wasn’t annoyed by the remark, teasingly patted Dillon Adam’s head: “Jealous? If your body can’t handle it, use an avatar! Want me to make you a Flesh Avatar? It’s 100% realistic!”

Before Dillon Adam could explode, Yu Sheng’an laughed proudly and stepped into the restaurant beside them.

The dragon race is really a powerful and strange race!

Their history can be traced back to the ancient titan era of the gods.

The strength of the dragon race is hard to describe in a few words.

They are the darlings of the multiverse.

Their bloodline inheritance lets them learn powerful dragon magic naturally.

Their bodies naturally attuned to magic means even their waste could be top-tier magic materials. Not to mention other body parts.

A god-like lifespan lets them outlive opponents with just naps.

Their only flaw is low fertility.

But strangely, when they transform into other species, they gain the fertility of that species, producing a large number of offspring—dragonborn.

In fact, after over a thousand years of rule by the golden dragon Ulysses, the Edirth Empire has formed a very peculiar social system and culture driven by bloodline supremacy.

The humans, though still retaining magic and Battle Qi, focus more on the purity of dragon bloodline!

They no longer hope to gain powerful forces through diligent practice of magic and Battle Qi, but more to awaken dragon bloodline heritage.

Because once the bloodline heritage awakens, they can quickly gain great power.

Put simply, the societal climate is too restless!

Anyone who might practice magic for ten or twenty years will feel overshadowed by a neighbor’s child suddenly awakening bloodline power, can barely tolerate brief incidents.

When the whole society is like this, who can bear it?

In this environment, people instinctively pursue purer bloodlines, judging hierarchy by blood.

Once in the restaurant, Yu Sheng’an ordered a private room.

“Is that dragonborn special?” Dillon puffed up, chasing him inside to ask.

“Special? Not really,” Yu Sheng’an shook his head.

“Not really? But you gave her the Mithril Ring?” Dillon was confused, further bewildered. I even wasted magic power to stimulate her bloodline!

“I’m a businessman; it’s just promoting products anywhere, any time. Is that a problem?” Yu Sheng’an spread his arms as if it were natural.

“…” Dillon Adam was speechless… You’re a god, aren’t you?

“By the way, call your companions!”

It’s said the dragon race has a special way of communication.

In the limited historical records, there are often miraculous scenes like “an arrow piercing the sky calls for a thousand-strong army.”

So Yu Sheng’an was very curious about this.

“Won’t call, call them yourself!”

Dillon Adam sat across, casually summoning an Internet screen, watching by himself.

To be honest, when he first met Yu Sheng’an and heard the name Internet God, he was dumbfounded.

Presumably, it was just a quick name change due to the fast-changing times.

In dragon history, it’s not uncommon.

Taking a nap without an old rival mysteriously dying often happens.

However, he didn’t expect the Internet created by the Internet God to be so… interesting!

Yes, interesting. Very interesting.

If he’d known the Internet existed, why sleep at all? Splitting off a bit of consciousness to explore would’ve been so fun!

Most importantly, killing beastmen could earn Source Essence?

The times have changed so fast!

Bloodline inheritance clearly told him that Source Essence is a god’s reverse scale. Don’t touch the god’s taboo unless necessary.

This can be deadly.

That’s why he never asked Yu Sheng’an for Source Essence, even with innate deficiency.

Dragons are strong, but not brainless.

He’s still a baby dragon. If he enrages the Internet God, there’ll be no large thigh to cling onto!

It turns out Source Essence can be exchanged?

Damn mother dragon, if I’d known, why sleep? Killing beastmen is so fun!

“Hey, hey, hey, call or not? If not, I’ll cut the Internet, permanently.” Yu Sheng’an knocked on the table, threatening.

Dillon Adam was frustrated. He glanced at the flickering virtual screen and had to open his mouth to let out a low growl:

“Awoo…”

The tender voice echoed in the room like a puppy’s roar.

Yu Sheng’an widened his eyes in astonishment, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter!

“What are you laughing at? If you won’t call, then call them yourself!”

Dillon Adam’s hair bristled with magical power, glaring fiercely at Yu Sheng’an.

This guy’s nothing like a god!

What god is like him?

Honestly, if not for gratitude for saving his life, he would’ve left long ago.

Whenever he recalled crawling out of the dragon egg, Dillon Adam felt shame wanting to find a crack to hide in.

“Okay, okay, I won’t laugh.”

Yu Sheng’an repeatedly soothed.

Before the words were finished, his expression suddenly shifted, looking at a corner of the room.

——A teleportation array silently lit up there.

Within the flashing light of the teleportation array, a sharp-horned middle-aged man stepped out.

His eyes swept over Dillon Adam, landing on Yu Sheng’an: “Internet God?”

Yu Sheng’an nodded: “Allow me to introduce myself, I’m Ajef. May I ask your name?”

“Ulysses!”

“You?” Dillon Adam stood with a clatter: “Are you Ulysses?”

“Is there a problem, child?” The golden dragon, Ulysses, looked puzzled.

“Don’t call me a child! You have no right! Look what’s become of the outside? You’re a noble dragon, not a breeder!”

Dillon Adam roared.

Yu Sheng’an raised his eyebrows.

Great, hoping to use Dillon Adam as a face card, now they were directly at odds.

But thinking back, dragon bloodline inheritance is terrifying!

Had he not seen Dillon Adam be born, he wouldn’t believe this was a “less than one year old” dragon?

Ulysses’ gaze stiffened, but he wasn’t angry, instead feeling nostalgic: “It’s been over a thousand years since I’ve heard such things from you… you must be a lost dragon egg?”

“And what if I am?”

“Tell me your parents’ names!”

“Drilon Harris and Dalton Ivonne!” Dillon Adam announced his parents’ names proudly, eyes flickering with hope.

Ulysses’s pupils trembled, his gaze softened.

“I’m so glad, Drilon’s bloodline continues to exist!”

“What do you mean?”

Dillon Adam’s eyes narrowed.

Since the ancient titan existence, the dragon race has always been there.

Low fertility lets them keep a record of every dragon, including exiled ones.

“Welcome back to Dragon Island. Everything you want to know is there.” The golden dragon Ulysses’ tone grew warm and sunny.

Dillon Adam fell silent.

Ulysses seemed to realize something, looking at Yu Sheng’an: “Did you save Adam? Internet God.”

Yu Sheng’an nodded: “Sort of!”

“Thank you for extending a helping hand. Please state your reward. The dragon race will do everything!”

That straightforward?

Yu Sheng’an paused, thinking: “I want the preaching rights of Edirth. But I won’t build a church; I’ll only spread the Internet.”

Ulysses nodded: “No problem! I’ve seen the Internet. It’s a creation act. Edirth is lucky to enjoy it.”

Yu Sheng’an was stunned.

Is this really the legendary strong, domineering, and conservative dragon race?

If I’d known they’d be so talkative, would’ve done this earlier.

Or is it because I saved Dillon Adam? Wait, can I ask for more privileges?

“Please leave a token. I’ll have someone contact you immediately!”

“Thank you, for your generosity and broad-mindedness!”

Yu Sheng’an placed his hand on his chest and exchanged contacts with Ulysses.

Dillon Adam looked hesitantly at Yu Sheng’an.

“Go ahead, that’s your home. If not, you can always find me.” Yu Sheng’an smiled.

He always knew that taking Dillon Adam to see Ulysses had a high chance of him leaving.

But he did it anyway.

Because once Dillon Adam recovered, he’d likely still leave to find Dragon Island, to find his parents.

Just like it had always been his goal.

“I’ll find you. Don’t forget, we have a contract!”

Dillon Adam said solemnly.

“Contract?”

Ulysses’ gold slit eyes snapped into a line, glaring at Yu Sheng’an, ready to strike.

Lost dragon eggs and young dragons are easy targets for deceptive humans, forcing them into slave contracts.

Historically, it’s common.

But all attempts to enslave dragons never end well.

Dragon lifespans are too long.

They outlive all ensnaring entities.

When contractors perish, their heirs face bloody dragon vengeance.

“Don’t worry, just a Life-sharing Contract. I almost died in the egg. He saved me with it.” Dillon Adam explained.

Ulysses’s expression softened dramatically.

He bowed with deep respect.

Without another word, the teleportation array’s light enveloped him and Dillon Adam.

As the light receded, the room fell silent.

Yu Sheng’an exhaled, feeling energized!

An overwhelmingly favorable start!

Secured one of three paths, leaving Karman United Republic and Velia Main Plane.

Securing another will drastically shorten Source Essence accumulation.

How should I persuade the Karman United Republic?

Or better yet, how to persuade the Goddess of Wisdom?

Why not acquire more bicycle production lines? I’m also planning to release steam locomotives.

While pondering this, a vision from the Divine Projection monitoring the Dragon Factory in Velia shook him, his pupils expanded, fury rising!

Plans never kept pace with changes.

[5000 character chapter, another update later. Don’t wait; it’ll be around 2-3 AM or the next morning at the latest.]