Above The Sky
Chapter 392 - 392 363 Alien Ecosystem Core 33

392: Chapter 363: Alien Ecosystem Core (3/3) 392: Chapter 363: Alien Ecosystem Core (3/3) Ancient Demonic Beasts and True Dragons were both extremely powerful creatures that sat at the apex of the ecological hierarchy on the Terra Continent, even on par with ‘Humans.'”

They were often collectively referred to as ‘Ancient Dragons’, but in fact, some Ancient Dragons were not old, their history traceable and well-recorded.”

However, this was not important because the characteristic of an Ancient Dragon was that its mere existence would completely change the surrounding ecological environment.”

The modifications of the Qing Steel Dragon to Indigo Mountain and the surrounding mountains were self-evident.

The physical changes in the rocks were the most terrifying manifestation of the Ancient Dragon’s power.

Their Origin Quality and powerful Life Spirit Energy were like a living volcano, continuously overflowing outward, subtly transforming all local matter and living things with their own hues.”

Some even said that the abundance of Earth Series metal-associated Magical Beasts in South Ridge was due to the existence of the Qing Steel Dragon.

Yet, scholars have argued the opposite, believing that it’s precisely because South Ridge was home to so many metal-based lifeforms that the Qing Steel Dragon had an environment to nurture and grow.”

As for Ian, his thoughts were quite simple.”

“Doesn’t this sound like an evolved version of the Crystal Dragon’s ‘Heterogenous Ecosystem Core’?””

“Ancient Demonic Beasts and True Dragons…

hmm, or perhaps a kind of artificial super lifeform?””

Riding on a Camel Beast, Ian looked up at the not-too-distant Indigo Mountain.

This peak over two thousand meters tall could indeed be said to reach the clouds.

The mountain range continued to stretch towards the southwest, finally reaching the vicinity of Harrison Port and extending into the Stormy Ocean, forming the skeletal foundation of what is now known as Bison Peninsula.”

At the endpoint of this skeleton lied the ‘Redwood Base’, deep within the earth’s crust, housing thirteen Heterogenous Ecosystems, one of which was the ‘Metal-based Ecological Circle.'”

The Crystal Dragon was an artificial life created by a previous epoch’s civilization, designed to adapt to various extreme extraterrestrial environments, survive the local ecology, and, with their own power, build a large-scale ecological sanctuary.”

Because Ian had not seen a powerful living Crystal Dragon, he was unable to know if this function had been realized, but the former was undoubtedly very successful.”

But Ancient Dragons were different.”

They did not adapt to the environment.”

They altered the environment.”

Ian recalled many travelogues and rumors he had read about the Ancient Dragons.”

It was said that deep within the desert of Fiery Flame Land lay a constantly moving frost oasis.

There, frost fruit grass and perpetual ice springs—found only in the coldest regions—could be found.

Only the purest and least greedy souls could enter this place in times of hunger and thirst and receive the frost oasis’s hospitality.”

This could be evidence of a water-based Ancient Dragon, friendly to humans, wandering in the desert of Fiery Flame Land, an extraordinary ecological circle counter to nature.”

An ‘Ecological Circle Core’ that would allow a group of pioneers to survive in the most suitable environment after accidentally arriving on an alien planet and construct a front-line base.”

At this thought, Ian felt the ‘Ancient Dragon Core’ inside him.”

The Heart of Xiliad, passed down to him by his teacher, had regained some completeness after being repaired by the brain marrow crystal core of a Swamp Crocodragon.”

And after connecting with the ‘Aether Crystal’ in his left arm, it had begun to operate actively.”

Although on the surface, it still had no function other than storing a vast amount of Origin Quality, it was indeed pulsing slowly, like a true second heart, circulating behind Ian’s Primordial Seed and heart.”

The power of the Ancient Dragons stemmed from their two ‘hearts.'”

These hearts referred to the ‘Heart Core’ and the ‘Furnace Core.'”

By now, Ian had both…

it’s just that neither was complete, and they needed to be slowly repaired and unlocked.

But to say he is the youthful form of an ancient dragon in human shape…

might not be entirely wrong.

After all, no one has said humans can’t be ancient dragons, right?

“Repairing and unlocking is not a big deal—the Silver Chip contains a complete design of the Spark Engine, but I need to continue learning the inscription knowledge of the Terra Continent to reproduce it in my own body.”

The youth wasn’t worried about this.

What he wasn’t quite clear about was what the activation of the Ancient Dragon Heart Core now truly meant.

It hadn’t strengthened his physique, nor had it actively optimized the Origin Quality, let alone any other easily detectable functions.

However, being able to operate was a good thing.

Ian had plenty of time to wait.

“What about the Mountain People’s fortress?”

Gathering his thoughts, Ian asked Brin, who was also looking up at the sky beside him, and the latter promptly replied, “That’s definitely been taken down.

What era is this, to still build fortresses at narrow passes, waiting for them to be bombed into dust by airdrops?”

“However, there’s an artillery position on the mid-slopes of Indigo Mountain, jointly built by Nauman City and the Mountain People.

There reside the garrisons of three artillery battalions, as well as Sub-dragon Knights on patrol.

That’s way stronger than the narrow pass fortress—only they can attack others, no one can reach them.”

“I see,” said Ian, understanding.

He turned his head and continued to look forward.

The warm breeze of early summer wasn’t stifling but brought a refreshing cheerfulness.

The lush green forests and vegetation came to a halt at the foot of Indigo Mountain.

The land affected by ancient dragons could not grow normal plants, only a tenacious low-lying silver-green grass rooted firmly in the earth, its leaves gently swaying with the wind.

Without any large trees obstructing the view, the landscape was wide and clear, allowing Ian to see the long-missed expansive sky from this gorge—the clouds piled up like mountains in the firmament, while above the land, towering peaks seemed to pierce into the clouds, creating an interesting yet magnificent scene.

The White Chamber Caravan slowly made its way towards the other side of the gorge, a demarcation line between the true frontier and the civilized world.

To the north of Agate Stone Plains lay Old Southern Ridge Province, which had been developed for over two centuries, with the prosperity of Nauman City rivaling any capital of The Empire’s provinces.

To the south of Indigo Mountain lay the new colonies led by Sancheng City and Harrison Port, filled with natives and wild beasts, where ferocious Magical Beast Tribes occupied every piece of fertile land.

Only the bravest pioneers, the most vicious criminals, and the most unfortunate exiled or unlucky ones would settle there.

Ian knew he would soon part ways with the caravan, so he went back to pack up his belongings.

As an alchemist, his luggage was quite heavy, requiring a camel beast solely for hauling, but Ian had ways to speed up and lighten the load for his mount, as long as he was traveling alone.

However, just as he finished packing and stepped out of the carriage, he found that a large group of Mountain People had appeared around the gorge.

These Mountain People, followers of the Dragon God, wore fur vests, carried short bows, and donned horn accessories of various sizes on their heads, which they insistently wore to emulate the horns of their dragon god.

The diverse lengths of stone knives and iron knives at their waists were on the left and right respectively, weapons that only the tribe’s warriors could carry, symbolizing faith as solid as rock and will as ironclad as the dark metal.

They silently watched the caravan, not uttering a word, and Ian subconsciously thought this was the kind of raiding scene in the Terra World he had always wanted to witness.

But as the caravan steward stepped forward and blew five melodious notes on the bone whistle on his chest, the Mountain People’s group began to buzz, and some at the back seemed to be transporting something.

Soon enough, Mountain People warriors raised their hands high, holding baskets full of furs and beast bones, and placed them in front of the caravan while several merchants began to expertly negotiate prices in accented Common Tongue, instructing others to retrieve salt, herbs, spices, and tea leaves from the wagons.