Evil dragon has a warm heart
Chapter 478 - 478 477 Dragon Tribulation

Chapter 478: Chapter 477: Dragon Tribulation Chapter 478: Chapter 477: Dragon Tribulation “Why do I feel this way?”

“How could you not?” Mel replied.

This left Russell speechless, his “ambiguous” relationship with the Shadowflame Dragon had clearly led Mel to misunderstand as well.

But it was not easy for him to explain.

After all, in his heart, if it were possible to contract another dragon besides the Little Dream Dragon, he would definitely want to contract the Shadowflame Dragon. Which knight would ever find magical creatures like dragons too numerous to cherish?

Seeing Russell’s silence,

yet Mel laughed heartily, “Haha, what’s there to fret about? The position of Grand Duke is a hot potato anyway, and I’d be more than happy if you took it over. That way, grandfather would have no reason to prevent me from marrying Annie!”

“I never thought about taking over,” Russell sighed in relief, “but some things can’t be discussed yet, so, cousin, keep trying, and I will continue to support your pursuit of the Grand Duke position just as always… After all, the future belongs to us!”

“Well said, the future belongs to us!” Mel laughed loudly.

Afterward, Russell went to the Elders’ Hall and met his grandfather, Count Merlin, to report on his diplomatic mission.

“The activation of the Scale Tower and the safe return of His Highness Shadowflame have put my mind at ease,” Count Merlin sighed. “There’s been upheaval from the Snow Demon recently; the borders are restless, and two knights have already died on the Snowfield… I’ve been worried about you and His Highness Shadowflame.”

“You can relax now, grandfather. With the Scale Tower activated, gathering the power of three dragons, neither the Frost Giant nor the Snow Giant can stir any trouble,” Russell reassured him.

After that, the grandson and grandfather discussed the situation of the diplomatic mission.

Once they finished talking, Russell went to Shadowflame Volcano to retrieve the Polar Ice Sacred Artifact and rode on Black Oil Dragon Rossi back to his own domain.

“I can go fishing again.” Placing the metallic rock on the Dragon Coiling Pillar, Russell patted Rossi’s scales. “Take good care of the Polar Ice Sacred Artifact… Let me know if you want to eat something special, and I’ll have it sent to you.”

“Alright, Father,” Rossi responded mentally.

Standing on the hundred-meter-high Dragon Coiling Pillar, one could overlook the entire Blackfire Plains. Rossi particularly enjoyed watching the Black Oil Mine in the northwest direction.

The vicinity of the Black Oil Mine had numerous chimneys, emitting billowing black smoke almost continuously, night and day.

An air of the Industrial Age enveloped him, a sight rare elsewhere—the coal-burning kilns would not emit such dense black smoke, nor were there so many factories burning kilns every day.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Russell did not immediately leave but stayed with Rossi, watching the black smoke floating towards the sky.

“Roar,” Rossi responded softly.

“It will be even more beautiful in the future. There are only a few factories now, but as the workers become skilled and the Blackfire Tower of Scholars produces more research, more factories will be established. Then, when dozens or hundreds of chimneys are all smoking together, it will truly be a magnificent sight!”

On Earth back home, this would definitely constitute severe pollution.

But on the Dragon Sleep Continent, perhaps more black smoke and a slightly stronger greenhouse effect could help defeat the Snow Demon.

Just then,

a ripple pulsed through Russell’s mind—it was the Pseudo-Harpy Dragon Hape, apparently trying to contact him about something.

The distance was too great; psychic connections couldn’t bridge space and time, so only simple vibrations could be perceived.

“Off I go!”

With a wave to Rossi, Russell’s thoughts moved, and Unicorn Polly flew over from the bamboo forest to the west of the castle, carrying Russell straight to Greentown Snow Forest.

At that moment, at Greentown Garden Cold Spring Point, Hape stood on the largest tree, waiting for Russell.

Upon seeing Russell,

Hape spoke directly in his mind: “Russell, I have pondered the ancestral insights on life and death, and I feel I have now touched the power of the Pseudo-Dragon… But I’m still missing something. I’d like to experience another ancestral relic.”

“What is it?” Russell asked.

“The force that supports the Cold Spring Point, the power that transcends the boundaries of life and death, I can feel it — it’s right beneath this tree,” Hape said, “Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved perching on this tree, keenly aware of that force.”

Pausing briefly, Hape continued, “I need to get closer to it!”

“Alright!”

Russell’s eyes sparkled as Hape had already overcome most of the obstacles to advancing to a Pseudo-Dragon; now, he just needed a bit of assistance.

The training in the Way of the Knight also didn’t seem as difficult as imagined.

The Phantom Beasts he had bonded with were all mature, striving to improve on their own instead of passively relying on being uplifted by him.

The Sword Butterfly Mark flickered, and a broadsword resembling a shovel materialized.

Russell started digging at the base of the tree, and soon he had excavated a large pit, to which Hape timely said, “I feel it, right here, this is far enough!”

Having said this.

Hape jumped directly into the pit, starting to perceive this invisible yet genuinely existing force up close.

A moment later, it made an even more bizarre request, “Russell, bury me alive — it’s not enough yet. I still need to get closer to this force. Only by burying me alive, letting me hover at the edge of life and death, can I fully comprehend it!”

“This…” Russell furrowed his brow, “Hape, we can grow patiently; there’s no need to rush.”

Hape’s gaze was extraordinarily firm, “Please trust me, Russell!”

Man and owl-eyed beast locked eyes for a good ten seconds across the pit before Russell finally nodded, “I trust you, Hape!”

Then he shoveled dirt into the pit, one scoop at a time.

Standing quietly at the edge of the pit, he constantly monitored the changes in their mental connection. As soon as Hape’s vitality began to wane, he would immediately dig up the pit and unearth Hape. He was ready to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, infuse Dragon Breath, and other measures to help revive Hape.

“Russell, you needn’t be too anxious. Phantom Beasts are physically robust, and their vitality is even more vigorous. When truly on the brink, Hape will break free from the mud pit and fly out again,” Polly comforted Russell through their mental link.

“I understand,” Russell nodded, “I’m just worried that Hape’s competitive spirit is too strong, preferring suffocation over giving up.”

Polly continued to reassure, “Don’t forget Uroboros is also with us. When necessary, it can use the Earth Traveling Spell to dig Hape out.”

At these words,

Russell glanced toward the Ouroboros Snake, silently flicking its tongue beside them, focused intently on the pit.

For Hape’s advancement, it harbored the same hope.

Although it was just an ordinary Phantom Beast, without Pseudo-Dragon lineage, this did not hinder its desire for ascension to Pseudo-Dragon.

A moment later,

Russell suddenly felt a fluctuation in their mental connection, Hape’s vitality started to fade, but at the same time, it also requested that Russell not worry, not to hurriedly start a rescue, which would disrupt its meditation on the mystery of life and death.

“Ah!”

Russell felt conflicted.

He harbored both hopes for Hape’s advancement and concerns for Hape; having lived together day and night, connected by the soul, Hape had become an inseparable companion for him. Even if it could not enter the deep dream family, it was still his kin.

He had to distract himself to prevent the urge to dig open the pit.

“This power, transcending life and death, achieving Pseudo-Dragon status, and eternally undying… Thousands of years this Cold Spring Point remains warm, still nurturing succeeding generations of Pseudo-Dragons… let’s call it ‘Power of Dragon Tribulation’. Having traversed this ordeal, everyone shall become as dragons!”

Naming it somewhat frivolously.

Russell didn’t actually care about the designation of the Power of Dragon Tribulation; what mattered to him was whether Hape could comprehend it and pass its own Dragon Tribulation!