Chapter 28: Chapter 28 The teacher asked me to patrol the mountain
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Conjuring clouds and rain, for Li Shaoying, who had grown up in a farming family, was no different from the work of deities.
Their family raised so many cattle and sheep, which needed grass to feed on. Grass relied on rainwater to thrive—during those dry summers and the autumns without a single drop of rain, their entire family would expend a great deal of energy driving the cattle and sheep to grassy areas.
This process was not only mentally and physically taxing but also made it easy to lose livestock.
Moreover, without rain, the grass wouldn’t grow, and the cattle and sheep dying of starvation was a frequent occurrence—it was an absolute disaster for herders who depended on livestock for a living, potentially leaving a whole family without money for food or clothing, unable to survive the winter.
Conjuring clouds and rain, the Azure Dragon Mystics.
If I possessed this ability, wouldn’t the entire village hold me high up in the Sky?
“Profound Arts include summoning rain and snow as well as casting curses. Each dragon possesses unique powers, and even dragons of the same bloodline may develop completely different abilities during their growth and training,” Teacher Duan Lan continued to lecture, even while flying.
The wind was biting and howling, yet her voice clearly lingered by the ear.
The other students listened attentively, mainly because the scenery of the plains had become somewhat monotonous. However, Teacher Duan Lan was a sight they could never tire of.
Dragons are divided into three main types.
Ancient Dragons.
Giant Dragons.
Azure Dragons.
Ancient Dragons are the masters of the land.
They boast unparalleled strength and brute force and possess some ancient War Skills. Most have bulky bodies, ferocious fangs, sharp claws, and skin as hard as stone.
In Zhu Minglang’s view, Little Black Tooth’s primary lineage seemed to be closer to that of the Ancient Dragons.
Therefore, if it could be equipped with a set of Heavy Armor, it would surely be invincible!
Giant Dragons have robust physiques.
They can also cast Destruction Magic, and most of them have a pair of powerful wings, allowing them to soar high in the sky and engage in battle, as well as to charge through mountains and valleys.
Luo Xiao’s Gold-plated Fire Dragon was a creature whose lineage was closer to the Giant Dragons, wielding flame magic!
Compared to Ancient Dragons and Giant Dragons, Azure Dragons are not as robust, but their Azure Dragon Mystics are extremely powerful. Even Giant
Dragons proficient in magic are unable to match the artful spells of the Azure Dragons.
Teacher Duan Lan’s Zhan River Dragon was indeed a very pure Azure Dragon.
Although dragons are categorized into these three lineages, most dragons in this world possess several types of bloodlines.
Dragons with mixed bloodlines may inherit the three major abilities of War Skills, magic, and Profound Arts all at once; they may also end up with none of them.
Pure-blooded dragons are ninety percent guaranteed to possess the specific abilities of their lineage, while the other two kinds of abilities will not emerge, no matter how they are nurtured.
Bai Qi was also a pure-blooded Azure Dragon before, but after re-transforming into a dragon this time, Zhu Minglang felt it seemed to have changed somewhat; the Ice Velvet Feathers that covered its wings looked more like Magic Crystals.
Rong Valley City was situated below a mountain stream. Perhaps because the autumn this year was colder, the source of the stream had frozen over early on, and the stream that gushed from the valley was reduced to a trickle, not to mention being able to irrigate Rong Valley City’s large swathe of rice fields and grazing grounds.
The rice here was naturally late-maturing due to the climate and terrain. Now, with not a drop of rain having fallen in a month and insufficient water from the streams for irrigation, what could have been a bountiful harvest might turn into a drought disaster, greatly affecting livestock as well.
Over the desolate old city, six Flying Bird Pseudo-Dragons streaked across the sky, landing one after another in the very center of the city.
A group of people clad in brown clothes respectfully gathered around, as if seeing their saviors.
“We’ve been awaiting the arrival of the two Commanders from Li Chuan High Academy!” announced a relatively young-looking man at the front.
“When the mountains freeze, you, as the city lord of Rong Valley City, should have foreseen the shortage of water for irrigation. With Dongxu Fortress only fifty miles away at the frontline of battle, where food supplies are critical, if you let those lowlifes from Wutu break through, do you think your head will remain on your shoulders?” Teacher Ke Bei angrily rebuked as soon as he disembarked.
“Your instructor is correct. A month ago, I sought help from the Ancestral Dragon City for a Rain Dragon, but sadly, there aren’t many Dragon Shepherds with the abilities of Commander Ke Bei and Commander Duan Lan. The matter has been delayed, but fortunately, the plea reached Li Chuan High Academy. Please, Commanders and Dragon Shepherd Students, rest at my mansion first,” the young city lord replied, neither servile nor overbearing.
“Since it’s related to the war at the frontlines, there’s no time for delay. Let’s start immediately, ” Teacher Ke Bei impatiently said.
“Night is approaching, and the temperature will drop sharply. The rain called forth by both Commanders might turn into frost, potentially damaging the crops and freezing the grassland,” said the brown-clothed city lord.
“Hmm, then let’s wait until tomorrow,” Duan Lan nodded.
Ke Bei had nothing more to say.
“Please!”
Upon entering the mansion, the leading instructor Ke Bei did not forget his teaching mission, and said to the students following behind him in a calm and even tone.
The originally noisy students immediately quieted down and listened attentively.
Seeing the noble status that academy instructors held outside, these students naturally dared not show the slightest disrespect.
“For this rain invocation, the primary demonstration will still be by the Zhan River Dragon brought by Teacher Duan Lan from the Azure Dragon Mystics. Rise early tomorrow and don’t miss the chance to observe,” Instructor Ke Bei continued.
In the coldest part of the night, the eastern sky was pitch black, clusters of red clouds constantly radiating light, casting Rong Valley City in a glow as brilliant as dusk.
Fifty miles away was the battlefield, and as Zhu Minglang gazed at that majestic red cloud, he quickly recalled a man with a pale face and a burly Fire Dragon covered in flame scales.
“That guy seems stronger now,” Zhu Minglang muttered to himself.
Zhu Minglang was no fool; he was well aware that the man with the Gold-plated Fire Dragon posed the greatest threat to him now.
He had a brutal nature and was coldly murderous, but most importantly, his terrifying obsession with Li Yunzi seemed to drive him to commit any madness in order to possess her.
Sooner or later, his own identity would be seen through, and the tale of the vagabond and the Female Monarch escaping the dungeon together was already the talk of the town.
With just a bit of verification, his situation would be exposed immediately.
Luo Xiao would certainly not let him off.
This was the first formidable enemy he faced, and he could not afford to take him lightly!
“Zhu Minglang.” A gentle voice sounded, interrupting Zhu Minglang’s thoughts.
“Teacher Duan Lan.” Zhu Minglang, maintaining the respect due to a commander, placed his left hand on the back of his right and bowed slightly.
“I will pray for rain nearing noon tomorrow, but the rain will only temporarily moisturize. Whether it’s for subsequent irrigation or feeding the livestock, we will need a large amount of water. I hope you could walk upstream along the stream at dawn to see if anything is blocking the stream and cutting off the water supply,” Duan Lan said to Zhu Minglang.
“All right, ” Zhu Minglang nodded. This was something an assistant should do.
“Don’t go too far, the deep mountains are full of demons, return before the rain prayer,” Duan Lan blessed him again.
Zhu Minglang bowed again and watched as Teacher Duan Lan left.
At the break of dawn, Zhu Minglang woke up. The remnants of last night’s incense lingered in the room, giving off a refreshing scent upon inhalation.
Just as he was about to get up, Zhu Minglang noticed a spotless little creature by his bed. Its delicate tail was coiled around its exquisite body, lying lazily but regally like a spry little cat.
Its gorgeous fur lay unmatted against its body, and with each light breath, the fringes of the Ice Morning White Dragon’s ice fluff opened slightly, like pure coral branches stirred by a gentle wave.
A smile crept onto Zhu Minglang’s face as he gently stroked the fur of the Ice Morning White Dragon, especially enjoying the tassel-like fur around its neck which was a pure delight to touch.
“Mew—-” The Ice Morning White Dragon seemed to enjoy being petted and unconsciously rubbed its little body against Zhu Minglang’s fingers.
“Up already? Just in time to accompany me on a mountain patrol,” Zhu Minglang said to the Ice Morning White Dragon.
“Meep!” Little White nodded its little head enthusiastically, willing to go for a walk in the mountains with Zhu Minglang.
“You should have advanced by now, why do you still look so delicate?” Zhu Minglang curiously sized up Little White.
Going by the time, Little White should have reached its growth phase after waking from its hibernation, according to what he had read in books. Judging by its dual lineage, its juvenile period should be exceedingly brief.
But Zhu Minglang did not notice any change in Little White.
Perhaps it still needed a bit more time, and Zhu Minglang was not particularly anxious. It had probably grown weary of sleeping in the Spirit Realm and wanted to come out for some fresh air.
After feeding Little White some nectar, despite having wings like a bird and fluffy wings like a butterfly, it had limbs as endearing as those of a cat, with soft and adorable paws.
Its snout was not sharply hooked like a bird’s but rather like a small deer’s. When feeding nectar, Zhu Minglang couldn’t use a jar, so he poured the nectar into his palm and held it up to its mouth. Then, lazily, it stuck out its little tongue and, like a fawn drinking water, lapped up the nectar bit by bit into its belly.
While walking towards the upper reaches of the stream valley and gradually feeding the Ice Morning White Dragon, Zhu Minglang specifically noticed the frost forming on the crops near the stream.
Zhu Minglang made his way deep into the valley quickly, with a constitution much stronger than that of regular people. Unlike some Dragon Shepherds, deprived of their dragon companions, he was not as frail as some martial artists.
As he crested the hill, the day had fully brightened.. The warm sunlight shone through the pristine forest, and all living things began to absorb energy while the birds and beasts started searching for food…
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