Chapter 236 – This Batch of Newcomers Isn't Great

Mu Yuan’s expectations for military units differed from others.

While other lords hoped to obtain an Epic-tier unit, for him, Epic-tier wasn’t rare – what was rare were Epic-tier units with additional talents, gifts, and abilities.

Not necessarily requiring someone with the potential to become an Emperor like Deadbone;

Nor demanding someone who could eat their way to the pinnacle like Dolai;

But at the very least, they should reach the standard of Red Robe or Rakshasa, right?

Otherwise, they’d just be ordinary Epic-tier units, similar to subordinates like Bone Two and Asun.

Yet what Lord Mu never expected was that he would actually recruit someone even ‘worse’ than ordinary Epic-tier units – yes, that’s you, Water Mirror Dragon.

「Water Mirror Dragon · Tiff」

「Tier: Epic One-Star」

「Level: LV1/LV32 (Previous Life Legacy, can rapidly advance to War General Rank 3)」

「Talents: Dragon Might, Water Mirror Body」

「Skills: Dragon Claw, Dragon Breath, Water Phantom, Water Mirror, Mirror Reflection, Magic Cylinder, …」

「Concept: Beginner」

This Water Mirror Dragon was a special individual, possessing some legacy from its previous life as a Water Mirror Dragon, and already had considerable combat power upon recruitment.

In reality, Water Mirror Dragons weren’t particularly outstanding in combat ability among dragons.

At the same level, it would most likely not be a match for the Frost Dragon Sario, but the Water Mirror Dragon’s greatest strength lay in its ability to reflect spells. Even without using skills like ‘Mirror Reflection’ or ‘Magic Cylinder’, merely having its body present here made it an excellent spell-reflecting shield.

It possessed ‘Special Defense Against Spells’.

Its mirror-like fine scales were natural spell-reflecting fields.

The Water Mirror Dragon had impressive stats and distinctive characteristics, two points that should have satisfied Lord Mu. Unfortunately, this was a pure-blooded dragon.

What did that mean? It meant no future prospects.

“Promising in the present, but no future.”

“No, I shouldn’t completely dismiss its future potential either.”

Like now, his territory already had 48 Dragon Force Swordsmen. Like Xiliu, they could produce both Human Race and Dragon Race Evolution Points, half of each.

Calculating comprehensively, it was roughly equivalent to Tianyuan Territory having 26 pure dragon-type military units, capable of daily Evolution Point production… guaranteed 10++.

Including various other bonuses, it might reach as high as four hundred per month when estimated optimistically, which would be four thousand eight hundred per year.

Accumulating for four years would be enough to evolve to Epic Two-Star.

Future prospects… my foot (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻!

Might as well hope for his evolution talent to undergo another version update.

“Overall, because the Water Mirror Dragon possesses its previous life’s legacy and can level up quickly, it’s acceptable in the current version… it might rise again in the late game, but it won’t perform well in the mid game.”

“As for the Dragon Force Warrior…”

「Dragon Force Warrior · Uta」

「Tier: Excellent Three-Star」

「Level: LV1/LV35」

「Talents: Body Refinement, Heaven Rewards Diligence (Incomplete)」

「Skills: Intentional Blast Fist, Dragon Force Whirlwind, Dragon God Fist」

「Concept: Minor Achievement」

From the level information, it could be determined that the Dragon Force Warrior ‘Uta’ received more gifts from his previous life than the Water Mirror Dragon, and he was born with a not-weak Concept. Even so, Warrior Uta’s skills were pitifully few.

Not resembling a special individual in the slightest.

However…”The talent ‘Heaven Rewards Diligence’ seems to share infinite potential with Dolai’s ‘Devour’ ability. Even without anything else, relying solely on this talent and one’s own efforts could break through limit after limit.”

“As for the Dragon Strength Warrior Uta…”

The guy was doing one-handed pushups and handstand jumps.

Excellent, full of spirit!

Lord Mu particularly liked this kind of new recruit who could push themselves to the limit.

If the Heaven Rewards Diligence talent worked as he expected, and Uta continued striving hard, his future prospects would indeed far surpass that of the Water Mirror Dragon Tiff.

Moreover,

The Water Mirror Dragon Tiff was currently grooming her scales nearby with an indifferent attitude.

Mu Yuan waved to the Dragon Strength Swordsmen, “Let’s go.”

Under his leadership, along with his territory’s officers Lu Liu, Xiliu, and Dolai, the Dragon Strength Swordsmen orderly proceeded to the Taixuan Base at the secret realm’s outskirts, preparing to return from there.

Other lords were also setting off with their newly recruited, promising soldiers, humming tunes as they traveled.

Soon, the recruitment area for Dragon Strength Swordsmen returned to silence after the bustling activity faded.

A slender and elegant Water Mirror Dragon basking in the sunlight opened her eyes: Where is everyone? Where did they go?

“Hey! Lord, wait for me!”

…

“Ah~ This really is a rural area~!”

Though the Water Mirror Dragon Tiff was only at LV2, she could already skillfully use her powers. Her two-meter-long petite body hovered in mid-air, with concentric light patterns forming around her vertical pupils. Using her water mirror ability, she created lens-like structures similar to telescopes to survey the surroundings.

It seemed this was quite a cultured dragon.

The cultured dragon felt quite disappointed. Just thinking about having to live in such a rural area in the future made her dragon life seem rather bleak.

However, fortunately, this rural area did have several auspicious treasure lands.

Pointing northward, she raised her neck high and spoke in a clear, childish voice trying hard to sound authoritative, “I… this dragon wants to build my nest there.”

She was pointing toward the Icy Spirit Cold Pool constructed in the northwest of Tianyuan Territory.

The home of the snow maidens.

Mu Yuan nodded, “That’s acceptable, but you mustn’t disturb the snow maidens inside.”

After speaking, the lord turned to the general named Lu Liu, “I’ll leave the Dragon Strength Swordsmen to your arrangements. Coordinate with Isloria regarding their food and accommodation. Also, for the Dragon Strength Warrior ‘Uta,’ you can increase his training load by two to three times above the standard amount. Adjust it as you see fit…”

As the two conversed, they gradually walked further away.

The Water Mirror Dragon Tiff widened her eyes: Hey! Hey! Hey!

Aren’t you going to say anything more to this dragon? I’m the legendary Water Mirror Dragon, a noble dragon, you know!

Though Tiff had immediately identified this as a rural area, she wasn’t actually that disdainful. She had quickly spotted several treasure lands here with promising potential. She had also detected the scent of dragon from the lord early on.

The lord possessed dragon power.

The territory also seemed to have other dragons.

She was actually quite curious about the territory where she would settle and this young but not weak lord. She just felt she needed to maintain a dragon’s pride and reserve, having expected the lord to explain everything to her.

In her inherited memories, whenever lords recruited dragons, weren’t they all treated like treasures?

But the lord had only said one sentence before walking away… far away.

And that one sentence only came because she had asked first.

Hmph, lord!It decided not to speak a word to the Lord for the next month.

“But I can’t help feeling that the Lord values the Dragon Strength Warrior more? Even though he’s just a mortal, while I am a noble Dragon!”

Feeling jealous.

“Perhaps it’s because the Dragon Strength Warrior ‘Uta’ has exceptional talent. The Lord has always valued talented individuals,” Xiliu said, resting her chin on her hand as she pondered.

Water Mirror Dragon Tiff: “???”

Was that implying that she, a mighty Dragon, had less talent than a mere mortal?

How absurd!

It decided not to speak a word to the Lord for the next two months!

However, it was genuinely curious about the territory and needed to learn more about its new home. It turned its gaze toward Xiliu and Dolai.

—In fact, Xiliu was specifically left by Mu Yuan as the ‘newcomer guide’ for the Water Mirror Dragon.

Being fellow Dragons and both female, they might have more in common.

Tiff did detect the scent of a Dragon on Xiliu, but she also caught a whiff of something that made her tremble with fear.

Shifting her Dragon Claw, she cautiously approached the seemingly harmless Dolai for information.

“You’ve come to the right person. Standing before you is the most senior veteran of the territory, General Dolai.”

Dolai patted Tiff’s scales and quickly gave her an overview of the Tianyuan Territory.

Like which foods were delicious;

Where to find tasty prey;

As a Dragon, Tiff was also a food enthusiast and should have been delighted to hear about such things, but…

「The heart of an Earth Rock Dragon is quite delicious.」

「The Six-Winged Soaring Dragon we hunted the other day was also extremely tasty.」

「There seems to be a Roaring Flame Dragon left in the cold storage. Let’s prepare a full Dragon feast to welcome today’s newcomers.」

Tiff: Trembling in fear.jpg!

Is this why Dragons aren’t highly regarded in the Tianyuan Territory?

Not exactly.

Dolai, with its Hero status, could see Tiff’s panel. As a seasoned veteran of the territory, it knew many secrets.

It patted Tiff’s wing and said, “It might be because Dragons aren’t that rare around here. Xiliu is a Red Dragon, and there’s an Undead Dragon next door. Besides…”

“In a little while, the territory will have even more Dragons.”

Water Mirror Dragon Tiff: “???”

Why did it not quite understand?

“Newcomer, your path ahead might not be so bright, but don’t worry. The all-powerful Lord will have a solution.”

…

A few days later, the Dragon Sword Warriors, under Lu Liu’s arrangements, had integrated into the Garrison Legion.

Their Ranks were still low for now, and they were barely human, so they trained, ate, and lived alongside the elite troops of the Garrison Legion.

Only the Dragon Strength Warrior ‘Uta,’ having absorbed the gifts from his past life, saw his Rank skyrocket, making him one of the ‘Rebirth’ generation’s powerhouses in the Tianyuan Territory.

Lu Liu designed a corresponding training regimen for Uta based on his Rank.

However, the regimen kept intensifying.

Three times! Six times! Ten times! Twelve times!

Once the training load reached twelvefold, Uta was nearly at his limit. Yet, his physical limits seemed capable of further improvement—as long as he trained, he could grow, as if there were no ceiling.

After his Rank increased, aside from daily training, Uta became obsessed with challenging strong opponents.

His challenges were different from Sario’s challenges back in the day.

He was purely addicted to combat.Moreover, he only challenged those stronger than himself. To be precise, while training with the Garrison Legion, Uta had constantly sought sparring matches with elite soldiers. However, after absorbing the gifts from his past life, even the elites of the Garrison Legion—and even Deputy Commander Niu Si—were no match for him.

Boom—!

The fierce glow of his fist strike dissipated under the Extreme Cold Tide.

The figure throwing the punch was gradually covered in white frost, freezing solid on the spot.

With a single Dragon Claw strike from Sario, Uta’s entire body was sent flying and crashed into the ground.

This was Uta’s ninth challenge against Sario, and naturally, he had lost all nine battles.

Sario hadn’t even exerted half of his strength.

Lifting his head high, the veteran offered guidance: “Rookie, you only rely on punches and kicks in your attacks. Such a combat method… does not bode well for your future progress.”

“You must strive to possess what I, the Dragon, have: impenetrable scales, immense strength, the Dragon Breath that annihilates hordes of enemies, and the ability to manipulate and reshape the surrounding environment. Only then can you truly stand invincible between heaven and earth.”

This batch of newcomers really isn’t up to par.

The ‘venerable’ Senior Frost Dragon shook his head and sighed.

First update…

(End of chapter)