"Since black oil can be consumed."
"Then energy ores, which have a higher quality than black oil, should unexpectedly provide me with richer energy."
"The problem is, these things are strategic resources. A small amount of black oil is fine; if I'm lucky, I might be able to excavate a stash myself. Some Alchemists can refine it on their own, but large black oil reserves and other energy deposits are tightly controlled by the major nations."
Galos started to ponder.
Let's leave other matters aside for now.
The Human Empire [Holden] and the Elf Empire [Naoxir], these two empires are still secretly competing, friction incessant, for a super-large black oil reserve's resource division.
If not for their large scale, once war breaks out, the consequences would be unpredictable, very likely mutually assured destruction.
Now is not the time for secret contention anymore.
"There are oil fields on the Sel Wilderness too, but they are all guarded by troops for extraction."
"Let's talk about it later. Now is definitely not the time to provoke them; otherwise, it would be seeking my own doom, and besides, the energy I need for evolution at the moment is not much. Hunting magical beasts can satisfy."
Galos thought silently to himself.
He glanced down at the black oil on his claws.
He extended his sensitive tongue, carefully licking it, then picked up the Alchemy Engine and poured the remaining black oil straight into his mouth.
The vigorous spicy sensation climbed straight to his mind.
After gulping down the little remaining black oil in the Alchemy Engine.
Galos felt as if there was a blazing fire burning inside his belly, his spirit becoming extremely excited.
Roar!
He spread his Dragon Wings, wrapped in howling wind, soaring to the sky, swiftly gliding high above, continuously spewing Flaming Dragon Breath, the dark red patterns on his Scale Armor becoming like flowing magma, shining brightly.
The continuously rolling flames.
Dyeing the sky clouds in a tint of crimson, as if ignited.
Half an hour later, Galos folded his wings, landing on a rock slab, the feeling of raging fire burning in his belly was gone, but he felt somewhat unsatisfied.
Because in this short half hour.
Galos could clearly feel that his training effect exceeded that of a normal week's time, especially concerning the intensity and duration of the Dragon Breath.
Moreover, he didn't feel much fatigue now.
"It's truly a good thing."
He picked up the Alchemy Engine, inclined it down a bit more.
Finally, only a drop of black oil remained, poured into Galos's palm.
He initially wanted to consume it outright.
But suddenly had a thought, Galos looked towards Samantha.
"Legacy says this stuff isn't food, but I feel it's quite potent when I eat it. Could the Legacy be wrong?"
The Dragon's Legacy isn't necessarily entirely correct; the information within it might be outdated, might contain errors and omissions.
"Let Samantha have a taste."
Galos awakened Samantha, under her suspicious gaze, said, "The energy contained in the black oil is very rich; I just consumed a lot. You should try it too."
"Really? My Legacy never said this could be eaten."
Samantha was dubious.
She extended a warm tongue, licked the drop of black oil off Galos's palm.
Then.
Spit!
Spit spit spit!
Not yet swallowed, Samantha's eyelids twitched, spitting out several times the black oil onto the ground.
"This thing edible? Completely inedible!"
She smoothed her tongue, not wanting a trace of black oil to linger.
"Seems the Legacy's not mistaken, the problem is with me."
Galos was speechless.
"This engine, I'll give to you; it'll help you learn Alchemy Magic."
He tossed the Alchemy Engine to Samantha.
There's a difference in the quality of black oil, what Galos just consumed was the lowest grade black oil.
Alchemy can further refine and purify regular black oil, can also refine magical beast bodies into regular black oil, this is very basic in Alchemy.
Once Samantha masters it, then she should return the favor.
Galos doesn't keep idle Dragons here.
And the time won't take long, after all, Dragon Race's learning talent is indeed excellent, even the beginner's entry into Alchemy isn't a difficult matter.
Samantha took the Alchemy Engine, curiously observing a few times, then coiled it with her tail, gently closing her eyes, continuing to explore and learn the knowledge of the Legacy.
Gazed at Samantha engrossed in Legacy's knowledge.
Galos suddenly thought, another Iron Dragon, Brother Gordon, didn't know how the situation was.
Gordon's arrogance and conceit were lighter compared to Samantha, but his brain wasn't as sharp as Samantha's, always seemed a bit clumsy, survival alone was perhaps also very difficult.
Shaking his head, Galos didn't think further.
He had already given a chance; what choice to make was their own business.
If Gordon, like Samantha, also came seeking allegiance, willing to follow command, no longer acting whimsically, Galos could accept his following and let him, like Samantha, learn some Magic that could assist him and be beneficial.
But what Galos didn't know was.
Gordon wouldn't be coming here anymore.
Viewed from extremely high up, one could see a main road, almost winding through the entire Sel Wilderness, its branch roads densely like a spider web, seeming like forked twigs, extending in many different directions, resembling a wild landscape's veins.
And this landscape of veins was named — Thousand Snake Mark.
Essentially, it is the collective name for all the roads responsible for the caravans' travels, mineral transport in the Sel Wilderness.
The Thousand Snake Mark's main road, directly connects to the southern Lothern Federation's territory, the road is very wide, paved with a layer of material akin to asphalt, stretching endlessly under the sun, constantly extending.
With the ground's slight tremors.
Wheels, made of metal inside and covered with a gel surface, rolled over the road.
A total of ten trucks, each nearly fifteen meters long, created with Alchemy, akin to huge vehicles, roared past above.
One truck had an open-air steel cage placed on it.
Each steel post was as thick as an adult's arm, densely engraved with Alchemy Runes.
Inside the cage was Young Iron Dragon, Gordon.
He opened his mouth to bite the cage.
In the metallic clang that made one's teeth sore, sparks flew.
Gordon's dragon teeth ached, only managing to bite out shallow marks, unable to breach this cage.
After leaving the Iron Dragon Lady's territory, he wanted to start from robbing caravans, heading south to make grand plans.
But as soon as he appeared, he was captured and taken down instantly by the caravan guards; after twists and turns, he was eventually bought by this current large caravan.
"Stop biting; even if all your teeth break, you can't bite open this cage. It's Alchemy reinforced; even young dragons are confined."
A human Warrior, standing outside the cage, clad in heavy Armor, said.
"Damned humans, what do you intend to do to the mighty true Dragon!"
Gordon roared, baring his teeth.
The Warrior clicked his tongue, saying, "Don't react so strongly, we're not going to peel your skin or dismantle your bones and Scale Armor. On the contrary, we will dress you up beautifully, let you enjoy a wonderful life."
"What?"
Gordon was incredulous, eyes full of vigilance.
"The beloved Little Princess of Lotheren Kingdom desires a Dragon Race companion as a birthday gift. The Kingdom issued a formal reward notice, and you, fortunate little Iron Dragon, are the gift we will present to the Little Princess."
Upon hearing this, Gordon's eyes widened.
He never expected, he would head south in this manner he desired.