The grand castle hall returned to tranquility, just like even the most magnificent ball would eventually end. Even the most lively banquet would eventually see the music fade and guests depart.
The True Dragons dispersed, each returning to their lairs, and the officials scattered, each returning to their homes.
Even the bustling maids had vanished. In the vast Fortress, only Kalon sat alone on the throne, lost in thought.
Everyone, in their long lives, spends most of their time in solitude, and Kalon had long grown accustomed to this state.
It wasn't just a habit as a True Dragon; having spent long, ancient years alone in the barren spiritual realm had already tempered Kalon's heart and will to be even sturdier than his steel-forged body.
He enjoyed the hustle and bustle, and he also enjoyed the freedom of solitude.
This solitary freedom was a rare period of relaxation and contemplation for the monarch who now bore the responsibility of the entire Dragons Empire.
However, Kalon did not spend too much energy thinking about how to deal with the future direction and development of the empire; for Kalon, the path was walked, not thought out.
He would lead the entire empire forward, all the way to the highest peak, or to utter destruction.
The Red Dragon was only thinking about his talent. This newly born talent, with some of its residual information still shrouded in mist, nevertheless allowed him to perceive its terrifying nature.
This talent originated from his psychical energy and bloodline, absorbing the spiritual authority of gluttony, and was further influenced by Kalon's personal mind, will, and actions. To some extent, it represented the manifestation of Kalon's inherent nature.
Kalon regarded the fundamental power and source of all living beings and existences as nourishment and resources for his own growth. His talent allowed him to devour any target he chose.
Then, under the analysis of his talent's power, he would absorb and digest a certain fundamental power from the target to supplement himself and facilitate his own growth.
And the bloodlines or sources of power existing within certain creatures encompassed the actual manifestations and derivatives of certain laws, interwoven layer by layer, throughout the entire world.
This also meant that Kalon could, through this method, access the laws of the real world more directly, easily, and effortlessly.
Although the strength and life-level of the target affected the speed at which Kalon's talent analyzed and digested, this was undoubtedly an extremely terrifying talent.
His talent was fundamentally consistent with the intended function of the sub-brain clusters he had previously created and strengthened; he himself was also constantly learning about and understanding this world, gradually coming into contact with the fundamental laws represented beneath the true surface of the world.
If combined, Kalon's own growth rate would accumulate and increase at a terrifying pace.
Unfortunately, the sub-brain clusters, which were created with the goal of deconstructing and analyzing the laws represented beneath the true surface of the world, are currently far from reaching the powerful level Kalon envisioned.
Although the functions of the sub-brain clusters are already powerful enough in the eyes of most creatures, there is still a long way to go before they can analyze and understand the laws deeply embedded at the bottom layer of the real world.
After all, the sub-brain clusters were created and enhanced by Kalon through psychical energy, from nothing to something, and there was no precise template for Kalon to learn from.
"Perhaps I should capture a powerful life form, a life form whose fundamental ability is calculation, deduction, and analysis, to provide my sub-brain with something to learn from, imitate, and evolve,"
Kalon's steel claws unconsciously tapped the armrest of the throne, which was as sturdy as fine steel, making a clanging sound of steel and iron in the spacious and quiet hall.
"Or, capture an electronic life, a digital data life, or even an electronic god. Even a quantum computer, its function cannot meet my requirements,"
Amidst the heavy tapping sounds, Kalon's gaze pierced through the Fortress's hall, looking out at the hazy night sky beyond Fortress.
The twinkling, bright stars in the night sky were individual worlds, and in those countless worlds and countless planes, they would become the hunting grounds of this Ancestral Red Dragon; those countless planes would also become Kalon's growth nourishment.
Kalon's ambition was directly proportional to his strength.
Because even the entire Ekania World was not enough to provide the nourishment and resources he needed for his growth.
"Establishing a relatively objective observation model of the real world, and comprehensively understanding the knowledge of the world, can better construct one's unique understanding of the world's reality, and build a more complete world cognitive system, which also means greater power!"
Kalon's dark golden pupils projected a deep and resolute gaze.
He was now preparing to cross the threshold of true Legendary status.
Given Kalon's current situation, even if this Red Dragon lay in his lair, perpetually sleeping, doing nothing at all.
After reaching adolescence, he would naturally cross that high threshold, which countless beings yearned for, and enter the Legendary domain, experiencing a leap in his life level.
But some Legendary beings, to become Legendary, consume countless resources and potential to reach this realm; for them, this is their endpoint, their greatest manifestation of ability.
While some Legendary beings are called Legendary because this path is called the Legendary Path, that is why they are called Legendary. Becoming Legendary is merely the starting point for these beings, it is their extremely solid foundation, the beginning of rooting, sprouting, and thriving growth.
Within any given level, there are extremely significant individual differences.
Sometimes, the gap between one Legendary and another can be greater than the difference between a human and a dog.
And Kalon, this ambitious Ancestral Red Dragon, intended to be that human, treating other Legendary beings as dogs. In Kalon's eyes, the words "other" represented everything.
After emerging from his slumber and gaining this new talent, Kalon was undoubtedly closer to achieving this state.
The Red Dragon's dark golden vertical pupils quietly ignited with a flickering flame. His extreme perception, within the Red Dragon's current body, had already condensed into an automatic instinct—True Sight.
In the eyes of this Ancestral Red Dragon, which were like translucent crimson gemstones, the various trajectories of the real world were entirely grasped and known by him.
The trajectories of elemental flow were as clear as lines on his palm: the yellow earth, the azure flowing wind, the blue water patterns, the red burning traces, as well as the emerald green representing vitality and various pure and mixed elements.
There were also traces of fields, fluctuations, and other subtle yet omnipresent influences in the real world.
"Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Void, Consciousness; Five Elements, Five attributes; Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth…," Kalon's deep Dragon Language voice was like a True Dragon's sigh. Accompanied by the Red Dragon's layered sounds, his five outstretched claws pulsed with a suppressed yet immense power.
Flames rising with extreme heat, metal bearing sharpness and solidity, earth carrying weight and support—various powers, like overflowing streams of light, were born and erupted between his claws.
Then came the elemental and magical glimmers, and a brilliant flash of spiritual light flickered past. These various phenomena, like layers of flowing curtains being unveiled, shimmered in Kalon's pupils.
But in the end, only a flickering flame remained in Kalon's hand, constantly transforming into various shapes, turning into all sorts of fire spirits leaping between his massive claws, yet always unable to escape his grasp.
Regarding fire, this was the Red Dragon's innate talent, but reaching Kalon's current level was not solely due to the bloodline enhancement of an Ancestral Red Dragon; that was only part of the reason.
A larger proportion of it was the result of Kalon's tireless learning and continuous exploration.
That was also the result of countless abyssal hellfire demon species and fire-type species and sub-species from various planes being drained of their bloodlines and thoroughly dissected, their corpses piled up like mountains in Kalon's laboratory. This was also the domain Kalon had mastered most deeply, apart from the spiritual domain.
The flames spewed by other Ancestral Red Dragon were High-level True Dragon Breath, capable of even burning powerful elemental spirits born in the Fire Elemental Plane.
The flames used by powerful elemental spirits born in the Fire Elemental Plane, however, could not cause elemental damage to an Ancestral Red Dragon, nor even a slight bother. But Kalon's current flames could break through the Ancestral Red Dragon's nearly complete immunity to fire resistance, harming the Ancestral Red Dragon.
This was only a part of Kalon's understanding of the fire domain; the temperature brought by fire, releasing and increasing temperature, and absorbing and decreasing temperature were also within Kalon's comprehension.
This was also one of the reasons why this Ancestral Red Dragon mocked Silver Dragon Christiana's power on the plains battlefield of the Kings Capital.
The ice magic unleashed by the Silver Dragon Christiana, which almost exceeded the Silver Dragon's power limit, was indeed powerful.
But in front of the name 'Freezing the World,' Kalon, this Red Dragon, was more qualified to say those words than Silver Dragon Christiana.
The flames between Kalon's claws, at this moment, did not receive the infusion of the Red Dragon's magic and bloodline power, yet they suddenly increased in temperature.
As the flame's temperature gradually increased, the temperature of the surrounding spatial area plummeted.
This rapid and terrifying drop in temperature was so swift that even the tiny water vapor in the air condensed into ice, falling quickly from the sky like minuscule ice crystals.
This low temperature even caused a thin layer of frost to form and cover Kalon's claws, except for the one holding the flame, which had risen to a temperature almost like the light of the sun.
"Absolute Zero, nothing more," Kalon said with a faint smile, dissipating the flame in his hand.
If the Silver Dragon Christiana had heard that, she might have risked getting a huge lump on her head just to fight this detestable Red Dragon first.
This Ancestral Red Dragon's claim of being the supreme being of flames was not an empty boast. This doesn't account for the other knowledge, fragmented laws, spiritual and mental authority, and abilities contained within Kalon's own Ancestral Red Dragon blood.
Even if his dragon blood only contained his understanding and knowledge of flames, bestowing this Ancestral Red Dragon's dragon blood upon an ordinary Kobold, and giving that Koboldample time to develop and grow,
that Kobold could, relying on the power and knowledge of being a True Dragon descendant of Kalon, this Ancestral Red Dragon, play the role of a minor lord in the inferno of the Abyss.
"Unfortunately, this is the only thing that temporarily satisfies me," Kalon reined in the power of the flames, sensing the other powers within his body, and furrowed the fine scales between his brows, which gleamed with a translucent luster like gemstones.
Earth and Metal, although a complete domain had already been born, and in the eyes of other True Dragon or mages, it was close to the pinnacle, in Kalon's eyes, it was far from reaching the goal he wished to achieve.
As for other temporarily vacant powers, Kalon wanted to utilize his newfound talent and his exploration of knowledge to achieve the process from zero to one, from nothing to something. This would inevitably consume countless resources and nutrients, as well as a considerable amount of time and immense energy.
And within his body, the source of his dragon bloodline also required countless nutrients and resources to fill, satisfy, and grow.
This consumption of resources and thirst for nutrients would be difficult to find even in Ekania World. Because Kalon regarded Ekania World as his basic foundation, his root, he could not wantonly drain its resources.
Moreover, to some extent, it went against his goal of establishing the Dragons Empire, but in other worlds and planes, there would be no such impact.
"No matter how perilous the road ahead, thankfully, I only believe that the path is beneath my feet. I will bathe in fire, forge in iron, tread through blood and fire, and reach that unpredictable other shore."
Kalon rose from his throne and stepped out. Although every time he touched his bloodline talent, he always had a strange sense of familiarity, as if this talent was his innate, the first talent he should possess.
But he no longer cared. He strode out of Fortress with his head held high.
As Kalon's massive body stepped out of Fortress's gate, Silver Dragon Christiana's voice stopped his steps.
"Hey, Kalon, Kalon Kogmora, how long are you going to keep us locked up?"
The Silver Dragon Christiana squatted on her hind legs, her silver-gleaming wings folded, her forelegs holding a flame-like chain. Her beautiful and dignified head was hidden in the shadows behind a pillar in the deep corridor, and she spoke softly.
The two adult Bronze Dragons on the other side also pretended to have just noticed the Red Dragon's presence, each peeking their heads out from behind a pillar, quietly observing the conversation between the Ancestral Red Dragon and the Silver Dragon Valkyrie.
"Although your territory is here, possessing True Dragon and countless loyal and brave warriors, you can never imagine the true strength and power of the Southern Good Dragon Alliance."
The Silver Dragon Christiana raised her head. Even as a prisoner, this Silver Dragon still tried to maintain her pride.
"Those two Bronze Dragons, Gros and Natalierie, are merely candidates who have just applied to join the Good Dragon Alliance. They need to achieve something before they can be truly recognized, and then, with the approval of the Dragon Crown Council, they can become official members."
"Each of those official members of the Good Dragon Alliance will be more outstanding and more reputable than these two reckless and stubborn fellows. You wouldn't want to attract the true members of the Alliance; that would be a great trouble for you, your True Dragon, and your Empire."
The Silver Dragon Christiana's gaze fearlessly met the Ancestral Red Dragon's indifferent, dark golden pupils, and then she said softly, "If you release us now, I will do my best to mediate for you when I return. As long as you can make Gold Dragon Obirasch return, I think I can persuade them to compensate you with a large sum of gold coins!"
The two Bronze Dragon beside her, despite The Silver Dragon Christiana's words being somewhat disdainful of them, still nodded in agreement. No True Dragon wished to be so humiliatingly locked outside the gate as guards.
"Obirash, that gold-scaled bug, my decision regarding him cannot be changed. He is here, forever guarding my gate."
Kalon's pupils were filled with indifference. He said faintly, "As for you, I can release you, but you must compensate me with a large sum of gold coins, and you must serve the Imperial territory for one to three years, as decreed by the territorial law, before I will grant you true freedom."
"Southern Good Dragon Alliance, huh? If they were truly that powerful, why would they be holed up in a corner of the Southern Continent? Let them come. I am here, I, Kalon Kogmora, am here, awaiting their arrival."
"You," anger surged on The Silver Dragon Christiana's beautiful face, "I'm doing this for your own good! What do you think is the foundation of the Southern Good Dragon Alliance's existence? The core members of the Dragon Crown Council have immense influence; they can even contact the ancient Ancient Gold True Dragon Council."
"Then let those True Dragon invite the members of the Ancient Gold True Dragon Council first," Kalon's indifferent words echoed in the Silver Dragon's ears. "As for doing me good, haha, a Silver Dragon doing good for a Red Dragon? That joke is many times more powerful than your spells, Christiana."
The Silver Dragon Christiana was speechless at the Red Dragon's indifferent and stubborn words. After a moment of silence, seeing the Red Dragon preparing to leave, she finally spoke, "I have gold coins, which I can temporarily pay as your compensation, but I hope you can temporarily grant me freedom. I have some ideas that need to be verified. I feel that my views and thoughts should undergo some changes."
After The Silver Dragon Christiana finished speaking, a magical aura bloomed from her claws, and small piles of gold coins appeared on the stone slabs of the corridor. A True Dragon only needed a glance to know the amount of this small pile of gold coins: one thousand two hundred gold coins, not one more, not one less.
"I, I only have these gold coins left now. I suppose it should be enough to pay your compensation, right?" The Silver Dragon Christiana stammered a bit. At this moment, she somewhat regretted stepping through the doors of that True Dragons World Forever hall.
"Damn it, no wonder the True Dragons in this Dragon clan are so rich; they're really good at swindling money," The Silver Dragon Christiana couldn't help but think. In just half a day, she had spent eight hundred gold coins in the card hall. This speed was faster than many True Dragons robbing passersby.
This amount of gold coins was considered a substantial fortune for most True Dragon, but Kalondidn't even have the desire to look at it again.
Kalon glanced sideways at the Silver Dragon, his disdain evident on his face.
"I, the Ancestral Red Dragon, Lord of Dragons, Emperor of the Empire, is my dignity only worth this much money?"
"You need to add more money," Kalon opened his large mouth, his sneering words piercing the Silver Dragon's heart like cold swords, "Ten thousand gold coins, at least ten thousand gold coins."
"Also, after your sentencing, you will have plenty of time to stay in the territory. There's no need to rush at this moment. I don't have free time right now. You can stay here for a few days for now."