Falling snow, like countless cold feathers, rustled down, adding to the chill of the Borderlands.
After a brief exchange, Golden Dragon Nasha could no longer suppress the swirling doubts in her heart.
Her gaze focused on the Red Iron Dragon, and she asked, "The skills of the Four Symbols Path consume an immense amount of Dragon Qi, but you... your Dragon Qi seems endless, an inexhaustible source. How do you achieve this?"
If she also possessed such a vast reserve of Dragon Qi, her strength would undoubtedly be several levels higher than it was now.
Some of the killing moves within the Four Symbols Path also required a massive amount of Dragon Qi to be unleashed.
"The answer is simple: training."
Galos said, "Continuously challenging your limits, surpassing them again and again, accustoming your body to high-intensity consumption, and allowing the Dragon Qi within to adapt to explosive output."
"When your body is strong enough to hold a vast ocean, the Dragon Qi will naturally grow and condense with it."
"Like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, it's a natural progression."
A hint of suspicion instinctively flashed in Golden Dragon Nasha's eyes.
Metallic Dragons also focused on physical training, but usually supplemented it with various rare magical potions, pure elemental baptism, and blessings and boons from elders to accelerate the process.
Given that a Dragon's physical attributes naturally strengthen with age, the benefits derived purely from physical training, in the eyes of many Metallic Dragons, were actually not very efficient; it was more of a finishing touch.
Nasha herself was more focused on refining and improving her Martial Dragon skills rather than training her body.
Alberto sensed his Dragon Sister's suspicion and interjected, "Nasha, you haven't seen how he trains on a daily basis."
"That's completely different from your concept of waving claws and breathing fire on a training ground."
As he spoke, he raised his strong right forelimb, covered in golden scales, and boastfully flexed the well-defined, powerful muscles on it.
"Look, look closely! My physique, my strength, absolutely surpasses most Red Dragons of the same level!"
"And this, to a certain extent, is due to imitating Galos's training methods."
Upon hearing this, Nasha couldn't help but glance at her younger brother.
She noticed that Alberto's physique was indeed much more robust than she remembered, his muscles more bulging, and his life level had even reached 16, only one level lower than hers.
At this rate, after he passed his next slumber period, he would surpass her.
This discovery slightly shook her heart.
She turned her gaze back to Galos.
Although it wasn't the first time she had looked directly at him, she was still genuinely amazed by his perfect physique, which was full of visual impact and oppressive power.
"Just by training, he can reach this level?"
She found it somewhat unbelievable.
"If you are firm enough and persevere, you will have a chance."
Galos answered simply, then paused and added, "Of course, in this process, perhaps a little bit of talent is also needed."
He did not deny the role his own talent played.
But deep down, he knew that no matter how great his talent, without day-in and day-out, unremitting persistence and effort, he would never have achieved today's results.
"This is not the place for pleasantries; follow me."
With that, Galos said no more, his massive Dragon wings flapping, stirring up a flurry of snow, and he led the way, flying towards the Dragon Valley area.
Seeing this, the other Dragons also spread their wings and followed closely behind.
In the blink of an eye, the Dragon Group was already soaring above the Dragon Valley.
Nasha's gaze sharply swept over the area below.
Guards stood in the wind and snow like sculptures, disciplined; young Dragon whelps were undergoing well-structured basic training under the supervision of adult White Dragons.
All of this indicated that this was not a place of disorder.
"In my impression, the lairs of Evil Dragon lords are either chaotic, survival-of-the-fittest savage jungles, or bloody, terrifying places filled with cages, torture instruments, and piles of bones."
Nasha looked at the scene below and said, "But this place is very different; it truly surprises me."
She spoke these words from the bottom of her heart.
In fact, when she first arrived at the outskirts of the Dragon Valley, she should have noticed how different this place was from where ordinary Evil Dragons resided.
But unfortunately, she had been blinded by her long-held perceptions of Evil Dragons, and coupled with seeing so many Evil Dragons gathered at first glance, and her younger brother being beaten, her emotions were instantly ignited by anger and worry, making it difficult to maintain calm and objective thought at first.
"Order is the cornerstone of efficiency."
Galos's voice came from ahead.
"Chaos only breeds needless internal friction, and excessive oppression will inevitably lead to fierce resistance."
He said, "To achieve better development, whether for myself, for the Dragons who follow me, or for the large number of dependents, a relatively stable environment that can continuously provide sufficient resources is needed as support."
For him, order was more like an efficient tool to achieve a goal.
If choosing complete chaos and destruction could make him stronger faster and safer, then he, as he was now, would very likely be another Evil Dragon, like his Red Dragon Father, symbolizing disaster and chaos.
At the same time, these words moved Nasha somewhat.
Galos's long-term vision and ideas went beyond her understanding of Evil Dragons; he was more like a wise monarch than a brutal monster.
"My previous thoughts were indeed too one-sided and narrow-minded."
Nasha frankly admitted her misjudgment.
Her nature, like most Gold Dragons, was arrogant, but it was this deep-seated arrogance that made her disdainful and unwilling to conceal her mistakes.
"Alberto chose to ally with you not entirely because he acted on impulse."
"You truly possess such qualifications."
As she spoke, her gaze finally fell on the other Gold Dragon, with less doubt in her eyes and more contemplation.
Upon hearing this, Alberto snorted a fiery breath from his nose in dissatisfaction, then quickly changed the subject and retorted, "Nasha, why did you suddenly come here?"
Golden Dragon Nasha's gaze instantly sharpened, locking firmly onto her Dragon brother.
"Don't you know in your heart?"
"Father sent me. He ordered me to bring you, this prodigal son who doesn't stay home, back to the Dragon Domain."
At this point, Nasha bared her teeth and chuckled, "He also specifically instructed that if you're unwilling to cooperate, I should beat you until you are, and frankly, I personally would be very happy to carry out this family discipline."
She made no secret of her 'malice'.
Alberto was unmoved.
"This is Galos's territory, you know."
He said slowly, "He is my ally, a partner who advances and retreats with me. He won't sit idly by while you mess around here. If you have the ability, beat him down first."
"If you do that, I promise I'll follow you back without another word."
"If you can't..." He spread his claws, "Then don't waste your energy."
Upon hearing this, Nasha laughed even more heartily, as if she had heard something amusing.
"I don't really care," she said easily. "Anyway, if I go back alone, next time it will probably be Father and Mother arriving, and then... hehe."
Alberto imperceptibly trembled, but the composure he feigned on his face did not break.
He recalled the charisma hierarchy theory Galos had mentioned earlier and felt that he should now display an extraordinary demeanor, like a Dragon King whose expression wouldn't change even if the sky fell, to enhance his charisma.
So.
Under Golden Dragon Nasha's gaze, Alberto slightly raised his head.
"Hmph, avoid their sharp edge, me?"
His tone was indifferent, filled with an air of invincibility.
Nasha: "..."
Galos: "..."
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
Both fell into speechless silence.
Decades apart, this guy was indeed still so punchable, with no improvement whatsoever, still habitually spouting wild words... Nasha felt her claw tips starting to itch again, and an urge to immediately beat up her Dragon brother surged in her heart.
Galos also suddenly understood why other Metallic Dragons treated Alberto as a negative example.
"A small internal family conflict, may I handle it here for a moment?"
Nasha took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to lash out on the spot, and turned to the Red Iron Dragon, asking politely.
The Red Iron Dragon's gaze lingered on Alberto's expression for a moment, then he nodded slightly, uttering three concise words.
"Do as you please."
Alberto immediately widened his eyes, looking at Galos in disbelief, and hurriedly shouted, "Wait! We are allie—"
His words hadn't fully left his mouth when they were abruptly cut off by a furious roar, like a volcanic eruption.
"Al—ber—to! Get over here and die!!!"
Nasha instantly transformed, becoming a fierce and terrifying monster.
A golden light flashed on her body, and that magnificent golden armor instantly reappeared on her.
Immediately after, she fiercely extended her armored claws, grabbing Alberto's retreating Dragon tail tightly, then swung him around in the air like a windmill for a dozen turns! Finally, with a cathartic roar, she forcefully hurled him high into the sky.
Whoosh—!
The Gold Dragon's wings spread wide in a fury, its Dragon Qi resonating with the wind element, transforming into a golden lightning bolt that pursued closely.
In an instant, muffled thuds echoed from high in the sky, interspersed with Alberto's pained grunts and Nasha's angry shouts. Various elemental lights flashed like festive fireworks in the sky, accompanied by fragments of shattered golden Dragon scales fluttering down.
If it were based purely on individual abilities, Alberto wouldn't have been utterly helpless against his Dragon Sister, who was a higher rank.
However, Nasha's armor provided a massive boost. Even Galos needed to enter the Blood Burst State to suppress her, so teaching her Dragon Brother a lesson was effortless for her.
"I've heard that within the Metallic Dragon race, especially among blood relatives, relationships are typically known for being close and harmonious."
Zoraya, the Blue Dragon, looked up at the one-sided beating in the sky, tilting her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"But these two don't seem to be like that. Their method of communication is actually more similar to us Evil Dragons, accustomed to communicating with claws."
Deborah, the Crimson-Silver Dragon, quickly shook her head, not wanting to be misunderstood.
"No, please don't misunderstand, they are just an exception."
With a touch of helplessness in her tone, she explained, "Not all Metallic Dragons are so volatile. Just as among Evil Dragons, there are unique individuals like Galos, uh, with distinctive styles, so too within the Metallic Dragon race, there will naturally be some individuals who are a bit out of the ordinary."
Vera, the Fairy Dragon, had reappeared at some point.
She flapped her wings nearby, interjecting with a giggle, "Hehe, do you think any normal Dragon would be able to stay by our Galos's side?"
With one sentence, she offended all the Dragons.
Feeling many unfriendly gazes, the Fairy Dragon innocently did a somersault, then hid herself with an illusion.
High in the sky, Nasha struck quickly, fiercely, and heavily.
However, as a Martial Dragon, she knew exactly which parts of the body would cause extreme pain and discomfort, yet she skillfully avoided vital points that would endanger life.
Ten minutes later.
Bang!
A golden Dragon figure, tracing a miserable arc, fell heavily onto a training ground within the Dragon Valley, creating a shallow crater, then lay motionless, silent.
"He's already knocked out? He's getting weaker and weaker."
Nasha landed right beside him, lightly tapping Alberto's cheek a few times with the tip of her Dragon tail, finding no reaction from him, as if he truly had been knocked unconscious.
She pouted, still feeling a bit unsatisfied.
At this moment, the Red Iron Dragon also descended from the sky, his heavy body causing the ground to tremble slightly upon landing.
He glanced at Alberto, who lay miserably in the pit, seemingly unconscious, then shifted his gaze to Nasha, the Golden Dragon.
"I have no intention of interfering too much with matters internal to your Metallic Dragon race."
Galos said, "If the purpose of your visit is to take him back to the Dragon Domain, then you can leave with him now. I promise I will not stop you."
No relatives had come for him, so his sheltering of Alberto here was a form of protection, which was perfectly justifiable.
But now that his blood sister had personally come for him, it was best to let them handle their internal issues themselves.
Galos did not want to face the wrath of a legendary old Gold Dragon.
Across from him, under the gaze of the Red Iron Dragon, Nasha, who had just appeared fierce and intimidating, instantly softened her expression, and her entire Dragon demeanor became gentle and harmless, as if the ferocious Martial Dragon from moments ago was just an illusion.
"Actually, I'm not in such a hurry to take him back."
Her gaze burned as she looked back at Galos, saying, "Dragons who choose to walk the Martial Path are already rare. I can't find a suitable Martial Dragon to spar with in the Dragon Domain."
Her voice paused for a moment, then she continued, "I hope to have the opportunity to exchange some experiences and insights about the Martial Path with you, if that's alright?"
Galos chose the Martial Path because it was very strong in combat.
Nasha chose the Martial Path because she was inherently very warlike.
However, within the rule-bound Dragon Domain, she had to deeply suppress her warlike nature, only able to vent a little through harmless sparring and disciplining her rebellious younger brother.
Now that she had left the Dragon Domain and encountered a powerful Dragon like Galos, who also walked the Martial Path, her long-suppressed warrior's soul was completely ignited, especially after personally experiencing the brief but extremely intense battle just now.
For a time, she didn't really want to return to the peaceful and comfortable Dragon Domain.
Galos met her gaze, clearly seeing the undisguised burning intensity in her eyes.
The pure, burning fighting spirit within was exceptionally clear to his keen senses as a Martial Dragon.
"Alberto's Dragon Sister's inner disposition also seems a bit abnormal."
He couldn't help but form this assessment in his mind.
At this moment, Nasha, the Golden Dragon, continued, her tone sincere, "Besides exchanging martial arts experience, I am also very curious about your territory. This is my first time seeing so many Evil Dragons. I wonder if I could stay in your Dragon Valley for a period of time to personally witness the order and power you have established?"
Galos pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons.
A moment later, he nodded slightly.
"You may."
He agreed.
Dragon Valley has always welcomed powerful external visitors, especially those individuals who might bring new challenges, perspectives, and potential benefits.
A powerful adult Gold Dragon, if a good relationship could be established with her, would also be an invisible boost to Dragon Valley's reputation and deterrent power in the outside world.
Moreover, Galos was very interested in her armor.
The Four Symbols Dragon skill could also allow him to comprehensively improve his resistances.
He added, "Dragon Valley welcomes all Dragon visitors who are willing to abide by its rules. You are free to observe, but you must not interfere with the normal operation and training plans within the territory. As for exchanging experiences with other Martial Dragons, I am equally happy to do so."
Nasha nodded slightly, lowering her Dragon head a subtle degree, as a gesture of thanks.
"Vera."
Galos called out.
"Great, invincible King of Molten Iron! Your most loyal Vera awaits your command!"
The Fairy Dragon's figure emerged from the air in response.
This time she was very serious, her back straight, like a soldier undergoing inspection.
"You will lead Ms. Nasha and familiarize her with the basic environment and rules of Dragon Valley."
"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished, guaranteed!"
Vera, the Fairy Dragon, responded loudly, then turned to Nasha, enthusiastically saying, "Respected Golden Dragon Lady, please follow me."
Soon after, the wind and snow still whirled tirelessly above Dragon Valley.
The Fairy Dragon, full of excitement, led Nasha, the Golden Dragon, as they traversed the various important areas within the valley, explaining its layout and rules to her.
Galos settled his mind, contemplating the possibility of his wings evolving further.
His thoughts raced as the Frenzied Fire flickered, and at the same time, he was adapting to the negative effects of the Frenzied Fire.
On the other side, after confirming that his Dragon Sister's aura had departed with the Fairy Dragon, Alberto quietly opened one eye.
Finding the alarm cleared, he scrambled out of the pit, deftly shaking off the dust and gravel clinging to him.
Although he still looked disheveled, covered in bruises and claw marks, he still held his chest high, maintaining a composed expression of "everything is under control" on his face.
At this moment, Galos's gaze swept over him, landing on him.
"Your sister has decided to stay in Dragon Valley for a while. What do you think?"
Alberto, the Gold Dragon, heard this, flicked his Dragon claw at non-existent dust on his shoulder, and let out an ambiguous chuckle.
"It's just a little bit of hardship, that's all."
He was going to carry through with his charm theory to the end.
Furthermore, his next hibernation period was not far off. As long as he hibernated in Dragon Valley, Nasha, the Golden Dragon, wouldn't be able to forcibly take him back to the Dragon Domain. Therefore, he was utterly fearless.
At the same time.
Far away, in the Fubo Dragon Domain, deep within the Endless Sea.
Inside a magnificent palace constructed of white marble and shining gold.
A colossal Gold Dragon, over thirty meters long, with scales gleaming like ancient gold polished by time, lay prostrate on a raised platform covered with soft fabrics.
He remained silent for a moment, then sent a message to his distant offspring.
"Nasha, have you found that troublesome rebel, Alberto?"
A few seconds later, the reply came through from the other side.
"Found him, Father."
"Good. Then bring him back as soon as possible, lest he continue to cause trouble outside and tarnish our Gold Dragon reputation."
"Well... let's talk about it later, Father. I've discovered an interesting place and don't plan to rush back to the Dragon Domain yet. When I'm ready to return, I'll bring Alberto along with me. Don't worry, with me watching him, he won't be able to stir up any trouble."
"Hmm? You..."
The old Gold Dragon was somewhat puzzled and displeased, preparing to press for more information.
However, the communication from the other side abruptly cut off at that moment, leaving the old Gold Dragon's subsequent words to dissipate within the palace, unanswered.