Galos was lazily sprawled on a treasure mound made of innumerable gold coins, gemstones, and precious artifacts, which shimmered with an enticing glow, enjoying the gentle magical energies cast by several graceful Snake Woman Mages.

The energy, full of healing properties, felt like a warm stream.

As it flowed through the hands of the maidservants, it slowly permeated his resilient body, smoothing out the minor damages and fatigue from intensive training.

This is not about indulgence!

It’s merely about faster recovery, to start a new round of training as soon as possible... a necessary relaxation, nothing to do with enjoyment.

—Regardless of what others think, that’s how Galos sees it.

"Five years... my combat level has improved, but my life level is still at a standstill."

"The further I get, the slower the life level improves."

During these five years, his life level hasn’t changed, although his aura has become thicker, his size has increased, and his length from head to tail is nearly seventeen meters, with a robust physique. All attributes are steadily increasing.

"It’s normal; the growth curve of the Dragon Race’s life level isn’t smooth and balanced but rather stages of improvement."

"I need to wait for the next Dragon Sleep... With my development speed, the time for Dragon Sleep in adolescence shouldn’t take too long to arrive."

The Dragon Race’s method of growth is drastically different from many creatures, with the core being Dragon Sleep.

Regular training, battles, eating, and so on will accumulate and settle until it’s digested during Dragon Sleep, elevating multiple life levels at once. Damages and hidden injuries from battles, even minute damages to the soul and spirit, will be repaired during Dragon Sleep.

A dragon’s life.

In those seemingly long millennia, most of the time is spent in deep and prolonged Dragon Sleep, with quite a bit of downtime.

"The Evolution Talent I possess, it may vary in the future, but for now, its most central and fundamental utility lies in transforming the underlying essence of life, expanding the boundaries of potential, elevating that seemingly unattainable upper limit, rather than merely boosting life levels."

Galos increasingly understands the essence of his talent.

"As for why my current life level surpasses that of other dragons of the same age."

He continued pondering, revealing an enlightened expression: "The key lies in my relentless training, never slacking off year after year, day after day."

"Of course, it’s also thanks to the endless supply of precious resources."

"The black oil brimming with surging energy, the radiant gemstones nourishing the Dragon Essence, the top-quality meat providing ultimate nutrition, and even precious metals for strengthening the body... these are the foundations supporting my growth."

"Talent’s share is actually quite minor."

Galos quietly thought to himself.

Then he slightly lifted his heavy eyelids, casually glancing at the scales by his side.

The surface of the Dragon Scale was covered with numerous, crisscrossing, fresh sword marks. Each one was deeply embedded in the scale, clearly visible—these were the marks left during sparring by his powerful follower, the Six-armed Snake-man Sword Saint.

Beyond these newly added scars,

what’s more noticeable are the special lines that are slightly darker in color and seem sturdier and more solid in texture.

Their appearance was like the rings of an ancient tree or the weathered cracks on rocks, spread across his massive trunk.

These are medals symbolizing strength and experience, settled after numerous fierce battles, with Dragon Scales repeatedly shattered and healing tough under powerful vitality—Battle Scar Patterns.

The dense Battle Scar Patterns on him are largely thanks to his almost "self-abusive" daily training method.

After all, not all of Galos’ Battle Scar Patterns were naturally formed in life-and-death struggles; quite a few were ground out through persistently demanding high-intensity attacks by a powerful follower day after day.

This method has a bit of a clever trick to it.

However, Galos doesn’t care about that. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He pondered in his heart, "As long as it works, these Battle Scar Patterns should quite intimidate those who know the game."

Only true members within the Dragon Race’s society or intelligent beings with an extremely profound understanding of the dragon world really comprehend the gold content encompassed by "Battle Scar Patterns" on a dragon’s body.

When facing opponents with enough insight, Galos doesn’t even need to say much.

He merely needs to reveal the densely packed Battle Scar Patterns that already cover nearly one-fifth of his trunk, with the overwhelming, almost tangible aura of oppression and deterrence, enough to make many poorly determined and slightly weak-willed opponents tremble in fear before the battle, quaking before the fight.

This was confirmed in the fierce battle with the Golden Dragon Alberto.

Even proud and arrogant as Alberto, when he caught sight of the densely packed Battle Scar Patterns on Galos, even beyond those of a regular mature dragon, his vertical pupils couldn’t help but flash astonishment and shock, causing him to show a flaw.

After calming his mind, Galos refocused on the present, slowly closing his eyes slightly.

Though it’s his routine rest period at the moment, it’s not complete relaxation.

He often uses such fragmented times to closely monitor the turbulent changes occurring on the continent to the south through the Bloodline Chain and merchant channels, collecting information, analyzing situations, and quietly planning cautiously and long-term for the Border Area and his future.

"Gordon."

The Red Iron Dragon gently tapped on the invisible Bloodline Chain within his heart, calling upon his brother—Iron Dragon Gordon—who was far away in the Lotheren Kingdom, born of the same parents but leading different lives.

At the same moment.

Far away in the Lotheren Kingdom, on the tranquil yet vibrant training grounds of the Starfire Monastery.

Iron Dragon Gordon, still large and round, was becoming the focus of the entire field.

He lazily lay in the center of the grounds, surrounded by gazes filled with respect and near admiration, and under these gazes, he slightly showed off a body that seemed a bit leaner than three years ago but still retained a round and full contour.

In the past three years, Gordon has indeed put in effort.

He invited an experienced Palace Warrior as a training mentor and managed to embark on the more balanced Hundred Battle Dragon path as he wished.

However, perhaps due to his ever-consistent appetite and insufficient training intensity.

His physique did not transform as he deeply desired, into that of Galos—well-defined, explosively powerful, awe-inspiring and formidable.

At best, he’s evolved from "fat wrapped in fat" (fat enveloping fat) to "fat wrapped in muscle" (fat enveloping nascent muscles), overall appearing sturdy and heavy, with a unique, endearing sense of strength.

At this moment, Iron Dragon Gordon was comfortably narrowing his eyes.

While enjoying the children’s adoring gazes surrounding him, he was also scanning these thriving little ones.

Those children who used to be small and frail due to malnutrition, resembling bean sprouts in the wind, have undergone drastic transformations under abundant food supplies and carefully arranged, continuous physical training.

They have become physically strong, muscular, and full of vigor.

Some children have even doubled in height and build compared to three years ago, exuding a vibrant energy and sense of strength.

Among them.

Aster, Seros, Aisha... the talents of these three children were particularly dazzling.

Having endured hardships, they well understood the preciousness of opportunities, and their diligence and self-discipline reached an almost rigorous level. Under the day after day, year after year nurturing of sweat, about a year ago, they clearly felt the flow and gathering of "energy" within their bodies, formally entering the Martial Monk path.

Judging by their displayed astonishing talent and current unstoppable growth rate.

Gordon had no doubt that, given enough time and resources, within twenty years, these three children would undoubtedly grow into formidable entities with considerable power, capable of standing independently.

Just as Gordon was immersed in gratifying thoughts, the Dragon Race bloodline flowing within him suddenly sent a subtle tremor.

Immediately following, a familiar and authoritative voice echoed—it was the call from his powerful brother, far away in the Border Area.

Iron Dragon was invigorated.

"My dear brother."

Gordon immediately responded through the bloodline link in his heart, saying, "Just in time, I just received an extremely important message that I was about to tell you."

"Are you referring to the fact that the Haltai Duchy and Abel Duchy have officially torn their alliance, declaring war on each other?"

Galos said, "I already know about that."

Through merchant group channels, such obvious and important matters were quickly known to him.

Galos fully understood.

On the surface, Haltai and Abel, the two great duchies, are fighting fiercely to uphold the so-called sacred, inviolable sovereignty of their lands.

But in reality, they are more like two sharp swords, tightly gripped by a hidden swordsman behind the scenes.

Their fierce clash at this moment is, to a large extent, merely executing the swordsman’s will—an elaborate, exploratory conflict.

The Saint King has already fallen.

But the Lotheren Kingdom, after all, has relished centuries of resources and development under his luminous protection, transforming into a colossal entity.

Even though it is now riddled with internal conflicts and issues that reveal signs of decay, an undeniable established fact remains.

—It still remains a kingdom with profound heritage, formidable military strength, and expansive territory.

Those lurking in the shadows, ambitious like jackals and mad dogs, coveting the kingdom, would never be foolish enough to launch a direct assault from the very start, challenging this lion, though old, still possessing claws and teeth.

They will first cautiously extend probing claws, continuously teasing from the edges, creating chaos... until they are entirely certain of the lion’s weakness and sluggish response, only then will they swarm together like a school of sharks scenting blood, tearing it apart and devouring it.

"Indeed, it’s about this matter."

Gordon confirmed Galos’ knowledge, but his tone immediately became more solemn and more cautious.

"However, I have another piece of news, more important than the duchies declaring war, to tell you."

After a pause, he slowly said, "The old King of Lotheren is gravely ill."