NABC Chapter 209 The Land of Sleep
Chapter 209 The Land of Sleep
Chapter 209 The Land of Sleep
"Have you heard? Someone brought back tens of thousands of gold coins from the wilderness!"
"Who! Who has this ability?"
"Kate, that one-eyed clown."
"That old man? You're not kidding, are you?"
"I swear on my grandmother's name, I saw with my own eyes that he bought a large plot of land and was planning to build a windmill on the riverbank."
"I never expected this! I never knew this guy had this ability. He's really struck it rich."
"What skill! You just got lucky. Let me tell you, the situation was—"
"Is that how it is? Damn it! I could do that too!"
"That's right! I can do it too! I'm about to head into the wilderness, do you want to come with me?"
A man who looked to be over 60 years old but was still very robust sat in the tavern, drinking beer in large gulps while eavesdropping on the conversations around him.
Opposite him stood a much larger, more muscular man, whose arms appeared thicker than an average adult's thigh, and who was holding—
He was devouring a small lamb chop with the bone in at an incredibly fast pace.
These are the old bear and tiger-man who were assigned by Thor to escort the lucky one. The beastman has three forms: beast, beastman, and human. As long as it is not a full moon night, skilled people can freely transform between the three forms.
Along with them were other beastmen who were able to maintain their human form stably.
Such a grand undertaking was certainly not just for the simple purpose of escorting the convoy; it was also for publicity.
Promote the Red Dragon's territory, promote Kate the lucky one, and promote the opportunities that are everywhere there, in order to attract more creatures to yearn for it.
Saul left Kate half of the gold coins as funds to bribe a large number of down-on-their-luck wanderers and lowly bards to spread the word.
So far, the effect is remarkable. In an era where one gold coin is enough for a family of three to live on for a month, winning a game with just a little effort can provide nearly 10 years' worth of living expenses, which is a huge temptation for adventurers at the bottom.
As for the dangers involved, they are not worth mentioning!
Adventurers are called adventurers because their way of life is essentially an adventure.
Wild goblins, gnolls who rob people on the road, giant rats living in the sewers—once you leave the city, you'll face danger everywhere in this world, and you won't get any decent rewards or gains.
The constant influx of creatures made Thor's territory increasingly prosperous.
When the victors of the fierce battles receive large sums of money, their first instinct is often to squander it. Only a very few are able to restrain their desires and prepare for their future.
As long as living beings have the desire to consume, the corresponding industries will naturally grow out, just like mushrooms in the ground.
Every day, long convoys loaded with food, supplies, alcohol, and even weapons and ore would drive into Thor's territory.
The abundance of entertainment facilities and various goods, coupled with some unique items that Thor redeemed from the roulette wheel, indirectly increased the attractiveness of his territory.
So much so that many people who are not short of money and do not like fighting are attracted by the dazzling array of goods.
This attraction reached its peak after the first week, when Saul rewarded the top-ranked participants.
Because what he gave to the first place winner was an ether crystal the size of a pigeon's egg, with a deep blue color and a seven-colored rainbow emanating from its interior.
The moment it was raised high, all creatures capable of sensing magical elements were irresistibly drawn to it.
The elements that make up the world—earth, fire, water, wind, and so on—are constantly flowing into this dazzling gem, undergoing some unknown transformation, and flowing out as pure magic.
This is something that any creature capable of casting spells would dream of; simply holding it is like holding a small source of magic.
Not only can magic power be replenished more quickly after being consumed, but recovery and endurance speed during battle will also increase exponentially.
For elemental mages who specialize in a particular element, this is like a divine gift, allowing them to break free from dependence on the environment and ensuring that their strength is not greatly affected even when completely countered by the environment.
A noble spellcaster disdains participating in such vulgar combat, and the meager gold coin reward is of no concern to them.
However, once the Ether Crystal appeared, all magic-based classes became envious, since theoretically, if it were large enough, it could even be used as the core power source for floating cities.
When the spellcasters also entered the arena, their immense spiritual power, far exceeding that of ordinary beings, along with the emotions stirred by their various magical spells, immediately provided Thor with even more essence.
This allowed Thor to eat and drink to his heart's content every day, treating Aether Crystals like Dragon Crystals, while the Essence balance in his mind continued to grow at a steady rate.
A large amount of energy surged into his body, and even with his true dragon digestive abilities, he could not fully absorb it all at once. The subcutaneous fat gradually thickened, and something resembling gallstones appeared in his stomach.
Thor is preparing for his upcoming slumber. After all, at the current rate of essence acquisition, it won't be long before he obtains his first Elder Dragon template.
When the consumption of loading templates and the consumption of dormancy are combined, the required energy and materials will likely be an astronomical figure.
This will be an exaggerated transformation, like a silkworm turning into a butterfly. The more prepared you are and the more energy you have, the more thorough the transformation will be and the deeper your foundation will be.
In addition to what he had already swallowed, Thor would continue to dive down into the volcano each night as he returned.
The enormous red dragon moved nimbly through the lava like a fish, and the surrounding temperature gradually increased as you went deeper.
The originally orange-red magma gradually turned into a bright yellow, or even a dazzling scorching white.
The temperature here has reached several thousand degrees Celsius, making it an absolutely forbidden place. Even some legendary powerhouses of melee combat professions cannot venture deep into it.
But for Thor, this temperature was like warm bathwater, and the abundant fire and earth magic provided him with a continuous supply, making him even more comfortable than on the surface.
Amidst a flowing, scorching white light, a void was revealed, held aloft by magic. The power of the red dragon kept it from collapsing under the surrounding magma, allowing it to float in mid-air like a bubble.
This is the resting place Thor prepared for himself, which is still being reinforced.
The thick earth, stretching for tens of kilometers, was enough to shield him from all means of spying, and the pure physical heat could also keep out more than 99% of those who coveted him.
While 100% safety cannot be guaranteed, this is the most suitable location Thor has been able to find so far.