Lei Luo’s heart stirred, and he immediately walked towards the backyard.
The closer he got, the clearer the strange magical fluctuations became.
The air seemed to be filled with an invisible pressure, causing his breathing to momentarily hitch.
The entrance to the backyard was half-hidden by some withered vines and weeds, giving it a somewhat desolate appearance.
Lei Luo pushed aside the vines and stepped inside.
The backyard was not large; three sides were the back walls of the barracks, and one side was a steep mountain wall.
In the center of the courtyard, the area where miscellaneous items were originally piled had been cleared to form an open space.
And it was in that open space that an elegant figure occupied his entire vision.
That was definitely not a cat.
Its body, over three meters long, was covered in streamlined Silver Dragon scales, each scale resembling the most exquisite piece of craftsmanship, reflecting a cool, soft glow like Moonlight under the afternoon sun.
Its graceful neck was slightly curved, its head held high, and two long, spiraled silver horns pointed directly at the sky, emitting a faint halo.
A pair of membrane wings, like giant feathered wings, were folded along its sides; the wing membranes had a translucent quality, subtly revealing complex magical patterns flowing within them.
Its body was filled with an indescribable sense of power and oppression.
But strangely, within this oppression, there was also an ineffable sanctity and majesty.
A Silver Dragon!
A true, living Silver Dragon!
Lei Luo instantly held his breath, his heart seemingly skipping a beat.
He saw Moonlight’s true Silver Dragon form for the first time.
He had long known Moonlight’s true identity, but he had never expected to see its true form so unexpectedly, in such circumstances.
Growth Period!
Lei Luo immediately thought of this possibility.
The lifespan of a Dragon is extremely long, and their growth is not uniform; instead, they undergo several important growth periods.
Each growth brings a significant leap in size, strength, and magic.
During a Growth Period, their control over their own power, especially fine operations like shapeshifting spells, might become temporarily unstable.
Clearly, Moonlight had entered a Growth Period.
Due to the rapid increase in its power, it was temporarily unable to maintain its cat form and had reverted to its true Silver Dragon form.
And its choice to hide in this deserted backyard was clearly in line with its usual approach—concealing its Dragon identity.
Looking at the massive and majestic Silver Dragon before him, and then thinking of the large white cat that usually liked to pat his knee with its paws, enjoyed curling up to sleep, and even occasionally got sulky because it failed to catch a mouse, Lei Luo felt an extremely strange sensation.
Shock, amazement, and a hint of… wanting to laugh?
The Silver Dragon seemed to sense Lei Luo’s complex emotions; it slightly lowered its noble head, its pale golden eyes blinked, and a low rumbling sound, like wind blowing through a giant organ, emanated from its throat.
This sound seemed to carry a hint of embarrassment.
Lei Luo slowly walked over.
“How are you feeling?”
Lei Luo looked up at it, trying to keep his voice calm.
The Silver Dragon let out another low rumble, and its large head gently rubbed Lei Luo’s palm, its movements careful.
That familiar sense of attachment gradually calmed the shock in Lei Luo’s heart, replaced by a feeling of reassurance and closeness.
“It seems you can’t change back for now?”
Lei Luo surveyed its massive body, a little worried.
Such a large creature hidden in this backyard would sooner or later be discovered.
The Silver Dragon seemed to understand his meaning, a hint of distress showing in its large eyes, and its huge tail twitched uneasily, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Lei Luo looked at its human-like expression and couldn’t help but laugh: “Alright, alright, don’t worry. There will always be a way.”
He patted the cool, smooth scales on the Silver Dragon’s head, but his mind was rapidly thinking of countermeasures.
Moonlight entering a Growth Period was a good thing, and its greatly increased strength was also a huge help to him.
But how to deal with its temporary inability to shapeshift indeed required careful planning.
The longer the news of him possessing a Dragon remained hidden, the better.
He summoned four trusted Knights, instructing them to guard all entrances to the backyard, allowing no one to enter.
On a morning several days later.
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled light spots.
Lei Luo opened his eyes, his consciousness still a little hazy.
He habitually turned his head, then paused slightly.
A familiar ball of snowy white fur was curled up beside his pillow, nestled close to his head, emitting a steady, faint snore.
The sunlight illuminated its soft fur, as if coating it with a faint golden halo.
It was Moonlight.
It had changed back.
Moonlight seemed to sense his gaze; the tip of its long tail twitched twice, its eyelids fluttered, revealing a pair of pale golden eyes filled with sleepy drowsiness.
It let out a huge yawn, revealing its pink tongue and sharp teeth, then habitually extended a paw and gently patted Lei Luo’s cheek with its paw pad.
“Awwooo~”
A lazy meow, seemingly announcing that it was still the same large cat as before.
【Daily Intelligence Update】
【1: Due to Blackstone Territory’s eradication of the Blood Wolf Band, the sense of security for merchants and travelers in the surrounding areas has increased, and several merchant caravans are planning to reopen trade routes passing through the edge of Blackstone Territory.】
【2: On the edge of the Mist Forest, an abnormally large “Shadow Panther” has appeared, its speed far exceeding that of its kind. This Shadow Panther is a mutated species and has broken through to the level of a Tier 3 magic beast.】
【3: In the southeast of Blackstone Territory, the number of Mud Lizards in the Rotten Swamp has abnormally increased, and they have begun to expand into the swamp’s edge areas, threatening nearby villages and trade routes. Mud Lizards are Tier 2 magic beasts, with tough hides and thick, strong tails that can even break trees.】
【4: The Light Church has dispatched a new regional bishop to the northern frontier. This Lord Bishop has a strong demeanor and is a devout fanatic.】
【5: The famous alchemist, “Potion Genius” Barnaby Grey, arrived in Boulder City yesterday and is staying on the top floor of the Golden Gryphon Inn. It is rumored that he is searching for a rare Dragon material.】
【6: …】
【7: Viscount Baker, the Lord of the neighboring Red Maple Territory, is recruiting adventurers to clear out an Ogre lair within his territory.】
【8: In the Withered Ridge near the Black Stone Mountain Range, a group of Harpies has migrated here. In the past month, they have repeatedly attacked several small merchant caravans passing through this area.】
【9: Baron Mond, the Lord of Iron Thorn Territory, has recently frequently mobilized his Knights and established additional observation posts along the border shared with Blackstone Territory. Mond is an Earth Knight, and his allegiance is to your elder brother, Elliot.】
【10: The ‘Plague Head’ follower of the Nine-Headed Demon Serpent is spreading a mutated plague in the fringe areas of the Emerald Marshes, which has already destroyed several small villages.】