Ke Xiu Si, guided by the familiar scent of his cheap mother’s bloodline, navigated the winding paths of the deep cave until he finally reached a stone door.
The stone door was thick and heavy, exuding a dangerous aura.
This was the Red Dragon’s secret treasure trove.
It was her forbidden domain, her land of greed, a place in all of Anzetta that every creature yearned to possess yet could not discover.
The Red Dragon cautiously extended her claw, pushed open the heavy stone door, and then suddenly flapped her wings and flew up.
“Boom!”
In an instant, surging magma erupted.
They roared like raging beasts, exhaling terrifying heat, wanting to devour all living creatures.
This was the greedy Red Dragon’s most severe punishment for creatures who dared to covet her treasures—turning them into molten rock, melting their bodies until not even bones remained.
Even though he reacted in advance, the magma filling the entire cave entrance still inevitably submerged Ke Xiu Si.
Fortunately, he had the same bloodline as his mother, with a natural affinity for fire and heat.
Although his scales were thin and his skin tender, he couldn't comfortably bathe in magma like an adult Red Dragon. But for him, this magma was merely hot water, posing no threat to his life.
“Heave-ho!”
The young Red Dragon used his wings as oars, flapping vigorously to propel himself deeper into the treasure trove, entering a profound opening.
Before him, the space suddenly opened up—
Gold, mountains of gold.
At the slightest touch, the gold coins flowed like a river, cascading onto the rocky ground with a clattering sound.
And within the gold mountains, items shimmering with magical light were buried.
Ke Xiu Si felt his breathing quicken, unable to help but exhale a puff of hot air, his orange-yellow vertical pupils reflecting the glittering gold.
The deep-rooted greed in the Red Dragon’s bloodline compelled him to stay here; it was as if a voice in his mind was telling him:
Take this gold, take these treasures—they are all his.
“Boom!”
A tremendous sound made the mountains tremble.
It was the Red Dragon’s roar, and the Paladin’s fierce cry.
This sound also woke Ke Xiu Si from his profound greed.
Yes, he didn't have much time left.
The Red Dragon was fighting the Paladin, and it was clear she couldn't win.
Once his cheap mother was killed, this Vengeance Paladin’s next target for eradicating evil would likely be himself, this “young evil.”
And wanting to take all the gold mountains before him was simply impossible.
No wonder this Red Dragon was targeted by this quasi-legendary Paladin; with so much gold, it was estimated to be several million gold coins.
She probably plundered a kingdom’s generational treasure vault of over a hundred years in one go, otherwise, even an Ancient Dragon’s hoard wouldn't be this exaggerated.
He also understood why a Red Dragon, who preferred heat, would appear in the cold Anzeta Great Wilderness—it turned out she was fleeing with stolen goods.
“Magic items, I only need magic items that can enhance my self-preservation.”
Ke Xiu Si quickly regained his composure, suppressing his greed, and pushed aside the gold mountain before him, examining the shimmering magic items within.
“Blade Ring, reduces slashing damage.”
“Soul Amulet, Dead Man Talking spell once a day.”
“magic nullification amulet, can nullify one spell damage below sixth-ring. This is a pioneering artifact, take it.”
The young dragon swallowed the exquisitely carved amulet, made of mithril, in one gulp.
Red Dragons are natural spellcasters; their bodies are also natural magical storage rooms and materials, where any magic item can be preserved and function.
It is rumored that some Ancient Dragons afflicted with “magic addiction” would even engrave magical runes on every scale, to be used as magic scrolls at any time.
“Heart of Lava, causes additional fire damage, good stuff.”
“blazing staff, three Fire Rays, take it.”
In just a few tens of seconds, the Red Dragon had already swallowed more than ten magic items, but only these were valuable. Many of the remaining ones were flashy court magic, though expensive, their practical value was truly limited.
It was evident that this adult Red Dragon preferred gold far more than magic.
The sounds of fighting outside grew more intense, but the roars were clearly weakening.
The Red Dragon was about to collapse.
“Time to go.”
The young dragon walked towards the cave entrance, but he seemed to be under a charm spell, frequently looking back at the pile of gold mountains.
The greed from the depths of his bloodline gave him a desire to devour all this gold; that craving was addictively irresistible.
But unfortunately, magic items were already filling his stomach.
“Just one bite, one bite.”
Ke Xiu Si opened his gaping maw and ravenously gulped down a large mouthful of gold, the remaining coins cascading like a waterfall from the corners of his mouth.
He had expected a metallic texture, but unexpectedly, in his mouth, which was filled with the smell of sulfur and hot air, these gold coins were like cloyingly sweet desserts, with a strangely soft and glutinous texture.
The translucent panel reappeared before him.
Achievement 【Gold Devourer】
“As an Evil Dragon, you are not content with merely storing gold in your cave; you even attempt to integrate it into your insatiable body. Your greed makes even the gods sigh in wonder.
Believe that when you possess sufficiently powerful strength, the world will be engulfed by your endless desires.”
Obtained Passive Trait:
【Metal Scales】 Level 4 (4250 / 5000)
AC +2, Constitution +1
When you devour a certain amount of precious metals, their elements will attach to your body surface and deep within your heart. Your scales will exhibit a corresponding metallic luster, and your armor and constitution will be greatly enhanced.
(Note: Yon. Capalius was one of the most greedy Ancient Dragons in the Multiverse; he even set his sights on the gods’ treasure vaults. However, he eventually got his wish, being transformed into a giant golden statue, eternally floating in the Astral Void.)
“Swish….”
The Red Dragon felt the gold coins rapidly melt within him, flowing smoothly towards his body surface, his crimson scales subtly revealing a luxurious golden luster under the firelight.
And the Red Dragon’s heart also thumped vigorously, becoming stronger under the nourishment of the elements, delivering more scorching blood throughout his body.
“Hoo—”
Ke Xiu Si exhaled a comfortable puff of hot air.
One must know that the improvement of the attribute panel was not merely linear growth, but almost exponential growth. Each level would be about 1.2 times higher than the previous one, which could be said to be a great enhancement to his physique.
“Good stuff, too bad I can’t take all the gold.”
Ke Xiu Si hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise from his momentary greed, but the battle outside was already nearing its end, and if he didn't escape now, he would lose his chance.
To let his bloodline influence his mind at such a critical moment of life and death would truly make him the stereotypical muscle-brained Red Dragon.
“Time to go.”
Red Dragons are extremely arrogant and conceited, and would never consider any possibility of abandoning their treasures and fleeing their lair.
But fortunately, his cheap mother was not entirely like that; at least she left a narrow back exit for her hatchlings to escape.
The young Red Dragon, with a bulging belly, squeezed out of the treasure trove and ran, flying and scurrying, towards the cave entrance on the other side of the lair.
This led to the southern slope of Cloudtop Peak, and further down was the Bokara Mountain Forest; once there, it would be “the sky is high for dragons to fly, the sea is wide for dragons to leap.”
Adult Red Dragons are too large and noisy to hide well, but those tall spruces, birches, and other trees could easily conceal a young dragon, and he could even live and hunt among them.
“The wind’s up, let’s bolt.”
Ke Xiu Si looked at the approaching cave entrance and leaped.
