Starting with watering the World Tree for otherworldly survival

Page 261

【Return to Civilization】: Find any city or village.

Upon discovering the new tasks on the panel, Zhuang Daihua couldn't help but secretly praise Qin He's thoughtfulness.

"Hmm...family members."

When it comes to the most suitable familiars for Qin Lan, they must be the kobolds with dragon blood. These kobolds are named for their barking sounds, which resemble dogs, and their appearance has the features of various dragons.

Their innate instincts will make them willingly obey the dragon's commands. By engaging in long hours of mining work, kobold miners can also accumulate wealth for the young dragons in advance.

If a group of kobold tribes could be discovered and recruited as servants, it would be of great benefit to Qin Lan, who is about to reach adolescence.

In addition, when Zhuang Daihua came to this world, she specially purchased a large number of mining tools such as picks and shovels, so that even if the relatives she encountered were poor, she could arm them in the shortest possible time.

Zhuang Daihua hadn't yet claimed the random high-level staff and corresponding attribute spellbook she received from completing the previous quest. While she was still riding on the dragon's back, she wanted to learn magic as quickly as possible.

From a young dragon to a juvenile dragon, sleep is necessary for energy conversion and growth. Once Qin Lan begins to sleep, it will take at least half a month for her to wake up.

If Zhuang Daihua herself wasn't capable, how could she control her family and relatives? Did she expect to just use crossbows to blow the heads off all the opponents?

Upon receiving the random high-level staff, a description of the staff will appear in the quest panel:

【Molten Embers】: The wand is forged from a mixture of unparalleled mithril and scarlet steel, offering excellent grip and durability.

Crimson Iris Steel is a material far superior to ordinary steel and Swallowstone. Even if you threw the staff near Qin Lan's mouth when she was a young dragon, she wouldn't be able to leave a single scratch on it.

The crimson crystal inlaid at the top is a highly pure fire element crystal.

If Qin Lan weren't under the spell's control, she probably wouldn't have been able to resist the dragon's inherent greed and would have pounced on her to snatch the staff of this quality.

Dragons possess the ability to swallow magical items into their stomachs, absorbing their elemental effects to strengthen themselves. By consuming this staff, Qin Lan can gain even greater fire magic in crucial moments.

A fire magic book of the corresponding attribute also appeared in Zhuang Daihua's storage ring. Satisfied, she put the two items away, and Zhuang Daihua and Qin Lan, one human and one dragon, traversed through the forest.

The young Iron Dragon used his talent for metal detection to find the magical labyrinth before him. It was a building made of mysterious stone walls, which looked like an ordinary brick house.

But inside, there is a completely different world.

"Human, this is a magical maze. The rewards inside the maze are divided into in-game rewards that can provide bonuses, and settlement rewards that can be taken away."

"I'll take you inside...maybe we can find something suitable for you here."

Qin Lan had her own agenda in bringing Zhuang Daihua here. If the two of them, one human and one dragon, could successfully navigate this magical maze, they would reap considerable rewards.

If Zhuang Daihua dies unexpectedly, Qin Lan will also regain her freedom. This is equivalent to getting those fifty gold coins, magic crystals, iron ore, and storage items for free.

For the young dragon, it's a win-win situation no matter what.

Zhuang Daihua wasn't stupid; she realized the danger of the magic labyrinth.

Although he could recite the binding spell and force Qin Lan to help him deal with those demons.

However, once this kind of restrictive thing is used, it will undoubtedly greatly damage the trust between Zhuang Daihua and Qin Lan.

"Mr. Qin... what do you think? Should I go into the maze with Qin Lan...?"

After casually snapping a photo of the maze, Zhuang Daihua became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

At this moment, Qin He's reply was very important to her.

Qin He searched for information about this type of maze from the inherited memories brought by the tree species.

Unlike the colossal dungeons scattered throughout the world, constructed from fragments of demiplanes, these magical labyrinths were recreational creations made by powerful beings who had ascended to godhood.

Although it's called a maze, it's actually just a roguelike-style randomized game.

Basically, it involves entering rooms, completing levels, encountering events or enemies, and choosing the next room at a fork in the road. You'll also receive random rewards.

This refers to the in-game rewards that Qin Lan mentioned, which provide bonuses and help "players" who enter the game to clear the level.

The magical maze before us had the numbers one through seven drawn in ancient dragon script at its entrance. In other words, the maze had seven levels, each corresponding to a specific step.

Because it was left behind by a powerful being who ascended to godhood, this magical labyrinth can achieve a perfect self-circulation. Upon entering, each adventure will encounter several to dozens of random levels.

Qin Lan is currently at the mid-level of the second tier, and also has the innate advantage of being a Iron Dragon.

With the ability to hypnotize and roast alive, he could easily storm through the third and fourth floors.

But Zhuang Daihua, who is still an ordinary person, cannot clear the first four levels as easily as eating and drinking.

Although this magical maze allows teams to challenge it, if something goes wrong, Zhuang Daihua, without the protection of a barrier, will only perish on the spot.

"You could try to please Qin Lan more, make her feel that you're important~"

Qin He told Zhuang Daihua the key information, and didn't forget to add a joke.

"Huh? How am I supposed to please her...?"

Zhuang Daihua just gave away all the things she could use to fool the young dragon, including fire-type magic crystals, iron ore, and gold coins.

Now, what else can be used to please Qin Lan?

"Ha, don't worry. The binding spell that Yu Li prepared for you is for this kind of situation. Just chant the spell when you encounter danger, and she will obey you."

Use it when you need to; there's no need to worry about being resented. When you become successful, just prepare more treasure.

"Besides, the young dragon is not a stupid beast. Qin Lan will take you to explore the maze, and you will definitely get a multiplier of the reward after you come out successfully."

As a lawful neutral young dragon, Qinlan's thoughts are limited to this. Unlike silver dragons, she won't carry the corpse of a fallen companion to a priest to resurrect it.

However, the Iron Dragon won't take advantage of the Green Dragon's misfortune like it would. Its mentality is basically, "As long as she survives and finishes the game, I'll benefit even if she dies."

Furthermore, the Iron Dragon is a dragon species that craves order and power and possesses compassion; as long as Zhuang Daihua knows how to call for help appropriately, Qin Lan, out of respect for Qin He, will not stand idly by.

This magical maze awards rewards based on the number of teammates. At the end of the adventure, a maximum of four times the reward can be awarded at once, corresponding to a four-person team.

The more Zhuang Daihua there is, the more rewards there will be. Qin Lan has always wanted to recruit some teammates to explore the maze, but capable adventurers always travel in groups, and ordinary monsters don't have the brains for that.

Since she has no suitable teammates, Qin Lan can only enjoy this hidden maze in the jungle all by herself.

Having learned about Tie Long's character and the benefits that the magic labyrinth could bring, Zhuang Daihua's eyes lit up.

"I understand... Then I'll go into the maze with Qin Lan. Mr. Qin, I'll send you a message if I need to assign any tasks."

Qin He also encountered some unexpected situations, and he only replied:

"I'll keep an eye out."

……

Black Eclipse Dragons, and there were ten of them. They appeared in the tunnel leading directly to the tenth level of the Fungus People for some unknown reason.

Although some fungus people can obtain spores that feed on scales through the shared ability of the fungal community's will, they are simply no match for so many Black Devouring Dragons in terms of sheer force.

"Moyu, Sangshen, Yuehuang, I'm leaving this to you. Make sure the safety of the mushroom people here is ensured, and keep the Black Erosion Dragon's corpse safe."

Since the fate of the ancient dragon on the tenth floor was at stake, Qin He could not delay.

Qin He's observation revealed that these unusually large numbers of Black Devouring Dragons were not naturally generated. They were Black Devouring Dragons that were parasitized by cells within the scale powder of the Heavenly Returning Dragon and reborn on the corpses of those who died from infection with the Mad Dragon Virus.

Bred in large numbers by the Grey Dwarves in secret, these newly born Black Erosion Dragons are not yet considered a threat.

"A piece of cake!"

By storing the fat used for weight-bearing within the dragon crystal, Sang Shen adopted her proper fighting stance. Beneath her usual chubby, cat-like appearance lay a powerful and robust dragon body.

The blue and gold horned crown, and the wing membranes that radiate the brilliant golden light of a blue dragon, make it impossible to associate the fat dragon gliding close to the ground with the mulberries in front of it.

Taking on a fighting stance, the forty-meter-long Ancestral Blue Dragon roared and charged towards the Black Eclipse Dragon. The Black Dragon Ink Jade and the Silver Dragon Moon Radiance also found their own opponents to fight.

Elder dragons are not particularly large; even the World Destroyer that appeared on the fifteenth floor was only a little over twenty meters long.

Even the Kulve Taroth, known for its large size, is only a little over forty meters long.

Apart from the ancient sea dragons, such as the serpent king dragons that can reach two thousand meters in length, the ancient dragons were generally small in size.

Mulberry gripped the Black Erosion Dragon's upper and lower jaws with its claws, and with a burst of plasma-infused lightning breath, it pierced through the Black Erosion Dragon's undeveloped seven orifices and six apertures.

A lightning-like current surged forth from the base of the Black Dragon's tentacles, the sides of its head, and the gaps between its scales, tearing apart its unmutated body.

Of course, the Black Eclipse Dragon wouldn't just sit idly by. Although the part of its throat capable of spewing explosive scales was destroyed by its lightning breath, it still had its wings!

Shaking off and detonating the scales on its body, the Black Dragon broke free from Mulberry's grasp.

Before unleashing its life potential, the Mad Dragon Virus causes weakness and a series of complications in infected individuals. However, for True Dragons immune to the Mad Dragon Virus, the Black Eclipse Dragon loses its greatest advantage.

The damage caused by the explosion of scales and the energy spewed by the Mad Dragon was limited. The three-headed Ancestral Dragon, with its size advantage, was able to suppress the Black Eclipse Dragon.

Seeing this, the black dragons also huddled together to avoid being captured if they were separated from the group.

The energy accumulated within them has given their bodies a purple halo, which means that the Black Eclipse Dragon can use the Berserker state.

When the Black Eclipse Dragon reaches its berserk state, its abilities will be greatly enhanced. However, Qin He had informed them beforehand that the tentacles that the Black Eclipse Dragon raises in its berserk state are its weakness.

Following the tunnel, Qin He and his group rushed to the tenth floor without stopping.

……

Inside the tenth level, the destructive energy emanating from the intertwined flames and storms is diminishing. After enduring a prolonged siege by the Black Eclipse Dragons, the three ancient dragons—Steel Dragon, Teostra, and Lunastra—are gradually showing signs of fatigue.

On the other side, the magical attacks of the dragon lich and obsidian dragon were overwhelming. Even though the Qilin had the ability to teleport like lightning, it could not escape being captured by the magic.

Xialong continued to wield her greatsword with her tongue, unleashing a series of Holy Slashes at the Dragon Lich.

"Ok?"

Even Qin He was puzzled for a long time after seeing Xia Long use the Holy Slash. Could it be that Xia Long was a Holy Knight?

However, this question was quickly answered by the sword itself. That greatsword wasn't some hunter's weapon; it was a holy sword that a paladin had stored within it using special methods.

"Star Origin, those Black Eclipse Dragons are yours. I need to protect all the ancient dragons here and find the lurking Grey Dwarves—"

Seeing this, Qin Xinru and Zhong Xiling gave Qin He a big hug to encourage him. Zhong Liuxiu also picked up the Hundred Refined Divine Forge and Nidhogg's Bite, preparing to deal with a couple of Black Corrosion Dragons to loosen up her muscles.

Without saying a word, Xuezhi first released spores that devoured the scales and digested the Mad Dragon virus.

Rather than finding the Explosive Brachydios, it's more important to resolve the current crisis first.

Pushing his power to the limit once again, Qin He was determined to defeat the Dragon Lich and the Obsidian Dragon.

To be honest, neither of them are easy to deal with. The individual strength of the Obsidian Dragon is basically on par with that of the Amethyst Dragon and the Blue Dragon.

Not to mention that after death, the Obsidian Dragon transforms into a Dragon Lich, gaining a ton of resistances and buffs.

Qin He was not fooled by the dragon lich's skeletal appearance. After becoming a dragon lich, this obsidian dragon's combat power was no less than it had been in its previous life.

With the Ring of the Beginning of Demons, Qin He can unconditionally replicate the three Shadow Sharps in their ultimate state. The Shadow Sharps possess the same strength as Qin He.

Two or three Shadow Sharps should be enough to perfectly restrain one of them. The rest can be left to Qin He to handle.

"Collaborating with the gray dwarves, intending to trap the future Dragon Emperor in the dungeon. Obsidian Dragons, you've got some nerve!"

With the Demonic Prison Wave in hand, Qin He's imposing dragon emperor aura instantly transformed into spiritual light, illuminating all things.

Inspired by the majestic aura emanating from the dragon Chassa in the Investiture of the Gods, Qin He released his dragon emperor majesty in the form of aura.

In an instant, the Dragon Lich and Obsidian Dragon were suppressed by the Dragon Emperor's unparalleled power, giving Qin He the upper hand.

"Hmph, too scared to speak now? You obsidian dragons are truly audacious... Tell me, where are the gray dwarves who are cooperating with you?"

The dragon lich remained silent for a moment, concealing its aura. It was preparing to suddenly attack when Qin He relaxed his guard!

"Hehehe... Go ask in hell! You think we'd be without support after going this far? For the great Io—!"

With relentless attacks, the dragon lich, having abandoned the battle against the Xialong, wildly brandished its bony, mangled claws, intending to crush Qin He on the spot!

“Aio? Right now, there is only one Dragon Emperor in front of you—that is me.”

As Qin He spoke, he immediately transformed into a black dragon, its entire body enveloped in majestic spiritual light. Although its eighteen-meter-long body was slightly insignificant compared to its opponent, which was over thirty meters long.

But no dragon would underestimate Qin He because of his current dragon form.

Unlike ordinary black dragons, Qin He possessed two winding horns that extended directly backward. His appearance instilled even greater fear in the Xialong and Qilin than that of the Fate Black Dragon—Mirapolis.

Yu Lan responded to Qin He's will, allowing the blade of the Demonic Prison Blade to shrink to a size suitable for his slashing. Facing the dragon lich that lunged at him with its claws, Qin He swung his sword without mercy, unleashing unparalleled power to sweep away the bone claws!

At the same time, the Ring of the Beginning also manifested a shadowy figure at the peak of sainthood to engage the Obsidian Dragon in battle.

Instead of using the blade imbued with Nidhogg's Bite to sever the dragon lich's bone claws, Qin He directly swung his sword. He wanted to use pure power to make the dragon lich understand the difference in strength—

Disobey, or die!

The powerful clash tore the earth apart, creating a bottomless fissure that appeared amidst the earth-shaking struggle.

The result of the clash was that the dragon lich's entire bony arm was shattered under Qin He's sword!

"Impossible... Your peak Sainthood power is merely the limit of what you've forcibly increased. I refuse to believe that I, a reborn Dragon Lich, would be no match for a mere novice like you!!"

Completely unaware of how much power he had expended in his battle with the Mirage Dragon, the dragon lich roared hoarsely—