High Above

Ancient monsters and true dragons are both extremely powerful creatures that sit at the top of Terra's ecological niche, even alongside 'human beings'.

They are often collectively referred to as 'ancient dragons', but in fact, some ancient dragons are not ancient, and the history of their birth can be traced.

But this is not important, because the characteristic of the ancient dragon is its existence itself, which will completely change the surrounding ecological environment.

Qiang Ganglong's transformation of Indigo Mountain and the surrounding mountains is obvious. The changes in the physical properties of the rocks are the most terrifying manifestation of the power of the ancient dragons. Their source matter and powerful life spiritual energy are like a living volcano, flowing continuously. Continuously overflowing outwards can subtly dye all local materials and creatures with its own color.

Some people even say that the reason why there are so many earth-based metal branch monsters in Nanling is precisely because of the existence of Qiang Steel Dragon. However, some scholars argue that the opposite is true. It is precisely because there are so many metal-based life forms in Nanling that Qiang Steel Dragon has an environment in which to breed and grow.

In this regard, Ian's idea is very simple.

"Doesn't this sound like the evolved version of the Crystal Dragon's 'Core of Alien Ecosystem'?"

"Ancient monsters and true dragons... um, or in other words, an artificial super life form?"

Riding the camel beast, Ian looked up at the Indigo Mountain not far away. This mountain with a height of more than 2,000 meters is already towering into the clouds, and the mountain range where it is located will continue to extend to the southwest, and eventually reach the vicinity of Harrison Port, exploring Entering the Procellarum Ocean, it formed the skeleton foundation of today's Baison Peninsula.

And at the final point of this skeleton is the 'Sequoia Base' located deep underground. Among the thirteen alien ecosystems underground, one is a 'metal-based ecosystem'.

Crystal dragons are artificial life forms created by pre-era civilizations. Their purpose is to adapt to the local ecology in various extreme alien environments and build a large ecological sanctuary with their own power.

The latter is because Ian has never seen a living crystal dragon that is strong enough, so he cannot know whether this function has been realized, but the former is undoubtedly very successful.

But Gu Long is different.

They are not adapting to the environment.

They transform the environment.

Ian recalled that among the many travel notes and rumors he had read, there were those records and legends about ancient dragons.

It is said that deep in the desert of Feiyan Land, there is an oasis of frost that is constantly moving. There, there are frost fruit grass and ice-free cold springs that only grow in extremely cold areas. Only the clearest and greediest minds can be there. Enter this place when you are hungry and thirsty, and receive the hospitality of Frost Island.

This may be evidence that an ancient water dragon that is friendly to humans is wandering in the desert of Feiyan Land, an unnatural and extraordinary ecosystem.

A kind of "ecosystem core" that allows a group of pioneers to survive in the most suitable environment and build a frontline base even if they accidentally arrive on an alien planet.

Thinking of this, Ian sensed the 'ancient dragon core' in his body.

The Heart of Hilliard passed down to him by his teacher has been restored to some integrity after being repaired by the Swamp Crocodile Brain Marrow Crystal Core.

And after connecting with the 'ether crystal' on his left arm, it began to operate actively.

Although on the surface, it still has no other function besides storing a large amount of source material, it is indeed slowly rising and falling, like a real second heart, running behind Ian's source material and heart.

The power of ancient dragons comes from their two 'hearts'.

This heart is the ‘heart core’ and ‘furnace heart’.

Now, Ian already has both...but they are not complete and need to be slowly repaired and unlocked.

But if you insist on saying that he is an ancient dragon larvae in human form... it's not necessarily wrong.

No one said that people can't be ancient dragons, right?

"Repair and unlock, it's not a big problem - the silver chip contains the complete fire engine design, but I still need to continue to learn the inscription knowledge of the Terra Continent before I can reproduce it in my body."

The young man is not worried about this, he is just a little unclear about what the activation of the ancient dragon's heart core means.

It did not enhance its own physique, nor did it actively optimize the quality of its source matter, let alone other more easily detectable functions.

However, it is a good thing if it can work. Ian now has plenty of time to wait.

"Where's the mountain people's fortress?"

Putting his thoughts back, Ian asked Brin, who was also looking up at the sky beside him, and the other party replied readily: "It must have been demolished. How old is it that they are still building fortresses at the pass, waiting to be blown up by air-dropped bombs?" Are you disgraced?"

"But halfway up the Indigo Mountain, there is an artillery position jointly built by Nauman City and the mountain people. There are three brigades of artillery stationed there, and Yalong Knights patrolling there. It is much stronger than the pass fortress. Only they can hit people, and no one can hit them. them."

"I said so." Ian understood, he turned his head and continued to stare ahead.

The warm wind in early summer is not suffocating, but brings a refreshing feeling. The green forests and vegetation stop when they reach the foot of Indigo Mountain.

Normal plants could not grow on the land affected by the ancient dragon. Only a low silver-green grass stubbornly took root on the ground, its leaves swaying slightly with the wind.

Because there are no big trees and the view is clear and wide, Ian can even see the long-lost broad sky at the mouth of the gorge here - the clouds in the sky are stacked like mountains, and above the earth, the tops of towering mountain peaks are inserted into the clouds, forming a quite For an interesting but also magnificent picture.

The Baishi caravan slowly moved toward the other end of the gorge, which was the dividing line between the real frontier and the civilized world.

To the north of the Agate Stone Plain is the old Nanling Province that has been developed for more than two hundred years. The prosperity of Nauman City is not inferior to that of any imperial province capital.

To the south of Indigo Mountain is the new colony headed by Sanshan City and Harrison Port, which are full of natives and wild beasts. The ferocious Warcraft tribe occupies every piece of fertile land.

Only the bravest pioneers, the most vicious villains, and the most unfortunate outcasts and unlucky ones will settle there.

Ian knew that he would soon be separated from the caravan, so he went back to pack his luggage.

As an alchemist, his luggage is quite heavy and requires a camel beast to pull it. However, Ian has many means to speed up his mount and reduce the burden, as long as he acts alone.

However, just after he packed his bags and got out of the carriage, he found a large number of mountain people appearing around the gorge.

These mountain people who believe in the dragon god wear fur vests, carry short bows on their backs, and wear large and small horn ornaments on their heads. It is said that these are accessories that are dedicated to getting close to the horns of their dragon god.

The stone knives and iron knives of different lengths on the waist are located on the left and right respectively. These are weapons that only warriors in the clan can hold at the same time. They represent piety as a rock and perseverance as black iron.

They stared at the caravan in silence without saying a word. Ian subconsciously thought that this was the plundering scene in the world of Terra that he had always wanted to witness - but as the caravan steward stepped forward, he raised his hand with the After the bone whistle blew five melodious tunes, the team of mountain people became noisy, and some of the mountain people behind seemed to be carrying something.

Not long after, one by one the mountain warriors held up rattan baskets filled with furs and animal bones with both hands and placed them in front of the caravan. Several caravan members began to talk to them familiarly in common language with thick accents. Communicate prices and instruct others to take out goods such as salt, herbs, spices and tea leaves from the convoy.