The Natural Empire of the Oceanic Dragon

Regarding the situation of the Northern Kingdom, after several years of trade with the Eastern and Western territories, the spies sent by Artlan have basically gathered clear information.

The Grand Duke of the West is rich and capable in battle, the Grand Duke of the North is the most capable in battle but also the poorest, and the Grand Duke of the East is not very capable in battle but is the best at commerce, supporting the largest number of private soldiers. He has dozens of merchant caravans under his command, each with fifty to a hundred guards.

Once he needs them, these guards can transform into soldiers at any time to participate in battles.

As for the Guardian of the Southern Territory, which is closest to the Bearman Forest, he is only a Count, while the other three are Grand Dukes. His status is unequal.

In addition, the Count's family specializes in farming. The South, with its dense network of waterways, provides nearly half of the Northern Kingdom's grain. Such a large granary, without sufficient strength to protect it, would tempt anyone.

It is precisely because the Southern Territory has the greatest potential that the King divided it among various large and small nobles to manage. The Grand Duke of the West wants to first join forces with the army of the Grand Duke of the East to capture the Southern Territory.

Then, both sides will integrate the resources of the Southern Territory and advance towards the Royal Capital together!

At that time, the Northern Territory will have been disrupted by the Grand Duke of the West colluding with the barbarians of the Northern Grasslands, and the Southern Territory will also have been captured. The new King will only be able to rely on the Royal Territory and the knight territories in the central area loyal to the royal family to resist the armies of the three territories.

The Grand Duke of the West doesn't know how he could possibly lose!

Artlan narrowed his eyes slightly and finally made a decision.

"We will help! But not according to the Grand Duke's requirements. We will not prevent the Grand Duke of the North from becoming Prime Minister. The West wants to kill the Grand Duke of the North, causing the North to lose its guardian, leading to internal strife to seize control of the North."

"The Grand Duke of the West can come up with countermeasures in such a short time. He is indeed very cunning. What he wants is for the North not to send troops to help the new King when he attacks the Royal Territory."

"Wouldn't it be better for us to directly take the North! Compared to the human Grand Duke of the West, I think the barbarians of the North would trust Old Blind Eye sent by me more, right?"

The old merman hesitated.

"Dragon Lord, weren't we supposed to let Old Blind Eye stay in Big Horn Town to retire peacefully? Why are we sending him to carry out such an important mission?"

Artlan sighed. Although he encouraged Wind Chaser last time, and Wind Chaser began to learn how to manage the Centaur race well, Wind Chaser is still too young.

To cope with the complex environment of the Northern Territory, killing a batch of the Northern Territory's nobles and co-opting another batch, he still needs the cunning Old Blind Eye to do it.

"Don't worry, after this period of recuperation, Old Blind Eye has already understood what he can do and what he cannot do."

Besides, not all Centaurs are brainless brutes.

"Didn't you discover several intelligent Centaurs? Let them go with Old Blind Eye. Before they set off, I will hold a life ritual to baptize them and teach them the spell of healing minor injuries."

"With the ability to heal, they will have a voice in the Centaur community."

Artlan wasn't powerful enough to bestow spells divinely. These Centaurs were already practicing as priests, and some had already mastered one or two spells to control the elements, and they were not far from mastering the healing of minor injuries.

He only needed Artlan, the Life Dragon, to give them a little stimulation with his vast Dragon Life Magic.

"According to the collected intelligence, the barbarians of the North use weapons made of stone and bone. Even then, they can't equip everyone. Many werewolves and boar-men rely on their natural fangs and claws to fight."

"Prepare some iron weapons. Forget it, we don't even have enough iron farm tools for our own cultivation, let alone take them to arm the barbarians of the Northern Grasslands."

"If these guys get iron weapons, the threat they pose to the Northern Territory will increase too much. If I take the Northern Territory, and they are unwilling to submit, they will become a disaster for the Northern Territory."

It's definitely not because he's poor!

"Old Merman, what kind of weapons do you think we should prepare for the Northern barbarians?"

"Dragon Lord, actually, obsidian spears and serrated swords, which are special products of the forest, are quite good."

"Therefore, Taishan has never given up forging more sturdy, sharp, and magically enhanced obsidian weapons. It is said that Master Taishan has already achieved certain results."

Artlan said with some nostalgia:

"Speaking of which, I was the one who started the design and forging of obsidian weapons, but I forgot about it. Taishan and the others are still working on it."

The old merman couldn't help but slander in his heart. Dragon Lord, you have too many things to do. In the end, many of them are just started and then you lose interest and quickly throw them behind you to work on the next project you are interested in.

But since Artlan started it, they, as subordinates, couldn't ignore it. Who knows when Artlan will remember it and casually ask about it, only to find that they have shelved it.

If Artlan is furious, the unlucky ones will still be these subordinates.

"Taishan is researching high-quality obsidian weapons. What I need are ordinary obsidian weapons that can be manufactured in large quantities in a short time to arm the Northern barbarians. Can he make them?"

The old merman said with a smile:

"Dragon Lord, you forgot, you initially had us mermen and minotaurs learn obsidian weapon making from Master Taishan. Even now, there are still nearly a hundred mermen and minotaurs working with Taishan on his project."

"It is said that they not only learn how to make obsidian weapons from Taishan, but also exercise their muscles, trying to amplify their size through some kind of energy. It is said that it is indeed a bit useful."

"There is a minotaur who is usually silly, but unexpectedly has a pretty good adaptability to that energy called Tai… Titan! He actually managed to increase in size."

"Although he only grew one head taller, it was indeed a success. It is said that Taishan was even happier than that minotaur at the time."

Artlan stroked his chin, feeling that in the two and a half years he had been away, his friends had undergone many changes he didn't know about. Even the originally simple and honest Taishan knew how to use mermen and minotaurs to help him improve his understanding of Titan energy.

It's a pity that he needs to entertain Audreys, otherwise he would want to go to Taishan to understand the situation right now.

The old merman certainly knew what Artlan was thinking.

"Dragon Lord, according to Taishan's usual habits, he should be at the quarry now, using the obsidian ore mined by the minotaurs to make the magic materials needed to manufacture obsidian spears."

"Should I invite Taishan over?"

"Go now. I really want to know how far Taishan has researched the obsidian spear."

The old merman certainly wouldn't go in person. With his old arms and legs, he wouldn't be able to run fast. This kind of message-carrying work is definitely better suited for Centaurs.

There are now hundreds of fast-running but not very capable Centaurs working as messengers and postmen.

Soon, Taishan came over, covered in dust. He had a child of about three years old with him. The child timidly clung to Taishan's leg, clearly terrified of the intense aura emanating from the person in front of him.

Even though it was a person, Loki felt like it was a giant dragon about to devour him.

Clutching Taishan's pant leg, Loki said timidly:

"Daddy, can we go back to hammering rocks?"

Taishan ruffled Loki's hair with his large hand.

"What's there to be afraid of? He won't eat you. This is the guy who sent you to my house in the first place. If he wanted to eat you, he would have done it already."

Attilan clicked his tongue in wonder.

"This little guy has grown so much. Have you discovered his talent yet?"

Taishan scratched his head, looking troubled.

"No, after the treatment from you, Old Prankster, and Master Jaina, he's completely become a normal child. There's no talent left. At most, his Titan Transformation is a bit smoother than other kids'."

"Compared to the affinity with Titan energy, he's even less gifted than another child at the Druid school."

Attilan asked curiously:

"So, you've already taken on disciples?"

Taishan shook his head, knowing his own limitations.

"I haven't even met the requirements of a master yet, how could I be qualified to take on disciples? We're just teachers, guiding them onto the path of the Druid. How far they grow depends on themselves."

These children at the Druid school are already very fortunate. Taishan and the others may not have profound knowledge, but at least they won't lead them astray.

Many Druids embark on this path by sensing nature and slowly groping their way forward. The children at least have teachers to guide them, and more than one.

Taishan and the others have comprehensive knowledge to answer the children's questions. Even if Wine Woman and the others can't answer, they still have Vine Woman, Bearman, and Old Prankster behind them.

Wine Woman and the others can simply relay the children's wild questions, along with their own understanding, to Bearman and the others, and get an answer through this intermediary.

"Don't underestimate yourself. Your talent as a Druid is excellent. Don't think you're bad just because becoming an Archdruid is difficult. The Archdruid realm isn't something anyone can reach easily."

"I heard you're still tinkering with obsidian weapons. How far along are you?"

Taishan snorted, tore off a chicken leg from the plate, and handed it to Loki.

"Eat slowly. You, a busy man, can still remember the obsidian weapons. I thought you had the dwarves' iron weapons and wouldn't care about the obsidian spears anymore."

"That's right, even without obsidian spears, dragons can still fight. You're not an ordinary Druid. The obsidian spears I forge probably aren't as useful as your claws."

Geez, Attilan didn't expect Taishan to have learned to be sarcastic.

"It's my fault, but you also know that Master wants me to focus on studying Druidic knowledge. When my body had problems, many of my research projects were forced to stop."

"My problems haven't been completely resolved yet. Calm down, I need to slowly solve my problems, and I can use this time to pass the time while Master is away."

Taishan nodded and said:

"Obsidian weapons, oak golems, Titan giant transformation... You can take back the oak you gave me. I'm only concerned with the obsidian weapons."

Attilan quickly waved his hand.

"Don't! These projects can't do without you. Besides, are you willing to give up such a cute child like Loki?"

Loki's eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Daddy, do you not want me anymore?"

Taishan immediately stroked Loki's head, glared fiercely at Attilan, and coaxed Loki:

"No, Daddy doesn't not want you. I just don't want to study the Titan form anymore. I want to focus on studying the power of the Life Angel. I've thought it through. I don't have your long lifespan."

"It's more important to level up to an 18th-level Druid and master the Body of Longevity first. Fooling around with you, I might die before I figure it out."

Attilan said anxiously:

"Don't! I think you can give up the obsidian weapons and oak golems, but you should really continue to study the Titan giant transformation. Aren't you practicing the Life Titan Angel Refinement Technique?"

Taishan shook his head and said calmly:

"Not really. What you know is the version from three years ago. I'm now practicing the Life Angel Refinement Technique, revised by Master Jaina and Lady Ralaune!"

Attilan's eyes widened.

"You started researching this secret technique from the Titan Transformation, but now you don't want the Titan Transformation, leaving only the Life Angel power sublimated from starlight energy. Can you figure it out?"

Taishan sighed and said:

"You also know that the relationship between our Council of Nature and the Celestial Realm isn't good. Compared to borrowing power from the Celestial Realm, it's easier for us to borrow power from the Astral Realm."

"Besides, what I borrowed from the Celestial Realm wasn't the original Titan power, but the Titans who transformed into gods, the Titan energy that mutated from the Celestial Realm's energy after entering the Celestial Realm."

"The original Titan power originated from the Astral Realm. Titans were the first lifeforms nurtured by starlight. Therefore, by studying starlight energy, I might be able to transform into a Titan."

"This path is more difficult, but it's not easy to fall into traps."

Attilan stroked his chin and asked curiously:

"Then why didn't Master and the others stop you from collecting Titan energy from the Celestial Realm before?"

"Old Prankster said that before, I didn't have the power of the Life Angel, I was just an ordinary Druid. Setting a trap for me was destined to be a loss. Now that I have the power of the Life Angel, I'm qualified to be transformed into a divine messenger."

"If they set a trap for me, they can recover the cost and earn a little more."

Attilan nodded. Before, Taishan could freeload as much as he wanted. If he really made something of it, Taishan wouldn't lose out.

He had some talent, but there were many disciples with this kind of talent in the Council of Nature. The Council of Nature wasn't unreasonable. Strictly speaking, Taishan wasn't even a core member of the Council of Nature and could defect to the Celestial Realm and the gods.

For disciples like Attilan, who were already on the core list, if they wanted to run away, Bearman would have to take action to clean up the house.

Of course, if Taishan wanted to run away, he would have to settle the tuition fees for so long, otherwise... …

"Since that's the case, I'll research those two projects myself. I'll research the obsidian weapons with you."

Who knew that Taishan would glare and slam the table.

"What two! Have you forgotten that you still have projects like dogtail grass domestication, Mu Ling white jade rice, high-yield wheat variety selection, and stable wheat variety cultivation in humid environments?"

Attilan's eyes widened instantly, and he fell into a daze.

"I have so many projects?"