Chapter 233: Dragon Warrior

Chapter 233: Dragon Warrior

When Ji Xinghuo walked out of the foundry, he held twenty black iron spears, each one two meters long and weighing 20 kilograms.

He also bought a leather saddle bag and strapped it onto Qinghong.

Ever since they left Tianzhuai Cliff, Ji Xinghuo had kept Qinghong in mount form, carefully concealing its extraordinary presence. Now, with the saddle bag in place, he could carry ten black iron spears on the side, readily accessible during combat.

This was the combat habit of the Highland people—to have their mounts carry extra weapons.

Ji Xinghuo didn't want people to notice that he could suddenly produce black iron spears during battle and thus realize that he possessed dimensional space-type abilities or equipment.

Of course, he still took the opportunity to store ten black iron spears in his dimensional pouch when no one was looking, just in case.

Upon returning to the tent, Xia Qingyu and Misha were still asleep.

However, the other team had already woken up. They consisted of three Danren and two Huangren, four men and one woman, and their job configuration was reasonable. They were all elite fourth-order evolvers and had quite impressive strength.

The two were sparring in the open space outside the tent while the others watched and teased them.

Ji Xinghuo sat down beside them.

One of them was a martial artist who had mastered various types of Xingjin. His martial arts rank was probably at the professional ninth dan, close to master level. Like most martial artists, he wielded a long spear and unleashed a frenzy of attacks on his teammate, but to little effect.

Because his opponent, the woman, was even stronger—clearly the captain of this five-person team.

Ji Xinghuo watched with interest.

At first, he couldn't even identify her profession, and he was surprised to realize she was a woman.

She looked to be in her thirties, with a beautiful face and a valiant demeanor. She wore a simple dark leather armor, and her height was about 1.75 meters. She was obviously a Danren, but unlike the purebred Danren with their completely red skin, hers had only a slight reddish hue, leaning more towards pallor, suggesting that she was a hybrid.

"A hybrid descendant of a True Dragonman and a Danren?" Ji Xinghuo guessed.

The majority of True Dragonmen lived in the True Dragon Empire, and with the large Danren population within the empire, it was extremely common for the two races to intermarry and have offspring.

However, what caught Ji Xinghuo's attention the most was the woman's profession.

In combat, her skin was covered with scales, providing extremely strong defense. Sometimes, she even dared to take the brunt of the martial artist's spearhead with her scales; the skin beneath her scales was also extremely resilient, making it difficult for the spear to penetrate. Moreover, her strength was overwhelmingly powerful, as she could knock back the martial artist with a single blow.

Ji Xinghuo also noticed some finer details.

The woman's eyes had a fiery glow, and her pupils were vertical. When others looked into her eyes, they felt a sense of spiritual intimidation.

Ji Xinghuo was familiar with this feeling because he could do the same—it was the Dragon's Roar.

She had the blood of a dragon flowing within her.

Combining this with her form and the powerful abilities she displayed, Ji Xinghuo guessed her profession.

"A Dragon Warrior?!"

There was information about this profession on Earth. There were two dragon-related professions: Dragon Master and Dragon Warrior.

The difference between Dragon Warriors and Dragon Masters was that:

Dragon Masters controlled dragons, sharing their abilities and strength with the dragons.

Dragon Warriors, on the other hand, killed dragons, collecting exotic species from their bodies and fusing with them to gain the dragon's strength and even transform into dragons themselves! The Dragon Warrior profession was quite simple. There was the dragon's blood, dragon's bones, dragon's scales, dragon's hide, dragon's eyes, and more. Every part of a dragon was a treasure, capable of forming many exotic species. Among them, dragon's blood was the core ability, determining the lineage of the Dragon Warrior.

The Dragon Warrior before him was likely of the Flame Dragon lineage.

Ji Xinghuo himself could be considered a half-dragon warrior, as the "Titanium-Cobalt Dragon's Blood" could serve as the core of a Dragon Warrior, but he had not developed in that direction.

And he didn't plan to become a Dragon Warrior in the future either.

The status of Dragon Warriors in the True Dragon Empire was very delicate. Those True Dragon families derived their strength from dragons, so naturally, they opposed the idea of people killing dragons.

Although Dragon Warriors didn't necessarily have to obtain exotic species from True Dragons—they could also find them on the bodies of many dragon-descended monsters—the very existence of Dragon Warriors was an affront.

Dragon Warriors and Dragon Masters were natural enemies.

However, the number of Dragon Warriors far exceeded that of Dragon Masters. Some exotic species didn't require killing a dragon to obtain; they could be produced periodically, like dragon's blood. As long as there was enough dragon's blood, an exotic species could be condensed, serving as the core ability of a Dragon Warrior.

There were also cases where a True Dragon died in battle, and the exotic species from their corpse couldn't be wasted, so a powerful Dragon Warrior could be forged.

Therefore, within the True Dragon Empire, Dragon Warriors were also the backbone.

Dragon Masters controlled the upper echelon of the empire and held the highest status, while Dragon Warriors were second only to them, forming the second stratum.

The two sides harbored mutual hostility and often clashed.

Dragon Masters and Dragon Warriors were the two biggest forces within the True Dragon Empire, and throughout the empire's history, every change of dynasty and war was accompanied by conflicts between Dragon Masters and Dragon Warriors. Sometimes, these disputes were even the main cause of disasters.

Ji Xinghuo sat in front of the tent, watching with interest as the Dragon Warrior sparred with the martial artist.

The outcome of the match was predictable.

The two were clearly engaging in a friendly exchange to improve their skills.

Ji Xinghuo's gaze shifted to the remaining three team members, and based on their weapons, equipment, and physical characteristics, he identified them as a "Shadow Dancer," an advanced Ranger with Shadow Blade abilities, a versatile "Plant Shaman," and a "Dark Wind Walker."

This was indeed an elite squad.

It was evident that they admired the Dragon Warrior and most likely harbored romantic feelings for her.

Clang! Clang!

The Dragon Warrior firmly caught the martial artist's long spear with her bare hands, sparks flying where the spear tip met her palms. With a powerful force, she pushed her opponent back a step and seized the opportunity to lunge forward. She then slapped the spear with one palm, knocking it to the ground, and followed up with a straight punch to the martial artist's chest, sending him flying and falling to the ground.

These moves were executed swiftly and smoothly, without the use of any other abilities, relying solely on pure martial arts and bodily strength to defeat the martial artist.

It was quite a spectacular display!

The watching Danren and Huangren applauded and cheered loudly.

"Our captain is getting stronger!"

"Last time, Ji Rong was able to hold out for a hundred moves, but today he couldn't even take ninety."

The martial artist nimbly got to his feet; he was uninjured, and his expression showed no sign of dejection, indicating that he was used to losing.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Ji Xinghuo lightly clapped a few times as well.

"What are you doing over there?" Xia Qingyu poked his head out sleepily, grumbling, "Why are you guys making such a ruckus so early in the morning? I'm trying to sleep here."

The people outside the tent fell silent and turned to look at Xia Qingyu, their faces hardening.

The Danren martial artist named Ji Rong, holding his long spear, was about to approach Xia Qingyu and give him a piece of his mind, but the Dragon Warrior stopped him.

"Sorry," she nodded, "We disturbed your rest."

Only then did Xia Qingyu notice her, and his pupils narrowed.

Last night, under the dim light when they were allocated their tents, he hadn't gotten a good look at the other five people he would be sharing the space with. Now he belatedly realized that there was a powerful expert among them. With his keen eyes, he quickly recognized her as a formidable Dragon Warrior.

"It's fine, go ahead. I'm awake now anyway," Xia Qingyu said with an awkward laugh, quickly withdrawing his head back into the tent.

The Dragon Warrior turned her gaze to Ji Xinghuo and studied him for a moment before suddenly saying, "So it's you."

Her eyes sparkled with interest. "Yesterday, when the Dragon Lord attacked, you fired two 'Mist-Hidden Winning Stars' arrows, saving quite a few people. I almost got swept by the dragon's breath myself. If it weren't for you, one or two of my teammates might have been taken down. Thank you."

"It was nothing," Ji Xinghuo replied nonchalantly, nodding.

"My name is Huang Yanlan," the Dragon Warrior introduced herself, stepping forward and offering her hand. With a smile, she asked, "What race are you from? Your aura feels very familiar to me, as if we're somehow connected."

Upon hearing this name, Ji Xinghuo immediately guessed her background.

'Huang Yan,' a lineage descended from the Huang Yan Dragon, one of the most powerful dragon species in the Star Realm.

In the True Dragon Empire, several top-tier true dragon clans bore the surname Huang Yan. Throughout the empire's history, the Huang Yan family had established three dynasties and continued to wield immense influence, their fame resounding through the ages.

Of course, Huang Yanlan was only a hybrid of a true dragon and a Danren, and the prestigious Huang Yan family would never acknowledge her lineage.

Ji Xinghuo stood up and shook her hand, introducing himself, "Ji Xinghuo."

In the moment their hands touched, Huang Yanlan's eyes lit up, and her expression froze as if she had been electrocuted.

"Are you a Dragon Warrior?" Huang Yanlan asked excitedly.

"No," Ji Xinghuo denied.

"Impossible!" Huang Yanlan insisted, studying Ji Xinghuo intently. Suddenly, she realized that the man before her was strikingly handsome, and a smile appeared on her face. "You may be able to deceive others, but not me. Perhaps you're not a Dragon Warrior, but you must have assimilated dragon blood."

As she spoke, she suddenly exerted force and squeezed his hand.

Triggered by the external pressure, Ji Xinghuo's holy scales automatically responded, and thick tri-colored scales instantly grew on his palm, extending from his forearm to his fingers like a gorgeous armguard.

"And you still claim you're not a Dragon Warrior?" Huang Yanlan smiled triumphantly upon seeing the scales.

However, her smile quickly froze.

A strong electric current traveled from his hand into her body, causing her entire body to go numb and tremble, and her brain felt as if it were being stabbed with needles.

This time, it wasn't an illusion; she had truly been electrocuted.

Unconsciously, she let go of his hand.

Ji Xinghuo took the opportunity to withdraw his hand and said indifferently, "Please be mindful of your actions." He generally disliked people who lacked boundaries, whether they were male or female, and he had no desire to interact with them further.

Huang Yanlan's face reflected her bewilderment.

"I'm very sorry," she immediately realized her transgression and apologized, "I didn't mean to do that. It's just that I met another Dragon Warrior outside the Empire, and it felt so rare, so I got a little carried away. Please forgive my mistake.

Huang Yanlan watched his retreating back, wanting to say something several times but stopping short. Her teammates approached, and the martial artist, Ji Rong, grumbled angrily, "That guy is too rude."

"Exactly!" Another Huangren added in a low voice, "The captain was trying to be friendly, and he just gave her an attitude. Who does he think he is?"

"The captain might have been a bit offensive, but doesn't he have any fault at all?"

"He doesn't know how to respect a lady."

"How arrogant!"

The teammates grumbled about Ji Xinghuo, not bothering to lower their voices, intentionally letting Ji Xinghuo hear from inside the tent.

Huang Yanlan initially felt that she was in the wrong, but after hearing her teammates' words, she gradually felt that Ji Xinghuo's attitude was simply too terrible.

Inside the tent, Ji Xinghuo pretended not to hear any of it.

"Hahaha..."

Xia Qingyu suddenly laughed out loud, drawing everyone's attention.

"What are you laughing about?" The Danren Shadow Dancer rushed into the tent and angrily questioned Xia Qingyu.

"I'll laugh if I want to. What's it to you?"

Xia Qingyu stood up from his bed, the corners of his mouth turning up as he mocked, "A bunch of foolish virgins who've never seen a woman. Do you think your bootlicking will get her to sleep with you? She'd rather throw herself at Ji Xinghuo and warm his bed for free than give any of you a second glance."

The Shadow Dancer immediately flew into a rage. "Nonsense!"

Like Ji Xinghuo, he carried a bow and arrows, but at such close quarters, it was difficult to use them effectively. So, he drew the longsword at his waist and pointed it at Xia Qingyu, shouting, "You two, apologize to the captain right now, or don't even think about leaving this tent today."

The martial artist also rushed into the tent, spear in hand.

Outside, Xie Fengke's pupils turned serpentine, his skin turning green as he gathered streams of air blades in his hands.

As for Huang Yanlan, the central figure in this conflict, she stood there, unmoving, her eyes fixed on Ji Xinghuo.

"What? You want to fight?"

Xia Qingyu remained unfazed, two short swords already in his hands.

Misha, who had been lying on the bed, rolled over and got up, her battle axe in hand, always ready for a fight. As a Highlander, she never shied away from combat; it only excited her further.

"Apologize!"

The Shadow Dancer demanded sternly.

The tension inside the tent escalated, and the commotion attracted the attention of mercenaries from the surrounding tents, who gathered to watch the spectacle.

Xia Qingyu and the Shadow Dancer stood off against each other, neither backing down, and it looked like they would collide at any moment.

"Boring."

Ji Xinghuo rubbed his forehead.

He had only been sitting by the tent, watching the commotion, and now he had inadvertently sparked a conflict.

These Danren and Huangren were all fourth-order evolvers, the equivalent of superhumans on Earth, with exceptional strength and extensive life experiences. They were not lacking in female attention, so why were they so infatuated with Huang Yanlan? Was the prestige of the 'Huangyan' surname so important that they would go to such lengths to defend her honor?

Ji Xinghuo looked at Huang Yanlan. "Please control your teammates."

Huang Yanlan remained silent.

In truth, she was also in a difficult position. If she asked her teammates to back down now, it would only confirm Xia Qingyu's words, and it would also hurt her teammates' feelings.

Her teammates were so emotional because Xia Qingyu's words had hit the mark.

Lies don't hurt; the truth is the sharpest knife.

Ji Xinghuo's thoughts turned, and he guessed Huang Yanlan's dilemma and the reason for the current situation. He sighed inwardly and decided to take matters into his own hands to quickly resolve the issue before it escalated further.

Without another word, he took a flashing step and appeared in front of the Shadow Dancer, their faces almost touching, with only half a step between them.

Ji Xinghuo threw a punch behind his back.

The Shadow Dancer had been keeping a close eye on Ji Xinghuo, always on guard, but he was still caught off guard.

As soon as he lifted his foot to use his Phantom Step, Ji Xinghuo's punch landed on his chest, paralyzing him with electricity and sending him flying out of the tent.

The martial artist reacted swiftly, thrusting his spear forward.

Clang!

The spear tip struck Ji Xinghuo's scaled palm, but Ji Xinghuo grabbed the spear tip and pushed forward, sending the long spear back into the martial artist's chest and launching him out of the tent, following his teammate.

The spear continued its trajectory and impaled the Plant Shaman's foot, interrupting his control over the vines.

Then came a roll of thunder.

Xie Fengke, who had been gathering streams of air to blast into the tent, was struck by a bolt of lightning that seemed to fall from the heavens, hitting him directly in the head. His body stiffened, and he fell to the ground, rigid as a board.

In the blink of an eye, all four opponents were taken down and lay scattered at Huang Yanlan's feet, but their injuries were not severe.

They immediately jumped to their feet, ready to attack again, only to realize that their captain, Huang Yanlan, still hadn't made a move and was staring at Ji Xinghuo inside the tent, her eyes shining with a strange light, her expression odd.

"Captain..."

"Why didn't you make a move?"

Huang Yanlan seemed not to hear them, only turning to look at her teammates after they called out to her several times.

The four teammates were struck as if by lightning, suddenly realizing the truth.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end