Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire.

Chapter 186: The Sacrificial Snake, the Original Snake Mother

"Why do you have such an expression? You are not the only one who wants to be favored by the Great Serpent. There are too many people in this land who are troubled by the flaws of their own race."

Seeing the nobleman's expression change from disdain to shock and finally speechlessness, the snake priest was very satisfied with Orf's expression.

“You are not the only one. In a way, you are even lucky because you were baptized by the original blood of the Cyclic Serpent without doing anything.

In our empire, only true pure-blooded nobles who have made great contributions can receive such a gift."

"So, I am now considered a noble of the Empire?"

In this underground palace, there are many half-human, half-snake creatures similar to him, as well as snake-man priests who have snake features but generally maintain human form. There is also a giant snake with human-like arms, but this kind of snake seems to have a very low status in this underground palace, like a slave.

"If you want to become a true imperial noble, you still need to have meritorious service. However, this is very easy for you. You only need to use your original identity to help us expand our influence."

The snake priest introduced.

Conquering the world with pure military force is too costly. Instead, sending a vanguard force to tempt the local ruling class with irresistible benefits, and to encourage them to voluntarily surrender and serve, thereby cultivating a group of forces close to the empire, can greatly reduce the difficulty encountered in the conquest, and it has been proven to be effective.

roar~
Just as the snake priest was talking, a slender and ferocious snake head suddenly popped out from among the metal buildings and spewed poisonous clouds into the air.

"what is this?"

Orff looked at the monster head that looked like a snake and a dragon, and the young face covered with snake scales. He showed a fearful expression and felt a strong threat.

"That's a snake dragon that's unique to our empire. Do you want to go take a look?"

A reserved smile appeared on the face of the snakeman priest. Similar scenes had been played out countless times.

He knew that these natives, who already possessed great power and influence, would have many small thoughts even if they were transformed into snakemen before they witnessed the might of the empire.

Only by truly demonstrating the power of the empire to them and eliminating all thoughts of resistance will they serve the empire wholeheartedly and strive to integrate into the empire.

"it is good."

Although Orff sensed the danger, he agreed immediately because he wanted to verify the authenticity of the Setra Empire. If it was really an empire, then there was no need for him to resist or sever ties.

"Snake dragon? Did you transform it from a dragon creature?"

Walking in the core area known as the most important of the Ten Thousand Serpents Palace, Orff looked in shock as a multi-headed dragon roared angrily but was still restrained in the transformation array.

As the magic circle operated, the shadow of a huge snake appeared, and the ferocious dragon monster let out a painful wail, and then its shape slowly changed within it.

"Of course, but this kind of transformed snake dragon can only be used as a war beast. A snake dragon with real potential still needs to be transformed using a real dragon egg and cultivated from a young age."

The snake-man priest looked at the snake dragon whose life form was gradually changed while wailing and in pain. His vertical pupils, which were already full of tyranny, became even more ferocious during this brutal transformation.

"Transform a true dragon egg? Are all the high-ranking officials in your empire born through the transformation ritual?"

Orff suddenly had an idea and asked with a hint of sarcasm.

If a snake man who was transformed after birth could also rise to a high position in the empire, doesn't that mean he also has a chance?
If the Setra Empire is so inclusive and can open up a path for him to advance to the upper levels, then it seems possible for him to be loyal to it.

"Only part of it. The transformation ritual is a way for the empire to replenish new blood!"

The snake priest corrected,
"I know what you are worried about. Whether you are a pure-blooded snakeman like me or a raw-blooded snakeman like you who has been transformed through a ritual, the difference in treatment you receive in the empire is based on your merits. There will be no other differences."

"Can I see the transformation ritual of a true dragon egg?"

Orff calmed down and made other requests.

"of course."

As expected, Orff saw dragon eggs of different colors, including red, blue, green, black and white, in a palace. They were dragon eggs from the colorful dragon clan.

Orff did not find it strange that these snake people could collect colorful dragon eggs. Even as a noble of a duchy, he could collect some if he wanted to.

However, he did not have the corruption ritual mastered by the Snake Empire. Even if he collected dragon eggs, he would only sell them as materials. As for hatching and raising them, he did not have such a stupid idea.

True dragons are born with inheritance. They have sufficient knowledge of the world before they are born. The concept of the dragon race has been formed at the moment of birth.

Any attempt to tame dragons will only incur the hatred of the dragons. Throughout history, there have been countless attempts to tame dragons, only to end up in failure.

However, the Empire's domestication of dragons is different. They will transform the dragon eggs before they hatch, torqueing the original real dragons, causing them to degenerate and transform into snake dragons.

Orff saw the snake dragons transformed from the five-colored dragon eggs. They had some characteristics of the color dragons, but at the same time, they had more characteristics from some great snakes. Some of the inheritance in their minds had been tampered with.

"Why are there bronze dragon eggs?"

Originally, Orff was touring the various transformation facilities in the Ten Thousand Snakes Palace, and his confidence in the Empire was growing stronger and stronger. But when he saw a few lonely, bronze-colored dragon eggs, his thoughts froze in an instant, and then his reason was like a string that broke in an instant.

"Are you crazy?"

"It's just a few bronze dragon eggs. Your reaction is too strong, Lord Orff!"

The snakeman priest frowned, looking at the original-blood snakeman whose reaction became extremely excited in an instant. Many snakemen around had already looked over with dissatisfied expressions.

"Just a few bronze dragon eggs? Those are the eggs of the metal dragon clan. Do you know what this means?"

Orff was still in high spirits. He was a nobleman from the southern countries. His Principality of Barov was located in the middle of the country. When the gate of the abyss was opened and demons were rampant, he had faced threats from the demon army. Some of his injuries came from this. Fighting with demons was indeed too challenging for humans.

In those days, his territory was on the verge of destruction several times, but he received help and was able to survive each time. He remembered two of those times very clearly, which were assistance from the dragon clan.

The first aid came in the form of a golden dragon that was very different from its kind. When he appeared, he killed the Demon Overlord with his overwhelming force, making him feel despair and ready to die.

He still remembers the name of the golden dragon: Noah.

The second aid from the dragon clan came from bronze dragons. These young dragons came in groups, but they were not as powerful as the golden dragons that came the first time.

But facing the demon's attack, they would fight to the death even if they themselves were in danger of being torn to pieces by the demon. On the walls of his city, there were traces of blood left by the bronze dragon and the demon after the bloody battle.

Now, the descendant of the dragon who had fought against these demons and protected his territory appeared in the palace of an alien race that was spying on his world.

How could he tolerate such a thing? He could abandon his own race in order to continue his life, but the descendants of the good dragon who had helped him were about to suffer misfortune.

Can he ignore it? Of course he can, but if he really ignores it and takes it for granted, Orff doesn't know what the meaning of his continued life is.
"Of course I know, Mr. Orff. The Metal Dragon Clan is a very united dragon clan, and the Bronze Dragons are also very protective of their offspring. They will not abandon their children, but so what?"

The snakeman priest stared at the dragon egg for a while, then changed the subject, his tone full of disapproval.

"This place is protected by the power of the original snake mother. Even if the ancient dragons come, they will never find this place. Even if they do, the ones who should be afraid are not us, but those metal dragons!"

"Aren't you weak? Aren't you still going to lie dormant and continue to develop your strength? Why do you want to offend the Metal Dragon Clan? Don't you know how powerful the Metal Dragon Clan is?"

“The Metal Dragon Clan is indeed powerful, but their terrifying power comes from their unity. However, the powerful Metal Dragons are scattered in various planes, and it is very difficult to gather them together.

Even though bronze dragons value their offspring, how many dragons do you think ordinary metal dragons can call upon? You imagine the dragon race to be too terrifying.

For the Empire, the Metal Dragons who are about to lose the protection of the Dragon God are not terrible. On the contrary, they are excellent targets for transformation. I think all Metal Dragons can become members of the Empire. "

"what are you saying?"

Orff looked at the snake priest in front of him incomprehensible.
"Don't you know the Holy Dragon Noah? Look at his existence. What basis do you have to say that the Metal Dragon Clan is about to lose the protection of the Dragon God?"

“Holy Dragon Noah, he is indeed a very powerful dragon, and he is still very young.

However, he is the proof that the dragon race is about to lose the protection of the Dragon God. Don’t you think his birth is too unreasonable?"

The snake priest swore solemnly, as if he was declaring some truth.
“Whether it’s a person, a world, or some powerful race, when on the verge of extinction, they will always burst out with their final full potential. However, many times, this burst is just a futile struggle.

Of course, it is undeniable that this kind of outbreak can sometimes be successful and can save the situation. However, the more powerful the race, the more powerful the world, the final outbreak can only stop the temporary decline and cannot reverse the final result.

Holy Dragon Noah is the last afterglow of the Metal Dragon Clan’s explosion. His existence is not worth fearing! "

"An unreasonable lunatic!"

This is Orff's evaluation of the snake priest's preaching.

He did not see any sign that the Metal Dragon Clan was about to decline. Not only that, in the newly established Atlas Kingdom, the hundreds of dragon lords who occupied large areas of territory proved that the Metal Dragon Clan would prosper again.

Although this kingdom is ruled by humans, its nickname is the Kingdom of Metal Dragons.

Many human scholars have expressed considerable concern, fearing that in a few hundred years, the eastern part of the continent will completely become the territory of the metal dragon clan.

"Foolish and ignorant mortal, this is the revelation from Her Majesty the Primordial Snake Mother. However, I can understand you. After all, before you became a snakeman, your life was too short and insignificant. Races like the dragon race decline over thousands of years. From your perspective, the dragon race has certainly not changed at all. Instead, it has become stronger."

"You are the stupid one. That is the perspective that only the great and immortal beings have. Even if the dragon race declines, that will happen thousands of years later. What does it have to do with you? Why do you want to provoke the metal dragon race now?"

Orff retorted sharply.

"This is not my responsibility. I don't know why a metal dragon egg appeared here!"

The snake-man priest growled in extreme annoyance.

He recruited traitors for the empire, trained guides, and brought people to the Ten Thousand Snakes Palace. Of course, he had to act as if he knew everything and had it all under control.

He couldn't be so frightened by the sight of a few dragon eggs. How could people yearn for the empire and have confidence in the empire? But now he had been so criticized that he couldn't say anything.

Because with the power they have developed now in the continent of Zealandia, they really shouldn't provoke the Metal Dragon Clan, especially a powerful clan like the Metal Dragon Clan that is extremely united, which will expose them early.

Which idiot stole this bronze dragon egg and what's in his head?
How powerful can a serpent dragon transformed from a bronze dragon egg be? Can it compare to a serpent dragon transformed from a few red dragon eggs that no one cares about?
Now is not the time to provoke the metal dragons. The rewards gained are totally disproportionate to the risks taken. This is a stupid and brainless thing to do.

"Give me the dragon egg, I can give it back."

"This is impossible!"

The snake priest rejected it outright.
“You are no longer a human. Even if you have received the complete inheritance and can perform Transfiguration, there is no way to hide your true form in front of an adult dragon.

We must not be exposed to the public right now. You don’t have to worry about this matter!"

Orff remained silent, but there was a faint light flickering in his vertical pupils.

Until now, he has not forgotten the bronze dragon that fell in front of him.

(End of this chapter)