I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 247 The Witch and the Dragon
……

……

The morning mist drifted slowly through the forests of Gray Serpent Canyon.

Tall pine trees stand like sentinels on the hillside.

The tree canopy blocked out the sun, with only a few scattered rays of sunlight filtering through the gaps.

Five soldiers from the third patrol team in northern Black Pine Ridge were walking through the forest.

They were dressed in leather armor, with longswords at their waists and hunting bows on their backs, each of them cautiously observing their surroundings.

Captain Martin walked at the very front.

This veteran, with seven years of military experience, scanned the area ahead with sharp eyes.

Upon reaching the top of the hill, Martin suddenly stopped, raised his right hand, and made a stop gesture.

Without a word, the soldiers instinctively lowered their bodies and vigilantly observed their surroundings.

"Look there."

Martin lowered his voice and pointed to a large pine tree ahead.

There are obvious scratches on the tree trunk.

The soldiers looked ahead and saw that the bark of the tree had been completely torn apart, each tear as thick as a finger.

"This is not something an ordinary wild animal could cause."

Martin's gaze swept around the surroundings. "Be careful, search the area."

The soldiers cautiously dispersed to the surrounding area, carefully scouted the area, and then returned, shaking their heads.

Only then did Martin walk to the pine tree.

"The claws are at least fifteen centimeters long, and their strength is terrifying."

Martin nodded.

He touched the scars on the bark with his fingers; the sawdust still smelled of fresh resin.

“These marks are very fresh.”

Martin judged, "No more than a day."

"There's still a broken tree here!"

The soldier pointed ahead and saw a pine tree, thicker than a man's waist, that had been cleanly bitten off, with clear tooth marks still visible at the break.

Martin looked at the bite marks and swallowed hard.

The teeth marks are arranged in a serrated pattern, and the imprint of each tooth is thicker than a thumb.

"Boss, come here quickly!"

A soldier shouted, and Martin ran up quickly.

Behind the woods below the hillside ahead, a dark cave, like the gaping maw of a giant beast, seemed poised to devour them.

"Boss, I remember there weren't any caves here before..."

"You remember correctly."

Martin jumped into the ravine and carefully made his way forward.

The entrance to the cave is three meters high and less than four meters wide.

The overall shape is very irregular, like a wound torn open by a giant beast.

The area around the opening was covered with deep scratches and impact marks, as well as some dried blood.

"This soil is new; it must have appeared not long ago."

Martin waved his hand. "Give me a rocket."

"Alright, boss!"

The soldier quickly drew a flaming arrow, lit it, and handed it to Martin.

Martin took the rocket, raised his hunting bow, and shot it into the cave.

A faint light pierced the darkness, and Martin could vaguely make out the remains of a giant bear.

The soldiers couldn't help but shudder.

Without getting a clear look, Martin fired another flaming arrow into the cave.

Strange scales, their surfaces gleaming with a metallic sheen, were scattered on the ground.

"Walk."

Martin ordered without hesitation, "This is definitely a monster; we can't handle it!"

……

……

On a wasteland about five kilometers from Frostleaf Town.

Rhodes stood on the mound, admiring the report from the second southern patrol about the mutated bison, which was drinking water by the pond with its head down.

The mutated bison is about the same size as the ordinary bison, but its hair is as thick as wire and has an unnatural dark blue color.

The most obvious feature is that the mutated bison's horns look very smooth and have a metallic sheen.

"My lord, is this a magical beast?"

The captain of the second patrol team asked cautiously.

Rhodes nodded slightly.

Although it was not obvious, Rhode could sense a faint magical fluctuation around the mutated bison.

It's just not very stable.

Accompanied by the low growls of the bison, sometimes high, sometimes low.

"Like the mutated wild rabbit, it is considered a zero-level magical beast."

Rod said with a smile, "It's good material, especially the cowhide."

The patrol captain visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

Rod looked at him and nodded in agreement.
"You did a good job, your observation was very careful. Go back and collect your reward from Lawrence."

"Thank you for your generosity!"

The patrol team leaders were delighted. "It's our honor to serve you!"

Rod smiled and then asked, "Is this the only one you found? I think the horns of the bison over there are also gleaming."

"There are at least four!"

The patrol leader reported earnestly, "We noticed that their horns are different shapes, so we can be sure there are at least four."

"Ah."

Rod was thoughtful.

There are quite a few mutations.

But if you think about it carefully, with so many wild animals in the wilderness, even if there's only a one percent chance of one falling on an individual, it would still become quite common.

“Till”.

Rod turned to the livestock supervisor beside him and asked, "Are your trainers capable of domesticating them?"

"This one……"

Till glanced back at the three men who had come with him.

"Nobody here has tried Warcraft... but I'm confident!"

Til puffed out his chest.

"Yes, a supervisor needs to be able to take responsibility."

Rhodes waved his hand. "Let them try it out first."

If all else fails, Rhodes will step in himself.

"Thanks for your trust!"

Till walked quickly to his three subordinates and whispered a few words of advice.

The three trainers then bowed to Rhodes from a distance and began preparing the items they would use.

"Interesting, all three trainers are women."

Rod smiled as he looked at Til who had returned.

Till paused for a moment, then explained, "It's probably because there are more women on our farm..."

Rhodes nodded slightly, without giving it much thought, and began to observe the trainer.

The first female trainer to step forward was a short brown-haired woman wearing tight-fitting leather armor and carrying a bundle of hay. She was the first to approach the bison.

"Her name is Celia. She used to be a hunter, but she didn't like hunting, so she applied to join the farm."

Til offered to introduce himself.

"Ah."

Rhodes was curious and stared at Silya to see how she tamed the beasts.

Silya pulled out a handful of hay and walked directly toward the bison.

When they were about fifty or sixty meters away, the bison suddenly raised its head, let out a low growl, pawed the ground restlessly with its hooves, and its horns gleamed coldly.

Silya showed no fear and slowly approached, gently swaying the hay in her hand.

Immediately afterwards, Rhodes sensed a distinct energy fluctuation.

"Ok?"

Rhodes stared at Celia, thinking to himself,

"This is...a witch?!"

Rod immediately realized what was happening.

No wonder they're all women; these three trainers must be the witches everyone's talking about, right?

What type are they?
Charm?

Was it their own attribute effects that triggered their talents, causing them to suddenly awaken?
Or perhaps they were born with some witch potential, and their evolutionary path was determined by the effects of their own abilities?
But none of this matters.

Rod cleared his mind of his thoughts and observed carefully.

The hay in Silya's hand had a strange soothing power; the bison's low growls gradually subsided, and the pawing at the ground with its hooves also gradually stopped.

Its nostrils flared as it slowly approached the hay, inhaling its magical scent.

The bison hesitated for a moment, then finally opened its mouth, stuck out its tongue, and rolled the hay into its mouth.

And Silia slowly reached out and stroked the bull's head.

"Success!"

Till exclaimed with delight, "I never thought monsters could do that too! They're amazing!"

“Hmm, very good.” Rhodes approvingly praised, “There are three more bison left, let the other two try as well.”

Rhodes wondered if the other two were also the witches he had suspected.

"Yes, my lord!"

Till immediately responded.

Before she could make any arrangements, Vivian, who was standing next to Rhodes, suddenly spoke up.
"My Lord, there's a huge creature near Grey Serpent Canyon!"

……

……

Forest outside Gray Serpent Canyon.

Rhodes stared into the dark cave, with the white wolf, Raine, and Sejuani beside him.

According to the report from the Third Patrol Team in the North, the situation here is far more serious than that of the mutated bison.

That giant python is here.

"It's that familiar scent."

The white wolf's nose twitched.

Since licking the dragon's blood, the white wolf's fur has become even shinier, and its eyes reveal a fierce look.

White Wolf sensed that his level was likely about to increase.

Rhodes suggested giving him some more dragon blood, but White Wolf said that the previous blood had not been fully fused yet, and they had to take it slowly; giving him more would only be a waste.

As for White Wolf, he knew his own situation best, so Rhodes naturally didn't interfere.

"But there's a sense of unfamiliarity about it..."

"Familiar yet unfamiliar?"

Rhodes frowned slightly and turned to look at Martin. "Where are the scales you mentioned in your report?"

“Inside the cave, about twenty or thirty meters down,” Martin replied immediately.

Rhodes waved his hand, "Shoot a volley of fire arrows, and let me see what's inside..."

No sooner had Rhodes finished speaking than a sound suddenly came from inside the cave!

dong dong dong-

The sound grew louder as it approached the cave entrance!
"Retreat! Prepare for battle!"

Rod gave the order in a deep voice, leading his troops to quickly form a battle formation.

Rhodes, who had fought against a true dragon, wasn't nervous at all; he was more curious about what was inside the cave.

The same applies to the hunting team and the Winter Guard present.

Only the patrolling soldiers' hands trembled slightly as they held their bows.

Perhaps sensing the murderous aura emanating from the cave entrance, the footsteps inside the cave suddenly ceased.

The forest fell silent instantly.

"Come out, I know you're in there."

After a long silence, Rhodes spoke first.
"Whether you're planning to ambush me or are simply cowardly and afraid of me, you must come out."

“Since you live in my territory, I cannot ignore you.”

Rod's voice was loud.

Not long after, footsteps sounded again.

However, it's gentler than before.

A moment later, a huge dragon head emerged from the dark cave, its earth-gold vertical pupils cautiously observing its surroundings.

The hunters and Winter Guardians, who had been fearless, instinctively took a step back.

However, reason allowed them to regain their footing.

"Another dragon?"

Rhodes frowned, and instantly unleashed the aura of a dragon slayer, sweeping towards the cave!

The enormous dragon head instantly retracted into the cave, followed by a series of chaotic footsteps.

"Ok?"

Rhodes was clearly taken aback. "They escaped?"

So timid?

Rhodes was speechless for a moment.

The intention was to intimidate them, but it actually scared them away...

The white wolf twitched its nose.

"They probably haven't gone far."

"alright."

Rhodes walked into the cave with a hint of helplessness and shouted again, "Come out, I have concealed my presence and mean no harm."

Rod's voice echoed in the cave, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea.

"Come out."

Rhodes tried to control his tone, "Otherwise, I'll have to go back inside to find you."

After he finished speaking, footsteps echoed again in the cave.

However, it is gentler than before.

A moment later, a huge figure crawled out of the cave.

Its head is a dragon's head, covered with fine scales, and is a grayish-brown color like rock.

If it closes its eyes and remains still, Rod thinks it looks like a lifelike statue.

Its entire body is nearly seven meters long and about three meters wide, with its thick limbs resembling stone pillars carved with scales.

To Rhodes' surprise, this creature did not have magnificent dragon wings; instead, it had only two rows of stalagmite-like bone spurs on its back.

It resembles a giant lizard in some ways, but it's not as flat as a lizard.

It also resembles a dragon to some extent, but it is not as slender as a dragon.

"Um……"

Rhodes stared intently at the creature crawling on the ground. "No wonder you're so timid; you're not a real dragon after all."

Without turning around, Rhodes instructed Vivian, "Have you found out what it is?"

"My sister is investigating."

Vivian replied in a low voice.

Avril had made preparations before coming; as soon as she saw the guy in the cave, she would send him a message.

"found it."

"Earth dragon, sub-dragon species, wingless."

"The core ability of the earth dragon is to dig and manipulate the underground."

"They possess powerful and precise forelimbs and pectoral muscles, which can spiral and tear through soil and rock like a rock drill to create deep wells and nests."

"Powerful earth dragons can even rely on magical resonance to shatter underground rock veins, creating localized collapses or sudden ground fissures and sinkholes."

"In addition, earth dragons also possess the ability to sense earth veins, have an affinity for earth elements, and even petrify by breathing."

……

Vivian whispered the information about the earth dragon to Rhodes.

Rhodes nodded slightly, looking at the man before him, a surge of joy welling up inside him.
Are you an earth dragon?

The creature on the ground was crawling on its stomach, its neck tucked in, its entire body visibly stiff.

"take it easy."

Rhodes adjusted his tone, trying to speak softly, "I mean, can you burrow underground?"

The guy on the ground raised his head and looked at Rhodes, his earth-gold vertical pupils still showing a hint of fear.

Then he nodded.

"In that case, you can come with me."

Rod looked at the earth dragon and said in a tone used to recruit subordinates, "I'll take care of you. You just need to work for me."

Earthworms that can burrow underground have many uses.

In engineering construction and tunnel excavation, it should be more adept than the Snow Rabbit people.

The earth dragon tilted its head, staring at Rhodes without responding for a long time.

Seeing the earth dragon hesitate, Rhodes shook his head helplessly.

It seems that even though they are timid, dragons still have some backbone.

Then we can only use the old-fashioned method.

Rhodes's expression tightened, and the aura of a dragon slayer instantly erupted as he drew Ashbringer and pointed it directly at the earth dragon.
"Surrender, or death!"

An invisible pressure rose from Rhodes and continued to rise, as if an invisible dragon was roaring behind him!

The soldiers around him changed their expressions drastically, and their knees went weak at the sight of Rhodes!

This is because Rhodes' target isn't them!

Looking at the earth dragon in the center of the pressure, its body was completely stiff, its head was pressed against the ground, and it could not lift itself up at all!

This is the terrifying majesty of a true dragon, suppressing the bloodline of ordinary dragons!
No matter where they are, dragonborn, whelps, and dragonkin must serve the true dragon!

The earth dragon no longer hesitated, and its head, which was close to the ground, kept bobbing up and down to indicate its agreement!
"That's right."

Rhodes nodded in satisfaction, withdrew most of his oppressive aura, and smiled as he looked at the earth dragon.

"You'll be a key member of the construction team from now on."

……

……

Western part of the Northern Wilderness.

A long caravan slowly entered Changdong Town.

In front of the lord's manor, the lord of Longwinter Town stood on the stone steps, wearing a cloak embroidered with his emblem, his hands folded in front of his abdomen.

Seeing the warhorse adorned with the red griffin emblem stop on the muddy road, he descended two steps and nodded slightly in greeting.

“I am Slor the Shieldbreaker, the lord of Longwinter Town.”

The lord's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear.
"Welcome, envoy from the Red Griffin family. Longwinter Town has prepared a hearth and wine for you."

(End of this chapter)