Dragon Clan: I am Lu Mingfei, the Intelligence Strategist, the God of Concepts!

Chapter 226 The Resurrection of the Elders and the Safe Haven
A wisp of pale blue smoke rose from the darkness, like a brilliant aurora that tore through the sky in an instant.

At the northernmost point of the world, hundreds of auroras sway and change in the night sky during winter, creating a magnificent spectacle that cities at low and medium latitudes can never witness.

For example, Fairbanks, Alaska, is known as the "Northern Lights Capital" because of its longest nights and highest rate of clear skies in winter. The Inuit people living there call it the "Skirt of the Gods," as the aurora borealis, which appears to hang in the night sky for a long time in a near-still state, resembles a goddess's long skirt hanging in the night sky.

But in this basement, a ribbon of aurora swayed and shifted in the darkness, as if it were alive, hovering above an ancient coffin.

The light illuminated it.

The coffin is black, made of Indian ebony, and decorated with black patterns inlaid with silver lacquer. The iron nails on it are dark red, and the design looks very new, clearly incorporating many elements for warding off evil.

This is a small basement located near the Gulf of Bothnia, at 66 degrees north latitude, one of the bays in mainland Europe with the most frequent and easiest aurora activity.

But in any case, the aurora should not appear in the basement, especially not at the end of August in the summer.

Click click click——

A chilling sound came from the dim light.

The coffin began to shake violently.

boom!
Finally, a hand reached out from inside, withered like a zombie, and laboriously touched a switch on the surface of the coffin. The dark red iron nails popped up automatically, and then the tightly sealed coffin lid slid open, and the 'person' inside sat up.

What a typical ancient mummy specimen—strictly speaking, it's remarkably well-preserved, with a bent skull, bulging eyes, and swollen, waterlogged limbs…

His lips were wrinkled, revealing his broken gums, which could certainly be described as 'a serene face with a smile'.

None of this is a problem.

he lived.

Pale blue fireworks swirled around him, illuminating everything in the basement.

Various cutting-edge medical instruments are displayed here, including nutrient chambers storing blood and tissue fluid, oxygen-enriched ventilators, and medications to regulate hormones and physiological indicators—it's even more advanced than a modern ICU.

The newly resurrected 'zombie' didn't rush to use them; instead, it gasped for breath and struggled to raise its hand.
It touched the pale blue light that was gradually dimming.

The next second, their spirits merged.

The scene flashed by, and the 'zombie' was already sitting inside a magnificent hall with a deep blue color scheme.

His appearance had also changed; he was now draped in black clothing covering his entire body and wore a leather mask.

Beneath the clothes, the muscles and skin appeared full and plump, as if inflated.
The same was true of the people around them. The mouths of the masks had a peculiar structure with pointed, upturned tips like bird beaks, which looked like the professional equipment of a medieval doctor. It was undoubtedly a virtual image in front of them, but if one immersed their mind in it, it would seem incredibly real, as if black-clad figures from all over the world were sitting right next to them, within reach.

In the realm of the spirit, he is vibrant.

“The Wise Man”.

Someone gently called out the names of the latecomers, reminding them, "This meeting is coming to an end."

"Ah."

The zombie... no, he should be called Nicholas Flamel, nodded imperceptibly.

It's completely impossible to tell that it has just completed an active cocooning process.

His code name in the medical society was 'The Sage'.

That pale blue aurora just now represented an invitation from the Holy Palace Medical Association.

At the start of each meeting, a beam of light would swirl above the heads of every member of the medical association.

Nobody knows how the person behind it did it.

The only certainty is that the brightness of the aurora represents the progress of this meeting.

When the aurora completely disappears, it means the meeting has ended.

Of course, participation in the conference is entirely voluntary, and those who are invited may also choose to extinguish the aurora.

In the center of the main hall stands a stone slab, on which the contents of this meeting are recorded.

"...Project ELIXIR is progressing. The artificially designed dragon descendants are capable of performing large-scale gene editing in a gentle manner, implanting powerful dragon genes into the human body..."

"...Based on changes to the Japanese test site, the optimized plan has been restarted in cities 11-23. Results are being collected as planned. Requirements and progress are as follows..."

"...Export details of 'leeches', a traded item in the Immortal Life series..."

Nicholas glanced at it a few times and then lost interest.

It was just a routine exchange meeting where partners shared progress and divided the spoils of victory.

Most of them are related to worldly money.

Very important.

But it's not that important to people like Nicholas.

Therefore, unlike the impromptu meeting that 'Frigga' requested to be held six months ago, everyone was present.

This routine meeting did not involve core plans, and the attendance rate was less than half.

The Holy Palace Medical Association is like a dark forest; on the surface, everyone is an ally and a talented individual.

But in reality, they are all wary of each other, afraid of leaving too many loopholes and being caught red-handed and devoured alive.

Nicholas sat on the edge, his eyes lowered and closed in thought, like an outsider.

“Lu Mingfei…Odin…”

Finally, the exchange meeting came to an end.

One after another, black figures disappeared from their original positions, but a few figures remained in the main hall.

Nicholas reopened his eyes and straightened his posture.

The routine meeting has ended.

Next came what he truly planned to participate in: the internal elders' meeting of the Holy Palace Medical Association.

The scene before my eyes changed again. Above me was no longer the grand, deep blue palace, but an endless sky. The sky was fiery red, perhaps at dawn, perhaps at dusk, it was now indistinguishable. A huge sun hung at the edge of the horizon, and yellow sand connected the sky and the earth. The leaning bronze pillars looked like dead giants, half-buried in the dust, their strange patterns weathered away by the high temperature, like drops of blood.

Nicholas stood in the yellow sand, where there was no oasis in sight, only the howling of the wind and sand.

The Presbyterian and Medical Associations operate in similar ways, following each formal meeting.

It is also through a 'spiritual' means that people from all over the world, whether alive or asleep, are brought together. The setting is no longer confined to the 'Hall of Green', but is usually related to the theme of the meeting.

Nicholas had a general idea of ​​what the topic would be.

"Elder Nico, you don't seem to be feeling well?"

Just then, a warm voice came from behind him. The speaker had golden hair as bright as the sun, emerald-green eyes, and a clean and tidy face.

At first glance, it gives the impression of embodying all the qualities of chivalry, including kindness, integrity, and benevolence.

Elder Arthur.

Nicholas laughed, then bowed politely:
"Yes, I just died once."

As soon as he finished speaking, the people standing around him all looked at him in astonishment.

"Elder Nico?"

"Are you serious? How could the great Nicholas have died so quietly out there?"

"Who did this? How could they force you into a cocoon state? Can you reveal any information about them?"

"Elder Nico, is the loss significant?"

The elders immediately inquired with concern.

Unlike the Medical Association, which defaults to hiding their true identities, the Elders' Council, as a secondary organization of the Holy Palace Medical Association, has stricter membership requirements, closer relationships among its members, and no longer conceals their true identities.

A total of six elders participated in the meeting.

Each of them would be a sensation in the real world.

The man who greeted Nicholas just now was named Arthur, the legendary Holy King of ancient Britain.

To this day, historians cannot definitively say whether King Arthur was a real historical figure.

But he not only exists, he is alive. This holy king was once known as the 'Red Dragon of Britain,' which was not a nickname but his hidden true identity.

Standing next to Arthur is his mentor and close friend, Elder Merlin, a wise man who, like Nicholas, is an expert in alchemy.

The elder next to him, however, might not be human in appearance.

A figure riding a tall horse with eight strong hooves, a curved spear hanging from its back, thousands of crows circling overhead, forming a black vortex, wearing a sky-blue cloak and a one-eyed mask.

It was Odin, the head of the council of elders.

There was also a dragon that was about six meters long, with long limbs like the claws of a giant bird, and wings that were much wider than those of ordinary dragons. It even had two heads.

It's clear that his projected body here is a scaled-down version.

This dragon was originally called Hati, a giant wolf in Norse mythology whose mission was to devour the moon.

If Lu Mingfei knew the true identities of these members, he might understand why he found it so difficult to locate the Holy Palace Medical Association's roots in the real world.

This organization is a microcosm of history; modern society is merely a corner of thousands of years of civilization.

There was a sixth member present, who was relatively unremarkable compared to these historical and mythological figures. He wore a suit and tie, and gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a scholarly air.

Just now, only he and Odin did not ask Elder Nico for details. "It was just a momentary mistake, there was no particularly big loss."

Nicholas's gaze swept across the faces of the elders, lingering for a moment on Odin's face, his voice revealing no sign of anything amiss.

It's just a little bit of power.

Nicholas was furious... Damn Odin!

The spiritual authority was the very foundation upon which he created the Philosopher's Stone! It is the true manifestation of his talent!

Although he later learned that it was best not to refine the Philosopher's Stone from his own body, the loss of his spiritual authority had a huge impact on him. Even a trace of spiritual authority has infinite uses.

He suddenly understood why Leviathan had inexplicably turned 'Frigga' into a cocoon last time.

After the matter was over, he didn't say a word again.

So they're all digging pits for each other!
But speaking of which... what exactly is the current situation of Leviathan?
Would a noble dragon king really be willing to wholeheartedly serve Odin just to save his own life?

However, Odin's movements are clearly restricted, preventing him from providing much assistance to Leviathan...

In the blink of an eye,
Nicholas tentatively inquired, "Elder Odin, how is Elder Leviathan progressing lately?"

"If you haven't paid attention, you can ask 'Charon' or 'Frigga' at the next meeting."

Odin answered calmly.

"It's really unsettling that the noble King of the Ocean and Water is so low-key."

King Arthur sighed regretfully, "Before the 'Frigga' incident, Leviathan was quite active. I wonder if they made any significant gains, but they kept it from us and didn't even attend a single routine meeting."

Odin glanced at King Arthur but said nothing.

"Noble? I don't think so."

The dragon's two heads exhaled heavily, "They're nothing but creatures bearing the name of the first generation of beings. Some so-called dragon kings are good for nothing except wielding power!"

"hehe."

Elder Merlin chuckled and shook his head; he knew some of the hidden history of the dragon race.

This Elder Managalm is a descendant of the lineage of the King of Earth and Mountains.

It is said that in the ancient times, shortly after the Black King died, when the great war broke out, the first thing the two Dragon Kings did was to dismiss their few remaining servants, ordering them to flee without a fight.
But in the eyes of Hati and his brother Skur, this was an eternal disgrace to the earth and the mountains!

Ultimately, they enraged and devoured each other, gaining power close to that of the first generation of the species.

It was officially renamed 'Managaal'.
What happened after that is unknown. When he reappeared, he had become a member of the Elders Council.

Elder Managalm continued, "If you ask me, Leviathan was forced into that state by his own twins, he might as well have obediently handed over the power. Not to mention giving it to me, it could have been used to win people over..."

“Leviathan is our ally,” Odin suddenly interrupted. “His mission involves the ultimate.”

As Odin's voice faded, Managarm's two heads immediately shut their mouths.

It's clear that Managarm harbors a subtle fear of Odin.

The others also fell silent. Charon, Frigga, and Leviathan, the three members, lingered in the Arctic.

The matter at hand is of utmost importance.

However, it is clear that Odin is not entirely unaware of the progress.

They were not allowed to speculate any further.

"Now, let's get down to business."

The eight-legged steed beneath Odin spewed thunder, and the surrounding yellow sand seemed to come alive all at once, the howling of the wind intensifying.
The yellowish sand on both sides parted like a tide, and the flowing waves rose and fell along the sand dunes of varying heights.

Buried deep in the sand dunes, a bronze palace appeared.

"The palace of the King of Bronze and Fire," Merlin murmured.

"A monarch named Norton bestowed upon mankind the knowledge of 'fire,' thus marking the beginning of civilization. Boundless oases were instantly transformed into the Sahara Desert. The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, the mysterious drying up of Lop Nur, the Sea of ​​Death... these were all Norton's doing."

Having traversed every perilous place in the world, Merlin had long recognized the reality of this 'illusion'.

The 'meeting space' that Odin constructed with his incredible spiritual power was modeled after the Sahara Desert in northern Africa, and behind these ancient, glorious, and terrifying histories, the shadow of this monarch stands.

This simulated palace seems to materialize the immense pressure that has come from thousands of years ago.

Even someone as arrogant and conceited as Managalm couldn't help but bow his head upon hearing the name 'King of Bronze and Fire'.

"A formidable adversary."

The single eye beneath Odin's mask revealed a hint of reminiscence.

"This time, it's Baidi City."

"Could it be that Project Bronze is going to be brought forward?" Managarm asked, his face showing fear.

As a member of Odin's faction, he was well aware of why he had been chosen to participate in this meeting.

Managarm was one of the explorers who personally visited the bronze palace in Northern Europe.

Since Odin is unable to personally appear in the real world, Managarm is the best candidate.

"Yes."

Odin nodded slightly. "For us, the Bronze and Fire King is the most significant of the four dragon kings. In the ancient times, the glorious era of the dragon race was created by Norton, and the science and technology that benefited human civilization are equal to that of the Bronze and Fire Kings. The Bronze and Fire Kings are the 'science' itself of that era."

"He is a crucial part of the plan... no matter whose plan it is."

Everyone nodded in agreement, including Nicholas.

“But they are dangerous,” Odin continued. “The last time the Bronze and Fire Lords were resurrected was two thousand years ago. At that time, they accumulated enough power to forge a set of unparalleled alchemical weapons, but before they could draw them, they were tragically killed by humans.”

"This time, after a long period of recovery, they have made full preparations. Once they return, they will inevitably become our enemies... However, according to my intelligence, the last egg of these two brothers may be hidden in Baidi City."

Odin slowly revealed a secret.

Managarm was stunned. In both periods of dragon history, Norton was undoubtedly hailed as the most similar to the Black King—his tyranny, his power, his madness…

Facing Norton is like facing the entire history of the dragons; the heaviness and oppression are like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, making one tremble. But this time, there is actually a possibility that it will finally come to an end.

"Unfortunately, no one can open that door until the time is right... not even me."

Odin said in a low voice.

Managarm, being the longest-living being present, clearly understood Odin's meaning.

This king, who has survived since the ancient battlefield, admits that he is far inferior to the King of Bronze and Fire in the field of alchemy.

Even after exploring the three bronze palaces and taking away their alchemical knowledge, it was still not enough.

There is still some distance between him and His Highness Norton and His Highness Constantine at their peak.

Managarm speculated that the reason might lie in the power of 'fire', for only by mastering the highest temperature flame could one reach the limits of alchemy.

The wind fanned the flames, but it wasn't enough.

"Is there any way to get in beforehand?"

Managarm couldn't help but ask, "Then destroy the egg of the Bronze and Fire King and take that alchemical weapon?"

"You can try it."

Odin said calmly, "But this time, the egg and the alchemical sword are not important. There may be a real treasure in the White Emperor City."

“What is it?” Nicholas asked.

Odin glanced at him and replied calmly, "It is a key, a key to 'knowledge'."

“It’s important to me, to you, to everyone.”

Managarm was stunned, Nicholas was stunned, Merlin and Arthur were also stunned.

The key to knowledge...?

In their view, Odin's wisdom was terrifying. In Norse mythology, Odin, the king of the Aesir, drank from the Well of Wisdom at the cost of his sharp right eye.

He recounted being offered as a sacrifice to 'Odin' on a tree swaying in the wind, sacrificing himself to ultimately comprehend the runes. Although they didn't know what story Norse mythology was alluding to, everyone had a glimpse into the deceitful and manipulative methods of the elder codenamed 'Odin' before them.

"Yes, knowledge... is very important."

Odin's expression revealed a look of reminiscence and bewilderment.

In the end, he simply repeated, "So I hope you can work together."

"This is the intelligence I'm providing to you. Now you can go to that bronze palace in the distance to make preparations... Of course, you can also withdraw, but the knowledge will not be shared with unrelated parties."

After a while,
Three legendary historical figures, along with the dragon Managarm, headed toward the bronze palace exposed in the desert.

After all, they all have the ability to 'cocoon', and no one chooses to give up.

The same goes for Nicholas.

Beings like them, who are immortal, have long been unable to escape the pursuit of 'knowledge'.

Odin lowered his head, looked at the secretary-like man who had been standing in the corner like an outsider, and asked:

"Is the foundation of this safe haven still stable lately?"

(End of this chapter)