Chapter 112: Hidden Truths

Although Zhao Xu had mentally prepared himself, he still felt somewhat dazed upon hearing the middle-aged man before him claim to be an Ancient Golden Dragon.

When Antinoe handed him the third technique, she had given him a tome, urging him to memorize the stats of these typically powerful monsters.

Monster statistics were not a secret in Arthur’s realm; monsters could advance through basic professions just like players. So, if Arthur’s professionals could become strong, these monsters could be even stronger.

Therefore, relying solely on memorizing the tome to master all monster data was futile from the start, not to mention the sheer volume.

This Ancient Golden Dragon was inherently a level 19 Warlock, and with a few additional Warlock levels, it was essentially a legendary Warlock.

At present, Zhao Xu was not overwhelmed by the man’s fierce aura, mainly because this middle-aged man was not attacking him in his dragon form or using aerial pressure.

“Hmm, judging by your demeanor, it seems you still have some confidence to spar with me?” The middle-aged man, Kanpas, smiled. If they were in different circumstances, he would undoubtedly be a superb persuader, making others feel at ease.

“Not at all,” Zhao Xu responded with a smile, then flipped open his floating disk and stood on the rain-soaked earth. Mud splattered up onto his leather boots.

As a paragon of the benevolent dragonkind, Golden Dragons always preferred negotiation before battle. Using their intimidation and keen perception, they sought to gain the upper hand.

“Have you noticed how the rain nourishes this Southern Isle forest? Can you imagine that a thousand years ago, this was a scorched wasteland?” Kanpas’s eyes reflected contemplation.

“After the entire Skybreak Mountain Range was shattered in a single blow, the climate shifted accordingly. Eventually, under the torrential summer rains, this forest began to grow. Yet, no matter how much rain falls, it never becomes truly dense.”

Listening to the Golden Dragon’s reflections, Zhao Xu nodded. Unfortunately, he was no climatologist and could not engage in deeper discourse.

“Your Final Scroll truly gathers remarkable talent. How is Antinoe doing?” Kanpas suddenly asked softly.

Zhao Xu’s heart tightened. His eyes sharpened as he looked at the Ancient Golden Dragon and answered in kind, “My mentor is quite happy every day.”

Antinoe had known he had touched that Dragon Pearl but still trusted him to travel from Hurricane City, through the Skybreak Mountains, to Mystra. She must have anticipated this.

Amid the torrential downpour, their voices were kept low.

Dragons typically invest skill points to max out listening, searching, and scouting abilities.

Thus, even if Zhao Xu whispered something inaudible unless one’s ear was pressed against his lips, the Ancient Golden Dragon before him could still understand.

Yet Zhao Xu never imagined he could casually converse and joke with a dragon over twelve centuries old.

“When I flew over that caravan, I sensed a repugnant aura, so I unleashed my Dragon’s Might. I hope I didn’t frighten you,” Kanpas said.

Only then did Zhao Xu realize that he himself was the cause of the caravan’s misfortune at the Fishpond.

He hadn’t expected that the dragon could sense the aura of someone who had touched a Dragon Pearl merely by flying overhead.

“Don’t be nervous. I know Antinoe holds a Dragon Pearl. The aura on you is merely from touching it—I would never harm you,” Kanpas sighed.

“Don’t dragons hate those who possess Dragon Pearls?” Zhao Xu, tempting fate, asked.

Kanpas shot him a sideways glance that made Zhao Xu’s heart skip a beat.

“Even benevolent dragons have treasure-hoarding instincts etched in their bones. It’s not about hatred; merely capturing a Dragon Pearl is an immense honor. If I could defeat your mentor, I would reclaim that Pearl, which has been passed down for countless ages,” Kanpas said calmly.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xu’s strength was insufficient; otherwise, he would have challenged Kanpas here and then.

Still, he felt somewhat reassured—the dragon’s target was clearly not him.

Its presence here was truly to savor the mysteries of life?

“Then, elder, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave,” Zhao Xu said as the rain began to ease, feeling that lingering near a Golden Dragon was still too perilous.

“No, I came specifically to find you,” Kanpas said solemnly, his golden eyes glowing faintly.

“There was something I had to deal with earlier, so I couldn’t come down to meet you. Now that you have left that caravan, it’s even better.”

“Find me?” Zhao Xu asked in surprise.

“Indeed. Someone entrusted me to teach you something if I met you,” Kanpas said, his tone gentler than it had been in a thousand years when speaking to a mortal.

“Respected elder Kanpas, aren’t there great differences between mages and warlocks?” Zhao Xu lowered his head, uncertain what the dragon intended to impart.

“Don’t you have the Prayer Candle?” Kanpas asked. “If, when you open the Gate to Another World, you require the aid of dragonkind, you may call upon my true name. The caster level of that candle should be sufficient to summon me.”

“Since we’ve met, I will surely serve you better than any other summoned being. Even if your requests are excessive, I can fulfill them,” the Ancient Golden Dragon Kanpas spoke as if promoting himself.

Zhao Xu was stunned.

A Golden Dragon who mastered priestly spells was akin to a priest capable of casting ninth-level divine magic.

Other summons at best provided limited service, and their presence was granted out of respect for the Prayer Candle.

They rarely accommodated additional spellcasting demands.

Otherwise, a ninth-level Warlock who summoned a creature also capable of casting the ninth-level “Gate to Another World” spell could create an infinite loop.

But according to this dragon’s words, it seemed Zhao Xu could command him to use those ninth-level spells.

It was as if exchanging one ninth-level “Gate to Another World” spell cast via the Prayer Candle for several other ninth-level spells.

“Elder Kanpas, I doubt the Final Scroll is esteemed enough for that,” Zhao Xu said tactfully.

He never believed that fortune would be handed to him without reason.

“During the Great Dragon War, I was bound and controlled by that Dragon Pearl. After Antinoe obtained it, she freed me. So, following her instructions, if I do not meet you, it’s fine—once I do, I must assist you,” Kanpas quietly revealed the bond between him and Antinoe.

Zhao Xu no longer doubted anything and asked, “Then, Elder Kanpas, what is it you wish to teach me?”

“Heh, have you ever heard of—Transformation?”