CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 356: THE NINE-HEADED DRAGON UNDER THE SPEAR_2

It all depends on how they negotiate the terms.

The war escalated faster than Yan Xing had anticipated.

The speed of armament production in Eternal Domain was slower than Yan Xing had predicted.

"Master, your order of grenades has arrived. Feng Tingyue left a message asking you to handle the cargo transfer. The Griffon Research Institute successfully cultivated an active in vitro griffon embryo. Furthermore, events involving suspected supernaturals have occurred in various places in the real world. It’s unclear whether this is due to a leak in Renlun’s supernatural research or the existence of other means of obtaining abilities."

During this period, Yan Xing’s military procurement in the real world was substantial. Grenades, in particular, were a very good supplement to individual firepower on the frontlines. Moreover, Renlun Investment Bank offered low prices, with bonuses for larger purchases. Yan Xing, of course, purchased in larger quantities.

As for the Griffon Research Institute cultivating an active in vitro griffon embryo so quickly, it somewhat surprised Yan Xing. It seemed the griffon breeding project had truly attracted many top-tier biological scientists in this field. If griffon embryos could grow in artificial wombs, then the output speed of griffons would definitely be much faster than natural breeding. The more Yan Xing used the Armored Griffons, the more useful he found them. Currently, Eternal Domain’s Griffon Armor production capacity was low; the griffons were waiting for armor. Once the technology matured and production capacity increased, it would be the armor waiting for griffons.

While the breakthrough in griffon breeding research was certainly good news, it was only an active in vitro embryo so far—just the first step.

As for the diffusion of abilities in the real world, Yan Xing had long anticipated it.

Good or bad... since it can’t be stopped, I’ll just wait and see.

"Chui Chui, prepare to return to the real world."

"Yes, Master."

And just as Yan Xing returned to the real world, a message happened to be delivered to Chui Chui. Unable to notify Yan Xing in time, Chui Chui left a part of its computing core in the Magic World.

「Heize City, Thunderous Swamp.」

This was a fully enclosed military restricted area, operating at the highest security level. Professionally assembled security forces from Eternal Domain and Alchemy Robots jointly ensured the city’s safety. In the center of Heize City was a hole that extended deep underground.

Chui Chui transferred a part of its computing core to the brain chip of an Alchemy Robot within Heize City and took the elevator inside the shaft down to the deepest level of the pit.

The elevator door opened, and an Armed Alchemy Robot holding an automatic rifle stood before Chui Chui. After a data exchange confirmed its identity, the Armed Alchemy Robot saluted Chui Chui, "Greetings, Lord Chui Chui. Please follow me."

"Let’s go." Chui Chui, with only a part of its computing core, spoke in a somewhat cold tone.

The Armed Alchemy Robot led Chui Chui along a horizontal passage. The passage was very damp, with lights shining at regular intervals. However, the walls of the passage had been solidified using Earth System magic and were very sturdy.

After following the Armed Alchemy Robot for about a kilometer, the narrow passage suddenly opened up. Before them was a vast cavern, their position at an opening on its cliff face. The ceiling of the cavern was a cluster of inverted crystals, roughly one hundred meters in diameter. The crystal cluster emitted a faint blue light, illuminating the entire cavern.

In the middle of the crystal cluster was a Crystal Spear, slanting downwards. At the other end of the Crystal Spear was a hundred-meter-long Giant Dragon with nine heads. The gigantic Crystal Spear pierced through the space from the cavern’s ceiling, its tip embedded in the Giant Dragon’s back, firmly nailing it to the ground. The Giant Dragon appeared to be in a dormant state, its nine heads resting on the ground, pressed against each other.

Is it dead? But the oppressive aura permeating the entire cavern suggested that even if it were dead, this Nine-Headed Dragon was in a state of suspended animation.

Chui Chui jumped down from the opening in the cliff face, landing steadily on the ground fifty meters below. The floor of the cavern was very even, scattered only with some debris from excavated passages. Standing on the ground, the immensity of the Nine-Headed Dragon became even more apparent; it was impossible to view the entirety of the dragon’s body. Each of its heads was as large as a building. The Elves, Jackalmen, and Alchemy Robots standing beneath the dragon looked as small as ants.

At this moment, all the Elves participating in the research stood transfixed, while all the Jackalmen knelt, kowtowing ceaselessly to the Nine-Headed Dragon. The Nine-Headed Dragon, a creature of legend in the swamp regions, truly existed.

Yet, who could have thrown this Crystal Spear, pinning the Nine-Headed Dragon beneath Heize City?

Chui Chui looked up, gazing at the massive spear that seemed to extend downwards from the crystal cluster above. Even without possessing a mind, Chui Chui could sense the awe-inspiring power of the sight.

"Seal all passages. Organic beings are permitted entry but not exit," Chui Chui commanded all the Alchemy Robots. Then, addressing the Elves and Jackalmen, Chui Chui continued, "Please remain underground until my Master arrives. You may conduct non-contact research for now, and I will stay here with you.

"Any action you wish to take within this cavern must first be reported to me, and you must receive permission before proceeding."

Yan Xing, who had just boarded a private plane headed for Griffon Island, learned about the excavation of the Nine-Headed Dragon beneath Heize City through Chui Chui’s communication link. Unable to transmit images, Yan Xing had yet to see the Nine-Headed Dragon and the Crystal Spear.

But just by using his imagination, he could picture the magnitude of the scene. A hundred-meter-long dragon body. An even longer Crystal Spear. What kind of battle must that have been?

At this moment, Chui Chui’s primary computational core spoke to Yan Xing, "Master, the Nine-Headed Dragon’s size is the largest recorded among all Giant Dragons.

"Even in a state of suspended animation, it still exerts such a tremendous influence on Heize City that I am unable to assess the full strength of this Nine-Headed Dragon at its peak."

Yan Xing said, "The one that defeated the Nine-Headed Dragon... must be an even more formidable entity.

"The more I learn about the Magic World, the more my perception of the upper limits of power is reshaped.

"The more I realize the true extent of such power, the more insignificant I feel.

"And how laughable my current endeavors must seem.

"Perhaps everything I’m doing, everything I’m pursuing, is merely comical in the eyes of those great beings."

Faced with such a level of power, Yan Xing suddenly felt a sense of helplessness.

The things I’m doing now seem utterly meaningless.

"Master, please forgive my inability to understand what you are saying," Chui Chui said, looking blankly at Yan Xing in the consciousness space and asking with childlike innocence, "In my eyes, Master is the strongest.

"Even if you are not the strongest right now, Chui Chui will definitely assist Master in becoming the absolute strongest."

Chui Chui’s words made Yan Xing laugh involuntarily.

"Right, your Master will become the absolute strongest, step by step surpassing those beings we currently have to look up to. The next step begins with researching this Nine-Headed Dragon in suspended animation and the Crystal Spear embedded in it.

"Since legends of the Nine-Headed Dragon exist in the swamp regions, it must mean the ancestors of the Swamp Tribe truly encountered it, and perhaps even witnessed that battle.

"Visit the Lizardmen Clans, record all legends related to the Nine-Headed Dragon, and then try to corroborate these stories with primary sources.

"Are the Elves and Jackalmen who saw the Nine-Headed Dragon under control?"

"My Secondary Core has already ordered the entire underground space sealed. Without your command, they will not be released."

Yan Xing considered for a moment.

He told Chui Chui, "I once promised these Elves that I would treat them with respect and provide suitable conditions.

"Keeping them confined underground long-term isn’t good for their physical or mental health. This research is a long-term project... External security can be stringent, but internally, we shouldn’t create unnecessary pressure.

"Restrict the containment area to within Heize City’s boundaries. Shut down all land-based access to Heize City; all supplies must be delivered by air.

"When I return, I’ll have a proper discussion with them.

"By then, we should have good news from Snowland."

When it came to research projects, Yan Xing always maintained great patience and a level-headed approach. Creating an atmosphere of tension and pressuring researchers was not beneficial for the long-term interests of the entire project.

Yan Xing did not hurry back to the Magic World to see the Nine-Headed Dragon right away.

After all, that creature has been pinned there for who knows how many years. It won’t be going anywhere if I see it a little later. Right now, receiving the grenades is what’s most important.