CHAPTER 392: CHAPTER 244: SELF-RELIANCE 2

It’s called the behavioral feedback effect, or rather, bidirectional causality.

Through the repetition of specific actions, people can form habits.

Long-standing patterns of behavior can sculpt our cognitive structures.

Our actions can, likewise, affect how we perceive ourselves.

Long-term habitual behaviors can even directly impact brain structure and function, a phenomenon also known as neural plasticity.

That’s why many professionals under high stress on Blue Star are keen on night running and hitting the gym, and why many psychiatrists advise their patients not to overthink things beforehand but to take action first.

Because once behavior is set in motion, the whirlwind of thoughts is hijacked by the mind along with it, reducing the chances of unwarranted internal conflict and anxiety.

However, when this behavioral feedback effect was applied to the practice of **Authority**... it became quite complicated to articulate.

After more than half a century of practicing the **Seven Sins**, if David were sent to Blue Star during the Middle Ages, he would undoubtedly be considered an incarnation of Satan and sent to the stake. Then, after proving ’unburnable,’ he would be worshipped on the spot by a group of extremists as a manifestation of the **Devil**.

And when such abilities were naturally divided and inherited by his offspring, they appeared even more extreme.

Currently, **Pride**, **Jealousy**, and **Wrath** seemed manageable enough.

But what about **Sloth** later on? A ’sleepyhead’?

**Gluttony**—the ultimate foodie?

**Sin of Lust**?

Don’t even think about it. A definite pervert in the eyes of any normal creature.

Probably only the **Sorrowful Wind Cult** and **Sebriz** could barely keep up with ’his’ behavioral patterns.

Perhaps only **Greed** would seem somewhat normal.

Tsk.

Just as David was taking the opportunity to ’play’ with his daughters, from whom he had been absent for three years, **Nifadora** and **Shadila**, the two **Green Dragon** sisters, approached.

**Attilicia**, their ’grandfather’—who was also an out-of-place **Silver Dragon**—knowingly and tactfully departed first.

He, whose mate had already ascended, was counting on David to propagate his lineage.

**Nifadora** lowered her head and said, seemingly apologetic yet more as if seeking praise, "I’m sorry, it was a bit sudden when I found out, and I wanted to tell you right away, but then I heard you were already asleep..."

Meanwhile, **Shadila** fidgeted with her claws and slightly swayed her tail, at a loss. Perhaps it was because her older sister **Nifadora** made most decisions for her, as she hadn’t fully adapted to her new role yet.

She was much like those young girls in the old society of Blue Star who married early, at fourteen or fifteen, and only slowly matured after having a passel of children.

**David**, however, swung his large tail.

"Though it was a bit early, it’s still a pleasant surprise for me. I... I really like them."

As he spoke, David’s claw swept over the head of the Yellow **Dragon**, **Satilaesa**—whose head was held high, almost like a ’**Long Aotian**’—dodged a playful bite from the **Red Dragon**, **Octavia**, and then, as if picking up a kitten, lifted and shook the **Green Dragon**, **Svetlana**.

"Look at this one, she’s the spitting image of you."

"...M-Mom, save me!" Among the three children, **Svetlana**, who seemed the most timid, froze like a kitten the moment she was picked up. Her intelligent eyes stared blankly, all four claws splayed, and her tail went rigid as she instinctively tried to protect her rear.

**Dragons** don’t have the habit of moving their young by carrying them in their mouths from one den to another, like cats do.

So this **Green Hatchling** was simply timid, or rather, instinctively somewhat fearful of David, her father.

In a way, she was the most intelligent.

Because the more one knows, the more instinctual fears one is likely to face.

Ignorance, after all, breeds fearlessness—hence the saying, ’A newborn calf doesn’t fear a tiger.’

Yet this ’deliberately flattering’ remark made **Nifadora** burst out laughing.

"But this one is **Shadila**’s child."

"Er... she’s my baby," **Shadila** admitted, looking even more uncomfortable now that the truth was out.

"Well, her timidity certainly matches, hahaha!" David laughed heartily, not at all embarrassed by his belated realization.

This was only possible because they were biological sisters. If it had been females of another species, the sheer force of that nameless jealousy would probably have cracked his skull open by now.

"What about the other children? Bring them all out so I can meet them," David said.

After all, when **Dragons** reproduce, they lay eggs in clutches.

At the same time, David, as a **Dragon**, had also prepared himself to meet his ’beast-kin.’

"There are no other children."

**Nifadora** continued, a hint of relief in her voice, "I, **Shadila**, and **Lizrite**—each of us laid only one **Dragon Egg**. Just these three."

"Hmm? Is that so?" Upon hearing this, David felt a slight sense of relief for some reason.

Honestly, he wasn’t quite ready to wake up one day to a whole soccer team of children, even though that would indeed be thrilling.

After all, while many people might claim that love is infinite, energy is undoubtedly finite. It becomes even more limited when divided among many children.

That’s why people so admired **Liang Qichao**, who managed to raise all nine of his children to be accomplished individuals. He achieved the feat of ’three academicians in one family, nine children all talented,’ all while simultaneously writing books and family letters—a feat ordinary people could hardly replicate.

If they had truly been born in clutches, he feared he might face the embarrassing situation of not remembering all his children’s names...

"And it will only ever be these three."

"What do you mean?" David’s eyes narrowed instantly.

**Nifadora** hurriedly explained, "Actually, when we were pregnant with the **Dragon Eggs**, the **Chromatic Dragon Queen** contacted us. She asked if we were willing to cooperate with Her in a divine magic ritual. The price would be a portion of our future, but in return, our children would gain perfect bodies, capable of inheriting some of your talents."

**David** instantly flared with **[Wrath]**.

"Such an important matter, and She didn’t even bother to ask my opinion first?!"

But **Nifadora** looked at **David** with an innocent expression and said, "The **Dragon Queen** said She did ask you. But you dismissed Her manifestation as a dream, and you even wanted to... *have your way with* Her..."

"...Ah. Never mind then." Although he couldn’t remember the dream clearly, that did sound like something he would do. A testament to his **[Arrogance]**.

Besides, if presented with this choice, he would undoubtedly have chosen ’optimal development’—quality over quantity.

Of course, that was assuming it wouldn’t harm the mothers.

Because from a child’s perspective, life was like a **Dragon** life-experience game; any intelligent being would hope to be born with talents surpassing those of an average **Dragon**, perhaps even receiving a legendary experience voucher right from the start.

This was also why many players, when playing sandbox games with roguelike elements, would spend hours or even days re-rolling for a ’god-tier’ start—a ’Veni, Vidi, Vici’ kind of background.

It was also why so many people on Blue Star burned themselves out striving to secure for their children the coveted status of ’heavenly dragon people’—the supremely privileged.

After all, having numerous choices is better than having none at all.

Seeing David’s ’anger meter’ visibly depleting as if it were leaking, the **Nifadora** sisters also breathed a sigh of relief.

They too had worried that this ’unilateral’ decision might displease David, but awakening a **Dragon** from its slumber also carried a hefty price.

Caught in a dilemma, they couldn’t very well let the **Dragon Eggs** gestate for years inside them, waiting for David to wake up and decide on the delivery, could they?

That would be not just unscientific or unmagical, but downright defying the heavens.

"So, when **Tiamat** spoke of ’paying a part of our future as the price,’ She meant that we can no longer have any more children together?"

David invoked **Tiamat**’s divine name directly, an indirect way of questioning the **Dragon God** to ensure **Nifadora** and the others hadn’t paid any hidden, additional price.

"Yes. It seems to be a way of overdrawing the power of our bloodline."

**Nifadora** immediately turned her head, looking at David with an unreadable expression.

"But it doesn’t affect you at all."

"Damn!" It was only then that David finally understood why that old hag **Tiamat**, presumably with nothing better to do, had dumped so many divine blessings on him all at once.

She was damn well trying to turn him into a **Dragon** stud!

Striving for the great revival of the **Chromatic Dragon Race**, is it?

To hell with that! I just won’t breed!

If You’re so capable, go have them Yourself, **Tiamat**!