This land possesses a wondrous power: no matter what kind of living being, there is always a certain chance to transform into a dragon.

Yet dragons are rare, noble, and incomparably powerful; out of billions of lives, only a scant few ever become dragons.

Legend has it that every living creature has its own Dragon Gate.

Once leapt over, it transforms into a dragon,

Dragons are like the sun, moon, and stars, hanging high in the sky, incomparably brilliant.

Those beasts and demon spirits that compete with them for food and territory are, in the eyes of a dragon, nothing more than the stinking common fish and shrimp that fill the river.

“If dragons are so powerful, then what’s the point of people fighting and struggling against each other?” Ryan Carter asked.

“Humans possess wisdom. The process of becoming a dragon is filled with countless uncertainties, requiring a certain amount of luck, and even more, the payment of endless hardship. There are some people who seek out the patterns of dragon transformation, searching for those young dragons with the potential to become true dragons but lacking other conditions, and help them make up for what they lack, assisting them in leaping over that Dragon Gate!”

“Dragon herders?”

“Mm, humans can become—Dragon Herders.”

“What do you think of me?” Ryan Carter asked enthusiastically.

“You raise silkworms well. They’re very plump.”

Uh, even the Valkyrie’s inability to lie was a kind of beauty.

……

Yong City.

It was clearly still early morning, the sun not yet risen, but the sky was already painted with brilliant red clouds, clusters like real flames reflecting over the entire city and its streets, making even the darkest corners dazzlingly bright!

“Run, run!!”

“Fire, there’s a huge fire!!”

A sudden commotion erupted from the street ahead, growing closer and closer. A large crowd could be seen fleeing in panic toward the city outskirts, as if some ancient beast was chasing them from behind.

“RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!”

Suddenly, a massive rain of fire swept horizontally across, crashing into the tall buildings. In an instant, the houses and courtyards along the street were toppled, reduced to countless pieces of rubble that swept across the road.

A group of commoners in coarse clothes were struck through by the fiery debris, their bodies set ablaze, their screams utterly tragic!

The bucktoothed officer in charge of the main street was shocked, hurriedly drawing his long blade, thinking some bandit gang had invaded the city to burn, kill, and loot.

“ROOOOAAAAARRRR~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!!!”

Behind him stood the tall buildings of the city’s elite. At the eaves, a gigantic head as large as a rooftop suddenly rose into the air, dragging up a long, thick body, dazzling fiery scales constantly shedding searing flames...

“A dragon!!!!”

The bucktoothed officer was utterly stunned, watching as the gilded flame dragon rose into the sky, venting its fury. Despite the scorching heat all around, a bone-deep chill of terror surged through his body!

A gilded fire dragon!!

It was wantonly baptizing the crowd with a rain of fire spewed over the streets of Yong City.

With a single upward tilt of its head and a breath, everyone alive on the avenue was reduced to ashes!

With a sweep of its tail, city walls, tall buildings, government offices, and shops all collapsed!

As for the residential houses, just a touch from its fiery scales would ignite them instantly, turning them into burning ruins in less than half a minute!

In just half a minute, the long street was in utter chaos.

Some soldiers, armed with blades and clad in armor, looked well-trained and fearless.

But with a single roar from the gilded fire dragon, the officers’ eardrums burst; before they could even fight back, they were writhing on the ground in agony, clutching their ears and screaming.

With a single swipe of its claw, the gilded fire dragon smashed the officers into meat patties before they could even display their martial skills!

If even the officers couldn’t withstand the gilded fire dragon, there was no hope for the common people.

The city became a sea of fire, and the once-prosperous Yong City’s armed forces were utterly helpless. Before long, even the armored city soldiers were fleeing in all directions like the civilians.

Chapter 4: A Kind of Torment

That bucktoothed officer from the main street, terrified, followed the crowd out of the city. Outside the city was a wide open space, where countless people could be seen fleeing into the forests. But not everyone was as lucky as this group.

They had just escaped when a loud crash sounded behind them.

The city gate had collapsed!

Flames devoured the gate and walls, and the dense crowds within the crimson city wailed in agony—a scene straight out of hell!

A dragon!

Is this what a dragon is!!

Just a single fire dragon could bring such annihilation to a prosperous city!!

Human strength and wisdom were utterly meaningless before such a divine beast!!

……

Yong City Lord’s Mansion.

Outside the wide-open gates was a scene of disaster, the fiery glow reflecting on the face of the new city lord, who had only just taken control of the city, now reduced to this after a few unpleasant exchanges.

“Are you satisfied with this sight?” Inside the mansion, a pale-faced man asked with a smile. There was not a trace of warmth in his smile; instead, it sent chills down one’s spine.

“Respected Dragon Herder, I have no deep grudge against you, so why…” The new city lord’s voice trembled.

“Of course not. I just want you to understand that every word I say must be listened to with utmost seriousness. I don’t like repeating myself; it makes me feel you’re belittling my existence. I dislike hesitant answers even more, because you have no right to bargain with me!” the pale Dragon Herder said.