The next few days were unusually quiet, and there was no one in the empty Floating City parlor.

The silent little wizard hides alone in the laboratory, busy with the miniaturization of the "Lightsaber";

In the cell, Lusen seized all the time to learn and master the power of the "Way of the Samurai" from the elven warriors with the help of Isaac;

The wounded Loren continues to recover his body while rebuilding his already shattered spiritual temple;

The Earl of Fort Fury single-handedly picked up all the chores of the entire team, and was in charge of the entire process of evacuation;

Brandon is responsible for whispering to the dragons Milassis and Grum, currying them to "say a few kind words" in front of their respective elders on his behalf......

And under the silent floating city, the number of troops growing day by day marched with tired steps, dragging hungry bodies to follow closely under the banner of the Iron Crown, dead and oppressive.

The situation of the East Sacland riots was far worse than Brandon and Loren had imagined – from not yet reaching the border of Sackland to being close to the middle of the territory, deserters turned into robbers and refugees whose homes had been destroyed were encountered almost every day.

Brandon will not accept anyone who wants to join the team, and as for deserters who try to resist... There was no need to send troops at all, they were already weak the moment they saw the dragon.

In this way, with a snowballing team, Brandon and his party continued to move in the direction of their goal, and every day the wind and snow became more and more bitter and the frozen ground under their feet told them of the arrival of the harsh winter and the distance between them and the northern Boundary Mountain.

At last... On a morning when the wind and snow had subsided and the sun could finally be seen, they had finally arrived at their destination.

Jufeng Mountain.

Dragon's Territory.

Since the first generation of the Sakrand Empire, or rather, the Old Kingdom, the dragons who came with the married Queen of Brunhilde have been given their domain to the extinct volcano and the surrounding mountains and forests.

Therefore, strictly speaking, the leader of the dragon clan is also one of the emperor's "vassals", and there should be at least one such title as "Lord of Jufeng Mountain";

In return for the "separation", the dragons also took on the duty of defending the kingdom of Saklan, the empire, and the royal family of de Salion.

They made a promise that any direct descendant of Queen Brünnhild would have the opportunity to communicate with the dragon and make a contract that would serve a "de Salion" until he or she died.

Fourteen generations, never broken.

With this "promise", the House of De Salion was able to rule the entire empire and become the supreme royal family above all the ancient royal families, just as their banner, the rough iron crown, was lifted by the three-headed dragon to rise into the clouds and overlook all beings.

But on the other hand, it is precisely because of the power of the dragon that the empire is ruled that maintaining the relationship with the dragon has become the most important mission of each emperor;

Even if the Emperor himself is a Dragon Rider, he must protect and increase the number of Dragon Riders in the royal family as much as possible to ensure that these terrifying beasts of the Flood will remember that they are in the blood of Queen Brünnhilde and that they have made a promise.

Brandon, as well as Loren, and the others stood on the edge of the parapet of the floating city, looking at the towering mountains, their expressions slightly distracted.

The red sun of the rising east is completely obscured by the mountain peaks, and all that can be seen is the afterglow and the clouds and smoke dyed gold, like a gorgeous ribbon that wraps the mountains.

There is just a small problem that needs to be solved......

"This Torch Peak Mountain is so steep, how do you go up?" Isaac, who looked inexplicable, raised his eyebrows and pointed to the almost vertical mountain wall: "Do we have to climb up little by little, I don't know how to climb!"

"Of course. Brandon's lazy voice came from beside him: "It's because they can't climb that the dragons choose Torch Peak Mountain as their territory." ”

"Why?" Isaac looked up in surprise.

Before he could ask, a howling wind was blowing in place, and the people in the floating city had to cling to the parapet to prevent themselves from being blown down.

By the time they looked up, there were already two shadows in the sky shrouded in smoke clouds—the winged dragons Mirassis and Grum, flying vertically towards the peak of Torch Peak.

"It's... Why. Panting, a smile appeared on the corner of Brandon's mouth, who was hiding behind the parapet: "Because Torch Peak Mountain is the territory of the dragon, and soaring is the privilege that belongs only to the dragon." ”

"Therefore, their territory must be built on a peak beyond the reach of mortals!"

The black-haired wizard chuckled, staring thoughtfully at the mountain peaks hidden in the clouds.

"But you still haven't told me how we should go up!" Isaac, who was startled, swallowed his saliva and said angrily: "Again, I definitely don't climb rocks!"

"Uh... There are two ways. Brandon, who was smiling at the corners of his mouth, shrugged his shoulders and raised two fingers in his right hand: "The first way is to fly vertically in the floating city like dear Mirasis." ”

"Although Jufeng Mountain looks quite high, it is also relative to the East Sacland Plain - the altitude should not be comparable to the cloud peak of the Dwarf Kingdom, and since the 'Horn Fort' Floating City can soar over the cloud peak, it will definitely be able to fly over Jufeng Mountain. ”

"But that would be a great rage on the dragons, right?"

"It's worthy of my great wizard advisor, I guessed it at once!" His Royal Highness the Prince, who had no swarf, gave a thumbs up and showed his red mouth and white teeth:

"If we really dare to fly up, those big guys won't care who the people in this floating city are, 10,000% will knock us down!"

"So we had to use the second way, all the way up. Ignoring the black-haired wizard rolling his eyes beside him, Brandon spread his hands: "Of course, there is no need to climb, because there is indeed a path from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. ”

"Path?" Isaac's eyes lit up, "You mean ......"

"That's right, just like you think - it's the direct descendants of the royal family of Dessalion in the past generations, and the test path to accept the dragon's test, otherwise how would we have seen the dragon back then?"

Speaking of this, Brandon, who had a relaxed and comfortable face, his smile became a little stiff: "Of course, this road is not easy to follow, so... I mean, you'd better be prepared. ”

"On the road, it may not be very safe. ”

Well?

A not-so-good premonition came to everyone's minds.

..............................

The Floating City landed slowly beside a rock near the foot of Torch Peak Mountain, where the accompanying party was stationed

Originally, there should have been three rotational rest legions stationed at the foot of Jufeng Mountain all year round, but due to the fall of Ebolden and the chaos of the situation in East Sackland, the three legions had long been transferred and disappeared.

And after a quarter of an hour, Loren and his party finally came to what Brandon called the path of trial—or rather, to a cave.

"This is it. ”

With a certain emotion, and a faint hint of pride, Brandon, who took a deep breath, turned around and looked at the people in front of him—Loren, Isaac, Ain, and Lusen.

"First of all, I only know what we're going to encounter this time because I've only walked it once, so we won't know until we get in. Shrugging his shoulders, His Royal Highness the Prince said in a particularly "single" tone:

"And according to the tradition of the de Salion family, generally the people who walked this path in the previous generation will not tell the next generation about their experiences. ”

"Why?" asked Lusen, warily, "for the results of the trial?"

"There are some reasons for this, but not the main thing. Brandon smiled, and his tone suddenly became very mysterious: "The most important point is that everyone who walks into this road has a very different experience!"

Not the same?

Before everyone could understand what he meant, Brandon had already turned and walked in, and his figure disappeared into the dark cave.

Looking at the nervous or worried gazes beside him, the black-haired wizard shrugged his shoulders and smiled at everyone, "Let's go." ”

"Let's see what the dragon's territory looks like. ”

Taking a deep breath, everyone stepped into the entrance of the cave.

The first thing that catches the eye is naturally pitch black.

Without even thinking about it, the three wizards in the group immediately raised their wands and released a "firefly charm", and the miserable white light illuminated the range within two steps of them.

"Alas, it's convenient to have a wizard. Brandon's sarcastic voice came from the front: "When I came with Brother Conrad and Aunt Fetronay, I only had one torch. ”

"Of course, my esteemed Imperial Brother Conrad was sent directly to the dragon's lair at the top of Torch Peak without any trial, and the only torch was handed over to my dear sister-in-law!"

"I guess it's because one guy got the torch and was going to leave the others behind and run away first, right?" said the black-haired wizard as he carefully picked a place to stay.

"My dear Wizard Advisor, how can you slander people out of thin air?!" Brandon retorted immediately, his voice sounding like he had been wronged:

"The most I can do is think about this kind of thing in my head, how to do it—that's my dear sister-in-law!"

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes again, Loren shrugged and could only pretend not to hear and continue to crawl forward.

It was dark and cold in the cave.

It wasn't as cold as the glacial wasteland, but it was a different kind of bone-chilling cold, as if even consciousness was frozen in the cold wind.

The path in the cave was wider than he had imagined when he entered, and apart from the stone steps under his feet and the droplets of water above his head, he didn't even feel like he was in a semi-enclosed cavern.

The road under his feet was very flat, and if it weren't for the "transcendent perception", Loren wouldn't even be sure that he was climbing all the way up, not at all like the path that a mountain steep to almost ninety degrees of vertical should have.

At least, definitely not like it is naturally formed.

Brandon, who was familiar with the road, walked at the front of the group, humming a little song in his mouth, and the torch in his hand flashed to make sure that everyone behind could see him.

"Be careful, you have to make sure you can see each other - especially if you're here for the first time, and if you run into a dragon or something alone, I'm not sure you're safe. ”

Brandon's voice came from the light source of the torch again: "If you can't see it once here, you may never see it!"

"What do you mean? Could it be that there is some special trap here, but why don't I feel the slightest void reaction?" Isaac shuddered nervously:

"And you say there's anything other than the dragon - what is 'something else', and there are things other than dragons on this mountain?!"

"I don't know, I'm just a reminder. Brandon smiled mischievously, and his tone suddenly became a little more solemn: "After all... Not every de Salion has a chance to return to ...... alive."

"Boom!"

A staggering sound came from behind him, interrupting the voice of His Royal Highness, and the black-haired wizard jerked back, grabbing the figure that was about to fall without hesitation.

"Ain!"

"I'm fine!"

Feeling the force coming from his wrist, the little wizard turned red, gritted his teeth and got up: "It's just that the soles of my feet have slipped down, it's not a big deal." ”

"Then be careful, don't slip again. Loren chuckled, pretending not to notice Ain's already flushed cheeks: "Watch your step, don't get up too fast." ”

"I'm not Isaac's megalomaniac, I don't need to be reminded twice of the same thing!"

With a slight snort of dissatisfaction, the little wizard patted the dust and stood up: "Let's go, or if that megalomaniac finds out that we are left behind, he will start rambling again." ”

"Well, but I think he's probably starting to ramble......" Loren tugged at the corners of his mouth, looking back at the firelight behind him.

And then......

Nothing!

It was just a blink of an eye, and Lusen and Isaac, who had been following them, had disappeared without a trace, and even under the reinforcement of "Beyond Perception", not to mention the footprints, Loren could not even find any trace of their departure or existence.

It's like... From the beginning, it was as if they hadn't come in together.

Wait, if that's the case......

Loren, who suddenly thought of something, immediately withdrew his gaze and looked straight ahead.

Sure enough, nothing.

Without saying a word, Brandon, who was walking in front, was gone.

The atmosphere of solemnity and doubt gradually spread around the two.

In the dark cavern, it seemed that countless pairs of eyes were lurking, staring at them from all directions.

"Loren ......"

"It's fine. Gently comforting the little wizard who was a little panicked, Loren shrugged: "This is probably... It's the dragon's trial for us. ”

"Let's go, we can't let the well-prepared host wait too long for us guests. ”

"Hmm. ”

Ai Yin, who nodded vigorously, stood up calmly and walked towards the depths of the cave with the black-haired wizard.