Ashen Dragon

Arriving above the Red Scale Guard Station, the logistics personnel below raised red and yellow flags to signal, transmitting instructions to the wyverns in the sky.

Mantou immediately read the instruction. He patted Noodle's side neck and whispered:

"Stop at Dragon Spot Thirteen."

"Roar~"

Noodle let out a low roar, circled a few times above the guard station, and then precisely stopped within the yellow-marked frame on the platform.

The surrounding logistics personnel immediately gathered, wiping the wyvern's scales, fastening chains, and filling the feeding trough with the wyvern's favorite blood paste feed.

The wyvern did not resist, simply stretching its body and enjoying their service.

With the empire's development and increased funds, the Red Scale Guard Station also developed a complete logistics system, ensuring that the wyverns stayed in their best condition.

"Thank you, everyone."

Mantou greeted them and then dismounted eagerly, walking down the stairs.

As he walked, he accidentally bumped into a player—who turned out to be Singo, dressed in a viscount's attire.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

Mantou looked at Singo's luxurious viscount-exclusive robes, and with a face full of envy, he replied, "I'm going to exchange abilities."

"Didn't I just see your guide saying that professional gamers should spend their experience points early to exchange abilities and enhance their strength?"

Singo glanced at him and said indifferently, "That guide was for top professional gamers. Are you one?"

Mantou gritted his teeth and replied, "I think I am."

Singo browsed through his panel and mocked him calmly, "No way, is there really someone who hasn't even reached the level cap and is stuck at Level Seven?"

"If you haven't even hit the level cap, where do you get excess experience points from?"

Mantou stubbornly replied, "Do you know what it means to be prepared in advance?"

"Never mind that. Just tell me where the experience shop at the guard station is."

"It's with Marquess Alger. You have to go to his office and find him. There's already a long line of dozens of people."

"Damn."

Mantou continued down the stairs and soon arrived at the door of the captain's office on the third floor of the guard station.

Sure enough, there was already a long queue, with practically all the Red Scale Conqueror players he recognized.

So he had no choice but to obediently line up.

Fortunately, each person took only a few minutes to exchange abilities, so Mantou waited for only half an hour before he was at the office door.

He cautiously pushed the door open and entered the spacious, luxurious office.

Marquess Alger, the chief commander of the Red Scale Conquerors, stood not far away. He still had the form of a half-dragon half-human, with longer horns on his forehead and denser scales on his body.

The luxurious robes he wore and the dragon-head medal on his chest made Mantou envious—that was the emblem of a marquis of the empire, a symbol of noble status.

The Dragon Vein Giant Eagle lay nearby, not chained in any way, lazily chewing on precious magic ore, curiously tilting its head to look at the newly arrived player.

Mantou looked at the top of Alger's head.

[Chief of the Red Scale Conquerors - Alger]

Faction: Ashen Empire

Challenge Level: ???

He couldn't help but marvel. Even after reaching Level Seven, he still couldn't see the challenge level of this "First Red Scale Conqueror."

Thinking of this, Mantou said flatteringly, "Boss Alger, I'm here to exchange abilities."

He hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"Uh...Boss Alger, for the sake of me being one of your first two students, could you give me a small discount?"

"No."

Alger replied coldly.

As a true native, he actually couldn't see any panels, merely following orders from above to stand here and attend to players for these so-called "ability exchanges."

Each time an exchange was completed, Alger would sense a strange energy flowing into his body, but he couldn't control it himself, only passively accept it.

So the so-called "discount" was out of the question.

"Alright then."

Mantou awkwardly scratched his head and opened the [Experience Shop] panel.

[Alger Yorman's Experience Shop]

Proficiencies: Riding Skill +18, Military +14, Scouting +12, Hunting +11, Athletics +10, Survival +10

Special Abilities: Commander's Surprise Attack, Dive Attack, Aerial Quick Stop, Swift Turn, Actions Like Tides, Recovery

"Wow, there's so much?"

Mantou felt a burst of joy.

But upon seeing the experience points required for those abilities, he immediately felt a bit disheartened.

To increase the [Riding Skill] proficiency to 18 required a whopping 9000xp, almost a third of all the experience points he had earned so far.

Exchanging for an ability like [Commander's Surprise Attack] required even more, over ten thousand experience points.

"Can't afford it, can't afford it at all."

Ultimately, Mantou chose to spend 3000xp to raise his [Riding Skill] proficiency to Level Fourteen.

After pressing the [Confirm Exchange] button.

Mantou's experience bar dropped significantly.

And between him and Alger, a special bond was formed through the mutual bloodline of the Red Dragon.

Alger's memories and skills related to "Riding Skill" were transmitted into Mantou's body.

His proficiencies soared.

At that moment, Mantou felt as if he had been training in riding since childhood, spending countless days and nights with his mount, and had been riding the eagle's back for decades.

His body even developed some muscle memory.

When Mantou came back to his senses, his panel had dramatically changed.

[Riding Skill +14]

"This is truly amazing."

Mantou clicked his tongue, fascinated by this new experience.

Alger also closed his eyes slightly, feeling the strange energy flowing into his body, making him even stronger.

"Starfallers..."

"Such peculiar folks."

Even though he was accustomed to the Starfallers' unusual behavior, Alger was still quite surprised by this strange power infusion.

However, they did not know that half of the experience Mantou spent was taken as "tax" and given to the faction leader—none other than the emperor of the Ashen Empire, Red Dragon Cassius.

...

[You have gained 150xp]

[You have gained 300xp]

[You have gained 200xp]

[You have gained 400xp]

[You have gained 1900xp]

...

Cassius browsed through the constantly refreshing panel information, watching the flood of experience points and feeling quite pleased with this farming behavior.

"So the experience is transmitted through the [Imperial Grace] bond."

"As expected of the players."

"In just a little time, they've brought tens of thousands of experience points. At this rate, I'll break through Level 18 soon."

"Leveling up while lying down is so much more enjoyable than going through the effort to kill enemies."

Cassius grinned, revealing a sinister smile—his expression brimming with the joy of a bountiful harvest.

From now on, these players would all become nourishment for his power growth.

He lightly flapped his wings, hovering above Antonio City.

"Long live the empire!"

"Long live His Majesty Cassius!"

The people in the city erupted in cheers, celebrating the arrival of their emperor, looking forward to a bright future.