While the players on Sakura Island were daydreaming, Su Nian was busy imparting new cultural knowledge to his subordinates.
Previously, his subordinates had grasped the meaning of "To hear the Way in the morning, and die content in the evening." They had applied this teaching to their actions with great success, ensuring that no player survived once discovered—a remarkable achievement that filled Su Nian with pride. He encouraged them to continue their efforts, grow stronger, and achieve even greater glory.
In the spacious meeting cave, all the gnolls sat upright in four neat rows at the front, their chests puffed out with pride. Each gnoll held a Spearboar high above their heads with both claws. The boars' bulging muscles were taut, their thick hides toughened by the strain—making them not only stronger but also tastier. A true win-win situation: strengthening both resolve and physical prowess.
Behind the gnolls stood a group of kobolds. They used Blackwater Pythons as barbell bars, with an adult Fireflame Rabbit tied to each end. Each kobold's eyes gleamed with determination as they lifted the makeshift weights.
As for the Cockatrices, they hung upside down from the cave ceiling like bats. This maneuver had become second nature to them, and they had even grown fond of upside-down movement. Nowadays, they could effortlessly hunt prey in trees, no longer relying on scavenging from the ground.
"Everyone's here, huh?!"
Su Nian's menacing grin spread across his face as he exhaled a sulfurous smoke ring. His voice, like stones scraping against glass with a faint engine-like hum, instantly invigorated his struggling subordinates. The cruel and wicked tone of their master was enough to make their blood boil with excitement.
Su Nian lounged lazily on a rocky platform, one dragon claw propping up his chin while the other rested gently on Anna's head. His dragon wings wrapped around Anna, holding her close against the scales of his chest, doubling as both an armrest and a protective cocoon.
"Brother... Anna... Anna feels a bit warm..." Anna murmured. Her soft hands rested lightly on Su Nian's broad chest, her fair and delicate face flushed as it pressed against his scales. The heat emanating from the dragon's chest left her feeling dizzy, her cheeks glowing with a rosy hue.
"Warm is good. Being warm keeps you from catching a cold. Lick~" Su Nian showed no intention of letting go of his little treasure. Instead, he tightened his embrace and gave Anna's pink cheeks a playful lick with his large tongue.
As a dragon, licking his treasures and gold was second nature—much like how dogs loved to lick their prized bones.
"Ah~!" Anna squirmed shyly in Su Nian's embrace, her entire body turning a shade of bashful pink. Her reaction only encouraged Su Nian further.
"Prprprprprpr~"
He was mainly worried about his little treasure catching a cold, so staying close was essential. After all, Anna's health was fragile, and he couldn't risk her falling ill.
After a brief moment of intimacy, Su Nian finally relented when he heard Anna's soft pleas. Turning his attention to his subordinates, he addressed them:
"I've gathered you all here to teach you something new. Confucius once said, 'A gentleman without gravity has no authority.' Bolikri, you seem to have a quick mind. Tell me, what do you think this means?"
Bolikri, the kobold chieftain, took a deep breath and staggered out of the lineup, trembling under the weight of his custom barbell. Panting, he replied, "Great master, I believe it means we should eat more and grow heavier and stronger, so we can be more intimidating."
"Oh ho ho ho!"
Su Nian threw his head back in laughter, his booming voice causing the entire cave to tremble. He praised Bolikri, "Not bad! You're more insightful than Grey Wolf, but your understanding is still lacking."
"This phrase means: To become a victor, you must strike with the intent to kill. Only then can you establish true authority."
"So, my subordinates, remember this: Never fight alone if you can gang up. And never hold back—strike to kill. Understood?"
"Understood!" A cacophony of howls, barks, and caws erupted in response, leaving Su Nian shaking his head in exasperation.
Thanks to the Draconic Rhetoric, his subordinates could understand him. However, teaching them the common tongue of the continent would be a daunting task.
"Grey Wolf, have you found the Overlord Stinkbug?"
Allowing his subordinates to resume their training, Su Nian turned his attention to the gnoll leader.
"Master, found... it," Grey Wolf replied, stuffing pieces of cloth into his nostrils before retrieving a wrapped bundle from his pouch. A greenish smoke wafted from the bundle, causing Grey Wolf's eyes to water. Despite this, he bravely unwrapped it.
Inside lay a black beetle, about the size of an adult man's fist, its limbs removed. Its pitted body writhed as it emitted the greenish smoke.
This Overlord Stinkbug was not recorded in the dragons' inherited memories. The ancestral dragons only documented creatures that were edible, suitable for mating, or dangerous. Clearly, this stinkbug fell into none of these categories.
Curious, Su Nian leaned in closer, only to be assaulted by an unbearable stench that made him sneeze, spraying Grey Wolf with dragon saliva.
How to describe this smell? Imagine socks worn daily for half a year without washing, soaked in a bit of water, then mixed with rotting waste and a dead rat. That would give you a rough idea.
Reportedly, the Overlord Stinkbug had no natural predators. These carnivorous insects specialized in ambushing birds flying within two meters above them, incapacitating their prey with their stench before feasting.
And their feces? Ten times more foul than their bodies. A single droplet could leave a lasting impression—or torment.
This was precisely the gift and torture device Su Nian had in mind for the players on Sakura Island. No pain receptors? Overeating feces won't kill them? Not a problem. The concentrated essence of the stinkbug's droppings would ensure a memorable experience for the players.
"Alright, take it away. Capture more of them, breed them, and start collecting their feces. These will be crucial tools for the future."
Covering his nose, Su Nian flapped his wings to disperse the stench. Even the little girl in his arms was starting to frown.
...
Meanwhile, 500 miles away from Sakura Island's No. 1 Novice Village, in No. 6 Novice Village, Archmage Mesent had been leading the imperial army away from the capital for some time.
The journey had been arduous, with rough roads and exhausting travel. For the frail mage, it was particularly taxing.
Thanks to their horses, their progress was relatively swift, and they had now reached the central plains. Spotting a village nearby, Mesent decided to rest for the night and continue their journey the next day.
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