A year had passed, and Brandon had been training daily within the volcano. For a fire attribute dragon, the intense heat of the volcanic lava was the perfect training ground. Brandon felt his strength improving each day within the volcano; the energy within him was rapidly increasing, becoming thicker and more viscous. What once flowed like clear water now coursed through his body like a thick porridge.
Brandon's resistance to high temperatures had also significantly increased. He could now dive a hundred meters into the molten lava, where the lava was beginning to turn yellow. However, he still hadn’t discovered where the qilin was training. Over the past year, Brandon had only seen it a few times. For the qilin, the lava was its domain, and it rarely emerged from the volcano unless necessary.
Despite the continuous increase in energy within his body, Brandon had not yet felt on the verge of a breakthrough. His body seemed like a bottomless pit, endlessly absorbing the vast geothermal energy, but there were no signs of forming a dragon crystal.
From the inherited memories, he knew that the Lesser Heaven Level was a critical hurdle. Most creatures remained stuck at the peak of the Earth Level, unable to advance further. The energy required for this breakthrough was exponentially greater than the previous levels. Although the Earth Level and the Lesser Heaven Level were just one rank apart, the gap was as vast as the sky and the earth. Without reaching the Lesser Heaven Level, one couldn’t grasp its wonders.
Once a creature advanced to the Lesser Heaven Level, it would break through its biological limits, undergoing physical evolution and significantly extending its lifespan. Flight would no longer be exclusive to birds; a creature at this level could fly freely in the sky, no longer bound by earthly constraints. Although a Lesser Heaven Level being could only fly at low altitudes and not beyond the atmosphere, it was still a tremendous improvement.
Moreover, upon reaching the Lesser Heaven Level, an energy crystal core would form within the body. For spellcasters, this would allow for much quicker spell casting, with some low-level magic becoming instantaneous.
For dragons, the Lesser Heaven Level marked adulthood for most. If a dragon reached this level, it was considered to have reached maturity. Only dragons with noble and pure bloodlines would possess Great Heaven Level power upon reaching adulthood.
Therefore, for dragons, the Lesser Heaven Level was a necessary phase in life. Achieving this level was almost certain unless a dragon suffered severe injuries or died young.
Brandon, while not expecting his bloodline to be noble and pure, believed that being recognized by the old red dragon meant he had the typical dragon bloodline.
Thus, he wasn’t worried. His training was steady and methodical, aligning perfectly with the calm and unhurried mindset essential for cultivation.
Non-action didn't mean inaction; it was simply a mindset of tranquility and not being attached to gains and losses.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
After a year of training, Brandon descended from the volcano. Although he hadn't yet reached the Lesser Heaven Level, his strength had more than doubled. His body had grown from 15 meters to 17 meters. His once fresh and tender purple-gold scales, now tempered by long immersion in lava, had taken on a time-worn and ancient appearance. The basketball-sized scales were adorned with intricate, clear patterns, giving his entire body a mesmerizing and intense look.
Brandon spread his wings and flew towards his nest. Within minutes, he arrived at what used to be a sub-dragon's nest but had now become a full-fledged dragon's lair. He retracted his wings and descended. The young sub-dragon was lying at the entrance of the lair. A year ago, Brandon had taught the sub-dragon the dragons' training methods. After six months of training, the sub-dragon's strength had advanced rapidly, reaching the Earth Level. It had grown to about eight meters in length and exuded a faint dragon's aura.
Moreover, after consuming the blood orchid, the sub-dragon's body had begun to mutate. The most noticeable change was the growth of two fleshy bulges on its sides, and its scales started to turn green. Brandon estimated that it wouldn’t be long before the sub-dragon grew two pairs of wings. According to the dragons' inherited memories, the sub-dragon seemed to be evolving into a flying dragon. Although it wasn't transforming into a full dragon, which was a bit disappointing to Brandon, the flying dragon's dragon bloodline was much purer than that of an earth dragon.
The sub-dragon was exceptionally respectful towards Brandon. It slept outside the lair every night, seemingly standing guard for Brandon. Whenever it saw Brandon, it would respectfully lie on the ground, which Brandon found quite troublesome, despite his many attempts to stop it.
Brandon's massive body entered the lair, where the beasts, including Kong, were absent. Since Brandon had been diligently training at the volcano's rim every day, often for several days at a time, the task of hunting had gradually fallen to them, which they seemed to enjoy. Although the jungle was dangerous, it was also full of challenges and fun. They often returned covered in scars, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
A few humans were grilling meat in the cave. Huge chunks of meat were roasting over the fire, the enticing fat dripping onto the flames and occasionally sparking bursts of fire. When the four humans saw Brandon enter, they quickly bowed in respect, their eyes filled with admiration and fervor.
Brandon nodded at them. Three of these humans had already broken through to the Earth Level, and even Angela, the weakest, had reached the peak of the Human Level, just a step away from breaking through. With the abundant spiritual energy and the daily consumption of energy-rich meat, it was hard not to progress in strength.
Moreover, over the year, Angela had developed even further. Her old clothes had long since fallen apart, and the leaf-made garments she now wore barely covered her. To Brandon's keen eyesight, almost like a high-powered telescope, it seemed as though Angela was not wearing anything at all, making her feel uncomfortable under his gaze.
Although the significant size difference meant Brandon couldn't do anything inappropriate, having a woman on the island brought some variety and entertainment to his otherwise monotonous life, providing a pleasant sight.
Brandon ate a few pieces of roasted meat. Although he hadn't eaten in a week, he didn't feel hungry. He was eating purely for the enjoyment of the food. Wherever there are humans, there will be various delicacies. Humans always find ways to discover edible things. After comparing, Brandon found that humans were far better at roasting meat than he was. They would meticulously find various seasonings in the jungle and cook with care. After tasting the food prepared by humans, Brandon was too lazy to cook for himself anymore.