Chapter 82: What kind of price?
The Enlightenment Body is strong, but it needs plenty of insight to level up.
And Timothy's first special move, Noggin Knocker, is just the thing to boost that insight big time.
"Nobody's getting away today," Timothy said, clenching his fists as he chased after the few monks below and started running.
"No, please don't!" Screams and wails erupted as each punch sent a figure flying into the air, then crashing back down hard.
[Noggin Knocker, Insight +1]
[Noggin Knocker, Insight +1]
Feeling his insight climbing bit by bit, Timothy seemed to have gone completely berserk.
He hit anyone he came across, deliberately pulling his punches so they could get up just for him to hit them again.
After all, if he knocked them all out cold, there'd be no one left to hit.
What a waste!
"Stop hitting me, I've already been hit once!"
"Dad, Grandpa, please stop, my head's gonna explode."
"I'm gonna have a concussion, I don't have insurance!"
[Noggin Knocker, Insight +1]
[Noggin Knocker, Insight +1]
After who knows how long, the cave outside was littered with monks lying in all directions, all of them wailing in pain.
Finally, Timothy pulled back his fists.
He could clearly feel as if he was being watched.
The three powerhouses from Ocean's Gate in the Phoenix Kingdom had probably been keeping an eye on this place all along. The moment he revealed himself, they likely started heading this way.
Time was of the essence,he couldn't afford any more delays.
Killing Nolan was just the first step,next, he had to destroy the Dragon Blood Formation as quickly as possible.
Timothy quickly stepped into the cave.
Soon, the scene inside the cave unfolded before his eyes.
A huge blood pool filled with blood-red patterns, and two chains tightly restraining a sea-blue little dragon.
Oddly, despite its scaly body faintly exuding a dragon's majesty, it somehow... looked rather delicate and cute?
Have I been single too long, or does every dragon look pretty to me now?
Timothy wondered.
"Quick, get me out of here!" Just then, the sea-blue little dragon suddenly spoke in a human voice.
Her voice was as clear as a bell, somewhat petulant like a little girl.
"Uh, just ignore me, pretend I'm not here," said Chancellor Neville, noticing Timothy's icy stare. He instantly put on a sycophantic smile: "We're all on the same side here. Our prince really went too far, I've been fed up with him for a while now, Timothy, you did great, I'll definitely take a leaf out of your book from now on!
Hope to see you again!"
With that, he suddenly pulled out a wooden stick from his waist and whacked himself on the head hard.
A heavy thud.
"Clatter."
The stick fell to the ground, and Neville collapsed, knocked out by his own hand.
"Wow, talk about knowing the score..." Timothy muttered to himself.
If only Nolan had half this guy's self-awareness, he wouldn't have ended up like that.
"Hey, hurry up and let me out, if you're quick about it, I might consider not eating you!"
Just then, the sea-blue little dragon, still restrained by the chains, glared at Timothy with a slightly petulant and threatening look.
Timothy, however, completely ignored her and walked over to the blood pool, quickly spotting the blood essence stone at the center.
This stone was the core of the entire Dragon Blood Formation.
Flames ignited along Timothy's arms as he seized the moment when the blood pool recoiled from the intense heat. With a swift motion, he grasped the blood essence stone firmly in his palm.
Then, with a fierce exertion of force.
"Crack."
The blood essence stone shattered instantly.
Even the most powerful formations need a foundation, and with the central blood essence stone destroyed, the incomplete Dragon Blood Formation collapsed violently.
The blood in the pool receded, and a continuous stench spread.
The strong spiritual power that had been in the Dragon Blood Formation completely dissipated.
Timothy then moved around the formation, methodically destroying every part of it.
With that, the entire Dragon Blood Formation was utterly ruined.
"All done, time to head back to the wife," Timothy said, dusting off his hands and turning to leave without hesitation.
But the little blue dragon was stunned.
Sure, the Dragon Blood Formation was destroyed, but the chains that bound her were still intact!
"Hey, you forgot to let me out!" The little dragon panicked, shouting out loud.
"If you come back now and release me, I promise I won't hold your violation of dragon dignity against you, I won't eat you!"
"Why are you still walking away? Come back quickly, I'll even reward you with gold and jewels once I return to the Dragon Palace!"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't go, you're about to leave. Please, just let me out, I'm begging you!"
Seeing that her pleas weren't swaying Timothy at all, and watching him about to step out of the cave, the little dragon became truly desperate.
Her voice shifted from a commanding tone to a pleading one, even carrying a hint of a pitiful sob towards the end.
Finally, Timothy stopped in his tracks.
Turning around, he walked back to the blood pool and gently stroked the back of the little dragon's head.
It was surprisingly soft.
Timothy chuckled, "I don't know you, and if you want me to save you, there has to be some kind of exchange."
"What kind of price? I, the Ocean Dragon King, possess countless treasures. You can have whatever you want," the little dragon said, a glint of hope in her eyes.
"I'm not interested in gold or jewels."
Timothy shook his head. "I happen to need a pet. How about you sign a contract with me and become my pet?"
"How could that be possible!
I am the mighty Ocean Dragon King. Even in death, I would never stoop to being a human's pet!" The little dragon immediately and decisively refused.
"Are you sure?" Timothy's lips curled into a smile, as if he had seen right through her. "The monks from the Phoenix Kingdom are on their way here. If you refuse, you're definitely headed for death.
Besides, I don't necessarily need you to be my pet forever.
You just need to serve as my mount for one year, available whenever I call. After that, the contract will be terminated.
And you'll get other generous rewards."
As he spoke, Timothy pulled out the Golden Scale Dragon Carp that the system had just rewarded him.
"This carp!" The little dragon's expression suddenly froze.
Every dragon knew what this was.
Though dragons are powerful, each one's bloodline is predetermined at birth.
But the Golden Scale Dragon Carp could significantly enhance a dragon's bloodline strength.
Having just become the Dragon King, her young age and lack of strength were controversial.
It was precisely because of this that Nolan and his cronies had the opportunity to capture her.
If she could get a Golden Scale Dragon Carp, her standing among the dragons would change dramatically!
"Glug."
The little dragon swallowed unconsciously.