Chapter 132: The Iron-Clad Golden Dragon

"Compared to Mojia Ren, I possess a unique advantage: through the instance panel, I can traverse different instance worlds and absorb the essence of their various transcendent systems to strengthen myself."

"I refuse to believe that with such a significant edge, I would be inferior to a mere native of Mojia Ren's instance world."

Li Ju spoke in a low, resonant voice, a blazing fire burning deep within his heart.

"Your Highness, it is time to eat."

Aethel's voice drifted in from outside the room.

"Coming at once."

The flame in Li Ju's heart flickered and died. He dressed, stepped off the bed, and walked briskly toward the dining room. Stoking the fire of his ambition was not as pressing as satisfying his hunger.

Just as Li Ju finished his tenth steak and was about to start on the eleventh, a servant found him.

"Lord Trenor, the Count requests your presence in his study," the servant said.

"Very well, I understand."

Li Ju set down his steak and nodded. It seemed the family council had concluded.

Upon arriving at the Count's study, Li Ju found Count Rex of Iron-Gold sitting behind a desk, a cigar clamped between his teeth.

"Trenor, come, sit down." Seeing Li Ju enter, Rex gestured for him to approach.

"Following the resolution of the family council, Sak has replaced you as the new heir to the Earldom." As Rex spoke, he took a deep, harsh drag from his cigar. Although this had been discussed long ago and he knew Trenor’s status as heir was untenable, the finality of the decision still left him with a sense of helplessness.

"However, the good news is that I have secured the Iron-Carapace Ant nest for you, along with the territory by the Vine-Ivy River."

"The Iron-Carapace Ant is a Level 9 lair creature. They are ferocious in combat, rivaling some Level 10 Baron-rank creatures. Having this nest will be sufficient to ensure your safety in your territory."

Rex patted Li Ju on the head.

"Rest assured, you are my dearest son. I will eventually ensure you inherit my title and the Iron-Armored Gold Dragon nest. What is yours by right, no one shall take away!" A flash of ruthlessness crossed Rex's eyes.

"Spend this time settling into your territory by the Vine-Ivy River; I will pave the way for you."

"Rochell," the Count called out.

"I am here, Count."

*Boom.*

A puff of black smoke exploded from the floor, rapidly coalescing into the form of an elderly man.

"Uncle Rochell." Li Ju rose from his seat and bowed to the man.

Rochell, the chief steward of the Count’s estate, managed all affairs, great and small. He was the Count's most trusted servant, holding a status that rivaled the Barons of the Iron-Gold family. Even Trenor, the eldest son, dared not show him disrespect—not to mention that Rochell had watched him grow up.

"Take Trenor to collect the Iron-Carapace Ant nest. Find him one hundred fully armed elite soldiers and a Baron-rank swordsman to accompany him to his new domain," Rex commanded.

"I obey your will, Count." Rochell bowed slightly to Rex before turning his gaze to Li Ju.

"Your Highness Trenor, follow me to retrieve the nest." Rochell offered a smile.

The two left the study and made their way to a secluded castle within the estate, surrounded by a moat.

*ROAR!*

Just as they were about to cross the drawbridge, a thunderous roar echoed.

*Thump, thump, thump.* It sounded as if a massive beast was approaching.

*ROAR!*

Suddenly, a beast six meters tall descended from the sky and landed before them. Its body was covered in golden, armor-like scales, its four limbs were thick and heavy, its claws glinted with icy light, and a pair of massive wings sprouted from its back.

*The Iron-Armored Gold Dragon!*

Li Ju recognized the beast instantly. It was the powerful lair creature that allowed the Iron-Gold family to maintain their Earldom.

As it landed, a wave of immense pressure radiated from the dragon. Its vertical pupils, gleaming with cold malice, locked onto Li Ju and Rochell, as if it were ready at any moment to devour them whole.

"We come by the Count's order to collect the nest," Rochell said, stepping forward and producing a token.

The Iron-Armored Gold Dragon scrutinized the token, sniffed it, and then, with a final, earth-shaking roar, took to the skies and vanished.

"Your Highness Trenor, to ensure the absolute security of the nest's location, this castle remains uninhabited. It is guarded by ten Iron-Armored Gold Dragons dispatched by the Count," Rochell explained with a smile.

"Whew..." Li Ju, mimicking the original owner's usual behavior, wore a look of lingering fear, his hand patting his chest.

Beneath the act, however, Li Ju was deep in thought about the dragon he had just seen.

*From my perspective, that Iron-Armored Gold Dragon possesses great physical strength, but its soul has not yet undergone a qualitative transformation. Its combat power is roughly equivalent to a 'Half-Step Small Three-Yuan' state—that is, the Qi Realm in the path of internal energy martial arts.*

A single Iron-Armored Gold Dragon was equal to one martial artist of the Qi Realm. While that might not seem overwhelming, these were lair creatures—they could be mass-produced.

Compared to the martial sects of the main world, which required vast resources and a stroke of luck to cultivate a single Qi Realm practitioner, the Iron-Gold family only needed to wait patiently for the nest to churn them out, costing little more than time and resources. The greatest utility of these lairs was their ability to produce armies. Even though the nests had a finite lifespan, they could produce enough creatures to form an army before they faded.

*According to the original owner's memories, the Iron-Gold family possesses a secret army consisting of over a hundred Iron-Armored Gold Dragons...*

Li Ju had initially dismissed this memory, but now he realized that this army was effectively a force of over a hundred Qi Realm warriors, all under the command of a single person.

*Over a hundred Qi Realm warriors—does the Black Armor Army, the hegemon of the North, even have that many?* Li Ju fell into deep contemplation.

And the Iron-Armored Gold Dragon was only a Count-rank creature. Above it lay Marquis-rank, Duke-rank, and King-rank creatures...

"Uncle Rochell, what level of Count-rank creature is the Iron-Armored Gold Dragon?" Li Ju asked.

"It is a Level 48 Count-rank creature. However, because it belongs to the dragon kin, its power far exceeds that of others at the same level. It can essentially be considered the pinnacle of Count-rank creatures."

"The might of the Iron-Armored Gold Dragon, which looks down upon all other Count-rank creatures, is the very foundation upon which our Iron-Gold family has made its name across the entire Sea Serpent Kingdom!"