Chapter 278: Summoning the Golden Earth Dragon

In the evening, when he logged back into the game, Nie Yan organized the information Guo Huai had recently gathered.

Firstly, the credit point exchange system had been activated, and various items were now circulating in the game. The trade of in-game currency and equipment had reached an unprecedented level. Since the exchange rate between game currency and credit points fluctuated based on supply and demand, it was still difficult to control.

Alongside this, some new concepts had emerged, although they were not yet buildable. Examples included virtual bars and inns where players could spend credit points directly. Faith merely provided the location. There were also shops where players could use credit points to purchase items and receive the physical goods in real life. This concept was somewhat similar to online shopping, but it offered a new experience: players could inspect the quality and flaws of items in the virtual world before deciding to buy them.

The only place where such shops could be opened was in a fortress!

Guilds had to capture the next fortress to establish a designated area, distribute land to merchants for shop construction, and collect taxes.

This was equivalent to transferring the real-world trading model entirely into the virtual world.

It was a significant transformation for the game world, allowing players to evaluate the quality of items in the virtual world without leaving their homes before deciding to purchase.

Therefore, the value of fortresses became evident.

In Nie Yan’s past life, a low-level fortress could generate tens of thousands of credit points and over a thousand gold coins daily from taxes alone. Gold coins were used to cover the costs of guild wars, while credit points were usually distributed by the guild leader to members with significant contributions. A single fortress’s revenue could not sustain the expenses of guild wars, but as the number of controlled fortresses increased, the guild’s financial resources would grow. Once the guild developed, its income would become substantial.

If Bull Man Tribe wanted to truly develop, capturing fortresses would be the top priority.

After the credit point trading system was activated, all thirteen fortresses in Carol City were opened: one super fortress, one high-level fortress, one mid-level fortress, and the rest were low-level fortresses. These fortresses were heavily guarded by dark creatures, and only after clearing them out could guilds claim ownership. The only fortress without dark creature guards was postponed for five days by the Holy Flame of Light, delaying its capture.

During this period, both Triumph Empire and Holy Flame of Light remained quiet. Bull Man Tribe, along with Holy Roman Empire and Kala Temple, also wanted to avoid further consumption of their strength, opting to recuperate and prepare for fortress clearing. Otherwise, if other guilds captured many fortresses first, their own guild development would fall far behind.

Once the fortress wars began, Battle Blade Bloodthirsty, Mage Alliance, and Holy Guardian would become Bull Man Tribe’s greatest enemies. Triumph Empire and Holy Flame of Light were gradually stepping back from the top-tier guild ranks.

Nie Yan reviewed his recent achievements. Three auction houses had already started operating and were doing brisk business. At this rate, they would earn about a thousand gold coins daily. The eleven Starry Sky Pharmacies generated approximately seven hundred gold coins daily, while the Assassin Alliance earned around three hundred gold coins. Other alchemy shops and miscellaneous businesses combined earned about two hundred gold coins. He still had over thirty plots of land remaining in various cities, which were currently being leased. Once all the land was rented out, rental income alone would generate at least three hundred gold coins daily.

This was just the projected income for now. Once commerce developed further, profits would only increase.

Therefore, Nie Yan’s future income would be substantial. He currently had about one thousand two hundred gold coins remaining. He replenished some supplies in the guild warehouse and spent a significant amount on gemstone inlays and enchantments for the guild members’ equipment.

These current investments were necessary, as they would enable the guild members to produce more in the future.

After bidding farewell to Nie Yan, the team members went off to level up. They needed to improve their strength quickly to prepare for the fortress clearing.

Nie Yan walked into a laboratory in a Starry Sky Pharmacy and took out the Golden Earth Dragon Horn. He used his dagger to cut his finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the Golden Earth Dragon Horn.

System: Are you sure you want to summon the Golden Earth Dragon? This item will become bound after summoning.

Yes!

The Golden Earth Dragon Horn emitted dazzling golden light, extremely bright, filling the entire room. The magical elements in the room fluctuated violently, releasing a surge of chaotic power. The dimensional space trembled slightly.

After a long while, the golden light from the Golden Earth Dragon Horn gradually faded, finally becoming dim.

Nie Yan checked the system message. Each summoning or recall of a pet required about 30 seconds.

After the summoning, a Golden Earth Dragon appeared before Nie Yan, but it was infinitely miniaturized, only the size of a penguin. Its entire body was covered in scales, a dull golden color. It had a fat belly, walked with a waddle, and had small wings, making it somewhat resemble a penguin.

“Dhghfssuhg.” The Golden Earth Dragon uttered a series of unclear dragon language murmurs, somewhat like a child learning to speak, leaving Nie Yan puzzled. Even he, who had studied dragon language, couldn’t understand it.

Every step Nie Yan took, the Golden Earth Dragon waddled to follow. When Nie Yan stopped, the dragon also halted. If Nie Yan remained still for a while, it would use its claws to hug its head, sit down on the ground, scratch its head occasionally, and sometimes roll around on the floor.

This chubby, somewhat comical Golden Earth Dragon would now be Nie Yan’s pet.

Nie Yan checked the Golden Earth Dragon’s attribute panel.

Golden Earth Dragon: Level 0. Requires 3000 experience for the next level.

Health: 100.

Loyalty: 60/100.

Attack Methods: Physical/Magical Attack.

Attack 32-33, Defense 30, Strength 30, Agility 20, Intelligence 2, Movement Speed 22, Attack Speed 21.

Growth Rate: 15.

Talent: A certain probability of obtaining dragon magic upon leveling up.

Skill Slots: Empty.

If the Golden Earth Dragon was defeated, it could not be re-summoned for ten days and would lose experience and loyalty. Loyalty could be increased by feeding, gaining a little each day. The food could be purchased from NPC shops.

Currently, the Golden Earth Dragon was not strong, but its potential growth would be absolutely astonishing. However, leveling up the Golden Earth Dragon was not simple, as it required a large amount of experience. Raising its level would not be an easy task.

Fortunately, when a player had a pet, they could set the experience gain to be exclusive to the pet, significantly speeding up its leveling.

Nie Yan took out a Mutated Energy Crystal from his backpack, preparing to use it to enhance the Golden Earth Dragon’s abilities. Obviously, using this item at a lower level would yield better results.

“Gurgle gurgle.” The Golden Earth Dragon’s round eyes stared at the Mutated Energy Crystal in Nie Yan’s hand. Wherever Nie Yan’s hand moved, its eyes followed.

Nie Yan gestured the energy crystal over the Golden Earth Dragon’s head, wondering whether he should implant the Mutated Energy Crystal into its head.

It was so small that its head was barely larger than the Mutated Energy Crystal.

Nie Yan helplessly admitted he had never done anything so bloody before and hesitated slightly.

He squatted down, looking at the Golden Earth Dragon, teasingly asking, “Hey buddy, what should we do? Should I implant this Mutated Energy Crystal into your head, or will you swallow it yourself?”

Nie Yan thought that if he couldn’t figure out how to use the Mutated Energy Crystal, he would just give up, unwilling to kill the Golden Earth Dragon himself.

The Golden Earth Dragon looked at Nie Yan with pitiful eyes, making Nie Yan chuckle. Although these pets lacked the high intelligence of humans, the main computer had granted them some basic comprehension abilities.

The Golden Earth Dragon opened its mouth and swallowed the Mutated Energy Crystal, then swallowed hard. A bulge appeared on its neck, and with a “gurgle,” the entire Mutated Energy Crystal was swallowed down.

“Damn, it actually swallowed it.” Nie Yan hadn’t expected the Golden Earth Dragon to act so quickly. He wanted to stop it but was too late, staring at the dragon in disbelief.

The Golden Earth Dragon squatted on the ground, its belly bulging. It patted its belly, let out a heavy burp, and the bulge on its belly slowly disappeared. A small bump grew on its forehead, a round crystal emitting a glowing light.

The dull scales on the Golden Earth Dragon’s body gained a bit of luster.

Nie Yan could clearly feel the Golden Earth Dragon had grown a bit larger. Perhaps this was how the Mutated Energy Crystal was meant to be used. It turned out to be a happy accident.

Nie Yan quickly checked the Golden Earth Dragon’s attributes.

Golden Earth Dragon (Enhanced): Level 0. Requires 3000 experience for the next level.

Health: 120.

Loyalty: 60/100.

Attack Methods: Physical/Magical Attack.

Attack 38-43, Defense 37, Strength 33, Agility 22, Intelligence 5, Movement Speed 32, Attack Speed 26.

Growth Rate: 20.

Talent: A certain probability of obtaining dragon magic upon leveling up.

Skill Slots: Empty.

The Golden Earth Dragon’s attributes had undergone a qualitative change, especially its growth rate, which was the key factor! Sacrificing a rare Mutated Energy Crystal had created a unique pet, which was definitely a worthwhile trade.

With a growth rate as high as 20, it could be considered super growth!

Although pets were available in the game, very few players actually had one. Among tens of thousands of players, having one was already quite good. Moreover, many of these pets were very weak and could not compare to Nie Yan’s Golden Earth Dragon.

The Golden Earth Dragon would not only appear in Carol City but also in other cities, so other guild leaders might also obtain similar items.

However, pets enhanced by Mutated Energy Crystals would likely be unique to Nie Yan.

Thus, the Golden Earth Dragon was truly one of a kind!

Nie Yan recalled the Golden Earth Dragon to its pet space. Walking around the streets with it would be too conspicuous. He planned to find a place to level up the Golden Earth Dragon first.