Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire-Chapter 682 - 389: The Birth of the Holy Dragon’s Eldest Grandson—Timid and Spineless?
Crack~
Fine shards of yellow jade scales, accompanied by gradually spreading cracks, fell in drizzles. When the Shattered cracks spread around the Dragon Egg, the little creature that had been nurtured for twelve years inside, mustered strength and smashed against the shell, poking its small, curious head adorned with a piece of eggshell out to observe the new world.
The little creature looked around, its body suddenly stiffening, and then cautiously withdrew its head, wanting to hide back in its own eggshell world because the outside world was too terrifying, far more frightening than described in memory.
Although it was born with inheritance, and had carefully studied before smashing the eggshell, gaining a basic understanding of the world outside the eggshell, it felt that its knowledge and learning were still insufficient once the eggshell was broken.
The inheritance never described that Golden Dragons could grow so massive. Although it knew it inherited a portion of the Ancestral Golden Dragon lineage and was aware that it had an Ancestral Golden Dragon grandfather, it made no sense. Shouldn’t its father and mother be the ones guarding outside the eggshell?
"It seems my eldest grandchild is not that brave."
Noah looked at the Dragon Egg, which had returned to a complete form. Were it not for the cracks, you might think this Dragon Egg had not yet hatched.
But the Holy Dragon, who had returned from battle, clearly saw the little one’s reaction upon noticing its presence: the fear and awe in its eyes, followed by a gesture that left him amused — retreating back into the eggshell.
This wasn’t the first time he welcomed the birth of new life, but it was the first time seeing a newborn dragon behave so timidly upon meeting him, utterly unlike his own offspring.
"Father, perhaps he was awestruck by your imposing figure."
Beside him, Terramus felt somewhat speechless seeing his firstborn display such a timid demeanor. At the same time, glancing at his own father, he understood the reason but chose a more tactful expression.
"Awestruck? More like frightened."
Noah lowered his head, looking at his winding dragon form.
Now two hundred and eighty-eight years old, stretching a length of one hundred sixty-seven meters, nearly one hundred seventy meters, he was indeed terrifying to a hatchling under ten meters. Their size difference was more than a hundredfold.
Putting himself in his grandson’s place — should he suddenly encounter a being a hundred times his own size, even if of the same species and without beforehand knowledge or contact, his first instinct might also be to flee.
This reaction from his eldest grandchild became understandable; he was merely taken aback, seeking refuge instinctively. Just born, the only sanctuary was the Dragon Egg, the only space belonging to him.
"Perhaps you, the father, should handle this. Such matters ought to be your responsibility, not mine."
Noah stepped back, his True Body beginning to shrink and transform. Realizing the issue, a change of form was something he could easily accept.
"Father, your care has lasted longer than mine. It is thanks to you that my child in the Dragon Egg inherited considerable potential like me."
Though not absolute, the same kind of Dragon Egg that incubates longer tends to have greater potential. Ordinary True Dragon Eggs typically hatch in three to five years.
Terramus’s Dragon Egg underwent ten years’ incubation, attributed to possessing half the ancestral lineage.
His offspring supposedly inherited less of the ancestral lineage, requiring six to seven years for birth — stronger than typical Dragons but not overwhelmingly so, not possessing an overwhelming edge.
However, Noah, to slow the decline of their lineage during wartime preparations, devoted great effort deploying numerous methods, nourishing his grandson still in the incubation within the Dragon Egg.
Noah even constructed a Dragon Blood Pool; its core derived from his own Ancestral True Blood, thus his grandson remained in the egg for the same duration as his father.
Yet, this does not mean this slightly cowardly eldest grandchild possesses the same potential as his father. Their gestation time in the mother’s womb already differs, starting points differ.
This gap can only be narrowed, not entirely remedied. The mighty power of lineage inevitably diminishes through generations; this is a fixed fact none can alter.
Noah merely interfered in this process, merely delayed but struggled to change it entirely, even with his True Blood. If change were simple, Dragon Clan’s lineage would not decline generation after generation.
Nevertheless, it’s merely an initial height difference, not the final accomplishment. Ordinary Dragons, through their effort, can embark upon the path of Ancestor Return.
Just as he did — originally an ordinary Golden Dragon, now through relentless effort and struggle, he became an adult Ancestral Golden Dragon rampaging across multiple Planes, possessing traits of a Dragon King, commanding respect even from deities, deserving due respect and equal status.
Such are the fruits of striving and effort. Hence the establishment of Dragon Academy, guiding inherently lazy Dragons through external intervention and influence to strive, excavating lineage potential to awaken ancient strength deep within.
