Chapter 1098: Chapter 1095: Four Fruits Chapter 1098: Chapter 1095: Four Fruits Alonso’s body was haphazardly discarded in the wilderness, and Liszt had already left the scene, dragging the severely wounded Bronze Dragon straight to the Brass Ore Magic Gate of the Fertile Lands.

Although the Male Jade Teleportation Array had been destroyed, the Yellow Fire Teleportation Array still stood tall on the southwestern frontier of the Eagle Kingdom.

After returning to Flame Island, Liszt immediately used the last Bewildering Dragon Mind Fruit and initiated a Mind Battle in the Bronze Dragon’s inner world. The brand of the original Bronze Dragon Knight stood no chance against Liszt, who was enhanced by the Power of Destiny; he erased it time and time again until it vanished like smoke and clouds.

Liszt then took over, becoming the sovereign of the Bronze Dragon’s inner world.

“Nozdormu is a great name, certainly too much for you to bear, but no matter, you shall be called Nome.” Liszt jumped off the Bronze Dragon and, with a smile, gave it a new name–a name as thunderous as the Bronze Dragon Chromie he knew from playing World of Warcraft.

Of course, this was just his whimsy, a name was merely a code.

“The Outer Cabinet should closely monitor the aftermath of this war and also keep an eye on the naval battles concerning the Sapphire Duchy. Should the Steel Heroic States show any intention of reigniting a dragon-slaying war, report to me immediately.” Liszt then presided over a meeting of the Flame Kingdom’s Outer Cabinet, “The restoration of the Male Jade Teleportation Array must also be expedited.”

“Your Majesty, is there still a possibility of restoring the Male Jade Teleportation Array? The Arcanists stationed in Heroic Yellow City by the Academy have examined the remnants of the Magic Gate and observed that the Dragon Magic Power at the scene is extremely chaotic, which may cause strong interference,” Dean Chris of the Royal Arcane Academy spoke.

“It doesn’t matter. I have consulted with Ach; it’s just a matter of organizing the magic power. You must now hurry to prepare the necessary Magic materials.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

Prime Minister Li Weiliam of the Outer Cabinet said, “The Second Prince Scart Cornflower of the Snowstorm Mountain Duchy is currently isolated in the Heroic Yellow Plains, along with many Feudal Nobles. It seems the annual festival this year might not go smoothly.”

It is already the end of December, and the first year of the Flame Era is about to end.

“Have the Outer Cabinet confirm the list of honorees. I will hold a celebration on both sides to grant titles to meritorious Knights. As for Scart, grant him the title of Marquis of Snowstorm Mountain; allocate a plot of land near the Heroic Yellow Plains for him to cultivate, and ensure the Flame Kingdom protects his safety.”

“The disruption of the Male Jade Teleportation Array means that trade with the Snowstorm Mountain Duchy and the transit trade with Yellowstone Kingdom could suffer significantly. Coupled with several wars, our finances might run deficits,” said Paris, the First Finance Minister.

“Why would we run deficits? Have I not slain a Purple Sapphire Dragon? This fortune can support the Flame Kingdom for several years.”

“Your Majesty, my main concern is that the Steel Heroic States might cut off trade with our country.”

Up to now, the output from the self-cultivating land of the Flame Kingdom is not enough to be self-sufficient; it relies heavily on trade for food, Magic Potions, and other resources.

“Hold on for now. Once the Male Jade Teleportation Array is restored, we will increase trade with the Yellowstone Kingdom… As for the Steel Heroic States, smuggling will do. If there is profit to be made, I believe their Nobles will not give up. With such a long coastline, even Dragon Knights can’t patrol it all.”

With that, the Outer Cabinet meeting lasted an entire day, discussing various war-related issues.

Having given all necessary instructions, Liszt then went straight back to the Sun Moon Valley, where Ach was using the body of the Purple Sapphire Dragon to cultivate the Mind Fruit Tree.

“Brother, the power of the Jade Dragon is very domineering; Ach is unable to cultivate the Mind Fruit Tree normally. However, the hind leg of the Jade Dragon can directly extract the magic power of the Purple Sapphire Dragon to cultivate the Mind Fruit Tree,” said Ach, pointing at the small tree sapling growing parasitically on the body of the Purple Sapphire Dragon.

The sapling was not large, growing at a visible pace, with four buds forming on its branches.

“Arch, do you think the Purple Sapphire Dragon can provide enough nutrients for four Bewildering Dragon Mind Fruits?” Liszt inquired. In a previous incident, the Light Green Gemstone Dragon had also triggered the growth of a Mind Fruit Tree, forming four buds–yet to preserve the Light Green Gemstone Dragon’s life, only two fruits were nurtured.

Now that the Purple Sapphire Dragon was already dead, it could be used to cultivate the Bewildering Dragon Mind Fruits without any cost.

“Arch’s assessment is that there are sufficient nutrients to cultivate four Bewildering Dragon Mind Fruits. However, to be on the safe side, it might be better to only cultivate three. If we utilize the magic power of your brother’s other dragons, perhaps we could efficiently maintain all four,” Arch analyzed.

Liszt narrowed his eyes.

Trying to sense the Threads of Destiny on this Mind Fruit Tree, he vaguely felt them–indeed there seemed to be four equal Threads of Destiny intertwined with his own. Although the perception was not clear, he could essentially discern that the best outcome could be smoothly reached.

“Then we’ll cultivate all four. Whatever my dragons need to do, I’ll arrange for them to carry it out earnestly.”

“Mhm, your dragons need to use the Dragon’s Super Magic and infuse it into the body of the Purple Sapphire Dragon. Arch will set up a Magic Array to convert the Dragon’s Super Magic into the magic power of the Purple Sapphire Dragon efficiently, which will be provided to the Mind Fruit Tree.”

“Dragon’s Super Magic, huh… That’s going to be another significant expense!”

Dragons are notoriously stingy with their Super Magic. Getting it requires offering them substantial benefits. And Liszt, who is so poor he can scarcely afford potions, now has nine dragons, no, ten dragons waiting for him to sustain them.

…

Cultivating the Mind Fruit Tree will take about a month.

With the promise of a future abundant supply of Magic Potions, Liszt somehow managed to cajole his dragons into taking turns injecting the Dragon’s Super Magic into the Purple Sapphire Dragon’s corpse, maintaining enough magic power to nurture the Mind Fruit Tree.

At the same time.

At the end of the Flame Era First Year, on December 30th, right before the New Year’s celebration, the Steel Ridge Kingdom and Eagle Kingdom officially severed all diplomatic relationships and trade with the Flame Kingdom.

“Is there no other movement?” Liszt stood on the corridor of the Sun Moon Star Palace, looking at the Flame King City already imbued with the atmosphere of the New Year, and asked Mary Dawnbreak, who was behind him.

“According to intelligence gathered from the Blood Servants, the princes of the Steel Heroic States have already set off for the Blast Furnace Fortress Kingdom. It is likely they are seeking to form an alliance between three kingdoms and then focus all efforts against our Flame Kingdom.”

“Do they not plan to contact the Yellowstone Kingdom or the distant Fallen Leaf Kingdom?”

“The Yellowstone Kingdom has never been in contact with the Eagle Kingdom, and the Fallen Leaf Kingdom and the Blast Furnace Fortress Kingdom are age-old enemies; there is no foundation for an alliance. However, one thing worth noting is that the earlier alliance between the Steel Heroic States has the shadow of the Kushan Imperial behind it, and our Blood Servants have successfully infiltrated the Kushan Imperial.”

Mary continued, “According to investigations by the Blood Servants, a Dragon Knight Prince from the Kushan Imperial has left the empire and may have already arrived at the Steel Ridge Kingdom.”

“The Kushan Imperial, huh.” Liszt remained noncommittal.

Encountering the empire so early was not what he wished for, but he would take it in stride if it came to that, and continue the dragon-slaying battles. Unless they were swarmed by a dozen or more dragons together, there would be nothing too serious. And even if genuinely faced with an invasion of a group of dragons, the Power of Destiny would help him avoid danger and make the right choices.