Mechanical Alchemist-Chapter 528 527 Atalan City

"Mr. Su Lun, my teacher said that you once battled a dragon. So, how can one defeat a giant dragon?"

"First, you must withstand the dragon's breath and the immense force of its claws; second, you must be able to break through the defense of its scales. Both requirements are quite difficult. Sir Isaac's notes mention that dragon scales have almost perfect defense runes, and dragon language magic is nearly as powerful as Divine Arts, with might that even far surpasses the spells of a higher rank. So typically, a seventh-order giant dragon is very difficult to defeat, even for someone of the eighth order profession."

"Oh."

"Moreover, the dragon I encountered was only a resentful giant dragon, which is still very different from a true giant dragon. According to the Naga tribe's intelligence, the bloodline purity of that lightning blue dragon is extremely high. It's not a good idea to act rashly without an accurate reference for its combat power."

"..."

Su Lun and Qian Chou were leisurely walking on a forest path, with the chatty little squire Lolo Tarta speaking incessantly by their side.

Being a dragon-slaying hero is a common aspiration among adventurers in various myths and legends.

Dragons represent the most powerful beings in the world, and only the mightiest warriors could defeat them.

Lolo Tarta, this little swordsman, also had a dream of hunting dragons.

Just a moment ago, they had teleported into this forest.

The other members of the Dawn Group stayed on the Eternal Night ship, familiarizing themselves with the nearby seas, preparing for the potential dragon-hunting battle that may occur.

Su Lun and Qian Chou landed and took Tatu, their guide, with them to gather information.

Unable to stay idle, Lolo Tarta followed along.

The four of them hadn't walked long before they saw a city built against a mountain.

The architectural style was unique, with tall, white walls surrounding the entire city. Its buildings were dense but not tall, each with a red lacquer roof resembling clusters of mushroom houses.

At the mountain's peak stood a castle with a sapphire blue spire.

Unlike the steam chimneys seen in the Lu Ying and Ma Fa empires, no such things could be observed in this city.

The sky was a clear blue, dotted with fluffy clouds.

In the city, only howling kitchen smoke and the smoky atmosphere of what seemed like blacksmith shops filled the air.

Tatu pointed to the city and introduced it, "This is Atalan City. The city is full of dragon riders, and they're not very friendly to our Naga tribe."

While saying this, her gaze shifted to Su Lun, seemingly to remind him of something: Bringing her into the city might cause trouble.

Since meeting him the previous night, Tatu had now realized that she still didn't know the extent of Su Lun's combat abilities. She was aware that anyone who could cross the Eternal Night Sea must be formidable. But in the eyes of the Naga, the dragon riders of Atalan City were also considered very powerful.

Without waiting for Su Lun to speak, Lolo Tarta pulled on Tatu's arm and laughed, "Don't worry, Mr. Su Lun and my teacher are both super powerful."

Tatu didn't respond, as she didn't quite grasp the concept of "super powerful."

Su Lun just smiled without much additional explanation.

Although he had no intention of underestimating the natives of Dragon Country, his current strength indeed made it difficult to find an opponent.

What intrigued him more was a term he had just heard, "Dragon riders?"

Tatu replied, "Yes. They are a kind of lesser dragon magical beast with thin dragon bloodlines, common in this sea area. Dragon Country has a tradition of taming dragons, and it is a glory for the knights to subdue powerful lesser dragons. One of the three great kingdoms we are in now, 'The Silver Dragon Kingdom,' is protected by a very powerful sacred silver dragon from the royal family."

The more Su Lun heard, the more curious he became. "So, are the relations between humans and dragons good here?"

"Not at all. On the contrary, the relationship is very hostile."

Tatu shook her head and explained, "That silver dragon stayed in the capital because of an outstanding dragon rider in the royal family of the Silver Dragon Kingdom a thousand years ago. After the dragon rider's death, the sacred silver dragon continued to protect the kingdom for a thousand years. Without it, this human kingdom might have perished long ago."

Dragons have long lifespans, living thousands or even tens of thousands of years is quite normal.

Su Lun listened thoughtfully.

Qian Chou also waited with interest for more information.

Tatu continued, "There are legends from the ancient Dragon Country era when dragons and humans got along very well. At that time, there were many powerful dragon riders and many legends about dragons and humans that were passed down. But from some point, humans became not so strong, and the situation changed. It might be, as you said, Mr. Su Lun, after the plane fracture and the weakening of the laws, that top-tier human powerhouses became rarer, and the knights who could tame dragons decreased in number. Dragons are an arrogant species and no longer wanted to be mounts for inferior creatures. They even felt that no creature could surpass the great dragon race... this led to the rise of evil dragon factions."

Su Lun asked, "Evil factions?"

Tatu elucidated further, "Yes, that's what the human kingdoms call them. Dragons like red, blue, green, black, and white almost all are hostile towards humans; they feed on humans and enslave them. But dragons like silver, gold, and gemstone dragons remain neutral. They are rarely seen in the open sea, typically dwelling in the dangerous depths of the western seas. Only a very few, like the guardian silver dragon, have a destiny with humans and will be close to them."

"I see."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun and his companions had an epiphany.

Tatu added, "So, that lightning blue dragon 'Kazzak' is also seen as an evil dragon in the eyes of humans. But since blue dragons are very fast flyers named for their lightning-like speed and no one can dodge their lightning dragon breath, the human kingdom cannot do anything, so they let it exist."

With this new information, Su Lun had a deeper understanding of the dragon race.

He thought of the "Dragon Knight Dragon Taming Secrets" in his possession, and a translated line from it resonated as quite true: "If you want to become a Dragon Knight, you must possess strength comparable to a giant dragon."

...

The four of them kept walking and soon arrived at the foot of the city.

Outside the city was a drawbridge, the only path leading into the city, where dozens of guards in silver armor were checking each person entering the city.

At the city gate, Su Lun also saw two dragons lying down and sleeping.

It was similar in shape to a dragon but much smaller, and its scales were less pronounced.

Any magical beast with even a hint of dragon bloodline is a powerhouse among its peers. Normally, these winged lizards are tier three black iron, but with a touch of Dragon Blood, they might be silver or gold level magical beasts.

This could be seen from the beasts that passed by.

Su Lun noticed that anyone entering the city dressed in adventurer leather armor almost always rode their own magical beasts, "Dragon Scale Warhorses," "Titan Gorillas," "Dragon Horn Rhinos"... These magical beasts would almost always steer clear of the two flying dragons.

The indigenous people of Dragon Country not only tamed dragons but also various other magical beasts.

To Su Lun and the other two outsiders, this was quite novel.

Tatu frowned at the city gate guards and said, "Huh, that's strange, there usually isn't a check."

Su Lun looked over and noticed a notice posted at the city gate, saying, "It seems like they are searching for someone."

Nobody paid it any mind.

After all, this kind of situation is common everywhere.

Su Lun didn't plan on stirring up trouble by crossing the drawbridge, so with a pinch of his sorcerer's seals, a spatial portal appeared before him, and he teleported into the city with Qian Tiao and three others.

The residents of the city dressed in very primitive, simple clothing, all made of coarse linen and leather armor.

The best-dressed were the flying dragon knights, but even their attire was rudimentary.

In comparison, the outfits of Su Lun and the other outsiders were far too refined.

As Su Lun had no such coarse clothing in stock, the group could only walk through the city wrapped in linen cloaks.

Perhaps because the city was close to a dangerous area, there were quite a few adventurers in the city.

The city's buildings were packed closely together, except for the main thoroughfare leading to the castle, which could accommodate carriages; the rest of the streets were very narrow.

City walls, houses, streets... All were made from stacked stones.

Due to the lack of a properly planned urban sewer system, the residential areas were always plagued with a foul stench.

Having thought that Ruying's rural territory was backward enough, they found this place to be practically in a primitive state.

There was no industry whatsoever.

There were also a few street vendors, selling very basic goods like grain, fruit, and some magical beast meat...

Su Lun and his party walked along, looking around.

Lolota whispered in awe looking at the passersby, "These people are all so strong!"

They had initially thought that only the city gate soldiers and adventurers looked sturdy.

But upon entering the city, they discovered that the ordinary residents were also very strong.

A plump woman who looked like an ordinary farmer could effortlessly load several hundred pounds of goods onto a cart; a muscular blacksmith barehandedly subdued a Dragon Scale Horse that weighed tons to force horseshoes onto it; even the slender slaves working on the city walls could carry several hundred pounds of rock and still move swiftly...

The people were generally tall and muscular.

"The land nurtures its people," Su Lun figured this might have a direct relation to the gigantism of the creatures in these seas. Dr. Banks would probably find this phenomenon more interesting.

After wandering around, Tatu asked, "Mr. Su Lun, where are we heading now?"

Su Lun thought for a moment and replied, "Let's head to the Adventurers' Tavern first."

There were many adventurers in the city, so there must be places for entertainment and leisure.

Such spots were also good for gathering information.

He planned to inquire about the "Petrification Curse Potion" and the news about the blue dragon.

However, as they walked, a simple-looking middle-aged couple passed by with a cart full of apples.

That was perfectly ordinary.

Su Lun took a sidelong glance because there was actually someone hiding in the cart.

Because he paid attention, he took a closer look.

The cart headed toward the city gate. Suddenly, a group of guards riding Dragon Scale Horses swiftly pursued it. They dismounted quickly, overturned the cart and out tumbled a golden-haired girl with eyes filled with terror.

Seeing their scheme exposed, the middle-aged couple knelt on the ground, desperately begging.

"No, please, have mercy, don't take Sofia away!"

"Oh, selfish and foolish ones, still trying to flee? Do you know how many deaths your actions will bring to our great Town Lord?"

"No, please, Sofia is only sixteen years old..."

"Without a satisfying sacrifice, disasters will come to Atalan City! Get out of the way!"

"..."

The guards disregarded the couple's pleas, threw a bag of coins aside, and forcefully abducted the young girl.

Su Lun and his companions frowned deeply at the sight.

Lolota was especially indignant, with her hand already on the hilt of her sword, as if ready to strike at a moment's notice.

Tatu further complained, "Humans are so cruel to their own kind."

No matter how you look at it, this was a noble abusing a young girl.

But the previous conversation had led Su Lun and Qian Tiao to deep thoughts.

Only after those guards had left did the onlooking residents dare to discuss it among themselves.

"Alas, pity the girl from the Clayton family. That evil dragon has awakened, and only by sacrificing a young girl and treasures will it not set its wrath upon our city."

"The evil dragon from Thunder Sea Island? Hasn't it been dormant for over a decade? Why has it suddenly awakened?"

"Don't you know? Something happened to the south yesterday. It sounded like thunder. Haven't you seen the influx of adventurers into the town today? Some guess that some relic or treasure has surfaced, and those fellows are swarming in. The crowd will only get bigger over the next few days..."

"..."

As long as it wasn't their own family being taken, these residents seemed to be doing nothing more than discussing it without feeling it was inappropriate.

This was a more ancient lordship system than Burying, with the town lord owning everything about the citizenry.

Tatu translated these conversations for them.

Upon hearing this, the trio Su Lun gathered that it was about the sacrificial offering to that blue dragon.

Su Lun whispered, "It seems that this affair has arisen because of us."

The cannon fire from yesterday had disturbed that blue dragon, leading to the need for a sacrifice.

It appeared that the people of Atalan City had done this more than once before.

If they couldn't defeat it, they'd offer a tribute. This rule applied to both humans and magical beasts.

Off to the side, Qian Tiao's eyes glittered fiercely, her hand casually resting on the handle of her sword, obviously unafraid to fight.

But since it was a sacrifice, for the moment, there was no immediate threat of death. Su Lun thought it over and, without rushing to a decision, said, "Let's go take a look at the situation first."

The group then headed towards the tavern filled with adventurers.

...

Before long, they arrived at the adventurer's tavern.

This place was the liveliest in the town.

Even though it was broad daylight, the tavern was packed with people, and the noisy chatter filled the air.

Atalan City wasn't large, and the adventurer's tavern also served as the adventurers' guild. Mercenary groups would also post adventure bounties here, calling for comrades.

Su Lun and his group found a bustling tavern and walked straight in.

Although Tatu knew the common language of the Dragon Country, this was his first time in a human tavern and he was a bit out of his element.

Su Lun, on the other hand, acted as if he was well-acquainted with the place, and even though he couldn't understand the language, he was a qualified patron.

He pointed at the drinks on a nearby table and threw out two silver coins.

The tip was generous, and the bartender cheerfully brought over the drink.

The four of them took a seat in a corner.

Once the drinks were on the table, Su Lun took a swig and found the flavor to be surprisingly good.

The drink was translated as "Dragon Barley Wine," a local specialty.

Both he and Qian Tiao had good tolerance and guzzled down a large glass.

Lolo Tata and Tatu, on the other hand, sipped lightly and delicately.

They chatted while they drank.

Tatu listened intently to the conversations around and translated any important information he overheard from the patrons.

The most talked-about topic among the patrons was naturally yesterday's "strange noise," as that area was a dangerous sea zone where few dared to venture.

Mostly, they speculated.

Su Lun also kept an eye on his surroundings. But what surprised him was that the top spot on the tavern's bounty board was taken by a material collection quest.

It was a royal bounty offering a hefty sum for "Tears of Death" and "Dragon Breath Fruit."

Before he could get curious and ask around, the adventurers seemed more interested in the material task that the royal family had promised could be compensated with "any request."

"Hey! Old Tut, why is the royal family posting a bounty for two materials?"

"Oh, it's said that Her Majesty the Queen has been cursed with petrification by a vicious witch and urgently needs those materials for a potion to save her life."

"Ah... a witch? Which witch could hurt the Queen?"

"Indeed. It's the infamous Helen."

"Helen? The 'Most Beautiful Woman of Pania' that His Majesty the King snatched from Pania Kingdom? Isn't she highly favored by His Majesty the King? How did she become a witch?"

"Isn't it strange? The temple's seer had long prophesied that she was a witch who would bring a catastrophe to the kingdom. Her beauty provoked a war between two countries and made Her Majesty the Queen endure the pain of the curse. The royal family decided to burn her at the stake, but who would have thought that the witch seemed to be unafraid of the flames? She didn't die from the execution by fire; instead, she escaped. Now her whereabouts are unknown."

"Oh! No wonder there was a warrant for her arrest at the city gate. I was curious why they were hunting a beautiful woman, but it turns out to be her..."

"..."

When it comes to a beautiful woman, us adventurers immediately become interested.

Tatu translated the words of those people.

Su Lun listened, not interested in any witch, but hadn't expected that this ingredient seemed to be the recipe for "petrification antidote"?

But it wasn't surprising either.

The original plan was to try Atalan City and if that failed, head straight to the capital.

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In a Lord society, the royal family has everything.

If there really was a recipe for a petrification antidote, it would undoubtedly be in the hands of those with power.

Tatu was also excited, having just arrived and already obtaining the information she was looking for.

But she immediately frowned, troubled, "If it's these two ingredients, then it's going to be troublesome."

If even the royal family was searching for them, they must naturally be rare materials.

Listening, Su Lun questioned, and casually asked, "What are these two ingredients?"

Alchemy Magicians know various materials.

But due to civilization differences, sometimes the names can be different.

In his little void world, the material warehouse was piled high like a mountain, and he felt he might already have them.

After thinking for a moment, Tatu said, "Death's Tears are the tears of a Lord-level undead. But such high-tier undead creatures usually don't shed tears. Once they do, theirs are the most pure essences of energy in the world... This is an extremely extremely rare material."

"Undead Tears?"

Upon hearing this description, Su Lun immediately recalled for a moment.

And as it happened, he realized that he indeed had them!

He once obtained a material called "Alice's Tears" in the cursed space of the White Monastery at Dawn Relic, weren't those the tears of a Lord-level undead?

However, without seeing the detailed recipe, he couldn't confirm whether the properties were the same.

Without further ado, Su Lun asked again, "And what about Dragon Breath Fruit?"

Tatu continued, "It's a fruit that only exists in dragon's nests. It grows where dragons sleep and takes at least a hundred years to mature. It is said, the purer the dragon's bloodline, the better the efficacy of the Dragon Breath Fruit."

"Oh."

Upon hearing this, Su Lun's mind instantly flashed with some thoughts.

To solve a petrification curse of the same caliber as the Gorgon's, the materials would certainly not be ordinary; it was only logical for these two items to be sought after.

Indeed, they were hard to find.

No wonder the royal family issued a bounty.

As they spoke, those revelers at the tavern began to discuss the Dragon Breath Fruit.

"Hey, you guys think, with the unlimited bounty posted by the royal family, will the 'Dragon Hunter' come to Atalan?"

"Who knows. Anyway, I heard the royal Dragon Knight brigade is coming over. After all, the cursed blue dragon on Thunder Sea Island is a pureblood, and its nest most likely contains a high-quality Dragon Breath Fruit."

"Hehe, even if it really does, getting ahold of it is impossible! Even dragon riders can't escape the blue dragon's pursuit. It's as fast as lightning, and can return to its nest in an instant, even if it's out at sea. No one can get it..."

"If 'Dragon Hunter' Bartolo Figaro came, perhaps he'd have the ability to kill that evil dragon. Too bad the guy's whereabouts are unpredictable, and he does whatever he pleases. No kind of payment can bring him out..."

"..."

Tatu translated these conversations as well.

Destroying villages, having been injured by the Knight brigade... The adventurers spoke of some history involving the dragon.

Su Lun also made an estimation of the blue dragon's rank in his heart. He guessed it was most likely a seventh-tier dragon, whose combat power was at the peak of eighth-tier professionals, on the verge of ninth-tier?

Because it was an electric attribute, it made it all the more tricky.

That being said, there seemed to be an opportunity.

What others couldn't do, he could!

Su Lun thought, if that evil dragon left its cave, couldn't he just swing by for a visit?

Then wouldn't the Dragon Breath Fruit be within easy reach?

Moreover, he could even lure the blue dragon to Rainbow Island and let those Mage groups heavily injure it?

With his previous experience hunting dragons in the "Dwarf King's Resentment" cursed space, Su Lun felt that this plan was entirely feasible.

But considering the clever cunning of real-life dragons, he had to think things through carefully.

As Su Lun thought about it, numerous strategies flashed through his mind.