Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 250 Black Dragon, Goodbye
Forget about idealized progressions like old dragons evolving into super old dragons, then ancient dragons, and finally primordial dragons. If it were that easy, other races wouldn't stand a chance.

Another factor is combat strength. How could a cult like the Dragon Worship Cult, which has offended even a bunch of true gods, have survived to this day without some real skills?

No wonder Black Dragon had such a cautious expression; he truly dared not and did not want to provoke him.

Faced with the respectful attitude of this powerful, dark-skinned leader, the mage couldn't help but show some respect for the dragon race:
"Get out of here!"

This was going too far, severely damaging the dignity and self-esteem of a dragon. The black dragon had no choice but to retaliate and utter a harsh remark:
"Okay, you go ahead and do your thing."

Seeing the black dragon come and go, disappearing into the clouds and far away, the stupid bird that had been pretending to be dead finally stood up and started hopping around.

"Master, you're just letting him go like that? This is a dragon, every part of him is a treasure!"

“Well said, that makes sense. I hereby appoint Doflamingo as special envoy, in full charge of the capture of the escaped Black Dragon.”

The stupid bird immediately wilted, its head shrank, and it remained silent.

It remained silent, but Zhang Yuan did not let it go. He gently tapped its head with a finger and slowly spoke:
"As you can see, my hand is on your head. Also, let me remind you that I have practiced the way of the warrior monk."

Upon hearing this, the previously timid and cowering bird began to tremble.

“When I’m unhappy, I have to use my energy, and when I do, my fingers become clumsy and rough, and then my bird will die.” Zhang Yuan looked at the other person with a gentle expression: “Speak, you have at least three things to say.”

"Master is mighty! Master is wise!"

"wrong!"

"I shouldn't have brought the black dragon here!"

"wrong!"

"Sir, spare me! I'm innocent! Waaaaaah!"

"Crying? Crying counts as time too."

This guy perked up as soon as he heard "pedal," so it turns out he was just faking it all along.

"Please enlighten me, sir. I am truly confused."

"What exactly is your background? Don't spout nonsense. Do you think an ordinary Despair Bird has your level of knowledge? I think you're even more cunning than that black dragon." The mage's expression gradually turned cold, no longer as gentle as before.

"Furthermore, how did you provoke that black dragon? And what are you planning to do now?"

The foolish bird was cornered by this series of questions; it couldn't get past this hurdle without giving an explanation and revealing its secrets.

After stammering for a while, the foolish bird finally mustered the courage to tell everyone what had happened.

It turns out this thing has quite a background; it was once a mage's pet, but that doesn't quite make sense.

"Where's your owner? Why are you wandering around like a bird?"

“Master, the master I used to follow has passed away.”

"Your mage master is dead, but you're still alive?" Zhang Yuan's expression was quite unfriendly, and his finger joints began to move again.

"There's a reason for that!" The thief bird panicked and flapped its wings to explain, "My master was an incredibly powerful mage, but as old age and death approached, he had no choice but to go to a place he originally avoided."

"Where? Ancient ruins?" This was the last gamble of some mages who were unwilling to transform into liches in their later years. Thief Bird neither denied nor admitted it.

"and then?"

"Then the old master passed away and never came back." The Despair Bird looked very downcast as it said this, as if the master and servant had a good relationship.

"Two questions." Zhang Yuan gently stroked the other person's head with his palm, and the other person trembled with emotion.

"First of all, where do you, a bird of despair, get such a long lifespan?"

"Secondly, as a magical pet, your mage master is already dead, yet you're still alive?"

Zhang Yuan needed an answer to his doubts. Was it so easy for him, Zhang, to take advantage of someone? Was he just going to let that stupid bird use him as a shield for nothing?

If I don't give you some details, well, the Despair Bird's beautiful feathers are actually excellent fire-resistant material.

“I wasn’t the old master’s first magical pet. I only followed him for a few years. As for why I didn’t go with the old master,” the silly bird hopped around, seemingly a little excited, “the old master broke our contract before the ceremony. He gave me freedom and said he would face his own fate alone.”

"Let's put that aside for now. What's the last thing?"

"This has nothing to do with me. I was just flying over the swamp with my underlings when that black dragon went berserk and pounced on me, almost killing me." As it spoke, it looked back at its bald tail and shook it ingratiatingly, "Master, do you have any healing spells?"

Zhang Yuan, who neither agreed nor disagreed, reached out and touched the man's fat belly, and sighed, "You've had it pretty tough."

The silly bird was very touched, and then it heard someone say, "How can you eat so much and get so fat, and still fly so fast?"

Doflamingo rolled his eyes, completely ignoring the other person's nonsense.

What kind of person is your master?

The silly bird was taken aback, then lowered its head: "My old master..."

He's a rather short-tempered mage, but he's been pretty good to me.

After the bird rambled on and on about a bunch of random things, Zhang Yuan finally got a general idea of ​​the old master the silly bird was talking about.

An aged but still stubborn and fiery-tempered archmage, as he entered his twilight years and sensed his impending death, dismissed all his apprentices and followers and went alone to his chosen final resting place.

"At the time, everyone advised the old master to perform a lich transformation ritual for himself, as the success rate was much higher than going to that place to take risks, especially since he was so old."

"You've mentioned that place several times, but where exactly is it?" A place that a great mage once feared so much and that he had to visit in his later years must be no ordinary ruin.

"This..." The silly bird scratched its head with its wing and said uncertainly, "It seems to be a place called Valley of the Gods."

! ! ? ?
"What? This place is just a rumor, and there's still no concrete evidence. How could your master, a mage, believe such a thing?"

The so-called Valley of the Gods, as its name suggests, is not some ancient or mage site, but a legendary location that is now considered fictional.

Legend has it that in the far north, continuing north from the World's Ridge, beyond Icewind Dale and the Red Glacier, lies a unique earthly paradise on earth, known as the paradise of the gods, where all who visit can become deities.

Good heavens, Zhang Yuan is truly amazing!
Could this be a backdoor opened by Ao? Is this all the Fate Tablet can do?
Does anyone actually believe this?
However, the truth is so absurd. After all, reality doesn't make plans. Since the rumor first appeared, countless adventurers of all kinds have flocked here, braving the harsh polar climate and climbing the world's highest mountains, all in search of that promised land.

(End of this chapter)