The first year of the Dragon Calendar, which was the first year the calendar was born within the Dragon Clans Territory.
The Golden Land was still warm in winter.
And the first representative city born in this vast territory—the Goldsea City—had a bustling and noisy atmosphere that seemed to make the warm weather even more scorching.
Early in the morning, the city's residents hastily finished their breakfast, a simple potato salad accompanied by a small bowl of rich mushroom soup.
Then, without even having time to tidy up their homes, the entire family rushed out the door and hurried towards the central square of the Goldsea City.
Many outsiders who had come to this territory for trade or were staying in the city, such as merchant groups, bards, adventurers, and spies from various forces, also put down everything they were doing that day.
They followed the vast, noisy crowd towards the wide and grand square in the city center, which had been specially built for the True Dragons.
Among them were even some villagers from remote villages within the territory who had specifically traveled to the city that day.
They swarmed like a tide, like waves rolling in from the sea, gathering before the high stone platform erected in the central square, for the joyous celebration, and for the free-flowing wine and roasted meat.
More importantly, it was to witness the majesty of the True Dragons that ruled this land. Such close proximity to all the True Dragons was an unprecedented and rare moment.
The majestic True Dragons, perched on the high and wide stone platform, stood like a firm and dignified king, its ruby-red pupils filled with wisdom and tranquility.
A pair of thick, long, and deep red tricorn horns formed the crown on this monarch's head, the scepter of power. Its body, over sixteen meters long, resembled the most perfect sculpture in the world; its scales, gradually turning deep red, reflected a dazzling halo under the rising sun, perfect and powerful!
The King of Earth and Metal, the Monarch who controls flames and magma, Kalon Kogmora.
Or the title only propagated by a small number of human Scholar—the True Dragon that shapes world civilization!
This was the title belonging to the supreme ruler of this territory, but not all True Dragon would receive their own titles.
Only those with exceptionally outstanding strength and talent among the True Dragon could gain the recognition of others and possess their own titles.
Although some of these titles were intended to make the Chromatic Dragon who valued vanity jealous of each other, leading to mutual hatred and conflict, it was undeniable how powerful the talent of this Red Dragon was, having possessed its own title since its youth.
As for Germott, who was also respectfully called the White King within the territory, and Camid, who was fortunately also called the White King Twins because of his association with Germott.
Their titles were only circulated within the territory and were not as widely known among many civilized worlds as the Red Dragon's.
Behind this supreme ruler, the members of the Kogmora Dragon Clan were arrayed, one by one, occupying their positions. The Female Red Dragon Klenaya, Antagena , and Alina were positioned on the right side.
And Rosani, Akzi, Dos, the White King Twins, and Alfred, these mighty male True Dragon were arrayed on the left side.
However, many residents of the Golden City were already familiar with the two Blue Dragon, as this area was close to the sea, a frequent haunt for the two Blue Dragon.
They were the Dragon Lord who guarded the sea, and their personalities were not as volatile as other Chromatic Dragons, earning them much respect and affection through frequent interaction.
Although due to the nature of the Chromatic Dragons, these two Blue Dragons would occasionally intimidate or prank fishermen at sea and children on the coast, very few people were truly afraid of them.
As for Green Dragon Antagena, this Green Dragon, which Kalon did not consider particularly beautiful, was a beautiful True Dragon in the eyes of these common people.
The crown-like horns on her head and her jade-colored scales were very popular with women and children, especially the Green Dragon dancing among the birds when she patrolled the sky, which was an even more beautiful sight.
There were also two White Dragon; Germott had already garnered a group of supporters because he had maintained order in the territory in the early stages, allowing the Golden City to develop smoothly in its infancy.
Camid did not leave much of an impression on everyone, as this White Dragon always liked to sleep soundly in his lair. He always hoped to grow stronger by following the methods Kalon taught him.
However, due to the low-price sale of ice, the people who benefited from this also looked kindly upon this White Dragon.
Especially the increasingly numerous Dwarf wine-buying groups, who whistled below the high platform and shouted loudly: "Ho, look, this is the generous White Dragon Lord, the beloved of the Dwarfs,"
As for Rosani, he did not receive as favorable public opinion as the other True Dragons. Although Black Dragon also often soared through the sky, protecting the territory, his previous appearance was too terrifying, coupled with the rumors of his bloodlust and maliciousness, always casting a dark aura over Black True Dragon.
Although Black Dragon was no longer in his original Skeleton Dragon form, it made those in the Beast Pasture even more wary of him.
This fellow always ran to the Beast Pasture every now and then to test the Elf Druid, human Beast Tamer, and Gnoll Beast Pasture managers, and always demanded that these people focus their work on caring for the horse herd, interfering with others' work.
Although the Department of Internal Affairs, which coordinates internal territorial affairs, had complained to Kalon many times, Kalon did not bother with such matters.
Rosani was also one of the supreme Dragon Lord ruling this territory, and such trivial matters were not considered privileges at all. Therefore, Kalon skillfully passed the buck to Germott, letting the Department of Internal Affairs negotiate with Germott.
And Klenaya, this irritable and stubborn Female Red Dragon, was instead a popular True Dragon. This Female Red Dragon almost always roamed within the Dragon Clans Territory, except for sleeping and gathering with the True Dragons.
The increasingly popular arena was this Female Red Dragon's place of entertainment, and the unintelligent wild beasts and powerful creatures within the territory were the objects of her violent outbursts. Many people were saved by this Female Red Dragon from the mouths of wild beasts.
But this Female Red Dragon was like an arrogant queen, never deigning to accept the gratitude and flattery of the common people, which instead made the common people develop a thick filter of admiration for this self-willed Female Red Dragon.
Only the two Metal Dragon, Alfred and Alina, their appearance brought some pleasant surprise to these residents.
The two Metal Dragon usually adopted human forms through shapeshifting for convenience in daily activities; this was a habit of Metal Dragon.
And Alina was far away in Bay Stream City, and her comings and goings were usually at dusk, so in an era of isolated transportation, most people in the territory did not yet know that two Metal Dragon had joined the True Dragon.
Therefore, even though it was essentially their first public appearance before the majority of the territory's inhabitants, these two Metal Dragon, known for their kindness and justice, still received the goodwill of the common people.
The good reputation of Metal Dragon naturally made it easier for them to gain the trust and goodwill of others.
Even with Kobold Guards everywhere in the square, their faces stern, weapons in hand, silently maintaining order, it was difficult to stop the cheers of the common people.
"Look, it's the Metal Dragons, these good True Dragons have also been subdued by the noble Red Dragon and have joined the Dragon clan's ranks…"
"Quiet,"
The stern-faced Giant ogre Fafna rarely spoke with such a blank expression, her naturally powerful spiritual energy calming the unrest of the crowd.
She loudly proclaimed: "In the name of Kalon Kogmora, the ruler of the Golden Land, the lord of the Centaur, Gnoll, and Ogre tribes, the esteemed Dragon Lord, I appoint Alfred as the Head of the Department of Cultural Propaganda for the Golden Land;"
"I appoint Alina as the Governor of the Golden Land, stationed in Bay Stream City!"
The Ogre Giant, four and a half meters tall, wore a magnificent robe and stood beneath the fiercely fluttering True Dragon banner. Her voice, amplified by spiritual energy, resonated in the ears of every common person.
The gradually quieted crowd surged, the common people raising their hands and shouting loudly, the fervent atmosphere making the temperature of the entire square rise with excitement.
In the distance, the Tree of Life and the War Treant frantically shook their branches, scattering cool natural aura, trying to cool down the overly hot atmosphere in the square.
This was the recognition and appointment of the two Metal Dragons joining the Dragon clan' and also a sign of their importance. On this significant festival, allowing them to make a public appearance was very beneficial for the image of the True Dragons.
Alfred and Alina elegantly placed their right wings gently on their left chests, an action that again drew cheers from the common people.
Amidst the fervent cheers, the Flame Monarch, perched on the high platform, stepped forward, walking to the front of the stage, raising his head high, and surveying all the common people below the stage.
Under the silent gaze of the supreme Monarch, the fervent cheers gradually subsided, and the crowd once again became quiet.
"The Golden Land, this vast land, was a place where countless races coexisted even before the advent of civilization," Kalon's voice was as deep and powerful as ever, as thick as a mountain, yet echoing and reverberating.
"And I, along with the dragon clan, will establish a civilization here that will be inclusive and encompass the cultures of many races. Races that were once enemies and harbored mutual hatred—Trolls, Humans, Goblin, Ogre, Elves… even including Metal Dragons and Chromatic Dragons—will all become members of this territory,"
Kalon's voice gradually grew louder, like an excellent orator, a speaker skilled at stirring up atmosphere, his deep, resonant voice echoing through the square in layers.
"But the barriers and boundaries of race are but trivial. The commonality of all sentient beings will converge into a unified, great civilization through communication, exchange, and seeking common ground while respecting differences,"
The Red Dragon's voice vibrated, emitting the most impassioned sound,
"This world will shine like gold, and civilization will be passed down like a torch. This will be the time when the civilizations of all races shine like stars, gathered under the same sky, becoming the Golden People!"
The atmosphere erupted with fervor, a clamor reaching the heavens, far surpassing any other time. The surging crowd pressed forward, these common people shouting "Golden People" loudly, spilling the wine from their cups, and the young women also threw out the flower wreaths from their hands. Some particularly daring ones even removed their brassieres and waved them like flags.
At this moment, a spirit of cohesion spontaneously arose among these common people; this was the quiet formation of a nascent cultural consciousness of recognition, acceptance, and unity.
Kalon also felt a phantom figure slowly emerge behind him at this moment. It was in the form of a human, and also in Kalon's likeness.
Kalon's expression shifted, and he quietly retracted this phantom figure.
But the cheers seemed to be endless, like surging waves; whenever they reached a low tide, they would roll up even higher waves again.
Especially during the awarding of the territorial medals, the shouts of the common people below the stage were almost unbearable for these True Dragons, whose hearing was exceptionally sharp.
The common people, wearing various styles of gold-made medals, stood on the high platform, below the Dragon Lord, receiving the cheers and adoration of the multitude.
The recipients of the title and medal of Hero Mother, a dozen trembling women of various races, gradually straightened their backs beneath the fluttering True Dragon Eye banner. The medal, engraved with a cradle on its front, shone with dazzling golden light under the sun.
There were also Labor Models, ordinary workers whose dry, cracked hands trembled as they held up medals engraved with sickles and rice grains, revealing smiles of harvest amidst the cheers of the multitude, just as if they were facing a field full of ripe rice.
And dozens of warriors, some standing tall, others missing limbs, their eyes brimming with tears, pressed their combat medals, engraved with swords, to their chests, gazing at the fiercely fluttering True Dragon banner.
And Goblin Peng Peng, holding a medal engraved with a spark-like design, struggled to stand on his short legs, proudly raising his medal and showing it off to the common people below the steps.
Alchemical madman Tichi also held a medal engraved with a brain crest, observing it carefully.
He would occasionally tap this medal lightly with his newly replaced steel teeth, listening to the beautiful sound, and revealing a smug smile.
The fronts of these medals might differ, but on the back, they were all uniformly engraved with a line of inscription: "May this world shine like gold, may civilization be passed down like a torch!"
And a simple emblem, the True Dragon Eye, representing the True Dragon.
After announcing that the arena, gladiatorial arena, and large bathhouses, among other entertainment venues, would all be free today, Kalon led the True Dragon into flight amidst the already hoarse cheers of the common people.
Every True Dragon had his own destination, and Kalon chose the bathhouse specially built for the True Dragon; today, no matter who it was, it was a universal celebration!
Two Squinty-eyed mage stood on the roof of an empty tavern on the outskirts of the square. Although magic allowed them to clearly see the distant scene, they still habitually squinted their eyes.
"Hey, Teacher, I even want to join the Dragon Clans Territory. Do you think, with my abilities, Kalon would directly appoint me as a high-ranking official in the Department of Magical Integration?"
The black-haired Squinty-eyed mage said with a slight sigh. When with his teacher, Hsiusir did not feel the same sense of estrangement as he did with his father.
"With your clumsy skills, you're worthy of being a high-ranking official? Unless I join, that would be more like it."
The white-haired Old Magician Lapers squinted his eyes, looking askance, and mockingly scorned his disciple with a hint of disdain.
"You work hard, research diligently, create the Mithral Core, or organize the knowledge of the Elemental Pool and build an Elemental Pool,"
"Erect the first Mage Tower in the territory, and Kalon will probably not only appoint you as a high-ranking official in the Department of Magical Integration but also reward you with a medal, letting you stand on the stage and show off!"
"Hey, it's not that easy," the black-haired Squinty-eyed mage said somewhat dejectedly: "Many of the materials for the Mithral Core are completely different from the materials in our world, and we still need to find substitutes for these materials."
"Even if the many Mage and Scholar in the Department of Magical Integration are researching and experimenting day and night, it is still not something that can be replicated in a short time, after all, that is the supreme creation of another civilization."
"As for the Elemental Pool, even you, Teacher, cannot fully grasp the amount of knowledge it contains; the scope of knowledge involved is too vast!"
"Heh," the white-haired Old Magician Lapers squinted his eyes, looking at the True Dragon soaring in the distance, and said thoughtfully: "How do I feel that Kalon might master this knowledge faster than us!"