On the coastline of the Sea of Frost.
A biting wind, laden with the salty, fishy scent of the sea, sliced through the air like blades.
Three dragon silhouettes of varying forms were skimming low along the gloomy coastline.
Leading the way was Xia'er, her body over six meters in length. Her emerald scales resembled cold jadeite under the dim sky. Her powerful, robust wings cleaved through the frigid air, and her sharp draconic eyes scanned the jagged cliffs and narrow, rubble-strewn beaches below, evaluating every potential spot.
Xia'er needed to find a decent location to claim as her own territory.
Following closely behind was the Black Dragon, Saga.
He clung tightly to Xia'er's flight path, his pupils filled with unease and wariness towards the unfamiliar environment.
Bringing up the rear was the relatively smaller White Dragon, Disos, still a wyrmling who hadn't yet entered his first growth sleep.
He was merely following along, no questions asked.
"Xia'er, how about here?"
Saga flapped his wings to keep up, his claw pointing towards a seemingly spacious seaside rock platform, his voice a low inquiry.
"Not suitable. Too exposed."
Xia'er shook her head, vetoing Saga's suggestion.
Upon hearing this, the Black Dragon Saga showed no displeasure. Instead, he flew beside Xia'er, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Thank you, Lady Xia'er."
"Hmm?"
Xia'er glanced back at Saga.
Saga continued softly, "If not for you, I might have been driven out of the territory by Valentina, left to wander alone."
Saga was a Black Dragon.
And Black Dragons were the most sensitive to external changes, thus possessing the best memory among dragons, and the greatest capacity for holding grudges.
The moment Valentina appeared, intending to make an announcement, Saga knew he was about to be expelled.
Any dragon with eyes could see that Valentina clearly couldn't afford to support so many dragons. That she had managed for four or five years was already quite an achievement.
And the targets for expulsion were, quite obviously, himself and that White Dragon.
The three Blue Dragons were all from the Underwood family, Valentina's core support base, not to be shaken.
The Red Dragon Tyrone had limitless growth potential; the Green Dragon Xia'er was an exceptionally peculiar, monstrous Green Dragon.
Saga felt that Xia'er might not be a purebred Green Dragon, but rather a hybrid.
Perhaps something like an Emerald Dragon from the Gem Dragons, or a Mist Dragon from the lesser dragonkin.
After all, according to the Dragon Inheritance, Green Dragons typically started with dark green or blackish-green scales. Only as they aged would they gradually brighten, becoming jade-like in color.
But Xia'er, even as a young dragon, was already so vividly emerald, so beautiful.
Only he, the Black Dragon, and the White Dragon were the least valuable.
If expulsions were to happen, naturally they would be the first two to go.
A young, exiled Black Dragon on this land coveted by giants, dwarves, and centaurs would face only death or eternal servitude.
With good luck, perhaps he might barely survive.
Saga continued, "This debt of gratitude, Saga will remember it in his heart! My claws and acid breath shall clear the obstacles for you in this new territory!"
Xia'er tilted her head slightly, her vertical pupils sweeping over the Black Dragon Saga beside her. The genuine gratitude in his low words surprised her a little.
She hadn't expected this Black Dragon to have such thoughts.
However, Xia'er didn't elaborate. She merely gave a steady, solemn nod of her massive head, a low rumble echoing from her throat in acknowledgment.
"No need for more words, Saga. Protecting the dragonflight is, after all, my duty," Xia'er's voice remained clear even amidst the howling sea wind. "The urgent task now is to find a place for us to settle and establish ourselves."
With that, Xia'er turned her gaze back to the coastline before them, ruled by bitter cold and salty scents.
As far as the eye could see, there were only jagged, steep black cliffs covered in ice and snow, or narrow, exposed beaches littered with sharp rubble.
The harsh environment near the ice plains made this place appear desolate and barren. Areas that seemed safe were either too exposed, easily spotted by watchers from the highlands or the sea, or the terrain was too cramped, unable to accommodate the activity space of three dragons, or resources were too scarce, making even basic hunting a problem.
The search continued for a considerable time, and flapping wings in the piercing wind was draining their stamina.
Xia'er's sharp eyes swept over one disappointing stretch of coast after another. The initial excitement of independence was gradually being replaced by the weight of reality.
Saga followed in silence, occasionally turning his head uneasily. The White Dragon Disos seemed somewhat bewildered, merely following the lead Green Dragon by instinct, letting out occasional faint, chilly whimpers.
"Haa..."
Xia'er let out a long sigh.
Was she really going to have to settle for second best, choose a less-than-ideal location, one that might require paying a much higher price to modify?
Unwilling to compromise so easily, Xia'er rallied her spirits and abruptly gained altitude.
As her flight height increased, her field of vision instantly expanded. The gray, murky expanse of the Sea of Frost spread out before her, with the white edge of the ice plains in the distance.
Xia'er decided to widen her search range. Her gaze sharpened like a torch as she meticulously scanned the turbulent sea surface.
Just as Xia'er was almost ready to give up on the near-shore area and consider whether to risk venturing into more distant, unknown waters, a faint outline entered her field of view.
On the sea surface, roughly a dozen kilometers from the coastline, a large patch of deep, ink-black color stubbornly pierced through the churning gray-white waves and floating ice.
It was an island!
Xia'er's heart gave a sudden leap, her draconic pupils instantly contracting and focusing.
The next moment, Xia'er adjusted her course, diving towards that ink-black silhouette like an arrow released from its bow.
Saga and Disos also sensed Xia'er's discovery and hurried to follow.
As the distance rapidly closed, the island's details gradually became clearer in their draconic eyes.
It was even larger than it appeared from afar, with an estimated diameter of about thirty kilometers!
The island's main body consisted of rugged black volcanic rock, eroded over millennia by wind and waves into countless holes and fissures, forming natural hiding places.
The central part of the island was higher in elevation, like a raised spine, covered with hardy, low-growing mosses and sparse shrubs.
What delighted Xia'er most was the island's southern side. Facing the relatively warmer ocean current, there was actually a relatively gentle, crescent-shaped bay embraced by massive reefs!
Waves crashed against the outer reefs, shattering into snow-white foam, while the waters inside the bay appeared much calmer. Underwater, the swaying of abundant seaweed was faintly visible—a perfect fishing ground.
Even better, on the island's sea-facing cliffs, she clearly saw several deep, dark cave entrances of varying sizes. A few of them were large enough to accommodate a young adult dragon, or even larger bodies!
"This is the place!"
Xia'er's voice carried barely suppressed excitement as she circled above the island, her sharp gaze appraising the land below, brimming with potential.
Natural barriers, sufficient resources, perfect hidden caves!
This was exactly the foundation for the independent territory she had dreamed of!
The only problem was, they might have to play island raiders for a while.
Coming from the central plains, a group of companions, building a hut southeast of the mountain...