Chapter 664 - 265: Immune to All Techniques! The Second Gold Mechanism

Two rows of graceful dragon-maids were already lined up on either side. They were all members of the Aurelian Clan, specifically tasked with serving the royal family.

Upon seeing Lin Ye enter, they all bowed in unison, their movements elegant and splendid.

Lin Ye sat down on the throne carved from a single block of Obsidian. Feeling the cool sensation beneath him, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

’When it comes to luxury, an emperor really knows how to live.’

He was in no mood to appreciate any of this, however. Instead, he focused his attention back on the system.

The ancient Bronze Bell was still lying quietly in his system inventory.

[Dragon-Riding Bell (Empty Shell)]

[Quality: Quasi-Sacred Artifact (Damaged)]

[Note: The core authority has been absorbed, but its material still contains a faint trace of Ancestral Dragon Power and can be exchanged for Evolution Points.]

[Exchangeable for Evolution Points: 146]

Lin Ye didn’t hesitate. He exchanged it immediately.

[Ding! Exchange successful! You have obtained 146 Evolution Points!]

Watching his Evolution Point balance skyrocket, Lin Ye felt a surge of excitement.

He immediately opened his personal panel, his eyes falling on the mechanisms that could still be upgraded.

’With this windfall, I should be able to unlock another Gold-tier mechanism today.’

However, as his gaze swept over the points required for the upgrades, the smile on his face suddenly froze.

’The prices went up?!’

Lin Ye remembered it clearly. When he had upgraded [Taotie] from Purple to Gold, it had only cost him 100 points!

But now, the upgrade prices for all his mechanisms had doubled!

For example, to upgrade [Healing out of combat] directly to Gold now cost over three hundred Evolution Points!

[Ding!]

[To help the Host establish an advantage quickly in the early growth phase, all mechanism upgrade prices were set at a special "newbie support" discount.]

[The Host has successfully upgraded the first Gold-tier mechanism. The newbie support period has ended. You have now entered the "growth phase" discount stage.]

[Growth Phase Discount: Upgrading from Purple-tier to Gold-tier costs 200 Evolution Points.]

[Note: When the Host upgrades another mechanism to Gold-tier, the growth phase discount will end, and all mechanism upgrades will return to their normal prices.]

[Normal Price: Upgrading from Purple-tier to Gold-tier costs 1000 Evolution Points.]

Lin Ye was speechless.

He stared at the cold lines of text on the system panel, unable to speak for a long moment.

’So before it was a newbie gift pack, and now it’s a first-time purchase bonus...’

’After this one, I’ll have to pay full price next time?’

’And this full price is ridiculous. It jumps straight from 200 to 1000?’

’This damn system is a real bastard.’

’So I’m supposed to thank you for graciously letting me upgrade another Gold-tier for just 200 points?’

Lin Ye sighed. 146 Evolution Points. It was an awkward amount, not enough to upgrade anything to Gold, leaving him stuck.

Just as he was feeling frustrated, his gaze inadvertently swept over the dazzling array of decorations in the great hall.

’Wait a minute...’

Lin Ye’s eyes suddenly lit up!

’That’s right!’

’I’m sitting on a mountain of treasure without even realizing it!’

’How many tens of thousands of years has the Celestial Dragon’s Nest existed?’

"How many eras of plunder has Caesar’s family accumulated?"

’Every brick, every gem here must be a priceless treasure!’

At this thought, Lin Ye’s gloomy mood cleared up in an instant.

Lin Ye instantly contacted his subordinates in his mind.

Before long, Regner, Liliana, and another figure hurried in from outside the hall.

That figure was none other than the chieftain of the Inkshadow Clan, Lektorn.

At this moment, Lektorn appeared somewhat tense and uneasy.

After all, standing beside him were two of the Dragon’s Nest’s most powerful figures: the general of the Claudius Family and the chancellor of the Aurelian Clan.

In the past, he wouldn’t have been worthy of even looking at beings of their stature, let alone standing shoulder to shoulder with them.

Lin Ye naturally noticed his nervousness.

He looked at Lektorn, this member of the Dragon Race who had chosen to follow him from the very beginning, and felt a stir in his heart.

’It’s time to fulfill my promise.’

"Lektorn," Lin Ye said calmly.

"I am here, my lord!" Lektorn jolted and immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

Lin Ye rose from the throne and slowly walked over to him.

"Raise your head."

Lektorn did as he was told but didn’t dare to look directly into Lin Ye’s eyes.

Lin Ye said no more. He simply extended a finger and lightly tapped the center of Lektorn’s brow.

A wisp of profound dark power, filled with supreme authority, flowed from his fingertip into Lektorn’s body.

Ancient Dragon Blood!

BOOM—!!!

Lektorn’s body shuddered violently. An indescribable, searing pain instantly spread throughout his entire being!

He felt as if his blood was on fire, his bones were shattering and reforming, and his very soul was being brutally remade by a higher power!

He couldn’t help but let out a pained roar, instantly shifting from his half-dragon form to his full dragon form.

His massive body thrashed and convulsed violently on the ground.

The dull, black scales on his body began to fall away, replaced by a purer, deeper, jet-black Scale Armor. All the while, an incredibly dense dark-elemental energy billowed off him like steam!

His body began to expand, his bones creaking and popping under the strain. His once somewhat slender frame became as burly and ferocious as Regner’s!

Beside them, Regner and Liliana watched, dumbfounded. Their draconic eyes were filled with utter shock!

They could clearly sense that Lektorn’s very level of existence was undergoing a frantic leap forward at an unbelievable speed!