Chapter 124: bone dragon
The final prompt remained before Wuxia while the Bone Dragon circled above the basin.
[Would you like to tame the Bone Dragon?]
Wuxia looked upward.
Yes.
The prompt disappeared.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then the Bone Dragon stopped circling.
Its enormous skeletal wings held it above the basin while dark energy continued moving between the bones. Xingluo raised Heavenfall again, expecting another attack, but the creature made no attempt to descend.
A different connection brushed against Wuxia's soul.
It was not the Anchor Link.
Something old and rough pressed against his awareness before a deep voice formed inside his mind.
You possess Authority over the dead.
Wuxia stared at the Bone Dragon.
Apparently you noticed.
The skull tilted slightly.
Below them, Xiaorou looked between the motionless Bone Dragon and Xingluo.
"Why did it stop?"
"I don't know yet."
Ruan Mei glanced briefly toward Wuxia but said nothing.
The Bone Dragon's voice returned.
Your Authority is incomplete.
Wuxia's eyebrows lifted.
That's a rude way to begin negotiations.
The creature ignored him.
But it can grow.
Wuxia watched it for another second. The System had offered taming rather than Soul Harvest, and the Bone Dragon was clearly capable of refusing.
Why would you agree?
The answer came quickly.
This place is a cage.
Wuxia looked across the rocky basin.
You know you're inside a dungeon?
I know I cannot leave.
The Bone Dragon lowered slightly, its wings beating once before holding position again.
I rise when the Burial Ground opens. I fight. I fall. Then this place claims what remains.
There was no anger in its voice.
It sounded more like a fact repeated too many times.
You can take me beyond it.
Wuxia did not answer immediately.
He could understand why the creature wanted freedom, but that alone did not explain why it was willing to submit to someone it had been trying to kill minutes earlier.
And if I can?
The Bone Dragon's empty sockets remained fixed upon him.
Then I will see what exists beyond these mountains.
Its dark energy shifted along the spine.
And I will grow.
That part sounded considerably more interested.
Wuxia almost smiled.
So freedom and strength.
Yes.
At least you're straightforward.
The Bone Dragon descended toward the basin.
Xingluo immediately tightened her grip around Heavenfall.
Don't attack.
She looked toward Wuxia.
You have something useful to tell me?
It's talking to me.
Xingluo stared at him.
Of course it is.
The Bone Dragon landed several dozen metres away.
Ruan Mei and Xiaorou remained ready, but the skeletal creature folded its wings instead of attacking.
Xiaorou lowered her sword slightly.
"That is somehow more worrying."
Xingluo kept watching the creature. "It's not attacking."
"I noticed that part."
Wuxia returned his attention to the Bone Dragon.
If you join me, you follow my commands when necessary. You don't attack people around me because you're bored, hungry, irritated, or whatever applies to a skeleton.
The Dragon remained still.
Agreed.
That was easier than expected.
You offer what this place cannot.
Wuxia could not argue with that.
A new prompt appeared.
[Taming Contract available.]
[Target: Bone Dragon — Level 150 — Emperor.]
[Establish contract?]
Yes.
Dark soul light appeared around the Bone Dragon.
The creature did not resist.
The energy wrapped around its skeletal frame and flowed through the spaces between its ribs, wings and spine. A matching pull formed within Wuxia's soul before something settled into place.
The Bone Dragon lowered its skull.
[Taming successful.]
[Bone Dragon has acknowledged the Soul Monarch's Authority.]
[Bone Dragon added to Soul Legion.]
Wuxia felt the new presence immediately.
It was different from the ordinary Soul Soldiers yet still connected to the same Legion beneath his Authority.
Well.
Xingluo's voice reached him through the Anchor Link.
Did you just steal the dungeon boss?
Steal is a strong word.
You definitely stole it.
The Bone Dragon dissolved into dark soul light.
Its enormous frame disappeared piece by piece until the last trace vanished into Wuxia's soul space.
Xiaorou stood completely still.
Then she slowly looked toward Xingluo.
"What happened?"
Xingluo considered the question.
"One of my Companion Spirits apparently convinced it to submit."
Xiaorou stared at the empty space where the Level 150 Emperor had been standing.
"Your Companion Spirits can negotiate?"
"Apparently."
"Do you know anything about your own talent?"
Xingluo looked offended. "Some things."
Ruan Mei covered a small cough.
Xingluo turned toward her.
Ruan Mei looked away.
Before Xiaorou could continue, the glowing lines across Xingluo's armor began fading.
Her white hair gradually returned to its usual purple, while the dense Star Energy surrounding her weakened.
Then another series of notifications appeared.
[First Transition completed.]
[Lord of the Nine Stars has successfully completed First Transition.]
Xingluo straightened.
More notifications followed.
[Star of Ruin synchronization increased.]
[Star Avatar permanently unlocked.]
[New Skill acquired: Star Step.]
[New Skill acquired: Ruin Break.]
Xingluo blinked.
Wuxia moved closer. "What did you get?"
"Star Avatar is actually registered now."
She opened the new skill entries briefly.
Star Step allowed her to release Star Energy through her body in a concentrated burst, accelerating herself sharply in a chosen direction.
Ruin Break was simpler.
It condensed the Star of Ruin's force into a single point of impact instead of spreading that power throughout an entire swing.
Xingluo looked at the descriptions.
"Those would have been useful ten minutes ago."
Wuxia nodded. "The timing is impressive."
"Shut up."
Another notification appeared before she could close the interface.
[Stored Experience Applied.]
Energy moved through Xingluo's body as the Level 99 barrier that had restricted her finally disappeared.
The advancement continued rapidly before settling.
[Current Level: 108.]
Ruan Mei saw her reaction.
"What level?"
Xingluo looked toward her.
"One hundred and eight."
Ruan Mei glanced at her own Level 107.
Xingluo smiled.
Ruan Mei immediately understood.
"Don't."
"I'm higher."
"By one."
"Still higher."
"You spent an entire boss fight getting beaten around a mountain for that one level."
Xingluo's smile disappeared.
Xiaorou looked between them. "Congratulations to both of you on becoming unbearable after First Transition."
Xingluo ignored her and checked herself once more.
The exhaustion from the Drake battle remained, and several injuries still hurt whenever she moved too sharply, but the advancement had restored enough of her condition that standing no longer felt like work.
She dismissed the interface.
"Can we leave now?"
Xiaorou looked around the basin.
"Please."
This time the dungeon answered.
[Hidden Boss Cleared.]
[Drakefang Valley — Phase II Completed.]
[Dungeon Cleared.]
The rocky basin trembled faintly.
A blue exit gate formed near the path where they had originally entered the boss territory.
Xiaorou stared at it for two seconds.
"Good."
She began walking toward it immediately.
Ruan Mei followed beside her. "You're not checking anything else?"
"I watched a dead boss turn into a Level 150 Emperor Bone Dragon after telling you this dungeon had one boss."
Xiaorou pointed toward the gate.
"I am leaving before Drakefang Valley develops a Phase Three."
Xingluo glanced toward Wuxia.
You heard her.
I agree with her.
That's concerning.
Wuxia floated beside her as they followed the other two.
They crossed the basin slowly, passing the broken stone and damaged ridges left by both boss fights.
Xingluo rested Heavenfall against one shoulder.
Ruan Mei looked back at her. "You should put that away before you fall over."
"I'm fine."
"You said that before the Drake threw you into a rock."
"That happened once."
Wuxia looked at her.
Xingluo immediately corrected herself.
"Several times."
Xiaorou laughed from ahead. "At least you're learning."
They reached the exit gate.
Xiaorou went through first.
Ruan Mei followed, then Xingluo stepped into the blue light with Wuxia beside her.
The rocky basin disappeared.
A moment later, the three girls emerged through Gate Twelve into Dragon Military Academy's Dungeon Hall.
The familiar noise of students, registration counters and projected dungeon listings returned around them.
Xiaorou stopped just outside the gate and looked back once.
"Next time," she said, "we choose something normal."
Xingluo walked past her.
"You were the one who recommended Drakefang Valley."
Xiaorou remained there for a second.
Then she hurried after them.
"That information does not need to leave this group."
Unfortunately, I've decided to drop this story here.
The readership has fallen far lower than I expected, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely sad about it. I spent a lot of time thinking about whether I should keep forcing myself to continue, but I simply can't write this version anymore.
Looking back, I can also see that the problem wasn't only the lack of readers. There were many places where I failed to execute the ideas properly—whether it was the pacing, setting, characters, or the way certain parts of the story were handled. I still love the core concept, but I don't think continuing this version would do it justice.
So this isn't the complete end of the idea. I'm planning to rewrite it properly in a different setting, with everything I've learned from this attempt.
Thank you to everyone who stayed and read this far.