Pillar of Yita

Toragotos’s movement was very simple; he just pointed at their foreheads with his claw once each.

Fang Hong felt his vision suddenly become a vast expanse of white, but the whiteness quickly shrank into a point of light, and then the illusion vanished, a new blessing appeared in his Summoners System:

Ta Hess’s Holy Mark: The ancient earth protects everything—nature, life, and the untainted holy power. Go forth, children of Guda Suoke, to the ancient Holy Land. The bearer of this blessing expends only half or even less experience when learning Melee Combat Techniques. (Permanent State)

Dragon Blood Mark: Gain double stamina in a Berserk state.

Ta Hess?

Fang Hong was slightly startled and lifted his head. Ever since he met Tainaric, he had crammed knowledge of the Lizardmen at Miss Tata’s place and naturally knew that during the Xinsas—Guda Suoke era, Lizardmen actually had five classes.

The first class was Wizards, the keepers of dark knowledge, Asuka.

The second class was Warriors, the guardians of the Holy Sanctuary, Andasok.

The third class was Ritualists, Observatory Watchers, and readers of inscription plates, Ka Cuilan.

The fourth class was Soldiers, warriors of the Holy Land, Ta Hess.

The fifth class was Commoners, the people of Guda Suoke, Tokin.

Among them, apart from Asuka, Andasok, and Ka Cuilan, Tokin later split the most, forming various Lizardman clans over the land, with the Night Lizard People and Shark Lizard People both being descendants of the Tokin clan, and they still claim this to this day.

As for the fourth class, only the War Gecko people living to the south of Colin Ishurian could be said to be the descendants of Ta Hess, but their habitats were obliterated by the Osh People during the Battle of Bain, and the few remaining Ta Hess have since scattered and become displaced. The true Ta Hess can be said to have been completely extinguished.

But how did Meijeli Tolagotos come to hold Ta Hess’s blessing?

As if reading his mind, the old dragon’s aged voice echoed in their hearts, ”Years ago, I accepted Roban’s request and went south to the Kingdom, incidentally providing shelter to the children of Ta Hess. Giant Dragons have an ancient connection with the people of Guda Suoke, hence at that time their elders entrusted me with this power from their ritual, hoping I would select the prophesied Child of the Stars.”

Only then did Fang Hong realize, it was also a matter from the Battle of Bain.

He looked again at his blessing; Ta Hess’s Holy Mark could be said to be the most powerful among all his blessings. Halving the experience consumed for Melee Combat Techniques was indeed terrifying for professions like Warriors, Paladins, or Wanderers, but it was also very useful for a Combat Artisan.

Even though the blessing had a duration (lasting until the Sea of Light is extinguished), that permanent state notation at the end of the blessing likely meant that the skills learned prior to the activation of the blessing will not require additional experience to be recouped after the blessing expires.

This was somewhat surprising, and Fang Hong felt an urge to learn as many melee skills as possible before the blessing expired—free experience, after all. But when he calmed down, he realized it wasn’t that useful for him, firstly because he didn’t have that much Combat Experience to begin with, and secondly, because he couldn’t just learn melee skills to take advantage of the situation.

As for the lesser blessing of the Dragon Blood Mark that followed, it was also unexpected. He wasn’t sure if it was because of his many dealings with Nikopolas or because of Miss Tata’s Dragon Soul that he was given this additional Ability.

However, double stamina in a Burst state was indeed a very practical Attribute; Burst is a physical state unique to the physical professions, similar to the Overload State of Flexible Constructs. It can comprehensively enhance a person’s Physical Attributes, including Strength, Agility, and Physique Resilience, for a short period.

However, the duration of Burst Strength has nothing to do with the Magic Guided Reactor, it is related only to one’s Physical Attributes, somewhat akin to the Berserk state of a Berserker and determined by the Durability Attribute.

Twice the stamina means double the duration.

After bestowing blessings on both, the Giant Dragon spoke for the first time in the hall, its voice thundering so loudly that the dome trembled. It said, ”Alright, young Prince of Andasok, everything meant for you is now in your hands. And as for you, human fellow, I hope you’ll bring us some pleasant surprises.”

It looked up, gazing beyond the palace gates, ”Go forth, the door to the ruins is open, the trial has already begun.”

Meanwhile, Sophie, who was standing behind the group, had just put down her Crystal Communicator, a look of surprise flashing across her eyes, as though she had just received some information from the higher echelons of the Silver Weslan team.

She lifted her head and asked Toragotos, ”Is the news from outside true, Lord Meijeli?”

The dragon lowered its head, glancing at her, ”Little human girl, what’s on your mind?”

”Lord, Xi and I have participated in the Trainee’s trial before,” Sophie replied, ”but we should still have one more chance to join the official trial, right?”

Toragotos’s golden pupils shimmered with a deep and meaningful glow as it slowly answered, ”So, what about it, young lady?”

”I want to join this trial.”

”But the registration period for it is over, young lady.” Fang Hong wasn’t sure if he saw it wrong, but he thought he saw the old dragon’s mouth corner slightly rise, it clearly seemed to be smiling.