The Mighty Dragons Are Dead

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Three boxes, three gifts, Liszt opened the first box with eager anticipation.

This box was a congratulatory gift from the Meioubao Couple and Angela. Although the box seemed large, upon opening it, it was mostly filled with packing shavings. Only in the center of these shavings was a smaller box. Once he opened this smaller box, the gift inside was immediately revealed.

"It's a sapphire pendant," Levis said, standing by his side. His knowledge was anything but superficial, and he directly recognized the gift, "It must be sapphire magic equipment that has been energized by a magic array to amplify strength!"

The sapphire produced by the Sapphire Dragon contained a mysterious power—strength amplification, increasing the user's strength significantly. Additionally, gemstone items generally have a common effect—enhancing the casting effect of magic. Different magic arrays can trigger different gemstone effects.

Given that it was a gift for Liszt, it naturally wouldn't be for the amplification of magic, but definitely for enhancing strength.

"Indeed, becoming the son-in-law of a grand duke is different; owning a Sapphire Dragon at home means the gifts you receive are sapphire magic equipment." Liszt was very satisfied with this gift. The value of gemstone equipment was extremely high, worth at least a thousand or two gold coins.

His grandfather, Marquis Merlin, had given him the Crimson Blood Sword in a similar manner.

Speaking of which,

he hung the sapphire pendant around his neck without any hesitation. He energized the pendant with his Dou Qi, quickly establishing a connection between their essences. He then felt an overwhelming strength spontaneously arise in his body, stirring under the stimulation from the sapphire pendant—as if he could kill a magical beast with a single punch.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Once he put it on, he had no intention of taking it off again.

He then proceeded to open the second box which was a congratulatory gift from the Mesiro Couple. Upon opening it, he took out an exquisitely crafted cloak.

Red on the outside, black on the base, with golden thread along the edges—it looked quite luxurious.

This was no ordinary cloak but a piece of magic equipment. According to the accompanying letter, it was meticulously woven from the fur of a Low-Level Beast with a mantle of fur. Just this cloak alone took the fur from ten such beasts, and not even an Earth Knight's attack could tear it apart.

Its value was not low, but it was not exceptionally high either, roughly worth four or five hundred gold coins.

Liszt was quite satisfied; after all, it was just a relative's gift for congratulations, so a gift worth four or five hundred gold coins was already quite precious.

Last was the gift from his grandfather, Marquis Merlin, which, like the one from the Meioubao Couple, consisted of a box within a box. Eventually, he opened the small box to find it contained only a feather.

Before he had a chance to examine what kind of feather it was,

Levis exclaimed in awe, "Oh my God, Liszt, your grandfather is too good to you! That is a Phoenix Feather! From the legendary Sub-dragon 'Phoenix'!"

"A Phoenix feather?" Liszt was also startled.

He had heard of Phoenix, said to be a superior dragonkin magical beast—a Sub-dragon—born from flames, possessing dragon blood.

But the Phoenix was just a mythical creature, with no solid evidence to prove its existence in this world. Phoenixes are depicted in some knight novels, but more often it is the Phoenix Feathers that are portrayed.

No one has seen a Phoenix, not even in knight's novels where it has yet to make a straightforward appearance. However, its feathers are frequently featured in these stories, generally depicted as the essence of Flames.

For a Knight of the Fire Attribute, obtaining a single Phoenix Feather could tremendously aid in their training, akin to a tiger growing wings.

It could significantly boost the training speed of Fire Attribute Dou Qi!

For Knights of other attributes, a Phoenix Feather was quite useless; but for those of the Fire Attribute, it was a treasure surpassing millions of others.

No one had ever priced a Phoenix Feather in mere currency, but it was certainly calculated in terms of Dragon coins.

Just this single Phoenix Feather could probably be sold for several Dragon coins, which is to say, tens of thousands of gold coins, more valuable than even a Little Elf Soldier.

Almost comparable to a Dragon Bone Weapon forged from Dragon Bone.

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"Is this really a Phoenix Feather?" Li Si Te cradled the feather in his hand, feeling the surging Fire Attribute Mana, and couldn't help but swallow hard, "The gift Grandfather sent me is truly precious, I shouldn't accept such a valuable gift... But I can't bear to send it back!"

"Of course you should keep it, it's a Phoenix Feather after all, and you are a Fire Attribute Knight, it's something you simply can't miss! Moreover, since Grandfather gave it to you, why wouldn't you accept it!" Levis exclaimed, his behavior slightly uncontrolled due to the gift's immense value.

"That's right, since Grandfather gave it to me, I must accept it!" Li Si Te said solemnly.

At the same time, his mind was particularly clear. Grandfather's lavish gift was not just a congratulations, but also a form of entrustment—hoping that he would help the Long Taro Family more. During the festival at Long Taro Castle, Marquis Merlin had expressed this sentiment, given that the Long Taro Family was quite thin in members.

Regardless of whether there was such a gift.

Being of the Long Taro Family bloodline, he would definitely help the Long Taro Family whenever he could.

Now that Marquis Merlin had sent such a precious gift, and considering the kindness he had shown from a young age, Li Si Te couldn't escape this responsibility, both emotionally and rationally.

"Huff!"

He turned his gaze to the Phoenix Feather in his hand, still feeling somewhat incredulous. A Phoenix Feather, from a Sub-dragon Phoenix, was now truly before him.

Before this.

The existence of a Sub-dragon was still just a legend, with no one able to prove it.

Now it seemed there was no need for any more proof. The powerful surge of Fire Attribute Mana from the Phoenix Feather was enough to show that it was not much weaker than Dragon Bone.

But.

When Li Si Te carefully examined the Phoenix Feather, he suddenly noticed that this "feather" didn't quite seem to be a real feather. Instead, it resembled some kind of fiery red gemstone shaped like one. The texture, upon touching, was also very hard, almost like wire, grippy and difficult to deform.

"Is this really a feather?" he couldn't help but ask aloud, "Levis, do you think a Phoenix Feather is really the feather of a Phoenix? It doesn't seem to be a real feather."

"Let me have a look."

Levis carefully took the Phoenix Feather and observed it seriously: "I can't be sure either, it really doesn't look like a real feather... But then again, we've never seen a Phoenix, nor do we know what a Sub-dragon looks like. Maybe this is just how a Phoenix Feather is supposed to look. Anyway, as long as it works for you, it's a real Phoenix Feather!"

Indeed, that was the logic.

No matter whether it fell from the body of a Phoenix or was naturally formed as some kind of gemstone, as long as its effect was still the same as the legends described, then it was a real Phoenix Feather—the surging Fire Attribute Mana was proof enough that it was authentic.

Tucked into his chest.

It was like placing a furnace in his bosom, full of warmth.

…

A moment later.

In the upstairs living room, the whole Tulip Family sat together, examining the Phoenix Feather on the table. The Earl was even using a magnifying glass, bent over and carefully observing the patterns of the Phoenix Feather—this magnifying glass was a byproduct of Li Si Te's invention of the telescope.

"I can't determine whether it's truly the remains of a living creature. At least compared to Dragon Bone, it shows more signs of being magical in nature, and it might very well be a product of concentrated Magic Power, like the gemstones produced by Dragons."

The Earl lifted his head and shared his analytical conclusion.

Seeing this, Li Si Te nodded: "If that's the case, the existence of a Sub-dragon is still in question?"