Beneath the Red Dragon

Chapter 75: Chapter 29: The Volcano Is the Red Dragon’s Lair (Part 3)

But these worms grow plump and white in the dark passages, and their oral apparatus lacks retractable function, indicating that they likely feed on volcanic ash or some substances found here.

Karon can only marvel at the wonders of nature, as even eating dirt and gnawing on rocks can lead to such white, plump growth.

Although the Giant Dragon’s powerful stomach digestion can also survive by eating dirt, its body size certainly won’t be as hefty as these worms.

It seems that many Five-Color Dragons are inferior to Metal Dragons perhaps not only due to their inherently weaker bloodline but also because many Five-Color Dragons during their infancy had to eat dirt to survive without protection.

Unlike those Metal Dragons who were properly nurtured and could thrive under the care of Giant Dragon guardians.

Karon couldn’t help but carefully pick up a worm with his claw and put it in his mouth, tasting the flavor of this worm that seems so delicious to the Dragon.

The surface of this worm’s skin is rather chewy, and upon breaking its surface, a taste akin to iced snow lotus water spreads in the mouth.

The body fluid of a creature growing in a hot environment is refreshingly cool; he smacked his lips, finding the taste enjoyable.

A faint energy surged into the body of the Dragon, so he decided to keep these worms as future sweet snacks.

To avoid these worms being burned by the magma during the volcanic activation excavation, he deliberately chose a direction with fewer worms to continue digging.

During the excavation process, he also discovered some oddly shaped creatures, a type of scale-horned gastropod snail that grows in pits with accumulating groundwater.

These pits are close to the radiation range of the underground magma temperature, so the water in the pits can reach nearly four hundred degrees, yet it doesn’t affect the snails’ activity.

There were also some bizarre arthropods resembling crickets, which Karon preferred to avoid.

After excavating for nearly five days, Karon finally reached the underground magma layer.

On one hand, he needed to dig out pathways from the hard underground rock layers that would allow the massive body of the Red Dragon to move freely, to prevent being stifled during a magma eruption.

On the other hand, he was constantly using his perception to explore the underground conditions; if the energy surging from the magma layer was too violent and beyond his control, he planned to abandon this idea.

Fortunately, the result of the exploration was favorable; this long-dead volcano after years of dormancy had adapted to a stable and deep underground energy.

Those surging fire-based magic power was also quite gentle, within the range Karon could control.

Now, the Red Dragon could see steaming hot air emanating from the holes formed by eroded solid rocks, along with a heavy sulfuric stench emitted from the cracks, sometimes accompanied by spurts of magma.

This layer of rock blocking the upward rush of magma was extremely sturdy, even with the Red Dragon’s sharp Dragon Claw, it took some effort to pare those tiny holes into circular openings several meters in diameter.

Even though these long-dormant magma had become mild enough, the overwhelming pressure and energy instantly propelled the magma upwards.

Karon had already hidden in the prepared lateral passageway, avoiding the impact of this force.

Although the magma, to the Red Dragon, was akin to relatively warm bath water, the Red Dragon had no intention of resisting this force head-on.

Guided by the Red Dragon’s power, the magma accompanied by high heat and intense sulfuric smell, along with some buried subterranean substances, surged through the passage.

The long lava tunnel was swiftly filled with rushing magma and flames, with some precious minerals deposited within the magma ascending along with the erupting magma.

The ascending momentum gradually waned upon reaching the volcano’s vent, and the accumulating magma inside the large crater began gathering like a reservoir with connected pipes.

A gray smoke cloud started to spread over the exterior of the volcano’s vent.

The horizontal passage cave where Karon was also became filled with the ascending magma, yet to the Red Dragon, these high-temperature corroding magma were akin to a beneficial buff, provided a warmth and comfort akin to being enveloped in a maternal womb.

This sensation felt more relaxing than any massage spa, akin to the relaxation after lying on a bed following a long day.

Karon even contemplated sleeping here for a while; the hibernation mechanism within the Red Dragon was being triggered, arousing a need for an additional sleep and rejuvenation.

If it weren’t for the pungent smell lingering underground that made the Red Dragon sneeze several times, he might have settled down for a proper sleep here.