# Chapter 8: Preparing to Depart, Coo
Joshua naturally knew Black's gender—how could a warrior not know whether the mount beneath him was male or female? Although he had always wondered how a mare could have such good spirits, the fact was the fact, and who knew how that worked.
But the most important question was whether Black, after its bloodline awakening, still had gender at all.
On the Mycroft Continent, male-female, masculine-feminine dual-sex ecology was not a universal truth; it could only be considered common. Not to mention elemental lifeforms and semi-energy lifeforms, but in truth, throughout the entire multiverse, gender was a strange and rare phenomenon. Countless lifeforms and races capable of self-reproduction, self-division, and self-proliferation were innumerable. Even in the Mycroft World, legend said that the ancient primordial elves and earth dwarves of the ancient era had no such thing as gender. One originated from leaves falling from the Mother Tree of All Sources, the other from sparks splashing from the Earth's Molten Core. These powerful beings with long and eternal lives had no need for offspring, and thus no need for mating or reproduction.
Of course, such myths and legends were not necessarily correct. After all, elves and dwarves still lived in this world today, and they had historical records of their own ancestors. Some overly exaggerated legends were easy to disprove. However, these long-passed-down traditions also indirectly proved some things.
That is, in the ancient era, certain incredibly powerful beings had no gender and no need for reproduction.
For example, ancient dragons.
Reproduction was a way to better extend one's own life. Offspring were equivalent to a part of oneself. Mating, conceiving, and raising offspring equaled extending oneself, and it was also the instinct of all life.
But for ultimate lifeforms like ancient dragons, it was different.
Because they were powerful, they had no need for society or relationships. They had no need for reproduction. Roaming alone, they could live well. Because they themselves could live forever, offspring were also unnecessary. Their power was so terrifying that merely existing left a profound mark on heaven and earth—even entire races.
Yes, races.
Small snakes by the seaside evolved into sea dragons commanding thunder. Lizards in the mountains transformed into overlords soaring through the sky. On the land, in the sky, beneath the deep sea, countless originally weak beings received the blessings of the oldest and most powerful beings roaming between heaven and earth. They shed the innate shackles of their own lives and, while being infected by their aura, gradually approached the nearly perfect lifeform of the "prototype."
Although some ancient dragons did have genders and passed down their bloodlines through reproduction, the Black Erosion Dragon was not one of them. The vast majority of its bloodline was passed down through other beings infected by its aura, much like demonized creatures infected by the Abyss.
Thus, ancient dragons were the prototypes of all magical beasts. Any magical beast's bloodline, traced upward, would eventually return to its original origin.
Black was very fortunate. What it had awakened was that bloodline power stretching back to ancient times, the longest and most powerful. But this power was undoubtedly also changing its form.
However, Joshua was not thinking about these complicated matters. In truth, his thoughts were quite simple.
"If it still has gender," the warrior muttered, frowning as he stood by the window, "couldn't we breed it and artificially create a Black Erosion Dragon bloodline?"
He nodded slightly, then casually picked up a notebook from the table, took the quill pen quickly handed over by Lin, and swiftly jotted down a note, murmuring to himself: "Worth a try. Ask Black if it's willing next time."
At the same time, deep within the lava pool of the Great Aias Volcano, Black, who was happily absorbing heat and fire elements, suddenly stiffened all over. It felt locked onto by a great malice, and the entire dragon felt uneasy. So it shook its body, quickly surfaced, and warily turned its head to observe its surroundings, wanting to see if there were any other powerful monsters capable of swimming in the lava pool.
But it found nothing. The huge underground cavern only had the black rock passage created by Joshua's walking and the azure-blue portal suspended in midair. On the other side of the portal, a faint light could be vaguely seen, and the fresh scent of grass and trees came through, completely incompatible with the lava pool.
After a while, somewhat suspecting that the feeling just now might have been an illusion, Black slowly sank again, submerging its body back into the magma. The core on its chest flickered with a strange halo, flowing with colors like the sun.
Although it had not awakened any bloodline memories, Black knew that this environment was very suitable for it. As long as it continued to absorb the surrounding energy to nourish itself at all times, it would be able to advance further before long.
Back in the main city of Moldavia, after deep thought, Joshua temporarily abandoned the absurd idea of artificially creating a Black Erosion Dragon bloodline. If ancient dragon bloodlines could be handled so easily, the whole world would already be full of ancient dragons flying everywhere. Those were powerful monsters where soul and power were naturally fused into one. Their "inherited bloodline" was not just about the body but also the sublimation of the soul. If Black had not fought alongside him in the Black Tide and been repeatedly eroded and purified by the forces of Chaos and Order, it would not have been possible to awaken such power.
Erasing the plan he had conceived just minutes ago, and having now dealt with the matters of the mysterious region at the bottom of the Great Aias Volcano, Joshua was finally free. Now he could properly prepare to go to the Imperial Capital to attend the victory banquet celebrating the extermination of the orcs.
Although the banquet was boring, it was his responsibility as a lord and his duty as a noble. Moreover, such banquets were also a public exchange opportunity provided by the Empire. Without communication, he could not reach trade agreements with other territories, and the development of his territory would slow down as a result. For this, Joshua needed to make many preparations.
For example, a well-fitting formal suit.
The warrior had many powerful armors, especially the special mana armor that the old dwarf had mostly completed. Although only half-finished, one could already see how sturdy and powerful its complete form would be. But such things could not be worn at court banquets, no matter how cool they looked. Joshua had now enlisted Verdani's help, and through the countess, contacted several master tailors, inviting them to come and make him a well-fitting formal suit.
Sitting at his desk, while sending magical messages to the other lords of the Four Northern Territories, informing them that the threat at the bottom of the volcano had been resolved—the detailed report, except for matters related to the space-time gate, would be sent over in a few days—Joshua noticed that someone was contacting him through the communication array.
Nowadays, only a few people would actively contact him: Brandon, the Royal Mage Association, His Holiness the Pope, Verdani... But at this time of day, with such leisure, there was only one.
Activating the communication array, Joshua rubbed his chin. Sitting on this side of the desk, he curiously said to the other party: "Master Nostradamus, it's so late. Not dealing with the academy's trivial matters, what business do you have with me?"
On the other side of the communication array, a somewhat tired projection of Nostradamus appeared.
The white-haired old mage was in the principal's office of Winterfell Academy, wearing a suitable blue-black robe that gave off a powerful and mysterious mage aura. However, this feeling was ruined by his constant rubbing of his temples. Upon hearing Joshua's voice and seeing his projection, Nostradamus showed a somewhat weak smile: "Still so energetic after returning from the volcano. Youth is truly wonderful, Joshua."
"You're not bad either, Master."
Joshua ignored the other's tired expression and said directly and concisely: "Seeing that you don't have the strength for small talk, let's get straight to business."
"You're right."
The old mage seemed to agree deeply. He sighed and then said succinctly: "In two days, I plan to head to the Imperial Capital. Do you want to come with me?"
"Direct teleportation," he added, and to demonstrate, an azure-blue space-time fluctuation appeared in his hand.
Was it for this matter?
After thinking for a moment, Joshua felt that Nostradamus's suggestion was not bad. The warrior was glad that the other had thought of him at this time, and was even a little touched. So he simply refused: "No, Master. Thank you for your suggestion, but there's no need."
He said slowly: "I have other plans." (To be continued.)