Evolving by devouring from a young dragon

This place used to be an abandoned mine where the goblins lived. Now that Alduin has taken over, it has been developed and utilized again, and the goblins have moved elsewhere.

Gucci's feet remained rooted to the spot, unable to move an inch.

A kobold miner pushed a fully loaded minecart past me, the ore piled high and neatly stacked.

The most glaring thing was that this kobold was wearing a pair of complete leather boots, real leather boots!

He was wearing durable, thick, coarse cloth overalls, with a water bottle and lunchbox hanging from his waist.

As it pushed the cart, it hummed a little tune, the melody chaotic but full of leisure and comfort.

Gucci stared intently at the pair of leather boots, stunned for a long time.

He thought of his tribe, who spent most of their lives wearing only straw sandals while working.

When the straw sandals were worn out, the bark was torn off and sewn together. By repeatedly piecing them together, it was considered a great blessing if a pair of straw sandals could last for three months.

Here, the lowly kobolds of the mines can comfortably mine while wearing leather boots.

Gu Qi swallowed hard and continued walking forward.

In the shed next to the mine, several goblins sat around a fire, cooking food in an iron pot.

The hot soup in the pot was bubbling and boiling, and the rich aroma wafted in the wind, going straight into Gu Qi's nose, and his stomach immediately started to rumble.

A goblin looked up and saw him, grinning with a憨厚 smile, his two missing front teeth particularly noticeable. He enthusiastically raised the wooden bowl in his hand and shook it: "Hey, fellow from the south? Take a break and have a bowl of hot meat soup!"

Gu Qi quickly shook his head and waved his hand to indicate his refusal.

The goblin didn't force him; he simply brought the wooden bowl to his lips and drank it down with gusto and satisfaction.

Memories flooded back. Three years ago, he passed through this place. The goblins here were all emaciated and could only squat at the entrance of the mine, gnawing on dry tree bark, their mouths full of grass and wood scraps. They couldn't even get a sip of clean water.

This stark contrast in scenery made Gu Qi feel increasingly uneasy, and he unconsciously quickened his pace, wanting only to leave this place that was making him feel dazed as soon as possible.

Before long, workshops came into view.

The houses were all made of stone, with thick iron sheets on the roofs, and white smoke curled from the chimneys. The clanging of blacksmiths could be heard incessantly.

Guqi glanced subconsciously at the doorway. Inside the workshop, the furnace was burning bright red, two rows of anvils were neatly arranged, and dwarves and goblins were working side by side with a clear division of labor.

Some people were working hard to forge iron in the fire, some were hammering the blanks, and some were focusing on quenching and sharpening the blades. Their movements were skillful and orderly.

On the workshop walls, rows of finished weapons such as longswords, battle axes, and iron shields are hung neatly.

In the corner, there were piles of scales, made of iron plates strung together, which shimmered in the sunlight pouring in from the doorway.

Guqi's hand unconsciously reached for the short knife at his waist. The scabbard was made of cowhide, a treasure he had acquired years ago at the goblin market in the south, which he had traded for five sheep. He had carefully hung it there for three years, regarding it as his life.

But in this workshop, fine armor was casually piled up in the corner, completely inconspicuous.

He quickly looked away, not daring to look any longer, and continued walking with his head down.

But the fields on both sides of the road completely extinguished his temper.

The fields stretched from the roadside all the way to the foot of the distant mountains, seemingly without end.

The golden grains were plump and heavy, their heads bowing low. A gentle breeze stirred up waves of gold, creating a rustling sound.

The goblins in the field were busy harvesting, their sickles flashing as they bundled the felled crops into neat sheaves and carried them to the carts by the roadside.

Those carriages were not made of simple wooden wheels, but of sturdy iron wheels, and the carriages were coated with tung oil, so shiny that they could reflect one's image.

An old goblin stood on the cart stacking bundles of grain, stomping each layer firmly until it reached a height of over a goblin's head before stopping.

He turned and saw Guqi, straightened up, wiped the sweat from his face with his sleeve, and shouted enthusiastically at the top of his lungs:

"Guests from the South? You must be tired from your journey! The watermelons in the field are just ripe, let me pick one for you to quench your thirst!"

Gu Qi opened his mouth, about to refuse, when the old goblin nimbly jumped off the carriage, strode into the field, rummaged through the melon vines for a few moments, picked up a round, plump watermelon, quickly walked back, and stuffed it into his arms without a word.

The watermelon was heavy, its rind still covered with fresh soil, and it exuded a sweet aroma.

"Eat as much as you want! It's free!" The old goblin grinned, revealing a set of slightly yellow teeth. After saying that, he turned around, jumped onto the carriage, and continued his work.

Gucci stood there holding the watermelon, at a loss, completely bewildered.

The two lackeys quickly came over, staring at the watermelon and swallowing hard.

Gucci simply handed the watermelon to them and turned to leave quickly.

Finally, the goblin camp came into view.

A solid wood wall, more than two people high, stood there, its top covered with sharp iron spikes, from which hung jackal skulls that creaked in the wind, exuding an air of majesty.

At the entrance of the camp, four orcs stood upright, each clad in full iron armor and wearing an iron helmet, their spears planted heavily on the ground, their postures as straight as pine trees.

The flame-patterned badges on their chests were made of pure copper, polished to a brilliant shine, and gleamed in the sunlight.

What shocked Gucci the most were the flags hanging around the camp.

These flags were not the flame flags that could be seen everywhere on the outskirts of the territory, but battle flags embroidered with a majestic dragon, its body outstretched and head held high, exuding a powerful aura and fluttering in the wind.

Gu Qi slowly walked to the camp gate, his legs feeling a little weak.

In their tribe, the goblins would be terrified at the mere sight of orcs, scrambling to hide in their burrows. But here, the orcs were standing guard over the goblin camp.

Just as he was feeling uneasy, the camp gate slowly opened, and an old goblin walked out with a cane.

It was nothing like the ragged, emaciated figure he had imagined.

The old goblin was dressed in a clean and tidy fine cotton robe with delicate lace embroidery on the cuffs, and wore a pair of leather boots with polished surfaces.

Although he was old, his complexion was ruddy and his eyes were bright and piercing; he didn't look like an ordinary goblin at all.

The cane in his hand was not an ordinary wooden cane, but a hard ironwood cane, with a thick copper plate wrapped around the head, polished to a shine.

Gu Qi stared at the cane for a long time. In his memory, even the canes of some tribal chiefs were not as grand and elaborate as this.

The old goblin squinted and slowly looked him up and down, as if he were pondering something.

"Gucci," the old goblin suddenly spoke, his tone calm.

Gu Qi froze on the spot, his face full of astonishment: "You...you know me?"

"Three years ago, you passed through the sinkhole and stopped to rest at the entrance of the mine. I brought you a bowl of water."

The old goblin spoke calmly, paused, and slowly said his name, "My name is Grimm."