Chapter 177: Dragon's Might

In a short span, Muria watched as the girl's decaying face rapidly healed, the gray mist dispersing from her face at a visible speed.

Afterward, a pale, bloodless, delicate face appeared before everyone. This was the girl's true appearance.

"So pitiful!" Someone in the crowd sighed with regret upon seeing the girl's restored face.

"Yes, such a good girl afflicted by such a curse is truly pitiful. Thankfully, she's now recovered."

Hearing these sympathetic comments from the crowd, Muria glanced at them with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

When the girl's face was decaying, he didn't hear a word of sympathy from them. Now that the girl's face had recovered, revealing her beauty, they began to show their compassion.

Truly, the superficial nature of humans is repulsive!

"Is she cured then?" Muria asked.

"It's still early days!" The High Priest continued casting divine spells, his hands still glowing with spiritual light. "The curse on her isn't just on her face. These sores caused by the curse cover her entire body. It's hard to imagine how a child of her age could endure such pain."

The gray mist continued to rise from the girl's body, and a slight blush began to appear on her pale face. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, as if she was about to open her eyes.

"Her life force is quite weak," Muria observed, looking at the girl lying on the ground.

"She's been cursed for too long. Without external help, even if I expel the curse from her body, she won't live much longer," the High Priest said with a sigh.

"Not live much longer?" Muria saw Zolong's face turn extremely pale. "Give me a specific timeframe."

"About ten to fifteen years. That's how long this girl has left."

"That short?" Muria raised an eyebrow. Such a short time span is indeed too brief for those of long-lived species. A mature dragon wouldn't even consider it enough time for a nap.

"Ten years." A glimmer of hope shone in Zolong's eyes as he looked eagerly at the High Priest still treating his sister. "Priest, please tell me, what can replenish my sister's life force and extend her life?"

"There are many things that can replenish your sister's life force," the High Priest said without looking up. He then took a crystal bottle from his robe and, under everyone's watchful eyes, uncorked it and poured its contents into the girl's mouth.

"For example, this Holy Water Essence I hold."

As the milky white, divinely glowing Holy Water flowed into the girl's mouth, her complexion quickly improved, and her life force began to rise rapidly.

Muria, surprised by this scene, paused his actions. He had prepared to take out some items to replenish the girl's life force. Before coming here, he had brought several bottles of the Tree of Life's sap, ready for any emergencies.

"She's recovered!" Zolong exclaimed with joy as his sister quickly looked better after drinking the milky liquid. Hesitating, he then asked the High Priest, "How can I obtain Holy Water Essence?"

"It's simple, buy it from the temple," the High Priest said casually.

"How much?"

"Twenty gold coins."

"That's not bad!" Zolong sighed in relief. Twenty gold coins were within his means.

"For one drop."

Zolong's face froze, realizing the small bottle could contain hundreds of drops of Holy Water Essence, meaning his sister had consumed thousands of gold coins' worth.

"I don't have that much money!" Zolong's forehead sweated profusely. Over a thousand gold coins were far beyond his means.

"Don't worry about it. This bottle of Holy Water Essence is a gift from me..." Before the High Priest could finish, he paused, his gaze landing on Muria.

"Why are you looking at me?" Muria stepped back, puzzled.

"Aren't you the one helping this young man?" the High Priest looked at Muria. "If you're helping, then you might as well cover the treatment costs."

"You were about to say it's a gift."

"Was I?" The High Priest smiled at Muria, his attitude changing now that he had confirmed Muria's alignment as lawful good, albeit with impulsive actions.

"Let's round it up then, 1,500 gold coins."

"I don't have that." Muria flatly refused, not having a single coin on him, let alone human currency.

"Oh." The High Priest nodded, then turned to Zolong, "From now on, you owe me 1,500 gold coins. Starting tomorrow, you should prepare..."

Muria, annoyed, took out a few nuggets of gold and threw them in front of the High Priest—loot he had casually taken from the small black dragon he had 'educated.'

"Is this enough?"

"Enough." The High Priest happily collected the gold nuggets, unconcerned about Muria's attitude, as he had his own suspicions about Muria's identity.

"Boom!"

Just then, the ground began to tremble slightly, and the sound of horses charging and dust rising came from the streets leading to the Dawn Temple.

The forces of Redleaf City, previously alarmed by Muria breaking the temple's defense, had finally mobilized. Four cavalry units were charging towards the temple.

"Hold on, Lord Anro!" The voices came before the men. Amidst the neighing of horses and the thunderous sound of hooves, the watching crowd panicked, scattering to avoid the charging cavalry, knowing well the consequences of standing in their way.

"Aren't you going to act?" The High Priest, his eyes gleaming, looked at Muria as the girl was no longer emitting gray mist. "Wait any longer, and there will be casualties. Can you bear to watch?"

"Hmph! I despise disorder." Muria looked at the chaotic crowd and the disorganized, charging cavalry with different banners and armor. "A rabble!"

Then, "Boom!" A pale golden dragon's might surged from Muria's small body, instantly covering everything within his gaze. Everything froze under this oppressive force.

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