NOVGO.NET Chapter 2980: Reproduction
Chapter 2980: Reproduction
The lined-up Azure Dragons bowed as the platform floated past them.
On the other floating islands, other beasts stood, watching the procession from a distance. There were a few Azure Dragons there too, but almost all of the rest weren’t.
Alex guessed them to be family members of the Azure Dragons or servants and guards that were allowed to stay there.
The metal platform took nearly 3 minutes to fly to the base of the main palace where they could see the place in more clarity. The pyramidal building had stages to it like a pagoda, but not as detailed. It was also very tall, reaching a height that was higher than the White Tigers’ palace.
He understood now why there was the need to have the barrier lift halfway into the air instead of being formed around the base.
The platform finally landed and the Azure Dragon patriarch moved forward.
“Patriarch Zhuqiang, it has been far too long since we last met,” the Azure Dragon patriarch said. “I pray you have been well.”
“Very well, Patriarch Sunwen. How have you been?” the White Tiger patriarch asked.
“Never better,” the Azure Dragon patriarch laughed. He looked at the other White Tigers and guards next. “I welcome you all to our palace. I hope you’ll have a pleasant time here.”
The beast’s eyes passed through everyone, landing on Alex for a second too long before moving away.
“I have prepared rooms for you if you wish to rest,” the Azure Dragon patriarch said. “I will have my children show you the way.”
“It was a short trip, Patriarch Sunwen. How could we be tired?” the White Tiger patriarch said. “Instead, we are more excited to be in your presence. Let us have some talk.”
The Azure Dragon smiled. “Come with me then.”
The two patriarchs began moving up the stairs into the palace, and the rest slowly followed.
Pearl looked around the place, seeing past the land and the buildings, and at the people. There were so many Azure Dragons around, with their azure dragon scales, and their brown horns and long whiskers. Their talons were sharp and their thick tails ended in a patch of fur.
Compared to them, he was no Azure Dragon at all. He felt so very out of place.
Alex saw Pearl’s look and rubbed him on his back before pushing him forward to follow the patriarchs. Pearl did.
They walked through massive silver doors, the floor covered in streaks of white and emerald marble. Giant blue pillars stood inside, holding up the entire palace.
The massive hall had a giant staircase that coiled around the inside of the building, moving straight to the top, as though it were a coiling dragon.
Alex and Pearl looked around, slightly stunned by the size and architecture of the place. The palace itself was no better than the White Tiger palace, but it was of such a different feel and design that they couldn’t help but be impressed.
The patriarchs talked loudly in the front, speaking of things that Alex couldn’t help but want to hear about.
They first talked about the birth rate of the beasts in either place, and the decreasing number each year. Then they talked about the gender of the ones being born.
The Azure Dragon patriarch seemed to feel it a shame that there weren’t more females being born, while the White Tiger patriarch felt it a shame that more males weren’t being born.
Alex was somehow confused by their discussion, so he asked Bai Jingshen if he knew anything about it.
“It has to do with the number of children born of either of the beasts,” Bai Jingshen explained. “In the case of the White Tigers, the females of our species cannot give birth to more than one beast at the same time. Even though felines are used to giving birth to litters, White Tigers cannot.”
“As a result, the only way to increase the amount of White Tigers being born is for the male to find as many partners as they could and hope they get lucky.”
“Alternatively, the female Azure Dragons lay eggs, and many of them at that too. As a result, the females are considered more valuable than males from that perspective. That is why the Azure Dragons tend to have a single partner too.”
“Oh!” Alex said with a surprised look. “Why can’t the male Azure Dragons do what the White Tigers do?”
“It’s just how they are. Polygamy isn’t encouraged, and no other serpentine beast lays as many eggs as an Azure Dragon at once. So, the females are considered much more valuable to continue the bloodline.”
“I see. I didn’t consider the social aspect,” Alex said. “What about the other two beasts?”
Bai Jingshen continued. “The Black Tortoises have double the amount of beasts on either side, so they’re mostly fine either way. Although, they do have the least potential of all to give birth to another Black Tortoise.”
“In the case of the Vermilion Birds, things are a little more complicated. The phoenix are weird in that they can only mate a single time for the sake of progeny. The male phoenix’s sperm production shuts down after mating once. The female phoenix can only ever accept sperm a single time.”
“On either side, they can only give birth once in their life, so they are encouraged to find partners outside of beasts with their bloodline. They are the only beasts that encourage finding beasts with as little bloodline as possible so that the ones with greater bloodline can have children of their own.”
Alex was rather surprised upon hearing that. “Then the Vermilion Birds must have the least amount of members among all four families.”
Bai Jingshen laughed. “You would think that, but no. While they technically do have much fewer overall members, the chances of them giving birth to another Vermilion Bird is so high that they make up for it. From a single progenitor, in the generations it has been since the blessing, they have still managed to gather over a thousand of their species.”