After the Source went missing, the path of natural advancement for the natives of the Dragon Plane was cut off. Dragonkind chose to throw in their lot with the *# plane to obtain a way to keep growing stronger; then, in the late stage of the war, sensing that the *# plane was faltering, they turned their coats again. Finally, perhaps the covenant races demanded that dragonkind surrender the Refinement Art or stop that cultivation. Dragonkind refused, betrayed them once more, and set themselves against every race of the Dragon Plane.
The conjecture was not necessarily correct, but whether it was correct hardly mattered. The connection between the two planes and the function of the Refinement Art were the true, useful prize.
Lina had earned great merit.