Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
Chapter 321: The Sacred Artifact That Cannot Be Borrowed
Xi Wei and the others didn’t have to wait long. A slight movement came from the oak tree on the left, and the large face of the tree guard reappeared on the trunk.
“Young Human King, you have gained the qualification to enter the Emerald Forest. However, I must remind you that it is forbidden to defecate anywhere within the Emerald Forest, nor is it allowed to discard garbage. Otherwise, I will smash you into a meat patty!”
Xi Wei: “…”
A clicking sound could be heard in his ears. The massive oak guard pulled its thick roots from the ground, clearing the path. The old, mottled trail reappeared before everyone, and in the distance, an elven village could be vaguely seen.
Xi Wei continued forward. He no longer needed Loli’s guidance from here on.
On both sides of the stone path were tall tree houses. The elves wove spherical nests in the trees with vines, about two meters in diameter, which swayed with the wind. Most elves lived in these tree houses.
Some with higher status had their own tree hollows or tree houses made of wooden planks. The elven royal family lived on the branches of the World Tree. They didn’t need houses, as they were protected from wind and rain. When they wanted to rest, they could simply lie on the trunk, which provided the most comfortable warm bed.
Every few meters, stone pillars made of obsidian could be seen. Statues of past elven kings or empresses sat on stone thrones carved with flowers and grass. Some held staffs, while others gripped swords, their expressions lifelike under the skilled craftsmanship of the elven artisans, solemnly watching Xi Wei and his party pass by.
“It’s humans!”
“Shhh—”
“And behind them… are Demi? How beautiful…”
Whispers came from the surroundings.
Xi Wei saw this out of the corner of his eye.
Many elves poked their heads out of their tree houses to observe their group.
Young elves mostly had curious and probing gazes, while older elves generally had cold expressions, especially when their eyes swept over Xi Wei, showing clear hostility and contempt.
Faintly, Xi Wei could still feel a hint of killing intent. It was the Sword Dance Master, hidden among the dark canopies, drawing his bow and aiming at their group. If not for the Empress’s command, arrows would have already been loosed.
The three continued to advance.
The elves around them grew more numerous, and their equipment and clothing became increasingly exquisite and luxurious.
They stopped what they were doing, their gazes scrutinizing the outsiders, their smiles gradually disappearing. The liveliness in the air seemed to be put on pause, turning silent.
It was in this oppressive atmosphere that Xi Wei and his party finally reached the end of the stone path.
It was a giant tree emitting golden light, its trunk engraved with ancient totems resembling swimming dragons.
It stretched as far as the eye could see, surrounded by a large number of Oakwood Guardians.
But compared to this giant tree, these Oakwood Guardians were like infants.
It stood like a city wall before them. Looking up, they saw a dense network of golden branches, and further up, the canopy of the oak obscured the view, allowing them to catch only glimpses of the deep blue, star-studded night sky through the gaps in the leaves.
Despite the magnificent sight before them, Xi Wei still sensed an aura of twilight and weakness from this ancient giant tree.
The Elven Empress stood beneath the World Tree. She wore a gauze robe adorned with carved flowers and green leaves, a golden thorny crown on her head, and her feet were bare. She stood with her back to Xi Wei and the others, as if in prayer.
Several terrifyingly powerful Elf Elders stood by her side, glaring at the outsiders with fierce eyes.
Xi Wei did not rashly disturb the praying Elven Empress. He waited patiently. He was here to ask for a favor, and the Elven Empress was a Legendary-grade powerhouse. If he couldn’t even muster this much patience, he might as well go back to sleep.
Elven Empress Alice finished her final blessing. She gazed quietly at the unresponsive World Tree, feeling somewhat numb.
Since becoming Elven Empress, she had prayed to the World Tree 97,245 times.
Yet, not once had she received a response from the World Tree.
If not for the fact that this golden giant tree still possessed a life force, she might truly have believed that the World Tree had departed from them.
After finishing her prayer, Elven Empress Alice turned around and carefully examined Xi Wei and his party. Her gaze lingered on Loli for a long time, and then she spoke with a cold, sarcastic tone:
“Isn’t this the King of Winter? What a rare guest. Back then, when you cursed the elves, I thought you would never set foot in the Emerald Forest. After all, in your eyes, how dirty and chaotic a place the Emerald Forest is, and how arrogant and rude we elves are?”
As the Elven Empress spoke, Xi Wei felt his cheeks flush.
Last time, relying on the constraints of the God of Contracts, he knew the Elven Empress wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.
Therefore, after signing the contract, he had unleashed a torrent of criticism at the Elven Empress and the elves.
Now, retribution had arrived.
“Actually, I was just joking. I meant no harm,” Xi Wei said with a laugh, his wide eyes spouting lies that even he didn’t believe.
Elven Empress Alice shook her head and said softly, “Although you scolded us fiercely, I am aware of many things myself. The elves of today are indeed not as pure as before. In many aspects, your scolding was correct. We elves certainly have many areas that need to change… So, what is your purpose in coming to the Forest of Spirits today?”
The expected confrontational scene did not materialize.
Xi Wei looked at Elven Empress Alice with surprise. This Empress, who had lived for nearly a thousand years, had deep wisdom flickering in her emerald green eyes. At this moment, she was as calm as a tranquil lake.
He had overthought things.
Could a woman who had lived for almost a thousand years and could be his great-great-grandmother really hold grudges like him?
That would be a disgrace to a Legendary-grade powerhouse.
Xi Wei looked up, meeting the Elven Empress’s gaze. He relaxed somewhat and said sincerely:
“The Emerald Fortress is about to be attacked by the Undead. I wish to borrow your elves’ Sacred Artifact, the [Star Dew Judgment Sword].”
“I’m very sorry, but that is not possible,” Alice said calmly, looking at Xi Wei. She slowly continued, “The [Star Dew Judgment Sword] is currently placed in the Life Spring. If you take it away, the Life Spring will completely dry up in less than a day. Moreover, even if you take the Sacred Artifact, it will be useless because this Sacred Artifact needs the Unicorn tribe to activate it.”
“Why?” Xi Wei’s expression was astonished.
“It needs the Unicorn tribe to activate it, I understand that. But why would it cause the Life Spring to completely dry up if it’s taken away?”
Elven Empress Alice moved her lips as if to say something, but in the end, it turned into a sigh. Her gaze dimmed slightly, like a bright corridor with the lights turned off. After a pause, she said to Xi Wei, “Come with me. You’ll understand why I cannot lend you the Sacred Artifact.”
Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh
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