Chapter 2: New Century (Epilogue)
The Starlight Sacred Judgment Sword was fully unfurled.
Its magnificent blade stood upright.
Specks of fluorescent light gradually appeared around them.
Finally, a golden, shining phantom condensed on the tree stump.
The light gradually dimmed.
Xi Wei then realized it was a little elf.
She was no more than three inches tall, exquisite in appearance, with a chubby, pretty face, wearing a dress made of golden rose petals. Three pairs of translucent, silver-light wings grew behind her.
However, her wings were now drooping, and the little elf herself was curled up, in a deep sleep. Her furrowed brow indicated she was suffering immense pain.
“This is the Treant of the Life Tree. As you can see, the Life Tree has been severed, and its Treant is severely injured. If not for the protection of the Sacred Artifact, she would have already dissipated.”
The Elven Empress knelt down and gently stroked the Treant’s head.
Greenish light flowed from her fingertips, carrying the breath of life. This light was absorbed by the Treant, but she still showed no signs of waking.
“My life energy is not pure enough to be effective in healing the Treant’s injuries. I can only alleviate her suffering… Our Treants primarily cultivate wind and nature energies. Only High Elves rarely give birth to special beings who possess life energy.”
The Elven Empress spoke as her gaze lingered on Loli.
Xi Wei looked at the pitiful Treant, feeling overwhelmed.
The Life Tree and Life Spring were undoubtedly indispensable existences for the elves. If he took the Starlight Sacred Judgment Sword away and the Treant died, wouldn’t the elves fight him to the death?
But then he remembered that the Elven Empress had just mentioned High Elves and life energy…
Realizing this later, Xi Wei looked up and happened to see the Elven Empress gazing at Loli expectantly. He immediately understood why the Elven Empress had so casually allowed them to witness the dying Life Tree.
She was hoping Loli would help heal the Life Tree…
First, she played the victim, then displayed the pathetic Treant, and finally explained the relationship between the Treant and the Starlight Sacred Judgment Sword. This Elven Empress, who appeared harmless, was quite calculating.
A normal person would have immediately offered to help heal the Life Tree, following the flow of events.
But Xi Wei was different.
He thought much further ahead than ordinary people.
He was destined to rule the entire North Continent.
After resolving this matter, his next targets would be the Andor Empire and the Orc Royal Court.
At that time, he would declare war on the Andor Empire and, after defeating them, march his army against the orcs.
Helping the elves restore their Life Spring would undoubtedly strengthen them.
No one could guarantee that the strengthened elves wouldn’t retaliate against humans.
After hearing Edna Seatingway’s story, Xi Wei gained a new understanding of the conflict between elves and humans. Edna Seatingway had managed to escape, but how many other elves had not?
They were still suffering in human brothels, exploited by human nobles and wealthy merchants, their lives prolonged under the influence of drugs.
Currently, there were three Legendary-grade existences among the elves.
For Xi Wei, three Legendary-grade existences were already immense pressure, so he had to suppress the elves’ development as much as possible.
He would address the oppression and humiliation of elf slaves within the empire. He could maintain a political stance of non-interference with the elves, which was the extent of what he could do.
“Loli, can you heal the Treant?”
Xi Wei turned to the little maid who had been silent all this time and asked in a low voice.
Loli had appeared lost in thought all the way, quietly observing everything around her. Even when she saw the Treant, her expression was serene.
Loli didn’t look at the expectant Elven Empress. She blinked her big eyes at Xi Wei. They understood each other perfectly, able to convey much with just a glance. She smiled slightly and said:
“Master, my life energy might be able to heal the Treant, but the Treant is a high-level lifeform, and each treatment consumes a lot of effort. Moreover, the Treant cannot be healed in one go; it requires multiple treatments at specific times, so…”
Xi Wei immediately understood Loli’s meaning. He knew Loli had seen through his thoughts. It was clear that Loli was confident she could heal the Treant, but she didn’t want to give the elves an easy deal. She wanted to take the Treant with her.
As the saying goes, a wife follows her husband. Xi Wei was immensely pleased and turned to see what Elven Empress Alice would say.
“Can she really heal the Treant?”
Elven Empress Alice’s voice trembled slightly, like a wind chime stirred by the night wind. The fingers holding her staff were white, and hope shone brightly in her eyes.
Only she and a few elders knew about the Treant’s impending death.
The elves’ powerful physique was not only due to their natural gifts but also to their long-term consumption of Life Spring water. Their potent vitality and self-healing abilities were nurtured by the prolonged nourishment of Life Water.
In reality, the elves’ physique was already far inferior to what it once was. To conceal the fact that the Life Spring was drying up, Alice had to give the elves diluted Life Spring water, greatly reducing its effectiveness.
Since learning from the previous Elven Empress that the Life Tree had been severed and was dying,
she had barely slept a wink.
Hearing now that there was hope for the Life Tree’s recovery, how could she not be excited?
“There should be no problem, but as you heard, it cannot be healed all at once and requires multiple treatments. Each treatment is also very taxing,” Xi Wei reiterated.
“Those are not problems,” Elven Empress Alice could not conceal the excitement on her face. She looked at Loli as if she were the savior of the elven race. She walked up to Loli and said sincerely:
“As long as you are willing to stay in the Emerald Forest and treat the Treant, you can use the Starlight Sacred Judgment Sword for as long as you wish.”
“Furthermore, as Empress, I will grant you the position of Grand Elder of the Shrine, and your power will be almost equal to mine, except for major decisions concerning the race.”
Perhaps feeling that these promises were not enough, Elven Empress Alice continued to entice Loli:
“Your statue will be erected in the most beautiful and conspicuous location in the Emerald Forest, and every elf will sincerely revere you.”
Anyone looking objectively would agree that the conditions offered by the Elven Empress were exceptionally generous.
She would be second only to the Empress herelf, transforming from a mere maidservant of a human king into the Grand Elder of a divine shrine of a superior race, receiving the adoration and worship of all elves.
But despite such temptation,
Loli resolutely shook her head. She affectionately linked arms with Xi Wei and, tilting her pretty face, blinked her big eyes and smiled at Empress Alice:
“Thank you for your favor, but I only wish to stay by my Master’s side.”
