Elven Valley.
Flowers had withered, the grass had yellowed, and the streams ran murky. A rotting stench hung heavy in the air, and even the moonlight was obscured by a gray, gloomy haze.
The Elven Valley had lost its former vitality, leaving behind only a dead silence and desolation.
Every elf had witnessed that battle of gods, and they had especially witnessed the moment their Mother Tree set herself ablaze.
The Elven Valley was now completely unrecognizable. Unsure of where to go, they could only gather around Ning Busan, hoping their King would show them the way.
Ning Busan said in a deep voice, “The Elven Valley is no longer habitable, so we must leave. As long as we are all alive, wherever we go will become another Elven Valley.”
Silvin gave a bitter laugh. “But the Elven Mother Tree is no more.”
The elves behind him burst into sorrowful wailing.
“Who said Mother is gone?” A faint smile played at the corners of Ning Busan's lips.
Silvin thought of a possibility and asked in a trembling voice, “Do you mean...?”
Ning Busan's expression softened. “She is still alive. She has merely fallen into a deep sleep.”
Rising from death to life—only by experiencing true death could one comprehend the precious essence of life.
The Elven Mother Tree had found a blessing in disguise, actually condensing a godhead at the very last moment and ascending to a demigod.
However, her original body was destroyed. She was now in a deep sleep, leaving behind only a single seedling in Ning Busan's hands.
Ning Busan said softly, “Let us go to the human world. I will lead you to find a new home.”
Silvin knelt. “We follow in your footsteps, my King.”
...
Shadow Forest.
Ning Busan had redefined the phrase “bringing the whole family along.”
Leading over a hundred thousand elves, he made a grand migration from the Elven Valley to the Shadow Forest.
When looking for a new home, the Shadow Forest was the first place that came to Ning Busan's mind.
Its environment was similar to the Elven Valley, suitable for the elves to live in. Moreover, it bordered the Dawn Empire, meaning both sides could look out for each other when the Black Sun arrived in the future.
Ning Busan had initially thought that building infrastructure in the Shadow Forest would be a hassle, but to his utter surprise, Novalia had actually arranged everything beforehand.
Teacher Saige had led the members of the Mage Association to construct a magic teleportation array in the Shadow Forest that connected to the empire.
Meanwhile, the empire had prepared supplies long ago, even dispatching citizens of the Dawn Empire to help the elves build their new home.
This way, the elves would soon be able to integrate into the human world.
The person in charge of coordinating this matter was Ning Busan's acquaintance, Kaelan.
It was only after meeting Kaelan that Ning Busan realized Novalia had indeed prepared everything in advance.
Kaelan's voice was filled with excitement. “Ning Busan, not long after you left the Dawn Empire, Her Majesty already began preparing for today.”
“I can't believe you actually abducted the elves of the Elven Valley and brought them here!”
Ning Busan's face darkened with exasperation. “Watch your wording. Don't make me sound like a human trafficker.”
Kaelan hesitated for a moment before asking, “Ning Busan, how did you turn into an elf?”
With a thought from Ning Busan, his pointed ears and silver hair instantly vanished, and he reverted to his human appearance with black hair and black eyes.
Ning Busan said, “In the Shadow Forest, I am an elf; in the Dawn Empire, I am a human.”
Kaelan was dumbfounded.
His entire worldview was being shattered.
Ning Busan asked, “Those citizens sent as helpers are actually members of the four major legions, aren't they?”
Among the helping humans, he spotted many familiar faces, all of whom were elite soldiers from the four major legions.
Kaelan said with immense pride, “That's right! The four major legions volunteered to help! They even got into fights just to compete for a spot to come to the Shadow Forest!”
Ning Busan's expression turned strange. “Don't tell me you participated too?”
Kaelan said smugly, “I won, which is how I snatched this assignment.”
Ning Busan asked in confusion, “Why are you all so eager?”
Kaelan let out a dramatic cry. “Those are elves we're talking about!”
The Elven Clan, with their healing abilities, were definitely no less useful on the battlefield than an Advanced Light Mage, not to mention their legendary archery skills.
Now that the aloof Elven Clan had suddenly appeared in the world, what did it matter if they had to suck up to them, so what?
Ning Busan helplessly massaged his temples.
Along the way, he had talked himself hoarse, constantly lecturing these naive elves to be more vigilant when they reached the human world and not to blindly believe everything people said.
Well, looks like he had been worrying over nothing.
Still, seeing the elves and humans getting along so harmoniously did bring a deep sense of relief to Ning Busan.
Seeing Ning Busan's facial expressions shifting through a colorful range, Kaelan couldn't help but scratch his head. “Commander, is there something wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong,” Ning Busan said. “Arrange things however you see fit, and help them adapt to life in the human world as quickly as possible.”
As for him, he had more important matters to attend to.
Standing in the depths of the Shadow Forest, Ning Busan held a seedling that emitted a faint silver glow. It was so delicate that it looked as if a gust of wind could snap it.
This was the seedling of the Elven Mother Tree.
Ning Busan slowly knelt, dug a small hole, and then carefully placed the seedling inside.
He believed that one day, it would grow back into a towering tree, reclaiming its former glory.
Ning Busan murmured, “Everything will have a new beginning.”
...
Mage Association.
Ning Busan ascended to the top of the tower. Looking at the familiar oak door, he rapped his knuckles gently against it.
Since he had returned to the Dawn Empire, it was only proper to pay a visit to his teacher first.
“Come in.”
Ning Busan froze.
For the voice that came from inside did not belong to Teacher Saige, but was a woman's voice.
Pushing the door open, Ning Busan saw Teacher Saige sitting in his usual spot.
Opposite Teacher Saige sat an elegant noblewoman, holding a teacup with a faint smile on her lips.
“Ning Busan, you're finally back!” Saige looked up with a face full of pleasant surprise, then proceeded to introduce the noblewoman's identity. “This is Grand Archmage Mowen.”
Ning Busan hurriedly bowed. “Greetings, Master's wife!”
Mowen covered her mouth and giggled, fine lines crinkling at the corners of her eyes. “Saige often talks about you. I prepared a meeting gift for you long ago, and today I can finally give it to you.”
Thanks to that madwoman Hecate, Ning Busan now practically suffered from PTSD whenever he heard the words “meeting gift.”
Mowen took an exquisite little hourglass from her space ring. Inside the hourglass was not ordinary sand, but shimmering stardust.
“This is the Hourglass of Time.” Mowen handed the hourglass to Ning Busan, a hint of a mysterious smile in her eyes. “It won't actually reverse time, but it can help you deceive time.”
Taking the hourglass, Ning Busan asked curiously, “Deceive time? What does that mean?”
Mowen explained with a smile, “When you encounter danger, you can activate the hourglass. It will release a temporal illusion, plunging everything around you into a brief standstill.”
“This standstill only applies to others; for you, time will continue to flow normally. You can use this time to quickly escape from danger.”
Ning Busan looked down at the hourglass in his hand. Wasn't this the ultimate tool for saving his own life?
“Thank you, Master's wife!”
Now this was the correct way to present a meeting gift!
“Don't just stand there, take a seat.” Saige waved his hand, and a chair automatically slid up behind Ning Busan.
Ning Busan noticed that Saige didn't use any auxiliary aids when casting magic. He asked in surprise, “Teacher, are you using the new magic cultivation system?”
“It's not just me,” Saige said with a smile. “Right now, the entire Mage Association is using this new system.”
Ning Busan said with emotion, “It seems a lot has happened during the year I was away.”
Saige's voice was gentle. “It's fine. I can tell you all about it slowly.”
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