A massive Frost Array faintly emerged in the sky, the air filled with waves of chill. It was a combination of the Moonlight Formation and water elements, but it appeared much stronger than before. The group of elves were excessively provoking, even Ji Qian, who was known for her calmness, was angered.
"Protect Her Highness the Queen." The elf girl named Liruo swung her sword towards Ji Qian. A beam of silver light fell from the sky; Liruo, startled, dodged to the side. Before she could react, two more silver lights fell, striking Liruo like lightning.
"Bang." Suddenly, two green lights shot from the side, colliding precisely with the two silver lights. The energies clashed, causing a violent explosion in the air, even the Array in the sky trembled slightly.
"Such powerful energy." Ye Shikai’s gaze sharpened as he turned to look towards the source of the green light, which was the elf queen standing nearby, holding a green longbow, her eyes fiery.
"Alright, alright, stop fighting, let’s talk this out." Ye Shikai, sensing the elf queen’s mighty strength, felt it was not the right time for a fight. He quickly rushed between the two parties, expecting them to start fighting again, but his shout made the elf queen raise a hand, signaling everyone not to fight.
"Your Highness, we mean no offense. We are here just to search for something. Once we find it, we will leave and not cause any trouble to your side," Ye Shikai said lightly, then waited for the elf queen’s response.
"I’ve already told you, we don’t have what you’re looking for."
"I haven’t even said what it is yet, how do you know?" Ye Shikai retorted.
"Humans, even if we have it, we will not give it to you. Her Highness kindly lets you leave, do not be ungrateful, now get out of here," Liruo, like a petulant girl, scolded them.
"Liruo, step back," said the elf queen indifferently, her expression always calm and aloof.
"Dao Soul, what’s going on, are there really elves in this world?" Ye Shikai communicated with his Dao Soul mentally.
"Everything in the world is endless. This forest is like a Barrier, who knows how long these elves have been living here," Dao Soul responded lightly, acknowledging the existence of elves, yet only within this secluded forest, unknown to the world.
"Kid, don’t think these elves look as young as girls. Elves absorb the essence of heaven and earth to live, enduring through the ages, they have very long lifespans. By elf’s age calculation, that so-called young elf Liruo might already be over a thousand years old."
"Another thousand-year-old demon." Ye Shikai lamented, "It seems that these elves have a significant prejudice against humans."
"Indeed, thousands of years ago, elves used to live in human habitats and even coexisted peacefully for a while. But later, due to certain reasons, the two races gradually turned against each other, becoming strangers and even enemies, harming each other."
"Reason, what reason?" Ye Shikai curiously inquired, but Dao Soul did not respond, falling silent as if Ye Shikai had asked something he shouldn’t have.
"The greed and ambition of humans, the pride and arrogance of elves, are destined to be incompatible."
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"Your Highness the Queen, I need to find something on this tree in your land. I hope Your Highness can grant it to me, and I will offer something in return," Ye Shikai spoke earnestly, but the elven queen huffed coldly and turned to leave.
"Today, I must obtain it, please excuse my rudeness." As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Shikai vanished from his spot, turning into a black shadow, stepping on a distant giant tree, and soared upwards like a monkey, rushing upwards. Only then did Ye Shikai realize that this giant tree was far more than just a tree. Small and large, bud-shaped houses were nestled on the branches—an elven habitat, indeed.
The elven queen’s expression changed, she stomped on the spot, directly stepping on the upper branch and sprinting with such speed that it was astonishing.
"Whoosh." An arrow shot from the bowstring, Ye Shikai felt a chill on his back, swiftly dodged to the side, and the arrow grazed his shirt. Just as Ye Shikai breathed a sigh of relief, he found the arrow eerily turning direction, heading towards him from the side again.
"Damn it." Ye Shikai cursed loudly, what in the world was this, immediately taking out a metal sword from the Storage Ring, clashing with the arrows, sparking.
"Whoosh, whoosh." Suddenly, two more arrows flew from behind, Ye Shikai used his agile movements to dodge, but these arrows were like missiles, automatically tracking and showing no signs of stopping.
Ye Shikai abruptly stopped on a tree branch, concentrating his Inner Strength in his palm, forming a purple Energy Shield in front, stopping the incoming arrows.
"Stop right there." Ye Shikai roared, his Inner Strength surged, and the arrows fell to the ground, unable to fly again.
"Thud." At this moment, a slight vibration came from the branch, Ye Shikai turned his head, and the elven queen was standing behind him, watching him with a cold gaze.
"Your Highness, I mean no offense. I came here to seek this item to save my wife, please grant it to me." Ye Shikai’s forced entry was indeed wrong, but it seemed the elves also harbored murderous intentions. Still, Ye Shikai had no intention to massacre, hoping to negotiate for the awakening fruit.
"Do you humans even deserve to talk about love?" The elven queen said coldly, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt.
"For the sake of love, I dare to come into your territory; do you dare to stroll in our human cities for the sake of love?" Ye Shikai retorted coldly.
"What do you want." The elven queen’s face changed slightly, she asked coldly.
"Awakening fruit," Ye Shikai stated clearly.
"Impossible, that is our elves’ Holy Fruit, how could we give it to you humans?" At this point, Liruo also jumped up, yelling directly at Ye Shikai.
"What, Holy Fruit?" Ye Shikai hadn’t expected that the awakening fruit was the elves’ Holy Fruit, and it seemed they highly valued it, likely they wouldn’t give it to him.
"I must obtain it today." Ye Shikai answered forcefully, for Su Qingyu, even if he had to bear the name of a robber, it didn’t matter. At this point, a group of elven soldiers rushed up, surrounding Ye Shikai, it seemed a fierce battle was imminent. Ye Shikai took out his metal sword, vigilantly watching the movements around him.