Chapter 515 – Affiliated Forces, Elf Panel

The ongoing evacuation of mining site employees across Tianyuan City was because Mu Yuan planned to relocate all mineral veins to the city’s periphery.

They had attempted vein migration before, but it proved excessively time-consuming and laborious.

Now, relocating mineral veins had become over a hundred times simpler—he could even dispense with auxiliary formations.

With Dolai freezing space with one hand and lifting the earth with the other, it was more than sufficient.

Moving mineral veins was no different from relocating secret realms.

“However, had Dolai not evolved, it would have struggled immensely—perhaps even failed—to lift the Natural Garden Realm.”

For one thing,

Before evolution… prior to acquiring the spatial imprint, Dolai’s Space-Tearing Seal had a maximum range of only 32 kilometers, insufficient to cover a hundred-kilometer area.

Of course, it could disperse the seal to expand its coverage, but control would diminish accordingly.

Before obtaining the spatial imprint, Dolai’s spatial manipulation wasn’t as refined either—it certainly couldn’t freeze space with a mere clap of its hands.

A few hours later,

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Gathered elemental energy churned like rolling clouds, within which landmasses resembling floating island domains loomed—mysterious and majestic.

They slowly descended in the eastern outskirts of Tianyuan City, a hundred kilometers away.

“CRASH—!”

A wave of dust surged upward, sweeping outward in all directions, hurling massive boulders and snapping ancient trees towering over a hundred meters tall in the storm.

Upon this colossal island—or rather, towering mountain—the entrance to the Natural Garden Realm was faintly visible.

Spatial ripples shimmered unstably around the realm’s entrance, but overall, it remained intact.

The relocation was complete.

“This… it’s finished already?”

“From now on, you’ll reside here. Is that acceptable?”

“Y-yes, it is.”

Mirena, who had maintained a dazed expression throughout, snapped back to reality and stammered her reply.

Relocation was merely the first phase. Subsequently, they would gradually level this landmass, transforming it into a sprawling mountain range within the region.

Though time-consuming and labor-intensive, it presented no significant challenges.

“But this is a massive task—a colossal project.”

Isloria sighed, rubbing her forehead.

What could one do with such a lord? Support him, of course.

…

Half an hour later,

Tianyuan City, City Lord’s Mansion.

Mirena arrived with the three other Legendary Realm experts from the Natural Garden to express their gratitude.

Taking a deep breath, she declared, “City Lord, from this day forward, whatever you command, we of the Natural Garden will spare no effort to fulfill.”

Mu Yuan didn’t stand on ceremony.

His assistance stemmed partly from unwillingness to watch allies perish in calamity and partly because the culturally and technically adept elves could serve as backbone staff in many of Tianyuan City’s positions.

This was mutually beneficial.

Just as he was about to speak, a “ding” echoed in his ears—a prompt from the world itself.

「Ding!」

「Prompt: Natural Garden Lord ‘Mirena’ has submitted a request to pledge allegiance to Tianyuan City.」

「Prompt: Will you accept Lord Mirena’s submission? Upon acceptance, the force ‘Natural Garden’ will become subordinate to Tianyuan City as an affiliated territory. The liege will possess taxation rights, limited oversight, and partial administrative authority over the vassal territory.」

「Prompt: As a Tier 5 territory, Tianyuan City can currently host up to three vassal territories.」

This…

Such pledges of fealty were rare within the Taixuan Alliance.This is due to the existence of the Alliance, where internal conflicts are rare, and Lords either join forces to fight monsters or expand outward.

However, outside the Alliance, in many neutral lands without factions or strong governance, it is not uncommon for weaker Lords to pledge allegiance to stronger ones, and for stronger Lords to swear fealty and offer tribute to even more powerful ones.

In old-era forces like the Holy Griffin Empire, Lords often exist in a hierarchical structure of allegiance, level by level.

Mu Yuan looked at Mirena, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Mirena said, “This isn’t just my idea; it’s the collective decision of our Nature’s Garden.”

“In that case…”

Having come this far, Mu Yuan wouldn’t hesitate.

He didn’t deny that he had always been quite envious of these capable and pleasing-to-the-eye elves.

Back in the day, when he saw a Lord with a famous natural elf in the Player Association, he was extremely envious.

There are many types of elves.

Common wood elves, gray elves.

And also rare, noble natural elves.

And Nature’s Garden is a faction composed entirely of natural elves!

「Accept!」

「Prompt: You have accepted the allegiance of Lord Mirena.」

「Prompt: The panel has been updated. You can now view basic information related to the ‘Nature’s Garden’ faction under the panel’s vassal section and set tax rates.」

「Prompt: As you have gained the sincere allegiance of an elf faction, the probability of obtaining high-tier elf-related items from the world’s blessings has increased.」

What’s the principle behind this?

Mu Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully when another prompt sounded in his ear.

「Prompt: Vassal Lord ‘Mirena’ has made all information public. You can now view all information of the ‘Nature’s Garden’ faction.」

He glanced at Mirena.

Mirena smiled slightly, her expression carrying the inherent elegance and restraint of elves.

Her reasoning was simple: since they were pledging allegiance to Tianyuan City, rather than hiding secrets, it was better to disclose everything to gain more trust from the Tianyuan City Lord.

Their Nature’s Garden inherits from an old-era lineage of the Elf Empire.

With a long history and profound connotation, they do possess some secrets.

But compared to Tianyuan City, she felt these secrets were no big deal.

She hadn’t forgotten that half a year to a year ago, Tianyuan City was struggling to hold its ground against Jackal Fang’s attacks, and now, even top-tier experts from Dragon’s Slumber Valley crossing domains could be slaughtered like chickens.

Mu Yuan opened the panel.

「Tianyuan City」

「Vassal Territory: Nature’s Garden」

——

「Nature’s Garden」

「Rank: LV5 (Incomplete)」

「Lord: Mirena (Click to view detailed information)」

「Legendary Realm: Moon Elf High Priestess · Helala, Moon Elf Sharpshooter · Linn, Natural Druid · Marisha (Click to view detailed information in order)」

「Population: 15622 (Click to expand)↓」

「Number of Fourth Order Natural Elves: 96; Number of Third Order Natural Elves: …; Second Order…」

「Buildings: Natural Priestess Statue (Class Change Building), Wind-Chasing Hunting Grounds (Class Change Building), Natural Holy Spring (Epic), Natural Well (Excellent) ×3, Natural Flower Field (Excellent) ×3, …」

——

「Natural Holy Spring: Draws upon natural power, periodically condensing Excellent Materials at random intervals, with a very small chance of producing Epic Materials.」This Natural Holy Spring is likely the reason why the elves could still produce a small number of powerful individuals despite being besieged by dominant forces.

Mu Yuan wasn’t particularly envious of it.

What he coveted were people, not objects.

In his view, the construction of Nature’s Garden was merely passable. But these over ten thousand nature elves were extraordinary—they were all rare-tier or higher beings.

Among them were elves with exceptional talents, and even epic-level talents.

However, Nature’s Garden had always lacked resources, so the vast majority of these nature elves only had apprentice-level cultivation. But aside from their cultivation, most of them had mastered one or two skills, primarily herbal cultivation.

Setting aside combat prowess, those with high talents clearly had greater learning abilities.

“From now on, let us work together to build our home into a more prosperous place.”

“Yes, my Lord!”

…

A meeting in Tianyuan City was quickly convened, announcing that Nature’s Garden had joined their big family.

In the short term, elves and humans wouldn’t be able to live together harmoniously.

There were still many headaches—the construction of the elf residential area in the eastern part of the city, employment arrangements for the elves, major strategic planning, and so on.

But this time, Tianyuan City’s chief minister ‘Isloria’, who was responsible for these matters, didn’t complain but instead welcomed them enthusiastically.

“Come, come, come! Tianyuan City’s municipal department is recruiting! Direct hiring by this minister, capable elves sign up quickly~!”

“This seems a bit inefficient?”

She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the shadow beside her, “Caw Caw, how about we organize a group to hold a recruitment fair in Nature’s Garden?”

Sophia: “…Aren’t you being a bit too eager?”

But she could understand it.

…

The other three Legendary Realm experts from Nature’s Garden had returned to the Secret Realm. They were responsible for coordinating and communicating with Isloria to settle their new home as quickly as possible.

Mirena, the Lord of Nature’s Garden, was asked by Mu Yuan to stay in Tianyuan City for the time being.

‘Staying here isn’t bad, but why did the City Lord specifically ask me to stay alone? What does he mean?’

‘I’m not young anymore… although if you convert it according to the lifespan ratio between humans and elves, I’m only equivalent to a human in their twenties.’

‘But I…’

“Mirena, do you desire power?”

“Ah?”

Mirena was stunned. She didn’t quite understand, but maintained the elegant demeanor inherent to elves.

“What do you mean, Lord?”

“Come with me. I will grant you power.”

The two entered the Dragon Mound Fertile Soil Realm.

At the same time, Mu Yuan opened Mirena’s status panel.

「Mirena」

「Class: Divine Moon Elf · Sword Master (Epic 2-Star)」

「Realm: Legendary Heaven-Earth Realm · 2800 meters」

「Skills: Crescent Slash (Epic), Natural Cultivation Method, Nature’s Healing, Chaotic Blossom Sword Technique, Nine Consecutive Shots, Moonlight Stroll, …」

「Talents: Lunar Body, Nature’s Body」

Mirena was likely one of those nature elves whose Divine Moon bloodline had awakened to its ancestral state.

Her natural aptitude was extremely high, with a rank as impressive as Epic 2-Star.

Nature’s Garden had no treasures to enhance one’s rank, so undoubtedly, Mirena was born with high talent.

She was a super genius, one in ten thousand!

However…

Mirena’s combat prowess seemed lacking. As an Epic 2-Star lifeform, she appeared unable to match even a Peak Heaven-Earth Realm expert.”She has sufficient rank, but her bloodline power hasn’t been fully excavated – she only possesses one Epic Skill.”

“Moreover, it seems she suffered foundation damage in her early years, which has affected her combat strength and hindered her future progress.”

Though she was at Epic Two-Star, following her current cultivation pace, her future path would at most reach the Peak of Heaven-Earth Realm.

She had no hope of reaching the Soul Realm.

Even reaching the Peak of Heaven-Earth Realm would likely require a long period of stagnation before breaking through.

“Yes, I sustained some injuries in my early years,” she said.

“At that time, the situation was urgent. I had no choice but to attempt a breakthrough to the Legendary Realm with little preparation. After barely succeeding, I was wounded fighting a monster Legend. However, being able to cultivate to the Legendary Realm, I’m quite satisfied with my achievements.”

Mu Yuan examined her condition.

“Your foundation damage is indeed quite severe, and it has been left untreated for too long. It’s almost impossible to recover through normal means.”

Well then, it’s time to use some cheats.

“Sit up there, adjust your body and mind, maintain your state.”

“Ah? Alright.”

She lifted her skirt and ascended the steps one by one, reaching the center of the high platform.

After looking around, she sat upright with her back straight.

‘What comes next?’

‘Is this some special ritual?’

‘What did the City Lord ask earlier?’

She said, “I’m seated.”

“Shall we begin then?”

‘Begin what? What’s beginning?’

As the thought emerged, vast, majestic power descended.

The hidden injuries in her lower abdomen; the dimness deep in her soul; the damage to her foundation…

All were recovering at a visible rate!

It was as if she was soaking in the legendary Spring of Life’s waters – her entire body felt comfortable and clear.

She hadn’t felt this comfortable since being injured.

“Ah!”

Her consciousness gradually sank inward.

Meanwhile, the power deep within her bloodline gradually surged forth, spreading throughout her limbs and bones.

「Ding!」

「Prompt: Your subordinate ‘Mirena’ has bathed in Miracle Light. Her foundation has been repaired and evolved to Epic Three-Star rank.」

「Prompt: Mirena’s talent has improved during evolution. Moonlight Constitution and Natural Constitution have fused, advancing to ‘Natural Saint Body (Epic)’, and she has awakened the Epic Skill ‘Flowers Bloom Through Four Seasons’.」

「Prompt: Mirena has awakened high-level skills ‘Listen to Nature’, ‘Earth’s Revival’, ‘Nature’s Grasp’,…」

——

「Flowers Bloom Through Four Seasons」

「Description: The sword blossoms Mirena unleashes will manifest effects corresponding to one of the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn, or winter. Spring can make plants flourish, summer can scorch the earth, autumn can wither the heavens, and winter can freeze all things.」

「Each of the four seasons contains a trace of conceptual power.」

“Though she possesses the noble bloodline of the Divine Moon Elf, it seems Mirena is more aligned with the Dao of Nature.”

Whoosh—

The pure white light of evolution receded.

Before her eyes, the ritual platform had unknowingly blossomed into a sea of flowers.

Petals danced and swirled around the elf seated at the center of the flower sea.

Her face was flawless, her long pointed ears emerging from emerald-green hair, her long eyelashes beginning to flutter. The elf sitting quietly in the flower sea opened her eyes at this moment.

「Do you desire power?」

The City Lord’s words from not long ago echoed in her mind.

Now she finally understood the weight and meaning behind those words.

Her power had increased hundreds of times, her energy was vast and abundant, she could see the vanished scars on her body and her jade-like skin.Her mind was flooded with countless insights, and the Bloodline within her body was boiling.

She was filled with an inexhaustible strength.

A power that decades of arduous cultivation could never have granted!

The power bestowed by the City Lord.

A power like cheating.

So our City Lord is a cheater.

Mirena murmured, descending from the high platform and kneeling on one knee.

“Elven Swordmaster Mirena is willing to become the Sword in the Lord’s hand, to vanquish all enemies.”

「Hint: Mirena’s trust and intimacy toward you have greatly increased. Loading the ‘Mirena Template’ can unleash up to 80% of her full power.」

(End of Chapter)