Chapter 152: Successfully Transferred Fruit Number Three.

By the time Shu Li reached Vanaku, it was already afternoon, nearly an hour later than usual.

The day before yesterday, he had arranged with Efit to transfer Fruit No. 3 today. As usual, Efit would wait beneath the mother tree’s branch to keep watch for him.

But Shu Li was late today, so he did not know whether Efit was still there.

Shu Li poked his little head out of the trunk of the mother tree’s branch and cautiously surveyed his surroundings. After confirming that nothing seemed amiss, he emerged and flew nimbly along the branch until he found Fruit No. 3.

“Eunomysis, did Efit come today?”

He crouched beneath a dark green leaf, concealing his presence. Dressed in his sunstone defensive suit, he had no reason to fear the scorching sun.

“He came an hour ago. When you failed to arrive after he finished counting the fruits, he left.”

The mother tree’s awareness extended wherever her roots grew, allowing her to receive an immeasurable amount of information. While waiting underground in the desert for Shu Li, she had deliberately kept an eye on what was happening around the branch.

Shu Li understood.

Efit had probably left after waiting in vain.

It did not matter that he was gone. As long as the courtyard was empty, Shu Li could safely transfer Fruit No. 3.

Following his usual procedure, Shu Li first cast purification spells on the mother tree, Fruit No. 5, and Fruit No. 10. Then he began the final purification of Fruit No. 3.

A layer of grayish-blue pigment had been applied to its surface, making it impossible to judge how thoroughly it had been purified. Fortunately, Shu Li’s perception was now sharp enough to probe deeper.

After casting the purification spell seven times, he sent his perception through the fruit and searched every inch of it. Once he was certain that not a trace of dark magic remained, he put away his magic staff.

Mission accomplished!

“Eunomysis, Eunomysis! Fruit No. 3 has been completely purified. We can transfer it now!”

Excitement sparkled like starlight in his pale green eyes.

Just how astonished would the Elves be tomorrow morning when they discovered a massive fruit that had been nurtured for more than forty years hanging from the trunk of the Elven mother tree?

Hehehe—

Shu Li’s brows danced with smug delight. All that was missing was for him to plant his hands on his hips and throw back his head in triumphant laughter.

“Careful. A Dark Elf is coming.”

The mother tree’s warning was like a bucket of cold water poured over him from head to toe. Shu Li shuddered, immediately suppressed his presence, and flattened himself against the branch to observe the newcomer.

He was still in enemy territory. He could not afford to let down his guard.

The Dark Elf who entered the courtyard walked beneath the tree and looked up into its branches. When he saw Fruit No. 3 still hanging there, he frowned slightly.

Shu Li got a clear look at his face.

It was Efit.

A false alarm.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, took a gold coin from his storage ring, held it in the sunlight, and gave it a practiced wave.

Amid the dense branches, Efit spotted the flickering golden light and knew that the Little Fairy had arrived.

No words were needed. They worked together with perfect understanding: one kept watch beneath the tree while the other transferred the fruit from the branch.

Once Shu Li finished communicating with the mother tree, Fruit No. 3, which was as large as a winter melon, vanished in the blink of an eye.

This was not the first time Efit had watched a fruit disappear into thin air. The previous ones had all been small and had grown high in the canopy. They had been transferred so quickly that their disappearance was almost imperceptible.

But he had paid close attention to this large fruit every day while performing his count. After so many years, he knew its growth intimately.

Now that the Little Fairy had successfully transferred it to the Elven Kingdom, Efit felt a surge of complicated emotion.

There was a trace of reluctance to part with it, but even more hope for its future.

He hoped it would thrive and be born as a healthy, exceptional white Elf cub.

Having successfully stolen Fruit No. 3, Shu Li raised his little head in delight and waved to the Dark Elf beneath the tree. Then he flapped his wings, slipped neatly into the trunk of the mother tree’s branch, and returned to the Elven Kingdom.

Efit remained beneath the tree for a while longer. He took out a record book and turned to a page bearing seven neatly arranged little circles. With pen in hand, he carefully drew one large circle after them.

Today, there was one fewer Dark Elf cub in the world and one more white Elf cub.

He put away the record book, straightened his hooded cloak, and left the courtyard.

The moment he stepped through the gate, an arrogant-looking Dark Elf guard approached him.

“Efit, you certainly made me search for you.”

Efit calmly met his gaze and asked indifferently, “What is it?”

“The king wants to see you,” Silu replied irritably.

If the king had not summoned Efit, Silu would not have bothered speaking to him at all.

Efit had grown increasingly eccentric over the past few years. He had actually adopted eight cubs. Those cubs should have been eliminated through trial after trial, yet because of his interference, every one of them had survived.

Not only had he adopted eight useless burdens, but he even earned money to provide them with the resources they needed to grow. The other cubs who had survived the trials could only watch in envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Silu could not understand what Efit was thinking at all.

Dark Elves were creatures of darkness. Their way of life was built upon survival of the fittest and reverence for the strong.

Yet Efit had chosen to defy those principles and devote himself to raising eight inferior specimens.

Silu curled his lip in contempt, secretly gloating.

The king had summoned Efit today, most likely because someone who disapproved of him had reported his actions.

How delightful. Silu could hardly wait to see the show.

Ignoring the malicious smile on Silu’s face, Efit brushed past him without a word and headed toward Saint Ray Palace, where the Dark Elf King resided.

Silu glared fiercely at Efit’s aloof retreating figure and shook a fist at him.

Just wait!

If Efit ever fell into his hands, he would make him suffer.

Efit walked swiftly, each step carrying him through space. Whenever he encountered other Dark Elves along the way, they regarded one another with complete indifference.

The entire city of Darkmoon was cold and silent, utterly devoid of warmth.

After passing through one massive gate after another, he finally reached Saint Ray Palace.

Built entirely from costly black crystal ore, the palace was majestic and imposing. The obsidian embedded in its pillars absorbed the vicious sunlight, making the stones gleam even more brilliantly.

Efit’s gaze swept over the palace’s lavish decorations. He quickened his pace and entered the main hall.

This was not his first time there, yet every visit filled him with the urge to flee.

The dark magic here was so concentrated that it suffocated him.

Any other Dark Elf summoned by the Dark Elf King would have been overwhelmed with gratitude for the honor and eagerly basked in the dark magic permeating the main hall.

Efit could not.

To keep his mind clear at all times, he had spent years drinking purification potions to suppress the dark magic within him. Being suddenly immersed in the main hall’s atmosphere brought him no pleasure. It was torture.

Every time he returned from the main hall, he lost control and was consumed by a bloodthirsty urge to kill.

Efit lowered his hood, revealing his handsome face. He respectfully knelt on one knee, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed to the Dark Elf King seated upon the throne.

“My honored king, I am Efit. I have come in answer to your summons. What do you command of me?”

Keeping his head lowered, he stared at the floor, polished enough to reflect his face.

Apart from the Dark Elf King upon the throne, a brightly dressed young Dark Elf stood in the main hall. When he saw Efit kneeling on the floor, a mocking smile appeared on his face.

Like white Elves, Dark Elves possessed extraordinarily beautiful features. Their grayish-blue skin, silver hair, and blood-red eyes gave them a striking, exotic beauty. Yet the malice in their hearts manifested as sinister hostility, invisibly ruining that beauty.

No matter how attractive they were, it was impossible to like them.

That was why Dark Elves traveling across the continent were often shunned by other races.

Sensing a hostile gaze upon him, Efit frowned slightly.

The dark magic filling the main hall already made his entire body uncomfortable. Having a venomous snake watching from the side only made matters worse.

“Efit.”

A deep, commanding voice echoed through the vast main hall. The Dark Elf King looked coldly at the young man kneeling before him.

“Do you know why I summoned you?”

Efit paused before answering, “My apologies, but I do not. Please enlighten me, my king.”

Of course he knew why the king had summoned him.

He had adopted eight Dark Elf cubs, earning the hatred of certain individuals. Someone had deliberately reported him to the king in the hope that he would be punished.

Efit was not afraid.

If he had feared the king’s punishment, he would never have adopted the cubs, much less dared to cooperate with the Little Fairy.

“Raise your head and look at me,” the Dark Elf King ordered.

Efit hesitated briefly before slowly lifting his head and looking toward the elevated throne.

Revered by every Dark Elf, the Dark Elf King lounged imperiously upon his magnificent throne. His shoulder-length silver hair hung loose, and an obsidian-studded circlet rested upon his brow. His dark red eyes were fathomless, filled with boundless gloom and coldness. His grayish-blue skin did nothing to diminish his handsome features. He wore black robes embroidered with golden magical patterns that shimmered with flowing light.

He was both noble and majestic, yet also cruel and merciless.

Every Dark Elf who looked upon him felt compelled to submit from the depths of their heart.

Efit was no exception.

“There is no need to be nervous,” the Dark Elf King said. “Tell me honestly what you were thinking and explain why you did it.”

“Yes.” Efit had been prepared for exposure from the moment he adopted the cubs.

The Dark Elf King had countless matters demanding his attention and rarely concerned himself with such insignificant affairs. As long as the mother tree continued producing fruits and the Dark Elf race did not perish, he did not care whether a few more or fewer cubs survived.

Efit said openly, “I did adopt eight cubs. I personally instruct them and provide them with the resources they need to grow. As for why I did it...”

He glanced at the Dark Elf who had come to watch his humiliation, then said firmly, “I wanted to do it, so I did.”

“You followed your own desires?” the Dark Elf King said. “That is reasonable enough.”

The Dark Elf standing to the side could not accept this.

“My king, the cubs he adopted are all inferior specimens. They should have been eliminated during the trials.”

Elimination meant death.

“Efit interfered with the cubs’ trials to satisfy his own selfish desires, violating the rules by which the Dark Elves raise their descendants,” the Dark Elf declared forcefully, casting Efit a provocative look.

“Yak, I did not give you permission to speak,” the Dark Elf King said mildly.

The young Dark Elf named Yak went pale and immediately dropped to one knee, a flash of jealous hatred passing through his eyes.

He and Efit belonged to the same generation of Dark Elves, yet no matter how hard he tried, the king always favored Efit.

The king clearly knew Efit had broken the rules, yet showed no intention of reprimanding him.

Resentment filled Yak’s heart, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

The Dark Elf King asked Efit, “How do you answer Yak’s accusations?”

Neither servile nor defiant, Efit replied, “I ask my king to judge clearly. I acted out of no selfish desire, nor did I interfere with the cubs’ trials. Furthermore, I do not believe the cubs I adopted are inferior. Every cub has an exceptional quality. Their talents simply manifest in different ways.”

“Oh?” The Dark Elf King seemed intrigued. “Then what talents do your adopted cubs possess?”

“They have remarkable aptitude for potion-making, appraisal, alchemy, forging, sewing, magical formations, enchantment, and other crafts,” Efit replied.

Under the Dark Elf King’s piercing scrutiny, Efit methodically explained the strengths of every cub, supporting each claim with evidence.

The cubs he had adopted might not possess the same combat strength as the others, but the talents they had displayed absolutely could not be underestimated.

No matter how formidable the Dark Elves were, they still needed to earn money, build wealth, and provide more resources for their newborn cubs.

Why did Dark Elf cubs have to endure brutal trials before the strongest could emerge?

Because resources were scarce.

But was Vanaku’s barren environment truly the only reason for that scarcity?

In reality, the Dark Elves had failed to develop and use their own strengths. They did not know how to interact with the outside world and remained isolated and uninformed, which had led them to their present circumstances.

If they wanted their race to flourish, should they not nurture a wider variety of talent?

Could Dark Elves who possessed nothing but brute force, who were simple-minded and knew only how to kill, truly survive in the long run?

Efit spoke candidly, voicing every question and idea that had troubled him for so long. He did not know why the Dark Elf King had rebelled against the Elven Kingdom ten thousand years ago, led his followers to Vanaku, and founded the Dark Elf kingdom. But he believed that every successful king wished to see his people become ever more prosperous.

His own strength might be meager, but he still wanted to change the current situation.

It was unrealistic to place all his hopes in the Little Fairy.

Unless the mother tree’s branch withered, they could never steal all the Dark Elf fruits. More would continue to be born without end.

He needed a second plan. He had to do everything within his power to change the fate that forced the cubs to fight and kill one another.

After finishing his final statement, Efit calmly awaited the Dark Elf King’s judgment.

Silence filled the main hall.

Yak stared at Efit in disbelief.

He had always known that Efit was different, but he had never imagined his ideas would be so outrageous.

He wanted every Dark Elf cub to survive and intended to provide them all with abundant resources?

Who did he think he was?

What gave him the right to overturn ten thousand years of tradition?

The king could never agree to this!

Dark Elves were meant to survive in brutal conditions. The fit survived, and the weak were eliminated!

Otherwise—

Otherwise, what would that make of Dark Elves like them, who had struggled so desperately to survive those hopeless ordeals?

After an indeterminate length of time, the Dark Elf King chuckled.

“Heh heh heh—”

His immense pressure spread unchecked throughout the main hall. Unable to withstand it, Efit and Yak were forced flat against the floor, their bodies drenched in sweat.

The Dark Elf King rose and descended the steps one at a time. He stopped beside Efit and looked down, examining his faintly trembling back.

“Your idea has merit. Since you want to pursue it, see it through to the end.”

Enduring the tremendous force radiating from the man beside him, Efit drew a deep breath and answered steadily, “Yes.”

“You may leave,” the Dark Elf King said, dismissing him.

“Thank you, my king.”

Efit bowed deeply, then rose respectfully and departed.

Yak remained on his knees. When he saw the king let Efit off so lightly, his features nearly twisted with rage.

“Yak,” the Dark Elf King said. “Do not let this happen again.”

Those few words plunged Yak into an icy abyss.

“...Yes,” he answered with a shudder.

“Learn from Efit. Go back and reflect on your actions.”

With a sweep of his exquisite cloak, the Dark Elf King left the main hall.

Yak waited for a long time. Only after he could no longer sense the Dark Elf King’s presence did he slam his fist into the floor.

“E-fit!” he snarled through clenched teeth.

The Dark Elf King entered the temple behind the main hall. He stood reverently before an astonishingly lifelike statue and assumed a posture of prayer.

Whoosh—

A mass of black flame suddenly appeared behind him.

The Dark Elf King did not move and continued praying.

Within the flames emerged a sinister man with black hair and black eyes. Seeing the Dark Elf King praying before the statue, he sneered.

“Ang Orachiri, I wonder how your people would react if they saw their king praying to the Elven King, the Son of Light.”

The Dark Elf King—Ang Orachiri—finished his prayer, turned around, and met the gaze of the man within the black flames.

“However amusing their reaction might be, it could never compare to the God of Darkness inhabiting a human body.”

The man in the flames showed no anger at the retort.

“As a believer in the God of Darkness, you should fulfill your promise.”

Ang Orachiri replied indifferently, “I told you. Once you escape from hell, I will fulfill my promise.”

Danton Trik narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“Do not come to regret this, Orachiri.”

The Dark Elf King remained expressionless.

“I regret many things. One more will make no difference.”

Silence settled over the temple for a moment. Then the black flames vanished into nothingness.

After successfully stealing Fruit No. 3, Shu Li returned jubilantly to the Elven cubs’ courtyard.

The instant he emerged from the mother tree’s trunk, he saw the enormous fruit hanging from a branch.

“Fruit Number Three!”

Shu Li flapped his wings, spread his arms, and flew straight toward it. Pressing his whole body against the winter-melon-sized fruit, he nuzzled it affectionately.

This was wonderful!

At last, he could openly cuddle Fruit No. 3 without worrying that the Dark Elves might discover him. No more hiding in the shadows and gazing longingly at it from afar.

The Elf cub inside a fruit more than forty years old was nearly fully developed. Sensing Shu Li’s presence, it actually responded to him.

Shu Li felt something kick the place where his body was pressed against the fruit.

Huh?

Could this...could this possibly be...movement from the baby?

How incredible!

Still clinging to Fruit No. 3, Shu Li whispered quite a few things to it. When something kicked the fruit’s surface again, he became so excited that he nearly burst into tears.

“Eunomysis, did you feel that? Something moved inside the fruit!”

“Yes, I felt it,” the mother tree replied gently. “But are you certain you do not want to return to your room? Your friends are still waiting anxiously for you.”

“Ah!”

Shu Li’s ears twitched. He had nearly forgotten that before leaving, he had promised Angel and the others that he would return early today. He had never expected so many things to happen and delay him until one or two in the morning.

Without enough time to cuddle the other little fruits, Shu Li flapped his wings and flew toward his bedroom window.

Three Little Fairies sat on the windowsill, barely able to keep their eyes open.

They had waited for a very, very long time, yet Sperien, who had promised to return early, was still nowhere to be seen.

They were so worried that none of them dared go to sleep.

Budno yawned endlessly as he hugged his little pillow. His head kept drooping, leaving him suspended somewhere between sleep and wakefulness.

To keep himself alert, Disio had taken out a sword and was practicing his moves across the windowsill. He was determined to master his techniques and defeat Ilio one day.

Angel sat cross-legged, holding a book in one hand and a cylindrical magic lamp in the other as he read intently.

No matter what, they could not fall asleep tonight. Until Sperien returned, they absolutely refused to rest.

Flap, flap—

The faint beating of wings came from beyond the window. A moment later, a small blond Fairy squeezed through the narrow gap.

“Sperien!”

Disio was the first to spot him. He put away his longsword, launched himself forward, and wrapped Shu Li in a tight embrace.

“You’re finally back! We’ve been waiting forever!”

Angel put away his book and magic lamp, then became the second to throw himself at Shu Li, hugging and nuzzling him fiercely.

“Didn’t you say you would come back early today? You’re two whole hours later than you promised!”

“I...I’m sorry. I broke my promise.”

The two friends squeezed Shu Li so tightly that he could barely breathe.

Belatedly realizing what was happening, Budno rubbed his eyes, abandoned his beloved little pillow, and rushed over for a hug as well.

Shu Li quickly pushed Disio and Angel away, then hugged Budno.

“I’m back now, so you don’t have to worry anymore. Hurry up and go to sleep!”

Angel examined him carefully. Pointing at the little flower crown on his head, he asked in confusion, “Sperien, did you encounter danger?”

Otherwise, the little flower crown would not have revealed its true form.

Shu Li touched the crown and secretly felt his heart jump.

This devious little Angel was far too perceptive!

Shu Li had been in such a hurry that he had forgotten to transform the little flower crown back into a hair clip, allowing Angel to spot the flaw.

“No,” he denied with perfect seriousness. “The little flower crown’s magic has a time limit. Once midnight passes, it often changes back to its original form on its own.”

Although it was a small white lie intended to reassure them, it was also technically true.

The little flower crown had a mind of its own. Every night, it secretly reverted to its true form while he was asleep. That was why Shu Li had to cast a spell each morning to transform it into a different style.

“Oh,” Angel said.

Seeing that Shu Li was completely unharmed, he stopped dwelling on the crown.

“Did you successfully transfer Fruit No. 3?” he asked. “Was the process difficult?”

“It worked!” Shu Li said excitedly. “It’s already hanging from the mother tree’s branch. As for the process...it did take quite a while. A fruit more than forty years old was much harder to transfer than a little one, but fortunately, everything went smoothly. Hehehe—”

He grinned with the tiniest hint of guilt. Neither Fairies nor Elves were good at lying, but to keep his friends from worrying, he had no choice but to conceal some of the danger he had faced.

“Wow! Really? I want to see it!” Budno said eagerly.

“Me too!”

Disio immediately tried to squeeze through the gap in the window, but Shu Li grabbed him.

“You’d better not. Let’s go see it tomorrow! It’s so late, and cubs need their sleep.”

In truth, he was afraid his friends would become too excited and wake the Elves.

“All right...”

Although the three Little Fairies looked reluctant, the night was far too advanced. It was time to sleep.

Shu Li saw his three friends out of the room and released a long breath.

Too much had happened tonight. His body was exhausted, and his mind was even more drained. The Fire God’s words kept circling endlessly through his thoughts.

His friends were impatient to see Fruit No. 3, but Shu Li was equally impatient to seek confirmation from the Elven King.

Yet it was already deep into the night, and disturbing someone’s sleep would be rude.

He yawned and rubbed his aching eyes, persuading himself to sleep first. Only once he was well rested and full of energy would he be ready to face the Elven King.

After washing up quickly and changing into comfortable clothes, he threw himself beneath the soft covers and nuzzled into them.

He had thought he would be unable to sleep, but the moment his head touched the bed, he fell asleep instantly.

Once the Little Fairy was sleeping soundly, the Fire God’s mark gradually appeared on the back of his right hand. Two streaks of red light shot out, revealing the fire spirit and the now-miniature Falm.

“Wow! So this is the Elven Kingdom? I haven’t been here in ages!”

Falm flapped his wings and made a circuit of Shu Li’s room. Then he flew to the window and gazed at the mother tree in the courtyard by the light of the moon.

He had slept in the underground palace for ten thousand years and had no idea how much the outside world had changed. The Elven mother tree had somehow produced a branch, and that branch had been corrupted by dark magic, causing it to grow a mass of grayish-blue fruits.

Had the Little Fairy truly spent most of the day stealing fruits?

Earlier, Falm had hidden within the Fire God’s mark and sensed everything happening outside. The Little Fairy’s actions had left him astonished.

And what about that dark, soot-colored fellow beneath the tree? Was he also a member of the Elven race?

The fire spirit glanced at the deeply sleeping Little Fairy and lowered his voice.

“Quiet. Do not disturb the Little Fairy’s sleep.”

“Tch!”

Falm reluctantly closed his mouth and circled the window in boredom.

“Can I go outside and play?”

“If you want the Elves to hunt you down,” the fire spirit replied.

Falm waved one short, chubby forelimb, then flew sulkily to the bed. Claiming the other side for himself, he curled into a ball.

This was so boring. He might as well sleep.

The fire spirit glanced at him, then suddenly sensed a familiar presence and instantly moved to the window.

“Hehe, Sharo. I never expected you to emerge ahead of schedule.”

Outside the window, the wood spirit’s translucent figure pressed close to the glass. She met Sharo’s gaze, a radiant smile spreading across her lovely face.

“Fenlis!”

The fire spirit stared at her in astonishment.

In the room across from the mother tree, the Elven King leaned back in his chair, pressing his right hand to his chest. His breathing was slightly labored, a thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead, and a trace of pain marred his handsome face.

“Freyus...”

The mother tree’s translucent figure appeared in the room. Seeing his condition, she asked anxiously, “What happened? Why are you...”

“I’m fine.”

The Elven King steadied his breathing and raised his head. The crimson slowly receded from his eyes, restoring their emerald-green brilliance.