Chapter 473: Leaf of Life!

Deciding to make a small test, Loren glanced at Jasmine on his shoulder.

At this moment, the little sprite was still in that dazed state with flushed cheeks.

"Miss Jasmine, I noticed some shareholders own a shop in this town." After saying this, Loren's voice unconsciously turned a bit deeper.

"May I ask... how can I... similarly, own a shop in this town?"

Hearing Loren's words, the little sprite, who was still a bit dizzy on his shoulder, instantly snapped alert!

No! I need to resist this strange influence!

You can do this!

Hang in there, Jasmine! You must patiently wait for Master to return!!!

After mentally cheering herself on, Jasmine quickly shook her head, barely regaining a normal state.

Adjusting her condition, Jasmine perked up and began explaining to Loren:

"Mr. Destiny, every shareholder can claim a shop in the town for free."

"This is a benefit for shareholders of the tavern settling into this spiritual world..."

Having said that, Jasmine turned to look at the handsome profile beside her and continued:

"If Mr. Destiny has no particular requirements for location, I can take you now to pick an empty shop without a shareholder stationed there!"

After hearing Jasmine's words, a mischievous smile uncontrollably curled at the corners of Loren's mouth again:

"Oh? And what if I do have requirements for the shop's location?"

A hint of worry appeared on Jasmine's small face.

"Then you might need to pay a certain price to purchase the ownership of that shop from another shareholder, Mr. Destiny."

"However, I wouldn't recommend that..."

"The town isn't large, and every shareholder has access to a real-time updated detailed map of the town. On this map, I also specifically mark the services and needs provided by each shareholder."

"Therefore, even a shareholder's shop on the edge of town can still attract considerable foot traffic!"

"Location really isn't all that important..."

After hearing her persuasion, Loren smiled and shook his head, speaking calmly:

"Miss Jasmine, I'm quite a picky person..."

With that, he began casually strolling through the streets, just as he had when first entering the town.

Walking and stopping, like an ordinary shopper.

His eyes constantly scanning the shops on both sides of the street, as if searching for something he fancied...

...

Jasmine the sprite's persuasion was quite logical and convincing.

But unfortunately, a certain unnamed blonde-haired male elf mage chose not to listen...

This blonde-haired male elf mage decided to let the other shareholders in this town get a good look at the legendary arrogance of a Pure-blooded Elf.

And incidentally, test just how far the "World Blessing" he had received could go in this spiritual world...

And also, confirm whether the tavern founder was truly in a missing state.

Finally, and most importantly.

He intended to teach these oddly-shaped shareholders a trivial bit of "social etiquette."

To make these rude, presumptuous fellows understand that staring at others for a long time is wrong...

...

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Federal Calendar 7709, January 15, noon.

The peculiar spiritual world.

At the shareholder town located at the center of this world, a somewhat special newcomer had arrived.

A male elf with handsome features and a gentle demeanor.

Soft blonde hair cascaded down from the back of his head.

His pristine white robe was spotless, with a few leaves symbolizing vitality and life embroidered on the cuffs.

His entire appearance was like the legendary secret spell mages who dwelled deep in forests, never revealing themselves to the world since birth—the mysterious and noble foundation of the Elf Empire: those who served solely under the command of the Elf Empire's Elder Council.

This was the first impression the old tavern shareholders had upon seeing this elf mage.

Those secret spell mages, the backbone of the Elf Empire, had left an unforgettable impression on the Endless Star Realm.

During that "

</path> War of the Abyssal Demons' Expedition into the Elf Empire," these long-eared mages, clad in white robes with leaves of the Tree of Life embroidered on their cuffs, had once overwhelmed the demons of the endless Abyss...

</path>ReadHistory

These elf mages, calling themselves the "Leaves of Life," could each—with just one leaf embroidered on their cuff—suppress an entire planar battlefield, their strength almost beyond belief...

And those with multiple leaves on their cuffs would typically go looking for the powerful Demon Lords to fight one-on-one.

In the first half of that

</path> war, after the Elf Empire's Elder Council deployed these secret spell mages calling themselves the "Leaves of Life," the Elf Empire's front lines nearly counter-attacked all the way into the Abyss.

The situation looked excellent!

But just when everyone thought the Elf Empire would triumph, these backbones of the empire—the "Leaves of Life"—all vanished from the battlefield, their whereabouts unknown...

What followed was the story known to all.

The tragic tale of an Elf Empire that had reached the pinnacle of magical civilization in the Star Realm, marching toward its downfall...

To this day, the fate of these empire-backbone mages remains an unsolved mystery.

...

The image of Loren's Spiritual Phantom unconsciously stirred many memories among the old shareholders.

Especially the few shareholders carrying a scent of sulfur, who kept glancing at Loren again and again.

They looked him over back and forth, trying to find something extraordinary on Loren's person...

As participants in that expedition, they held great respect for the seven leaves embroidered on Loren's cuffs!

In their memories, they had never seen an elf mage with seven leaves on their cuffs!

Nor had they ever heard of such a thing!

A single leaf could suppress an entire planar battlefield!

What did seven leaves even mean?!

There was definitely something suspicious about the Elf Empire's fall back then!!!

O great and immortal Abyssal Will! Please be ready to drag me back to the Abyss a bit faster when the time comes—thanks!

...

Several figures carrying a sulfur scent began to fade.

As if they were about to disappear from this spiritual world...

"Wait, come back! Don't run yet!"

A hidden thought rippled among those figures carrying a sulfur scent.

"This is the tavern world! It might just be someone's disguise!"

"But... those long-ears don't really seem to have any close friends..." Another hidden thought chimed in.

"People who admired the Elf Empire have gradually vanished over the years too..." Another hidden thought added.

"So, then what?" The first thought asked.

"The likelihood of it being a disguise is very low..." A hidden thought analyzed.

"It might... really be one of those missing long-ears..."

"..."

A brief silence fell.

"Don't panic! Let's wait and see!"

"We can't just never come to the tavern world again, can we!"

"..."

Another brief silence.

"Fine, then let's watch!"

"We're all Spiritual Phantoms—he shouldn't be able to... lock onto our true bodies, right?"

The familiar silence descended again.

"He... probably can't..."

"See, even you sound unsure."

"...Shut up, idiot! I'm the wisest among us! Trust me!"

"Fine... then you'll be the one to hold the rear."

"..."

Silence descended once more.

"...The one who runs slowest holds the rear!"

"Agreed!"

"You truly are the wisest demon among us!"

...

And so, after a heated discussion.

These not-so-bright Abyssal Demons unanimously decided to stay and watch a bit more.

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