Chapter 190 - 183: Fruits of War

Silver Moon Forest, Eternal Hall.

A meeting was underway.

But unlike the solemn atmosphere of the past, the hall today was filled with an unconcealable air of ease and joy.

The Elves sat around a long table, all with smiles on their faces.

The Great Elder sat at the head of the table, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. A rare, gentle expression graced his weathered face.

Five days had passed since the fall of Kresol Dragon City.

Over these five days, everyone in the Silver Moon Race had been so busy they hadn't touched the ground, but their rewards had been immense.

Now, they finally had time to sit down and properly take stock of the spoils of war.

"Everyone is here. Let's begin."

As the Great Elder spoke, the chatter in the hall gradually died down.

Everyone's gaze fell on Cedric in unison.

The captain of the Forest Guard stood up and unfurled the sheepskin paper in his hands.

Unlike his usual cold austerity, his tone today carried a rare hint of lightheartedness.

"The Forest Guard has completed its takeover of Dragon City. The defensive Array is also under our control. After initial repairs, its basic defensive functions have been restored."

"The inventory of the storerooms is still in progress, but from the portion we've already cataloged, the quantity is quite astonishing."

"We can confirm that these resources, in both quantity and quality, far exceed what we gained from the Mind Flayer city-state."

A low murmur of discussion arose in the hall, and the smiles on the Elves' faces deepened.

It was obvious that Kresol Dragon City's accumulation over several millennia would be incredibly rich.

This time, they had truly feasted well.

"The prisoners from Dragon City's Vassal Races have been properly settled. They are currently detained on-site within Dragon City, totaling about twelve thousand. Approximately eight thousand of them are adults who can serve as laborers, with the rest being the old, weak, women, and children."

"As for the Dragon Race."

Cedric paused for a moment before continuing:

"After the Radiant Ash Dragon destroyed the Stone Fist Tribe, Grayfin Fishing Town, and Windmill Valley, Kresol Dragon City sent garrisons to multiple towns again. Later, as the war intensified, they withdrew most of their forces to the battlefield, so not many of the Dragon Race were left in those towns."

"When news of Dragon City's fall spread, these members of the Dragon Race tried to flee the Eldron Plain, but we captured them in time."

"We have captured over eight hundred members of the Dragon Race in total. Most are of low-blood lineage, with only a small number of high-blood and a few of the Pure-blooded Dragon Race. They are also being held in Dragon City."

"How should we deal with these people?"

The hall fell silent.

Everyone's gaze turned to Anton in unison.

Even the Great Elder was no exception.

Anton pondered for a moment before saying calmly, "Make them all slaves."

The blood and essence of an ordinary member of the Dragon Race provided a negligible boost to his Sword Pill now.

He didn't need that little bit.

Rather than killing them, it was better to keep them as a labor force.

After all, it was foreseeable that the Clan would need a large labor force in the near future, and these Vassal Races and members of the Dragon Race would be perfect for the job.

Besides, just like the Lizard-men, the Dragon Race could also serve as a source of materials.

Cedric nodded slightly and sat back down in his seat.

Next, Elena stood up and took the floor.

"Regarding the veins that Dragon City controlled, we have completed a preliminary survey and tally. There are thirty-eight in total."

"Twenty-one of them are common metal veins, including iron, copper, silver, and so on. Their quality is good, and the reserves are quite substantial."

"Fifteen are rare metal veins, including Mithril, Flame-Patterned Red Copper, Sunlight Stone, and Amber Gold... These are all common materials for crafting Magical Artifacts and are extremely valuable."

"The remaining two are Magic Stone Veins."

As Elena spoke, the Elves' faces lit up with irrepressible joy.

While the abundant resources in Dragon City's storerooms made them happy, the veins were even better.

As long as they held them, the veins would generate a continuous stream of wealth, providing a stable and lasting source of income for the Clan.

This was the foundation of their standing.

Especially the two Magic Stone Veins.

Magic Stones are one of the most precious strategic resources on the Dawn Continent.

Whether it's a Caster quickly recovering Magic Power, activating a large-scale Array, or powering magical machinery, none of it can be done without Magic Stones.

Previously on the Eldron Plain, the Magic Stone Veins were almost entirely monopolized by Kresol Dragon City. The amount of Magic Stones circulating on the market was pitifully small, and their prices remained perpetually high.

Many factions couldn't buy enough Magic Stones even if they had the financial means.

But now, these veins belonged to the Silver Moon Race.

They could earn enormous profits by selling Magic Stones whenever they wished.

Anton, however, wore a thoughtful expression.

For other factions, Magic Stones had numerous benefits.

Possessing a Magic Stone Vein could greatly accelerate a faction's development.

But for the Silver Moon Race, the benefits of Magic Stones weren't so obvious.

After all, under Anton's influence, the Clan had embarked on a path completely different from the mainstream of the Dawn Continent.

The Clan now used Sensing Spirit Stones more often and had little need for Magic Stones.

'An idea suddenly flashed through his mind.'

'Spirit Stones and Magic Stones are both essentially Energy Crystals, just with different energy properties and densities.'

'So, couldn't I convert Magic Stones into Spirit Stones just by changing their energy properties and density?'

Anton pondered for a moment. The idea didn't seem entirely impossible.

'At their core, both are condensed forms of worldly energy, differing only in their method of compression and energy density.'

'If I can find a suitable conversion method, it might just be possible to turn Magic Stones into Spirit Stones.'

'Before, we didn't have enough Magic Stones, so even if I had developed a conversion method, it wouldn't have been much help.'

'But now, with the Clan in control of two Magic Stone Veins and a mountain of Magic Stones in Dragon City's storerooms, as long as I master the conversion method, the Clan won't have to worry about Spirit Stones for a long time to come.'

Anton committed this matter to memory, planning to begin research on it soon.

Just as he was lost in thought, Elena spoke again.

"Besides the veins, there are also two Earth Vein Nodes."

At these words, the murmuring in the hall died down once more.

The Elves all turned to look, their gazes focused.

The benefits of an Earth Vein Node needed no explanation.

There were only two known Earth Vein Nodes on the Eldron Plain, and both had been controlled by Kresol Dragon City.

It was only recently, thanks to Anton, that the Clan had managed to acquire an Earth Vein Node in the Dark Nether Realm.

Unfortunately, the war had broken out before they had a chance to develop it.

But it was a blessing in disguise, as the two Earth Vein Nodes in Dragon City's hands now also belonged to the Clan.

"Of the two Earth Vein Nodes, one is at Dragon City's current location."

"The other is about thirty kilometers from Dragon City, in the eastern hills. Dragon City built a Beast Arena there specifically for taming Firemane Beasts. We also discovered over three hundred Firemane Beasts there."

Elena looked at Anton and asked, "How should we handle these two Earth Vein Nodes?"

Instead of answering, Anton asked, "What about those Firemane Beasts? Can we make use of them?"

Elena shook her head, a hint of regret in her expression.

"No. We've investigated. Dragon City's method for taming Firemane Beasts is very particular; it requires Dragon Race bloodline, which is difficult for other races to replicate."

"I had the guards try. The Firemane Beasts absolutely refuse to be ridden by anyone other than a member of the Dragon Race."

"What about daily feeding?" Anton asked again.

Elena paused. "Daily feeding... that's not a problem."

Anton said without hesitation, "Then raise the Firemane Beasts as livestock. Their flesh and blood can be used to supply our clansmen cultivating the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture."

At these words, the Elves' eyes lit up.

'That's right!'

Firemane Beasts were Dragon Beasts; their flesh and blood contained abundant energy, making them excellent materials for cultivating the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture.

Since they couldn't be used as mounts, they might as well be raised as livestock.

This way, the Clan's Warriors would have another stable source of Cultivation Resources.

It could support more Warriors in cultivating the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture.

"Good idea!" The Third Elder slapped the table and laughed heartily. "Those Firemane Beasts are just sitting idle anyway. Raising them for meat is perfect."

Elena made a note of it and asked again, "And the Earth Vein Node at Dragon City?"

Anton said, "No rush. I'll go inspect it in person in a few days and then make a decision."

Elena nodded in agreement.

The subsequent agenda items were all minor matters and were approved with almost no debate.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually relaxed.

The hall only fell silent again when the Great Elder spoke once more.

"There is one last matter."

The Great Elder's gaze swept over everyone before finally landing on Anton.

"The position of Clan Leader has been vacant for too long."

"In the past, the Clan was weak, and without a qualified successor, I could barely manage to hold on."

"But things are different now."

"Our Clan now has a new Legendary Powerhouse. It is time to hand over the responsibility of leading the Clan forward."

"I propose that, starting today, Anton shall serve as the new Clan Leader of the Silver Moon Race."

As he said this, the Great Elder's expression was calm and gentle, suffused with the ease of someone who had been relieved of a great burden.

It was the relief of an old man who had carried a heavy burden for a century and was finally able to pass it on.

He slowly rose, faced Anton, and bowed his head slightly. He raised his right hand, fingertips pointing up, palm facing inward, like the branch of an ancient oak drooping naturally in the wind.

This was the oldest rite of the Elf Race—the Rite of the Drooping Branch.

When one Elf performed the Rite of the Drooping Branch to another, it signified a heartfelt acknowledgment of the latter's status and authority, and a willingness to follow their lead, just as a branch clings to a trunk.

The Second Elder and Third Elder followed suit, also rising to perform the same gesture.

Then, one by one, the high-ranking Elves did the same.

Romance, Eleanor, Cedric, Elena, Darian...

There was no sound in the hall, only the faint rustle of robes.

Anton remained seated, his calm gaze sweeping over the bowing figures in the hall.

Their eyes were filled with a profound trust and expectation.

It was something he had built, bit by bit, over the course of a century.

Anton did not act coy. He stood, faced the crowd, and spoke with a serious expression.

"I promise you all that I will continue to lead the Clan to greater glory."

There was no passionate declaration, no magnificent vision for the future.

Just a single, simple sentence.

Yet it reassured every Elf present more than any flowery rhetoric could.

It was as if, so long as he was there, nothing was a problem.

The Elves in the hall raised their heads, their faces breaking into spontaneous, heartfelt smiles of joy.