Cultivation: Starting from a Mortal Bone

Chapter 529: Chapter 485: Elf Queen

With the stirring of Su Xihe’s heartstrings, her Romantic Point welcomed an increase.

[Su Xihe Romantic Point: 100 (Till Death Do Us Part)]

[Activated: Dao Divine Lotus]

[Dao Divine Lotus: First Grade (0-1000)]

”Huh?”

Looking at the flame suddenly appearing within his sight, Qin Yu turned to look at Sect Leader Master, only to see a pair of eyes brimming with deep affection.

This master rarely shows her feelings.

In truth, Qin Yu can feel it. In everything, she thinks of him, but she never puts things into words.

Actually, the beauty master has always been worried about him...

She fears that, by provoking the Empress, his present happiness will shatter.

Qin Yu suddenly felt deep guilt.

”Xihe.”

His expression solemn, he no longer called Su Xihe ”Master,” but simply called her name. Only when Su Xihe looked at him did he earnestly promise, ”I will never gamble with my own life.”

In fact, whenever outside, he always kept a strand of Divine Sense communicating with Lifebound Space. The moment he sensed danger, he would return here without hesitation.

”Mm.”

Su Xihe answered softly.

This time, she no longer avoided his gaze.

Both could feel the deep affections in each other’s hearts.

”Master, then your disciple will begin now...”

...

When daily cultivation ended, Qin Yu sat cross-legged in the small courtyard and began to examine the flame.

The rest had little progress. He merely swept his gaze over them, then focused all attention on the new thing brought by Sect Leader Master.

[Dao Divine Lotus: First Grade (12-1000)]

”Dao Divine Lotus?”

”What does it do?”

As Qin Yu’s mind stirred, a phantom lotus flower bloomed slowly, centered around him.

The lotus was not large, just enough to wrap Qin Yu within.

”Weng!...”

As the Divine Lotus bloomed, almost in that same instant, the power of Dao Rhyme within the whole Lifebound Space quivered, as if pulled by some force, growing extremely clear before his eyes.

[Earth Attribute Dao Rhyme Power: 16%]

[Gold Attribute Dao Rhyme Power: 8%]

[Thunder Attribute Dao Rhyme Power: 8%]

[Light Attribute Dao Rhyme Power: Not Comprehended]

Qin Yu could distinctly sense that, after separating from the Empress, the two Dao Rhyme Powers which had progressed ever so slowly, now elevated slightly in an instant.

The sleeping clown chicken seemed to feel supremely comfortable, lazily stretching itself, tufts of deep firelight flickering across its feathers.

Qin Yu sent his Divine Sense inward, and instantly his heart trembled.

In his Dantian, the Nascent Soul sat quietly, and what shocked him was: the Lotus Platform, as if brushed by some divine charm.

The petals overlapped layer upon layer, sculpted as if from refined gold. Each Lotus Leaf shimmered with mysterious, gentle divine light.

The edges of the petals were encircled by three faint strands of Dao Rhyme.

Upon closer investigation, these were the earth, gold, and thunder Dao Rhymes gained from Yan Yu and the Empress.

The Dao Rhyme of the entire Lotus Platform seemed to undergo a metamorphosis.

It held a purity untouched, yet also embraced the profundity and ethereal grace of the Grand Dao.

The Nascent Soul, seated within, enveloped by this peculiarly powerful energy, made Qin Yu feel an unprecedented tranquility and peace—almost as if merged with all Heaven and Earth, more easily perceiving the power of Dao Rhyme permeating the world.

”Husband?”

Yan Yu murmured softly, her eyes opening in a haze.

For reasons unknown, in that brief moment just now, her comprehension of Dao Rhyme Power deepened considerably, her cultivation nearly taking a step forward in an instant.

And the Dao Rhyme sensed became sharper and more profound.

”Rest well. In such a state, if Empress Dowager sees you, she’ll think I’ve wronged you.”

Qin Yu withdrew from introspection, gently soothing the little rabbit, his heart bursting with joy.

After breaking through to Nascent Soul, the Life Rune remained useful, but it offered little aid in comprehending the Dao Rhyme of Heaven and Earth.

Now, the Dao Divine Lotus perfectly made up for that deficiency.

These days, even without focusing on cultivation, the Nascent Soul dwelling upon the Dao Divine Lotus gave him clearer insight into the Dao Rhyme suffusing the world.

It might even match the Innate Dao Spirit Body!

But Qin Yu only possessed an Upper Grade Dao Bone.

All these changes—clearly brought by the Dao Divine Lotus.

More importantly, the Innate Dao Spirit Body could clearly perceive only its own, or at most two, attribute Dao Rhymes.

But now, Qin Yu seemed to have an indistinct perception of all Dao Rhymes beneath Heaven.

And, the Dao Divine Lotus can be elevated.

Now it’s still vague, because it’s only at First Grade.

Wait.

Does Dao Divine Lotus have to reach Ninth Grade for him to attain the peak of Foundation Establishment?

Qin Yu vaguely sensed something was amiss.

The specifics would have to wait until Dao Divine Lotus improves further.

[Ji Luoxi Romantic Point: 18 (Initial Acquaintance)]

He glanced at the Empress’s Romantic Point.

What sorrow.

He really had some wild fantasies, thinking to take advantage of her vulnerability...

Even though Empress Dowager seemed to notice something, it hadn’t shaken the Empress’s Dao Heart in the slightest.

Only ”solid as a rock” could describe it.

Looks like it’s a long and arduous road!

”Is the Warm Current completely without appeal to the Empress?”

Qin Yu felt perplexed.

He didn’t believe the Empress would be unmoved.

Just, there were some things Qin Yu dared not expose directly.

Did she really think he knew nothing?

Even if the Empress hid well, the change in Romantic Point on the flame never lies. In the same trial, the Empress’s Romantic Point fluctuates for what reason?

Isn’t that an obvious thing?!

Afterward, Qin Yu casually donned a robe and walked out of the courtyard.

Lifebound Space is only in Third Layer.

Logically, it shouldn’t compare to the outside world—so why does it feel more complete in here?

Or perhaps something is lost in the outside world’s Heaven and Earth.

He’ll need some time for Lifebound Space to improve.

Qin Yu glanced at the time flow.

Lifebound Space had reached Third Layer, yet the flow of time hadn’t changed. Would it be different at Fourth Layer?

Inexplicably, he recalled the Flower Fairy.

Since he’d already seen her body, as a man... he must take responsibility.

But whether he could save the Ancient Tree of Life, Qin Yu wasn’t too confident.

...

Elf Race.

One of the oldest races under Heaven, once the most powerful race.

Elves are born of the Ancient Tree of Life, innately close to nature. With such blessings, strength was inevitable.

Yet, everything changed when the Ancient Tree of Life began to falter.

This place seemed cut off from the world, lush greenery everywhere—a seemingly endless forest.

This so-called forest is actually just one tree: the Elf Forest.

The Ancient Tree of Life.

It stands there, like an elder who’s weathered countless ages, bearing witness to the turn of stars and the passage of time.

The tree towers to the heavens, its bark etched with marks of time, as if standing in the world as a pillar dividing Sky and Earth.

Its canopy is wide, boughs abundant. In days past, even breathing the air here extended one’s life, making elves the longest-lived among all beings.

But now, though viewed from afar, it seems verdant as ever, in truth the tree’s core is quietly withering.

The leaves have lost their usual luster, some grown yellow and dry, drifting silently with the breeze—like the hair of the elderly, wordlessly whispering sorrow.

Sunshine spills through sparse branches, casting mottled shadows that can no longer resurrect the tree’s former vitality. The air carries the faint scent of decaying wood, stark against the surrounding silence, filling hearts with desolation.

Cracks scar the trunk like wounds upon the earth, revealing a desolation beyond words.

Though no dried branches or leaves are seen upon the ground, only those elves who dwell here know the tree’s twilight is at hand.

The Flower Fairy knelt beneath the main trunk of the Ancient Tree of Life.

She was still radiant as a flower, yet wore an expression of sorrow—no trace of fortitude, looking instead pitifully fragile.

Her eyes closed, face devout, as though praying for something, or listening for something inaudible.

Since returning to the tribe, she had remained here without moving.

Unfortunately...

She still received no answer from the Ancient Tree, not a word of guidance.

Just then—

Out from the trunk stepped a woman.

Her figure was graceful, light as a willow in the wind. Every step wove nature’s most elegant melody. She stood tall and slender, clad in a flowing gown shimmering with shifting radiance, hem brushing the earth, catching silvery moonlight—woven it seemed from rainbow and dew.

Her beauty was the world’s most exquisite masterpiece. Skin crystalline and flawless as fresh snow, glowing with the subtle blush of spring blossoms.

Her deep eyes were like the brightest stars in the night sky, sparkling with wisdom and spirit, as if uncovering the mysteries within all things. Her long, curled lashes—like butterflies poised to take flight—evoked an indescribable allure with every blink.

Her hair was gently gathered up, adorned with tiny flowers and green leaves, noble yet lively. On her forehead was a delicate coronet, the Elf Race’s ancestral token, exuding soft but undeniable divine brilliance, setting her even more apart from mortals.

The Flower Fairy—renowned for captivating beauty—stood pale in comparison before this woman.

Soon, the woman’s gaze settled on the Flower Fairy—the eyes that seemed to hold starlight swept a trace of sorrow. Then, as her gaze turned to the Ancient Tree of Life, unfathomable grief surfaced in her depths.

”Your Majesty!”

The Flower Fairy, sensing something, opened her eyes and respectfully saluted the woman.

This woman was the Queen of the Elf Race!

”How is it?”

The Elf Queen withdrew all emotion from her eyes, and asked her.