The Elven Cultivator

In the heart of the Silver Moon Forest, the Eternal Tree.

Massive roots snaked and undulated across the ground, encircling and protecting a hall woven from oak and vines.

The hall was built without a single brick or tile. It grew organically from the roots of the Eternal Tree, as if it were a space formed from the ancient tree’s own branches and leaves, frozen in time.

A high dome arched overhead. Dangling vines bloomed with pale silver Glowing Flower Buds at their tips, resembling suspended candelabras that bathed the entire hall in a soft, bright light.

In the center of the hall, a round table grew forth from the floor. The wood grain was fine and smooth to the touch, and ancient Elven runes were engraved upon its surface, faintly shimmering with an emerald-green light.

Three Elf elders sat around the table, their gazes fixed on a Water Curtain conjured in the air before them—an image preserved by a Mirror Shadow Sparrow.

The images on its surface slowly shifted, replaying the previous day’s breathtaking battle before their eyes.

Darian stood to one side, his eyes also fixed on the images within the Water Curtain.

Though normally as calm as still water, a rare, complex expression now graced his features.

When he first heard that Anton had bested a crowd of senior students in the combat course to take first place, he could hardly believe his ears.

’The other new students were one thing, but Eleanor was a Black Iron Peak Caster. How could Anton possibly have beaten her when he hasn’t even mastered a Second Ring Spell?’

Only after being summoned by the Elder Council and stepping into the Eternal Hall to see the recording of Anton’s battle with his own eyes did Darian finally accept the unbelievable fact.

’This student of mine... he really was hiding his true strength.’

When the recording ended, the Water Curtain dissolved into fine motes of light and dissipated, plunging the hall into silence.

After a long moment, the Great Elder finally broke the silence.

”Darian, what are your thoughts on the combat techniques Anton displayed?”

Darian bowed slightly and replied after a moment of contemplation, ”Great Elder, I believe what Anton used were indeed magic-combat techniques.”

”Explain,” the Second Elder said, his voice deep.

Unlike the other two elders, he had walked the path of a Warrior and didn’t have a profound understanding of Magic.

Darian collected his thoughts and slowly voiced his hypothesis. ”That sonic attack, the one that sounded like a dragon’s roar, was probably created by fusing some sort of breathing method with sonic-type magic. As it happens, Anton had already mastered the One Ring Spell, Shattering Wave.”

”As for the other defensive technique,” he paused, ”if I’m not mistaken, it was created by combining some kind of defensive combat technique with the One Ring Spell, ’Magic Power Armor.’”

”So, Anton is truly training in both magic and combat?” the Second Elder questioned. ”But I don’t recall him ever taking a combat course. Who taught him these skills?”

Darian hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Most likely, it was Romance.”

The Second Elder was momentarily stunned, then nodded in understanding.

Everyone in the entire Silver Moon Race knew Anton and Romance were childhood friends and were practically inseparable. Romance also performed exceptionally well in her combat courses, so it would make sense if she had been the one to teach Anton.

”I never expected our Clan to produce a genius skilled in both magic and combat,” the Third Elder said with a chuckle. ”With that boy’s strength, he’s qualified enough to be a vice-captain in the Forest Guard.”

The captains of the Forest Guard are all masters at the mid-to-high Silver rank.

A vice-captain would be low-Silver rank at the very least.

But having seen the recording, none of them felt the Third Elder was exaggerating.

Anton truly possessed such strength and qualifications.

What they valued even more, however, was the potential Anton had displayed.

The reason those who trained in both magic and combat were called geniuses was their preternaturally sharp perception of Magic Power, which allowed them to achieve a level of fine control beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Only with such skill could one fuse combat techniques and Magic, forging their own unique magic-combat techniques.

With such extraordinary talent, his future achievements would be immeasurable.

”The boy just hid his talents a little too well,” the Second Elder said, shaking his head, though his tone held no blame.

The Third Elder chuckled. ”Ah, to be young. They all want to make a grand debut. But I think the fact that Anton could lie low for so long, only revealing his true colors yesterday, speaks volumes about his excellent character.”

Darian wholeheartedly agreed with the Third Elder.

He had previously wondered what Anton was up to in private; it now seemed he had been researching magic-combat techniques.

Darian was quite pleased by this realization.

At least it proved Anton wasn’t squandering his talent but was steadily improving his strength in his own way.

”Regardless, this is a good thing for the Clan.”

The Great Elder made the final verdict, bringing the discussion to a close.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, a Crystal Stone materialized in his palm.

Beneath the glowing light, the Crystal Stone was like solidified spring water, its translucent body suffused with a deep, verdant green. Fine, vein-like silver patterns swirled within it, flickering in and out of view as the light shifted, as if a living entity pulsed and breathed inside.

The instant the Crystal Stone appeared, the concentration of elemental energy in the hall skyrocketed. The air grew sweet and rich, and even the hanging Glowing Flower Buds seemed to shine a little brighter.

Life Source Crystal!

Darian recognized the Crystal Stone’s origin at once.

And the Great Elder’s next words stunned him.

”Take this Life Source Crystal and give it to Anton.”

At these words, even the other two elders were visibly stirred.

A Life Source Crystal is a natural crystal formed at the bottom of the Spring of Life, steeped in its waters for over ten thousand years, and it contains an incredibly dense concentration of life energy.

Carrying it not only dramatically speeds up the healing of injuries, but also attracts elemental energy, significantly increasing the concentration of it in the immediate vicinity.

Simply put, it was both a priceless life-saving tool and a treasure that could boost one’s training efficiency.

Furthermore, if placed in ordinary water, a Life Source Crystal would eventually transform it into Life Spring Water, making it equivalent to carrying a miniature Spring of Life.

All of this was more than enough to prove the rarity of a Life Source Crystal.

The entire Silver Moon Race possessed one, and only one, Life Source Crystal. It had been in the Great Elder’s care ever since the Clan Leader’s passing, and no one ever expected him to part with it for Anton.

”Leonard...”

The Third Elder began to speak, but the Great Elder raised a hand to stop him.

”However precious the Life Source Crystal may be, it is still just an inanimate object. If the Clan wishes to grow and prosper, we must ultimately rely on our people.”

”The end of the road is in sight for us old-timers, but the youth of our Clan have limitless room to grow. They are the ones who bear the hope of our Clan.”

”I am confident that in Anton’s hands, the Life Source Crystal can be put to far greater use.”

The other two elders were persuaded and nodded in silent agreement.

Darian accepted the Life Source Crystal with both hands, feeling the warm yet immense pulse of life in his palms. He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

’The Great Elder truly has high hopes for Anton.’