The Elven Cultivator

Silver Moon Forest. The Eternal Hall.

High above, the dome soared. Drooping Fluorescent Vines swayed gently, casting a soft, verdant glow upon the round table below.

Three Elders sat around the table, each cradling a potion bottle.

The bottles were crystal-clear, refracting the fluorescent light into fine, iridescent shimmers. Inside, a greenish-red liquid swirled slowly, as if breathing with a life of its own.

All three Elders scrutinized the potions in their hands, their gazes unwavering, the astonishment on their faces impossible to conceal.

”Can this potion truly quicken the rate at which one gathers Magic Power?” the Third Elder couldn’t help but ask, his intense gaze fixed on Darian, who stood before the round table.

Darian nodded with a solemn expression. ”I have already conducted three complete tests of the potion, and the results were all flawless. After that, I had more than ten Warriors and Casters of different tiers take the potion and observed them for a two-week period.”

Darian was well aware of the importance of the Dragon Essence Potion, so the tests arranged for it were far more rigorous and detailed than for any previous improved potions.

”The results prove that the Dragon Essence Potion can indeed speed up Magic Power accumulation. The effect is best for those at the Black Iron Tier and below, increasing their Magic Power accumulation speed by an average of forty to sixty percent after consumption, with no obvious side effects. The effect on the Silver Tier is secondary—only about half that of the former. As for the Golden Tier... we haven’t tested it yet.”

The three Elders exchanged a look, and they could all see the shock in each other’s eyes.

It wasn’t that they didn’t believe Darian. It was just that the implications were too significant—so significant that even these Elders, who had weathered many storms, couldn’t help but seek repeated confirmation, fearing they were getting their hopes up for nothing.

But after the shock, an irrepressible joy followed.

”It doesn’t matter if it has no effect on the Golden Tier. As long as it works for the Black Iron and Silver Tiers, that’s enough.”

The Third Elder couldn’t help but laugh heartily. ”That kid, Anton, he never rests, does he? The improved potions from before were surprising enough, but I never expected he was hiding something this big.”

His tone was filled with admiration and amazement for Anton.

Even the Second Elder, who was always serious and composed, had a face full of joy.

Everyone present knew exactly what a potion that could speed up Magic Power accumulation meant.

On the Dawn Continent, accumulating Magic Power was the most time-consuming, grinding work.

This was especially true for those with insufficient talent.

Even for the long-lived Elves, many spent hundreds of years just to break through to the Black Iron Tier.

But with a potion that could speed up Magic Power accumulation, this time could undoubtedly be shortened significantly.

In just one or two hundred years, the Silver Moon Clan could cultivate a large number of Black Iron Tier Warriors and Casters.

Even the proportion of Silver Tier powerhouses could be greatly increased.

The entire Silver Moon Clan’s strength would leap to a whole new level.

The very thought of such a prospect was enough to make one’s heart race with excitement!

Although the few potions Anton had improved before were of some help to the Clan, their strategic value was nothing compared to the Dragon Essence Potion.

The Great Elder was comparatively calmer. He asked the most critical question: ”What is the cost of this Dragon Essence Potion?”

Darian was already prepared. He took a roll of sheepskin paper from his sleeve and slowly unfurled it on the table.

The paper was densely covered with a list of materials and their ratios. The ink was still fresh, clearly copied just recently.

”Most of the ingredients are common herbs that can be gathered in the forest or purchased in nearby towns. They aren’t expensive.” His finger slid across the paper, pausing briefly on a line of text. ”The only exception is the most important main ingredient… Lizard-man blood.”

”Lizard-man blood?”

The Great Elder’s expression shifted slightly, a flash of understanding in his eyes. ”So all these years, Anton has been asking you to draw blood from the Lizard-men for the sake of researching this Dragon Essence Potion.”

Darian nodded, his expression a little strange.

For the past two years, to supply Anton with blood, the Lizard-man captives in the dungeons had been drained until they were nearly dried-out husks.

The Forest Guard even had to adjust their combat training curriculum, almost completely ceasing to use the Lizard-man captives as hunting targets.

It was only because Anton’s improved potions had made such a huge contribution to the Clan that the Forest Guard didn’t complain, instead offering their full support.

Any other young Elf would never have received such treatment.

And as it turned out, Anton truly did not disappoint.

”Lizard-man blood...” The Third Elder stroked his chin. ”In that case, to mass-produce the Dragon Essence Potion, we’ll need to capture more Lizard-man prisoners.”

Frequent blood drawing was extremely harmful to the Lizard-man captives. In the long run, it would definitely cause the mortality rate to skyrocket.

And the fewer captives there were, the higher the mortality rate.

Only when the number of captives and the demand for blood reached a balance could a stable, sustainable cycle be formed.

To achieve this, it would be necessary to capture as many Lizard-man prisoners as possible.

”Then we’ll capture them,” the Second Elder said, his expression cold and hard. ”Those reptiles invade the Silver Moon Forest every year and kill our people. It’s time they got a taste of what it’s like to be invaded.”

The Second Elder’s words carried a hint of resentment that had been suppressed for many years.

In the war against Dragon City more than seventy years ago, the Silver Moon Clan paid a terrible price. The previous Clan Leader fell, and more than half of their elite forces were lost. They still haven’t recovered their strength to this day.

As a result, in the face of the Lizard-men’s incursions over the years, the Clan could only endure and defend. This humiliation was deeply etched in the hearts of all its members.

Almost every Elf longed to skin those cold-blooded reptiles and tear them limb from limb.

And now, Anton’s Dragon Essence Potion provided the perfect excuse.

It was a legitimate reason to strike back at their nemesis and accumulate strategic resources for the Clan. What was there to hesitate about?

The Third Elder obviously shared this sentiment. As soon as the Second Elder finished speaking, he and the Second Elder both looked to the Great Elder at the head of the table.

The Great Elder was silent for a moment. His face, somehow both young and ancient, looked especially serene under the fluorescent glow.

”Mobilize the Forest Guard,” he finally said, his voice hoarse but firm. ”Capture Lizard-men with all available strength. All Lizard-man captives are to be prioritized for Anton’s research needs. Also...”

He turned to Darian, a glimmer of expectation in his eyes. ”Tell Anton that from now on, the Clan will fully support his research. Whatever materials or authority he needs, he should just ask. We will do our best to provide it.”

”Yes, Great Elder.”

Darian answered respectfully, marveling inwardly.

It was obvious that the appearance of the Dragon Essence Potion had given the Elder Council a new understanding of Anton’s value, and they were preparing to give him even greater support.

It was foreseeable that after today, Anton’s status in the Clan would rise to new heights, even surpassing that of his own teacher.

Throughout the entire Silver Moon Clan, Anton was likely the only one so highly valued by the Elder Council.

When Darian first taught Anton, he had seen the boy’s extraordinary potential, but he never imagined Anton would achieve so much.

A dual cultivator of magic and martial arts, and a genius Pharmacist. Either title alone was enough to make people take notice, to say nothing of both halos being concentrated on the same person.

It completely redefined his understanding of the word ”genius.”

’Perhaps the hope for the Clan’s return to glory now rests on Anton’s shoulders.’