The Elven Cultivator

”ROAR...”

A low, suppressed roar echoed over the basin.

The Spine-Ripper Dragon Beast shook its head from side to side in agitation. It slammed its thick tail against the ground, carving out a half-foot-deep fissure and sending rock fragments flying.

Around the basin, many of the young Elves subconsciously took a few steps back, their faces a little pale.

Although most of them had been through combat training and fought against Lizard-men, the instinctual fear that came from facing such a colossal beast was still difficult to suppress.

This was a Silver Tier Dragon Beast!

Even if it was just a low-rank Silver, it wasn’t something that rookies who hadn’t even reached the Black Iron Tier could possibly contend with.

But as agitated as the Dragon Beast was, standing next to Cedric, it didn’t dare make a single unusual move.

The Elf before it, many times smaller in size, gave off an extremely terrifying sense of danger. Its bestial instincts told it not to act rashly.

Cedric stood before the Dragon Beast, his expression calm. He didn’t even glance at it, as if the giant beast behind him were just an ordinary rock.

”The rules of the Wind-Whisperer Trial are simple.” His gaze swept over Anton and the other two. ”You just have to kill a Spine-Ripper Dragon Beast on your own to successfully complete the challenge.”

”Who’s first?”

The moment he finished speaking, Eleanor stepped out from the crowd and leaped into the basin.

”I’ll go first.”

Her steps were steady and her expression was composed, showing not the slightest hint of nervousness.

Laila shouted her encouragement from behind. Eleanor didn’t turn around, only giving a slight nod.

Cedric glanced at Eleanor, then vaulted out of the basin.

Freed from Cedric’s intimidating presence, the Spine-Ripper Dragon Beast, which had long been spoiling for a fight, could no longer hold back. With a low roar, it pawed at the ground, its massive body charging toward Eleanor like a moving mountain.

Eleanor’s expression remained unchanged. With a flick of her magic staff, a wall of earth rose from the ground, blocking the great beast’s charge.

BOOM!

The Dragon Beast smashed through the earthen wall, sending stone fragments flying like shrapnel, but its speed was clearly reduced.

Eleanor seized the opportunity to create some distance. She cast the Floating Technique on herself, and her entire body immediately lifted off the ground, allowing her to hover and move through the air.

With the advantage of air superiority, she cast her magic with even more composure. Light flashed from her magic staff as she continuously hurled one spell after another at the Dragon Beast.

The Dragon Beast had tough hide and thick flesh; the damage from a single spell was quite limited.

But Eleanor was in no hurry. She remained calm, relying on her agile positioning and precise spellcasting to slowly wear down the great beast’s stamina and defenses.

As time went on, fine beads of sweat began to form on Eleanor’s temples.

The number of wounds on the Dragon Beast’s body also grew steadily.

The moment the Dragon Beast smashed through the fifth earthen wall, its movements clearly slowing, a sharp glint flashed in Eleanor’s eyes. The tip of her staff suddenly erupted with a blinding electric light, and countless tiny lightning-serpents coiled and danced around the shaft.

Third-Circle Magic: Lightning Bolt!

CRACKLE!

An azure arc of lightning as thick as an arm shot out from the staff’s tip. Accompanied by a grating, electric screech, it struck the Dragon Beast squarely on the head.

The instant the lightning exploded, the great beast convulsed violently. Tiny electric sparks shot from the gaps in its scale armor, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

It let out a short, shrill, miserable cry, and its massive body crashed to the ground. Its limbs twitched a few times, then fell completely still.

Silence first fell around the basin, followed by a burst of thunderous cheers.

”She did it!”

”Way to go, Eleanor!”

Leaning on her magic staff and panting slightly, a genuine smile spread across Eleanor’s lips.

She turned to look at the top of the slope and happened to meet the Great Elder’s approving gaze, feeling even more elated.

When she returned to the top of the slope, Laila immediately embraced her with a huge smile.

While accepting her friend’s congratulations, Eleanor glanced in Anton’s direction, only to find him patting Romance on the shoulder, seemingly encouraging her. He hadn’t looked her way even once.

Seeing this, Eleanor’s smile faded slightly, and she couldn’t help but bite her lip.

The guards quickly dragged away the Dragon Beast’s corpse.

A new Spine-Ripper Dragon Beast was released from a cave. It was similar in size to the previous one, its aura just as fierce.

”Who’s next?”

Cedric looked at Romance and Anton.

”I’ll go.”

Romance strode into the center of the basin and came to a stop before the Dragon Beast. Gripping her axe handle with both hands, she pointed the blade diagonally at the ground.

”Come on, big guy.”

Provoked, the Dragon Beast let out a low roar and was the first to charge.

Instead of retreating, Romance advanced. She stomped her foot hard on the ground, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.

BOOM!

A dull thunderclap suddenly exploded in the air.

The axe blade, wreathed in a ferocious gale, viciously chopped into the side of the Dragon Beast’s head.

BOOM!

The Dragon Beast’s enormous body was actually sent staggering two steps to the side by the blow, sending fragments of scale armor mixed with blood flying everywhere.

In pain, the Dragon Beast grew even more furious and swept its sharp claws at her.

Romance neither dodged nor evaded. A phantom image of scale armor suddenly appeared on the surface of her body.

CLANG!

The moment the claws struck the phantom image, it unexpectedly produced the crisp sound of metal on metal. Romance only swayed for a moment before steadying herself, a wild smile spreading across her lips.

”Is that all the strength you’ve got?”

She swung her axe in a backhand strike. The thunderclap sounded again as the blade viciously descended upon the great beast before her.

And so, the woman and the beast became locked in a fierce melee.

Romance’s fighting style was crude and barbaric, completely lacking the elegance and grace typical of Elves. Instead, it was more like the fighting method of a Beastman Berserker.

For those Elves familiar with Romance, it was one thing; they were already used to it.

But most of the Elves had never witnessed Romance’s fighting style before. Watching this scene now, they all had strange expressions and exchanged bewildered glances.

At the top of the slope, Irina raised her eyebrows in surprise. ”These two combat techniques Romance is using are quite powerful. When did the Clan get techniques like these?”

She turned to look at the others, only to find that everyone looked just as confused. Apparently, they didn’t know anything about it either.

Finally, Romance’s combat techniques instructor stepped forward and explained, ”The Clan didn’t originally have these two techniques. According to Romance, they are new combat techniques created by Anton.”

Everyone showed their astonishment.

They hadn’t expected that besides his outstanding talent in alchemy, Anton also possessed such remarkable skill in combat techniques.

Creating an entirely new combat technique that could be cultivated by an ordinary Warrior was even more difficult than fusing magic combat techniques.

After all, the latter was merely an improvement on an existing foundation, while the former was creating something from nothing.

”That kid, Anton, just keeps delivering one surprise after another.”

A trace of amazement flashed across the Third Elder’s face.

While everyone was talking, the battle in the basin was already nearing its end.

Under Romance’s stormy offensive, the Dragon Beast retreated step by step, its scale armor shattered and its body dripping with blood.

Before long, it could no longer hold on. A powerful, heavy blow from Romance lopped off half its head, and it crashed to the ground.

Having dealt with her opponent, Romance finally lowered her axe and let out a long breath. She turned and strode toward the top of the slope, her gait still long and purposeful, completely unconcerned by the strange looks from all around.

”Anton, I’m done. You’re up next.”

Romance casually high-fived Anton and, grinning, gave him an encouraging thumbs-up.

Anton smiled slightly. He unfastened the black steel sword from his waist and held it in his hand, then walked slowly toward the center of the basin, his steps as casual as someone taking an after-dinner stroll.

But it was precisely this leisurely appearance that caused the area around the basin to fall suddenly silent.

All eyes were fixed on him.