The Elven Cultivator

In recent years, with the successive creation of new potions, Anton’s reputation as a genius Pharmacist had grown ever more renowned within the Clan.

The Elder Council placed great hopes in him, and many Clan members even saw him as the key to the Clan’s prosperity.

But now, watching Anton slowly walk into the basin, everyone present was struck by a sudden realization: this young Elf before them was also a genius who cultivated both magic and martial arts.

The young Elves who had experienced the combat assessment seven years ago, in particular, recalled the shocking scene of Anton single-handedly taking down over two hundred Lizard-men.

For a moment, a peculiar feeling spread through the crowd.

Everyone was eager to know just how powerful this genius of both magic and martial arts had become.

The Riftspine Dragon Beast also seemed to sense an unusual aura. It rarely held back, but now it lowered its body and let out a deep, warning roar.

Anton stopped twenty meters in front of the massive beast. He slowly raised his Long Sword, its tip aimed at the Riftspine Dragon Beast.

It was a simple, unremarkable motion, yet it made the Riftspine Dragon Beast sense a potent, deadly threat.

Its survival instinct overcame its fear. The Riftspine Dragon Beast could no longer hold back and, with a low snarl, charged at Anton to kill.

Anton’s expression was calm as he thrust his sword forward.

In the next instant, nine wheels of light, so blazing they were nearly blinding, erupted from the sword’s blade. It was as if nine brilliant suns had risen at once, their gold and red flames weaving together into a scorching canopy in the sky.

The air warped and boiled from the intense heat. Visible waves of heat rolled out as if they were tangible. The ground cracked, and shattered stones turned to dust before they could even fly into the air.

The Nine Suns Emerge!

BOOM!

The nine brilliant suns crashed into the Riftspine Dragon Beast like meteors.

The beast didn’t even have time to scream before its massive body was engulfed by the blazing sea of light.

Flames shot skyward, forming a pillar of fire tens of meters high. A heat wave swept across the landscape, and the ancient oaks at the basin’s edge shook violently in the hot wind, their leaves scorching and curling.

Many Elves instinctively raised their hands to shield themselves from the searing heat, but they could still feel a painful sting on their cheeks.

When the light finally faded, all that remained was a charred skeleton.

The Riftspine Dragon Beast’s Scale Armor, flesh, blood, and organs... everything had been incinerated in that single moment, leaving not even ashes behind.

Around the basin, there was dead silence.

Everyone stared blankly at the skeleton, their mouths dry and their minds void of thought.

After a long while, someone finally broke the silence with a whisper, as if talking in their sleep.

”S-So strong...”

It was like a switch had been flipped. The crowd erupted like water poured on hot oil.

”He’s too strong!”

”That was a Silver Tier Riftspine Dragon Beast... and he finished it in an instant.”

”I can’t believe Anton is this powerful...”

Eleanor stood frozen, her gaze fixed dazedly on Anton’s back, her face a mask of disbelief and shock.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered Anton’s strength would have grown over the years, but she never imagined his progress would be this outrageous.

To instantly kill a low-level Silver Riftspine Dragon Beast—that kind of power was infinitely close to the Golden Tier.

Compared to the combat assessment seven years ago, he had clearly jumped to an entirely new level.

He had clearly spent these years living in seclusion and focusing on potion research, yet his strength hadn’t stagnated in the slightest. In fact, his improvement far surpassed her own, and she was someone who trained bitterly day and night.

This monstrous talent of his gave rise to an irrepressible feeling of helplessness deep within Eleanor’s heart.

At that moment, the faint desire to compete with Anton vanished like smoke, as if it had been incinerated by those nine brilliant suns as well.

Dejection, defeat, shock, awe... a medley of emotions swirled within her, leaving a complex taste in her heart, as if an entire spice rack had been knocked over.

Eleanor faintly understood that in this lifetime, she would probably never have any hope of surpassing Anton.

At the top of the slope, the Clan’s upper echelon exchanged glances, their faces filled with shock and astonishment.

Among the Clan’s high-ranking members present, only the three Elders, Cedric, and Irina were capable of instantly killing a Riftspine Dragon Beast.

But all of them were Golden Tier experts!

Besides them, perhaps a few Silver Peak Casters could also achieve it, given enough preparation time to brew a High Tier Magic spell beforehand. But they definitely couldn’t do it as effortlessly as Anton.

In other words, the power Anton had just displayed already surpassed that of the vast majority of them.

And when they remembered that Anton was still an underage Elf, the whole situation felt as absurd as a dream.

”That kid, Anton...”

The Third Elder, who was usually eloquent, opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.

No words could do justice to the scene that had just unfolded; they all felt pale and inadequate.

The Second Elder’s face also showed an expression of irrepressible amazement.

The Great Elder, who always remained calm no matter the situation, was now staring intently at Anton, a fire seemingly burning in the depths of his amber eyes.

Anton paid no mind to the stares around him. He calmly sheathed his Long Sword and strolled out of the basin, returning to his original spot.

Romance was the first to praise him, giving Anton a thumbs-up. ”Impressive.”

She had learned the gesture from Anton.

Having sparred with Anton often, she was the only one present who understood his true strength, so she naturally wasn’t too surprised by the scene.

She even had a gut feeling that this might not have been Anton’s full power.

This childhood friend of hers had too many unknown secrets; even now, she couldn’t completely see through him.

”Quiet.”

Seeing the growing commotion, Cedric finally snapped out of his stupor and spoke to quell the crowd’s chatter.

”The Windtalker trial is over. Everyone, disperse. Go back to your duties; don’t linger here.”

He turned to the Great Elder, who gave a slight nod. Only then did Cedric address Anton’s group of three. ”You three, stay. The rest of you may leave.”

Although the Elves wanted to stay and watch the excitement, they reluctantly dispersed now that Cedric had spoken.

Before long, only the three Elders, the two captains of the Forest Guard, and Anton’s group of three remained on the hilltop.

”Your performance today was outstanding.”

The Great Elder’s gaze swept over the three young Elves, lingering on Anton for a moment.

”According to the rules, as of today, you are now Windtalkers of the Silver Moon Race.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Romance broke into a radiant smile.

Even Eleanor, with her complicated feelings, showed a faint smile.

Becoming a Windtalker was a great honor and a form of recognition for any Elf.

Anton smiled faintly, but his eyes were calm.

For him, obtaining the title of Windtalker was merely a convenience for leaving the forest; he had no other goal.

As for honor, with his current prestige in the Clan, he didn’t really need the title of Windtalker to add to it.

”Windtalkers possess many privileges. You can freely enter and leave the forest, gain the right to reside beneath the Eternal Tree, attend important meetings, and receive larger resource quotas, among other things.”

Before Romance and Eleanor could look pleased, the Great Elder’s tone shifted, becoming solemn.

”But while you enjoy these many privileges, Windtalkers must also fulfill their due obligations.”

”When the Clan faces hardship, you must step forward to protect it.”

The expressions of Anton, Romance, and Eleanor turned serious, and they all nodded solemnly.

Romance then spoke up eagerly, ”Great Elder, I want to participate in the hunting operation against the Lizard-men.”

”Me too,” Eleanor quickly added.

She had long wanted to join the fight and contribute her strength to the Clan.

Now that she was a Windtalker, her status as an underage Elf was no longer an issue.

As expected, the Great Elder no longer refused their request. Instead, he looked to Cedric at his side. ”The two of them are in your hands. On the next hunting expedition, have them join the team.”

”Yes, Great Elder,” Cedric replied with gravity.

”As for Anton,” the Great Elder’s gaze fell on him, ”you don’t need to participate in the hunting operation. Focus on your potion research and cultivation.”

Anton readily agreed.

He was well aware of where his value lay.

The hunting operation wasn’t lacking his combat power. The energy he would spend participating in it would be better used to create more potions, which would be a greater contribution to the Clan.

Besides, he had many of his own matters to attend to.

Everyone present found the Great Elder’s words perfectly normal.

Anton was the Clan’s precious treasure now. If any accident were to befall him during a hunting operation, it would be an unbearable loss for the Clan.

Therefore, even though Anton had just demonstrated formidable strength, the three Elders had no intention of letting him set foot on a battlefield so easily.

”Alright. I will have someone arrange the next steps. You all should go back and get some rest.”

After the Great Elder spoke, Anton and the other two took their leave.

Once the three of them were a good distance away, Irina couldn’t help but remark with emotion, ”I never thought our Clan would see three Windtalkers emerge in a single year.”

Cedric nodded silently, a faint smile flashing across his stern face.

The Silver Moon Race hadn’t produced a Windtalker for many years, and now three had appeared at once. Among them was a once-in-a-millennium genius like Anton. This was undoubtedly a sign of the Clan’s coming prosperity.

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

For years, they had been searching for a candidate who could succeed the Clan Leader and lead the Clan to glory.

And now, that candidate had clearly appeared.

He was even more perfect than they had imagined.

Outstanding talent in pharmacology, combined with immense power and potential.

Anton, who possessed both, was without a doubt the ideal choice.