The Elven Cultivator

When it came to the mineral vein, the Dwarves’ efficiency was astonishingly high.

In just half a month, they not only completed a preliminary survey of the Thousand Rock Hills but also located the Frost Pattern Silver vein.

The good news was that the vein was located some distance from the core of the Thousand Rock Hills, right on the outer edge of the Rock-Horned Dragon’s territory.

This meant the joint team wouldn’t have to directly face the Golden Peak draconic overlord.

The bad news was that hundreds of vicious Dragon Beasts, along with an even greater number of Scale Rock Lizards, lingered near the vein.

These Dragon Beasts had claimed the vein as their own territory, building nests and breeding in the surrounding valleys and rock crevices. Any Alien Race that approached the vein would be met with their frenzied attacks.

If the Silver Moon Clan were acting alone, simply figuring out how to clear away these Dragon Beasts without suffering heavy casualties would have been a massive headache.

Fortunately, the Silver Moon Clan had already partnered with Gray Rock Castle. With the two great powers joining forces, annihilating the Dragon Beasts around the vein was only a matter of time.

It was worth mentioning that during the survey, the Dwarves took every opportunity to cozy up to Anton.

Grim, in particular, would come looking for Anton every few days with a bottle of ”Fiery Spirit” wine, his words hinting, both directly and indirectly, that he wanted to commission a batch of Frost Pattern weapons.

As planned, Anton neither refused nor agreed. He just smiled and dodged the question, leaving the Dwarves so anxious they were tearing their hair out. Every time they looked at him, their eyes were filled with a particular sense of grievance.

In contrast, the collaboration between the Silver Moon Clan and Gray Rock Castle proceeded very smoothly.

Once the survey was complete, the two parties quickly finalized the details of their cooperation.

The Dwarven delegation subsequently left Silver Moon Forest and returned to Gray Rock Castle.

Three days later, a grand procession of five hundred Dwarves arrived in Silver Moon Forest.

The Dwarves, it should be known, have a hybrid ”warrior-artisan” society. Nearly every adult Dwarf possessed competent fighting skills. In times of peace, they each had their own roles, but in times of war, they could assemble quickly, a social structure closely resembling a nation in arms.

The arrival of five hundred Dwarves immediately boosted Silver Moon Forest’s combat strength by a significant margin.

Without delay, the two sides swiftly formed a joint team. The very next day, they set out for the Thousand Rock Hills to begin clearing out the Dragon Beasts near the vein.

Romance and Eleanor naturally joined the combined force as well, their hunts shifting from Lizard-men to Dragon Beasts.

The latter proved to be a bit more of a challenge for them.

As usual, Anton did not participate in the fighting, remaining responsible only for the logistical task of producing potions.

But he was busier than ever.

The addition of the Dwarves had caused the demand for all types of potions to increase dramatically.

The number of potions the joint force consumed in battle each day was staggering.

Anton had to work at full capacity concocting Pills just to barely keep up with the joint force’s consumption.

It was a good thing he had recently upgraded his Alchemy Cauldron into a Talisman, which greatly improved his alchemical efficiency. Otherwise, he’d be completely overwhelmed right now.

After personally experiencing the effects of his potions, the next time the Dwarves saw Anton, there was a new and different look in their eyes.

It was as if they were looking at some kind of rare creature that only existed in legends.

An underage Elf proficient in both Alchemy and potion-making, who also trained in both magic and martial arts.

Before meeting Anton, they simply couldn’t believe a genius like him existed in the world.

...

「The Northern Wastelands, a field of scorched earth.」

A frigid wind whipped up gray-black gravel, lashing it against the cracked earth.

Thousands of crude huts spread densely across the gray-black wasteland. Built on frames of dead wood and covered with animal hides and dry grass, they were low and cramped.

A crude wooden fence encircled the settlement, its stakes adorned with desiccated animal hides and skulls.

Moloch strode through the settlement. Wherever he went, the other Lizard-men bowed their heads and stepped aside, not daring to look directly at the noble Dragon-Lizard-man.

In the Molten Spike Tribe, the purity of one’s bloodline dictated the strict hierarchy of social class.

In the center of the settlement, on a slight rise, stood the only stone-built structure.

It was the residence of the tribal chief, Zhuogu.

Moloch pushed the door open and entered. The heavy stone door made a dull, grinding sound.

More than a dozen Dragon-Lizard-men were already gathered inside, seated on either side of a long, crude stone table.

The tribal chief, Zhuogu, sat at the head of the table.

Seeing Moloch enter, a rare smile touched Zhuogu’s stern face, and he gestured to an empty seat on his left.

”Sit.”

Many of the Dragon-Lizard-men watched Moloch take the seat to Zhuogu’s left, a flicker of jealousy in their eyes, but no one said a word.

Everyone knew the chief held Moloch in high regard. He was the youngest Golden Tier Warrior in the history of the Molten Spike Tribe, and it was implicitly understood that the chief was grooming him as his successor.

”Now that everyone’s here, let’s get down to business,” Zhuogu began, his voice low and gravelly. ”I’ve gathered you today mainly to discuss matters concerning the Silver Moon Clan.”

”You’re all well aware of the situation over the past few years.”

All the Dragon-Lizard-men present nodded, their expressions turning grim.

For the longest time, the Silver Moon Clan had cowered in their forest, waiting to be invaded and plundered by them each year, like a personal granary.

But in the last few years, those pointy-ears have uncharacteristically begun to strike back, attacking our hunting parties and even capturing many of our tribesmen. Their stance has been exceptionally aggressive.

Because of this, a major food shortage has developed within the tribe.

If it weren’t for the food aid from the Flame Trade Association, there’s no telling how many of our people would have starved to death last winter.

Zhuogu’s gaze swept across the room as he dropped a bombshell. ”Just yesterday, the Flame Trade Association’s grain shipment was also attacked by the Silver Moon Clan. The convoy’s guards, along with the tribesmen we sent to meet them, were all wiped out. All the food has fallen into the hands of the Silver Moon Clan.”

An uproar instantly erupted among the Dragon-Lizard-men.

”Damn those pointy-ears!”

”How did the Silver Moon Clan find out the Flame Trade Association was helping us?”

”Without that food, what are we going to do this winter?”

”Quiet.”

Zhuogu raised a hand, and silence once again fell over the stone room.

He turned to Moloch, who had remained the calmest, and asked, ”Moloch, what are your thoughts?”

Moloch replied coolly, ”Inform the Flame Trade Association to change their transport route. At the same time, dispatch more men to meet them to ensure the grain isn’t intercepted by the Silver Moon Clan.”

The others instinctively nodded in agreement.

A flicker of appreciation showed in Zhuogu’s eyes.

He valued Moloch not only for his outstanding talent but also for his calm and steady temperament.

This was a rare trait in the Molten Spike Tribe, which revered violence.

”Zag, Moge, the task of meeting the convoy is yours.”

Zhuogu ordered two of the Dragon-Lizard-men seated further down the table.

”Yes, Chief.”

Zag and Moge answered in unison.

Zhuogu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the others. ”Although we have the Flame Trade Association’s support and the tribe won’t be short on food for the moment, that aid can’t last forever. We must change our current circumstances as soon as possible.”

”If the Silver Moon Clan wants a war, then we’ll give them one! We’ll beat them until they don’t dare to step out of their forest again!”

”The chief is right!”

”If we don’t beat those pointy-ears until it hurts, they’ll start to think they’re really something!”

”A mere granary dares to fight back! If they didn’t hide in that forest all the time, we would’ve uprooted them long ago!”

The Dragon-Lizard-men roared in agreement, and the stone room filled with killing intent.

Seeing their morale was high, Zhuogu nodded in satisfaction and commanded in a deep voice, ”Starting today, dispatch troops to block all major routes from Silver Moon Forest to the wastelands. Attack the forest at regular intervals. I want those pointy-ears to be so busy defending themselves they won’t have the strength to set foot in the wastelands.”

He then looked to Moloch. ”Moloch, you will also lead a unit into battle.”

”Yes, Chief.” Moloch nodded firmly.

’He knew full well that the chief was giving him an opportunity to earn merit, paving the way for him to take over as chief in the future.’

’Fine by me. He hadn’t fought since breaking through to the Golden Tier. This would be a good chance to test his strength against those pointy-ears.’