The Elven Cultivator

「Nine Nether City, Merit Hall」

”She’s out! She’s out!”

The moment Ye Tong stepped out of the main gate, her three Catman companions who had been waiting outside eagerly crowded around her, their three pairs of eyes immediately landing on her feet.

”So that’s the Flowing Light Step you were talking about.”

Ye Tong was wearing a pair of ankle-high soft boots. The surface was made of a translucent, gel-like material that looked incredibly flexible.

The uppers were engraved with patterns resembling flowing clouds, which seemed to ripple with every step she took.

Ye Tong gave a light spin, a joyous smile spreading across her face.

”What do you think? Pretty great, right?”

”I asked the people in the Merit Hall. This is a new shipment that just came in from Taichu City last month. The quality is a whole tier better than the Rune Equipment produced in the Silver Moon Forest.”

As Ye Tong spoke, she suddenly bent her knees and lowered her waist, her entire body tensing like a fully drawn bow.

The next second, the Catman girl’s figure blurred.

The other three Catmen saw only a flash before their eyes, and Ye Tong had already appeared by a stone pillar more than ten meters away.

”A burst of acceleration.” Ye Tong’s voice was filled with unconcealable pride. ”It’s a special ability that comes with the Flowing Light Step. It can instantly and massively increase my speed for about three breaths, with a cooldown of roughly two hours. It also boosts my normal movement speed by about thirty percent.”

Her three Catman companions clicked their tongues in amazement, their eyes filling with envy.

”That’s amazing,” one of the Catman girls said, her face full of envy. ”If I had a piece of Micro-Light Level equipment like that, I wouldn’t have been chased by that pack of Bone-Eating Spiders until I almost coughed up a lung last time.”

”I want one too.” Another Catman sighed. ”But the Flowing Light Step costs a full eight hundred Merit. We barely have enough Merit to exchange for Dragon Essence Potions, so how could we have any extra for Micro-Light Level equipment?”

”Not unless you get lucky like Ye Tong and find a growth spot for rare plants, earning a huge amount of Merit all at once. Otherwise, you can forget about it for the time being.”

Hearing this, the other two Catmen couldn’t help but feel a little dejected.

The Silver Moon Clan’s Dragon Essence Potion was the most miraculous potion they had ever seen.

After using the Dragon Essence Potion, they experienced the wondrous feeling of their Magic Power soaring for the first time in their lives. It was simply addictive.

After that, they spent most of the Merit they earned on more Dragon Essence Potions.

The remaining Merit was used to either improve their living conditions or exchange for supplies needed for exploration, leaving nothing extra for anything else.

”Don’t be discouraged,”

Seeing her companions’ spirits were low, Ye Tong put aside her desire to show off and quickly said,

”As we continue our exploration missions, there will only be more and more opportunities to earn Merit.”

”Besides, our lives are already pretty good now. Three years ago, could you have even imagined living like this?”

”That’s true.”

”Life really is much better than before.”

”Three years ago, I couldn’t have imagined I’d advance to the Black Iron Tier before I turned thirty.”

The three Catmen perked up again.

Three years ago, their clan was still struggling desperately for survival, living a precarious existence from one day to the next.

Now, although they had to participate in exploration missions and fight dangerous subterranean creatures, at least they no longer had to worry about being attacked by other factions.

Moreover, their hard work paid off. They could use Merit to improve their lives and increase their strength. Their days were filled with hope.

It was so much better than before.

Seeing her companions’ moods improve, Ye Tong excitedly brought up another topic.

”Oh, right! I just noticed they’ve added several strength-based Cultivation Techniques to the exchange list!”

”Strength-based Cultivation Techniques?” One of the Catman girls’ ears twitched. ”You mean those special breathing methods that don’t require Magic Power circuits and rely purely on tempering the physical body?”

”That’s right.” Ye Tong nodded emphatically.

The three Catmen’s eyes instantly lit up.

As far as they knew, the soldiers of the Silver Moon Legion had improved so rapidly because they cultivated a special breathing method called the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture.

’If we could cultivate it too...’

At this thought, the three Catmen couldn’t wait to ask.

”How much Merit to exchange for it?”

”It must be really expensive.”

”Seven thousand? Eight thousand? It’s not over ten thousand, is it?”

Ye Tong scratched her cheek and said, ”It’s not the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture, but a few other Cultivation Techniques. The people at the Merit Hall said they’re not as effective as the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture, but they also cost a lot less Merit to exchange for. The cheapest one only costs three thousand Merit.”

Hearing this, the three Catmen’s excitement didn’t diminish in the slightest; instead, they grew even more eager.

”Even if they’re a bit worse than the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture, they’re still better than the breathing methods we’re cultivating now.”

”If they’re less effective, they probably require fewer resources to cultivate. After all, we don’t have the same great treatment as the Silver Moon Legion soldiers, who get a supply of Firemane Beast meat with every meal.”

”Three thousand Merit... Looks like I’ll have to work harder to earn more Merit, or who knows when I’ll be able to afford it.”

The three Catmen chattered excitedly amongst themselves, their words filled with anticipation for the future.

Ye Tong was about to speak when the corner of her eye caught some movement on the other side of the street.

Four young Elves in cyan robes emerged from around the corner.

Ye Tong’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the four Elves.

She recognized them.

They were also members of the exploration team, said to be disciples from Taichu City.

They were usually quite close with the exploration team’s captain, Lord Roman.

Watching the four Elves’ poised and otherworldly demeanor, Ye Tong couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of envy well up from deep within her heart.

The disciples of Taichu City were arguably the most prestigious group within the Silver Moon Clan, second only to the high-ranking members.

Their treatment said it all.

The medicine they used daily to aid their cultivation was a Pill called the Dragon Essence Pill, which was said to be several times more effective than the Dragon Essence Potion.

When not on exploration missions, they could cultivate in the Spirit-Gathering Chambers in the inner city of Nine Nether City, where the energy concentration was said to be at least four to five times higher than in the outer city.

Any random piece of equipment they wore was at least Micro-Light Level, and some even had more than one piece of Extraordinary Level equipment.

They also cultivated top-tier Cultivation Techniques that were as strong as, if not stronger than, the Eight Desolates Prison-Suppression Scripture.

Compared to Vassal Races like them, it was a world of difference.

”The gap is so huge...”

Ye Tong murmured under her breath, then shook her head sharply, pushing that unrealistic envy back down into her heart.

”Let’s go,” she called to her companions. ”Let’s head back and get some rest to recuperate. We have to move out with the team again in a few days.”

Her companions snapped out of their daze and left together.

...

”Laine, what’s wrong?”

Furlo asked quizzically, noticing Laine’s gaze.

”It’s nothing.”

Laine retracted his gaze from the direction of the Catman girl, shook his head, and continued with their business.

”We’ve all accumulated a lot of Merit this time. It’ll convert to a decent amount of Contribution Points. What are you all planning to exchange for when we get back to Taichu City?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mia eagerly replied, ”A Magical Artifact, of course! I’ve had my eye on a Fire Attribute long whip, a Magical Treasure, for a long time. I’m definitely getting it this time!”

Furlo smiled and said, ”I want to exchange for a Spirit Beast.”

’A Spirit Beast, huh...’

Laine subconsciously glanced at the Fire-Feathered Sparrow on Mia’s shoulder.

During their exploration of the Dark Nether Realm, the Fire-Feathered Sparrow had been quite useful. On several occasions, its help had saved Mia from getting injured.

Exchanging for a Spirit Beast to aid in battle and for self-defense seemed like a good choice.

Laine remembered seeing several types of Spirit Beasts in the Beast Garden’s illustrated guide that were well-suited for combat in the Dark Nether Realm’s environment.

”Lucius, what about you?” Mia looked at the taciturn Lucius. ”What are you planning to exchange for?”

Lucius was concise. ”Access to a private chamber in the Ninefold Celestial Tower.”

Laine and Furlo both had an ’as expected’ look on their faces.

Lucius was obsessed with the Sword Dao and didn’t rely on external items. Aside from swords, he had no interest in Talismans, Spirit Beasts, or Magical Treasures.

Most of the Merit he earned was spent on various Pills to aid his cultivation or on access to the private chambers in the Ninefold Celestial Tower.

Compared to the private chambers in their residences, the energy concentration in the Ninefold Celestial Tower’s chambers was on a completely different level.

A single day of cultivation there was equivalent to ten days or even half a month of cultivation outside.

On the list of items most frequently exchanged for by Taichu City disciples, access to the Ninefold Celestial Tower’s private chambers was firmly in the top ten.

As they spoke, the four of them arrived at Nine Nether City’s Teleportation Hall.

Due to the return of the exploration teams, the Teleportation Hall was much livelier than usual.

Elves, Catmen, members of the Ghost Scale Race... a dense crowd of figures moved through the hall.

Some had just stepped out of a Teleportation Array, still carrying the distinct, damp scent of the subterranean world as they hurried outside.

Others were lined up in front of a Teleportation Array, their waists bulging with supplies exchanged for in Nine Nether City, their faces showing an eagerness to return home.

In the center of the hall’s floor, a circular Array about ten meters in diameter was emitting a soft, silvery-white light.

”With the Teleportation Array, getting back is so much more convenient now.”

Mia couldn’t help but sigh with emotion as she looked at the operating Teleportation Array before them.

”Before, traveling from Nine Nether City back to Taichu City took the better part of a day. Now, we arrive in the blink of an eye.”

Laine and Furlo both deeply agreed.

The line moved quickly, and soon it was their turn.

Laine took the Token from his waist and handed it over.

The Elf on duty took the Token, swiped it over a palm-sized Array Disc to confirm their authorization, then handed the Token back and gestured for them to proceed.

The four of them filed into the Teleportation Array.

The array patterns lit up beneath their feet, and silvery-white light surged from all directions, enveloping their figures.

In the next instant, the light flared brilliantly.

By the time Laine came to his senses, his surroundings had changed.

The gloom and chill of Nine Nether City were gone, replaced by bright, warm sunlight streaming in from the windows.

The flow of people in this hall was even denser than in Nine Nether City. Elves in various attire and members of the Vassal Races moved back and forth between the Teleportation Arrays. The sounds of footsteps and conversations blended into a lively bustle.

”We’re back.”

Mia took a deep breath, stretched lazily, and a contented smile appeared on her face.

”Taichu City is just so much more comfortable.”

Furlo smiled. ”Let’s go to the Meeting Hall to turn in the mission first, then head back for a good rest. We have to return to Nine Nether City in a few days.”

Lord Roman had led the team back this time to gather more manpower for continued exploration.

They had returned to Taichu City to exchange for supplies and fully prepare for the next phase of the mission. It wouldn’t be long before they had to go back to Nine Nether City.

The four of them didn’t linger and quickly left the Teleportation Hall.