Chapter 765: The Price
The Third Elder only sneered smugly.
Leon’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced at the Second Elder.
In the distance, the gateway to the Life Sigil Sanctuary exploded open. The entrance to that hidden world appeared midair, a phantom image shimmering above.
The lush, verdant Life Sigil Sanctuary was centered around an altar grown from living trees. Atop it sat the Life Sigil Crystal, shimmering with seven colors.
Their power is too great. If all of them strike at once, it will trigger the War Ancient Oaks’ most powerful retaliation—at that point, there will inevitably be Dark Elves killed...
The Third Elder grinned viciously and waved a hand.
“Kill them.”
Leon frowned and repeated, “You’ll regret this.”
The Third Elder was completely unconcerned. “Outsider, at a time like this, you still dare to boast!”
The Dark Elves who had surrounded them began to close in, the magical runes on each of their bodies gradually lighting up.
Once it collapses, everything inside will spill out here. The Life Sigil Crystal’s trembling and frantic rainbow flashes are signs of its impending destruction!
Those beside the Second Elder grew panicked as well. The sheer number of Dark Elves made it impossible to tell how many there were. If this force attacked, even the War Ancient Oaks could not withstand it.
If the Third Elder truly went mad and used the lives of Dark Elves for a blood sacrifice, the defenses of the War Ancient Oaks would be completely breached...
“Second Elder, what do we do? Is the Third Elder really going to kill us?”
“Second Elder, if it really comes to this, maybe we should just hand over the outsider. The Third Elder won’t kill us then...”
It’s over. This time we’re really doomed. There’s no way we can withstand this...
Despair spread like a plague. Even the Second Elder had closed his eyes in pain; at this point, he could no longer bear to stain his hands with more Dark Elf blood.
Many Dark Elves had wept with excitement. Quite a few were deeply grateful to Leon. They’d been forced into submission by the Third Elder’s faction, and resentment had already been brewing.
They resisted attacking Leon from the start. These were the ones standing at the back, barely participating. They were held in place only by the Third Elder’s intimidation.
Tears welled up in the Second Elder’s eyes. The pain of such events was too much for the enclave’s famous good-hearted elder to bear...
Spells rained down, striking the War Ancient Oaks, while Dark Elves with sword-magic runes brandished their blades and charged forward...
But just then, the entire Dark Elf enclave trembled slightly.
In the distance, the gateway to the Life Sigil Sanctuary exploded open—the entrance to that hidden world appeared midair, a phantom image shimmering above.
The lush, verdant Life Sigil Sanctuary was centered around an altar grown from living trees, atop which sat the Life Sigil Crystal, shimmering with seven colors.
At that moment, everyone could see the Life Sigil Crystal shaking violently, its rainbow light flashing urgently.
In an instant, every Dark Elf was struck with terror.
Those who had been attacking instinctively stopped.
The Third Elder, too, stared in shock at the phantom suspended in midair.
Every Dark Elf felt a deep, instinctive fear—and they all knew exactly what it meant.
The collapse of the Life Sigil Sanctuary’s entrance and the phantom appearing in midair meant the sanctuary itself was on the verge of destruction...
Once it collapses, everything inside will spill out here. The Life Sigil Crystal’s trembling and frantic rainbow flashes are signs of its impending destruction!
“What did you do?”
The Third Elder demanded, both shocked and furious.
Leon sneered, glancing up at the phantom. “Nothing much. But if you attack me, don’t say I didn’t warn you. The Life Sigil Crystal has just been reborn—it can’t handle much more turmoil.”
In that instant, all the Dark Elves understood—Leon controlled the fate of the Life Sigil Crystal.
A group of Dark Elves stopped in terror, faces pale, some even instinctively retreating.
They had only just recovered the Life Sigil Relic Spirit, and the news of the Life Sigil Crystal’s complete restoration was still fresh.
Many Dark Elves had wept with excitement, and quite a few were deeply grateful to Leon. They’d been forced into submission by the Third Elder’s faction, and resentment had already been brewing.
They resisted attacking Leon from the start. These were the ones standing at the back, barely participating—held in place only by the Third Elder’s intimidation.
Now, learning that the fate of the Life Sigil Crystal rests in Leon’s hands, panic swept through them. Most of the Dark Elves retreated, terrified that any wrong move might make Leon suspicious.
The Second Elder, too, stared at Leon in shock.
When did Leon do this? My gods, is he really going to destroy the Life Sigil Crystal? My gods, is the Third Elder about to become the greatest sinner in the history of the Dark Elf enclave?
Of course—Leon can control the War Ancient Oaks, so he must be able to wield the power of the Life Sigil Crystal. If he really goes down with us, shattering the crystal, wouldn’t that mean the Dark Elves are doomed to extinction right now?
Even before, there were still decades left—are the Dark Elves really going to perish today?
Terror twisted the Second Elder’s face. He’d given up before, resigned to his own death as long as the Dark Elves survived and the greatest crisis was averted. But now it was different—if Leon acted, the entire Dark Elf race could be wiped out.
The Third Elder’s face was grim as he saw the entrance to the Life Sigil Sanctuary collapse—the original defenses were gone, and now the sanctuary’s doors were wide open.
That damned outsider—does he really hold the fate of the Life Sigil Crystal? If he does, then isn’t my life in his hands? The survival of all Dark Elves, too?
If that’s the case, what’s the point of all my scheming to control the enclave...
Beside the Third Elder, one of his subordinates wore a look of unease and shock, glancing nervously at him from time to time.
Since this outsider could restore the Life Sigil Crystal, he must also hold its fate in his hands. After all that effort to bring back the Life Sigil Crystal, it mustn’t be destroyed again—if it collapses now, there may never be another chance for recovery...
My son was born decades ago, but has never received the Life Sigil Crystal’s blessing. Should I try persuading the Third Elder to let this outsider leave? If he goes, the enclave’s peace will return and everything will be normal again...
Every Dark Elf was terrified—almost all had abandoned any thought of resisting Leon, and just wanted him to leave as soon as possible.
The despair of gaining something only to lose it again corroded their hearts like poison—that was true fear.
After a brief shock, the Second Elder was the first to cry out in fear.
“Leon, don’t be rash—let’s talk this out!”
The Second Elder tried to calm Leon. Seeing that the situation hadn’t worsened, he felt a bit of relief. Then, in a panic, he hurried along the edge of the War Ancient Oaks and shouted at the Third Elder.
“Third Elder, are you really going to bury the entire Dark Elf enclave for your personal grudges?”
The Third Elder sneered, “Who knows if he’s telling the truth? The Life Sigil Crystal of our Dark Elf race has been passed down for countless generations, and even we can’t control it. How could an outsider possibly wield it? He must be lying!”
The Second Elder grew frantic. “Damn it, Brewster, don’t you get it? Leon recovered the Life Sigil Relic Spirit, and even helped the crystal be reborn. He knows things we don’t, and it’s entirely possible he controls its fate! Besides, didn’t you see what just happened?”
At that moment, one of the Third Elder’s subordinates couldn’t help but speak up: “Third Elder, let’s just drive this outsider out. The enclave’s safety comes first. Now that the Life Sigil Crystal is restored, we can’t afford another disaster. Have you forgotten what happened last time? He’s just an outsider—let him leave for good.”
The Third Elder glared at his subordinate and snapped, “What do you know? This outsider is cunning—I say it’s all his scheme! He just set up an alchemical array at the entrance to the Life Sigil Sanctuary and destroyed it, that’s all! With the entrance gone, the sanctuary can’t be hidden anymore. It’s all fake—he’s tricking you, the phantom is fake too!”
The Second Elder stamped his feet in frustration. “Brewster, your stupidity is costing the entire Dark Elf enclave! Is a dying enclave really what you want?”
At this moment, Leon spoke slowly.
“The Life Sigil Relic Spirit was once sealed inside my True Spirit Relic. Now, the Life Sigil Crystal bears my mark. If you don’t want to lose it, I suggest you don’t do anything reckless.”
As soon as Leon finished speaking, the Second Elder shouted.
“No one do anything rash—I know this for a fact! The Life Sigil Relic Spirit really was sealed inside Leon’s True Spirit Relic. In the end, the spirit was shattered, turning into a rain of light within the sanctuary, and with the crystal’s rebirth, Leon’s words are true!”