279: Princess Yuna

The Elf Queen is single and has no children.

However, the Elf Race still has a successor to the Queen—the Elf Princess Yunai.

Princess Yunai was born seven thousand years ago, a royal bloodline hatched from the Elf Ancient Tree.

For the Elf Race, who had no children for their Queen, the birth of a royal bloodline was good news worth celebrating nationwide. At that time, the entire nation celebrated for two full months for her.

She did not disappoint the public's expectations: Star Level at thirty, Galaxy Level at two hundred, and Star Domain Level at one thousand.

With her exceptional talent, she was an absolute leader in the academy.

And now, this Elf Princess was summoning someone.

"Your Royal Highness, may I ask why you have summoned me?" Deas asked respectfully. As a guardian of the Imperial Court, essentially an imperial bodyguard and chief steward, she bore the heavy responsibility of protecting this Imperial Court located beneath the Elf Ancient Tree. It could be said that protecting the Imperial Court was equivalent to defending that ancient and mysterious Elf Ancient Tree; the importance of her duty was self-evident.

The Imperial Court was built nestled against the massive Elf Ancient Tree, standing firm through the vicissitudes of time. As its guardian, Deas held a pivotal position, second only to the supremely noble Elf Queen. She not only had to remain constantly vigilant, guarding against potential enemies and threats, but also manage the myriad affairs within the palace, ensuring everything was in perfect order. This mission made her a highly respected and indispensable presence.

Strictly speaking, she did not need to obey the Elf Princess's summons, as the Elf Princess was only an heir and did not yet have the right to summon her.

But Deas was loyal and held this Princess in high regard, so she was very willing to heed her summons.

"Lady Deas, my recent cultivation has hit a bottleneck, and I wish to enter the interior of the Ancient Tree to seek a breakthrough. I wonder if you can help me?" Yunai pleaded pitifully.

"Isn't that against the rules? If the Princess needs to enter the Ancient Tree space, she must obtain permission from Her Majesty the Queen. You should implore Her Majesty the Queen." Deas frowned slightly. Why was this usually well-behaved Princess making such an unreasonable request?

"Her Majesty the Queen is busy dealing with the Drow, so busy she can't spare a moment. I don't want to trouble her with this," the Elf Princess said.

Deas's furrowed brows relaxed. So that was it. Given the Princess's usual demeanor, she would indeed act this way. How sensible and well-behaved!

However, Deas did not relent, "No, that won't do. It's against the rules." As a guardian, rules were the bottom line and not to be violated.

"Alright then, can Lady Deas at least give me some guidance?" Yunai seemed very disappointed.

"Alright." Seeing the disheartened Yunai, and remembering that she was only seven thousand years old yet had to bear such a heavy responsibility, Deas couldn't bear it and agreed to Yunai's request.

"Thank you, Lady Deas." Yunai revealed a brilliant smile.

Yunai was already at the peak of the Star Domain Level, just one step away from the Stellar River Level. A further breakthrough would be a good thing for the Elf Empire, which was currently suffering greatly.

Deas followed Yunai to her palace.

Sunlight streamed through the exquisite glazed tiles, casting dappled light and shadow onto the training ground inside the palace. The area was spacious and flat, surrounded by tall stone pillars intricately carved with beautiful patterns, like divine eyes, showcasing the royalty's nobility and glory.

Deas took a few more glances at the patterns on the pillars, feeling they were extraordinary.

"As expected of the Princess's residence, even the carvings are so profound. They must be the masterpiece of some great artist." Deas thought, knowing many of those masters, but unsure which one this was.

After making thorough preparations, Deas began to tutor Yunai.

Yunai listened attentively to the explanations, asking questions that were as imaginative as a heavenly horse soaring through the sky, and often able to draw inferences from one point to others, which made Deas increasingly fond of this clever little girl.

"The Princess is exceptionally intelligent. If she can inherit the throne in the future, then the entire Empire will have nothing to worry about!" Deas thought to herself, filled with joy.

However, at this very moment, she did not notice the subtle and imperceptible changes quietly occurring in the surrounding pillars.

Gradually, without realizing it, Deas began to feel a strange sense of trance washing over her.

"What exactly is going on?" She instinctively rubbed her forehead, a sense of alarm rising in her heart—this abnormal situation was far from ordinary; there must be something amiss!

"Are you alright, Lady Deas?" Yunai, who was beside her, keenly noticed her unusual state and asked with concern.

"It's nothing serious, perhaps just a little tired." Deas forced herself to remain calm, unwilling to tell the innocent little Princess the truth—after all, Yunai, being young, was utterly powerless against such a powerful and mysterious enemy.

However, as time ticked by, the intense dizziness and sense of trance grew more severe, as if threatening to completely engulf Deas.

"Oh no! Something's wrong, we must evacuate this place immediately!" Deas keenly sensed the abnormal changes in the surrounding stone pillars, especially those mysterious patterns, which seemed to come alive, staring at them like real eyes.

She unhesitatingly grabbed Yunai, preparing to force their way out of this dangerous place.

"Have you found out?" Suddenly, a chilling voice rang out, followed by a terrifying figure with a human face and spider body slowly stepping out of the void.

"It's the Spider Queen!" Deas's heart sank abruptly. She hadn't expected to encounter this formidable enemy here.

She radiated a dazzling light, attempting to transmit information to the outside world through a pillar of light, but instantly, a transparent light screen emerged, mercilessly blocking everything.

"Don't waste your effort. You have entered my divine realm, and there's no escape. Just obediently accept your death!" The Spider Queen's lips curled into a greedy smile, and she lightly licked them with her tongue.

In an instant, an overwhelming surge of evil aura swept towards Deas like a raging tide, intending to completely suppress her.

Facing such powerful divine oppression, Deas found it difficult to breathe, almost gasping for air. She gritted her teeth and, with all her might, threw Princess Yunai behind her, hoping to buy her a sliver of hope for survival. Then, she unreservedly unleashed her own potential.

"Light's Protection!" As a mage proficient in light element magic, Deas hastily cast an instant spell, forming a thin shield.

Unfortunately, the disparity in strength between the two sides was too great, and the seemingly sturdy shield shattered in an instant.

Deas was completely enveloped by the evil aura, her body gradually being eroded and corrupted, step by step descending into depravity.

"Huh, why is the Princess dark?" Before losing consciousness, she vaguely saw the dark-skinned, white-haired Princess slowly walking towards her.

.......