46: Chapter 46 The Elf Princess Sets Off, Encounters an Attack on the Way

Deep within the Elf Secret Realm, outside the Ancient Tree Temple.

Ling Xi stood before the stone steps bathed in moonlight, raising her hand to gather the last wisp of pale green natural light.

The border patrol was over.

For the past few days, there had been lingering, faint traces of Abyssal aura around the perimeter of the Elf Secret Realm. She had personally led a team to investigate, purifying all the contaminated grasslands and springs, and only then did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She had watched the recording leaf that Qing Luo sent back over and over again.

Luofeng Village.

Lin Zhe.

That special human NPC who had taken in Qing Luo and was capable of controlling rules.

The more she watched it, the more intrigued she became.

"Your Highness."

The Great Elder of the Elves walked out from the temple and bowed slightly, "The border matters have been settled. Do you really intend to go to the human Novice Area yourself?"

Ling Xi nodded, her voice soft yet firm.

"Qing Luo was taken in by him; I should thank him in person."

"Besides…"

She paused, her fingertips gently pinching the recording leaf.

"I also want to see with my own eyes what kind of person he truly is."

The Great Elder of the Elves glanced at her and did not try to persuade her further, only saying in a deep voice, "The Abyss has been frequently active near the border lately. Your Highness, please be careful on the road."

Ling Xi gave a soft affirmative, then turned to look at the four personal guards behind her.

"After I leave, the daily affairs of the Elf Secret Realm will be handled by the Council of Elders."

"The Moon Spring Forbidden Area will remain closed."

"If there are any further anomalies at the border, hold your ground; do not pursue."

The four guards lowered their heads in unison.

"As you command, Your Highness."

A moment later.

The group of five walked out of the Elf Secret Realm and stepped onto the forest path leading to the human Novice Area.

At first, the journey was very quiet.

The wind blew through the treetops.

The blades of grass swayed gently.

Ling Xi walked in the lead, her white dress brushing against the ground. She held her Nature Staff in her hand, her expression still quite relaxed.

But when they entered the outskirts of the Dark Forest, the air suddenly changed.

It grew a few degrees colder.

The insect chirping that should have been in the forest was gone.

An elf guard's expression changed, and he immediately lowered his voice.

"Your Highness, something is wrong."

"It's too quiet here."

Ling Xi stopped in her tracks, her gaze narrowing slightly.

The next second—

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Over a dozen pitch-black figures lunged out from the forest shadows on both sides!

Blade light gleamed coldly, and black mist surged!

They were all Abyssal Shadow Hunters!

"Kill!"

A low roar erupted.

The two elf guards in front had just raised their bows when black short blades grazed their chests, leaving bloody gashes and forcing them to stumble back several steps.

"Protect Her Highness!"

Boom!

A ball of Abyssal black flame slammed into the ground, causing the earth to shatter and toxic mist to scatter everywhere.

Ling Xi's expression changed slightly. She raised her staff, and a large expanse of emerald-green vines instantly burst from the ground, forcefully blocking the three Shadow Hunters in front of her.

But the enemy was clearly prepared.

There were too many of them.

And their target was extremely precise.

No matter how the guards tried to block them, the gazes of those dozen or so Shadow Hunters remained locked tightly onto Ling Xi.

"Take her alive!"

"Bring her back!"

"The Princess wants a live captive!"

Hearing this, Ling Xi's heart sank immediately.

These people hadn't just happened upon them by chance.

They were lying in wait specifically for her!

One guard gritted his teeth and charged forward, taking a blade hit head-on, then counter-attacked with an arrow that pierced the enemy's shoulder, shouting urgently, "Your Highness, run! They are coming for you!"

Another guard also lunged forward, forcibly blocking two black blades, his back instantly stained with blood.

"Retreat toward the human border!"

"The closest one is the direction of Luofeng Village!"

Ling Xi bit her lip, a flicker of struggle crossing her eyes.

She wanted to stay.

But if they dragged this out any longer, no one would be able to leave.

"Hold them off!"

She tapped her staff heavily, and several rings of natural light spread out, casting a thin protective shield over the four guards. She then turned and dashed toward the edge of the forest.

"Pursue!"

"Don't let her get away!"

More than half of the dozen or so Shadow Hunters immediately split off, turning into black shadows and giving chase relentlessly.

Along the way, black blades, poison needles, and Shadow Arrows kept flying at her from behind.

Ling Xi swung her staff to parry while running, and fine beads of sweat soon seeped onto her forehead.

Boom!

Another Shadow Impact slammed into her side, tearing a hole in the hem of her white dress on the spot.

Her footing faltered, and she nearly fell.

Her mana was depleting too quickly.

The pursuers behind her were getting closer and closer.

At the end of the forest ahead, a faint golden border light finally appeared.

The human Novice Area!

Ling Xi's eyes lit up, and without caring about anything else, she charged directly toward it.

Hum—

Just as she stepped into the border, on the dirt slope of Luofeng Village, the golden patterns in Lin Zhe's eyes suddenly flashed.

Within his Rule Perception, a strange yet pure natural aura was rushing into the border area, clearly bearing injuries.

And behind her, over a dozen cold, bone-chilling Abyssal auras were pressing in closely behind.

Xing Jianwan noticed the change in Lin Zhe's expression immediately and looked up at once.

"What is it?"

Lin Zhe looked toward the western border, his voice calm but swift.

"The person from Qing Luo's side has arrived."

"There are pursuers behind her."

Xing Jianwan's gaze turned cold, and she instantly gripped her staff tightly.

"How many?"

"A dozen or so, Abyssal type."

Lin Chen also raised his little face, the golden pattern on his forehead glowing, and he let out a childish huff.

"The bad things are here again."

Lin Zhe didn't waste words and gave the order directly.

"Jianwan."

"Take the people from Lingxiao Pavilion and go meet her."

"Don't let her die outside the border."

"Understood."

Xing Jianwan turned and left, her movements extremely decisive.

"Lingxiao Pavilion, follow me!"

Swish!

The ten core members of Lingxiao Pavilion, who were guarding the perimeter of the dirt slope not far away, rose in unison, their weapons unsheathed.

"Yes!"

Xing Jianwan dashed forward, her white robes billowing in the wind as she led the ten people, rushing straight toward the western border.

Meanwhile, in the forest outside the border, Ling Xi was forced to the point where her breathing had become erratic, and the light from the staff in her hand flickered on and off.

She stumbled out of the last patch of tree shadows, and in the distance, the outline of Luofeng Village was vaguely visible.

But behind her, the killing intent of the Shadow Hunters was already pressing against her back.

A black short blade slashed in silently from the side.

Just at that moment, a blaze of fire suddenly lit up in the distance.

Blazing, swift, and charging straight toward them!