73: Chapter 73 Elders Arrive? Permanent Settlement in the Secret Realm

Registration for the Eastern League is still skyrocketing.

In the western woods, a natural aura purer than before has already crossed the boundary.

Lin Zhe looked up.

Ling Xi turned her head at the same time, her eyes brightening slightly.

"It's the aura of a clan elder."

Just as she finished speaking, an elven group slowly emerged from the end of the main road west of the village.

There was no murderous intent.

There was no hostility.

In the front row were twelve elven guards wearing moon-patterned light armor, followed by several natural vine carts filled with wooden boxes. At the very front, an old man with shoulder-length white hair and an ancient wooden scepter came to a steady stop.

It was the Great Elder of the Elf Clan.

As soon as he reached the village entrance, the patrolling treants only gave him a glance before slowly making a path.

The surrounding players immediately exploded with excitement.

"Holy crap, the Great Elder of the Elf Clan came in person?"

"This level of prestige is through the roof again!"

"He's not here to deliver gifts too, is he?"

Ling Xi stepped forward quickly: "Great Elder."

The Great Elder looked at Ling Xi, paused for a moment, and scanned her from head to toe.

Her aura was steady.

Her complexion was rosy.

There wasn't a hint of grievance in her eyes.

On the contrary, they were even brighter than when she was in the Elf Secret Realm.

The last bit of worry in the Great Elder's heart completely dissipated.

He let out a soft breath, then cupped his hands toward Lin Zhe with unprecedented solemnity.

"Mr. Lin."

"This old man has not come to obstruct or to test you."

"I am here on behalf of the entire Elf Race to discuss cooperation."

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding players' ears all perked up.

Qing Luo's eyes lit up even more, and she leaned in while clutching her herb basket.

Lin Chen lay in Lin Zhe's arms and spoke in a childish voice: "Speak."

The Great Elder did not waste words and directly raised his hand.

Swish!

A long scroll woven from ancient vines of life slowly unfurled.

It was densely covered with the seals of the Elf Clan's Council of Elders and the natural emblem of the Elven Royal Court.

"This is the Letter of Consent from the entire Elf Race."

"The matter between Her Highness Ling Xi and Mr. Lin is recognized by the entire Elf Race."

"Furthermore, the Council of Elders has unanimously passed a new resolution."

"The Elf Secret Realm is willing to establish its permanent entrance in Luofeng Village."

Boom!

The surrounding players were silent at first.

The next second, they completely erupted.

"A permanent entrance?!"

"It's not a temporary dungeon anymore?"

"Holy shit! Does this mean the Elf Secret Realm will be open in Luofeng Village long-term?"

"Big Shot Lin is incredible!"

The world channel also exploded instantly.

"The Elf Race is for real!"

"A permanent Secret Realm entrance settling in Luofeng Village?!"

"Doesn't that mean we can grind it every day?"

The Great Elder continued: "Although temporary entrances are convenient, they are ultimately unstable and have a limited capacity for people."

"If the permanent entrance is settled here, the rules of the Secret Realm will be more complete, and the throughput will increase several times over."

"Moreover, the Elf Race is willing to yield a portion of the management rights."

At this point, he looked at Lin Chen.

"From now on, the entrance to the Elf Secret Realm will be co-managed by the Elf Race and Luofeng Village."

"The specific entry requirements and order can be jointly decided by Archon Lin."

This was no longer just yielding profits.

This was directly handing a share of the Elf Secret Realm into the hands of the Lin family.

Ling Xi stood to the side, her eyes full of light.

She knew very well what this resolution meant.

The Elf Race was truly treating Luofeng Village as one of their own this time.

Lin Chen blinked, his small face becoming serious.

"Just opening the door isn't enough."

The Great Elder was stunned: "Archon Lin has more conditions?"

"Of course."

Lin Chen shook his little feet and directly started counting on his small fingers.

"First, in the future, registered players from Luofeng Village, Fengyu Village, and Shiti Village will get an extra 10% drop rate when entering the Elf Secret Realm."

"Second, elven herbs, natural materials, and elven equipment must be sold in Luofeng Village first."

"Third, whoever dares to bully solo players in the Secret Realm will be banned just the same."

As the last sentence fell, the surrounding solo players were instantly excited.

"10% drop rate?!"

"And it's an extra bonus for entering the Secret Realm?"

"Little Archon Lin understands us!"

The Great Elder pondered for a moment.

Then, he actually laughed.

"These three conditions are not excessive."

"I can agree to them on behalf of the Elf Race."

"Especially the second one."

He looked back at the vine carts behind him, the smile on his face irrepressible.

"The current foot traffic in Luofeng Village is busier than many of the Elf Race's trading posts."

"By prioritizing the sale of elven supplies here, we will only earn more."

Qing Luo nodded frantically beside him: "Yes, yes, yes! Right now, so many players are scrambling to buy our herbs!"

Lin Chen was satisfied and raised his small hand.

Hum—

A pale gold rule contract instantly unfurled.

[Luofeng Village—Elf Secret Realm Permanent Cooperation Contract]

[1: The permanent entrance of the Elf Secret Realm will be settled in Luofeng Village]

[2: The Secret Realm entrance will be co-managed by the Elf Race and Lin Chen]

[3: Registered players from the three Luofeng villages will receive an extra 10% drop rate bonus upon entering the Elf Secret Realm]

[4: Elf Race supplies will be sold preferentially in Luofeng Village]

[5: Violators of order will be punished by both parties jointly]

After the Great Elder finished reading, he didn't hesitate for a second and directly pressed his handprint.

Ling Xi also raised her hand and placed a natural mark.

Lin Chen clapped his small hands.

The contract was bound on the spot!

The next second, a server-wide announcement popped up in everyone's faces.

[Server Announcement: The Elf Race has reached a permanent cooperation with Luofeng Village]

[The permanent entrance to the Elf Secret Realm has officially settled in Luofeng Village]

[Registered players from the three Luofeng villages will receive an extra 10% drop rate bonus upon entering the Elf Secret Realm]

[Elf Race supplies will henceforth be sold preferentially in the Luofeng Village trading area]

The entire "miracle" world went completely crazy.

"It's permanent!!!"

"It's not a time-limited dungeon, it's a permanent Secret Realm!"

"And there's a 10% Secret Realm drop rate bonus, this is too sweet!"

"Thanks to Big Shot Lin! Thanks to Her Highness Ling Xi!"

Just as the announcement finished, Ling Xi had already grasped her natural staff and turned to walk toward the oak forest on the south side of Luofeng Village.

That was near where the temporary entrance had been.

But this time, the aura was completely different.

"Step back a bit."

She spoke softly.

The surrounding players all backed away with a 'whoosh', but their eyes were brighter than the last.

Ling Xi raised her staff.

Boom!

A massive surge of emerald-green Natural Divine Power soared into the sky!

The entire oak forest was instantly illuminated.

The branches and leaves of the ancient trees shook violently, and patterns of moon-leaves emerged on the ground, spreading outward in circle after circle. The phantom of the original temporary Secret Realm light gate was directly shattered, then reconsolidated deeper within.

Hum— Hum— Hum—

A green teleportation gate, a full three times larger than before, slowly rose!

The door frame was woven from ancient tree vines, and inside the gate was no longer just a blurry forest shadow; one could clearly see the outlines of the ancient forest, the Moon Spring, and the stone bridge on the outskirts of the Elf Secret Realm.

Moreover, the light gate was terrifyingly stable.

It didn't flicker.

It didn't shake.

It was as if it were truly embedded into the ley lines of Luofeng Village.

At the same time, a row of new prompts popped up.

[The Elf Secret Realm permanent teleportation gate has opened]

[Current maximum capacity has been significantly increased]

[Queueing and passage efficiency has been improved]

The players who had been waiting in a long line at the dungeon entrance instantly started howling with joy.

"It got bigger!"

"This gate can fit several teams at once!"

"A temporary entrance could never have this effect!"

"Go, go, go!"

Lin Chen raised his hand to add a rule, and new queueing light plates immediately lit up.

The crowd began to move forward in an orderly fashion.

Much faster.

Much steadier.

Furthermore, the first batch of Falling Maple players who stepped into the teleportation gate saw a prompt jump out in front of them simultaneously.

[You have obtained the Falling Maple Exclusive Secret Realm Buff: Drop Rate +10%]

"It's there! It's really there!"

"I got the bonus!"

"Long live Big Shot Lin!"

The world channel was completely flooded with messages.

"Thanks to Big Shot Lin Zhe!"

"Thanks to Her Highness Ling Xi!"

"This is what you call permanent benefits!"

"If anyone says Luofeng Village isn't the number one village in the server, I'll have a bone to pick with them!"

Over at the trade route, things were even more ridiculous.

As soon as the announcement that Elf Race supplies would be sold preferentially in Luofeng Village came out, a large number of players directly diverted from the dungeon entrance and rushed toward the elven stalls.

"Give me ten stacks of moonlight grass!"

"Are there any more natural potions?"

"I want two elven shortbows!"

Qing Luo and several elven merchants were so busy they couldn't keep their feet on the ground, their faces flushed with smiles.

In less than half a day, the sales of herbs had directly tripled.

The goods in the following few carts, which were originally expected to take two days to sell, actually hit rock bottom on the spot.

An elven merchant holding an empty medicine box was completely dazed.

"Sold... sold out?"

"So fast?"

The Great Elder stood by the stalls, watching cart after cart of herbs and materials being snatched up, the smile on his old face impossible to suppress.

"Good."

"Very good."

"This step was the right one."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Lin Zhe again, his attitude even more steady and respectful than when he first arrived.

"Mr. Lin, from now on, the Elf Race and Luofeng Village are truly one in interest."

Lin Zhe's expression was calm, and he only gave a faint nod.

As Ling Xi stood before that incredibly stable permanent teleportation gate, feeling the natural aura thoroughly linked with the ley lines of Luofeng Village, her gaze was incredibly soft.

She knew that from this moment on, the Elf Secret Realm and this place could never be separated again.

Not far away, players were still frantically rushing inside.

The stalls were still constantly restocking.

The world channel was still flooded with thanks.

And deep within that new permanent light gate, the green moon-shadow swayed gently, as if waiting for the next batch of people to step in.