335: Chapter 336 The Regrets of the Elven Races

After receiving the intelligence, the court of the Iron Dome Empire fell into a deathly silence. Both sides of the civil war simultaneously slowed their offensives, casting their most vigilant gazes towards the east.

The Snowfield Knights of the Kingdom of Cold Wind tightened their reins, looking at the faintly visible dragon shadows on the southern horizon, feeling a bone-chilling cold. The Dawnlight Empire, Twilight Federation, Highland Alliance, Cities of the Sand Sea... all rulers and high-ranking officials of human nations, in extreme shock and fear, quickly reached a consensus: that colossal entity in the east, which had just been renamed the Radiant Empire, was no longer something they could contend with, or even fathom.

They could only watch helplessly as the territory of the Canglan Empire was swiftly taken over and assimilated, watching the elven banners rise on the towers of human cities, watching the shadows of giant dragons sweep across the skies that once belonged to humans. Stop them? With what could they stop them? Three thousand giant dragons breathing fire simultaneously would be enough to level a large fortress. Not to mention the unknown horror standing behind them, capable of instantly killing Dragon Riders, purifying emperors, and commanding the undead.

The establishment of the Radiant Empire, rather than being due to the great ambition of Elandir and Laigong, father and son, was more a necessary step taken under the pressure of circumstances to protect the long-term safety of the Elf Race.

Possessing such power yet still shrinking into the forest would only invite more suspicion, greed, and probing. Only by stepping forward, establishing a powerful empire dominated by elves, and formulating new order and rules, could the survival and development of the ethnic group be fundamentally guaranteed, and a possible sanctuary and example be provided for other suffering intelligent races.

Of course, in the upper echelons of the continent, not everyone was completely ignorant of the source of power. Through some secret channels and the scattered words of survivors from the imperial palace that day, the name Elf Princess Lilia, like a comet, streaked across the continental sky.

Among the common folk of the Radiant Empire, legends about Princess Lilia spread and evolved at an astonishing speed. She was depicted as the incarnation of the Moon God, the messenger of nature, and the savior who led the Elf Race to break free from the shackles of slavery.

The story of her purifying evil with a wave of her hand, summoning giant dragons, and pacifying the empire was composed into inspiring epics by bards and sung in taverns, markets, and the countryside. People were filled with awe, gratitude, and almost religious reverence for this Elf Princess they had never met. After all, although the empire's upheaval brought a brief period of turmoil, the demise of the old imperial family also meant the end of centuries of tyranny, exorbitant taxes, and cruel enslavement. For the common people, switching to a seemingly more powerful and friendly ruler was not necessarily without hope.

As for Lin Muyang, the true black-haired young man behind Lilia who decided everything, very few people knew of his existence and specific role.

Only a very small number of high-ranking elves such as Elandir, Laigong, and Xiyier, as well as the old imperial officials who witnessed the miracle in the palace and dared not harbor any disloyalty under the Aura of Absolute Command, vaguely knew the incredible power possessed by that seemingly calm young man.

But they all tacitly chose silence, either out of reverence or out of command, hiding Lin Muyang's existence behind Lilia's dazzling Aura. Lin Muyang was indifferent to this; he never sought false fame. As long as Lilia and the Sunlight Elf Clan were safe and sound, his goal was achieved. The energy level of this world was indeed too low for him; if not for Lilia, he might not have stayed here.

However, not all elves were immersed in ecstasy and shock.

Xiyier, the chief of the Wind Whisper Elves, stood on the observation deck of the former Canglan Imperial Palace, now renamed the Sunlight Royal Court, looking at the eight hundred Wind Dragonss belonging to her clan's command, occasionally sweeping across the sky. Her heart was filled with indescribable complexity. Shock, relief, a sense of unreality, and a hint of belated horror intertwined in her mind.

She never expected that her impulsive act of courage, based on elven dignity and loyalty to allies, had actually bet on such an astonishing stake! At that time, she was determined to live or die with the Sunlight Elf Clan, to perish together, but in the blink of an eye, she followed them to the pinnacle of continental power, even gaining command of an entire Wind Dragon Tribe! The weight of this 'reward' made the chief's scepter in her hand feel scorching hot.

"That Lord Lin Muyang... he's simply..." She gazed at the distant sky, muttering to herself, unable to find suitable words to describe him. Terrifying? Unfathomable? These words seemed pale. With a casual gesture, he overturned an empire, subdued all the giant dragons, and elevated the Elf Race to a height they never dared to dream of. This was beyond human capability, almost like a creation myth.

Within the Sunlight Elf Clan and the Wind Whisper Elves, as the situation stabilized, Lin Muyang's fleeting figure and his rumored incredible deeds inevitably stirred huge ripples in the younger generation, especially among the Elf Maidens full of fantasies and admiration for the strong.

Many beautiful elf girls, when privately discussing that mysterious, powerful, and seemingly gentle and considerate human youth from another world to Princess Lilia, would have eyes sparkling with curiosity, longing, and even a hint of indescribable admiration. Of course, they also knew that such an existence was like a star in the nine heavens, distant and unreachable; to occasionally hear a snippet from Princess Lilia's narration was already fortunate.

In stark contrast to the ecstasy of the Wind Whisper Elves and the busyness of the Sunlight Elf Clan, were the other four Elven Tribes who had chosen to retreat and even complain in the council hall earlier.

Regret, like the most poisonous vine, entwined the hearts of every tribal elder and decision-maker, making them restless and sleepless, their eyes bloodshot from remorse.

They were not fools and quickly understood the crux of the matter.

The Sunlight Elf Clan was not blindly making enemies; an unimaginable existence stood behind them. Even without their aid, the Sunlight Elf Clan would never have been conquered by the Canglan Empire; instead, they would have counterattacked with thunderous momentum. Their seemingly wise choice back then not only failed to avert the risk of annihilation but also completely forfeited their qualification to stand alongside the new era's overlord and share in its glory and resources!

Look at what the Wind Whisper Elves gained? A firm alliance with the Sunlight Elf Clan, seats in the imperial administration, and command of eight hundred Wind Dragonss! What an opportunity and power! And they could only continue to huddle in the depths of the forest, guarding their increasingly cramped territories, watching helplessly as their former struggling brethren soared into the sky, becoming a colossal entity they had to look up to.

They had also tried to make amends, dispatching the highest-ranking envoys with heavy gifts, humbly going to the Sunlight Royal Court to apologize, explain, and beg for forgiveness, hoping to get even a tiny bit of scraps.

But Elandir and Laigong, father and son, with Lin Muyang's tacit approval, maintained a clear and cold attitude. They could accept apologies; elves did not believe in total annihilation, but wanting to obtain core status and resource favoritism like the Wind Whisper Elves? Absolutely impossible.

Since they chose to remain aloof, then they should continue to do so. The future development dividends, security guarantees, and dragon support of the Dawnlight Elf Empire had nothing to do with them. Maintaining basic elven kinship and not actively suppressing them was already the greatest tolerance.

This was the cost of their choice. At the crossroads of fate, one wrong step led to a world of difference. These tribes could only swallow their endless regret and painstakingly search for their increasingly minuscule living space in the new continental order.

Lin Muyang no longer paid attention to these subsequent disturbances, regrets, and diplomatic frictions. For him, the crucial move on the Velos Continent chessboard had been made, the framework of the Elf Empire had been established, the loyalty of the giant dragons was secured, and Lilia's clan's safety was firmly guaranteed.

The remaining specific governance, domestic and foreign affairs, and balance of power were matters for Elandir, Laigong, and Xiyier to worry about and gain experience from. The help he had provided was already enough; it was time for the elves themselves to learn how to use power and navigate this suddenly immensely vast imperial behemoth.

His gaze had already transcended the clamor of the mortal world, turning towards the depths of the planet, that mysterious realm between yin and yang, reality and illusion.

"One more day..." Lin Muyang stood on the highest stargazing tower of the Sunlight Royal Court. The night wind ruffled his clothes. He looked down at the deep earth beneath his feet, as if he could penetrate the rock layers and see the surging geothermal flames and the Veins of rules.

Gui Wanwan appeared silently beside him, a hint of ease from completing her task on her cool little face: "Master, the final spatial coordinates of the Earth Core region have been calibrated. The peak of the yin-yang convergence energy tide in this world will reach perfect balance at noon tomorrow, at the leyline node of the Sinking Star Mountain Range. The passage can be opened at any time."

Lin Muyang nodded, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. Obtaining the plane core's energy for Lilia to help her talent break through to the god-level was his fundamental goal for this trip, and also his promise and expectation for the future of the young ladies by his side.

The imperial changes, the submission of giant dragons, and the shock of all races on the Velos Continent... these were merely minor matters accomplished along the way to achieve this goal.