154: Beyond the Elf Realm

The wind rises at the end of the green duckweed, and waves form from tiny ripples.

Plant Heart Academy grew from nothing, from weakness to strength, from a hundred or so people to tens of thousands. Each step of this journey was incredibly difficult and embodied the countless efforts of its founder and guardian, Joyce.

The staff-wielding elder, standing at the highest level of the Wizard Tower, silently watched the excited and high-spirited expedition teams below… as well as the tens of thousands of logistical Wizards who were silently supporting and cheering them on.

There were white-haired old Wizards, young and tender Wizard Apprentices, reluctant female relatives, and many Magic Plant Cultivators, Apothecaries, Magic Item Crafters, and Wizard Array Masters who offered silent support.

These were all White Wizards, models of unity and cooperation. Since learning of the Elven Secret Realm, the entire academy had operated like a wound-up war machine, running at high speed, expending over 90% of its wealth and reserves accumulated over the past century to assemble this luxurious expedition team.

During this period, these White Wizards working in logistics made immense contributions. Many donated money and supplies, emptying their family coffers, just to add a sliver of hope for success.

The staff-wielding elder's thoughts began to drift, and memories from deep within his mind started to surface clearly.

He seemed to see that expedition from the past again. How similar this scene was! Two hundred years ago, he was one of those standing in the Wizard Tower, seeing off the expedition team. Two hundred years later, he was experiencing the same scene again. History always repeats itself.

How glorious was the old academy's expedition team back then! Over a hundred Formal Wizards, and more than 10 Advanced Wizards of the 2nd tier. Unfortunately, they all perished in quelling the evil spirit rebellion in the Ancient Secret Realm.

Later, the old academy, having lost most of its high-level combat power, declined and was attacked by old enemies. The staff-wielding elder had no choice but to leave the old academy, becoming a legacy disciple, traveling far to establish a new foundation, and planting more seeds for the academy's inheritance and development.

“I wonder how the other old brothers who left with me back then are doing now?”

“A century of savings, a century of effort, it all comes down to this.”

“I hope you all have a good outcome. Heart of Plants needs successors. I can't stay on the Mist Coast for much longer.”

“Children, I wish you good luck.”

…The wind blew softly.

The sea of mist and clouds was cleared out by various Wizard Array methods, creating a huge open space.

At this moment, in a vast hexagonal plaza paved with unknown white stones, a team stood solemnly at each corner, some with one or two hundred people, others with three or four hundred, but no team exceeded five hundred.

These teams were the six competing teams from the Seven Towers Alliance vying for the fruit of life.

Their current location was outside the Elven Secret Realm, awaiting its appearance and opening.

Among them, Heart of Plants's 150 people stood at the southeast corner of the hexagonal plaza, while their old neighbors and rivals, the Blood Fortress team, were in the adjacent corner to the left of Heart of Plants.

Green's expression was solemn as he looked at the Blood Fortress team, particularly focusing on the 60 blood-colored giant beasts at the front of the team.

“As expected of a Wizard Academy with over five hundred years of heritage, and the fastest rising in the Seven Towers Alliance before Heart of Plants. Their method of cultivating Blood Rong is truly impressive.”

“Mentor Bruceklin, what stage do you think these 60 Blood Rong have been cultivated to? Is it true, as rumored, that each one possesses peak combat power?”

“How could that be?”

Mentor Bruceklin, wearing light Wizardry protective armor and a pure White Wizard robe over it, said with disdain:

“Since our academy's rise, Blood Fortress has not had an easy time over the past century. Furthermore, over a hundred years ago, that Formal Wizard who was severely wounded by Joyce fell and became a Black Wizard, defecting from Blood Fortress and taking a large number of elites with him.”

“Hmph, Blood Fortress has gradually declined. According to the historical records of the Seven Towers Alliance, during the Elven Secret Realm competition two hundred years ago, Blood Fortress dispatched 60 Blood Rong, each with peak combat power.”

“By the time of the event a hundred years ago, Blood Fortress had greatly weakened due to rebellion, deploying 20 Blood Rong with peak combat power and 40 Blood Rong with Advanced Wizard Apprentice strength…”

“This time, although they have recovered for a hundred years, according to the academy's judgment, it's impossible for them to cultivate all 60 Blood Rong to peak combat power. The academy estimates it should be around 30.”

“We've prepared so much, why should we fear them?”

…Green looked back at the many Bio-armor figures behind him, feeling much more at ease.

“So many Bio-armors, they'll be in for a big surprise.”

“Blood Rong are just Magic Plants, even if they are tamed, they certainly can't compare to humans. The academy truly put in a lot of effort to counter these Blood Rong.”

“A full 18 Bio-armor meat shields, plus 50 Guardian Bloodline Great Knights specialized in defense. As long as we can withstand the first wave, we've won.”

“Green…”

Mentor Bruceklin smiled, looking at Green, then at the Blood Fortress team.

“I know your luck has always been very good. I hope we can rely on your good fortune this time to be matched with a suitable terrain.”

“The Ancient Elven Secret Realm, after thousands of years of modification by the senior Wizards of the Mist Coast, has three main battlefields for competing for the fruit of life.”

“The Dark Swamp terrain is the most disadvantageous for our Heart of Plants Academy. Those Blood Rong were domesticated from Corrosion Poison Rong cultivated and modified by White Wizards, but they still have a strong home-field advantage in swampy terrain.”

“If we are assigned to the Dark Swamp terrain, we can withstand the first wave of Blood Rong's impact, but it will come at a great cost.”

“So, we must pray that we are not matched with the Dark Swamp terrain.”

…“The second is the main battlefield with the Boulder Maze terrain.”

“This is a not-bad choice, because of the complexity of the maze terrain and the inability to gather large numbers of people, legion warfare becomes a luxury in the maze terrain.”

“In that case, our combined spell ultimate move is nullified, and the opponent's Blood Rong war beast charging tactic will also disappear. It's an even match, and we can only rely on the individual strength of each Wizard.”

“Green, if you encounter such a situation, be careful to protect your life, don't be reckless. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be wood to burn. It's not easy for our academy to cultivate a genius like you, understand?”

“Understood, Mentor. No one cherishes his life more than I do.”

“I am a man destined to become a Formal Wizard!”

“The glory of Heart of Plants is waiting for me to inherit it.”

…“Haha…”

“Our Heart of Plants's best terrain is the Mist Forest. In the forest, we will have the home-field advantage, and various plant-based Wizardry spells can exert their maximum effect.”

“Moreover, the complex terrain of the forest is not suitable for Blood Fortress's Blood Rong to conduct mass charges. Without their biggest trump card, Blood Fortress is not much of a threat.”

“Therefore, if we are blessed by heaven and are matched with the Mist Forest terrain, then victory is truly within our grasp.”