253: Melissa's shock

Fabre immediately stepped forward and scolded Melissa.

"Melissa, this is His Highness's avatar. Do not be disrespectful to His Highness."

"No matter!"

Kavadoral waved his hand, signaling the fairies to sit down.

"I summoned you here to tell you that the seal underground has loosened. I expended considerable effort to reinforce it again, but as the world's Source Power becomes increasingly active, the thing within the seal will also become more active."

Kavadoral's words caused Fabre and the others to turn pale with fright; they knew all too well what kind of disaster the terrifying creature in the underground seal could bring.

"As my retainers, I must remind you to be prepared for battle from now on. Those evil forces are very likely to find this place to rescue their master."

"Your Highness, we do not like fighting, but we do not fear it either. Any evil enemies who dare to invade the holy land will face our most vicious strikes."

"Yes, Your Highness. Your command is the direction of our actions. The Fairy Clan does not fear sacrifice."

Grand Elder Fabre and Clan Leader Donunis immediately stated their positions.

Kavadoral was not surprised by Fabre and the others' reactions. He turned his gaze back to Melissa.

"Little Melissa, it seems you gained much from running off to play for over a hundred years, even breaking through to the Legendary Realm. It's quite beyond my expectations. Having stayed outside for so long, you must have accumulated plenty of experience in surviving out there, so I shall give you a mission!"

Melissa listened intently. Despite her naturally active nature, she didn't dare to be the least bit presumptuous in front of Kavadoral.

"Please speak, Your Highness. Melissa will surely do her utmost to fulfill it for you!"

"To the south, there is a human territory. I feel the aura of a companion being born there. Go and see what the situation is."

"I can feel that the aura of that companion is still very weak; it should have just been born."

"Melissa, your task is simple. Take this leaf of life with you. Once you find my companion outside, just take this leaf of life out."

Kavadoral handed a leaf of life to Melissa.

"A human territory to the south? Your Highness's companion?"

Countless thoughts flooded Melissa's mind after she received the leaf of life. In an instant, she thought of Renn and Alistair.

"Your Highness, there are many human territories to the south. Which one are you referring to?"

"The leaf of life will guide you in the general direction. You will find it by following the guidance."

"Go now, and find my companion as quickly as possible!"

"Fabre, you all prepare for battle. I have a premonition that evil enemies will appear before long."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Two days later!

Melissa stared blankly from mid-air at the busy land below her feet.

Yes, a busy land.

The wilderness she was once familiar with had turned into patches of fertile farmland, where countless humans were busy working the fields.

In Melissa's eyes, these humans were like ants moving about the land, their busy figures visible everywhere.

Two days ago, Melissa had left the Verdant Holy Land and headed south with the leaf of life to find the companion mentioned by the Sacred Tree Kavadoral.

Under the guidance of the leaf of life, Melissa traveled south all the way. Her surprise grew as she went, because the leaf of life was guiding her back to the Red River Valley, a place she was more than familiar with.

One should say it was a place she *used* to be familiar with, because Melissa now felt the Red River Valley was completely different from when she left. Looking out, except for the Red River which still remained, there wasn't a single place that looked familiar to her.

"I've only been gone for five or six years. Has the Red River Valley changed this much?"

Melissa continued flying forward, and before long, she saw the majestic Red River City.

"There are actually so many people?"

"Is that a Mage Tower?"

"And what is that? Is it a Magical Plant Garden?"

"Isn't it a bit too large?"

Looking at the bustling Red River City, the towering Crimson Glory Mage Tower, and the Magical Plant Garden shrouded by a massive Magic Array, Melissa felt somewhat at a loss.

At that moment, several figures flew out from the city and headed straight for Melissa.

"Aunt Melissa? You're back!"

Alistair was pleasantly surprised to see the familiar Melissa. After Melissa left, she had often missed this elder who had raised her since childhood.

"Alistair, you've actually broken through to the Legendary Realm."

Melissa looked at Alistair in shock, then turned her gaze toward the nearby Renn and Anatolis.

"Renn, you've also broken through to the Legendary Realm. What has happened to this world?"

Melissa felt she had seen a bit too many strange things today. Was the Legendary Realm so easy to break through now?

"Let's head back and chat slowly!"

Renn had just sensed a Legendary aura approaching Red River City, so he immediately led Anatolis and Alistair to meet the newcomer and see what they wanted. He hadn't expected it to be Melissa, who had left the Red River Territory several years ago.

After the group returned to Red River Fortress, Melissa couldn't wait to ask what exactly had happened in the Red River Territory over the past few years to cause such a massive change.

Alistair kept it brief and gave Melissa a simple account of the events in the Red River Territory over the past few years. After hearing Alistair's narration, Melissa's eyes widened as she looked at Renn.

"Renn, I saw back then that you would make something of yourself, but I didn't expect you to be this impressive. To achieve so much in just a few years is truly amazing!"

Even the well-traveled Melissa had to take the current Red River Territory seriously.

"Aunt Melissa, did you come back this time to see me? Are you staying?"

Melissa looked at Alistair, now a married woman. Her eyes were full of gratification and affection for this child she had raised.

"Alistair, you've grown up. Not only do you have a partner worthy of your trust, but your strength has also reached the Legendary Realm. You no longer need my help."

"I'm sorry, I didn't come back to see you this time. When I returned to the home I had left long ago, I learned that my clansmen were in great trouble. I came out this time to find something, and it is very likely here in the Red River Territory."

Under the puzzled gazes of Renn and Alistair, Melissa took out the leaf of life she carried with her.

Seeing the leaf of life, Renn's eyes narrowed sharply. He was all too familiar with this item.

"It seems the companion His Highness Kavadoral spoke of is indeed in the Red River Territory, and very close by. The reaction of the leaf of life is already extremely obvious."

After taking out the leaf of life, Melissa immediately felt its abnormal movement.

"Ms. Melissa, is His Highness Kavadoral a high-ranking member of the Fairy Clan?"

"No, Renn. His Highness Kavadoral is not a fairy; he is a powerful Ancient Tree of Life."

"Our Verdant Holy Land has five powerful Ancient Tree Highnesses: one Knowledge Ancient Tree, three War Ancient Trees, and the most powerful one, the Ancient Tree of Life, His Highness Kavadoral."

"Grandpa Doram, the Knowledge Ancient Tree, has always taught us to study. I grew up under Grandpa Doram's tutelage. He is also the only Ancient Tree Highness who frequently communicates with us."

"The three War Ancient Tree Highnesses remain in a deep slumber and only awaken when foreign enemies invade."

"As for the Ancient Tree of Life, His Highness Kavadoral, he is the core of our Verdant Holy Land. It is precisely because of His Highness's protection that the Verdant Holy Land exists as a home for us fairies."

"Besides the several Ancient Tree Highnesses, the rest are the clan's Grand Elder, the Clan Leader, and four Elders. After I returned, I was also promoted to Elder, so there are now five Great Elders."

In response to Alistair and Renn's inquiries, Melissa basically hid nothing and explained the general situation of the Verdant Holy Land to the two of them.