The Future Carried in Their Hands

"What... happened?" Elina could not help asking when she saw the fallen Dark Elf elder and the black gemstone fragments scattered across the ground.

"We were too late." Zhang Shiwen shook her head. "The key has already been destroyed. The enemy has likely headed for the Elf Cave."

"How could this...?" Panic appeared on Elina's face.

"Send word of what happened here through your secret arts. We'll head to the Elf Cave immediately," Zhang Shiwen said without hesitation.

Elina nodded and immediately returned the way they had come with Zhang Shiwen.

Zhang Shiwen also knew something about the theory behind the keys. The green gemstone in Elina's hand was likely the same kind of gemstone used as the key's vessel. Only because some connection had been established between them could it be used to find the way through that link.

Now that the key had shattered, the green gemstone had lost its function and reverted to an ordinary energy gemstone.

The two hurried toward the Elf Cave. However, it was far away, and even at full speed, the journey would take quite some time. Directed Space Teleportation was also beyond Zhang Shiwen's current abilities.

By the time they reached the vicinity of the Elf Clan, dusk was already approaching.

Signs of battle were everywhere throughout the Elf Clan's habitat. Trees of all kinds had been badly damaged and felled.

Zhang Shiwen knew very well that the Elf Clan would never actively cut down or even damage trees. Even in battle, they should have done everything possible to avoid affecting them.

But what lay before her could not possibly be explained by accidental damage.

Had Netherworld creatures already appeared?

There was indeed residual destructive energy nearby, but if Netherworld creatures had appeared, the damage should have been far worse than this.