High Elf and World Tree!

Zhen Ershisan Zi's voice grew distant, as if he were recounting an ancient legend.

"At that time, I had not yet awakened to wisdom. I was only a tree. A tree that only knew how to grow in silence and bear fruit in silence."

"My fruits ripened on the branches, then fell to the ground and transformed into human form."

"Those human forms were the first pure-blooded elves."

"They were beautiful, kind, and pure, like newborn infants."

"They lived in the Divine Wood Forest, feeding on my fruit and making their homes among my branches and leaves."

"They called me mother. They called me god."

"At that time, this world had only Wood Elves. There were no other races, no other elves."

A trace of gentleness flashed through the old man's eyes.

That gentleness was like spring sunlight, warm and soft.

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he were recalling those wonderful times.

"But later..." His voice suddenly sank, carrying a hint of bitterness.

"But as I said before, back when they were still on the tree, they had already been discovered by all kinds of living beings."

"There were humans, Dwarves, the Dragon Race, Orcs..."

"Earlier on, they came to pluck the fruits and devour them to increase their strength."

"And later, once the elf race gradually took form and could no longer be swallowed to increase strength, they came up with new ideas."

"The elf race was too beautiful!"

"So beautiful no one could refuse!"

"And so, they continued coming to the Divine Wood Forest to hunt elves, to raise elves in captivity."

"They treated elves as pets, as slaves, as... goods."

The old man's voice turned somewhat hoarse.

A trace of pain flashed through his eyes, as if he were recalling unbearable past events.