Shadows and Mountain Elves

Ying Yue raised a hand, signaling for them to be quiet.

Her gaze swept across the faces of the elders, then she slowly spoke, her voice calm and firm.

"The Tree God promised that as long as we sincerely submit, he will teach us the Method of Cultivation for the Five Viscera and Six Bowels Divine Treasury. That is an entirely new path, a path that can make us stronger. Don't you want to break through the limits of the Five-Petal Lotus Platform?"

A trace of longing flashed through Ying Ren's eyes.

Of course he wanted to.

Every cultivator of the Lotus Platform Realm wanted to.

The Five-Petal Lotus Platform was the limit.

For countless years, no one had been able to break that limit.

But now, the Tree God had done it.

And he was even willing to teach it.

"But..." Ying Ren still wanted to say something.

Ying Yue raised her hand and cut him off.

"We... have no choice." She stood and walked to the cave's window.

It was called a window, but in truth it was only a fist-sized vent.

Through the vent, they could see the endless darkness outside.

Her gaze grew distant.

"And besides, don't you think the shadows beneath the Divine Tree... are actually more suited to us Night Elves?"

The moment those words came out, all the Night Elf elders froze for a moment.

The Divine Wood Forest was lush with trees, their canopies blotting out the sky and sun.

The shadows there were true shadows—not the deathly still darkness of Shadow Abyss Canyon, but shadows filled with life, filled with vigor.

Beneath the crowns of towering trees, the sunlight was blocked by layer upon layer of leaves, leaving only mottled light and shadow.

Those patches of light and shadow swayed in