Song of Victory.

At ten o'clock that night, with the White Lady rising to the zenith, the group set off on the road home, their hearts filled with the spirit of victory.

The silvery moonlight spilled like liquid mercury, casting the forest path in a hazy, mysterious glow. The shadows of the trees on either side stretched long and thin, as if escorting them on their journey.

Unlike the anxious, uncertain mood of their arrival, the return trip was relaxed. Everyone walked slowly, intentionally pacing themselves to savor this rare moment of tranquility.

Linda and her three companions began to sing a traditional Night Elf song—War from Afar—with Jinli joining in to harmonize.

Their voices were clear and ethereal, echoing through the silent night as if piercing through time to awaken ancient memories.

Beneath the radiance of Nordrassil, We step into the lands of shadow.

With Ashwood Longbow in hand and Moonlight Blade at our waist, Ah, Elune, light our path ahead, And guide us through the thorns!

We cross the fel, we tread through flames, Like a sharp arrow, piercing the enemy line.

The Saber growls, the Hippogryph cries, We rise! We fight!

Death cannot make the Kaldorei yield, Blood cannot make the Kaldorei retreat.

Moonfire tears through the viscous shadow, Thorns entangle the enemy's iron hooves.

My sister has fallen by my side, Her silver hair soaked in the green earth.

Ah, dear comrade, Do not waver, do not fear, The Light of Elune has woven our fate.

We shall be invincible!

Listen! That is the horn of the enemy's rout!

The morning light shall judge their fate!

Rejoice, comrades!

Celebrate this hard-won victory.

But remember, be not proud, be not careless.

When the Light of Elune falls once more, A new battle awaits us.

Kalei had heard this traditional Night Elf war song before; he had listened to the elders chant it during celebrations in Moonshadow Village. But back then, he was young and only felt the melody was tragic, unable to grasp its deeper meaning, and it left little impression on him.

However, after this heart-pounding adventure and experiencing life-and-death combat firsthand, hearing the song again felt entirely different.

Every line of the lyrics seemed to come alive, intertwining with his experiences over the past few days and setting his heart racing.

As he listened, he couldn't help but join in. Unfortunately, he had inherited none of the Night Elf talent for poetry; though his voice was clear, he was perpetually tone-deaf. After only a few lines, he had everyone laughing, and even the usually stern Arenia let out a chuckle. It was truly embarrassing.

Yet, having spent time with them and shared in a life-or-death adventure, Kalei's relationship with them had improved significantly. He wasn't afraid of their teasing and even laughed along with them.

After the laughter died down, they stopped singing and began to chat.

Most of their idle talk revolved around the Furbolg incident.

Although they had found the mastermind, neutralized the source of the corruption, and gained some extra rewards, upon reflection, it felt as though the matter wasn't over; many mysteries remained.

The greatest mystery was the strange, shadow-related power they had encountered during the battle.

Under Kalei's subtle guidance, the group knew this power was linked to the nightmare, but where it came from and who its powerful users were remained a complete unknown. Kalei couldn't simply force that information into their minds.

Jinli sighed, "It's a pity that Satyr leader got away. Otherwise, we could have captured him and handed him over to the Warden for interrogation; we surely could have dug up quite a bit of information."

Arenia replied, "Satyrs are naturally adept at arts of transformation and concealment. Capturing one head-on is no easy feat. Being able to repel him and disrupt his plans this time is already a good result."

Sera asked, "Kalei, that Satyr leader seemed to know you. Do you think he might be hiding in your village?"

Kalei thought for a moment and said, "It's hard to say. He does know me; he appeared forty years ago when the Satyr Rebellion broke out in our village. My father's disappearance might also be related to him. But as for his true background or whether he is hiding in our village, I have no idea."

Arenia said, "Since he knows you and once caused chaos in your village, even if he isn't hiding there, he is connected to it. I suggest you conduct a thorough investigation when you return. If you discover anything and need help, you can come to the Sentinel Corps to find me."

Kalei nodded. "Alright, Captain. Thank you, I will."

Luna, standing beside him, winked and laughed, "You can also come find me; I'm always free."

Her remark made Linda and the others burst into laughter, and they all began offering him their own invitations.

Kalei did not expect these old hands to start "driving" in broad daylight, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Fortunately, Arenia stepped on the brakes for these guys in time; otherwise, they would have kept driving further and further, eventually running right over Kalei.

The group chatted and laughed all the way, taking nearly an hour to return to Bristlelimb Village.

When they had left, Bristlelimb Village was in the midst of tense preparations, but upon their return, the village was filled with peace and harmony.

Clearly, their victory in Bearclaw Valley had already been sensed by Priestess Laria through the Moonwell.

As soon as they entered the village, they were quickly spotted. Everyone who saw them greeted them warmly and offered applause.

These sounds drew even more villagers, who gathered around Kalei and the others, surrounding them in the Moonlight Plaza like stars circling the moon.

The villagers had learned of the victory from Priestess Laria, and now they were eager to hear the details of how the group had triumphed.

This time, without needing a reminder from Jinli and the others, Kalei took the initiative to recount their experiences.

He told the whole story: from leaving Bristlelimb Village to rendezvous with Jinli, scouting Bearclaw Valley, discovering Uerga, re-forming an alliance with former allies, launching a surprise attack through the secret passage, purifying the Magic Tree, and the final self-sacrifice of the Magic Tree.

After listening to Kalei's account, everyone agreed that it was an adventure that, while short, was well worth reflecting upon.

Kalei and the others also asked about the situation in the village. Upon learning that the wounded in the temple were recovering under Laria's care and that the Moonwell had been purified by her, the last bit of worry in their hearts gradually dissipated.

With the return of Kalei's group and the recovery of the wounded in the temple, the Furbolg incident was officially brought to a successful close.

The group discussed and decided to hold a banquet to celebrate this victory.

In Night Elf society, banquets of various kinds are often held, such as to commemorate ancestors or celebrate a harvest.

However, this banquet was different from the usual; it was a celebration of victory, and its scale was far grander than ordinary gatherings.

All the villagers of Bristlelimb Village spontaneously participated in the banquet. They decorated a celebration area in the plaza with flowers, ribbons, and glowing moss, brought out the finest food and wine stored in their homes, and cordially invited the heroes who had performed so well in the battle to join them.

Priestess Laria, Priestess Lilin, Ranger Jinli, and Warrior Salomon readily accepted the invitation, and the five sentinels, including Arenia, did not refuse either. Only Kalei, whom they called the young hero, appeared somewhat reluctant.

It wasn't that Kalei disliked banquets; he had attended many held by Night Elves since he was a child. But back then, he was just a kid eating and drinking on the sidelines, watching the adults perform. He never imagined he would become one of the protagonists of a banquet so soon.

This sudden shift made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. Although he had grown into an adult, he had spent most of the past hundred years focused on cultivation, and he was completely ignorant of the daily social skills of the Night Elves.

He couldn't sing, draw, play an instrument, dance, or even tell a joke. He truly didn't know what he would do once he reached the center of the stage.

However, regardless of what Kalei thought, the banquet began as the White Lady and the Blue Child rose to the zenith of the sky.

The village bards composed the story of the heroes' battle into poems and dramas, performing them in the plaza.

The villagers gathered around them, watching the performances, eating delicacies like Roasted Forest Potato, Honey-Glazed Berry, and Moonlight Berry Tart, drinking Moonlight Wine and Morning Dew Wine, and beginning to sing and dance.

According to Night Elf custom, everyone attending the banquet could cast aside their status.

They were no longer high-and-mighty priestesses, stern hunters, or rigid warriors; they were just like everyone else—ordinary people free to release their true nature and dance in each other's arms.

Seeing the scene becoming increasingly joyous, Kalei, wanting to avoid embarrassment, quietly grabbed some food and wine and hid in a secluded corner, praying that no one would notice him.

Unfortunately, as one of the protagonists, his every move was under scrutiny. A beautiful Night Elf lady, wearing a lavender gown embroidered with stars, found him through the crowd. When she extended her hand to invite him to the dance floor, he was instantly at a loss.

Fortunately, the lady quickly sensed his predicament. She did not mock him and instead offered to be his dance teacher, patiently teaching him the basic steps.

Kalei could not refuse again and had no choice but to follow her onto the dance floor.

Following Kalei's entry, eight more elegantly dressed ladies arrived on the scene.

Three of these ladies were Jinli, Laria, and Lilin, while Kalei did not recognize the remaining five.

However, he quickly guessed from their posture and the vaguely familiar aura that they were the five sentinels, now out of their armor.

Kalei had spent several days with the five sentinels, but this was the first time he had seen them in their full appearance. He had not expected that beneath their stern armor lay five ladies with excellent figures and outstanding features.

Arenia, in particular, was even more stunningly beautiful. Combined with her cold expression, she was like a dew-covered blade under the moonlight, possessing a sharp and breathtaking beauty.

The appearance of the eight ladies immediately caused a sensation. Everyone wanted to get close to these powerful and beautiful women, and they vied to invite them to dance.

With their participation, the banquet became even more heated, and everyone threw themselves into it, gradually pushing the celebration to its climax.

Kalei stepped onto the dance floor with his partner. At first, his movements were clumsy and stiff, and he stepped on his partner's feet several times. But under her patient guidance and encouragement, he gradually relaxed and kept pace with the others.

Although Kalei's dancing was not outstanding—it was barely at a beginner's level—his handsome appearance and heroic performance in battle still attracted the eyes of many female Night Elves.

From time to time, people would come to invite Kalei to be their dance partner, naturally including Jinli and the sentinels.

Although Kalei felt physically and mentally exhausted by the repetition, he handled them one by one so as not to be rude.

As time passed, the dance party drew to a close. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and reveled to their hearts' content, they found places to rest under the light of the dawn.

Kalei was finally liberated from the complex social obligations. As always, he found a place bathed in sunlight, preparing to have a good sleep.

However, before sleeping, he checked the system panel for information regarding the Seed of the Soul Ancient.

Name: Seed of the Soul Ancient Quality: Legendary Description: A seed condensed from the soul fragments of a legendary Magic Tree collected by the spirits of nature. It seems to require natural energy to activate.

Kalei closed his eyes and sensed it. Soon, he felt a fist-sized, transparent seed similar to an Ancient of War floating within his consciousness, waiting to be activated.

He tried to touch the seed with his consciousness, but found no reaction. He then channeled natural energy into the seed, but it remained unchanged.

Kalei shook his head. The system said it needed natural energy to activate, but it clearly wasn't that simple. He had to suppress his curiosity for the time being, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep, planning to find a way later.