The Elves' Homeland

During this time, we kept completing A-rank quests in Geshen City that suited us. We had been doing work like this for nearly a year already, so by now we were extremely practiced at it.

The main difference between a mature adventurer and an ordinary adventurer was that mature adventurers understood far more about Demonic Beasts. For example, most adventurers only knew how to clash head-on with Demonic Beasts, but in truth, many Demonic Beasts had weaknesses. Canine-type Demonic Beasts, for instance, had highly developed senses of smell, but if thick smoke was produced while fighting them, then that sort of Demonic Beast would basically lose its fighting ability.

Clark had taught us all of this in battle. In truth, it was more or less the same as animals on Earth. It seemed that no matter what a living creature mutated into, its actual basic functions still did not change.

Just like that, we stayed in Forest Song City for another eight months, spending the whole time taking on various A-rank quests. Finally, two years and six months after leaving Ars, our party reached S-rank.

During that time, something went wrong with the ruins from the first A-rank exploration quest we had accepted in Forest Song City. The adventurer party organized by the Biheril Kingdom, made up of two S-rank teams setting out together to explore it, lost contact.

They had set off in the third month after we returned and handed in the quest, but aside from the personnel left behind on the outer perimeter, not a single exploration member who had gone inside came back out.

As the first A-rank party to investigate the ruins, we were of course called over by the officials to give an account of the situation.

But in reality, it was no use at all. We reported everything we knew. This world had many dangerous labyrinths, such as the Lingus Sea Demon, the hell of the Heaven Continent's Divine Grotto, and the Dragon God Hole on Longming Mountain. Not a single labyrinth had ever been completely conquered.

So I did not bother with the matter. In any case, no matter how powerful a labyrinth was, as long as I did not go inside, it could not do a thing to me.

But accidents always came quickly.

After my party reached S-rank, I went to find Teacher Bradycond. To my surprise, Teacher was dressed very neatly, and once I entered the room, I discovered the reason.

Teacher's father was also at home, Federico Galanod. This father of my teacher's had white hair at his temples, but in reality, he had only just stepped into middle age. With his lifespan, he could probably outlive several generations of my family.

After some simple greetings, I was invited to sit in their home.

"Though humans have shorter lifespans, you can always erupt with great potential within your brief lives. We elves, though most of our people have lived for thousands of years, and there are even beings who have lived for tens of thousands, are still more than just a star and a half behind humans when it comes to potential.

"I heard from Bradycond that she only taught you magic for five years, yet you have already reached Saint rank. That reminded me of when she was little. When she was young, I taught her to read, and after five years, she still couldn't recognize all the characters. This gap in talent truly is too great."

"Father... don't talk about my embarrassing past in front of my disciple. That will make things very difficult for me."

I held back my laughter and said in a somewhat flattering tone, "Teacher taught me many things. No matter how great my achievements are in the future, she will always be my teacher."

Federico stroked his beard and smiled, but did not respond to my flattery.

"Back to the matter at hand. I know what you came here for this time. Bradycond did promise to teach you water king-rank magic, but I may have to disappoint you. That magic is not here, and she cannot teach it to you either."

I said nothing, because I knew he would explain the specific reason. Sure enough.

"The water king-rank magic Bradycond knows is not something that can be cast just by knowing the chant. What she uses is another kind of magic used by the Ancient Elves. I do not know whether you have noticed when using magic that every spell has a different circulation of mana through the body when it is cast.

"In order to achieve a specific magical effect, each circulation of mana in the body needs to follow a different path. We call this path the Magic Meridian.

"Your chantless casting is, in truth, your ability to very easily remember the route of the Magic Meridian each time, thereby using magic without relying on the aid of a chant."

"I understand all of this. I have also done my own research into the channels within the body, which are what you call the Magic Meridian. But how is that different from the magic used by the Ancient Elves you mentioned?"

"You should know that modern magic chants were created by the ancestors of our elven race. Then on what basis did the Ancient Elves cast magic?

"The answer is very simple. In truth, they drew down the paths along which the body's Magic Meridian operated. Over the long ages, our Ancient Elves explored the Magic Meridian paths within the body, thereby creating magic. But whether human or elf, there are countless Magic Meridian routes within the body, and after figuring out one set of magic, there is no way to explain it to outsiders.

"So the elves of that time carved the specific routes of magic moving through the Magic Meridian onto stone sculptures, for later generations to visualize. But this method of teaching was still far too difficult. That was why the later modern chant system of magic came about.

"We Forest Elves know of a ruin, and within that ruin are still some stone sculptures passed down from ancient times. I can have Bradycond take you there. But I have one request. That ruin contains a sacred object of us elves, and it needs to be opened by someone who uses chantless magic. As for the specific method of opening it, I will have Bradycond tell you when the time comes. You need to assist her in retrieving that sacred object."

"May I ask, if it is not too presumptuous, what specific ruins they are? Also, where are the ruins located, what treasures are inside besides the sacred object and stone sculptures, and what Demonic Beasts are in the ruins?"

I asked a whole string of questions in one breath. It was enough to show that I had already become a qualified adventurer.

"The ruins are on the seabed near the coast of the Biheril Kingdom. We have a way to block the Sea People from discovering you, and we also have magic tools that can allow you to move on the seabed. Within the ruins, there should also be some magic stones and magic crystals stored by the Ancient Elves long ago, as well as many valuable treasures. Aside from the final sacred object, you may take all the other treasures. The current name of these ruins is: Tear Stain Sanctuary. It was once the home of our elven race, and during the Second Human-Demon War, it sank to the bottom of the sea."

"Can I think about it? Also, for this ruin, am I the only one who can follow Teacher there, or can I bring my party along?"

"You can bring as many people as you wish, but be aware that going there is dangerous. Please be prepared for the possibility of not returning."

"All right. Thank you for your answer. I will consider it carefully."

On the way back, I kept thinking. The Ancient Elves' research into the magical meridians inside the body should be consistent with my own research. Going there to learn magic was secondary; the most important knowledge was being able to study the Ancient Elves' research into magical meridians through those stone sculptures.

If I mastered this knowledge, it would be equivalent to mastering the Ancient Elves' understanding of magic accumulated over tens of thousands of years. That would bring an even greater improvement to my magic in the future.

After returning to the inn, I communicated this matter with my teammates. Especially Clark and Niki. The two of them had joined my party because of the bet between Clark and me. Now the two years were already up. They could already leave my party and return to their previous team.

After I finished explaining, I heard Clark say, "Crimson Vortex, what do you think of this matter? Based on your intuition, how risky is it?"

"I personally think there is risk. After all, we need to go to the seabed, and we may run into the Sea People along the way. There will also be many sea Magic Beasts on the ocean floor. But since my teacher has already learned the magic inside, she should have already been to the ruins. Compared to ruins that no one has ever visited before, ruins like these, which someone has entered and come out of normally, are safer."

"They said that aside from that sacred object of theirs, we can take anything else inside, right? Then I have no problem. In my previous party, I also often teamed up with other teammates to enter labyrinths and ruins. Going to ruins together with a powerful mage like you is much safer than with those teammates I had before. I have no further objections."

"What about everyone else? If you have any objections, say them. I have never been to these ruins either. According to the client, there is a danger to our lives. So those who decide to go need to prepare themselves."

Everyone shook their heads.

"All right, then I'll communicate this matter with the client. Whether the elves' method is effective or not, it is still the seabed, after all. We all need to prepare to fight the Sea People. Make your preparations over the next few days."

The next day, I told Bradycond that we were willing to go explore with her, and we agreed to set out one week later.

One week later.

Our party prepared to set out together with Teacher Bradycond.

Teacher Bradycond's father gave each of us ten Water Avoidance Scrolls. After this kind of scroll was activated, it allowed a person to breathe and move freely in water. Although we could not swim quickly through the water like the Sea People, at least we could already move normally.

Each scroll could only be used for two days, which meant that after entering the ruins, we could stay inside for twenty days at most.

I hoped nothing unexpected would happen. Pah, pah, pah, damn my crow's beak.

After leaving Forest Song City and heading southeast for nearly two months, we finally arrived at our destination for this trip: the Changqing Mountain Range.

Yes, you heard that right. It really was a mountain. I was completely baffled at first too.

It wasn't until we reached a large lake in the middle of the mountain range that Bradycond explained it to us.

As it turned out, hidden in the center of this lake was a magic tool of the elves: a vessel about twenty meters long and six meters wide. Calling it a ship might not be quite right. It should probably count as a submarine.

Because after we found it in the middle of the lake and entered the cabin, the entire vessel generated a circular film of water around itself, blocking seawater from getting in. From the outside, that water film was completely opaque, looking no different from seawater, and it had an invisibility function.

Teacher Bradycond called it the "Cangming." I had no idea if there was some deeper meaning to the name.

And so we piloted the "Cangming" through the tunnel the elves had dug beneath the center of the lake and entered the Lingus Sea.

On the vessel, Teacher told us that the "Tear Stain Sanctuary" was located at the bottom of Lament Trench, east of the Biheril Kingdom, and that its entrance was concealed by a thousand-meter-long forest of glowing seaweed.

After sailing through the sea for a dozen or so days, we finally reached Lament Trench and began to dive. After descending about a thousand meters, we reached the bottom of the trench. Once we arrived at that depth, everything around us had already turned pitch-black. Fortunately, the seaweed on the seabed gave off a faint glow, allowing us to keep moving forward.

I had no idea how many meters we traveled, but after about a day, we arrived near the ruins for this trip. We disembarked amid a very conspicuous coral cluster and used Water Avoidance Scrolls on ourselves. Behind the seaweed ahead, which was emitting a ghostly glow, was the entrance to the ruins. But there were a great many Sea People patrolling in front of the entrance.

The Sea People looked very much like the naga I used to see when playing World of Warcraft. Their bodies were covered in scales, with human upper halves, while their lower halves varied quite a lot. Some had fish tails, some had snake tails, some had octopus-like tentacles, and others had conch-like shells. It looked like Sea People was their collective name, and they probably distinguished their individual tribes by their lower bodies.

As we walked along the seabed, we could see many swimming shadows among the seaweed. They were all patrolling Sea People.

When we approached the seaweed cluster, Teacher Bradycond used a magic tool that looked like a jewel. Suddenly, the light coming from the nearby seaweed seemed as if it were about to explode, each strand flaring with bright radiance, instantly illuminating the entire undersea world.

Teacher Bradycond said, "Move out," then ran toward the depths of the glowing seaweed.

Perhaps because they had lived on the seabed for so long, the Sea People were not accustomed to sunlight. In the dazzling radiance, they looked as if they had been stabbed by needles, covering their eyes one after another with their hands. They let out piercing cries. Since I had never learned their language, I had no idea what they were saying, but I guessed it probably wasn't some blessing.

After traveling through the seaweed for about ten minutes, we finally arrived at the ruins, "Tear Stain Sanctuary."

The entire ruin was rather different from what I had imagined. It resembled a fairly large park, with all kinds of sculptures along the roadside, and farther ahead were rows upon rows of collapsed houses. The sculptures were set with glowing gems, and these gems lit the road before us.

According to Teacher Bradycond, the gems here were Noctilucent Stones gathered by the Ancient Elves. The gems could give off light at night. She used earth magic to pry pieces of Noctilucent Stone from the sculptures and handed them to us.

And so we held those gems up like torches for the road ahead.

Looking at the Sea People outside who were covering their eyes, I asked Teacher, "Why do these Sea People only patrol this ruin, but not enter it?"

Teacher Bradycond pointed at the blue light in the sky. She said:

"About five thousand years ago, during the Second Human-Devil War, the Devil Race drew the Beast-kin and the Sea Race into attacking the human race together. Because they were similar to humans, the elves at the time joined the human faction.

"But in the final stage of the great war, although the Golden Knight Aldebaran defeated the Devil Race, he also created the Lingus Sea with a single strike.

"The elven city was caught in the disaster. The sea submerged the entire city. Although the elves of that time possessed a rather advanced civilization and powerful magic, and created barriers to resist the seawater's invasion, "the seabed was the Sea People's home ground. They cut off this city's contact with the outside world. The elves had no choice but to evacuate from here.

"When they evacuated, there were many things they could not take with them, so they created this magic barrier to block all Sea People from entering these ruins.

"This is also the origin of the name 'Tear Stain Sanctuary.' In the past, we called this place Avalornis."

So there was actually history like that. The elves of the past were truly incredible. Even after more than five thousand years, the magic barrier was still operating normally. Every single stone here had a history of at least five thousand years. It was too awe-inspiring.

After chatting idly with Teacher Bradycond, we also set foot on the road into the city. Although the Sea People could not enter, we still ran into many sea monsters along the way.

Among them, there was a type of Crystallized Piranha swarm that was especially difficult to deal with. These fish appeared in schools, and after their teeth bit someone, they would cause that person's body to petrify. It required advanced detoxification magic to repair.

From the piranhas I killed, I picked up two, planning to take them back and study the principle behind their petrification.

In addition, we also saw Elf Wraiths on the roads within the city. The moment these wraiths saw us, they launched frenzied attacks. Anyone attacked would recall their most tragic memories in their heart. The wraith would use those memories to restore its own energy and increase its strength.

Clark was hit by this move. After he fell under it, he cried as if his heart were being torn apart, shouting, "Mom, don't, don't leave me! I won't make mistakes anymore, please don't leave me! Mom, how am I supposed to live without you? Mom!"

This was definitely a man with a story!

After using divine strike magic to defeat the wraith, Clark finally recovered from that state.

After traveling through the ruins for about two days, we encountered all kinds of Demonic Beasts along the way. There was an octopus with twelve tentacles and twelve eyes, as well as a giant crab taller than a two-story building.

It seemed that Demonic Beasts on the seabed were still a bit fiercer than those on land.

When I saw that crab, I nearly started drooling. Such a huge crab—if we roasted it, wouldn't the meat be incredibly fragrant?

Unfortunately, there was no way to start a fire on the seabed. Fire magic also could not be used in this environment. The most useful magic here was earth magic and water magic. These two types of magic were not affected at all when used here.

Although water magic could not condense into shape underwater, according to my tests, even if the gathered water ball could not be seen, after casting it normally, it could still form a water ball and deal damage. It was just that the water ball's trajectory could not be seen.

After killing many monsters in fights that were alarming but not dangerous, we arrived at the final destination of this trip: "Spirit Light Sanctuary."