Su Chen and Liu Mengli possessed extraordinary cultivation levels, so it didn't take long for them to reach the border of the Spirit Domain. Ahead lay an ancient forest.
Within the forest, a faint, ethereal aura permeated the air, like smoke and mist, swirling among the towering trees. Above, blazing sunlight poured down, enveloping the entire forest, and through the layers of cracks, slivers of light and shadow filtered through, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.
Liu Mengli gazed at the forest, her eyes somewhat unfocused and dreamy. A gentle breeze caressed her hair, but she was oblivious, her thoughts already drifting back to bygone days.
She lived here then, but left due to some incident. In the end, she was ambushed by Jialan, her physical body was destroyed, and her soul was sealed. During this time, probably ten thousand years have passed. It turns out that she has not returned for ten thousand years.
"Sister, are you alright?" Liu Mengli whispered, a hint of expectation on her face.
The two stepped into the forest, where the trees around them shimmered with ethereal light. Each leaf was like a meticulously carved piece of jade, crystal clear, reflecting colorful rays of light in the dim glow.
This place is like a fairyland, with the ground covered with soft fairy grass and strange flowers blooming everywhere. Colorful light bursts from the flower stamens, and the fragrance is so rich that it makes one feel refreshed.
Su Chen and his companion continued their journey until they came across a stream. The stream was crystal clear, flowing with a holy light, and the spiritual crystals at the bottom of the water sparkled like fallen stars.
"Ahead lies the dwelling place of my Spirit Race." Liu Mengli crouched down, the clear water reflecting her porcelain-white face. She cupped some water in her hands, tilted her head slightly, and brought it to her lips.
"It tastes the same as before." She pursed her lips, as if savoring the dessert in the stream, a complex emotion in her eyes.
When she was little, her older sister often brought her here to play; those were her happiest and most carefree times. Until the moment her sister was chosen as the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Race, everything changed.
The older sister who used to play with her is now wrapped in solemn holy robes and bound by heavy responsibilities, and she is no longer the carefree child she once was.
The elder sister shouldered the sacred responsibility of leading the entire clan, while she stood silently behind her sister, learning to share that heavy responsibility.
"Let's go." Liu Mengli pulled herself out of her thoughts, slowly stood up, and crossed the stream with Su Chen, continuing forward. They were getting closer and closer to the Spirit Race's settlement.
As the two walked, suddenly, a sharp whooshing sound broke the silence. Dozens of arrows, like black lightning, carrying a chilling aura, attacked from all directions.
Su Chen remained calm and unmoved.
Liu Mengli frowned, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, "Insolence!"
The sound wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable and terrifying pressure. Ripples spread through the space, and in an instant, the incoming arrows all cracked with a crisp sound, shattering into powder and dust that drifted into the air.
But this wasn't the end. One wave subsided only for another to rise. Dozens of sharp, piercing sounds seemed to tear the void apart, and several terrifying forces swept in madly.
Liu Mengli snorted coldly, raised her jade hand, her fair skin seemed to shimmer with a faint light, and then suddenly clenched her fist, unleashing the might of Immortal Emperor. The invisible power instantly shattered the incoming attack.
" Immortal Emperor!"
"Ah!"
Several horrified voices rang out from the shadows, filled with terror and shock. The next moment, a series of shrill screams followed, echoing through the forest. A few moments later, eight figures were pulled by a powerful force and knelt before Liu Mengli.
These eight people, each wielding a large bow, were clad in specially made leather armor, the patterns of which shimmered with a faint light. The armor appeared both lightweight and durable, perfectly conforming to their bodies. From their long, pointed ears, it was clear that these people were members of the Spirit Race.
The eight powerful Spirit Race were severely injured, blood trickling from their mouths, their faces pale. Their eyes were filled with fear and apprehension as they looked at Liu Mengli.
Originally, they only wanted to drive Su Chen and Liu Mengli away, hoping they would back down and leave. But they never expected that Liu Mengli was actually a Immortal Emperor. This woman in front of them was terrifyingly strong!
etc!
Suddenly, the eight powerful Spirit Race noticed Liu Mengli's ears, and their expressions changed slightly. Why did this Immortal Emperor have ears as long as theirs? Could it be that she was a retired ancestor of their Spirit Race?
"Do you know who I am?" Liu Mengli looked down at them and said coldly.
The eight powerful Spirit Race looked bewildered and quickly shook their heads.
One of the powerful members of the Spirit Race hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Are you... are you the ancestor of our Spirit Race?"
" The Elf Queen is my older sister," Liu Mengli said calmly.
"What! You... you are Ancestor Mengli?" Upon hearing this, the eight powerful Spirit Race widened their eyes, their expressions filled with utter shock and disbelief.
It is said that the Elf Queen does indeed have a younger sister named Liu Mengli. Like the Elf Queen, she possesses extraordinary talent for cultivation. Not long after the Elf Queen broke through to the Immortal Emperor, she also broke through, and she possesses wisdom far exceeding that of ordinary people, sharing many responsibilities with the Elf Queen.
Under their leadership, the Spirit Race grew increasingly powerful. They were arguably the most outstanding generation in the history of the Spirit Race, unmatched even by the most extraordinary talents from the outside world.
Ten thousand years ago, Liu Mengli suddenly disappeared without a trace. The Elf Queen sent countless people of her people to search for her, but they still found nothing. No one knew where Liu Mengli had gone.
Some powerful members of the Spirit Race speculated that Liu Mengli might have been ambushed and killed by powerful members of the Human Domain, while a smaller group guessed that it was High Priest Jialan who was behind it. In any case, rumors were flying everywhere, and no one knew what had actually happened to Liu Mengli.
" Ancestor Mengli, you've finally returned! Quickly save the Elf Queen and your people!" Upon learning Liu Mengli's identity, the eight powerful members of the Spirit Race hurriedly knelt down, weeping bitterly, their expressions extremely excited, their hands trembling.
"What happened to my sister and the clansmen?" Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of panic flashed in Liu Mengli's eyes. Her heart felt as if it were being gently gripped by an invisible hand, and an uneasy feeling welled up from the depths of her heart.
"The Queen and the elders who support her are all trapped in the Soul-Locking Secret Realm by the High Priest!" Eight powerful members of the Spirit Race said through gritted teeth, their eyes red.
" The Soul-Locking Secret Realm!" Liu Mengli's pupils dilated, and her expression changed drastically.
" Jialan!"
She uttered the name word by word, her inner energy surging, spacetime trembling and cracking as a raging inferno was ignited, the killing intent in her eyes almost tangible, utterly terrifying.