Chapter 401: Chapter 400: The Ancient War Tree
In the residential area behind the temple, a certain residence.
Upon returning from the Dark Moon Forbidden Forest, Ivan began listening to Jenny reporting the details of the trial, particularly the parts concerning the Dark Moon Well.
The Dark Night Mother Goddess?
The Mother of Earth Core?
A cataclysmic war?
Even with Ivan’s composed mind, he was stunned by the information Jenny provided, and he remained silent for a long time.
…
He had never imagined that he merely noticed the exceptional nature of the Pan Iron Root and that it conveniently fulfilled the requirement for the “One Body Three Manifestations” body double, which inadvertently tied him to the top echelons of Danaila.
As a sorcerer, he had often invoked the name of the “Mother of Earth Core” when making covenants, simply because her name was the most effective.
Turns out, the Mother of Earth Core was Danaila’s will’s most faithful guardian, as demonstrated by her sacrificing her life in the cataclysmic war to avert disaster. Otherwise, even if the world were to perish, such a supreme being like the Mother of Earth Core might not have died.
Perhaps Jenny inherited the “loyal protection” from the Mother of Earth Core.
“I’m sorry, I took the liberty of agreeing to many conditions.”
“No worries, no worries, if the Mother God wishes to guide you, that is your fortune. Hereafter, you can stay in the underworld, Jenny, and don’t need to return to the surface with me.”
Hearing Jenny’s words, Ivan quickly waved his hand.
The Dark Night Mother Goddess herself had intervened—combined, they were probably not even equal to the flick of one of her fingers. Following her requirements was the wisest decision.
It was fortunate that Jenny was not stubborn; otherwise, who knows what the situation would have ended up like.
“Let’s set that aside for now, and talk about the state of the Moon Blade you brought back from the Dark Moon Well. This Silver Moon Blade seems to be partially damaged,” continued Ivan.
“As reported by the revered Lilibet, she once owned a weapon called the ‘Dark Moon Wheel,’ which was later destroyed in a great war and could no longer be repaired. She crafted a set of Moon Blades from the fragments at hand.
This set of Moon Blades was meant to be used together, each possessing both shadow and space powers; the Dark Moon Blade focused on shadow power, while the Silver Moon Blade focused on space power. Later, the Silver Moon Blade was severely damaged by the Dark Elves.
The revered one suggested that you, Sorcerer Ivan, repair it yourself.”
Jenny didn’t conceal anything and fully disclosed what she knew.
“I see.”
Ivan felt somewhat sarcastic inside but wisely refrained from voicing it out.
He remembered that they were still within the confines of the temple, on their territory.
Holy Artifacts were akin to a sorcerer’s magic artifacts, but Holy Artifacts were special as they had lower prerequisites for use. Although neither his nor Jenny’s power attained the Fourth-level, they could easily wield them, much like the Holy Daughters of the temple.
One was intact, and the other partially damaged, but both held substantial value.
Jenny then demonstrated the unique capabilities of the Dark Moon Blade. This Holy Artifact could engage in close combat and long-range attacks, could completely shadowize, and abruptly vanish from the opponent’s sightline, making its attack trajectory difficult to predict.
Inside the Dark Moon Blade was also a hidden arboretum, guarded by a squad of tree people, led by a ‘War Ancient Tree.’
“Nine Level 3 tree guards and one Level 4 War Ancient Tree, are you sure?”
“Yes, they are all in a deep slumber.”
Hearing Jenny’s introduction, Ivan found it hard to believe until he saw for himself the tree people in the small space inside the Moon Blade, including the War Ancient Tree whose presence was elusive and profound. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
Was this ancient tree, a Fourth-level power, really willing to serve as a guard for a lesser being without losing face?
If placed within the sorcerer world, he asserted such a thing would never happen.
After much thought, he concluded that his own knowledge was too shallow, and could only admire the prowess of a direct descendant of the Mother of Earth Core. Truly, when the Dark Night Mother Goddess intervened, she did so grandly.
“The Silver Moon Blade simply can’t compare,” Ivan murmured softly.
He had closely inspected it before, and now the Silver Moon Blade was merely equivalent to a space-type blade, capable of being thrown as a long-range weapon or wielded in close combat, its sharpness causing unease in anyone.
As for the internal space he reexamined just now, there indeed was one, larger in scale than that of the Dark Moon Blade, though it was already in disarray.
Chaotic as it was, it was confined within a certain range and did not affect the blade’s exterior.
“How about—”
“No, what’s yours is yours. I’ve never been one to covet what belongs to you.”
Seeing that Jenny was about to say something, Ivan, well aware of her intentions, promptly interrupted her to avoid unnecessary trouble.
“Have you decided what to do with the energy you gained from the ‘Blood Field of Suction’?”
“The Supreme Power once said, as a descendant of Claudia, I do not need these miscellaneous powers and can use them to nurture the Dark Moon Blade.”
“Good, you handle it yourself.”
It was clear that the Dark Night Mother Goddess cared deeply for Jenny and had made arrangements in all aspects.
Even the relationship between the body double and the original was concealed; from now on, unless one’s power exceeded that of the Mother Goddess, it would be difficult to discern this connection.
What else could Ivan do but let Jenny follow the big shot’s arrangements? After all, Jenny was still his own Secret Method Body Double, and he wouldn’t be at a loss no matter how it was calculated.
…
The next morning dawned.
After almost half the night, the grandmothers of various tribes had reluctantly accepted a reality; a foreign man had obtained a Holy Artifact, and now they had to consider how to respond to this history-making event.
Inside a certain council chamber of the royal court, people gathered solemnly.
“Cough, cough, you all suddenly have become so serious, as the chairperson, I’m not quite used to this,” Lulu Xia paused briefly before speaking up, breaking the silence.
“Lulu Xia, we are here to discuss a gravely serious matter, please maintain decorum,” Ye Lulu seized the opportunity to lecture.
“Ah, right, let’s hear your thoughts,” Lulu Xia wasn’t annoyed but the smile had disappeared from her face.
“If you ask me, we might as well act before the news spreads further, once and for all,” Hausmora suggested, gesturing at his neck.
Hearing this, the other grandmothers paused, and some immediately expressed approval.
“Shut up, do you intend to defy the will of the Mother Goddess?”
As the High Priest, although Kolebas disliked that man, she couldn’t help but reprimand them sternly. The Mother Goddess had entrusted the Silver Moon Blade to that foreign man, indicative of her willingness to shelter him.
To kill him heedlessly would undoubtedly defy the Mother Goddess’s will with unpredictable consequences.
“What do you suggest we do then?” countered Hausmora.
“The bearer of the Holy Artifact is the Holy Daughter; Jenny is just so,” Kolebas had thought it over all night, and after much turmoil, she indeed had an answer in mind. “Seeing he is male, we could just add an extra title of ‘Saint Heir’—”
“No, that’s inappropriate. We Dark Elves have never had a precedent for a man to hold a high position, let alone to place someone on equal footing with the Holy Daughter.”
“I strongly disagree too. Once he becomes a Saint Heir of the temple, do you understand the impact it would have? Men, who used to be submissive, will start entertaining unrealistic ideas, causing endless trouble.”
“You’re right, if the news spreads, our race will surely face mockery and scorn, leading to endless chaos.”
“——”
Her words immediately met with strong opposition from the grandmothers of all tribes, as the Dark Elves had always been matriarchal, consistently suppressing men.
Of course, the grandmothers were very averse to men gaining power; even a single exception was unacceptable, and they definitely wanted to prevent such a precedent.
“If not that, why not make him a prince? The status would still be prestigious.”