AEKMEM chapter 21

Upon receiving the news, Chu Heng abruptly stood up from the judges’ panel.

“Are you so eager to find that elf, Your Highness? You weren’t this anxious when your Crown Princess’s livestream camera malfunctioned,” said the Mo family’s major general from the Fifth Army Corps sarcastically.

Chu Heng smiled faintly, but his eyes held no real mirth. “Yes, I am rather anxious. However, I imagine your Second Prince is even more so, given his distance from the palace. And you, his subordinate present, seem rather incompetent.”

Ignoring the dark and unpleasant expression on the Mo family general’s face, Chu Heng grabbed a black overcoat and black leather gloves hanging on the back of his chair. He quickly put them on as he walked and strode out of the hall. His retreating figure appeared hurried and cold.

Chu Heng wasn’t in a hurry to find the elf. Rather, he had noticed that An Qiao’s location on the assessment computer was not displaying for some reason.

Previously, there had just been a problem with the live stream camera, but the location and the red dot indicating no danger were still there. An Qiao had his 2S- and S-level energy shields, and the highest level of star beasts in the Star Beast Forest assessment area was S-level. An Qiao himself seemed to have secrets and wasn’t simple, so there wasn’t much worry.

But now, although the red dot indicating safety was still there, An Qiao’s location had suddenly disappeared.

With more and more people entering the Star Beast Forest, the elf’s sudden appearance could make the situation more dangerous.

He needed to find An Qiao before they did.

As for finding that elf—

The elf’s sudden appearance didn’t seem to be that of a native elf from the Empire reverting to its true form. It seemed to be that of an outsider.

That’s right—an outsider.

An outsider elf once appeared in the empire, helping it turn defeat into victory during the Zerg invasion crisis, when it had nearly been destroyed. His help was invaluable, with far-reaching influence.

This is an Empire secret known only to a select few. Most of the Empire’s inhabitants only know that some elves have reverted to their ancestral form and that one of these elves saved the Empire from dire straits. They are unaware that this “reverted elf” was actually an outsider elf.

An elf, perhaps from another world.

Outsider elves possess wondrous abilities. If the Empire could find this elf and gain its friendship, it would undoubtedly be a boon.

Chu Heng immediately thought that if he could get this elf to treat An Qiao, An Qiao would definitely recover quickly and could even reawaken!

However, the most important thing right now was to find An Qiao and ensure his safety.

**

Shortly after Chu Heng left, the Fifth Army Corps’ Major General Mo received a message from the Second Prince.

The Second Prince said he would set off immediately from the palace to find the elf in the Star Beast Forest and befriend it before anyone else.

For the Second Prince’s faction, befriending the elf and getting its support was their best chance to turn the tide.

Elves’ abilities were mysterious and unpredictable. Healing and soothing mental power were only the most insignificant of them. The strangest ability was helping beastmen advance in rank.

However, elves could only help beastmen advance through long-term spiritual soothing and a deep connection between the beastmen and the elf. Therefore, it can only be done between close partners or those with an exceptionally close family relationship.

Furthermore, and most importantly, elves can only help beastmen of the same rank advance. For instance, an S-rank elf can only help an S-rank beastman advance to 2S-rank.

High-ranking elves in the Empire are extremely rare. Currently, there is only one 2S-rank elf. He is elderly, has an extremely powerful background, and his whereabouts are unknown. Even S-rank elves are few and far between.

The Second Prince, Chu Feiyu, pursued Jun Yilian of the Jun family partly because of their powerful background and, most importantly, because he was an S-rank elf with a high chance of advancing to 2S-rank.

The Second Prince has only just advanced to 2S-rank. For a beastman under thirty years old to reach 2S-rank is extremely remarkable.

However, tragically, Chu Heng, who is roughly the same age, is a 3S-rank beastman with ancestral talent beyond others’ reach.

The empire reveres military might, and the emperor does not tolerate weakness. For the Second Prince to dethrone Chu Heng as Crown Prince, Chu Heng would have to suffer a severe injury causing his rank and talent to drop to 2S or lower. Alternatively, the Second Prince would have to advance to 3S.

This was the bare minimum, as Chu Heng had numerous military achievements and war exploits, enjoying high prestige among the empire’s people.

The Second Prince was struggling to advance to a 2S-rank beastman, so reaching 3S-rank was practically impossible. His pursuit of Jun Yilian, who might advance to a 2S-level elf, was merely for that slim chance.

Therefore, the Second Prince’s faction originally planned to severely injure Chu Heng. Upon learning that Chu Heng had been wounded on the Zerg battlefield, the Second Prince’s faction immediately became restless.

This was an excellent opportunity! If his injury wasn’t serious, they could take advantage of it to send someone to assassinate him, which would cause his level to drop. Even better would be if Chu Heng were seriously injured and his talent damaged.

However, now that the elves have suddenly appeared, they have another option.

Elves are of great significance to the empire because of their magical abilities and their special symbolic meaning.

Just as ancient tribes worshiped totems and devout believers served their gods, the imperial people are extraordinarily devoted to elves.

Therefore, befriending the elves and asking them to help the Second Prince advance to the 3S-rank beastman would surely grant the Second Prince greater prestige and support.

However, if Chu Heng found the elf first and gained its friendship, the Second Prince’s faction would not like the consequences.

After Chu Heng and the Mo family’s major general left, the other legion representatives and the principal of the Empire’s First Military Academy entered the Star Beast Forest after entrusting the assessment to several assistant judges.

After all, who wouldn’t want the friendship of a mysteriously powerful elf?

Moreover, elves are said to be breathtakingly beautiful and captivating, making one forget the world around them. Even if they couldn’t gain an elf’s friendship, seeing one would be enough!

Speaking of elves, they couldn’t help but think of An Qiao, whom they had just seen on the screen of the live stream. His appearance and overall aura were indeed reminiscent of a legendary elf. It was just a pity that his awakening had failed.

**

An Qiao was unaware that such advanced technology as an “elf detector” existed in this world. He was even less aware that many people were flocking to find him.

Since each assessment area was separated by an energy shield that allowed humans to pass but prohibited star beasts, An Qiao planned to collect “tribute”—energy crystals—from each area.

A celestial being with silver hair flowing freely down his back slowly traversed the forest. His beauty eclipsed even the stars.

At his feet, beside him, before him, behind him—

Wherever his pure, clear, icy blue eyes gazed and wherever his gentle, luminous aura reached, flowers bloomed, green grass carpeted the ground, and fruit hung from the branches.

It was as if they were cheering, as if they were surrendering.

The silver-haired elf seemed somewhat satisfied with this magnificent sight. His cold brows relaxed slightly, and a soft, beautiful light flickered in his icy blue eyes.

With a gentle wave of his hand, light-attribute magic rained down.

In an instant, previously lifeless, dim, or withered flowers, grasses, and trees turned green again, growing rapidly and vibrantly. Even seeds still gathering power underground sprouted from the soil.

Many of the forest’s plants possessed a faint consciousness.

After attempting to communicate with them, the silver-haired elf received an energy crystal similar to the one he had received from the Devil Vine as a “gift.”

Just as he was preparing to find a place to absorb the energy crystal, a muffled shout faintly reached his ears.

“An Qiao! Are you around here?”

That sounded like An Yuchun’s voice.

How strange. What could An Yuchun possibly want from him?

The shout grew closer.

An Qiao frowned slightly. His pointed elf ears disappeared, and his ankle-length silver hair shortened to his waist. He instantly switched from elf form back to human form.

Oh, and he also cast a spell to hide the pile of energy crystals.

Those were the ones he had painstakingly collected! They were cute energy crystals that could help him restore his magic!

He didn’t avoid them, though; he wanted to see what kind of sinister plot An Yuchun was up to.

A moment later, An Yuchun spotted him and ran over.

“An Qiao, you’re here. Why didn’t you answer when I called you?”

Having been warned by Chu Heng not to call An Qiao “Big Brother” again, An Yuchun was deeply traumatized. Even though he knew that An Qiao would be disgusted and displeased if he called him “Big Brother,” and even though he knew that An Qiao would soon be dead and unable to tell on him, he instinctively called out An Qiao’s name instead of the offensive title.

“Really? Your voice was too soft. I didn’t hear you.” An Qiao lied without batting an eye.

This was obviously a lie. If he couldn’t hear him from a distance, surely he could hear him up close.

An Yuchun gritted his teeth in hatred but maintained a harmless smile. “Maybe my voice was too soft.”

“By the way, An Qiao, I want to tell you something.” He approached An Qiao step by step.

An Qiao’s expression was cold and indifferent. “What is it?”

“Do you want to know who the mastermind was behind your assassination and injury during your awakening?”

“You know?” Although An Qiao asked the question rhetorically, he remained utterly indifferent, as if he wasn’t moved at all by the “mastermind.”

At that moment, An Yuchun moved closer to An Qiao. However, when he tried to take another step closer, An Qiao took two steps to the side. His manner of disdain and avoidance made it seem as if An Yuchun were trash.

An Yuchun: “… ”

Yuchun clenched his teeth viciously. ‘Just you wait! Enjoy being arrogant for a little while longer.’

He had planned to fight more effectively at close range, but he hadn’t expected An Qiao to be so despicable. A cripple with a failed awakening dared to look down on him!

An Yuchun took out a bottle of “water.” The liquid inside was a newly developed item designed to counteract energy shields that he had obtained from his mysterious contact. Even a tiny bit of this liquid could disable an energy shield for a period of time. Its power was so great that it could render even a 2S-level energy shield ineffective.

“I’m a little thirsty. Let me have some water first.”

After opening the bottle, he suddenly seemed to trip over something, causing the bottle to spill toward An Qiao.

An Yuchun deliberately used his mental power to control the “water,” directing it precisely towards An Qiao’s hand, which was wearing an energy shield bracelet. Although his level of mental power usage wasn’t high, he could barely control the direction of the “water” for a short time.

Seeing the “water” pouring toward him and noticing An Yuchun’s subtle manipulation of his mental power, An Qiao knew the “water” might be dangerous. He calmly took a few steps to the side.

Furthermore, he secretly manipulated his mental power, splashing the “water” back toward the energy shield bracelet on An Yuchun’s left wrist.

From An Yuchun’s actions, An Qiao could guess that the “water” was designed to target the energy shield.

“Ah!”

An Yuchun screamed.

After a long moment of stunned silence, he finally reacted, looking at An Qiao in utter horror. “You… you actually… you actually have mental power!”

And his mental power was significantly higher than An Yuchun’s!

His mental power was already quite impressive for an elf.

And if this useless An Qiao really did have mental power, did that mean…?

“You…you didn’t fail to awaken?”

An Yuchun was almost on the verge of collapse. He had initially thought that An Qiao’s awakening had failed and that he had finally crushed him completely. But unexpectedly, An Qiao’s awakening hadn’t failed!

An Qiao didn’t answer, but asked, “So, do you know who was behind the assassination attempt that severely injured An Qiao during his awakening?”

An Yuchun was in such an emotional state that he didn’t notice the odd thing about An Qiao referring to himself as “An Qiao” instead of “I.”

“That’s right! I know! But why would I tell…” you!

Before he could finish, his eyes widened suddenly and his face filled with shock and fear.

He sensed an odd and powerful mental force, seemingly irresistible, brutally piercing his mind and examining his memories.

A moment later:

“Oh, so you don’t know who’s behind this either?”

“However, since you maliciously leaked his whereabouts back then and are plotting against me—”

An Qiao’s expression turned cold, and the mental force he controlled pierced An Yuchun’s mind.

The next second, An Yuchun let out a painful howl and fainted.

An Qiao destroyed some of An Yuchun’s memories and his mental sea. He also crippled An Yuchun’s elven healing abilities.

Truly a disgrace to the word “elf.”

**

After leaving, An Qiao found a place to absorb the energy crystals he had collected.

Because the elven form is more conducive to restoring magic power, he released his concealed elven aura and transformed back into his elven form.

His waist-length, silver-white hair slowly grew to his waist, then his knees, and finally his ankles.

His elven ears, pointed and distinctive, were half-hidden beneath his silver hair. His icy blue eyes became clearer and brighter, as if they contained light, mysterious and dreamlike. They made even the moon and stars pale in comparison.

As the energy crystals shattered one by one after their energy was absorbed, the light-attribute magical power emanating from his body grew stronger.

After absorbing all the energy crystals, An Qiao’s magic power recovered to 40%.

He eagerly circulated his light-attribute magic to assess his condition.

An Qiao was stunned for a moment.

He blinked.

It seems he absorbed a large amount of energy at once. Maybe he’s experiencing some “indigestion,” or perhaps he’s overwhelmed.

Just then, he seemed to faintly hear Chu Heng’s voice.

Chu Heng was nearby!

Without time to think, An Qiao panicked and immediately tried to transform into human form.

However, he discovered that he couldn’t transform back.

Because he had absorbed a large amount of energy at once, he was now forced to remain in his elf form until the energy was completely absorbed and converted.

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