At noon on the third day, Xiao Chen and his party walked out of the sphere of human influence and began to enter the territory of the elves.
After walking through a plain, there is a pass at the intersection ahead. It stands at the gap of a valley. It is extremely tall, about seven or eight stories high. Unlike the rough and simple style of human checkpoints, the checkpoints here are actually carved with various plant-themed sculptures. The walls are also covered with green and purple vines. Xiao Chen has read in a book that the name of this green vine is the exorcist vine, which can weaken the magic effect of the attacker. The purple vine is called the night-light vine, which emits purple light at night and can also make invisible enemies appear.
These two defensive plants are common defensive weapons in high elf buildings and are very difficult to deal with.
There were many figures moving above the checkpoint. Just as the two carriages stopped in front, a warning sound came from above. A clear male voice said, "Human, this is not the place you should pass through. According to the agreement between the elves and humans, only caravans with permission can pass through. You don't have a permission flag, go back."
Elana got off the carriage and said, "Your Excellency the Guardian, I am Elana, the High-level Rain Priestess. I will be bringing an elf friend back to the Elven Kingdom. Please let me pass."
"It turns out to be His Excellency the Rain and Dew Priest. Please wait a moment." said the male elf behind the battlements.
Not long after, a small door at the bottom of the level opened, and a tall male elf with a long sword came over, escorted by two elven spearmen.
The male elf was not as beautiful as Elena. Perhaps because he had been guarding the border for many years, he looked a little weathered. If it weren't for his pointed ears, he would not be much different from a decent-looking human.
"Lady Elena, please let me check your badge." said the male elf.
Elena took out two golden badges. The badges were woven from golden vines. The pattern woven on one badge was a drop of rain, and the other was a pair of clasped hands.
"Yes, the badge of the Rain Priest and the distinguished guest." The male elf examined the badge and returned it to Elaina, then asked, "Can I know the identity of this guest?"
"Mr. Xiao Chen from the Tower of China is a high-level wizard. The Tower of China is a newly emerged important force, completely different from previous magic towers. It has a very different meaning for us elves." Elena knew that the guardian would immediately pass the information to higher-level managers, and her explanations were actually meant for the elves.
Sure enough, after hearing these words, the male elf did not answer immediately. He waited for a while and said, "The general said that although the guest you gave the badge to should be allowed to pass, there are some things happening in the Elf Kingdom recently... It is not suitable to bring guests in at this time."
"Recently?" Elena was a little surprised. "I've only been away from here for more than a year."
"The general said that this happened just half a year ago. I don't know what he meant, but you have to know that the general would not make such a reminder casually."
"Then may I ask if the general means to refuse to let us go?" Elena asked.
"No, it's just a suggestion. After all, you are a high-level rain priest." said the guardian.
Elaina asked Xiao Chen: "You see, the current situation does not seem to be suitable for you to enter the kingdom. There may be unexpected troubles."
Xiao Chen thought for a moment and said, "We don't know how long the trouble they are talking about will last. I don't want to miss this opportunity. Luo Ling may release magic at any moment, and danger will always be with her."
"All right."
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Xiao Chen and his companions took two horses from other entourage members and passed through the checkpoint. Roger and the others did not have the elves' permission to enter, so they had to return to the nearest human town.
Beyond the pass is an endless forest, which is the kingdom of the elves. It is said that the area of this forest is larger than the entire Black Mountain area, and most of the elves in the world live in it. However, the forest of the elves is different from the pure natural forest. In the forest they have taken care of, traces of human intervention can still be seen everywhere.
The gravel roads on the ground led to all directions. These roads were wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. However, unlike human roads, these roads were covered by dense tree canopies, like green tunnels. In addition, there were many ropeways and platforms between the tall trees, which allowed the elves to walk on them.
It can be imagined that if a war breaks out, the elven rangers and wizards will appear in these places, making it difficult for enemies traveling on the ground to defend themselves, so this can be considered both three-dimensional transportation and a defensive facility.
Xiao Chen and Elaina walked a little further inside, and tree houses began to appear sporadically on the surrounding trees. Most of these tree houses were made of wood and vines, blending in with the trees. There were often plank roads connecting the tree houses, forming nodes of the transportation network between the trees.
"Most of these are the houses of the border guards. They rest here at night." Elaina introduced to Xiao Chen, "We elves love trees because many of us were born from the World Tree."
"The same to you?"
"Of course, the World Tree is my mother." Elena's face was filled with smiles when she talked about the World Tree. "We can feel the power of the World Tree better than brothers and sisters born from the womb. If not, I would not have brought you back. To obtain the sap of the World Tree, not only the consent of the elders but also the permission of the World Tree itself is required. It is precisely because I am her favorite child that I am qualified to be a little willful."
"What's the difference between tree-born elves and fetal-born elves?" Xiao Chen asked curiously.
"There is no difference. You know, elves are a race that values equality. Both tree-born and fetal-born are our brothers and sisters." Elaina said, "But... tree-born elves are often stronger, because the world tree may give us some special talents when it nurtures us. For example, she gave me the talent of healing, so I became a rain priest."
"So, among the powerful elves, there are more tree-born ones, right?"
"…Yes. Among the five elf elders at present, only one was conceived by an elf." Elaina immediately emphasized, "But doesn't this prove that viviparous elves can also achieve such an achievement?"
Xiao Chen didn't think Elaina was lying to him, but Xiao Chen always believed that the head follows the butt. As a high-level priest with excellent family background, strong talent and extraordinary beauty, it was not surprising to come to such a conclusion. As for what those viviparous elves think, I'm afraid it's another story.