Chapter 204: The Elf Queen’s Dominion

As the heart-stirring voice echoed, a figure emerged leisurely from the void. In that moment, the entire scene fell silent.

A fragrance like myriad flowers from a secluded valley filled the air. A noble, emerald-purple robe clung to her exquisite, alluring form. Each step bloomed like a jade lotus, her platinum hair shimmering, neatly pinned with a jade hairpin, revealing a neck as pristine as white jade.

The woman exuded supreme elegance, her natural grace like a clear stream, her silver mask veiling a mysterious visage. Yet, instinctively, the crowd knew her beauty was unparalleled. Her perfect S-shaped curves and ripe, mature charm, like a succulent peach, made them lament their inability to glimpse her face.

Notably, beneath her platinum hair, delicate ears pointed and translucent flickered subtly, distinct from those of ordinary humans.

"An elf… she's an elf!" someone exclaimed, recognizing her origins from those ears.

The shout stirred a tidal wave of excitement. Countless onlookers' breaths quickened, their eyes gleaming with awe.

Hai Zhou Continent, home to myriad races and Ninth-grade powers, included the Sea Palace and Shui Tian Sect. Yet one Ninth-grade force stood as a holy land in every man's heart: the Elf Maiden Nation.

If Bing Tian Continent's Hundred Flowers Sect was a male fantasy, the Elf Maiden Nation surpassed it in allure. Elves, rumored to rival fairy tale beauties, were nature's masterpieces, each blessed by creation. Their affinity for nurturing plants made their nation a leading producer of spiritual herbs, the lifeblood of cultivation.

These herbs, priced far above others, were in constant demand, never meeting supply. The Elf Maiden Nation's wealth ensured abundant cultivation resources, and their natural gifts yielded terrifying progress. Stronger than the Sea Palace or Shui Tian Sect, they resided on the fabled Elf Island.

Despite their renown, the nation remained enigmatic due to strict laws limiting elves' departures. Unlike others, they didn't join the Hundred Spirits Academy. Yet, when Hundred Spirits List prodigies challenged their geniuses, most returned defeated.

Thus, elves, though famed, were shrouded in mystery, fueling male desire to conquer them.

Lan An, lying weakly, was dazed by her natural fragrance. Within his dantian, the Heavenly Wood Cauldron stirred violently, as if yearning to break free.

"This woman possesses a Strange Wood unmistakably," he muttered, recalling the Heavenly Water Cauldron's reaction to Shui Niang Qing.

"She also has a special physique, the Celestial Fragrance Jade Body," Jin Ni chimed in, awestruck. "Its natural scent boosts spiritual energy absorption and beguiles opponents' minds. Ranked 20th on the Great Physique List, it's a supreme dual-cultivation body."

Lan An's eyes blazed with interest.

"Elf, who are you?" Lam Heng's furious roar snapped the crowd back to reality. His face flushed red, chest heaving. Never had he felt such humiliation.

Yet, he retained his wits. This elf woman, capable of silently slapping him, was beyond his match. Retreat loomed in his mind, but as an Eighth-grade clan leader, he needed to save face, lest he become a laughingstock.

Unfortunately, she had no intention of granting him dignity.

Glancing at Ai Er in her cradle, she turned, her hand gracefully sweeping through the air.

Lam Heng's face twisted, ready to resist.

Slap

A phantom hand pierced space, sending him flying, blood spraying.

"This king asks again: bullying my daughter… satisfying, is it?" Her voice remained crystalline.

"This king? Only one in the Elf Maiden Nation dares claim that title…" The crowd, initially too stunned to notice her words, now paled as she repeated them. Reality felt like a dream.

Before them stood the continent's most enigmatic powerhouse the Elf Queen.

Gulp

Swallowing echoed. Many yearned to flee. Legends told of the Elf Maiden Nation's prosperity attracting invaders, none of whom returned. A Transcending Tribulation expert once boasted of taking elf concubines; two months later, his head floated on the sea, slain by the Elf Queen, or so rumors claimed.

Only the continent's elite glimpsed her. The Sea Palace Lord, after one meeting, pined for a decade, erasing his memories to regain peace. Her terror was evident, elevating the Elf Maiden Nation above peers.

Now, this fearsome figure stood before them, sparking both awe and dread.

Silence reigned; no one dared breathe loudly. Even Ji Ya's clash with An Ran and Xiao Qing Xuan's with An Li paused, awaiting the Queen's judgment.

After a moment, a petulant voice broke the hush.

"Mother, they bullied me and Brother Lan An! Beat them up!" Ai Er leapt from her cradle, scurrying to her mother's side.

Lam Heng and Lam Ji's faces froze. Lam Ji clutched a jade pendant, warily assessing the situation.

"Naughty girl, still making excuses?" The Elf Queen tapped Ai Er's head, scolding playfully.

"Hehe, I just wanted a gift for Mother's birthday!" Ai Er stuck out her tongue, presenting an Agarwood Fruit and a Beauty-Nourishing Pill.

The Queen's heart softened, though she huffed, "Using a man's gifts to fool your mother?"

Ai Er jumped, stammering, "Mother, you spied on me?"

"Hmph, Elf Island is my domain. No movement escapes me. You thought you could sneak out?" The Queen laughed, torn between amusement and exasperation.

Ai Er pouted, thinking she'd escaped, only to learn she'd been allowed to roam.

The crowd, watching this mother-daughter exchange, held their breath, stunned.

"Leave an arm, and I'll spare your lives," the Elf Queen turned to Lam Heng's group, her tone serene.

"What?" Lam Heng paled, inhaling sharply. "Elf Queen, I'm no match for you, but the Lam Clan isn't easily trifled with. Let this end here."

"Calling yourself 'this seat' before this king? Are you worthy?" Her brow arched, another hand sweeping out.

"Ice Spear Sun-Breaker!" Lam Heng, prepared, unleashed a Heaven-grade technique. An icy spear shattered space, stabbing at her hand.

Slap

The phantom hand pierced the spear, sending Lam Heng flying again. She raised her arm, mysterious Wood Spiritual Energy surging, reducing the spear to dust.

The crowd's mouths twitched. This woman was at least Transcending Tribulation.

Lam Ji, seeing this, gripped his jade pendant, madness in his eyes, and crushed it.

"Leave an arm, or shall this king do it?" The Queen ignored their actions, her jade hand reaching for Lam Heng.

His face ashen, he sensed death in that grasp.

Boom

Space shattered. A change erupted.

"Ice Heaven Hand!" An aged voice resounded as a massive rift opened in the sky.

A colossal icy hand blocked the Queen's strike, shaking space. Spectators retreated to Sun Island.

Ji Ya and Xiao Qing Xuan rushed to Lan An, shielding him from the shockwave. Within him, An Li's dark energy was finally purged by his four cauldrons. Regaining some strength, he sat on the sea, absorbing ambient spiritual energy to heal.

"Hmph, Wind Slash!" The Elf Queen snorted, her hands clasping, slicing at the Ice Heaven Hand.

Slash

A crescent wind blade shattered it.

"Elf Queen, shall we end this here?" The aged voice echoed. A white-haired elder in a pale green robe emerged, stepping beside Lam Ji.

"Master!" Lam Ji cried, overjoyed.

This was his master from the Hundred Spirits Academy, Ice Sword Elder, a Mid Transcending Tribulation powerhouse.

"Ice Sword Elder? Your taste in disciples worsens," the Elf Queen taunted, her domineering voice unyielding.

Gulp

The tension was palpable. Spectators fled Sun Island, fearing the clash of two Transcending Tribulation titans.

Ice Sword Elder's face darkened. A true powerhouse, he yearned to test the Elf Queen's current strength.

"Ice Sword Heaven-Calming!"

A translucent ice sword appeared in his hand, its presence shaking space into nothingness. The sky turned to snow, the world a frozen white.

A slash cleaved the heavens in two, as if calming the world.

Lan An felt like a skiff on a tsunami. Ji Ya and Xiao Qing Xuan paled. The Hundred Spirits Academy elder's might was unfathomable.

Lam Ji gazed at his master with worship, eager to see the Elf Queen sundered.

His face soon stiffened.

Opposite, the Elf Queen gracefully raised a snow-white arm. Wood Spiritual Energy surged, forming a small, leaf-woven shield in her hand, seemingly inadequate against the terrifying sword.

Clang

The clash resounded. Space around her shattered, yet she and Ai Er stood serene, the Wood Shield unscathed.

Sun Island quaked, on the verge of collapse.

Spurt

Ice Sword Elder staggered back ten steps, a slash on his chest, blood seeping from his lips.

"Master!" Lam Ji's eyes nearly burst, terror flooding him.

"How?" The crowd was speechless. The Elf Queen merely defended, yet Ice Sword Elder, attacking fully, was the one bloodied? It defied reason.

Thankfully, the battle raged above the clouds, or Sun Island would be rubble.

"What happened?" Ji Ya and Xiao Qing Xuan were stunned by the Elf Queen's prowess.

"Heaven-Defying Wood," Jin Ni whispered. "A Strange Wood that reflects attacks. Striking her is like striking oneself unless your power vastly exceeds it. She's invincible."

Lan An's face shook. "Heaven-Defying Wood? It can even repel the heavens…"

Wiping blood from his mouth, Ice Sword Elder bowed. "Your strength has advanced, Queen. I'm humbled. But to take the Lam Clan's arms, I'll fight, even at my life's cost."

The Elf Queen's eyes flickered. She feared not him but the Hundred Spirits Academy behind him. As a queen, her decisions impacted her nation; rashness was unwise.

Whether intentional or not, her gaze drifted to Lan An, as if saying, "You're the protagonist; don't play dumb."

Lan An, sharp-witted, understood. This conflict stemmed from him; he couldn't let the Elf Maiden Nation clash with the Academy for his sake. Suppressing his injuries, he spoke skyward.

"This began with the Lam Clan and Night Shadow Island's robbery attempt. Failing, they should leave compensation."

"You…" Lam Ji and An Ran fumed, their side devastated, yet he demanded reparations.

"What do you want, young friend?" Ice Sword Elder narrowed his eyes, willing to pay to resolve this.

"Transcending Tribulation expert's bones," Lan An said.

Ice Sword Elder's hair stood on end, nearly drawing his sword. The Elf Queen's lips twitched.

"No? Then Heaven-Storing Fruit and Million-Year Ginseng," Lan An continued calmly.

"None," Ice Sword Elder gritted his teeth. Without the Elf Queen's backing, he'd have struck.

"A Transcending Tribulation expert, so poor?" Lan An shook his head, amusing the crowd.

"Choose something else," Ice Sword Elder growled, suppressing rage.

"Whatever you offer, then. You don't have what I need," Lan An shrugged.

Ice Sword Elder seethed, his status as a Transcending Tribulation elder challenged. Offering trash would invite mockery. Gnashing his teeth, he tossed his storage ring.

"Pick two items."

The Elf Queen nodded, approving his principled act as an Academy elder.

Lan An, after Jin Ni confirmed the ring's safety, eagerly inspected it. A Transcending Tribulation expert's wealth was vast, but his standards were high. He scrutinized each item carefully.

First, he found…