Chapter 120: A Single Tree Becomes a Forest

From the tips of the branches, new ones sprouted, reaching down to touch the ground and forming root systems that grew into towering trees. From the tips of those branches, yet more sprouted, and this cycle repeated until a dense, connected forest quickly spread out from the Mother Tree.

Where the branches met the earth, the land felt the surge of greenery. The parched, brownish soil became moist and fertile; blades of grass emerged, piercing the dirt to drink in nutrients and growing into a thick, carpet-like expanse of verdant turf. Wildflowers bloomed, and an increasing variety of plants began to flourish.

Before the astonished eyes of the onlookers, the giant tree at the center continued to climb—rising above their heads, above the other trees of the Dark Forest, and finally, above the clouds.

They had to crane their necks to catch a glimpse of its summit. The umbrella-shaped canopy, growing ever denser, blotted out the sun and cast a colossal shadow. This shadow crept toward their feet, submerged their chests, and eventually draped a cool, refreshing shade over every person’s brow.

They stood with mouths agape, unable to recover from their shock for a long time.

The wasteland, empty just a moment before, had been transformed in the blink of an eye into a lush, sprawling forest. Once the central trunk had fully formed, animals began to gather out of curiosity, abandoning the low, gray, and lifeless Dark Forest in favor of what seemed to be a new continent.

Ling Xi finally lifted his staff from the ground; the earth around his feet was already blanketed in soft, green grass. After channeling the final spark of his mana, two vines intertwined before the wall-like thickness of the central tree, weaving themselves into a throne.

As the King of the Dark Elves, Ling Xi possessed not only the unique magic of his people—such as barrier creation and demon suppression—but also a natural magic distinct from that of the Dark Elves: Wood-elemental magic.

The towering tree that had once stood in the West Sea Swamps was a manifestation of his power. When he left, that tree and the surrounding forest had vanished overnight. Now, they had reappeared in this world, vibrant and full of life.

Ling Xi turned to face his kin. His eyes held memories of the past, regret for Xiaoyu, and anticipation for the future. With a piercing gaze, he proclaimed to his people:

"Are you willing to settle here in peace? Are you willing to follow me?"

The people answered in one voice, their shout like thunder:

"We are! We are willing to follow you! To follow you to the death!"

"Then I promise you this: for a thousand years, ten thousand years, until eternity—wherever I, the Dark Elf King, exist, there shall be a home for you! This place will be more prosperous, more powerful, and more inviolable than the tribe, town, or nation of any other race!"

His gaze was resolute, his voice brimming with strength. The hearts of his people stirred with fervor. A-Duo and her younger brother, Xiao Lan, gripped each other’s hands tightly, their excitement plain to see. "The dawn of the Dark Elf race is upon us!"

"Go and tell all our kin! I, the Dark Elf King, shall guard this land once more and restore its former glory! Let all Dark Elves gather here!"

The crowd cheered in triumph.

***

After returning to the Holy City, Black Feather and Ling Xiaolei continued their daily cultivation in the core of the Twilight Forest. In the blink of an eye, the first-year break came to an end.

By the spring of the second year, the Magic Academy officially reopened, and Yi Xin had returned from the Frontier Wall.

On the night before the start of the term, Black Feather and Ling Xiaolei returned from the Twilight Forest. As they approached the academy gates and climbed the familiar steps, the sound of the babbling fountain filled their ears. They looked up to see the magnificent school gate and the towering statue of the Archangel.

As they ascended the steps, a familiar golden-haired figure was leaning against the open gate. He stood with his arms crossed, head bowed, feigning indifference.

The moment he saw Black Feather, he spoke:

"You idiot, school starts tomorrow. Why are you getting back so late?"

It was Yi Xin. Though they had only been separated for a vacation, Black Feather could clearly see the maturity etched onto his face; there was a sharpness in his brow, as if polished by the winds and sands of the frontier.

A surge of inexplicable joy rose in Black Feather’s heart. He took a few quick steps forward, but before he could speak, Yi Xin cut him off with a sharp rebuke.

Black Feather scratched his head.

"I was out training, wasn't I? How did you know I’d be back at this time? Don't tell me you were waiting here specifically for me?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Yi Xin said, his face dark as he turned away. "I just happened to be passing by."

"Oh, sure, sure! You don't look like you 'just happened' to be passing by to me!"

Black Feather wouldn't let it go, grinning as he sidled up to him. "Haven't seen you all break—did you miss me?"

Yi Xin waved him off impatiently, as if shooing a fly, and frowned.

"It seems you didn't suffer enough in the Southern Forest if you’re still this energetic. Let me tell you, the most important event of the second term is the Magic Duel Tournament. Intermediate mages from every continent will participate. Preliminary selections start soon after school begins. I suggest you prepare yourself and get your head in the game."

"The Magic Duel Tournament..."

Black Feather and Ling Xiaolei exchanged glances. They had heard of this tournament; it was held annually in the arena of the Holy City Magic Academy.

Furthermore, the tournament took place at the end of the second term. Since students spent the third term away from school for independent training, most were not on campus then.

Because the freshmen in the first term were relatively weak, the Magic Duel Tournament was always held in the second year of enrollment.

Without waiting for them to catch up, Yi Xin headed toward his dormitory.

"So what if he spent a couple extra days training at the Frontier Wall? Nothing special. Wait until I reveal my magic rank tomorrow—I’ll scare you to death," Black Feather muttered, hands in his pockets, feeling unconvinced.

Ling Xiaolei said, "I wouldn't be so sure. I felt an extraordinary aura from Yi Xin just now. He must have reached a certain level of breakthrough."

"We'll find out when everyone reveals their ranks tomorrow. Besides, all the beast spirits we hunted on the way back are with Bai Shengye, and he still owes us several potions! Once we get those back and level up a few more times, we'll definitely surpass this guy!" Black Feather’s competitive spirit was ignited, and he clenched his fists.

"I'm done talking. I'm going back to sleep to recharge for tomorrow's classes," Ling Xiaolei said with a yawn, waving his hand.

Just as Yi Xin had predicted, a month into the term, the selection process for the Magic Duel Tournament began.