Chapter 1504: Arrival! The Elf Race

From the star gate where he parted with Yeli, the distance to the core territory of the elf race was a full 570 million light-years.

Even with a curvature engine capable of traveling one light-year in the equivalent of ten million light-years,

the S1-class spacecraft, limited to a maximum speed of thirty times the speed of light, would still require nearly two years to arrive by flight alone.

Fortunately, humanity's territory had long since established a star gate network spanning all major star regions.

Through repeated consecutive star gate jumps, this lengthy journey was drastically shortened.

Just ten days later, the spacecraft had penetrated deep into the elf kingdom's territory and was about to reach the elf mother planet.

"Jingming, look! That's my mother planet, Labeer!"

Inside the ship's main control cabin, Yueying excitedly pointed toward the planet rapidly expanding beyond the viewport, while activating 100% external environment simulation.

In an instant, the entire cockpit seemed to become transparent.

The starry sky faded, replaced entirely by boundless green and brilliant blue.

Labeer!

The holy planet of the elf race, and the seat of the royal court.

From space, it was not the usual blue-and-white of an ordinary planet.

Instead, it was a magnificent world as if carved from emerald and sapphire.

Bare rock layers or deserts were nearly invisible across its continental plates.

In their place stretched endless primeval forests, meandering and interwoven clear rivers, and lakes scattered like stars.

The forests were not a single shade of dark green, but layered distinctly.

Fresh tender green, lush summer green, ancient deep blue-green, all dotted with colorful flower seas—brilliant yet never chaotic.

The rivers and lakes shimmered with a translucent azure hue.

When starlight fell upon them, they sparkled like shattered diamonds, as if the entire planet's water veins flowed with life essence.

Most astonishing of all was the colossal life tree rooted at the continent's center, its size beyond imagination.

Its main trunk diameter likely exceeded a thousand li, its height reaching the edge of the atmosphere, its canopy spreading to cover nearly half the continent.

Its bark was dark green, its texture ancient like dragon scales; each major branch rivaled a mountain, and its leaf veins pulsed with a faint emerald glow.

Even from tens of thousands of kilometers away, Xu Jingming could clearly sense the vast life energy radiating from the ancient tree.

Vast, gentle, eternal—as if the entire planet's vitality originated from it, it was the embodiment of life itself.

"That's the Life Tree, our elf race's holy tree, the foundation of our people—Life Core is born from her."

Yueying's voice sounded beside him, filled with sincere reverence:

"Almost all elves live in tree-houses or wooden structures built around trees, revering harmony with nature.

That's why you see almost no metal cities or artificial megastructures across the entire planet—all settlements blend seamlessly into the forests."

Xu Jingming nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the colossal tree stretching from earth to sky, his heart stirred.

With such intense life origin, if one cultivated wood or life laws here, progress would surely advance by leaps and bounds.

Even though his main path was thunder and destruction, being in this environment still made him feel mentally clear and his blood and qi vibrant.

"The ship will land directly on a branch platform of the Life Tree—my mother waits for us in the palace there."

Yueying turned her head, her gray-stone eyes fixed on Xu Jingming, a mischievous glint flashing in them:

"How's it feel? You're about to meet my mother—nervous?"

Xu Jingming nodded frankly:

"A little. I don't know what your parents will think of me."

After all, she was an Undying Dominator, and the sovereign of the elf kingdom.

And here he was, an outsider who had taken away her beloved daughter.

"Don't worry, my mother is very kind.

Though she looks stern, she's actually gentle."

Yueying squeezed his hand, whispering softly:

"As for my father—you don't need to worry. I don't actually have a father."

"No father?" Xu Jingming blinked in surprise.

Even if Yueying's father had passed away, such a statement still didn't make sense.

"Yes."

Seeing Xu Jingming's bewildered expression, Yueying smiled and explained:

"The elf race has two ways of bearing offspring.

One is through male-female union and natural conception.

The other is through the 'Life Flower,' a unique plant exclusive to the elf race.

Simply drip your own essence blood into it, and a new life is born.

I was born when my mother dripped her essence blood into the Life Flower."

"I see." Xu Jingming suddenly understood.

The universe was vast, its races countless, their methods of reproduction wildly varied.

Some formed from rocks, others from metal, even some coalesced from pure energy.

Compared to those, the elf race bearing offspring through the Life Flower

was different from humans, but hardly bizarre.

"So… did your mother ever bear life through the ordinary method?" Xu Jingming asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"My mother devoted her entire life to cultivation and clan affairs.

She never sought a partner—she bore life only through the Life Flower."

Yue Ying shook her head.

She paused, warmth flickering in her eyes: "I am the life she conceived after ten thousand years."

So her expectations for me are high, yet she dotes on me especially.

Xu Jingming nodded silently, gaining a deeper understanding of this sovereign he had never met.

As they spoke, the ship pierced the atmosphere and descended steadily toward the Ancient Tree of Life.

The closer they drew, the more awe-inspiring the tree's grandeur became.

A single leaf was like a floating island; its branches bore natural platforms as vast as plains.

Upon them stood elegant pavilions and towers, entwined with vines, blooming in all four seasons.

Flying onward, the ship finally hovered above a massive branch platform not far from the main trunk.

The platform's surface was as smooth as a mirror, formed from the tree's own secretions hardened over time.

It radiated a warm, woody luster, with fresh sprouts budding at its edges, lush and green.

At the platform's end, a palace leaned against the tree, its style ancient and majestic.

Built largely of crystal stones and spiritual wood, it merged seamlessly with the tree, as if it had always grown there.

Hss—

The hatch opened, and Xu Jingming and Yue Ying stepped out side by side.

No sooner had they stepped out than fresh air rushed over them.

Laden with the fragrance of plants and a faint floral scent, Xu Jingming drew a deep breath and felt his spirit sharpen.

"A common person living here, doing nothing at all, might live far longer."

Xu Jingming silently marveled within.

At this moment, an elf woman stood quietly waiting ahead.

She wore a simple dark green civil robe, her green hair tied into a neat ponytail.

A slender-framed pair of glasses rested on her nose, her aura calm and intellectual.

Seeing them, she stepped forward and bowed slightly:

"Princess Yue, Prince Xu Jingming, the Sovereign awaits within the palace."

As one of the supreme prodigies of the Eternal Star Alliance, Xu Jingming naturally deserved the title "Prince."

"Daie!"

Yue Ying called out cheerfully, turning to introduce Xu Jingming:

"This is my mother's Chief Secretary, Sister Daila—call her Daie, just like I do."

Xu Jingming, however, did not dare to be casual; he bowed solemnly: "Your humble disciple, Xu Jingming, greets Lady Daila."

Though Yue Ying's tone was intimate, he could clearly sense it.

Lady Daila's aura was as profound as an abyss, with faint traces of cosmic laws swirling around her.

Her energy bore a resemblance to Sister Yeli's—clearly, she was a Peak Immortal.

He was a newcomer; he could not afford such familiarity.