Chapter 144: Red Flame Stone

With several senior commanders captured, the Tree Elf gave up resistance.

Yin Ji and the others asked Li Bucai for instructions on how to deal with them.

Li Bucai glanced over and estimated that there were still about 700 people left; the remaining commanders were all junior officers, with only one of spellcaster rank.

"Do you wish to surrender?" Li Bucai asked the spellcaster. Of course he knew that killing the Tree Elf so brutally and then trying to make these proud Tree Elves obey him was like a fool's dream.

The spellcaster glared at him with fiery eyes, tilted his head aside, and snorted, "Kill or cut us as you wish; think we'll surrender, no way!"

Yin Ji said, "Since they refuse to surrender, kill them early to avoid future trouble."

Li Bucai waved his hand and said to the spellcaster: "As the chief of the Undead Clan, you have seized my Life Spring, so I should put you to death, but since you laid down your weapons so early, I never kill the unarmed. Take your people and leave Lotus Flower Valley. Remember, do not harass my subjects again, or I will deem you bandits and execute you without mercy! Let's go!"

The spellcaster did not expect Li Bucai to release them, hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped back, leading several hundred defeated soldiers out of Lotus Flower Valley.

"Lord, releasing them like this, they are vengeful and will surely find a chance to retaliate against us in the future."

"No problem; a few defeated soldiers won't cause much trouble."

Seeing Li Bucai speak that way, the others dared not ask further.

Li Bucai's words were actually meant for the other races in Lotus Flower Valley, to show that he was by no means a brutal person. The forces in Lotus Flower Valley are tangled: Dark Night Elf, Tree Elf, Blood Clan, Goblin; long ago the Undead Clan also lived in the valley; and his dwarf wife could often be seen roaming here.

Moreover, the Tree Elf's organization has been shattered; driving them out of Lotus Flower Valley, it is uncertain whether they can survive.

Li Bucai immediately led the group to rush to the peak. At that moment, all the elf guards protecting the Ancient Elf Tree had gathered at the summit, staunchly defending the gate. Suddenly, a companion's call came from afar; they also gave up resistance and swung down from the cliff on ropes.

Yue Ji and the others intended to give chase, but Li Bucai ordered from a distance, clearing a passage and letting them descend the mountain. After the Tree Elves had fully withdrawn, he guided everyone into Wangyueku.

"What a fine Ancient Elf Tree; the Life Spring must be beneath it," the roots of the Ancient Elf Tree were extensive, filling all underground spaces, penetrating deep into the rocky ground; its leaves were of a crystalline shape, shimmering with multicolored light, as if made of metal.

Yue Ji said in a low voice, "The tree roots have completely covered the spring, and the branches are already laden with Elf Fruit. If we wait a few more days, these Elf Fruits will give birth to new Tree Elves, forming combat power quickly. But now the tree has taken root; extracting it will be difficult."

From the trunk one can see that this is no ordinary tree; its hardness surpasses steel. The Life Spring lies beneath, the water the Undead Clan relies on for survival. If the tree cannot be removed, the water cannot be accessed.

Li Bucai suddenly thought of the Dark Night Elf and asked Wei Ke Na, "Your night raid on Wangyueku was to destroy this tree; do you have a way to dig it out?"

"We can use the Red Flame Stone to melt it away."

"Red Flame Stone?" Li Bucai asked in surprise.

"Hmm," Wei Ke Na replied, pulling a goose‑egg‑sized round stone from his pocket. "That's it."

"Oh?" Li Bucai took it, examined it up and down; it was not much different from an ordinary stone, except it was entirely red. As a child he often found stones of this color on the beach. "How do we use this Red Flame Stone?"

"Just a drop of water will ignite it. Shall we melt the tree now?"

Li Bucai nodded, handed the stone to her. She walked to the base of the tree, fixed the Red Flame Stone onto the trunk, then took out a water pouch, dabbed a little on the arrowhead, stepped back ten steps, aimed at the stone, and shot an arrow. As the water droplet splashed onto the stone, there was a sudden whoosh; a pale red flame erupted from the Red Flame Stone. The flame resembled a water‑spray nozzle, only differing in color; one could see the fire's temperature was extremely high, the flame about the size of a corpse's palm, and even from ten steps away the scorching airflow could be felt.

In less than a half‑minute, the trunk in contact with the Red Flame Stone was vaporized by the high temperature into a colorful mist. Wangyueku was well ventilated; once the trunk turned to mist, it rose quickly and drifted out of the cave mouth. Of course, the Ancient Elf Tree was not truly made of metal, which is why this effect occurred.

As the Red Flame Stone fully ignited, the temperature rose, burning through the Ancient Elf Tree's trunk. When the trunk snapped, the canopy and Elf Fruit turned into a burst of colored light, shooting out of Wangyueku until the roots also melted away. The Red Flame Stone made a plop as it fell into the spring pool, stirring a puff of heat before being extinguished by the Life Spring.

"Water can ignite it, and water can also extinguish it?"

"No, ordinary water only ignites it; only seawater or water from the Life Spring can put it out."

At this moment the Life Spring appeared before everyone; it looked much like ordinary spring water, only the quality was slightly turbid, with a hint of green‑tea color.

Li Bucai picked up the Red Flame Stone from the pool and asked, "Where did this Red Flame Stone come from?"

"In the southern valley, the one that billows white smoke; there are many of them, just outside the outskirts of our clan's settlement."

This thing burns at an extremely high temperature, yet is non‑toxic and smokeless; it is undoubtedly a natural green mineral. Imagine using it as fuel for smelting metal ores—it would be far more economical and clean than coal, and would not cause occupational diseases among workers.

"That valley is your Territory, isn't it?" Li Bucai asked.

Wei Ke Na nodded and said, "Thanks to your aid, we not only broke through the encirclement but also avenged our clan's destruction. We have no other way to repay your kindness for now; if you need anything, we are willing to help you search. From today onward, the Dark Night Elf's Territory is open for you to come and go freely, without obstruction. The great vengeance has been fulfilled, and time is short, so we shall take our leave now."

Li Bucai let out a light sigh and said, "Now only about 200 of you remain; Lotus Flower Valley is a perilous place, and the Tree Elves have not been completely annihilated—their strength still exceeds yours. He Rui Peak is easy to defend but hard to attack, capable of sheltering hundreds of thousands. It would be better to stay, so we can look out for each other." Compared with obtaining the Red Flame Stone, Li Bucai preferred that these Dark Night Elves join his forces. The reason he did not eradicate the Tree Elves was merely a tactical move; leaving a faction strong enough to suppress the Dark Night Elves would eventually force them into a corner and drive them to his side.

But now he simply hopes they will stay.