Chapter 186: Rainstorm Returns

The rooting ceremony in Moonlight Forest had just been completed, and the elves had not yet had time to enjoy the tranquility of their new home when the sky promptly grew overcast.

Heavy black clouds rolled in from the northwest, quickly swallowing the last ray of sunlight, and the air filled with a familiar, oppressive humidity.

"Another downpour!" Xila looked up at the sky, her brows furrowed.

Having experienced the previous rainstorm disaster, everyone remained apprehensive.

"It's going to rain again, and it looks…… it won't be light." Li Qingxuan stood at the edge of Moonlight Forest, gazing at the overcast sky, his brows slightly furrowed.

Having just completed the migration, everything was still not fully stable, and a rainstorm would undoubtedly be a severe test.

Queen Aister came to his side, her silver eyes also carrying a hint of solemnity: "The water element contained in these clouds is unusually abundant; I fear this will be another prolonged downpour. We must prepare."

Unlike Guangtan Fortress, which is primarily built of stone, Moonlight Forest relies mainly on timber and treehouses, making it face greater challenges in dealing with rainstorms and floods.

Queen Aister's expression turned grave, and she immediately issued an order: "All tribespeople, halt nonessential work, prioritize reinforcing the treehouses, clear the drainage channels, and stockpile food and purified water!"

The night elves displayed astonishing efficiency.

They used supple vines to reinforce the frames and roofs of the treehouses, dug shallow ditches around the treehouses to divert rainwater, and moved moisture-prone supplies to higher ground.

The Tree of Life seemed to sense the change in weather; the life-giving light it emitted slightly retracted, its canopy layers folding inward like a huge natural umbrella, providing a degree of shelter to the area beneath its canopy.

The War Ancient Tree, moving with heavy steps, relocated to several key higher spots in Moonlight Forest, acting like a natural bulwark, preparing to cope with possible flash floods or mudslides.

Li Qingxuan stood at the edge of Moonlight Forest, watching the elves carry out their disaster preparations in an orderly manner, and he nodded inwardly.

The night elves' understanding and adaptability to nature are indeed far beyond that of humans.

"This rain probably won't be light," Huang Rong came to his side, gazing at the dark sky, " judging by the thickness of these clouds, the duration might even be longer than last time."

Li Feifei also rushed from the fortress, bringing the latest observational data from the World Channel: "Based on atmospheric pressure and cloud patterns, this is likely to be a prolonged, massive downpour, expected to last at least half a month. The fortress's drainage systems have all been checked, and supplies are fully stocked."

Li Qingxuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the budding Moonlight Forest, then toward the distant Guangtan Fortress, whose imposing silhouette remained steadfast despite the overcast sky, and a thought grew increasingly clear in his mind.

At that moment, large raindrops began to patter down, quickly forming a sheet of rain, and the familiar downpour fell once again.

The rainwater washed over the newly built treehouses, gathering in the forest clearing into streams.

Despite the elves' thorough preparations, the power of the rainstorm should not be underestimated.

Some inadequately constructed treehouses began to leak, the drainage ditches in low-lying areas quickly overflowed, and the muddy ground made movement difficult.

The incessant rain also brought a chill, which was a considerable challenge for the elves accustomed to the warm forest.

Li Qingxuan and personnel from Guangtan Fortress also stayed behind to assist the elves in coping.

They helped reinforce the leaking roofs, clear blocked drainage ditches, and shared their experience dealing with dampness and cold.

The downpour continued for three days and three nights without any sign of letting up.

Although Moonlight Forest was somewhat in disarray, thanks to everyone's joint efforts there was no serious loss, though everyone's faces inevitably bore fatigue.

The rain eased slightly, but it continued to patter.

Li Qingxuan summoned Queen Aister, several elf elders, and the core members of Guangtan Fortress, and they convened in a relatively dry, spacious tree hollow beneath the Tree of Life to discuss.

"This rain looks like it won't stop anytime soon," Li Qingxuan got straight to the point. "Moonlight Forest is newly built; although we responded adequately, it also revealed many problems. Relying on trees and natural terrain, we still appear passive in the face of such a natural disaster."

Queen Aister sighed: "The lord is absolutely right. Though our people are skilled at utilizing nature, facing such persistent heavenly might, we are indeed insufficient. Had we not prepared in advance and had the Tree of Life's protection, the losses would be immeasurable."

"We can't always rely on advance preparation and the Tree of Life's shelter," Li Qingxuan said sharply. "We need a more proactive, sturdier defense—not only to cope with natural disasters, but also to face future enemies that could be stronger than the orcs."

He rose, walked to the edge of the tree hollow, and pointed at the outer outline of Moonlight Forest within the rain curtain: "I intend to build a city wall around the outskirts of Moonlight Forest!"

"A city wall?" Several elf elders exchanged glances, and the Moonshadow Elder couldn't help but speak: "Lord, our night elves have dwelt in the forests for generations, blending with nature. Would building a stone city wall…… disrupt our harmony with nature, affect the people's cultivation? Moreover, the project is enormous……"

"I'm not asking you to abandon tradition," Li Qingxuan explained. "The city wall is meant to demarcate boundaries and provide the most basic physical protection. It can withstand floods, block most beasts and low-level anomalies, and make potential enemies think twice before attacking. Inside the wall, you can still maintain your original way of life, building treehouses and cultivating plants. This is not isolating nature, but adding a layer of security upon it."

He looked at Queen Aister: "Your Majesty, you should understand that in this apocalypse, survival and development come first. Clinging to tradition is important, but if we cannot even safeguard our homeland, tradition will have nothing to rely on. Guangtan Fortress stands today thanks to its sturdy city walls, which are indispensable."

Queen Aister fell silent for a moment, her silver eyes glinting.

She recalled the attacks suffered during the migration, the coercion of the Blackstone Orcs, and gazing at the endless rain curtain outside the window, she finally nodded slowly: "The lord is right. We have been too obstinate. For the tribe's continuation and future, a city wall is indeed necessary."

She looked at the elders: "Moonshadow Elder, I know what you worry about. But we are not going to cut down the forest to build the wall; instead, we will use the stone provided by the lord to construct a defensive line on the outskirts. This does not conflict with our philosophy of protecting nature; on the contrary, it is to safeguard this newly grown forest."

The queen spoke, and the elders no longer objected.

"If that's the case, then it's settled," Li Qingxuan declared decisively. "Once this rainstorm stops and the ground dries a bit, we will immediately begin surveying and design. The city wall of Moonlight Forest will complement Guangtan Fortress, together forming our strongest line of defense."

The plan to build the city was established amidst the continuous downpour.

Everyone understood that this was not merely a wall, but also an important step in expanding Guangtan's influence and upgrading its defense system.

When the city wall is erected, Moonlight Forest will truly become an inseparable part of Guangtan Fortress, granting a firmer foothold in this perilous apocalypse.

For now, they still need to patiently wait, waiting for this prolonged downpour to end.

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