The Elven Cultivator

Chenxi Calendar, Year 9358, Spring.

The grass grew long, the warblers took flight, and all of nature was revitalized.

The sweet fragrance of Honeybell Flowers mingled with the fresh scent of newly turned earth, drifting on the gentle breeze and steeping the entire forest in warm vitality.

However, this spring was different from those of years past.

In previous springs, the Elves were busy planting, cultivating, and working, methodically carrying out their early-year tasks under the warm sun.

But this spring, almost everyone was eagerly discussing the same thing.

Anton was recruiting students.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the settlement as if it had wings.

Even the guards stationed at the mines in the Dark Nether Realm had heard about it.

”Did you hear? Lord Anton is recruiting students!”

”For real? Lord Anton is so busy. Where would he find the time?”

”It’s absolutely true! The Elder Council even posted a notice. All children in the clan between the ages of seven and thirteen can take the test. As long as they pass, they can become Lord Anton’s students.”

”That’s great! I’ll have my kid go take the test right away!”

Similar conversations were repeated in forest clearings, training grounds, tree-lined corridors, and even in the mines of the Dark Nether Realm.

The clansmen’s reactions were surprisingly uniform.

Shock, curiosity, and then ecstatic joy.

After all, this was Anton!

A master of both magic and martial arts, a potion master, an alchemy master, an enchanting master, a Golden Tier powerhouse... the list of halos surrounding him was practically endless!

It was under his leadership that the Silver Moon Race was able to destroy the Molten Spike Tribe and thrive under the oppression of Kresol Dragon City, growing from a weak, declining clan into one of the most influential forces on the Eldron Plain today.

Every Elf living in the Silver Moon Forest could tangibly feel the Clan growing stronger with each passing day.

In the entire history of the Silver Moon Race, there had never been a more outstanding Elf than Anton.

To become the student of such a figure was the kind of good fortune that would make you laugh in your sleep!

Thus, all the Elves with children of the right age began gearing up, scrambling to get their kids a spot.

Not to be outdone, Elves whose children were still too young flocked to the Elder Council to ask when the next recruitment would be so they could prepare in advance.

...

Early in the morning, before the sky had fully brightened.

Laine rolled out of bed, rubbed his sleepy eyes, threw back the covers, and hopped to the floor.

He was eight years old this year, half a head shorter than his peers, with a slender frame like a young sapling that had yet to mature.

His short, silver-white hair stuck out messily, making his small face look all the more boyish.

He quickly got dressed, washed up, and then ran into the kitchen.

His mother was preparing breakfast. Seeing him come in, a gentle smile graced her face.

”Up so early? I was just about to come and wake you.”

”I couldn’t sleep,” Laine said honestly.

His mother smiled but said nothing.

She knew why her son couldn’t sleep.

’This child has admired Anton since he was little. You could say he grew up on Anton’s stories, completely idolizing him as a role model.’

’When he heard Anton was recruiting students, he was so excited he started jumping up and down on the spot, insisting he had to take the test.’

’He was still talking about it during dinner last night, so it’s only normal that he’d be tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep.’

”Don’t be nervous.”

His mother placed a plate of golden-brown toasted bread in front of him, along with a cup of warm Honey Bell milk.

”It’s okay if you’re not chosen. You’re still young, there will be other chances.”

Laine took the bread and bit into it, mumbling an indistinct reply.

His mother opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she said nothing, simply reaching out to ruffle his hair.

Deep down, she didn’t actually have much hope.

’Laine has been frail and clumsy since he was a child. He’s not good at drawing, can’t weave, and always sings off-key.’

’Among the Elf Race, calling that mediocre would be an understatement.’

’It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his talent is abysmal.’

’There are at least several hundred children of the right age in the clan, and many of them are clever and exceptionally talented.’

’Compared to those outstanding children, Laine doesn’t have a single advantage.’

’His chances of being chosen are probably slim to none.’

His mother sighed inwardly but didn’t want to crush her son’s enthusiasm. She just pushed the breakfast closer to Laine.

”Eat up. The test might be physically demanding.”

”Mm.”

Laine wolfed down the bread and milk until his plate and cup were clean, then put down his utensils, hopped off the chair, and headed for the door.

”I’m leaving.”

”Be careful on your way.”

His mother stood at the door, watching his small, thin figure run into the morning light, turn a corner at the end of the tree-lined corridor, and disappear from sight.

...

The test was to be held at the training ground.

When Laine arrived, the training ground was already packed with people.

A quick glance revealed at least three or four hundred people.

They were all his peers, around the same age, gathered in twos and threes, chattering excitedly about something.

More Elves continued to arrive, dropping their children off at the training ground before stepping aside to chat quietly with familiar neighbors.

A squad of fully-armed guards stood at the entrance of the training ground, maintaining order.

Laine looked at the dense sea of people and instinctively swallowed.

’So many people.’

He suddenly felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.

’With so many peers taking the test, do I really have a chance of being chosen?’

But despite his anxiety, there was no way Laine would give up.

He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, walked into the training ground, and got in the back of a long line.

A few Elf children in front of him were talking in low voices, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

”I wonder what the test will be?”

”Maybe we’ll have to fight a wild beast? Like in the Wind-Whisperer Trials?”

”Are you stupid? None of us have had combat training. How could we possibly beat a wild beast?”

”If I get chosen, my parents will be thrilled.”

”Wouldn’t anyone’s?”

Listening to them talk, Laine couldn’t help but stand on his tiptoes and crane his neck to see the front.

At the head of the line, a long table was set up in an open space in front of a treehouse.

Two Elf Maidens sat behind the table.

Laine looked around, but he couldn’t see the Lord Anton he so admired. A pang of disappointment hit him.

But he quickly shook his head, pulled himself together, and focused his gaze on the Elf Maiden to the left.

Long, emerald-green hair, a delicate face, a pale cyan robe...

He recognized her.

Eleanor Silver Moon.

The Great Elder’s granddaughter.

Rumor had it she was also Lord Anton’s only ’student’ at present, studying and cultivating under his guidance.

Laine’s gaze shifted to the young woman on the right.

She had long, silver-white hair, wore a form-fitting black hunting outfit, and carried a War Axe on her back that was half her height.

The young woman was resting her chin in her hand, looking utterly bored. Her eyes swept over the crowd, and she yawned from time to time.

Romance Silver Moon.

Lord Anton’s childhood friend.

It was said they grew up together and were as close as family.

Within the Clan, many said that Romance was the person closest to Lord Anton.

A trace of envy couldn’t help but well up in Laine’s heart.

’He wished he had a childhood friend, too.’

’The kind you could play with, cultivate with, and grow up with.’

’But he’d never been good at interacting with people.’

’Because he was so clumsy, other kids his age didn’t really want to play with him.’

’Only Furlo, who lived next door, would occasionally chat with him.’

At the thought of Furlo, a silly smile unconsciously appeared on Laine’s face.

Furlo was about half a year older than him. She was gentle and thoughtful, and her eyes curved into beautiful crescents when she smiled.

He loved spending time with her.

Time flew by as Laine’s mind wandered.

The line gradually moved forward.

Laine was finally able to see the testing process clearly.

On the long table was a palm-sized jade disc, its edge inlaid with five stones of different colors.

Cyan, red, yellow, white, and black.

Five stones, five colors.

All the children taking the test placed their palms on the center of the disc.

But after a moment, the disc showed no reaction.

Seeing this, Eleanor shook her head slightly and said a few quiet words to the child. The anticipation on the child’s face instantly collapsed, and he walked away with his head hung low.

The next seven or eight children to be tested had the same result.

The atmosphere in the line, initially one of excitement and anticipation, gradually grew tense and solemn.

The smiles on the faces of the waiting children slowly vanished, replaced by nervousness and unease.

”What exactly are they testing for?”

”So many people, and not a single one has passed?”

”What do we do? I’m so nervous...”

At Eleanor’s call of ”Next,” another child stepped forward.

He pressed his palm onto the disc and squeezed his eyes shut.

This time, however, the disc reacted quickly.

A cyan light, soft but bright and very conspicuous, rose from the cyan stone among the five.

”Wood Spirit Root,” Eleanor said, a hint of a smile on her face as she looked at the child. ”Congratulations, you’ve passed.”

The child was stunned for a moment, then his face broke into an expression of pure ecstasy, and he nearly jumped for joy on the spot.

”I passed! I passed!”

He excitedly waved toward the crowd, where a middle-aged Elf with a joyful expression was waving back vigorously.

”Go wait in that treehouse over there for now.”

Eleanor pointed to a treehouse not far from the training ground, her tone gentle.

A guard came forward and led the child toward the treehouse.

A commotion rippled through the line as all the children stared at him with envious eyes.

Laine watched the child’s retreating figure, his heart a mix of envy and nervousness.

The testing continued.

After that, two more Elves passed the test.

One had a ’Metal Spirit Root.’

The other had ’Wood and Water Dual Spirit Roots.’

Laine didn’t understand what a Spirit Root was, but from Eleanor’s reaction, he guessed it must represent some kind of talent.

’And the more Spirit Roots one has, the better their talent must be.’

’Only those who possess a Spirit Root can become Lord Anton’s students.’

Just before it was Laine’s turn, the four Elves in front of him all failed the test.

This made him even more nervous and anxious, and he subconsciously clenched his fists.

Soon, it was his turn to be tested.