The Elven Cultivator

Taichu City.

Dawn was breaking, the sky just beginning to show its pale belly, but a long line had already formed at the city gates.

Elves, entire families in tow, arrived from the direction of the Silver Moon Forest, snaking in a long, slow-moving line before the gates.

Children held their parents’ hands, their wide eyes curiously taking in the strange city before them.

Their gazes passed through the massive gates, lingering on the upturned eaves, cyan-gray stone walls, and black-tiled roofs within, and they would let out childish gasps of wonder from time to time.

”So this is Taichu City...”

Walking in the middle of the line, Evan stopped and looked up at the enormous plaque above the city gate.

The plaque was carved from a single block of Cyan Jade, its edges engraved with a pattern of intertwined vines and leaves. The name ”Taichu City,” inlaid with silver threads, was written in a style both steady and graceful.

He had heard his father say that the words on the plaque were personally calligraphed by the Clan Leader.

”Don’t stop, keep up with the line.”

His father’s voice came from behind him, a hand gently pressing his shoulder.

Evan snapped back to reality and quickly picked up his pace.

He was eleven years old and had joined the Silver Moon Race with his clan only last year.

Before that, his family had lived in a valley on the Frost Ridge Plateau. Their entire community numbered less than two hundred people, without even a decent settlement to call their own, forced to hole up in crude wooden huts.

There was no Eternal Tree to protect them, no ample Cultivation Resources, and even finding enough food and clothing was a struggle.

Back then, he never would have imagined that he would one day see a city like this with his own eyes.

He certainly never would have thought that this city belonged to his own Clan.

”I heard this place used to be a Dragon City,” Evan’s mother said in a low voice.

His father nodded. ”The Clan Leader was the one who took down the Giant Dragon that guarded this place.”

Evan walked beside them, listening to his mother’s wistful comment, and an indescribable, complex feeling swelled in his heart.

He had practically grown up listening to stories about the Dragon Race.

And in those stories, the Dragon Race was a mountain pressing down on all other races, the unshakable hegemon of this continent.

No matter where you went on the continent, a Dragon City was the strongest power in the region, an existence that all Vassal Races looked up to.

But now, a city that once symbolized the majesty of the Dragon Race had become one of the settlements of the Silver Moon Race.

And those once-arrogant members of the Dragon Race had either died by the Clan’s blades or been reduced to slaves in the depths of the mines.

Although Evan was still young and didn’t understand many things, whenever he thought about this, he felt a shared sense of glory and a stronger sense of belonging to this new Clan he had joined.

Near the city gate, members of the Document Hall in charge of resettlement had already set up long tables piled high with registration books and key tags.

Every arriving Elf family had to register their information here and receive the key tag for their new residence.

A squad of soldiers from the Silver Moon Legion was busy nearby.

They had a clear division of labor: some directed the flow of people, some checked names against lists, and others directed wagons to separate lanes. Everything was orderly and efficient, busy but not chaotic.

”Don’t push, don’t push! Form a line!”

”Those registered on the relocation list, go complete the check-in procedures first.”

”Leave immediately after registering. Don’t linger here.”

The squad leader stood just inside the gate, shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice exceptionally loud amidst the noisy crowd.

Soon, it was Evan’s family’s turn.

”Name?”

”Kaelan Silver Moon.”

”Family members?”

”My wife, myself, and one child.”

The Elf in charge of registration looked down to search the roster, his pen tip gliding quickly across the paper before suddenly stopping.

”Oh, Evan Silver Moon... Your child is a disciple of Taichu City?”

”That’s right.” A proud expression appeared on Evan’s father’s face.

The registrar looked up at Evan, his expression softening into a smile, and handed over a key tag he had picked up from the side of the table.

”According to the rules, families of Taichu City disciples get priority for housing in District A, which has the best environment. Your family is assigned to Courtyard Seventeen. Here’s the key tag. Go forward, turn right at the third intersection, then go straight to the end.”

”Thank you.”

Evan’s father expressed his thanks and took the key tag.

The family of three headed in the direction the registrar had indicated.

The surrounding Elves cast envious glances their way.

Within the Silver Moon Race today, being a disciple of Taichu City had become a mark of honor.

Any family with a child who was a disciple of Taichu City could hold their heads a little higher and would be treated with special regard.

Evan’s family quickly found their new home.

It was a small courtyard home with cyan bricks and black tiles. The courtyard walls weren’t high and were covered in newly transplanted vines, their tender green leaves a refreshing sight.

”I never thought we’d get to live in a house like this.”

Evan’s mother stood before their courtyard gate, a broad smile on her face as she looked the little home up and down.

”Back in the Silver Moon Forest, we all lived in treehouses. They were nice, too, but not spacious and bright like this.”

His father’s face was also beaming with joy.

He took a deep breath. The air was filled with the distinct scent of fresh wood and earth from the new house, mixed with the sweet fragrance of Honeybell Flowers drifting from afar, creating an exceptionally pleasant feeling.

”Father, Mother, come look!”

Evan ran out from the courtyard, his face alight with irrepressible excitement.

”There’s a Honeybell Tree in the backyard, and it’s blooming!”

The two adults exchanged a glance and walked into the courtyard.

Sure enough, in a corner of the backyard, a Honeybell Tree stood quietly in the morning light, its branches and leaves spread wide. Pale yellow blossoms adorned its boughs, emitting a light, sweet fragrance.

”The Clan Leader really is thoughtful,” Evan’s father remarked with a sigh.