Upon hearing this, a look of panic and unease actually appeared on Siluluo’s face.
Given Siluluo’s personality as the Dark Elf Queen, showing such an emotion was impossible.
She turned her head to look at Lu Ran, probably worried that her identity might affect his ability to complete the quest.
So, before Lu Ran could even respond, Siluluo stood up.
She said in a deep voice, “Although I am the Dark Elf Queen, the Dark Elves have already returned to the Elf Forest and are once again basking in the radiance of the Life Tree. The Dark Elves and the Nature Elves are no longer enemies.”
“Oh?” Baron was stunned, looking at Siluluo in surprise.
He hadn’t expected that. When did the centuries-old fate and entanglement between the Dark Elves and Nature Elves get resolved?
“If you don’t believe me, this mark won’t lie,” Siluluo said.
Then, fluttering the wings on her back, she turned around. The top of her clothing slipped down slightly, revealing her fair neck. On her back, just below her neck, there was a special symbolic mark.
Seeing this mark, Baron’s expression changed slightly.
As a former closest ally of the Nature Elves, of course he recognized this mark – it was the mark of being blessed by the Life Tree!
Although Baron still didn’t understand how the Dark Elves and Nature Elves had reconciled, the mark wouldn’t lie.
“The mark is genuine, but… you should leave. You can’t handle this quest,” Baron said, shaking his head.
Although he was no longer hung up on the issue of allegiances, he still refused to let Lu Ran do the quest.
What the heck? Lu Ran had finally obtained such a precious quest scroll, with丰厚 rewards right in front of him. How could he possibly give up now?
“Why? Since we were able to come here and trigger this quest, we naturally have the ability to complete it,” Lu Ran insisted, his voice firm.
“That quest scroll was indeed set by me, but you probably don’t understand its difficulty level. You human professionals, the top tier right now, are only around level sixty. How could you possibly complete it? I bet the journey here to the Dwarf Clan was perilous, with heavy losses, right? With just that little ability? My refusal to let you attempt the quest is for your own good. Save your lives, grow stronger, and come back later. It won’t be too late,” Baron explained.
Lu Ran finally understood the Dwarf King’s meaning. He could also understand why Baron thought that way.
This was a forbidden zone, one far exceeding the level of the current top-tier human professionals.
It wasn’t wrong for the Dwarf King to set the quest, but he hadn’t expected a human professional to arrive in the Dwarf Clan with the scroll and trigger it so soon.
It was too early! Current human professionals simply didn’t have the ability to complete that quest!
Of course, this was just the Dwarf King’s own assumption.
At that moment, Siluluo spoke up again, “He can do it. He will definitely be able to complete the quest.”
Hmm? The Dwarf King, Baron, looked at Siluluo in surprise.
The matter between the Dark Elves and Nature Elves wasn’t cleared up yet, so let’s set that aside for now. But shouldn’t the Dark Elf Queen hold a hostile attitude towards humans? Why was she speaking up so much for a human now?
“Siluluo, is it? When did you become so close to humans?” Baron asked curiously.
“It has nothing to do with being close. He is capable. The Dark Elves’ return to the Elf Forest is also thanks to him. Moreover, he has received the blessing and affirmation of the Elf Queen, Tina. His abilities are definitely beyond your imagination,” Siluluo continued.
Lu Ran was even a bit touched. This was the first time a non-human creature had so sincerely defended him.
As for Baron, listening to Siluluo’s words, he looked at Lu Ran doubtfully. Then he said, “You lot are somewhat strange. It’s not that I don’t believe your words – after all, the Life Tree’s blessing mark is unmistakable – but I can’t take them entirely at face value either. What level are you? To gain Tina’s affirmation and blessing… Hmph. If what you’re saying is true, fine, prove it to me.”
Uh… It was clear Baron still didn’t quite believe Lu Ran. Siluluo’s Life Tree blessing mark on her neck was real, but that had nothing to do with Lu Ran and the other humans. It didn’t mean Baron would trust them. Ultimately, when Baron released the quest, he never expected human professionals at the current stage to be able to help at all!
“Prove it…” Lu Ran muttered, then suddenly his eyes lit up. Wasn’t proving it simple? The Elf Wings were the best proof!
Thinking of this, Lu Ran stood up directly, grinned at Baron, and the next second – whoosh – the Elf Wings instantly materialized, unfurling behind his back.
The enormous Elf Wings spread open, nearly ten meters from tip to tip, incredibly huge! It even caused the beer in Baron’s hand to nearly spill.
He stared wide-eyed, looking at Lu Ran in disbelief, exclaiming, “Elf Wings! You… you actually managed to obtain the Elf Clan’s Elf Wings!”
Baron was familiar with the Nature Elves, so he certainly knew the importance and symbolic meaning of the Elf Wings. It was the sacred artifact of the Elf Clan that could summon the entire Elf Clan to aid in battle! Its importance was equivalent to the Dwarf Clan’s Dwarf Furnace! Since Lu Ran had obtained the Elf Wings, there could be no mistake. The doubts in Baron’s heart almost instantly vanished without a trace.
And at that very moment – Ding!
【Quest: Continuation of the Eternal Flame (1) Completed!】
【Reward Received: 5,000,000 Experience!】
【New quest triggered, please check promptly!】
This string of notifications let Lu Ran breathe a sigh of relief. He looked up at Baron, who now had a broad smile on his face.
Baron said amiably, “Sit down and talk. No need to prove anything further. I believe you all.”
Indeed, the Elf Wings were the best proof! Lu Ran had directly gained the Dwarf King’s affirmation.
After sitting down, Lu Ran checked the new quest.
【Quest: Continuation of the Eternal Flame (2)】
【Objective: Traverse the Sand Sea Stone Forest and reach the entrance of the Dwarf Caverns】
【Reward: 30,000,000 Experience!】
Thirty million experience! Lu Ran’s heart raced. The second stage directly offered thirty million experience – this was huge! And the objective didn’t seem difficult at all. Just passing through a certain area and reaching the entrance of the Dwarf Caverns counted as completion? Wasn’t this practically a freebie? This trip was definitely worth it!
“I know you want to do the quest, but before that, please follow me,” Baron said thoughtfully, standing up.
“Go where?” Lu Ran’s eyes lit up. Was the next stage of the quest starting now? But the Dwarf King said, “Right here in Boulder Fort. I’ll take you to see the Dwarf Furnace.”
Uh… It seemed they weren’t heading to the quest area. But since it was the Dwarf Clan’s sacred artifact, broadening their horizons wouldn’t hurt. So, Lu Ran and the others followed Baron out of the reception hall, winding their way through Boulder Fort.
Before long, passing through a passage forged from steel, they opened a large door. Lu Ran beheld the legendary sacred artifact of the Dwarf Clan – the Dwarf Furnace! It indeed looked very similar to the mark of the Dwarf Furnace on the quest scroll, but the scale was simply too astonishing! Just the Dwarf Furnace itself was over ten meters tall! It sat like a sturdy fortress placed in the center of the hall.
However, the Dwarf Furnace showed no signs of activity at all. Baron sighed, his eyes dimming as he said, “This is the Dwarf Clan’s sacred artifact, the Dwarf Furnace. It’s just a pity… it’s a Dwarf Furnace that has lost its Eternal Flame.”
