Chapter 120: The Elven Elders

Guided by Hesel and several elven knights, Muria landed on the ground and entered the dreamlike Forest City.

As a law-abiding race, the elves' city was naturally well-organized. After all, elves have a group known as the Tree Shepherds who can briefly revive trees to move on their own or grow according to their will.

One of the elves' innate talents is communicating with plants, and those with exceptional gifts can even manipulate trees. These gifted individuals can become Tree Shepherds, enabling ancient trees to briefly gain intelligence and transform into formidable war trees.

Following Hesel into the city, Muria curiously observed the surrounding treehouses and the elves living in them, as well as the myriad of benevolent creatures.

"Hesel! Hesel!" Every elf who saw Hesel greeted her enthusiastically, and even the non-speaking animals and magical beasts showed their respect with a bow of their heads.

Walking behind her, Muria was quite composed. His visits to the Giant City were far more extravagant, where all giants would kneel in salute, their immense forms giving a more striking impression than the diminutive elves.

Thus, Muria's attention wasn't on Hesel. He looked around, genuinely appreciating this true city of the forest, a natural city composed entirely of plants and blooming flowers.

"There are a lot of animals here," Muria remarked after looking around for a while. It seemed that the number of non-human creatures in this Forest City might even surpass that of the elves.

The city was populated by a much larger number of ordinary animals and magical beasts than Titan territory—understandably so given the peaceful nature of the city.

"Hesel!" A sleek, shiny black panther leaped from a treehouse, moving like a bolt of black lightning. The jungle hunter landed silently before the silver-haired elf.

"Kael!" Seeing the panther as tall as two men, the elf girl smiled and called out the name of the black panther.

"Where are you going?" The panther crouched slightly, its body poised. "Come on, I'll take you there."

"I need to go see the Elders at the Eternal Tree." Hesel stepped onto the panther's strong forelimbs and settled onto its broad back.

She smoothed the panther's glossy fur. "Can my friend come along too?"

"Since he's your friend, of course, he can." The panther glanced at Muria, retracting its claws slightly. For some reason, seeing this black-haired, golden-eyed youth triggered a sense of unease in it, as if it felt an urge to kneel.

"Muria, come on up!"

"Sure!" Muria examined the muscular, robust panther and walked towards it.

"Roar!" As Muria approached, the overwhelming sense of awe grew clearer, and momentarily, the panther envisioned a majestic white tiger with wings spread wide, roaring atop towering mountains.

"King!" The panther struggled to speak a word, then suddenly collapsed, kneeling before Muria.

"Kael!" Hesel exclaimed, jumping down from the panther's back. "What's wrong with you?"

"What are you, exactly?" Ignoring Hesel, the panther's dark eyes focused intently on Muria. "Why do you carry the scent of a king?"

"King?" Muria was taken aback. Although his dragon and Titan lineage dominated over the panther, it didn't seem to relate to the panther's mention of a king.

"Why do you carry the scent of a white tiger?" the panther asked again in the common tongue.

"White tiger!" Muria realized. Ever since he made a pact with Troy, he had been in close contact with the big cat daily. It was natural for some of the white tiger's distinct scent to rub off on him.

Troy, a white tiger destined to reach legendary status in adulthood, naturally held the status of a beast king, dominating over ordinary magical beasts and animals.

"I have a white tiger companion." Muria looked at the panther, now slumped on the ground, and chuckled.

"A white tiger companion!" The panther's eyes widened in disbelief. "What exactly are you?"

"Kael, he is a son of Titans and Dragons," Hesel explained.

"Muria?"

"Do you know me?" Muria was surprised by the panther's recognition.

"Of course." The panther glared at Muria, then reluctantly closed its eyes.

Muria found the panther's almost human-like expressions amusing but didn't delve further. He called to Hesel, "It seems your mount isn't up for the task. You'd better take me yourself!"

…

"This is Elder Salvado!"

Beneath the Eternal Tree of Life, Muria met a remarkably "young" Sun Elf who appeared to be about twenty years old in human terms, though this was merely a façade.

Facing the elder's indifferent yet age-worn golden eyes, Muria was certain he was facing an ancient being, likely hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. As for his strength... it was indeterminate, but given his status as an elder, he was undoubtedly formidable.

"Elder Salvado," Muria greeted the familiar-looking elder with a slight bow. This handsome elf elder appeared aloof, embodying a lofty aura, suggesting the demeanor of a strong character.

But Muria was not easily swayed, as this was not his first encounter with the elven elder. Just two days ago, in a realm controlled by the abyssal lord Ulysses, he had seen this very elf riding a silver-winged pegasus, heatedly confronting the legendary titan Asherbone.

"Hesel, what brings you here?" Seeing the silver-haired elf, Elder Salvado frowned slightly, then turned to Muria, his expression forming a visible "川."

"Titan!" The elder's hand tightened around his staff as he recalled the unpleasant encounter with another Titan just days ago. However, he scrutinized the young child before him and noticed something unusual.

Muria's applied transformation spell was transparent to him: "No, you're different from other Titans. You're not pure-blooded. The scent of a gold dragon... you are Muria, the child of Titans and Dragons, aren't you?"

"Yes, Elder, you know of me too?"

"Hmm!" Elder Salvado relaxed his furrowed brow and calmed his demeanor, "It seems Hesel had no need to come here, so it must have been you who wanted to visit. Tell me then, child of Titans and Dragons, why have you come?"