Haotian: Haven't I Seen It All?

"This place is truly magical!" 

Elf Amy exclaimed in awe. 

She noticed, not far away, thousands of sandfolk busy cutting down trees. This scene itself wasn't surprising, but what was extraordinary was their helpers—desert coyotes, typically wild beasts. Each coyote had ropes woven from bark tied to them, dragging flat wooden carts. When the carts were full of wood, the coyotes hauled them away. 

On the smooth forest paths, the coyotes bustled back and forth, creating a lively, busy atmosphere. 

Taming magical beasts was notoriously difficult, especially low-level ones like desert coyotes, which were usually low in intelligence and prone to aggression. The fact that this territory had managed to tame so many desert coyotes and even employed them in labor was remarkable.

...

They continued walking for an unknown length of time, finally emerging from the dense forest. Neither Amy nor Thalissa, the unicorn, showed any impatience. They adhered strictly to the rules of the Golden Oasis, proceeding on foot. 

After all, the four undead dragons circled above, keeping them under constant watch. They dared not break the rules. 

As their view opened up, Amy was greeted by a scene so beautiful she couldn't help but marvel. 

A sapphire-blue lake, surrounded by sturdy date palms and giant cacti, lush green fields, and an abundance of flowers stretched out before her. Wooden houses dotted the landscape, and small boats fished in the lake. 

These picturesque scenes formed a stunning panorama, lifting her spirits. After traversing the endless desert and enduring the scorching sun, entering this paradise felt like stepping into heaven. 

"It's so beautiful!"

"Over there is a magnificent hall, and towering spires..."

"This amazing lord must have been developing this place for a long time. It's strange that we haven't heard more about the Golden Oasis before."

If not for the mission to deal with the resurrected dark dragon, Charles, she wouldn't have ventured into the Kalar Desert. Investigating the elven spring wasn't her primary task; she was just passing through, planning to wait for her sister Ella at the Golden Oasis. She never expected such an extraordinary adventure. 

When she relays these events to Ella, she doubts her sister will believe her.

...

Soon after, Amy and Thalissa arrived at the town hall's entrance. 

An Eternal Treant Sentinel who had guided them spoke, "Enter, elf. The lord awaits you inside."

"Thank you for your help," Amy replied with a smile. 

She and Thalissa stepped into the town hall, a lavishly decorated and spacious hall easily accommodating the unicorn, despite her ability to transform into a human. 

Magical beasts, upon reaching a transcendent level, could speak human language. At the holy rank, they could transform into human form. However, most preferred to remain in their original form, where their combat strength was at its peak. Transforming into a human could somewhat diminish their fighting abilities.

...

The grand hall was empty except for a young human man seated on a high chair.

A human? 

Amy was taken aback. 

She had never seen ancient treants, let alone higher-ranking Eternal Treant Sentinels, serve a human, especially one who was only at a transcendent level. He hadn't even reached the holy rank. How could he command so many treants and the four undead dragons above?

Most perplexing of all, his territory contained an Ancient War Mother Tree.

These facts made no sense to Amy. She suspected Haotian wasn't the true lord of the Golden Oasis but perhaps a front for the real power behind the scenes. 

Regardless of her thoughts, Amy respectfully performed an elven greeting and spoke softly, "Honorable human lord, I am Amy of Kyatt City. It is an honor to meet you here."

"This is my companion, Thalissa."

The unicorn Thalissa bowed, bending her right front leg and lowering her head to show respect and courtesy to Lord Haotian.

Haotian smiled and introduced himself, "Welcome, elf and unicorn, to my domain."

"Praise the lord!" Amy beamed, her crescent-moon eyes forming a sweet smile. Her delicate face, pointed ears, and petite frame were utterly adorable, making Haotian's heart melt with an instinctive urge to hug the little elven girl. 

Catching himself, Haotian mentally chastised his lack of composure. As a dignified traveler from another world, hadn't he seen it all? He quickly regained his poise and asked, "What brings such a beautiful elf to my land?"

Amy explained, "Lord Haotian, I have been pursuing the dark dragon Charles, who slaughtered one of our tribes in the Forest of Life. He must pay for his actions. On my way, I encountered a group of ancient treants. 

"The treants usually reside in the Forest of Life and our ancestral lands, rarely venturing elsewhere, especially not in the vast Kalar Desert. Curiosity led me to your territory."

She paused and then bowed slightly to Haotian.

"Please forgive my intrusion, and understand that the treants have always been loyal friends and allies of the natural elves. I need to understand why they serve you, especially with an Ancient War Mother Tree in your land!"