Chapter 1441, The Primordial Elves

Translator:  Ashish

Translation Checker: Silvain

 

“Cultivating this Peach Grove will be no small feat,” Yu Zi Yu murmured, a soft sigh escaping him as he served the peach trees.

 

He understood all too well that maintaining an orchard of this caliber was an exercise in divine extravagance.

 

To irrigate these roots, nothing less than the purest Water of Life from the Lake of Life would suffice. Periodically, they would require the concentrated essence of the Elemental Well to truly flourish. Then there was the matter of the climate, maintaining a precise temperature and humidity, and a Spiritual Energy density so thick that it would suffocate a lesser being was also necessary.

 

After all, this was no mere garden; it was the bedrock upon which the future of the Demon Court would be built.

 

So whatever may be the cost, no expense could be spared.

 

And with that in mind, the question of who should tend the Peach Grove gave him a pause. This was a secret of the highest order, and the caretakers needed to be as reliable as they were skilled.

 

But only a moment later, a subtle, knowing smile touched his lips as an idea struck him.

 

[Who could be better to tend to this wonder of nature than the Primordial Elves?]

 

Aside from the Void Elf, who served as the Saintess of the Void Clan and oversaw the Void, the other eight of the Nine Primordial Elves currently had no pressing duties.

 

Stationing them here as long-term guardians was a masterstroke of arrangement.

 

The Peach Grove had already ascended to become one of the Demon Court’s most precious reserves; to entrust it to anyone outside his inner circle would be a risk he was unwilling to take.

 

However, the Primordial Elves were different.

 

Bound to the Nine Realms, they were his own kin, their very Souls attuned to the shifting rhythms of his worlds.

 

Of course, there was another reason as well.

 

Tending to the Peach Grove was, in truth, a coveted post.

 

Not only would it grant its steward more time to cultivate in an environment rich in unparalleled Spiritual Energy, but it would also allow them to remain close to the Peach Tree of Immortality.

 

It was a kind of a hidden blessing.

 

After all, simply staying near a Divine Tree of Heaven and Earth for an extended period brought tremendous benefits. For instance, the Buddhist monks could gain enlightenment when meditating under the shade of the Sacred Bodhi Tree.

 

As for the Peach Tree of Immortality, though Yu Zi Yu did not know of its exact wonders, he could guess a thing or two.

 

“If not the increase of one’s lifespan, then surely, it would bolster one’s vitality,” Yu Zi Yu chuckled softly. With a thought, he summoned them.

 

“Greetings, Master…”

 

The voices rose in a melodic, ethereal unison as eight figures appeared before him.

.

“Yan Bao, Bing Xue, You Lian…” Yu Zi Yu whispered their names, his gaze softening as he looked upon them.

 

Without him fully realizing it, these ‘little ones’ had already ascended to Tier-6, becoming Ancient Overlords.

 

His eyes lingered first on Bing Xue. She stood enveloped in a swirling micro-blizzard. Her upper form was Human and lithe, while her lower half dissolved into a shifting pillar of murky ice and rime. Layers of translucent crystals coated her skin, and with every breath she took, an unnatural chill rippled through the grove.

 

She was the eldest, the coldest, and yet the most steadfast of all Nine Primordial Elves..

 

Only when she met Yu Zi Yu’s eyes did the icy mask melt into a faint, reassuring smile.

 

Beside her stood the Light Elf. She looked every bit the pilgrim saint, her silhouette draped in a shimmering golden radiance. Her hair, a cascading waterfall of spun gold, fell to her ankles.

 

Like Ling Er, she walked barefoot, yet the soil of the earth seemed to shy away from her touch; not a speck of dust dared mar her snow-white skin.

 

She was purity incarnate.

 

She was truly a saint among saintesses.

 

One by one, Yu Zi Yu took the rare opportunity to examine each of the Primordial Elves.

 

He was pleased with their growth.

 

Though even Bing Xue, the strongest among them, had only reached the intermediate-stage of Tier-6, he was more than satisfied.

 

He did not need them to be the vanguard of his armies; all he hoped for them to be strong enough to take care of themselves, that’s all.

 

“From this day forward,” Yu Zi Yu began, his voice taking on a weight of authority, “you are the stewards of this grove. You must tend it with the utmost care. Do you understand?”

 

“Yes, Master,” they replied.

 

However, right then, Yan Bao, the fiery youth of the group, looked toward the mist-shrouded grove with a curious glint in his eyes, and suddenly asked, “Master, is there something… unique about these trees?”

 

Because of the Formations, all he saw was a thick veil of mist. Even his Divine Sense was rebuffed by the mist.

 

However, he could sense a terrifying potent Life Force.

 

It was even purer than the Life Force surging within the Realm of Life. Just by standing in the vicinity of it, breathing the nearby air made him feel revitalized, making his very blood hum with activity.

 

“This is no ordinary orchard. It’s born from the Peach Tree of Immortality—one of the Great Divine Trees of Heaven and Earth.”

 

As Yu Zi Yu explained, he noticed their eyes widen.

 

A smile tugged the corner of his lips, seeing the flicker of recognition on their faces.

 

It was a testament to the Demon Court’s rigorous education.

 

The current Demon Court placed particular emphasis on education.

 

It wasn’t that every being who emerged from the Demon Court needed to know everything under Heaven and Earth.

 

However, the Ten Great Divine Trees of the world were things they absolutely had to recognize.

 

And not just that, they were also expected to know about the Imperial Artifacts of the various Races, as well as each race’s unique secret treasures.

 

Otherwise, once they stepped out into the world, they would appear like ignorant bumpkins, a laughingstock who would likely stumble into a fatal taboo.

 

In this era, ignorance was the quickest path to the grave.

 

Whether it was not staring at the hair of a Medusa or flaunting their wealth or glittering treasures in the presence of a Dragon, these kinds of knowledge were necessary for survival.

 

For they were taboos among their kind.

 

If one carelessly offended them, at best it would mean making an enemy.

 

At worst, it could cost one’s life.

 

By the looks of it, the Demon Court’s education was working quite well.

 

At the very least, each of the Primordial Elves knew about the Peach Tree of Immortality.

 

“Since you know of the Peach Tree of Immortality, you should also understand what this Peach Groove Represents.” Yu Zi Yu said, his voice dropping to a serious tone, ”Guard it well. Allow not a single petal to fall neglected. Understood?”

 

“Yes, Master!”

 

Their response was a thunderous vow. The playful curiosity was gone, replaced by a solemn, resolute determination.

 

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{Author Notes: The Nine Primordial Elves: Earth (male), Lightning (male), Fire (male), Ice (female), Light (female), Darkness (female), Mist (genderless), Void (female), Life (female).}