Royal Sacred Land, Silver Moon Lake

As night fell, the moonlight softly draped over the lake, cloaking it in a silver veil. The surface shimmered with specks of silver light, as though thousands of stars had fallen into it, sparkling brilliantly.

Mist lingered on the lake like a light veil. Occasionally, one could glimpse a fish glowing with a ghostly blue light leaping out, creating ripples, the glow blending with the moonlight, dreamlike and surreal.

By Silver Moon Lake stood magnificent treehouse structures, built around towering ancient trees. The trunks of these trees were as thick as dozens of people could encircle, with the treehouses layered and staggered as if they had naturally grown from the trunks.

Built from silvery white wood with a gentle sheen, the treehouses emitted a soft glow under the moonlight, echoing the silver shimmer of the lake.

"Princess, over 2600 warriors from various races are in place, plus over 400 newly joined human Spiritualists."

The Elf Guard knelt halfway before the Elf Princess, his tone respectful.

"Good, I understand."

The Elf Princess nodded calmly, her visage as radiant as moonlight frozen from Silver Moon Lake, clear and striking. Her eyes, like emeralds set on a face of white jade, glimmered with a deep and mysterious light, as if she could see through to the secrets within a person's heart, with undeniable insight and authority.

Below her high nose, her lips resembled roses touched by morning dew, vibrant yet coldly noble, with a slight press exuding a sense of aloofness that kept others at bay. She wore a crown made from laurel branches and rare gems, the huge moonstone on its top emitting a holy and dazzling light under the sunlight, silently proclaiming her noble status.

"Where is Sarandir?"

The Elf Princess's voice was cool, with the invisible aura of a ruler.

"Prince..."

The Elf Guard hesitated and said, "He is missing."

Upon hearing this, the Elf Princess's brows slightly furrowed. Sarandir carried a treasure of the Elf Race, so safety was not a concern, but...

"Sarandir, do you still refuse to bear your responsibilities?"

The Elf Princess murmured, a trace of sadness and disappointment flashing in her eyes.

"Princess, should I bring the Prince back?" the guard asked tentatively.

"No need."

The Elf Princess said slowly, "When Sarandir figures things out, he will return on his own."

"Yes!"

...

Moonlight streamed through the window, spilling into the room.

Inside the small house, a figure sat cross-legged on the bed, breathing evenly, while Spiritual Ability Factor continuously flowed into his body.

Beside him, a boy of sixteen or seventeen stared at him intently, his gaze curious.

Whoosh~

Finishing his cultivation, Qin Tian exhaled, turned to Alan, and said:

"Kid, I know I'm handsome, but you don't need to stare at me all night, right? What, have I charmed you with my looks?"

"Pfft, who's charmed by you."

Alan said with disdain, "You call that handsome? Anyone randomly picked from my house—well, a guard—is way more handsome than you."

"Heh, you're quite the storyteller, kid."

Qin Tian sneered, "If even the guards are more handsome than me, then why do you look so average?"

"Me, average? I'm way more handsome than you, okay!"

Alan said stubbornly, sticking his neck out.

"Heh, this kid's mind is no good, and his eyes aren't much better."

"You're the one who's blind!!!"

Alan, enraged, jumped onto Qin Tian's bed to challenge him. But Qin Tian merely hooked his foot, causing A An to fall flat on his face. His large hand pressed on Alan's back like a mountain, unmovable no matter how Alan struggled.

"Let me go, let me go, if you have guts, face me one-on-one outside!" Alan shouted while struggling.

"You, face me one-on-one?"

Qin Tian knocked Alan's head lightly, sneering,

"Kid, if you want to challenge me, wait until you've grown up a bit first."

"Ahh, I'm going to fight you!"

Alan shouted angrily, using his hands and feet to try to get up, but he couldn't escape Qin Tian's grip.

After struggling in vain, Alan was completely drained, lying on the bed like a drying fish, weakly threatening:

"Let me go, don't forget we're sharing a room, and you'll have to close your eyes sometime. Watch out, or I might draw turtles on your face."

Qin Tian casually said, "If you dare do that, I'll stuff your mouth with dirty socks."

Upon hearing this, Alan's body stiffened, involuntarily imagining a nightmare scenario.

Ugh~

"I was wrong, I surrender." Alan raised his hands in defeat.

"That's better."

Qin Tian let go and kicked Alan's butt, saying, "Get back to your bed, sleep, and don't bother me."

Alan stood up, rubbed his butt, and obediently lay down on his bed.

Watching Qin Tian close his eyes intending to sleep, Alan silently made a series of faces at him.

Swoosh~

Qin Tian's eyes suddenly opened, startling Alan, who pursed his lips and turned his back, ending his antics.

Darn kid!

Qin Tian smirked, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

...

Early the next morning

Squad 18 officially assembled. After breakfast, everyone, under the leadership of the two captains, headed to the frontlines to swap with the previous squad.

On this journey, Qin Tian and Alan were quite the center of attention.

No surprise there; both were too young—a newly graduated college student and another who looked like he hadn't finished high school.

Being young in such a group, it's likely they'll face tough times ahead, uncertain if they'll last even a day.

"Qin Tian, did you notice how strangely people look at us?"

Alan whispered, "Almost like they pity us."

"Not bad, it seems besides being unable to tell who's more handsome, your eyesight isn't completely useless."

Qin Tian glanced at Alan and said, "They must think you're weak, looking down on you a little."

"Humph, they're the weak ones. I'm actually..."

Alan paused, gripping the longsword at his waist, proudly said, "a very skilled swordsman."

Qin Tian's eyes fell on Alan's sword. The blade was long, with a silver gemstone in the hilt, and spirit patterns on the sheath, clearly not ordinary.

"Qin Tian, what are you skilled at?" Alan asked.

Qin Tian pointed at the black box on his back, saying, "I'm a sniper."

"Sniper, what's that?"

Alan asked with a puzzled look.

Qin Tian raised his eyebrows slightly, stared into Alan's eyes for two seconds, and said:

"A sniper is a long-range shooter, hiding in dark corners to shoot enemies from a distance."

"Ah, isn't that just like an Elf Shooter~"

Alan realized, laughing, "That's great, you're an archer, I'm a swordsman, we have both close and long range, quite the match."

"Let's hope so."

Qin Tian shrugged.

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