The Elven Cultivator

Weapon-Melting Hand was an incredibly forceful and scorching palm technique, its blazing power specializing in destroying weapons by melting through solid metal.

If Anton hadn't held back with that last palm strike, Romance's War Axe would have been reduced to a lump of red-hot scrap.

There were no level displays in reality, so Anton wasn't sure what rank his current strength had reached.

However, he was certain that after refining a second wisp of primordial Spiritual Qi and mastering several martial techniques, his overall strength was definitely no less than the Black Iron Tier.

Dealing with someone at the mid-tier of the White Rank was, naturally, a simple task.

Romance racked her brain but couldn't recall ever hearing of a combat technique called Weapon-Melting Hand.

The combat techniques of the Silver Moon Race were renowned for their agility and speed; she had never seen one so domineering and ferocious.

"Who taught you this?" she couldn't help but ask.

Anton smiled slightly. "A secret."

Romance's expression froze, and she glared at him, her eyes wide with frustration.

Anton, completely unfazed, said, "A bet's a bet. You have to help me with something."

"...Go on."

She was angry, yes, but Romance was never a sore loser.

She took a deep breath, hoisted her War Axe onto her shoulder, and adopted a posture that said she was ready to agree to anything.

"I have something to do later and need to leave the settlement. If anyone asks, I need you to find a way to cover for me."

Anton finally revealed his true motive.

If he were to leave the Silver Moon Forest to hunt and return on the same day, the schedule would be far too tight and inefficient.

But disappearing for two or three days for no reason would likely be noticed. That's when he would need someone to provide cover.

This was also why he had revealed a little of his skill to Romance.

Without giving Romance some reassurance, she would never have agreed to his request.

"You're going to leave the forest?"

Romance understood Anton's intention and looked stunned, but she didn't seem to object much.

After all, she wasn't one to follow the rules herself. She had been punished for breaking them more than once or twice.

More than the rule-breaking, Romance was worried Anton would encounter danger outside. But then she recalled the power he had just displayed, and the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back. Her expression grew incredibly complex.

All this time, she had thought herself very talented on the path of a Warrior, with few rivals among her peers. She never expected Anton to be hiding his true abilities, not only possessing a rare magical talent like the Super Magical Physique but also having the strength in combat techniques to completely crush her.

He had even defeated her bare-handed, without using a weapon.

'Is this what my mentor called a true genius?'

"You're leaving the forest to go... Never mind. You probably wouldn't tell me anyway."

Romance gave up on asking.

She knew Anton too well. When that guy didn't want to talk about something, no amount of asking would work.

Anton smiled without a word and pointed to the finger mark on Romance's War Axe. "Remember to keep my secret. And that includes this."

Romance pouted but finally nodded. "I know, you're so naggy."

"Thanks." Anton reached out and ruffled the girl's hair.

He trusted Romance's promise. After so many years as childhood friends, he had at least that much faith in her.

Perhaps because she had just lost to Anton, Romance didn't bristle and protest as she usually would. Instead, she seemed quite docile, letting Anton enjoy ruffling her hair to his heart's content.

The girl's silver-white hair was soft and smooth, carrying the scent of sunshine.

'It felt amazing.'

Coming back to her senses, Romance grabbed her War Axe and rushed off toward the training grounds in a flurry.

The defeat hadn't discouraged her; instead, it had ignited an even stronger drive. She couldn't wait to train harder and improve her strength.

Anton watched Romance's figure disappear at the end of the tree-lined path, a slight glint in his eyes.

'Now isn't the time. When the time is right, I'll find a way to help Romance improve her strength.'

Averting his gaze, Anton returned to his treehouse. He took out a Storage Talisman and began placing the food, fresh water, and various other supplies he had prepared into it.

A Storage Talisman was similar to a storage-type Magical Artifact in many ways, with the only difference being that it was "easy to put things in, but not so easy to take them out."

You could keep storing things inside until the internal space was full. But once you started taking items out, the Storage Talisman's lifespan would begin a countdown, disintegrating after one day. Then, you'd have to use a new Talisman.

This was because the principle behind the Storage Talisman's creation was, in essence, sealing, not true storage.

Most seals, once broken, would disintegrate and could not be restored.

'It would be great if I could craft my own storage Magical Artifacts someday.'

Anton sighed to himself, then inventoried his supplies. After confirming nothing was missing, he packed everything up and left the treehouse.

Passing through the winding tree corridors, he returned the greetings of the Elves he met along the way. Anton acted just as he always did, his expression unchanged.

Only after he had walked some distance from the settlement did he look around. Seeing no one, he immediately took out three Talismans and stuck them to his body.

A Concealing Breath Talisman, an Invisibility Talisman, and a Light Body Talisman.

As the three Talismans activated one by one, Anton's figure gradually faded from solid to illusory, slowly disappearing into thin air.

At the same time, his presence weakened until it was nearly undetectable, like a lifeless rock by the side of the path.

He hopped in place a few times. His body felt significantly lighter, as if an invisible burden had been lifted, or as if he were being buoyed by the wind, ready to float away at any moment.

He smiled with delight and activated his Star Shifting Step. His figure moved like a bolt of lightning as he shot forward.

Star Shifting Step was a martial Body Technique. Its name evoked the speed of shifting stars and flashing lightning. When used, one's movements were as swift as a meteor chasing the moon, faster than a clap of thunder, landing without a sound and leaving no trace upon the leaves.

Combined with the boost from the Light Body Talisman, Anton had all but transformed into a wisp of wind, darting through the forest swiftly and silently.

Wherever he passed, the fallen leaves did not stir and the grass remained undisturbed. There was only the faintest disturbance in the air, which was instantly swallowed by the chirping of insects and the calls of birds in the forest.

Before long, he reached the area where the Sentry Trees stood.

These animated trees spent most of their time in a deep slumber, appearing like ordinary trees. They would only awaken to perform their guard duties when they sensed an intruder.

However, relying on an Elf's innate natural senses, Anton immediately noticed how they differed from ordinary trees.

He immediately slowed his pace, cautiously weaving between the slumbering Sentry Trees to avoid waking them.

Fortunately, he made it through the area without incident.

Anton breathed a sigh of relief. 'Looks like these Talismans are pretty effective.'

He passed through the subsequent region of animated thorns just as smoothly, a tense but ultimately safe crossing.

The final trial, the Songbirds, turned out to be the easiest.

Unlike the Sentry Trees and animated thorns, which relied on sensing auras, these Emerald Feathered Songbirds detected other creatures by sight.

With the help of the Invisibility Talisman, they remained completely oblivious even as Anton strolled right past them.

Soon, Anton reached the edge of the Silver Moon Forest.

Stepping past the forest's boundary, the view suddenly opened up before him.

Countless greyish-brown crags rolled like the spines of colossal beasts, stretching all the way to the horizon.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, carving the jagged rocks into sharp-edged planes of light and shadow. In the distance, mountain peaks pierced the heavens in silence, like weapons left behind by ancient giants.

There was none of the forest's gentle vitality here, only the coarse desolation of weathered rock. Drought-resistant thorns and moss grew sparsely in the crevices, displaying a stubborn, almost ferocious Life Force.

Anton took a deep breath. The air was dry and scorching, tinged with the scent of dust and rust—the smell of exposed ore and sun-baked stone.

The Thousand Rock Hills held vast deposits of metallic ore and coal seams, a true treasure trove. However, because of the Rock-Horned Dragon and the hordes of Dragon Beasts entrenched here, no one had dared to come and develop it for many years.

Only the boldest of Adventurers would occasionally venture here to secretly gather some of the rare ores.

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