Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 269 Still with me.
Guided by Melina, Lu Mingfei easily found his destination under a large tree.

At the base of the tree roots, two crystalline dewdrops, somewhere between solid and liquid, floated slowly, faintly emitting a golden glow.

Even someone like Lu Mingfei, who has no faith, could clearly sense this aura after repeated contact.

Warm, gentle, and with a touch of sacredness, this is the blessing from the Golden Tree.

Lu Mingfei took a deep breath, stretched out a hand covered in armor, and gently touched the suspended crystal dewdrop.

A line of small print arrived as promised.

[Large Piercing Dewdrop]

【Dewdrops formed over a long period of time, bathed in the bounty of the golden tree】

When combined with the "Holy Grail of Elixir," it enhances charged attacks for a certain period of time.

【Green Crystal Dew Drops】

[Adding the "Holy Grail Flask" to the concoction temporarily increases maximum stamina.]

Are they the Big Piercing Dewdrop and the Green Crystal Dewdrop?
Lu Mingfei pondered the effects of the two types of dewdrops repeatedly in his mind.

These all seem to be pretty practical buffs.
However, upon closer examination, Green Crystal Dew is still more effective. When combined with Green Crystal Dew, it may have a 1+1>2 effect when dealing with some overly powerful enemies.

As for the Great Piercing Dewdrop, Lu Mingfei can only say that it doesn't quite fit his fighting style.

His fighting pace has always been very fast; whether it's responding, attacking, or dodging, he emphasizes a clean and efficient approach.

However, the effects of the elixir don't last long. By the time he gets a chance to unleash his full power, it will be a very long time.

Do you need me to help you prepare it?

Melina asked softly.

Lu Mingfei nodded:

"Please help me take out the 'Fire-Breaking Dew Drop' and mix it with the Green Crystal Dew Drop."

"That's my duty."

After Melina finished speaking, she took the elixir chalice bottle, and golden light appeared in her hand, enveloping two dewdrops, which slowly rose into the air and then entered through the bottle opening.

This process did not take long.

"Okay."

Melina handed the golden elixir bottle back to her travel companion:
"As before, you can replenish it with blessings after you run out."

Lu Mingfei took the warm elixir bottle, feeling the vibrant life force newly infused within, and carefully put it away.

Looking up at the thick fog that lingered all around, and recalling the ferocious giant bear from earlier, a question arose in my mind.

“Melina,” he asked, “does dew usually condense under small golden trees like these?”

Melina answered calmly:
"Over the long years, the blessings of the golden tree flowed more smoothly, and priests from various cathedrals and altars regularly made pilgrimages to collect the ripe dew to sustain the blessings and ceremonies in their respective places."

"However, since the ring of law broke and cracks appeared in the Golden Law, many orders have collapsed, and most of the little golden trees have been abandoned."

As long as the grace has not completely dried up, the dew will slowly condense over time.

As long as it hasn't been taken by the pioneers, theoretically, every small golden tree should contain a crystallization of this blessing.

As long as it hasn't been taken by someone else?

Lu Mingfei shook his head.

It's not that easy to take.

Beneath these small golden trees are not only numerous guards covered in vines and flower buds, but also the protectors of the golden tree incarnations. Unless one possesses the ability to resurrect, few who have faded from the face would be foolish enough to provoke them.

Although there were no guardian figures in the misty forest, there were bears!
The mist forest itself is a natural barrier.

The thick fog never dissipates, making it difficult to discern directions. For ordinary travelers, finding this small tree is out of the question; simply surviving without getting lost would be considered lucky.

Add to that the elusive, ridiculously strong and fast giant bear...

Imagine walking in such poor visibility and suddenly bumping into that huge thing in the face, with no way to run away—it's a nightmare.

"Let's go."

Lu Mingfei summoned Torret again: "With the dewdrop in hand, we shouldn't linger here. Hyde Fortress is still waiting for us."

He turned to look at Melina:

"Do you want to 'go back'? Or come with me?"

Before she finished speaking, the girl's body slowly became transparent and disappeared, turning into countless spiritual particles that returned to Lu Mingfei's body.

Lu Mingfei shrugged.

He knew the girl wasn't distant; she was just used to being silent.

He said no more, simply mounted his horse, and continued on his way.

He needs to find Hyde Fortress before sunset.

Heaven knows what other tricks this eerie, misty forest has in store for him at night.
-
Reality often differs from ideals.

Lu Mingfei ultimately failed to reach Hyde Fortress before nightfall.

The sunlight cast its last few dim rays upon the fog-shrouded forest in vain, only to be quickly swallowed up by the greedy, thick fog.

Darkness spread like ink on rice paper, rapidly engulfing everything in all directions, plunging the already misty forest into a chaotic night.

The thick fog appeared even more eerie in the night.

My sense of direction has completely disappeared.

Lu Mingfei held onto Toret's reins, and the two of them struggled to move forward through the tangled tree roots, slippery moss, and thick fog.

The path, which was difficult to discern even during the day, was now completely obscured by darkness and fog.

Only Toret's faintly glowing eyes in the darkness and the dull thud of his hooves on the fallen leaves reminded him that they were still on their way.

"This damn place..."

Lu Mingfei cursed under his breath, took off his helmet, and wiped the liquid on his forehead that he couldn't tell if it was mist or sweat.

He once again took out the crude map scroll with the location of Hyde Fortress marked on it and vaguely determined the direction.

"It shouldn't be far off."

He thought to himself.

Just as Lu Mingfei was contemplating whether to travel through the night or find a barely dry place to get through this damned night, a glimmer of orange light pierced the darkness.

The light was very faint, flickering in the thick fog, but it did not escape his eyes.

Firelight!

Deep in the misty forest, someone had actually lit a campfire?

"Come on, Torett."

He lowered his voice and gently tugged at the reins of the spirit horse, slowing its pace and making as little noise as possible.

As the distance closed, the light became clearer.

Immediately afterwards, a series of intermittent, out-of-tune plucked strings drifted over, the sound somewhat lonely, a desolate little tune.

Lu Mingfei's tense nerves relaxed considerably at the sound of that familiar melody.

He gestured for Toret to stay where he was, while he quietly made his way out of the dense forest, cautiously peeking out to look at the source of the firelight.

In the gaps between several ancient trees, a small patch of ground was cleared out.

An old blanket covered in mud was laid on the ground.

In the center of the blanket sat a hunched figure.

The familiar pointed hat, the familiar raincoat, and the familiar musical instruments.

An old-looking mule was drooping its head and munching on the moss on the ground.

"It really is you, Santa Claus."

(End of this chapter)