Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

Why did Lin Gui choose to send the message by "kidnapping"?

Because the elves of Blackwater had already told him.

The elves' hatred for humans is etched into their very bones.

His practice of delivering messages at low prices in every city-state he visited aroused countless suspicions.

"Seven copper coins? Across the wilderness? How is that possible?"

"There must be some kind of conspiracy!"

Not to mention when he appears in human form.

The label of "enemy" has already been firmly attached to him.

Even if we force the elves to read the letter right now...

The vigilance in their eyes remained undiminished.

If a gentler approach had been taken, these letters might never have been sent.

Lin Gui knew exactly what humans had done to the elves.

So at this moment, he looked at the path that had been cleared and the surrounding elves who seemed hesitant to speak...

Instead, they became even more vigilant.

Why?

He stared at Arya, his voice cold.

[103 random beginner spells have been converted into proficiency.]

Lin Gui glanced at the magic he had acquired.

There was no new magic.

He regained his composure, looked ahead, and changed flying boats in the air.

Then, following the map provided by Blackbeard, they flew towards Shadowmoon City.

A notification sounded in my mind.

With a slight increase in magic power, the novice magic pool gained some minor spells that weren't particularly useful.

Lin Gui glanced at it and then stopped caring.

The flying boat was summoned and sped through the air.

Shadowmoon City is not close to Deep Forest Outpost.

But at full speed, the journey seemed exceptionally short.

Both city-states are located outside the Wall of Sighs.

A few kilometers further east, and you'll be able to leave this forbidden land of death.

There were almost no territories of demons of legendary status or higher along the way.

Lin Gui was able to accelerate at full speed.

Seven minutes later.

The airship pierced through the gray fog, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

It was a city-state that was more exquisite and more dilapidated than the Forest Outpost.

The slender, tall buildings, constructed of pale purple stone, with their forest of spires, retain their elegant outlines even in their collapse.

Reliefs of vines and stars are everywhere, but most of them are covered by frost.

Shadowmoon City.

Lin Gui did not rush to land.

He stopped in mid-air and took two glass beads out of his pocket.

A gentle shake.

The ghostly figures of Claudia and Arya appeared.

The two elves had barely taken form when their gazes fell upon the city-state below.

They were stunned.

Claudia rubbed her eyes, her voice dazed:

"Where...where am I...?"

Eve's face was still a little pale, and she replied softly:

"Shadowmoon City".

Arya stared at the purple ruins, remaining silent for several seconds.

"How long did this flight take?"

Lin Gui waved his hand casually.

"Alright, now that we're here, let's go inside."

"You guys have to do me a favor."

He looked at the two elves.

"Eliminate the elves' rejection of me and deliver the letter to them."

After a pause, he proposed a more direct solution:

"How about you deliver it for me?"

On the way here, Lin Gui had been thinking about how to deliver a message to these elves who were filled with hatred for humans.

After saying that, a letter addressed to Yingyue flew out of the storage space and hovered in mid-air.

Arya looked at the letters with a complicated expression.

While she was at the outpost in the deep forest, she also received a letter from her loyal subordinates in Blackwater City.

The coded language and secrets used in the letter, as well as the confidential information concerning the Shadow Clan...

This made it impossible for her to doubt the letter's authenticity.

This forced her to believe it.

There really are humans who selflessly convey the longing of spirits.

Why?

She raised her eyes and looked at Lin Gui:

Why are you doing this?

"Elves also have messengers, but resources are precious, and they never deliver private messages to commoners."

This wasn't the first time Lin Gui had been asked this question.

He remained silent for a moment, then replied calmly:

"Just consider it a personal hobby."

"so."

He looked at Arya.

"Since I deliver mail, could you please deliver this letter for me?"

If it were only Clotina, it might be difficult to gain the trust of her own people.

A lowly elf, carrying a letter from Blackwater City, appears alone in Shadowmoon City?

Too suspicious.

But if there is Arya.

The captain of the forest outpost, a warrior strong enough to traverse the fog.

Everything makes much more sense then.

Arya took the letter that floated to her, her fingers tightening slightly.

She asked in a low voice:

"These...are really not 'slave contracts'?"

Lin Gui twitched the corner of his mouth.

"How could something I made up on the spot possibly exist?"

"If such a belief truly existed, where would all the betrayals and treasons in the human world come from?"

"The city-state has long since become a toy for the powerful and wealthy."

"Although now... it's about the same."

Arya's gaze fell on his gray eyes.

"And the soul-shaking I feel..."

Lin Gui pointed to his eyes.

"It's just a little magic."

After saying that, he had a thought in his mind.

The Eye of the Netherworld is closed.

The invisible pressure emanating from Arya vanished instantly.

Restart.

The sense of oppression returned.

A hint of surprise flashed in Arya's eyes:

"What kind of magic is this?"

Lin Gui waved his hand.

"Personal secret."

"Anyway, if you're willing to lend a hand."

"I would be very grateful."

Arya remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she gripped the letter in her hand and nodded.

"I'll deliver the letter."

"I will deliver these letters to my people, swearing an oath in the name of Elune."

Arya held the stack of letters, her spirit appearing exceptionally clear in the snowy forest.

She glanced back at Lin Gui, her gaze complex, but said nothing more.

Turning around, it drifted towards the purple ruins of Shadowmoon City.

Arriving at Shadowmoon City was her original purpose.

Delivering letters was a piece of cake for her.

The ghostly figure gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the silent cluster of buildings.

Eve stood beside Lin Gui and whispered:

"She will deliver them all."

"An elf's oath... once made, is rarely broken."

Lin Gui hummed in response.

He had heard of the elves' oath.

Its reputation is well-known.

Even the arrogant high elves are no exception.

"No rush."

Lin Gui leaned against the edge of the flying boat, his gaze fixed on the road he had come from to the west.

"We're staying here..."

"Waiting for a few people."

Eve was slightly taken aback, but then she understood.

"You mean... those hunters from Whitestone City?"

Lin Gui nodded.

"It takes less than a day to walk here from White Rock."

"The time they spent at Deep Forest Outpost is enough for them to reach Shadowmoon City."

A knowing glint flashed in Eve's eyes, followed by a faint smile.

"Are you going to attack them?"

Lin Gui spoke in a flat tone:

"It was just something I did."

Eve's smile deepened, a glint of light flashing in her purple eyes.

"One high-level transcendent, four mid-level transcendents..."

"And you are just a high-ranking mage."

"Without Shia, are you sure you can defeat them?"

Lin Gui nodded and said.

"Yes, but we need to plan it out first."

Eve leaned close to Lin Gui's ear and whispered.

"Do I need to use that ability of mine?"

Lin Gui turned his head to look at her.

ability.

It's the ability that can elevate you to legendary status.

Actually, there's a question that Lin Gui has been curious about for a long time.

But I never had the chance to ask.

"Your magic that allows you to rise from the lower level of the extraordinary... to the legendary level."

"What exactly is it?"

As far as he knew, there was magic that could allow one's power to leap across an entire major rank...

does not exist at all.

Even the most advanced forbidden techniques and evil arts can only raise one's cultivation level by two or three minor realms at most.

Eve blinked, a sly smile playing on her lips.

"It's not magic."

She said softly.

"It's the 'price'."

Lin Gui raised an eyebrow.

"cost?"

"Um."

Eve raised her hand and gently touched her chest with her fingertips.

"The Church's ultimate means of 'arming' the saintess."

Her tone was relaxed, but a very faint shadow flickered in her eyes.

"The divine artifact... Valhalla."

"The church used a secret method to... leave an 'interface' in our heart."

"When needed, a portion of one's soul and lifespan can be burned to temporarily connect to the Hall of Heroes."

Lin Gui's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Valhalla?"

"Yes, it's the Cult of Light, one of the three great treasures, an artifact that exists in Sky City."

Eve spoke very softly, as if she were telling a story that had nothing to do with her.

"The souls of saints from all ages, and the power they have accumulated, lie dormant there."

"Through the 'interface,' I can temporarily borrow that enormous power."

"Thus...transcending ranks."

Lin Gui remained silent for a moment.

"If it's an epic-level powerhouse, could they borrow that power... and reach the level of a demigod?"

Eve smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in her smile.

"Theoretically... yes."

"But the higher the rank, the higher the cost."

"The true epic moment will arrive at the moment of connection to Valhalla."

"They probably won't even last half a minute before being swallowed up by Valhalla."

"The soul... was assimilated by Valhalla and subsequently became a heroic spirit within it."

Eve raised her hand, palm up, and caught a falling snowflake.

The snowflakes melted into ice water, turning her fair hands red with cold.

"I am now a lower-level extraordinary being."

Her voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

"For every minute of use, the lifespan will be reduced by six months."

"The church commands me not to do this unless absolutely necessary."

"Do not use it."

She paused, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing at the corners of her lips.

"After all, the prerequisite for casting 'Divine Prediction' is the support of Valhalla."

"And 'divine prophecy' is the core interest of the Church of Light."

Lin Gui listened, his dead fish eyes narrowing.

"As a last resort?"

His tone was flat.

"Then when you helped Shia 'kidnap' me."

"Is it considered a 'last resort'?"

Eve wasn't embarrassed at all; instead, she smiled even more brightly.

She tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her purple eyes.

"Who told Mr. Lin Gui... to be such a good runner?"

"Even though you were tied up with a rope, you almost managed to escape."

Sometimes, I think about it.

Eve's smile suddenly turned alluring.

But it is also dangerous.

She tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes shimmering with an almost infatuated light.

He leaned close to Lin Gui's ear, his voice as soft as a sigh:

"Should I keep you locked in the basement forever...?"

"Firmly, they can never escape."

"Stay...always, stay with me."

Faced with Eve's temptation, Lin Gui suddenly turned his head away.

He leaned close to Eve's fair profile, his breath almost brushing against her earlobe.

The voice was low, yet clear:

"so."

"Do you really want to call Shia 'older sister'?"

After saying that, he quickly shrank back.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Eve froze on the spot.

The next second, with a whoosh.

Her entire face turned bright red instantly, from her neck to the tips of her ears.