Elf: I have a secret realm of emerald green.

Like Xia Shen, Ma Xiaduo nodded with an "I understand now" look on his face.

Xia Shen glanced at him speechlessly. With such a low level of knowledge, how dare he be a tour guide?

Marshall immediately lowered his head in shame, and then, as if to prove himself, he hurriedly said...

[But Marcia knows that the fruit of this tree is delicious!]

Xia Shen became somewhat interested after Marcia said that.

When traveling, there are only a few things to consider: eating, drinking, and having fun.

He hadn't expected to be able to experience local specialties in the spirit world. He wondered if he would be given Meng Po soup later.

With this mischievous thought in mind, Xia Shen sent Garchomp flying towards the "Forest of Souls," a name he had given it on the spot...

Like many horror movies imagined by humans, the trees in this forest are lifelike.

It's not the kind of life that drifts with the wind or is full of vitality, but the kind that has a soul and self-awareness, like a tree spirit or a tree monster.

Xia Shen led the elves on a stroll through this strange forest.

They seemed to have a good relationship with Masado, waving their branches in welcome.

Several tall, lush trees even lowered their branches to display their fruit to Masado.

Masha was talking to the trees in a lot of chatter, and then all the other trees bowed down to Xia Shen.

The meaning is self-evident: you're in for a world of trouble.

…………

[Eat up, they know you're here to help Mother, and they're very welcoming.]

Xia Shen was touched by this strange yet heartwarming scene and invited the elves to join in the fun without any hesitation.

This fruit is surprisingly delicious, with a taste that's somewhat like a combination of lychee and mango.

You can tell from Rowlet's blissful expression that he really likes this fruit.

Xia Shen casually picked the second fruit and suddenly asked curiously, "You just mentioned mother?"

[Yes, it was my mother who gave me a second life!]

Marshado, also holding a piece of fruit, replied matter-of-factly.

"Oh, oh..." Xia Shen nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You just said they welcomed us?"

[Yes, according to Aya, before that incident, the spirit world was very prosperous under the nurturing of the mother, but then the mother fell into a deep sleep...]

[Not just elves, but many beings in the spirit world miss her and hope she can return...]

Listening to Marshall's nostalgic voice, four words suddenly popped into Xia Shen's mind—

The people's hearts are worth supporting!

He took another bite of the sweet fruit, and asked indistinctly, "How many spirits in the spirit world know about the crystal lamp spirit and the stone... and your mother's impending awakening?"

Marcia blinked, not understanding Xia Shen's intention, but still answered the question honestly.

[Not many, just the elves near our castle, and some creatures we're usually on good terms with, like those in this forest.]

Xia Shen pressed further, "Are there any elves among them as powerful as... the Night Demon, or even more powerful?"

Marcia shook her head blankly.

[My mother has been asleep for too long, and many of her former followers no longer worship her, so...]

Xia Shen was furious at their lack of ambition. "Can't you just make empty promises? You said many people miss her, so let them show it!"

"Tell them that the goddess is about to awaken, but the treacherous officials are still plotting against her and need everyone's help. They'll reward them handsomely afterwards. Can't they even do that?!"

This isn't some scam like "I am Qin Shi Huang, send me money!", it's a genuine attempt to attract investment.

To put it more fundamentally, this is actually the most basic strategy: make as many friends as possible...

…………

Marshado's eyes lit up, and her little brain immediately grasped the idea.

[My lord, you are so clever! Marcia understands!]

Xia Shen smiled slightly; the next month would be quite busy.

Once the Crystal Lamp Spirits awaken a month later, we'll launch a siege on Bright Peak!

Although he had a plan in mind, Xia Shen was not in a hurry to carry it out. He needed to refine the specific details.

After bidding farewell to the adorable and delicious tree spirits, Xia Shen and Ma Xiaduo strolled around the neighborhood for a while before concluding their short journey.

It was brief because there was really nothing special about it...

A gloomy sky, a desolate land, and ghost-type Pokémon as numerous as stray dogs.

Gone.

Thinking about having to stay here for another month, Xia Shen couldn't help but sigh.

Then I realized there wasn't even any training equipment or a Pokémon hospital here. Well, I'm completely out of ideas.

Back at the castle, Xia Shen, Youkexi, and Black Night Demon began to formulate a detailed lobbying plan.

There are no maps in the spirit world. The location of which spirits can be recruited is entirely based on the Night Demon's guesses.

After a whole day of effort, Xia Shen finally managed to draw a rough route map based on the description from the Night Demon.

Whether the chandelier spirits can be successfully dealt with a month from now depends entirely on this plan.

By the time we finished all that, it was already dark.

After a quick dinner, the long night was so boring that Xia Shen even started telling stories to Mashado and the Candle Spirit.

What he didn't know was that it was only the next evening.

Outside, it's in an uproar...

------

Yan Yan was the first to discover Xia Shen's disappearance.

Even the busiest couples need to stay in touch every day.

Although Xia Shen and Yan Yan were both busy with training, this was also the case.

After the national competition, Yan Yan also successfully finished her high school studies.

With both of them having more free time, they started contacting each other much more frequently.

But after Yan Yan sent Xia Shen a message each morning and noon that day and received no reply, she panicked.

This had never happened before.

Of course, she wouldn't let herself think about random things; her first reaction was that Xia Shen was in trouble.

Being a trainer is inherently a high-risk profession, and being stronger does not necessarily mean lower risk.

The saying "Even the best swimmers can drown" applies here as well.

Yan Yan knew that Xia Shen was not an arrogant person, but ever since she met him, the mysterious aura surrounding him had always troubled her.

While Xia Shen's exaggerated and somewhat frightening achievements definitely stem from this, it doesn't mean the risks are zero.

Therefore, the sensitive and meticulous Yan Yan was always afraid of this.

Finally, that day came.

Xia Shen has gone missing!

After booking her flight to Chongqing, she immediately found Ye Rou, who was closest to Xia Shen.

The feedback Yan Yan received from Ye Rou almost made her faint.

Yesterday, Xia Shen spent the entire day researching a place where there was a possibility of no return.

And the next day, he disappeared!

She hung up the phone with her mind blank, then called the person she trusted most, Yan Jing.

At that time, Yan Jing was handling work on Xicui Island when he heard his daughter say in a tearful voice, "Xia Shen is missing." Without hesitation, he rode the fossil pterosaur back to Zhijiang.

Two hours later, they arrived in Wudu from Zhijiang, at the Seven Stars Martial Arts Academy.

…………

Qiyao Martial Arts Hall, Mu Yao Hall.

It's the same eight-immortal table, but today the atmosphere is terrifying.

Grandpa Ye was no longer in the mood to serve tea to the two guests who had come from afar; instead, he was deep in thought with a serious expression.

He suddenly looked up and asked abruptly, "When was it finally confirmed that Xia Shen was still in... this world?"

"This morning." Yan Yan's voice was low and a little hoarse, and he shook his head violently as soon as he finished speaking.

"No, he didn't reply to my messages before going to bed last night. I thought he went to bed early, so I didn't pay attention."

Grandpa Ye nodded solemnly, "Then he must have been taken to that world by the Lord of Fengdu last night. I have never heard of the Lord of Fengdu appearing during the day."

But then he muttered to himself, negating his previous thought, "That's not right... The Lord of Fengdu never takes living people away, unless..."

"impossible!"

Yan Yan no longer cared about manners; she almost shrieked as she interrupted Old Master Ye's obviously implied words, her voice sharp and frightening.

No one blamed her; though they couldn't fully comprehend her feelings, they understood them perfectly.

“I also think it’s impossible.” Ye Rou suddenly remembered something, her eyes lighting up. “I just went to Xia Shen’s dormitory, and all the elves are gone.”

"Even if what Grandpa said is true... it's impossible for something so bizarre to happen, right? So Xia Shen must have gone to that place on his own initiative!"

Ye Rou's reasoning was simple, yet it was flawless logic. Both Grandpa Ye and Yan Jing, who had been silent, nodded in agreement.

Yan Yan, who had been pretending to be calm for a long time, finally couldn't hold back and covered her face to weep.

He vented all his worries and fears at once.

At least, the worst-case scenario has been definitively ruled out.

Hearing Yan Yan's unrestrained crying, like a baby, Old Master Ye sighed.