The trunk of the Ancient Tree of Life was engraved with countless tiny patterns. Each pattern was only the size of a thumb, and the mana fluctuations emitted by each pattern were completely different. There was even a wisp of soul aura on those tiny patterns.
That wisp of soul aura, along with a wisp of mana, was bound within those tiny patterns.
These were the Life Patterns of Dark Elves. Every Dark Elf would come here after obtaining their first magic pattern and carve their own Life Patterns on the Ancient Tree of Life. Each Life Pattern belonged to a Dark Elf, and there was a wisp of mana sealed within, as well as a wisp of soul aura.
The Ancient Tree of Life would protect these Life Patterns, and as long as the Ancient Tree of Life wasn't destroyed, these Life Patterns would be destroyed.
The only condition for these Life Patterns to disappear was that the owner of the Life Pattern had perished. After a lifeform perished, the soul aura and mana sealed within the Life Pattern would mysteriously lose their source, and that wisp of soul aura and mana would also dissipate.
The death of a Dark Elf would cause a Life Pattern to disappear from the Ancient Tree of Life. But now, there was a large area of the Ancient Tree of Life without a Life Pattern. This meant that at least several hundred Dark Elves had perished.
The old man standing in front of the Ancient Tree of Life frowned and whispered, "Pass down the order to convene the Elder Council."
Half an hour later, in a huge treehouse, a group of Dark Elves with solemn expressions sat around a huge round table.
The seat of honor was empty, it was the seat of the Great Elder. And on the left, at the forefront, sat that old Dark Elf with white hair and beard. He was the 2nd Elder of the Dark Elven Clan.
Behind him were the 4th Elder, Elsa, and a few Dark Elven Deacons.
Sitting at the forefront on the right was Jers' father, 3rd Elder Brewster, followed by the 5th Elder and a group of Dark Elven Deacons.
Apart from the Great Elder who was still in the lightless dreamland, everyone else had already arrived at the Elder Council's meeting.
After everyone arrived, the 2nd Elder had a worried expression and took the initiative to speak.
"I believe everyone already knows the reason for this Elder's Meeting. A group of six hundred and sixty-three mages that went out to hunt have all died. Their Life Patterns have all disappeared. In other words, the entire hunting group disappeared without a trace. Not a single message was sent back."
"The Dark Elves have never been afraid of dying in battle. Falling in battle is the highest honor of the Dark Elves. But this time, 663 people, including the Nighthawks that they brought with them, didn't send back any news at all. It was as if they disappeared without a trace. Tell me what you think."
Since the Great Elder wasn't here, the Second Elder was the only one who could speak about this matter.
The Fourth Elder sitting below the Second Elder was a middle-aged female elf. At this moment, the Fourth Elder's face was as cold as ice. "For so long, the number of times this situation has occurred can be counted with one's fingers. I believe everyone understands why. In the past few times, it was always the other two races who caused this. This time, it will definitely be the same!"
"Only those two races would understand us so well, to the point that the hunting group couldn't send back any information. They understand the methods we often use, and if they had any bad intentions, they would definitely be able to sneak attack the hunting group. In my opinion, it's definitely the work of those evil Ash Beastmen."
Elsa, who was sitting next to the 4th Elder, added with a calm expression, "That's right, our relationship with the Ash Beastmen has been getting worse and worse. This time, a few hundred clansmen disappeared without a trace, so it's definitely their doing. We should send people to investigate the Ash Beastman Tribe, there must be some clues we can find."
The 2nd Elder nodded and said with some worry, "If it was really the Ash Beastmen, then it wouldn't be good. Their tribe is stronger than our Dark Elven Clan to begin with, and if they are so bold as to make a move against us, they might be able to inflict heavy losses on us …"
The 3rd Elder, who was sitting opposite the 2nd Elder, had a solemn expression as he objected, "I don't think so. If we provoke the Ash Beastmen under uncertain circumstances, those guys with Abyssal Demon Bloodline would definitely use this as an excuse to cause trouble. On the contrary, I feel that there is a huge conspiracy behind this."
"The tribe has been peaceful for so long, how could there suddenly be a problem now? Why didn't those Ash Beastmen make a move before? Why are they so ruthless this time? This is definitely a premeditated sneak attack! "
"Everyone, our tribe has been peaceful for so many years, so how could it suddenly not be peaceful now? What had happened recently that was not peaceful? Or is there some change in the tribe? This is definitely an omen! "
The 3rd Elder had a serious expression, and the others also had expressions of approval when they heard this. They all pondered over what had happened recently.
"If you want to talk about changes, it's those outsiders."
The 5th Elder, who was sitting next to the 3rd Elder, had a gloomy expression as he sneered.
The 3rd Elder's face turned ashen when he heard this. "Hmpf! Turns out it was those outsiders! No wonder, I already knew that those outsiders were up to no good. A few days ago, I noticed that someone was disturbing the peace of the tribe, and when I went to investigate, I found out that it was those outsiders. They were actually casting spells in the tribe and even injured the tribe's people … "
The 5th Elder had a gloomy expression as he angrily said, "What! They actually dared to cast spells in the tribe and even injured the tribe's people? They are simply lawless! Why haven't they arrested those outsiders yet? This kind of thing happened in the tribe when they arrived, and they even dared to attack people. These outsiders are definitely plotting something! "
The words of the two Elders, coupled with the guidance of the 3rd Elder, immediately made the Deacons angry. They all started questioning why they hadn't arrested those outsiders.
"Arrest them!"
"These outsiders are definitely plotting something!"
"Damnit, it must be them! Everything that happened in the tribe recently is related to them!"
The huge conference hall became chaotic in an instant.
Elsa suddenly panicked. She didn't understand how the discussion had turned to Merlin.
'Damnit, what's going on with these people? How did they get Merlin involved? Don't these people know how frightening Merlin is? Heavens, do they want to bury the entire tribe?
No good, I have to stop them! '
"3rd Elder, I already explained it before, it was your son Jers who attacked first, Merlin was only protecting himself. How could that be considered disturbing the peace of the tribe?"
Elsa anxiously stood up and questioned the 3rd Elder.
The 3rd Elder calmly nodded, "I said that Jers wasn't as skilled as others, that's his problem, but I personally saw that outsider knock Jers to the ground and even tried to kill him. This is a serious violation of the tribe's laws. I believe Her Highness Elsa is very clear about this."
Elsa didn't say anything as the 3rd Elder suddenly changed the topic, "But since Her Highness Elsa testified, then this matter should be investigated. Let's put it aside for the time being. I want to ask Her Highness Elsa about another matter. "
Elsa froze, she couldn't react at all. 'When did the 3rd Elder become so easy to talk to?'
'Fortunately, it doesn't involve Merlin. It looks like the 3rd Elder already understands that he can't make an enemy out of Merlin. He still puts the tribe's interests first …'
Elsa faintly sighed in relief, but the 3rd Elder kept asking.
"Her Highness Elsa, I know that going out to hunt is very dangerous, but this time, Her Highness Elsa brought over a thousand people, why did less than ten return? "Moreover, she just happened to bring back those outsiders. I already asked those loyal Dark Elves, and the main reason for such a huge loss was those outsiders. I hope Her Highness Elsa can give everyone a reasonable explanation."
A trace of anger flashed on Elsa's face, but she didn't say anything before the 4th Elder pulled her back and said with a cold expression, "This matter has already been reported to the Elder Council. I believe everyone knows that not only did we encounter an Orachiss, but we also mistakenly entered the Night Valley and even met the genius Duncan from a millennium ago. Is there anyone here who has the confidence to come back alive?"
Elsa hurriedly added, "That's right, we were able to come back alive because of Merlin's help. Without Merlin's help, none of us would have been able to come back alive!"
The 5th Elder had a gloomy expression as he indifferently said, "This is only your side of the story, who knows if it is true or false?"
The 3rd Elder glanced at the 5th Elder and reprimanded him, "How could you doubt Her Highness Elsa! Her Highness Elsa definitely wouldn't lie about this matter! "
Then, the 3rd Elder looked around before looking at Elsa. "Her Highness Elsa, I want to ask you some questions. I hope you can answer them truthfully."
"Her Highness Elsa, were you attacked by the Orachiss after encountering those outsiders?"
Elsa hesitated, she looked around and couldn't help nodding.
"Then, Her Highness Elsa, were those outsiders the ones who led you to the Night Valley?"
Elsa immediately reacted and promptly explained, "It was like that, but …"
The 3rd Elder waved his hand, interrupting Elsa's words with a cold expression, "And after those outsiders came to the tribe, some things happened. First, they clashed with the tribe's people, and after a few days, several hundred elites inexplicably disappeared. Everything is related to those outsiders!"
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