Chapter 819: Chapter 690: Dawn Belief

Xu Shuo looked at her lazily: “Spit it out if you have something to say, I don’t have all day to waste here with you.”

The Ice and Snow Elf struggled and hesitated for a long time, her eyes pallid as she spoke to him: “I can tell you everything, but I also hope you will not destroy the last of our bloodline, otherwise we’ll have no choice but to keep you here no matter what!”

She didn’t put much force into her last sentence, but it was laden with an almost extreme murderous intent.

Xu Shuo raised his eyebrows slightly: “As long as it doesn’t harm the Holy See of Light, it’s fine. Go ahead.”

They had come all this long way here exactly to solve the potential threat of the Elf Clan once and for all.

But having encountered a crucial plot point, and having had to fight a tough battle to get to this point, none of them minded stopping to learn more.

As for resolving the potential threat.

Since they were already there, it wouldn’t be too late to deal with it after they had learned everything.

Thus, the three of them assumed a serious look of listening intently.

It’s only then that the Ice and Snow Elf solemnly said: “After the battle a thousand years ago, our Ice and Snow Elf Clan suffered from the Dragon Clan’s curse, which halved our natural lifespan from a hundred years.”

The lifespan of the Elf Clan and humans was actually not much different, only about a few decades longer than that of humans, and they basically didn’t age.

But conversely, their fertility rate was very low.

What you gain you also lose.

Yet, a more tragic ordeal for the Elf Clan was the grudge from the giant dragon’s war against them, when they invaded the Holy Land of Elves and left a Curse transmitted through bloodline.

Their number of offspring was already few and the already scant bloodline suffered further in the aftermath of the war.

But actually, that’s not even the primary issue.

“We Ice and Snow Elves have always worshiped the Goddess of Dawn, who shielded us from the wind and snow, and also blessed us with the Power of Wind and Snow.”

She paused there.

Then she continued hesitantly, “This Floating Island was also formed from the Power of Faith, which can protect us from invasions and harm from the outside world and provide the power needed for our bloodline to thrive. Worshiping Dawn is not just for seeking protection, She has become a part of the Ice and Snow Elves’ heritage.”

Her words were vague, and she still seemed hesitant, as if she was fearing something.

Xu Shuo, however, had already realized something, and his eyes narrowed slightly as he said, “Has your Sacred Tree of the Elves and the Dawn Belief merged into one?”

As he finished his question, the Ice and Snow Elf looked at him fearfully.

“It seems so.” Xu Shuo smiled.

“You…you’ve already guessed…”

The Ice and Snow Elf’s expression turned bitter: “Yes, the Sacred Tree of the Elves and the Dawn Belief have merged into one. But the Power of Faith is diminishing irreversibly, and the faith of our Elf Clan alone is no longer sufficient to sustain the Dawn Belief, much less maintain this Holy Land. We can only…”

Spiritual faith was no longer enough to satisfy the Dawn.

To perpetuate their bloodline, the Ice and Snow Elves had no choice but to devote their bodies to the Power of Faith in order to sustain the existence of the Sacred Tree.

The Sacred Tree merging with belief means belief is the watering canal.

If the belief persists, the Tree lives.

Conversely, if the belief wanes, the Tree withers.

If the Sacred Tree of the Elves withers, it means the Ice and Snow Elves will no longer be able to birth new offspring, and now with the Dragon Clan’s Curse upon them, they are already facing extinction.

“The one who left for the human continent from the Holy Land was Catalina’s elder sister; she was the previous Executor of Dawn, and her life was at its end.”

The Ice and Snow Elf said in a low voice, “She had to go to the human continent because there was no other choice. Our Elf Clan is waning, and now only the Executor of Dawn can survive in this world. If no new Power of Faith is added, then the Sacred Tree will completely die. By then, all our existences, which rely on the faith to exist, will vanish completely, and the Ice and Snow Elf Clan will no longer exist in this world…”

Her voice was filled with sorrow and desperation towards the end.

The Elf Clan had tried every possible method over the last thousand years.

Yet nothing could prevent this outcome from arriving.

They could only watch powerlessly as the Holy Tree withered day by day, their kin one by one sacrificing themselves to the Tree, becoming the Power of Faith that nourished it.

However, even this could not stop the inevitable.

It was as if they were on a road with a marked end and outcome, with no chance to turn back, nor any forks in the road that could change the result, only the despair to keep moving towards the impending cliff.

This sense of hopelessness is torturous and agonizing.

The Ice and Snow Elves do not go mad over it; their obsession lies solely in their bloodline, their obsession is the continuation of their race.

Retracing their steps to the human continent.

Is their last glimmer of hope.

Xu Shuo pondered, “So, you’re thinking of seeking the faith of humans once more?”

The Ice and Snow Elf bowed her head and remained silent.

It was clear she tacitly agreed.

Though humans have short lifespans, their numbers are in the billions, with an exceedingly high birth rate.

The power of faith they can generate is immense.

Having listened for a while, Zuo Fang could not help but interject with a sarcastic remark: “Just relying on her? A thousand years ago, so many of you and so many Magical Beasts failed, and now you want to try again? Isn’t this just daydreaming?”

Chided like this, the already dispirited Ice and Snow Elf couldn’t help but glare at him with displeasure.

“What, you disagree?” Zuo Fang sneered.

“This is our last chance. The Holy See of Light wants to seize the rule over humans, so we can take advantage of the Imperial Royal Family this time,” said the Ice and Snow Elf, pursing her lips.

“…?”

Zuo Fang blinked, expressing confusion with his punctuation.

He subconsciously looked to the people next to him, only to find that the pair were expressionless.

If Duke of Silver didn’t speak, he could merge into the wind and snow seamlessly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shuo quietly said: “The Ice and Snow Elves live secluded lives; how then do you know of the affairs of the human world?”

The Ice and Snow Elf glanced at him, “At this point, there’s no harm in telling you. Before the war for the power of faith began a thousand years ago, our High Priest had already foreseen it, and it’s the same today.”

Zuo Fang was somewhat surprised: “You can prophesy?!”

Seeing his reaction, the Ice and Snow Elf’s demeanor revealed a trace of pride, a hint of arrogance appearing on her face.

Even as the Elf Clan faces extinction.

They still retain their pride!

Zuo Fang then shook his head and clicked his tongue, “Pity though, you could foresee the beginning, but not the outcome, right? Otherwise, why such a miserable loss a thousand years ago~”

The Ice and Snow Elf’s face stiffened.

She didn’t retort.

Because the statement was not wrong–unable to foresee the outcome, that was indeed the fact.

But she still glared fiercely at Zuo Fang.

She then turned to Xu Shuo and said, “I have said all that I can say. Regarding this trip to the human continent, we actually hold no hope. I merely implore you to spare the last bloodline of our Elf Clan.”

After saying this, the Ice and Snow Elf looked at him with nervousness and longing, as if waiting for judgment to be handed down.

The three of them had by now clearly understood the whole situation. Xu Shuo signaled to them with his eyes, and they stepped aside to whisper amongst themselves.

…

Zuo Fang immediately asked with enthusiasm: “What do you think, should we go straight to chopping down the tree?”

Xu Shuo paused before he could speak, giving him a look.

Duke of Silver also paused and gave him a look.

Zuo Fang: “???”

Zuo Fang was full of question marks: “Don’t just throw glances, can’t we waste some more saliva here?”

Xu Shuo said with a smile: “Instead of cutting down the tree and facing an explosion from the Elves at their last breath, why not simply persuade them, make the remaining one serve us?”

…