Chapter 1999

Chapter 1999: The Forest of Light

"Five thousand enemies have arrived. That is quite a large number," Zhu Yanyi said with a faint smile.

Sikong Xuran replied, "Regardless, the Lucky Forest will not lose."

"I know that without you telling me," Zhu Yanyi answered. "However, this war will be a test of blood and tears."

Those who had experienced war, like Zhu Yanyi, understood that every conflict was a trial of blood and tears. The people of the Lucky Forest were originally simple and pure. This war might mean losing family, friends, or lovers in the future. Yet, this was inevitable. It was also their chance to rise from the ashes like a phoenix.

The next day, fifty thousand soldiers from the Dark Forest stood outside the perimeter of the Lucky Forest. The Elf Queen, Liu Jin, and Gan Lang hovered in the air, observing the scene.

Hei Ru looked at the Elf Queen. "If the White Great Shaman’s clone does not appear now, will there be no such person as the White Great Shaman in the future?"

The Elf Queen glanced at Hei Ru and smiled slightly. "Is this what you call the White Great Shaman’s clone?" She waved her hand gently. Instantly, her appearance changed into that of the White Great Shaman. "Is this what you mean?"

"You disguised yourself as the White Great Shaman?" Hei Ru was shocked. He remembered Gan Lang insisting there was no clone. He had not believed it, but now he saw the truth.

The Elf Queen returned to her original, cold demeanor. "My people of the Lucky Forest needed time to grow. When you attacked the first time, I was not ready. So, I used the Empty City Strategy."

"What? You used the Empty City Strategy on us?" Wu Shang and Ruan Mengtuo’s expressions changed. They could not believe they had fallen for a trick.

"Yes, I did. And it worked. I bought my children a few months of time. Now, they are ready. They have learned many skills. But to use these skills well, they need a test of blood and fire. You have come at the right time. Let them undergo this new baptism. Only through this can they have a new life."

The Elf Queen spoke slowly, without urgency. This calmness made Hei Ru and the others from the Dark Forest feel frustrated, as if their anger had nowhere to go.

"Why did you do this?" Hei Ru asked, his tone harsh.

"For my children to grow, and for the Forest of Light to return, I had to do this." The Elf Queen did not reveal that this was Zhu Yanyi’s plan. She preferred to take the blame herself.

"Elf Queen, as elves, especially Light Elves, you should be pure. How can you know such deceitful ways?" Ruan Mengtuo asked, confused.

"I learned from you," the Elf Queen answered stubbornly. "Do you people of the Dark Forest not love such twisted tactics? Of course, you do." She paused. "The children of the Lucky Forest are very pure. But this purity does not mean stupidity. You cannot use our purity to achieve your goals."

The Elf Queen’s eyes shone brightly as she stared at Hei Ru. "Hei Ru, let this Queen see how capable you truly are. I hope you leave more of your people behind this time."

After speaking, she waved her hand again. The surrounding fog grew thicker. The Elf Queen, along with Liu Jin and Gan Lang, returned to their positions, waiting for the battle to begin.

This war was started by the Dark Forest. The Lucky Forest was merely defending. Therefore, once the enemies entered, everyone in the Lucky Forest could fight back. Hei Ru knew this.

Hei Ru trusted the abilities of his disciples. However, the people of the Lucky Forest had the advantage of the terrain. With the white fog swirling around, both heaven and earth favored the Lucky Forest.

But Hei Ru would not retreat without fighting. That was not her character. She would still attack. This was what Zhu Yanyi had called "knowing there are tigers on the mountain, yet walking toward them anyway."

"Lord Hei Ru, what should we do now?" Wu Shang asked.

Hei Ru raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to return without achieving anything?"

"No." As disciples of the Dark Forest, they knew the punishment for failure. Failure was not scary; making excuses for failure was. Therefore, retreating without fighting was absolutely forbidden.

Hei Ru nodded. "Since you do not want to, prepare yourselves. When I tear a hole in this formation, you enter. There are no cowards in the Dark Forest."

Wu Shang and Ruan Mengtuo understood that the arrow was on the string and had to be shot. Even though the situation felt unfavorable, they had to attack and could not retreat.

"Yes," Wu Shang and Ruan Mengtuo agreed and went to issue the attack orders.

About twenty minutes later, Wu Shang and Ruan Mengtuo returned to Hei Ru. "Lord Hei Ru, everything is ready."

Hei Ru nodded in satisfaction. He made several gestures with his hands, and a gap about ten meters wide appeared in the formation. "Attack."

This was a real war. No one knew how long it would last. From this moment on, the scent of blood filled the entire Lucky Forest.

Some people in the Lucky Forest were not used to such situations, but none of them retreated. They continuously used their abilities to fight back against the invaders.

A faint red tint slowly appeared in the white fog. Zhu Yanyi saw this and felt a sense of emotion. War was ruthless. No one could show mercy in war. Showing mercy in war was playing with one’s own life.

Fortunately, the Lucky Forest had prepared thoroughly. Although there was war, the number of deaths on their side was not as high as that of the Dark Forest.

What moved Zhu Yanyi most was the way the beastmen chose to die together with their enemies. She clearly saw a leopard-man. Seeing her teammates killed and surrounded by more than ten disciples of the Dark Forest, she smiled calmly and exploded herself. This explosion took the lives of the more than ten Dark Forest disciples surrounding her.

War was cruel, but it was also realistic. Those who survived the cruel temporary war were all elites.