"Let them suffer a setback. Survival of the fittest is the natural order," Hei Ru said coldly.
"For years, the Dark Forest has acted superior, forgetting to improve their strength. That is why they face this result today. Fortunately, they have discovered this flaw. If they correct it now, it is not too late. If they encounter stronger enemies in the future without fixing this, it will be disastrous. Remember one thing: this world respects the strong. This current situation is best. It teaches them they are not yet strong. To become strong, they must work harder."
"Lord Hei Ru, what do we do next? We only have five thousand people left?" Wu Shang asked seriously.
"I have sent a message back to the Dark Forest to send fifty thousand reinforcements," Hei Ru said calmly. "I originally thought ten thousand would be enough for such a weak place as the Lucky Forest. But now I see that is not enough. The people inside, whether elves, beastmen, or dwarves, may not have high cultivation, but their team spirit is strong. To defeat them, we must apply external pressure. We need more numbers."
She paused briefly, then continued as if she had already decided: "Everyone rest for these few days. In fifteen days, fifty thousand disciples will arrive. Then we will arrange the second attack."
Hei Ru sneered, "I, Hei Ru, do not know the words 'retreat in the face of difficulty.' Since I am here, I will either conquer the Lucky Forest, or I will be defeated by it."
Looking at the Lucky Forest shrouded in white mist, Wu Shang felt a very bad premonition. He felt the Lucky Forest was not this simple. But now, there was no turning back. They could only move forward.
Hei Ru ordered his men to rest and did not approach the Lucky Forest. This caused some anxiety among the people inside.
Zhu Yanyi noticed this and frowned slightly. She went to find the Elf Queen. "Your Majesty, you must send people to handle the psychological state of the Lucky Forest residents. If they are anxious now, they will lose calm judgment when the enemy truly attacks."
The Elf Queen nodded. "I will go discuss this with Clan Leader Gan and Clan Leader Liu immediately."
The Elf Queen acted quickly. After consulting with Gan Lang and Liu Jin, she held a meeting for the entire Lucky Forest to address the issue of anxiety.
Finally, the Elf Queen said, "The Lucky Forest is our home. I know you dislike the strangers outside. But remember, we live by rules. We must not leave the Lucky Forest. As long as they do not enter, what does it matter if they surround us? Inside the Lucky Forest, we lack nothing—no food, no drink, no happiness. Why should we be anxious?"
"Your Majesty, we are unwilling. Those people walk around outside constantly, not attacking. It is annoying to watch," someone said.
The Elf Queen smiled gently. "My child, they hope we are annoyed. The more we are anxious, the better for them. I suspect they want us to be chaotic. Then, when they attack, it will be twice as effective for them."
The Elf Queen paused for a moment before continuing, "I do not wish to hide anything. To be honest, according to the latest news, fifty thousand disciples from the Dark Forest have set out. They will arrive in about half a month. If you remain as restless as you are now, I believe we will not need enemies to defeat us. We will likely lose quickly, and without even fighting."
Everyone listened carefully to the Elf Queen’s words. They thought deeply about her meaning. Indeed, her words were profound. They realized that if they remained restless, they could not face the enemy calmly.
Without calmness, they could not judge the enemy well. Without good judgment, they would lose control in battle. Then, they might not only lose their own lives but also endanger their companions.
Thinking of this, everyone in the Lucky Forest lowered their heads in shame.
Seeing this, the Elf Queen nodded slightly. It was good that they understood now. She continued, "Now that you understand, I am relieved. We cannot control many things, but we must control our own behavior. Most importantly, we must take responsibility."
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. We were wrong," people began to apologize one by one.
The Elf Queen smiled. "It is good that you realize your mistake. Now that we have recognized it, we must correct it. First, we must not let this restlessness grow. We must control it, calm our minds, and welcome the coming battle with the best attitude."
The Elf Queen turned to Zhu Yanyi. "Yanyi, please speak to everyone about the upcoming war."
Zhu Yanyi paused for a moment, then looked at everyone in the Lucky Forest. "This is the war where you truly prove your strength.
In this war, none of the students from the Sage Academy will fight. We will only watch from the side. Unless someone is injured and brought to us, we will help treat their wounds as healers. We will not participate in the front-line combat. Do not be afraid. We know this is your own battlefield."
Zhu Yanyi paused again. "I heard that the Lucky Forest was once called the Bright Forest. However, due to an inappropriate battle, most of the Bright Forest’s elites disappeared. Only the seeds of light remained—your ancestors.
The situation of the Bright Forest gradually shrank. But your ancestors were lucky to preserve the seeds of light, which are you.
Therefore, for them, this forest is lucky, hence the name Lucky Forest. But I believe the Lucky Forest was fortunate to nurture you, the seeds of light. Should you not strive for your Bright Forest? You should exert your abilities to restore the honor of the past."
Zhu Yanyi paused here. "Do not think I am lying. Do not think I am just talking empty words."