Muxuan and Qiansitelin felt a flicker of caution at the guard’s sudden kneeling and respectful address, but their faces betrayed nothing.
Just as Muxuan had thought, since the title “Honored Guest of the Airedolia Empire” was unexpectedly convenient, there was no harm in accepting it for now.
After all, they had never intended to correct Ailiya’s misunderstanding in the first place.
If the truth came out, they would adapt on the spot.
Muxuan simply gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping over the guards’ heads without emotion, her posture naturally carrying an air of refined detachment unique to those of higher status.
Qiansitelin, on the other hand, maintained her vigilant stance.
Her cold eyes scanned the guards and the curious elves around them, letting a hint of the Deep Sea Layer’s pressure seep out as a silent warning.
With just a quick glance, Qiansitelin confirmed that most elves in Biercuiluoda were only Gray-White Grade, without even a solidified Core, and that Deep Black Grade was exceedingly rare.
Though their strength was weak, Qiansitelin dared not let her guard down.
The two elf guards felt that pressure and were inwardly startled.
Without receiving clear orders, they did not dare rise on their own.
“Rise.”
Muxuan’s voice was calm, carrying just the right amount of authority.
“Yes, Honored Guest!”
The two guards stood up as if pardoned, quickly retreating to either side of the vine corridor to clear the path, their heads bowed, not daring to look again.
Ailiya watched from the side, her heart surging with excitement.
Her eyes practically sparkled as she looked at Muxuan and Qiansitelin.
She quickly shuffled forward, returning to the front to lead the way, her tone even more eager than before.
“This way, Lady! Saint Delosia Academy is in the central area of Biercuiluoda. We’ll follow the main vine corridor first.”
The wonders of Biercuiluoda unfolded before Muxuan’s eyes: aerial vine bridges intertwined like rainbows, emitting a soft glow.
Muxuan’s gaze appeared casual as she took in the dreamlike canopy city, but she still alertly captured every detail.
The Life Energy in the air was so rich it was intoxicating, yet the strange silence from the forest edge earlier kept her nerves taut and unable to fully relax.
‘Weird… If the Elven Forest has been eroded by Corruption, it shouldn’t be showing such abundant Life Energy. Could it be the Elf Holy Tree? But… shouldn’t that have also run into problems for the Elven Forest to end up like this?’
Then Muxuan shook her head.
Thinking so much now was pointless.
Until she confirmed the state of the Elf Holy Tree, no one would know its current condition.
At least for now, Biercuiluoda seemed safe…
Well, on the surface, it looked peaceful and harmonious.
As she pondered, Muxuan noticed that some elves, after glancing at Qiansitelin, would briefly stare at her face.
Especially when they saw her silver-white hair, the curiosity and respect in their eyes deepened noticeably.
This confirmed that the guard’s reaction was not an isolated case.
But… was this identity based on hair color?
Watching Ailiya’s back as she led the way with light, self-satisfied steps, Muxuan’s doubts only grew.
Just how many “Airedolia Empire residents” were there in Ailiya’s words?
What role did they play here?
And why had silver hair become such a clear marker of identity?
She finally couldn’t hold back.
Slowing her pace, she asked Ailiya in a seemingly casual tone.
“Ailiya.”
“Lady? Do you have any instructions?”
Ailiya immediately stopped and turned, her bright green eyes shining as she looked over.
Muxuan chose her words carefully, as if asking about something she should already know but wanted to confirm a detail.
“The elves who came here from the Airedolia Empire… or rather, people like us with ties to the Airedolia Empire… are there many?”
Ailiya blinked, as if not fully grasping the focus of Muxuan’s question.
She had previously assumed these two ladies were distinguished guests “from the Airedolia Empire,” but Muxuan specifically mentioning “ties” and “elves” gave her pause.
Still, Ailiya’s mind was quick, and she immediately “understood.”
Her expression shifted to an “Oh, I see,” and she quickly explained.
“No, Lady. People like you who actually come from the Airedolia Empire are quite rare.”
“A long time ago, the elves and the Airedolia Empire formed marital alliances. The imperial family, great nobles, and the Silver Moon Elf ladies all have silver hair.”
“So, with this trait, it’s easy to identify your status, Lady.”
That said, when Ailiya first met Qiansitelin and Muxuan, she hadn’t thought of this at all… after all, she rarely had the chance to see such important figures.
Muxuan nodded thoughtfully.
So her own trait had been mistaken for that of a mixed-blood elf noble born in the Airedolia Empire?
She quirked her lips, but it actually made a fair amount of sense.
At least it provided a smooth identity cover for the time being, saving them from a lot of unnecessary questioning and hassle.
She glanced at Qiansitelin, who clearly understood the implication as well.
Then Muxuan nodded at Ailiya, signaling for her to continue leading the way.
Ailiya guided Muxuan and Qiansitelin through the intertwined vine corridors and platforms of Biercuiluoda, which felt like the city’s lifeblood.
Indeed, the silver hair brought considerable convenience.
At many guarded posts, a single glance at Muxuan’s silver hair was enough for the guards to bow and let them pass without any obstruction.
Ailiya, leading the way, couldn’t help feeling a bit smug.
Having guards bow to her? That was a first!
Muxuan, meanwhile, kept observing her surroundings.
She keenly noticed that as they slowly approached the central area, the architectural style was subtly changing.
The elves’ organic buildings, which clung to giant tree branches, covered in moss and flowers, and exuded a flowing natural grace, gradually gave way to more rigid brick structures.
Ahead, the entire view was dominated by a solemn, majestic presence.
It was Saint Delosia Magic Academy.
It stood on a vast open platform, no longer attached to a single giant tree.
Rather, it seemed as if the branches of several ancient trees had been guided and reshaped by powerful forces to support a grand fortress together.
The academy’s outer walls were constructed of massive, polished white stone blocks, their lines simple yet strong, radiating the characteristic solidity of Dwarf architecture and the geometric beauty of the Airedolia Empire’s buildings.
However, it wasn’t entirely lacking in elven style.
On the white walls, shimmering emerald vines climbed, winding along the mysterious patterns carved into the stone.
At the tips of the vines bloomed translucent magical flowers, emitting pure Life Energy, which certainly tempered the cold hardness of the stone.
And those prominent runes, like flowing liquid metal, were deeply embedded in the mortar between stones, emitting a steady blue or golden glow, bestowing an invisible yet solid protective barrier upon the entire structure.
Muxuan examined it carefully, feeling a sense of awe.
The magnificent sanctity of the Holy City of the Church was completely different from this academy.
This truly was a hall that blended elven elegance, dwarven solidity, and human wisdom, all in service of magical study.
Unlike other areas of Biercuiluoda that fully embraced nature, this place carried an independent, imposing academic air, towering high and overlooking the elven capital.
At that moment, the academy’s two gates, forged of mithril alloy and engraved with intricate patterns, were tightly shut.
On the spacious plaza in front of the gates, a few elven students in academy uniforms hurried past, and several figures in mentor robes conversed in low voices.
Ailiya’s steps came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.
She looked up at the closed, massive doors, and the brightness in her eyes instantly dimmed.
Her small shoulders drooped slightly, and even the herbs in her wicker basket seemed to wilt.
“As expected… it’s closed again,”
Ailiya murmured softly, her voice carrying deep regret and reluctance, barely a whisper.
“The review just ended yesterday… and the gates are already shut today.”
“Before, I could use the excuse of delivering herbs to beg the guards to let me sneak a peek inside…”
Entering Saint Delosia Academy and becoming one of its members was a dream buried deep in her heart, one she had almost considered hopeless.
Every time she approached this place, that desire burned hotter than ever.
Now, that dream seemed to be shut out again by the cold reality of the closed gates.
Yet, this disappointment only lasted a short while.
Ailiya’s gaze instinctively moved away from the sealed doors and quickly shifted to Muxuan beside her.
She stared at Muxuan’s silver-white hair, which shone even in Biercuiluoda, at her calm green eyes, and recalled how she had drunk the precious Sacred Tree Essence Potion, and even forced the cold Oak Guardian to yield.
A thought rapidly filled Ailiya’s mind.
This lady’s goal was also here.
Maybe… maybe there was a way.
The dullness in her eyes reignited with light, even brighter than before, filled with anticipation.
Ailiya cautiously edged half a step closer to Muxuan, tilted her face up, her green eyes clearly reflecting Muxuan’s figure.
She lowered her voice, thick with hope.
“L-Lady?”
“What do we… do now? D-do you have a way in?”
For some reason, Ailiya was certain that the two ladies before her would definitely find a way to enter.
And if she could seize this opportunity…
Muxuan withdrew her gaze from the majestic Saint Delosia building, let it fall on the sealed doors, and finally settled on Ailiya’s small face, which was full of hope and expectation.
Muxuan understood in her heart.
This elven girl had placed all her hopes of entering the academy on her.
Too bad…
Muxuan smiled bitterly to herself.
What privileges or connections did she have?
Even the pretense of “Honored Guest of the Airedolia Empire” wasn’t real.
They were complete newcomers to Biercuiluoda.
Still, their main goal in coming to the Elven Forest was to approach the Elf Holy Tree.
And since Saint Delosia Academy was the easiest way to reach it, no matter what, they had to find a way in.
They couldn’t just try to go directly to the elven high council because others thought they were honored guests of the Airedolia Empire, could they?
Besides, the Elven Forest gave off more than just a strange feeling.