Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords

After an unknown period, the illuminated crystals on the wall abruptly went dark.

Here, deep underground, the winding tunnels blocked any possibility of light refraction, leaving only a darkness where one could barely see their own fingers.

"It's so dark," the Lord finally couldn't bear the silence, his voice piercing the otherwise soundless space.

A hand suddenly took hold of the Lord's, warm and soft to the touch, a whisper reaching Li Wei's ear, accompanied by a fragrant breeze that diluted the tunnel's indescribable odor.

"We're almost there, don't wander off."

The Lord recognized the hand as Aisha's, and not wanting to blunder around blindly, stayed close behind her.

After walking for some time, Li Wei noticed a faint azure light ahead.

They quickened their pace, like moths drawn to a candle flame.

As they approached, the light grew larger, from the size of a grain of rice to that of a basketball...

Li Wei took the final step.

Thud.

Instantly, the scene before them was as bright as day, illuminating everything with stark clarity, and the result was...

"Holy crap," Li Wei blurted out, unable to contain his reaction, like a country bumpkin visiting a brothel for the first time and seeing a seductively alluring prostitute.

He could hardly be blamed for his astonishment. Unlike the narrow and oppressive tunnel, before them was a vast, ever-descending mine shaft, its ceiling easily ten times his height above them.

He stood on a tiled platform, with elaborate metal supports bracing the mine shaft. Countless thick ropes hung down along the pit walls.

Looking down, he saw a platform jutting out from the rugged, furrowed wall, like a hand reaching out, roughly estimated to be hundreds of times his height below their current position.

But the real reason for Li Wei's shock was...

Upon this extended stone platform, a creature of immense power and imposing presence was dozing.

Its exposed teeth were comparable in size to his head, and more importantly, it possessed three heads, vaguely canine in appearance.

It was clearly a formidable magical beast.

The Lord was genuinely startled, instinctively reaching for his sword, only to realize he was still holding Aisha's hand, who was looking at him with an ambiguous smile.

"Ahem," he coughed, releasing her hand and asking softly.

"Is this a magical beast you're raising?"

The magical beast's size was only slightly smaller than Sophia's, and it seemed perfectly at ease in the mine full of magic crystal ore, showing no signs of being a weak or useless creature.

It was hard to say whether Aisha and her people were keeping it here to guard a secret.

"The opposite is true. This is a magical beast that appeared out of nowhere," Aisha said with a wry smile, gently rubbing her slightly sore hand.

"When we discovered the fissure and fully opened it, this magical beast emerged. It grew from a puppy to this size in just a few days."

"Fortunately, it's not very aggressive. As long as you don't enter its territory, it won't attack. But because of this, we had to end our magic crystal mining operations and relocate all my people from here."

"That doesn't sound right. Just this magical beast is only a threat, not a secret."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow.

"Li Wei," Aisha's voice rang out again, filled with pride and excitement, "It's a laurel tree. We found a laurel tree!"

"In the stone cave behind this magical beast, we discovered a laurel sapling!"

"Since the twin sacred trees began to wither uncontrollably, the elves have also gradually declined, from a kingdom that once ruled a territory to the tribes scattered across this land facing various hardships."

"I'm not trying to boast about our past glory, but I want to tell you that the discovery of the sacred tree has an unspeakable significance for us elves."

"I can understand," Li Wei said, rubbing his temples in a headache.

Aisha's secret was even more shocking than when Li Wei first met Sophia.

Anyone with some academic knowledge knew the famous names of the sun tree and the laurel tree, the twin sacred trees.

As the treasures of the elven race, their value and significance could not be measured by money.

In the age of magic, when the elves were active, it was rumored that a branch of the laurel tree could save a dying person, while the sun tree could give people new life, giving humans the same long lifespan as elves.

Of course, these effects were far less important than their symbolic meaning. In myths and epics, these two sacred trees were the embodiment of the sun and the moon, with a two-finger-thick biography dedicated to them.

This shows how valuable they are.

If ambitious people discovered that the sacred tree of the elven race from the age of magic had appeared here, the sky above here would be occupied by their elite legions the next day.

"We are the children of the mother tree. We always thought the mother tree had abandoned her children, but we didn't expect the heavens to have mercy and let her appear before us again!" An elven elder's eyes sparkled with crystalline tears, his voice nearly choked with emotion.

The laurel tree held an unimaginable place in the hearts of the elves, capable of bringing tears to the eyes of an elf who had lived for who knows how long and experienced all kinds of hardships.

Other elven elders comforted this elven elder.

The elven race has always been noble and proud, but in this era, if they don't learn to assess the situation, they would have disappeared from this world long ago.

Since the twin sacred trees withered and the elven race declined, they have suffered too much, the greatest pain being the withering of the twin sacred trees. In the eyes of their ancestors at the time, they must have made a big mistake for the mother tree to abandon them.

They have been living in shame and self-blame, and now the appearance of the laurel tree is equivalent to their elven race being recognized again.

If the Lord knew what these elves were thinking, he would definitely sneer at them.

Entrusting the judgment of right and wrong of what they do to a tree is the biggest mistake in itself.

"You can't solve this magical beast, but you don't want to make this secret public, so you found me?"

A flash of lightning seemed to strike through the Lord's mind, piercing the fog in front of him, and instantly understanding the whole story.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll be tempted?" Li Wei looked at Aisha, wanting to see something on the elven queen's face. "This is the legendary sacred tree, the treasure of the elven race. Not to mention anything else, if I take it to other elves, I can definitely exchange it for unimaginable wealth."

Li Wei is not a saint. He wouldn't pick up the gold that fell in front of him, let alone this treasure that is more precious than gold. It would be a complete lie to say that he wasn't tempted.

"Li Wei, although I've only known you for a short time, I believe in my inner judgment," Aisha said with burning eyes, her eyes as bright as stars fixed on the Lord's handsome face. "You are not a greedy villain. Although sometimes you seem to have no aristocratic demeanor, I can see in you a characteristic that others don't have. It's something I've never seen before. It's hard to say clearly what it contains, but it can make people feel very great."

"Hiss!"

Li Wei instantly felt goosebumps all over his body, as if he had taken off all his clothes and was being seen through by the elven queen, without missing even a single hair.

Thanks to the world he lived in in his previous life, he has always adhered to the principle of taking care of himself when he is poor, and benefiting the world when he is successful.

Both of his lives can be regarded as grassroots. If one day he really becomes a king, with an army in his hands and no one dares to touch his whiskers, no matter what, he will strive to achieve a world where everyone is like a dragon.

Not to mention anything else, at least give everyone a chance to climb the ranks.

Instead of slaves always being slaves, and farmers only being able to plant in the fields for generations.

In this world where everyone except the nobles is a slave, isn't that a great thing?

"Aisha, you are the first person to make me feel like I have no secrets at all," Li Wei's face flashed with various entanglements, finally turning into a helpless wry smile.

The beautiful and captivating elven queen showed a bright smile on her face: "Li Wei, this is just some of my abilities as a god's chosen."

"Besides, you are currently the strongest person I have ever met. If you can't solve this magical beast, then no one else can."

"And then only gathering a legion can solve this magical beast, which means that the secret of the elven race will be completely made public."

"Yes, Lord Li Wei, if you succeed in helping us welcome back the laurel sacred tree, our elven race will always remember your kindness for generations to come." An elven elder stared at the Lord, his tone like a seductive and ugly succubus.

Li Wei took two steps back without showing any signs. He admitted that his strength was extraordinary and he was very arrogant.

But he would never rashly fight against an opponent whose strength he didn't know.

As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Every time he made a move before, unless he had to, he basically saw through the difference in strength between the opponent and himself.

This magical beast entrenched in the magic crystal mine, and is obviously guarding the laurel tree, the buff has been pulled full, it is difficult to say what terrifying means it has.

Just rushing up so nakedly, if he capsizes in the gutter, it will be more than worth the loss.

If there were a few archmages who knew advanced magic here, he would bite the bullet and do it, but the reality is that there are only a few trash here, and Aisha, this fragile warlock.

"Let's talk about it later, let's talk about it later, I have to think about it."

He unknowingly retreated to the entrance of the tunnel he came down from.

"Don't worry, Li Wei, we're not asking you to deal with this magical beast alone. We will choose the most elite elven warriors, plus me to help you," Aisha said, laughing and crying, seeing the concerns of this lion hunter.

"It's useless to say this now. I suggest we go back first. Others will be suspicious if we leave for too long."

Li Wei felt that he still had to think carefully, after all, that magical beast looked domineering and imposing, not like a small fry that could be easily dealt with.

"Okay." Other elven elders were a little disappointed.

The group returned along the way they came, to the Lord's slight regret, this time he didn't get his hand held.

"Li Wei, please be sure to keep this secret for us for the time being."

After coming out, Aisha did not forget to urge him.

They didn't think about keeping this secret forever, after all, there is nothing that can be kept secret forever, they can only try to extend the time as much as possible.

Li Wei nodded, seemingly calm on the surface, but with thunder in his chest.

Originally, this trip was just to see if there was a chance to get some magic crystal ore to hatch the stone eggs, and by the way, harvest experience to improve the level of the warriors of Highcliff Fortress.

But I didn't expect to have such an unexpected encounter.

However, Aisha kept this matter from Flirina, and waited until she left before telling herself, it seems that the elves are not hopelessly stupid.

After all, if Flirina really knew about the existence of the laurel tree, the seemingly reliable alliance relationship would collapse in an instant.

That's right, who is more stupid than whom in this world.

Those who are not smart, the grass on their graves is already three feet high, how can they live to this day.

"Good day, respected and noble Lord Li Wei, how are you?"

As soon as he returned to the station, he met Heather, this drow priestess. She was obviously still brooding over what happened last night, and her opening was sarcastic.

"Where's Sam?" The Lord was too lazy to talk nonsense with this little slut, and asked directly.

"He's having a great time with my sisters," Heather smiled mysteriously.

Li Wei raised his eyebrows and walked aggressively towards a courtyard in the station.

But he didn't expect that several leaders of Highcliff Fortress were in this courtyard, watching some excitement.

"Brother-in-law, is the meeting over?" Mil asked with some guilty conscience.

"Yes, just some small things," Li Wei replied absentmindedly, suddenly hearing a noisy sound from the tree house, mixed with screams, but there was also some excitement in it.

"What's going on inside?" Li Wei asked.

The sound coming from inside was very familiar, like that of Sam, this wilderness shaman.

"Ahem, brother-in-law, you should go in and see for yourself," Mil's eyes flickered.

Watching Li Wei's back walking towards the door, Mil breathed a sigh of relief and quickly greeted Zart next to him: "Let's go, Sam is in trouble this time."

The two ran out of the courtyard non-stop, lying on the wall watching the good show that followed.

Thud!

Sam, who was having a good time with three drow elves, stammered as he looked at the tall figure that suddenly appeared in front of him.

"You... why are you back..."

"I asked you to come and learn other magic, is this how you learn?"

Li Wei stared at Sam, who was tied to a chair in front of him, naked, with whip marks on his body, with black lines all over his head.

The other three drow elves were busy hiding the whips in their hands behind their backs.

"Damn, I've lost all my face."

Li Wei started with a heart-wrenching kick, hitting the guy's chest squarely.

"Ah!" The old man Sam screamed and fell to the ground struggling.

"Sir, it's none of our business. This human said that he is the leader of your spellcasting team, and if you want to live in Highcliff Fortress, you must listen to him."

Several drow elves shuddered in fright and instantly sold Sam out completely.

They knew very well how fierce this human was. A few javelins had shot all her sisters to the ground, making it hard not to be afraid.