End of the Underworld Arc: The High Elves and the Arbitration Demon Spirits

End of the Underworld Arc.

Though the name Idas was unfamiliar, mentioning the High Elves invariably led one back to the Dark Ages.

After the Primordial Era drew to a close, the primordial beasts—Golden Giants, Mammoth Behemoths, and Prehistoric Crocodiles—gradually faded into extinction. The Dragon Race and the Titans, too, began to recede, withdrawing from the annals of history into a period of dormancy.

It was then that the High Elves, with their unparalleled magical aptitude and flawless physical prowess, rose to power, ruling the Aelta Continent for a millennium.

Compared to other races, the High Elves could only be described as perfect. They possessed the same extraordinary magical talents as the Elf Race, yet their physical strength surpassed even that of humans who cultivated Battle Qi, rivaling even Bloodline Cultivators.

In that ancient era, every adult High Elf commanded at least Legendary-tier power.

The High Elves, however, were a race riddled with contradictions. They had personally fostered a world of peak magical civilization, only to be the ones who ultimately brought about its destruction.

When dealing with other races, the High Elves chose enslavement. Even their kin, the Elf Race, were subjected to their dominion, serving no purpose other than as mere slaves.

They offered no pretense of benevolent appeasement, only outright servitude.

The Orcs, Dwarves, and Goblins, known for their fiery temperaments, once attempted to rebel. Their resistance, however, was met with a brutal suppression of blood and fire.

Entire clans were massacred, their numbers never fully recovering even to this day, as vast swathes of land were stained crimson with their blood.

Later, the rise of humanity proved unstoppable. Legendary-tier powerhouses emerged in an endless stream, and a staggering seven God-tier Mech Pilots were born.

Uniting with the peak powers of various races, humanity sacrificed a multitude of their strongest to finally overthrow the High Elf regime, ushering in a new era.

“What is this…?”

Suddenly, the space before them opened up, revealing a breathtaking vista. Su Han was utterly stunned by the sight.

Before their eyes stood sixteen statues of Arbitration Demon Spirits, each startlingly lifelike, as if they were merely—sealed within.

The sculptural style, characteristic of the Dark Ages, lent them an extraordinary elegance. Magical lamps, burning for centuries, cast a faint, flickering glow.

Their energy had dwindled to its absolute minimum, barely illuminating the colossal figures, threatening to extinguish at any moment.

The magical fluctuations detected through ‘Magic Detection’ revealed that these Arbitration Demon Spirits were far more than mere statues. Each possessed the power of a Legendary-tier pinnacle expert, seemingly sealed away, awaiting their awakening.

Given that Arbitration Demon Spirits were among the most unique of undead creatures, the presence of sixteen such beings, each at the peak of Legendary-tier strength, spoke volumes about the High Elves’ grand ambition.

Just as Su Han and Luo Shang were about to step forward, a formation seemed to activate.

A thunderous grinding of gears echoed through the chamber as the sixteen statues began to revive one by one, bathed in white light. A dense aura of death elements instantly surged forth.

“We need to go, now! We can worry about the Elf Race later!”

Luo Shang seized Su Han, pulling her back the way they came. Each of these sixteen Legendary-tier pinnacle Arbitration Demon Spirits possessed power comparable to his own.

United by the formation, they could grind even a Legendary-tier powerhouse to dust. This place was clearly inaccessible for now; escape was their only option!

Fortunately, the formation wasn’t a single-use grand array, so there was no fear of it vanishing. Luo Shang had only temporarily sealed off their magic circuits, and the teleportation arrays remained intact.

They sped through the tunnels, the wind whistling past their ears. Su Han and Luo Shang retraced their steps, reopening the magic circuits as they went.

Before long, they found themselves back outside the Great Abyss. Thankfully, Luo Shang’s swift reflexes and decisive actions made their escape surprisingly smooth.

Had they been trapped inside, there would have been no chance of survival.

“Hah, all that effort for nothing,” Su Han sighed, spreading her hands in a gesture of resignation. “We still couldn’t find any clues about the Elf Race.”

“So, are you heading to the Star Tear Battlefield next? Take me with you!”

“With my current strength, I should be able to protect myself, right? Just take me along to see the world!”

Previously aimless, Su Han had gradually found a clear objective after several setbacks. Her quest to find Ye Qi had become more serendipitous, no longer driven by urgent desperation.

Luo Shang gazed at Su Han for a few silent seconds.

After a long moment, he finally chuckled. “Alright, then I’ll take you to the Star Tear Battlefield to broaden your horizons!”

As they journeyed back from the second layer of the Underworld, Luo Shang realized he had forgotten something.

He quietly slipped back into Dragon City to retrieve the Nine Netherworld Grass, then discreetly returned to the first layer, carefully avoiding the Lizardmen.

After exchanging pleasantries with the Dark Elf Grand Elder and bidding farewell to Qianzhe Ying, he finally emerged from the Underworld.

Stepping out of the Nine Nether Demon Cave, Su Han took a deep, long-awaited breath of the fresh air of the Aelta Continent.

“The Dark Moon Forest is truly remarkable!” she mused. ‘It seems my journey has been inextricably linked to this forest. I landed here initially, and now I’ve returned. It really hasn’t changed at all!’

Knowing that the Nine Netherworld Grass was now in hand, Luo Shang was in no rush with his S-rank mission. Thus, the two of them hastened their journey towards the Star Tear Battlefield.