Chapter 172 Research Commission
On the fourth floor of the maze, deep in the misty forest, a night elf was taking a nap leisurely and comfortably leaning on a tree branch.
Her figure is petite, like a willow hanging on a tree branch, and her wheat-colored complexion blends into the color of the tree trunk. You can't tell there is a person hiding here unless you look carefully.
Since the dome on the fourth floor of the maze has regained its light, the entire withered forest has regained its vitality, and the warm light always makes people unable to help but twitch their eyelids.
At first, Shirley was still standing guard seriously, but the surroundings were so quiet that she couldn't help but doze off.
Since there hasn't been much happening in the maze recently, adventurers don't dare to cause trouble on the fourth floor of the maze.
Although there was a group of annoying goblins, the dwarfs didn't dare to get close to here at all.
And the most important thing is that "Little Gray" has recently woken up, and the entire forest has regained its vitality.
Every movement of every plant and tree here cannot escape its eyes. If something really happened, it would definitely remind her.
Just when Shirley was sleeping soundly, a breeze suddenly blew, and a butterfly flew from nowhere and landed on the tip of her nose.
The pollen falling from the wings irritated her nasal cavity, and she couldn't help sneezing, and fell down from the tree with a sneeze.
"Ouch!"
She let out a short cry as she landed on her butt. Fortunately, the dead leaves on the ground were piled thick enough, so she was not hurt.
Just as she was rubbing her lower back and muttering "What bad luck" and standing up from the ground, she suddenly saw a majestic figure standing in the shadow of the trees not far away.
Looking at the angular and calm face, Shirley's face suddenly showed an expression of surprise, and she subconsciously screamed.
?!versus’ by the way>?!’ Why are you here?!‖
Her father had previously arranged for her and her sister to be the bodyguards of the
Since this place is not too far from the surface, they can always obey the call and rush there if something happens.
But to be honest, she still prefers to stay by the Demon King's side than standing guard at the door of her home.
Not only because of the pleasing appearance of the Demon King, but also because the food there has different varieties throughout the day.
Different from the vegetarian elves, the fallen night elves have no taboos. Thinking of the taste of the barbecue, she couldn't help but swallow.
Although there is a barbecue in Misty Town, their father forbids them from going near it without any reason. Special people will only be sent there when they need to purchase daily necessities.
"I have something to do and I need to visit your father..." Luo Yan looked at Shirley, who was covered in fallen leaves, and asked with concern in a slightly hesitant tone, "Are you okay?"
Just now he saw with his own eyes that this guy fell from a height of more than two meters.
If it was to greet myself, there would be no need to be so polite.
"It's okay, it's just a little accident, hehe..."
Shirley smiled shyly, not embarrassed to say that she was asleep, and quickly brushed off the fallen leaves on her body.
Then she jumped next to him like a lark, and said in a clear and sweet voice.
"I'll show you the way, please follow me!"
"Then it's time to work." Luo Yan nodded and flicked the dead leaves from her hair.
A touch of imperceptible blush floated on that sunny and cheerful face, and then it blew away like a gust of wind.
Looking at the brisk-footed girl, Luo Yan followed the slender figure through a lush forest and soon arrived at the edge of the Gray Wind tribe's camp.
Different from when we first saw it, thick tree trunks rose from the ground and intertwined into solid walls.
There is a gap in the center of the wall that only allows one person to pass through, which seems to be the gate of the fortress.
Perhaps sensing the arrival of the two men, the thick tree trunks seemed to be alive, expanding the gap that could only allow one person to pass through into a door that was five meters wide.
Luo Yan looked at the scene in front of him in surprise.
Especially when he saw the lush tree houses standing behind the gate, the expression on his face became even more incredible.
The moonlight from the dome shrouds this forest, and the changes that have taken place here can simply be described as earth-shaking.
Noticing the expression on Lord Demon King's face, Shirley raised the corners of her mouth into a proud smile, unconsciously puffed up her chest, and spoke in a clear and melodious voice.
…We lived in a tree house a long time ago. It was not until the light in the dome of the maze went out and Xiao Hui became weaker and weaker day by day that we moved out of the tree house and lived in a tent made of animal skins. Now everything has changed, whether it was the light from the dome or Xiao Hui, so we moved back to the original place..."
When saying this, Shirley paused for a moment and looked back at Luo Yan.
Those bright eyes seemed to be able to speak, writing the heartfelt gratitude and admiration without any additional motives in the wind blowing through her hair at the temples.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Luo Yan smiled and nodded, and said in a gentle tone, "You are the people of the necropolis, and protecting you is one of my obligations as the Demon King."
"Hehe, I knew you would say that." Shirley winked playfully and hooked her index finger behind her back.
At this moment, her sister Helen appeared at the city gate not far away.
Seeing the Demon King following her sister, she touched one knee to the ground and saluted, paying Luo Yan the highest standard of etiquette of the night elf tribe.
"Supreme Demon King, Lord of the Necropolis, please forgive my father for not being able to come to greet you in person. He is preparing for the ceremony in the meeting hall..."
That gentle and elegant temperament is in sharp contrast to the quirky Shirley.
Including that broad mind and far-sighted vision.
If they didn't have the same lavender hair and emerald green pupils, Luo Yan would simply not have been able to imagine that the two were actually sisters.
"Please get up, I asked him to do the ceremony, just take me there."
Helen stood up respectfully, nodded and said.
"Thank you for your understanding, please come with me."
After saying that, she looked at her sister and signaled the latter to go back and stand guard with her eyes, and then just leave it to her.
Shirley looked at her sister pitifully, trying to blur out the matter of standing guard, but seeing that her sister was unmoved, she could only say "嘁", bury her head in displeasure, and turn around to go back the way she came.
Watching her sister leave, Helen's face showed a hint of sadness, she looked at Luo Yan with a little worry and said.
…Shirley is usually more free and loose, and we will strengthen her discipline in the future. If she offends you in any way, please forgive her because she is still young."
By elven standards, Shirley is indeed young, although by human standards, they are both capable of being grandmothers.
"How could it be offensive?" Luo Yan smiled and said jokingly, "Instead of educating her, I think you should learn from her and not be so tight all the time, which makes me feel nervous sometimes." Helen was stunned for a moment and looked at him in surprise, as if she saw another side of him that she had never seen before.
"Do you... feel nervous too?"
"Of course," Luo Yan smiled and nodded, and said in a gentle tone, "So I hope you can relax a little. Public occasions are a different matter, and you don't have to treat me as an outsider."
"Yes...if this is what you expect." Helen took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders.
However, perhaps because she was not used to this feeling, she pressed down the gourd again and the expression on her face became unnatural.
Realizing that his comfort had the opposite effect, Luo Yan smiled helplessly and decided not to say anything. He just quietly followed her through the gate and entered the city of the Gray Wind Tribe.
Round stone slabs floated on the crisp grass, forming a stone road, like lotus leaves in the pond, winding and extending towards the tree house in the center of the city.
I noticed the sudden visitor, and curious heads poked out from under the lush leaves.
After discovering that the guest following Helen was the Demon King, the night elves sitting on the tree house all showed surprised expressions.
Some elves sat on the tree branches, while others jumped down and gathered curiously on both sides of the road, wanting to see more clearly. There was no sign of their usual indifference to outsiders or their rejection of people thousands of miles away.
· A handsome young man sitting on the tree house took out the six-stringed harp and played an exciting and cheerful tune with his slender fingers like a bard in the tavern.
With the accompaniment of the melodious music, a young girl took the lead in letting go of her singing voice, and others soon followed.
The sound was like the cry of a nightingale, which merged into a thousand-turn stream under the mottled tree shadows. It trickled into my ears. Even the birds on the treetops stopped chirping and were immersed in the intoxicating song.
They used melodious music instead of flowers and red carpets to pave the way for the two of them.
From the welcoming songs that lined the streets, Luo Yan could feel the enthusiasm of the Gray Wind Tribe people. Luo Yan smiled and waved to them.
Different from the way humans express welcome, as elves, they are better at using art to express emotions, integrating their hot feelings into expressions that are more tactful than cheers and whistles.
Including not only painting and gardening, but also playing and singing, which almost everyone can do.
He could feel from the singing that the people here were grateful and welcoming to him.
Looking at the tribesmen gathered on both sides of the road to spontaneously express their welcome, Helen's face unconsciously showed a smile, and she unknowingly relaxed her tense nerves.
At this time, a girl who was younger than Shirley walked out of the crowd, held a bouquet of colorful flowers and stood in front of the two of them, blinking at him with watery eyes.
Luo Yan cast a questioning look at Helen, and the latter curved her lips and spoke in a soft voice.
"That should be the flower she cultivated herself. Normally we would only dedicate it to the most respected or important person."
Luo Yan said with a smile.
"It seems that if I refuse, someone will be sad."
"That's not true..."
Helen whispered, and Luo Yan, who was walking next to her, stopped and took the bouquet from the girl's hand.
"Thank you for the flowers, I like them very much."
Luo Yan showed a friendly smile on his face and expressed his gratitude. However, the girl did not move out of the way. She just looked at him shyly, as if she had something to say.
"What's the matter?" Luo Yan leaned down and put his eyes level with hers in a friendly manner.
Happily, he does not hesitate to show his people-friendly side to the loyal people of his territory, especially to those like the Gray Wind Tribe who stand firmly by his side every time.
However, what he didn't expect was that just when he leaned down, the girl suddenly came close to his cheek and kissed him.
Everyone was stunned on the spot.
Even the guy sitting on the roof playing the six-stringed harp couldn't help but stop what he was doing, and the night elf girl who opened her singing voice also subconsciously stopped singing.
Before anyone could react, the naughty and mischievous guy had already slipped away like a gust of wind with a red face.
"Just now... uh, it's not... that..."
Helen was shocked when she came back to her senses, and looked at Luo Yan in a panic, trying to defend her tribe's frivolous behavior.
However, the latter just touched his cheek, smiled and waved his hand, and put the matter aside magnanimously.
"It's okay, continue to lead the way, don't keep Mr. Tyrell waiting."
"Yes..."
Helen still glanced at him nervously, and saw that he really didn't take it to heart, so she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She originally thought that the girl was expressing her admiration, but she didn't expect that it was actually admiration.
But she can understand it.
After all, defeating the invasion of Chaos twice in a row, this legendary experience is enough to become an epic among the bards. Not to mention that he also prevented the maze from falling apart and brought the bright moonlight back to the Gray Wind tribe.
It is perfectly normal for someone to admire him.
Especially because most of her compatriots are the same as her sister. They are naturally passionate and unrestrained. What they are worst at is suppressing their inner feelings.
Otherwise, they would not be called fallen by the elves living under the Igede Tree...
Looking at the Demon King who was welcomed by the tribe, Helen convinced herself and at the same time she was sincerely happy for him.
But for some reason, she was not entirely happy, but also had a different emotion in her heart.
Melodious music was played again.
The difference from last time is that this time the improvised performance is no longer just an exciting and cheerful ditty, but also has a green and hazy feeling, like rum with lemon slices added.
These natural artists are really good at arranging music without even having to draft it.
Perhaps because he gladly accepted the bouquet of flowers, Luo Yan could clearly feel that his relationship with the night elves around him had taken a big step closer.
At this moment, they truly regarded him as one of their own, instead of just a distinguished guest from afar.
He quite enjoyed this feeling.
It is actually very tiring to put on airs, especially since he is not the kind of person who is very good at putting on airs.
Most of the majesty is actually performed by him.
"...Actually, you can avoid it, right?" Looking at the Demon King whose mouth was about to turn into a fishhook, Youyou said softly, floating aside.
"It's just a touch on the face, and no piece of flesh will be lost. And if I avoid it, wouldn't it be too hurtful." Luo Yan replied with a smile in his heart.
Yuyou looked at him in surprise.
"Huh?! Is that what you actually think?"
Luo Yan said without thinking.
“Is there any other explanation?”
Yuyou pondered for a moment and said in admiration.
"As expected of the Demon King, he behaved well and didn't blush at all after getting a bargain..."
Smell the bouquet of delicate flowers in his hand, Luo Yan glanced in the direction of Youyou with slight dissatisfaction.
「……我怎么就得了便宜了？」
悠悠没有回答。
But sometimes silence can be considered an answer.
…
In the meeting hall in the center of the tribe, Luo Yan met Tyrell, the leader of the Gray Wind tribe.
At this moment, Tyrell is holding a dead wood cane and sitting upright on a chair made of countless vines.
The soul grafting ceremony has been completed.
His expression was solemn and solemn, and his open eyes were filled with emerald green light, like luminous emeralds.
When he learned that Luo Yan wanted to talk to Gray Feng, Tyrell generously lent his body to the latter.
At this moment, Luo Yan, who was sitting opposite him, could clearly feel that a soul whose presence far exceeded Tyrell had taken the latter's place.
Although he did not feel the aura of the godhead from that soul, the huge and pure energy was better than a god!
Grandmaster?
Demigod?
Or, the standards used to measure ordinary souls can no longer be used to measure this old monster who has lived for who knows how many years.
Especially it is not an isolated individual.
Every tree in this forest is an annual ring engraved deep in his soul.
"...Dear Majesty the Demon King, it's an honor to see you again. May your glory shine forever like the vast starry sky."
Facing the owner of the entire maze, Gray Wind, who lives in Tyrell, took the initiative to pay the highest respect.
Looking at the tree of life that was actively showing kindness, Luo Yan smiled easily and made the opening remarks in a casual tone.
"Thank you for your blessings, and may your glory shine with the sun and the moon. By the way, how are you feeling? Are you feeling better."
Since the battle with Chaos, Gray Wind has been in a semi-dormant state, and it was only recently that he finally woke up.
Although it helped him solve the problem of banknote raw materials some time ago, it was the first time in recent times that he had such a face-to-face communication with it.
Gray Wind had a smile on his face, and his friendly and soothing voice was like the rustling of leaves.
“I feel very good, even in the last century, I have never been more powerful than I am today.”
Luo Yan said with a smile.
"It seems that you have digested the energy of Kalmandes' clone."
Gray Wind nodded slightly.
“Yes, thanks to your help.”
Luo Yan said humbly.
"That's not the case. It's more accurate to say that we are helping each other. After all, without you, I really don't have anything better to do to that guy."
Gray Feng shook his head slightly, looked into his eyes seriously, and continued seriously.
“No, I am not referring to the opportunity you created for me that day, but the conversation you had with my children earlier.”
The conversation earlier?
Looking at the confusion that appeared on Luo Yan's face, Hui Feng smiled warmly and continued in a gentle tone.
"Do you still remember the theory about photosynthesis that you mentioned to my children? My child talked to me afterwards... Although her original intention was to seek answers from me, to be honest, I got more from the communication with her than she got from me. And shortly after that, I learned that the theories she mentioned were all told to her by you."
After a pause, Gray Feng continued.
"It is no exaggeration to say that the reason why I was able to devour the clone of Kalmandes was because I was inspired by it."
Although Gray Feng did not mention who the child was, Luo Yan could probably guess that it should be one of Helen and Shirley.
After all, he had only told them that theory.
Including the concept of cells.
"I'm very happy to be able to help you... But it's just a theory. Is it really so magical?" Luo Yan looked at Gray Feng in surprise, with a hint of confusion in his voice.
Gray Feng nodded slowly and said frankly.
"Although it is just a set of theories, it helped me re-examine myself and gave me a new understanding of my own power. To be honest, I am surprised. I have spent thousands of years, but this is the first time I heard such an interesting theory... so much so that I even have a feeling that you are not from this world."
This guy's feeling is absolutely terrifying.
However, Luo Yan didn't think there was anything sensitive about it, he just looked at it with interest.
"Don't you seem surprised?"
Gray Wind smiled kindly and said.
"This is not surprising. We have realized a long time ago that there are many worlds in this universe that are the same as or similar to ours. Even ourselves...are we really the original inhabitants of this world? I have always been skeptical about this. Maybe we actually come from a more distant world, but our seeds just happened to fall on this land for some reason, so they took root here."
With the technological means of this world, it is quite amazing to have such a vision.
Luo Yan couldn't help but praise.
"Impressive point of view, maybe you are right."
That pun-intended answer is both an affirmation of the point it raises and a hint of the previous guess.
But Gray Wind did not dwell on this inconsequential issue.
In its philosophy and world view, it is irrelevant to it whether the Demon King belongs to this world or even whether he comes from hell.
It only cares about the world around it. As for those distant disputes and worldly interests, it is not concerned about it.
Of course.
Having said that, it is not completely indifferent to the world outside the forest.
In order to maintain the stability of the world beneath its feet, most of the time it will even be more far-sighted than the secular tyrants, and it is not afraid to take the initiative to isolate the distant mountain fires from its sight.
In a sense, its support for the current Demon King is precisely for this reason.
..."That's just my opinion, you don't need to take it to heart."
When it said this, it changed its tone and continued in a gentle voice.
"Speaking of which, I haven't asked you about your purpose of coming. I don't know if I can be honored to help you this time."
Seeing Hui Feng take the initiative to bring up this matter, Luo Yan did not go around in circles and went straight to the point.
"I want to ask you to help me look at something."
Gray Feng said with great interest.
"What?"
Luo Yan did not speak, but waved his right hand with the storage ring.
I saw a faint green crack emerging along the path traced by his fingertips, as if a zipper had been opened, shaking a withered tree trunk to the ground.
To be precise, they are not tree trunks, but mushrooms all over the planet Kaa.
They are like viruses crawling all over the planet and making up the entire world.
Looking at the "dried mushrooms" lying on the ground, the expression of interest on Gray Feng's face became more intense.
It split a slender and soft vine from the seat at Tyrell's feet, stretched out like a tentacle, and picked up the dried mushroom that fell on the ground and looked at it carefully.
After a long time, it thought and said.
"This thing is somewhat similar to the plants on the fifth floor of the labyrinth... but not very similar."
Luo Yan said.
"This is the fungus on the planet Kaa... You can understand it as a chaotic world. Those Kaa people were hatched from this thing. Although I don't know how they did it, my subordinates saw it with their own eyes."
"I see... No wonder I can smell a familiar smell from it." Putting down the dried mushroom in his hand, Gray Feng looked at Luo Yan and continued in a respectful tone, "Then what do you want me to do? Just take a look?"
Luo Yan shook his head slightly.
"Of course it's not just a matter of looking at it, I want you to help me study it and make some improvements to it if possible."
Grey Wind nodded lightly.
"I can help you, but you have to be aware of the possible risks behind it... After all, it comes from a chaotic world, and there are too many things we don't understand about their world."
“‘Knowing too much’ is never more dangerous than not knowing anything at all, especially since they know everything about us and have even reached out to our world.”
Looking at Hui Feng who was lost in thought, Luo Yan continued in a serious tone.
"The storm in the dimensional desert is getting closer and closer to us. If we want to completely defeat them, it is impossible to just bury our heads in the sand and act like ostriches. We must face their threats head-on."
"I understand, and I will do my best to cooperate with your research. " Gray Feng nodded in understanding, and continued in a slow voice, "I only have one request. Experiments on it should not be done in the misty forest... I'm worried that it will affect my children."
Seeing Gray Feng nod, Luo Yan was relieved, and a happy smile appeared on his face.
"Don't worry, my thoughts are the same as yours. And compared to doing this in the misty forest, the fifth level of the labyrinth is obviously a more suitable choice. The environment there is closest to the planet Kaa and has the least impact on the entire labyrinth."
Especially since the scope of the core of his Demon King's Territory has expanded to that area.
If a serious crisis does occur, he will have a way to deal with it in time.
Hearing Luo Yan's promise, Gray Feng gradually relaxed the expression on his face and showed a warm smile.
"Now that you have figured out the plan, let's do it as you said."