From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword
Chapter 461 - 298 The Investigation Results of the Elf Clan_2

"Everyone's rising through the ranks so quickly, you're all junior officers already," Lu Heng toasted in celebration.

Prior to this, Wu, Tao Yalun, and a few others were all sergeants. This time, after returning from the Elf World, they had all been promoted to junior officers, so everyone was quite happy.

"We also have to thank Mr. Lu's excellent leadership," Wu immediately complimented.

From the side, Tao Yalun teased, "Old Wu has started calling him 'Mr. Lu' with every other breath."

Lu Heng was not used to hearing himself addressed as 'Mr. Lu.' Upon hearing this title, he felt a bit uncomfortable.

Seeing his friends' success, Lu Heng was happy for them.

At this gathering, Chen Zihang spoke very little.

Lu Heng curiously asked, "How about you? What are your plans for the future?"

Chen Zihang spread his hands and replied, "I haven't thought it through yet, but I didn't submit any spring water. If I want to join the forces, I wonder if I will be ostracized."

Hearing this, Lu Heng furrowed his brows and pressed, "What do you mean?"

Wu and the others exchanged glances and quickly coughed, trying to change the subject.

Chen Zihang, a student from the Defense University, and not bound by the same status as Wu and the others, spoke more freely, "We're just having a private gathering. What's there that can't be said?"

Wu had no choice but to respond, "I'll just say it. It's not that big of a deal. Aside from Chen Zihang, the eight of us all got promoted and it had something to do with submitting the Moon Well spring water."

"Was it mandatory?" Lu Heng asked with a frown.

Wu waved his hand and explained, "Not exactly, and we didn't have to give it all up. The instructor did ideological work with us separately, letting us submit a tenth of our Moon Well spring water.

"And, the organization promised that after we submitted a tenth of our Moon Well spring water, we could receive a portion of Third Transition Origin Quality.

"Without the Third Transition Origin Quality, the Moon Well spring water would just be used to upgrade skills, not maximizing its benefits.

"So after considering it, I agreed to submit a tenth of my Moon Well spring water and received a portion of Third Transition Origin Quality.

"Now I've already reached the Third Transition class, and it's the same situation for Old Tao and the others.

"We all have reached the Third Transition class and got promoted to junior officers, getting reassigned as team leaders in various places. Everyone has a terrific future ahead."

After listening, Lu Heng asked, "So you're saying that each of you eight submitted a tenth of your Moon Well spring water?"

Wu nodded and answered, "Roughly. I didn't ask in detail, but since everyone's been promoted, it's most likely the same situation."

Actually, if Lu Heng had been in their shoes, he probably would have made the same decision.

Using a tenth of the Moon Well spring water to trade for a portion of Third Transition Source Material and secure a military promotion was a good deal. It's not like they had to submit all of their Moon Well spring water.

So now Wu and the others were all high-spirited, having achieved the Third Transition class and been promoted to junior officers. Their futures seemed boundless.

It was definitely good news.

However, Lu Heng sensed something different from this information.

Eight people each submitting a tenth of their Moon Well spring water amounted to almost a whole bottle combined.

He didn't know whether this collected water was being used for research or some other purpose.

Later on, as everyone chatted over hot pot, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Lin Zeyu, hearing that they had achieved Third Transition classes, was envious, complaining, "Does that mean I'm the only one here without a Third Transition class? I seem to be the last one."

Everyone laughed heartily but didn't take his words seriously.

...

After the gathering, a day later, Lu Heng was preparing to teleport to the Elf World to continue training his second signature move, the Flying Dragon Hunting Sky, with Terres.

Su Muyu, hearing of this plan, also wanted to tag along.

Her world task reward also included a Space Anchor Point, not because the other two options were poor, but because she had promised the Knowledge Ancient Tree she would collect Life Tree Vine and bring it back, requiring a Space Anchor Point.

Moreover, the other two reward options did not include an increase in Skill Slot, a kind of divine-level reward.

"What are you going to do after teleporting there? Just to keep me company?" Lu Heng felt this was out of character for her.

After all, teleporting required the consumption of Divine Energy, and the longer he stayed, the more Divine Energy he used up.

"Accompanying you, are you not happy?" Su Muyu asked with a giggle, her hands clasped behind her back.

"It's not that, it's just that you're usually so stingy with using Divine Energy; this isn't like you," Lu Heng teased.

Su Muyu frowned and huffed, "I'm going to the Moonshadow Forest. As a Nature Messenger, controlling Life Tree Vines is a skill I can practice and improve. By visiting the Knowledge Ancient Tree, I can also ask many questions about the Abyss. Last time was too rushed, and I still have many questions unanswered."

The Elf Civilization had resisted the Abyss for the longest time, and the Knowledge Ancient Trees were among the most learned plants in the Queldorei World.

Given enough time, one could learn a lot from a Knowledge Ancient Tree.

"Alright then."

Consequently, the two teleported to the Queldorei World, appearing in the Picket Garden within Moonshadow Forest.

Seren had already returned to the forest to continue researching Natural Magic and seeking methods to purify the Abyss.

Seeing Lu Heng and his companion appear, Seren didn't show any surprise but casually greeted them, "You've come so soon?"

Lu Heng looked around and asked, "How long have we been gone?"

Seren replied, "Nearly three months."

For the Queldorei World, three months had already passed.

Lu Heng had actually only been gone from the main world for eight days; time flowed differently in the two worlds.

This discrepancy was likely due to the teleportation.

After a brief chat with Seren, Lu Heng went on to ask, "Where is Elder Terres now?"

"He should be in Kolos City. Are you going there?" Seren guessed Lu Heng's purpose immediately; he probably wanted to learn swordsmanship from Terres.

"Yes, I'm heading to Kolos," Lu Heng nodded.

"Just in time. Take these two Golden Tree Seeds with you and find a place to plant them in the city," Seren said, retrieving the two Golden Tree Seeds and placing them in Lu Heng's palm.

Staying in the Queldorei World even a day longer meant expending more Divine Energy, so there was no time to dawdle around.

After finishing his conversation with Seren, Lu Heng was ready to head to Kolos. He then looked at Su Muyu and asked, "Are you coming with me, or will you stay in Moonshadow Forest?"

Su Muyu had teleported over to learn from the Knowledge Ancient Tree, so she needn't go to Kolos City.

Yet, she nodded vigorously and responded, "Of course I'm going with you to Kolos."

Traveling from Moonshadow Forest to Kolos City by air would take half a day.

After Su Muyu's visit with the Knowledge Ancient Tree, the two set off, riding the Mechanical Tiger towards Kolos City.

Half a day later, they arrived at Kolos City. They first found Fiona and handed over the Golden Tree Seeds, then discussed the recent changes amongst the Elf Clan.

It had been three months since the last attack by the Bloodline Clan.

Great changes were evident in Kolos City; the damaged areas had been repaired, rubble from collapsed buildings had been cleared, though no new buildings had been constructed yet, possibly due to other plans.

Fiona gave them a brief tour around the city, filling them in on the last three months' happenings.

Lu Heng remembered a question he had before leaving and asked, "By the way, did you find out who opened the Bloodline Clan's Teleportation Gate?"

Fiona perked up at the mention of this and led them into the archives, saying,

"Regarding that matter, we did find some clues.

"Indeed, no one saw who opened the Bloodline Clan's Teleportation Gate because the guards left in the Space Corridor were killed.

"In the beginning, we couldn't even find the bodies of the guards, not until we cleared the collapsed buildings within the city. Only then did we find several bodies under the bricks and stones, confirming their identities as the Space Corridor guards."

Listening to this information, Lu Heng inquired further, "Did you find any clues on these guards?"

Fiona took out a document and handed it to Lu Heng, saying, "Indeed, we found some clues. There were claw marks on the bodies of these guards, like those of a wild beast, and we're certain they weren't caused by Elves.

"The only Elves who could leave such claw marks are Druids of the Druid Class, but they love peace and would never do such a thing. Plus, there are very few Druids among our Elf Clan, and after an inquiry, we can rule them out as suspects."

"Other than Druids, could it have been anything else?" Lu Heng persisted.

"If not wild beasts, then there's another possibility, Dark Werewolves. We've compared the marks, and they do resemble wounds caused by Dark Werewolves. Therefore, we suspect Dark Werewolves might have infiltrated Kolos City, but we haven't found any solid clues." Fiona continued, flipping to the last page of the record and pointing out the contents for Lu Heng to see.