The Development of the Elven Race

Era of Order, Year 1137.

Life is a cycle.

Even those as mighty as Aina and Xia Lun could not escape this cycle.

After they had finished, night began to fall. Once the distant mountains swallowed the last glimmer of daylight, darkness shrouded the surroundings.

Thanks to the presence of luminescent plants, the elven streets remained as bright as ever.

Aina stood on her tiptoes and planted several kisses on Xia Lun's cheek.

"Aina... what are you doing? We are out on the street." Xia Lun helplessly wiped the saliva Aina had left on his face.

"Because you are just too cute, Xia Lun. I couldn't hold back... I'm sorry." Aina said the words, but there was not a single trace of guilt on her face. "It does not matter. Even if I were to do it with you right here... as long as we do not make too much noise, the others will not notice us."

Xia Lun: ...

Just listen to her, is that something a proper person would say?

Xia Lun could not even fathom doing such a thing on a bustling street full of people...

Utterly indecent! Absolutely scandalous!

Xia Lun could not comprehend what Aina had gone through over the past thousand years. How had his wife turned out like this?

It was not just her strength; Aina's level of open-mindedness had also skyrocketed.

The Aina of the past had been quite traditional. Every time they wanted to try a new way to play, Xia Lun had to painstakingly coax and discuss it with her beforehand, even preparing little gifts...

But now, Aina could nonchalantly let Xia Lun position himself right behind her, personally using her hands to part herself... baring her vulnerabilities right in front of him.

The very first time Xia Lun faced this side of Aina, he had nearly suffered a nosebleed.

Aina had indeed become incredibly uninhibited. She had even suggested doing it in the carriage earlier... Over a thousand years of pent-up repression was truly a terrifying thing.

"Xia Lun, what are you thinking about?"

"No... nothing." Of course, Xia Lun did not dare to say what was actually on his mind.

"Then let me guess. Are you thinking about... those sorts of intimate things between us?"

Xia Lun drew in a sharp breath. Aina truly knew him far too well.

Why did something feel a bit off... Wait, was that the kind of person he was in Aina's eyes?

Aina murmured suggestively, "It seems I guessed right. Shall we head back then? Back to the inn to continue..."

Xia Lun replied helplessly, "Aina, we have only been out for ten minutes."

"Mhm, I know. I was only teasing you." Aina smiled brightly, seemingly finding great amusement in teasing the Hero like this.

An impulse suddenly flared up in Xia Lun's heart about whether he should actually turn back and teach Aina a thorough lesson.

He took a deep breath, forcing down his gradually rising desires.

Xia Lun, you are the Hero, you cannot act like this... You must be able to resist the temptations of the Demon King.

Xia Lun could not help but wonder if Aina had tampered with his body somehow, perhaps by casting some sort of charm magic. His mind was currently completely filled with images of her, both clothed and unclothed.

When in doubt, just ask.

"Xia Lun, is that really what you think? Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have not done anything to you. You are my husband, and I respect you deeply." Aina shook her head. Xia Lun also felt that she would not lie to him about something like this.

Yet he had never been like this in the past. Although the Xia Lun of the past possessed immense combat strength, he also knew how to pace himself. It would have been impossible for him to act like he did now, spending nearly every day intimately with Aina... The old Xia Lun did not seem to have such intense desires.

"Xia Lun, the life force from the heart of the Sacred Tree of Life has nourished your body, granting you boundless energy... And since you are a perfectly normal man, all that pent-up energy naturally drives you to seek me out." Aina licked the corner of her lips. "Just admit it. You are simply just a lecher."

"Nonsense." Xia Lun poked Aina's cheek with a slightly pale finger, completely unwilling to admit to such a thing.

"It is quite alright, Xia Lun, there is no need to be shy... Life is so peaceful now, and there is no longer any need for you to do anything as the Hero. Just indulge yourself and fall into depravity with me."

Xia Lun held Aina's hand and began lightly scratching her palm. He knew that everything Aina said was the truth. Not wanting to continue humiliating himself, he promptly brought the topic to a close.

The elven nights were incredibly peaceful, devoid of any clamor or noise.

In the brilliantly illuminated and bustling capitals of the human realm, the noble manors hosted endless banquets with ceaseless music, the market streets were brightly lit, and the lively cries of street vendors filled the air, creating an atmosphere brimming with vitality.

Here, however, it was entirely different. Bathed in the faint, ethereal glow of the surrounding flora, passing pedestrians would unconsciously slow their pace, unable to bear the thought of disrupting such a serene and beautiful scene.

The nighttime crime rate in the elven territories was remarkably low. After all, even the slightest loud noise would immediately draw the attention of the silently patrolling guards.

The population of native elves was not particularly large; visitors from other races accounted for more than half of the residents. However, none of them dared to cause trouble here, as doing so would result in immediate deportation... In more severe cases, they would face direct criminal sentencing under elven law.

Elven prison sentences generally started at a minimum of one hundred years, which effectively amounted to a life sentence for most other races. It was all too common for foreign prisoners to take their own lives within the elven tree cells.

Yet, there was clearly a reason why this place managed to attract such a massive influx of foreigners: the boundless development prospects of the elven territories.

The city-state beneath Xia Lun and Aina's feet, built upon a colossal tree, Calanris, had been constructed over the past few centuries and had already become the capital city of the elves. Without a doubt, it harbored countless opportunities.

And even now, Calanris was still undergoing expansion.

The elves did not shun outsiders. They needed ample manpower to help construct their cities and to stimulate trade and development.

Nor did the elves fear that their culture would be eroded by this influx of foreigners, or worry that other races might usurp their home and dilute the very concept of what it meant to be an elf... such as a short, pointy-eared, green-skinned goblin running around shouting, "I am an elf too!"

This was because elves lived incredibly long lives; they could simply outlive any dissenting voices.

Xia Lun knew very well that once the city-state of Calanris was fully completed, the elves would likely begin to slowly weed out the other races within their borders, or at least establish strict segregations.

Although it would be somewhat difficult... they could just take it slowly. If there was one thing the elves had in abundance, it was time.

A millennium from now, it might become a rare sight to find anyone from another race walking the elven streets.

However, that was a matter for the distant future, and Xia Lun had no interest in meddling in the political affairs of another race.

"What is that?"

Xia Lun noticed a massive crowd of people gathered on the platform above them.

Aina replied, "Why don't we go up and see for ourselves?"

Because it was built upon a colossal tree, the elven city boasted a three-dimensional structure divided into multiple vertical levels... If one wished to travel upward, they could take the suspension lifts or cable cars.

Xia Lun, however, had no need for such things.

Wrapping an arm around Aina's waist, Xia Lun leaped into the air, instantly landing on the upper level.