Chapter 142: Tree Spirits and New Gods

The banquet hall of the Moonshadow Clan was naturally also carved into the mountainside using the same methods, but compared to the secret chamber where Vilyric and the others had discussed important intelligence, it seemed larger, more spacious, and more grand.

On the surface, it appeared unremarkable, but once inside, Vilyric realized that this hall had nearly been dug into the mountain to a depth of almost one-third, and even with the magical runes providing support and assistance, the Moonshadow Clan had erected dozens of massive, sturdy beams inside to maintain structural stability.

When they arrived, Little Dragon Daughter and several other girls were already seated at the dining table. Several evident magical generals of the Moonshadow Clan were serving dish after dish, but Aiste and another general were nowhere to be found, their whereabouts unknown.

This was understandable; if what Vanessa had described was accurate, a major event had just occurred within the Moonshadow Clan, and as the clan chief’s right and left arms, they would certainly be especially busy and couldn’t constantly attend to a few guests.

Prioritizing the handling and accommodation of Vilyric and the others was already a significant consideration.

“Although we’ve met once, seeing you again now makes me marvel; Vilyric, your companions truly are more charming one after another, each exuding unique qualities. I suppose this is what they call like attracting like.”

“?”

Well, if you can’t use idioms, there’s no need to force it; that phrase sounded more like an insult regardless…

With a somewhat speechless glance at Min Chen, Vilyric didn’t say much, walking straight to the reserved seat beside Little Dragon Daughter. After sitting down, she quietly exchanged glances with her pet.

Hmm, it seems nothing bad has happened, that’s good.

“Vilyric, you were gone quite a while. If Xiao Guang hadn’t said it was no big deal, we’d all have been worried something had happened.”

Tilysha, sitting across, greeted the duo seated on the opposite side with some nervousness before turning her attention to the Priestess, lovingly expressing her concern.

Since Vilyric had previously stated she’d be staying in the Moonshadow Clan’s territory for a while, it seemed she had changed out of her travel clothes and switched to a more loose and attractive dress. Paired with her youthful azure hair, it highlighted Tilysha’s vibrant beauty even more.

This youthful aura stemming from her charm was something that no beauty secret could replicate, and it was no wonder Min Chen couldn’t help but be in awe.

“What could possibly happen now that we’re here? It’s just that the content of the discussions was a bit complex, so I ended up taking a little longer, sorry to have made you worry.”

The Priestess reached out and ruffled the girl’s hair. Tilysha blushed slightly and nodded, breaking into a shy smile. Seeing their interaction, others remained silent, but suddenly, the Tree Spirit Miss, who was sitting beside Min Chen waiting for the feast to begin, spoke up curiously, which was quite unusual for Barta, the great magical general of the Tree Spirit Clan.

“If I may ask, what is the name of this young lady with azure hair? I feel a faint familiarity and warmth from you, and indeed, your hair color resembles ours significantly. Could it be…?”

“Hmm?”

Vilyric glanced at Tilysha; seeing her hesitate but not express reluctance in her expression or actions, she casually turned to Barta and explained.

“Sort of, Tilysha is a half-breed, possessing three-quarters human and one-quarter Tree Spirit blood. It’s only natural for Miss Barta, as a great magical general of the Tree Spirits, to feel familiar.”

“Half-breed?”

Barta seemed less than satisfied with this answer and pressed on.

“May I ask, which bloodlines are mixed? ‘Tree Spirit’ is actually a very broad term, with thousands of branches beneath it. Much like how the Wolf Clan relates to the Moonshadow Magical Wolves, does Miss Tilysha know what specific kind of Tree Spirit she belongs to? To be honest, it’s quite rare to see a Tree Spirit with azure hair; as far as I know, it’s mostly found among my clan, the Tree Spirits, or the currently leading Flower Spirits.”

Oh? Now that question… has some interesting depth to it.

According to Tilysha herself, her mother once told her that the Tree Spirit bloodline they continued was that of the Earth Priest, a long-lost ancient group that disappeared due to the fall of a deity, and Vilyric has also confirmed this from a certain Life Goddess Miss.

But to be honest, the Priestess never believed a race could simply go extinct because of that. The struggle for life is an endless competition; unless an unavoidable catastrophe hits, or it becomes too ancient, under most circumstances, organisms that cannot adapt to their environments slowly change and evolve into forms better suited for survival.

Therefore, the Earth Priest bloodline may not have truly disappeared or gone extinct but might have gradually transformed into a different group over thousands of years, evolving to lose the ability to communicate with deities, becoming self-sufficient instead.

Since Barta from the Tree Spirit Clan could sense a familiarity from Tilysha, does that mean their bloodlines do share some commonalities?

In other words, the Tree Spirit Clan might actually be a group that has gone extinct or has severed its ancient lineage from the Earth Priest?

Or maybe Barta isn’t sensing a kinship but rather the essence of pure life that Tilysha embodies as a divine agent of the Life Goddess and a caretaker of the Divine Tree?

After all, Tree Spirits are known as the closest clan to nature, many of which are in half-human, half-tree forms, or even as their name suggests, actual spirits of trees.

Life and nature have always been intertwined. The Tree Spirit Clan once worshipped the Earth Mother Goddess, so it’s entirely normal for Barta, as one of the top members of the Tree Spirit Clan, to feel an affinity for the law representing “Life.”

Vilyric had been contemplating whether to reveal more information or ask Tilysha for her opinion when the latter unexpectedly spoke up.

“I’m sorry, Miss Barta, but I’m not quite sure about my specific race either. After all, I only have one-quarter Tree Spirit blood, and having lived in a remote village since childhood, everyone there was also a similar mix; there aren’t very many people like me, so it’s not particularly rare.”

Upon hearing this, the Priestess couldn’t help but be internally surprised but didn’t interrupt.

Is she intentionally hiding the story of the Earth Priest…?

Such a statement and behavior didn’t seem like something Tilysha would come up with herself; if there’s any chance, could it be Xi Fu Lin who taught her?

Could it be that the Life Goddess Miss doesn’t want the former priest clan to resurface? But… doesn’t she need worship?

Well, it’s their own affair, so I shouldn’t interfere too much. I suppose Xi Fu Lin, being a bona fide veteran deity, must have her own considerations.

Since Tilysha had decisively shut down the topic, Barta, even if she wished to continue, had no more openings and could only reluctantly nod in resignation.

Afterward, the dishes were ready, and the clan leader Vanessa returned with the two great magical generals to the banquet hall, welcoming Vilyric and her guests, and the feast celebrating the return of Crown Prince Noviya began.

   

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