Golden Dragon: Six Thousand Years of Empire.

Chapter 529: Open the door, the imperial guards send warmth

"Lord Thorne!"

"My lord, please watch your step."

"Your boots are dirty, let me wipe them for you!"

Thorne lowered his head and looked at his fellow tribesman who was wiping his boots with fear and awe, and sighed softly.

"It doesn't have to be like this."

"You are a hero who fights for the tribe. You fight demons in the wild, and we are powerless. But now that you have returned to the tribe, we, the ordinary elves who are unable to participate in the battle, naturally have the responsibility and obligation to keep you looking bright and decent enough so that you can have a better rest."

This was the answer given by the elf that pounced on him. It sounded reasonable, but Thorn's expression was more complicated.

Because this was a treatment that these warriors, who had received the blessing of the Dragon Tree and gained the power of symbiosis, could never enjoy before the Blue Dragon leader Illya split the tribe.

After all, they are elves in appearance, but inside they are undead monsters full of tree roots and wood. Even those of their own kind who are very considerate of them find it difficult to maintain respect for them on the surface, and private discussions are inevitable.

However, all of this happened after the Celestial Dragon leader Illya split the tribe in an almost blatant manner and started a new one, and then this group of native elves felt panic.

When their survival was greatly threatened, many of the principles they had originally adhered to were abandoned. Just when some native elves wanted to follow the example of their original fellows who had dedicated themselves to the tree and go under the dragon tree to receive blessings, they discovered in despair that they could not get close to the tree.

Illya and her followers occupied the Dragon Tree and prohibited the native elves from approaching, but they did not completely refuse it.

If the native elves want to join, they must pass the test. Only after passing various tests will they be eligible to receive the blessing of the Dragon Tree. It is not that they can obtain the power of symbiosis as long as they get close.

The many thresholds set up almost exclude most of the native elves, and it is too late even if they regret.

Of course, because of the existence of the Great Elder, these elves can still live near the Dragon Tree. As far as survival is concerned, as long as they don't run around, they don't need to worry about the invasion and threats of demons, but their living conditions are naturally incomparable to before.

Under such circumstances, the dedicated Nagarjuna warriors who were willing to stay and protect the tribe immediately obtained the status they deserved, and were once again sought after and respected by these native elves.

However, no Dragon Tree warrior would be happy about such changes. They knew very clearly where all these changes came from and what caused the change in attitude of their fellow tribesmen.

"Lord Thorn, the elder wants to see you. If you have nothing to do now, please come over."

"Ok."

Thorn, who originally had a not very prominent status, suddenly became one of the most important figures in the tribe after the tribe split, because most of the Dragon Tree warriors chose to follow the daughter of the Great Elder, Illya, and became a member of the Azure Dragon people.

Although there was a legendary strongman among the native elves, the elder would never do anything to his own daughter. What was the point of putting her in solitary confinement? He would release his daughter after just a few days.

Therefore, many Dragon Tree warriors who understood the situation changed their camps, but this could not be considered as betrayal. After all, they were still protecting the mother tree and their fellow tribesmen, but the targets had changed.

"Great Elder, you are looking for me."

When Thorne walked into the tree house, the great elder, who still looked young but a little more haggard, looked over at him.

"Well, I heard that you killed a berserker on your own this time without getting hurt."

"Yes."

Talking about his own battle record, Thorne couldn't help but straighten his back. Not long ago, he suffered a serious injury at the hands of a berserker, but now he can kill the same demon alone.

"That's great!"

I don't know whether he was praising Thorne's talent or praising Nagarjuna's strength.

"Thorne, I remember you are 196 years old this year, almost 200 years old."

"Yes."

Hearing the great elder in front of him accurately report his age, Thorne felt a little flattered.

"Don't be surprised. I have witnessed the birth of every child in the tribe, including you."

Seeing the young man's expression, the elder smiled.

"I didn't come to you for anything, I just wanted to ask about your future plans."

"I will stay in the tribe and protect the tribe's heritage."

Hearing the Great Elder's question, Thorne's eyes were firm and his tone was powerful.

"Don't be so serious."

Seeing the young man's gaze, the elder laughed, and then his eyes became somewhat bleak and lonely.

"If I told you that our world is being destroyed, what would you think?"

"No matter what the world becomes, I will protect the tribe."

"Once the world is destroyed, it will continue to fall until it falls into the abyss. Our world will be no exception. Once our world falls into the lower layer, all creatures that cannot adapt to the environment will die."

"we will not?"

Thorne naturally heard the hidden meaning of the great elder.

“That’s right, the Dragon Tree will not be affected by falling into the abyss, and the spirits blessed by the Dragon Tree can also survive in the abyss.

But the native elves in the tribe who have not received the blessing will not be able to survive. The blood of the wood elves is too ordinary and cannot resist the erosion of the abyss. "

"Then migrate to other worlds."

"Your idea is good, but who can protect them?"

The elder looked at the young man in front of him, and just as Thorne was about to speak, he saw the elder gently shook his head.

"You can't. All the spirits that have received the blessing of the Dragon Tree cannot get too far away from the Dragon Tree. Haven't you noticed?"

"How could this be?"

Thorne frowned. He really hadn't noticed such a restriction because he felt that his range of activities was wide enough, but he didn't expect there would be such a restriction.

"Because the blessing you have received is part of Nagarjuna."

"What about you?"

Thorne couldn't help but ask. He didn't have the ability to protect the tribe during their cross-dimensional migration, but the legendary swordsman in front of him should be able to do so.

"I am already very old and can't walk anymore. I also don't have the ability to protect the tribe's cross-dimensional migration. Originally, those children were still here, and I was willing to give it a try, but now, I don't have such an idea anymore." Thorn knew who the children the elder was talking about, and they were naturally the leader of the Azure Dragons, Ilia, and her followers. These Azure Dragons were the backbone of the tribe in the beginning. Without them, the tribe would have no future and would lose its vitality.

"The bloodline of that tribe..."

"Let's take it one step at a time. We don't really have much power to change anything. We can only go with the flow."

"Elder."

"You don't have to be too hard on yourself, and you don't have to suppress your desires. Just do whatever you want. In this world that has become a wasteland, there is no need to restrain yourself."

“Protecting tribal heritage is my greatest obsession and dream.”

"You are such a good kid, but unfortunately, I am too old."

As he spoke, the Great Elder raised his arm. When Thorne was a little confused, he saw the strongest among the native elves gently pulling his sleeve. Then, an arm wrapped in countless dragon scales and wood beard came into view. It was extremely creepy, but with an indescribable evil and majesty.

"Elder! How could you?"

Thorne looked at the dancing tiny wooden whiskers on the elder's arm with some shock, and felt a sense of collapse of faith. Such a powerful elf would eventually succumb to the Dragon Tree.

"I can't help it. As I get older, my energy consumption increases. If I want to continue living, this is the only solution I can do."

The Great Elder's tone was full of carefreeness, but also full of helplessness.

"It turns out that you are the hardest-working person in the tribe!"

Yes, as a legendary elf, staying in the abyss world for a long time, the price to be paid can be imagined, and this legend must also take care of a tribe. Only he himself knows the fatigue.

The key point is that the Great Elder is indeed very old, and the wood elves are originally lower-level elves with a low upper limit. Even if they break through to the legendary level, their lifespan can be multiplied several times. Coupled with ordinary battles and daily fatigue, it is normal for them to not be able to hold on.

"I plan to have the mother tree assimilate all the elves. Only in this way can our tribe be passed on."

"But if that's the case, the bloodline of the tribe..."

"We are neither Silver Moon Elves nor Sun Elves. We are just the most common Wood Elves. What is there to be obsessed with with such a bloodline? What's more, don't our current appearance make us more suitable for the title of Wood Elves?"

At the end, there was a hint of sarcasm in the Great Elder's words.

"You're right."

Although rationally, Thorne had to admit that what the Great Elder said was right, the pursuit of bloodline and glory left Thorne with an obsession. The birth of the Azure Dragon people had long made this young warrior alert.

The elves who receive the blessing of the Dragon Tree will have immortal bodies, but after suffering a severe blow to the head, even if they grow back, they will lose their memories.

What is the difference between such elves and new life? If the tribe continues to multiply in this way, there will only be Qinglong people in the end.

"The biggest problem now is how to get my daughter to agree so that all the elves can receive the blessing of the Mother Tree."

"Elder, I think we should respect their wishes. Not all elves are willing to become what we are now."

"Well, that's true."

Having said that, Thorne knew very well that in today's elven tribe, the vast majority of native elves were willing to accept the blessing, and after accepting the blessing, their quality of life would be visibly improved.

“Although I am Illya’s father, she doesn’t listen to me now. It is very troublesome for me to communicate with her, so I would like to entrust you.

Let young people like you join Illya's army, get as high a position as possible, and fight for a chance for your people to survive on this land."

"I'll try."

With a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, Thorne walked out of the elder's tree house, stood on the terrace outside the tree house, looked up at the gray night sky, and vaguely could see a few shining stars.

Although the world has become very bad, in Thorn's heart, his world still has hope and can be saved. But the words of the elder destroyed all his beliefs.

"Can't the mother tree save the world, too?"

Thorne looked at the majestic mother tree that stood between heaven and earth like a mountain not far away, and his thoughts were extremely complicated.

He has witnessed the various powers displayed by the mother tree. Within the range of the mother tree's domain, the land eroded by evil spirits can be restored and the seeds of various flowers, plants and fruit trees can be planted.

Obviously everything was getting steadily better, but the elder said that the world was about to be destroyed and fall, and he was even prepared to make the entire tribe accept the power of symbiosis.

"Probably not!"

The mother tree can only continue their tribe, but it cannot save the world.

"But what can save the world?"

The moment the thought came into Thorne's mind, there was a roar above the sky, and an unprecedented shock suddenly swept across the sky and the earth.

The earth trembled, the mountains roared, and millions of monsters trembled under this terrible impact.

"?!"

Thorne looked up at the sky silently. He saw that the sky was torn apart, or rather, a corner of it was knocked open by a huge and spectacular creature.

Click~click~click~
The crack that caused the sky to collapse was spreading rapidly, and then the crack quickly expanded, and the spectacular creation that shattered the sky gradually revealed its full appearance. It was a magnificent city emitting golden light, or a moving fortress.

"Floating city?!"

Although it was a lower branch of the elves, it still had an ancient heritage. Even though he had never seen it before, when the floating city appeared in front of him, Thorn recognized it at a glance.

"How did this happen here?"

Just as such confusing thoughts popped up in Thorne's mind, he saw a meteor suddenly fall into the floating city that had only been partially squeezed in.

That was not a single meteor, but a group of meteors with golden tail flames, and the target of these meteors was very clear, which was to go straight to their tribe or the mother tree.

But even after realizing that the mother tree was the target of this group of uninvited guests, many Dragon Tree warriors, including Thorn, found it difficult to feel hostility.

Because they all felt the joy and excitement from the mother tree, just like the surprise of suddenly meeting an old friend when they are in a foreign land.

"What's in there?"

The earth roared and shook, shocking cracks spread, and in the dense smoke and dust, one golden giant after another appeared in Thorne's sight.

After just the first glance at one of the giants, Thorne consciously gave up all means of detection because he felt like a rookie.

(End of this chapter)