Volume 1 Chapter 13: Moonlight Forest

Short and scrawny, his ribs painfully visible through his green skin, the little goblin Didi trailed behind Qin Lun. His pointed ears drooped, every step sluggish. He looked completely listless.

Though venturing out with an Apostle had always been his dream, the small creature felt an inexplicable sadness at the thought of leaving his family soon.

Observing the small shadow trailing him, Qin Lun’s expression was helpless. That crafty old goblin, true to form, managed to offload this troublesome burden onto him right after Qin Lun had squeezed some compensation from him. And irritatingly, Qin Lun found himself unable to refuse.

However, Qin Lun couldn’t quite understand. Sure, he’d been lucky to bridge the gap from Probationary Apostle to a Formal Apostle. But why was the old goblin so certain he would survive even the first few grueling Otherworld Missions? Hadn’t the elder himself constantly emphasized how low the survival rates were for Probationary Apostles in their initial ventures?

Qin Lun’s confusion was actually understandable. Apostles like him, who possessed a Soul Mark before even undertaking their first Otherworld Mission, had significantly higher survival chances than regular Probationary Apostles. Combined with the sharpness he’d displayed in front of the old goblin and the heavy scent of blood clinging to him, it made sense that the well-traveled elder would gamble on him.

If the gamble failed? Just one grandson lost. If it succeeded? The goblin race might just gain another opportunity to change their status, finally escaping the harsh life of Scavengers.

As Qin Lun walked deep in thought, a commotion stirred in the camp. A convoy rumbled in single file from outside, led by the imposing Ged, leader of the Lu-Lu Tribe.

“Hey, did you hear? Last night, some blood-soaked monster broke out of that otherworlder base near District 91. Killed several brothers and even stole an armored vehicle…”

“Hmm, Chief Ged went to handle it. Looks like they didn’t catch the thing!”

The hushed conversation of several goblin guards nearby stopped Qin Lun in his tracks.

There were other survivors from the District 91 Base? Qin Lun’s brow arched slightly. But within moments, he dismissed the thought and walked towards his tent.

“Whoa! How adorable! Demon King Qin Lun, is this the ‘compensation’ you brought back?” The moment Qin Lun entered the tent, Little Lian’s high-pitched shriek assaulted his ears.

“Huh?” Qin Lun glanced back. Didi stood there, his huge, watery green eyes wide. He tilted his head back slightly, looking pitifully up at the three people inside the tent. Give him a small wagging tail, and he’d look exactly like a pet puppy.

Not entirely stupid, Qin Lun thought, a faint smile appearing. He leaned back into a corner of the tent, resting his head on his left arm and closing his eyes to rest. His right hand, however, slipped into the small cloth pouch tied at his waist. His fingers found and pinched a tiny, grain-sized fragment of orange-yellow crystal.

According to the Goblin Elder, absorbing Soul Power Crystals through the Soul Mark couldn’t be rushed. Ten fragments a day was the maximum; anything more would just be wasted. To push the Soul Mark through its nascent phase would probably require using up most of the crystals in his pouch. Only then would the Soul Mark reveal its true capabilities.

Seeing Qin Lun settle down, the little nurse could barely contain herself. She clenched her fists excitedly, pacing forward two steps before sweeping the small goblin into her arms. She hugged him tightly, like cuddling a giant stuffed toy.

Lin Feng’s expression turned odd. He shot a furtive glance towards Qin Lun, then looked back at the little goblin. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. From his vantage point, he could clearly see the little creature pressing his face happily against Little Lian’s ample bosom, snugly rubbing against those incredibly bouncy mounds.

Didi’s big eyes darted around nervously. They met Lin Feng’s stare and froze for a split second. Then, he promptly bared his teeth in Lin Feng’s direction, trying to muster a fierce and menacing expression.

What a sly little creature! Lin Feng felt a wave of frustration rise straight to his head. Angrily, he turned his head away and refused to look at him anymore.

“Woooooo…” Qin Lun hadn’t been back in his tent for long when an ear-splitting alarm blasted through the goblin camp.

“Esteemed guests, please prepare to move out!” A goblin guard entered the tent Qin Lun shared with the others, delivering the message swiftly. “The camp has made contact with the Elven Floating City. They have agreed to accept all visitors from other times and spaces. We depart immediately!”

……

The Crimson Gobi’s heat remained oppressive. With the sun blazing directly overhead, the armored vehicle’s windows were covered with thick canvas to keep the interior cooler. The downside? The cramped passenger compartment soon filled with the faint smell of sweat.

Crammed beside Qin Lun, small goblin Didi slept deeply, a thin line of drool glistening at the corner of his mouth. The vehicle’s intense vibrations seemed to trouble him not at all. Thankfully, the Lu-Lu Tribe were civilized, hygiene-conscious Sapient Races, distinct from savage monsters. Had it been otherwise, Qin Lun wasn’t sure whether the creature’s potential body odor might not have pushed him to just end its existence right then and there.

Stuck in the cramped, dim vehicle, the prisoners felt sour and restless. However, the Crimson Gobi was only a small Suspended Continent, roughly the size of a coastal province back in China. After several more hours, the convoy finally halted. The rear doors creaked open. A goblin guard entered and informed them they had arrived.

The prisoners climbed out one after another and looked ahead in the convoy’s direction. Instantly, sheer, uncontainable awe spread across every face.

Several kilometers ahead, a titanic structure blocked out both sky and sun. The structure itself looked like a half-globe miniature garden. Yet, this was a “garden” standing nearly a thousand meters tall and spanning more than ten kilometers in diameter.

Within this “garden” sat a crescent-shaped landmass swathed in dense forest. Just before the landmass lay a shimmering sapphire-blue lake. Combined from above, it looked like a crescent moon hugging a flawless blue gem.

Amidst the forest on the crescent land stood numerous slender, pointed towers. What looked like tiny, dark dots buzzed around the tops of these spires, resembling a graceful dance of fairies.

A massive, crystal-clear, dome-shaped shield encased the entire landmass and lake. The edges of this shield connected seamlessly to an enormous, belt-like steel foundation surrounding it. Around this steel foundation, eight gigantic, spider-leg-like mechanical supports anchored deep into the Crimson Gobi’s earth, holding aloft the land, lake, and foundation above.

One of these massive metal spider-legs rested squarely atop a small rocky hillock below, clearly indicating the whole structure possessed mobility. Yet, within the “garden,” the land and lake remained perfectly level and stable, presumably thanks to sophisticated balance mechanisms.

“Elves prefer building their cities amidst forests and lakes. Their Floating Cities are renowned as the most beautiful among all Sapient Races!” Ged’s voice sounded nearby. The Lu-Lu chief had joined the prisoners unnoticed. A hint of admiration touched his gaze as he softly explained, “This Floating City is called Moonlight Forest. Of the Elven Race’s dozen or so such cities, this one is considered relatively small.”

Their stunned minds lingered on one thought: And this counts as small?

“Aren’t we going straight into the city?” Recovered from their shock, the prisoners began peppering Ged with questions. Though the Floating City seemed encompassingly close, they were still several kilometers away.

“Floating Cities navigate between Suspended Continents,” Ged explained, his eyes briefly flickering to Didi beside Qin Lun with a trace of worry. He quickly looked away, however. He couldn’t defy his father’s will. And besides, Didi had always been far cleverer than most younglings in the tribe. Perhaps this was the ‘opportunity’ the old goblin incessantly spoke of. “Encounters with hostile forces’ cities happen unexpectedly. Hence, their defenses run strict. We’re within its surveillance perimeter. They’ve seen us. City envoys should arrive shortly.”

After waiting only a short while, a band of mounted figures were seen galloping from beneath the vast Floating City directly towards them. As they drew near, the prisoners immediately noticed the incomers wore archaic attire.

Compared to the helmeted Lu-Lu bikers on their rumbling vehicles, these men wore intricate leather armor, carried knightly longswords at their waists, and rode powerful horses with single distinct horns sprouting from their foreheads.

“Are those… Unicorns?” The thought flitted through many minds.

Though their clothing struck the prisoners as peculiar, one fact was undeniable: the Elves of the Shattered Starry Sky perfectly matched the beautiful beings described in Earthly fairy tales. Every single one was stunningly attractive – fair-faced, exquisitely formed, possessing an ethereal charm that made them utterly captivating.

The leading Elf had remarkably handsome features. Sharp cheekbones carved from stone lent his face a strikingly resolute air. A golden circlet rested upon his brow, while silvery-white locks fell gracefully past his shoulders. The finely crafted emerald-hued leather armor he wore seemed alive, shimmering with an otherworldly green radiance. Beneath him, his snow-white Unicorn possessed a magnificent mane cascading down its powerful neck. Together, rider and mount appeared like visitors from the heavenly realm, radiating such brilliance under the Crimson Gobi sun that it was almost painful to look upon them directly.

“I am Mafa Moliya! Might I inquire who among you is Chief Ged of the Lu-Lu Tribe?”

Little Lian’s big eyes sparkled like stars. Her hands clasped tightly against her chest, she was just about to gasp with admiration when a tremoringly awed exclamation, thick with admiration, beat her to it beside her.

“So handsome!”

The “lollipop lady”-sized nurse froze momentarily. She turned her head to see Lili next to her, hands clasped equally tight, eyes transformed into sparkling five-pointed stars, looking completely lovestruck.

A wave of horrified embarrassment washed over Little Lian. She instantly snatched her hands away and took several quick steps back, trying to blend into the crowd. Breathing rapidly, she patted her considerably developed chest, muttering to herself in mortified disbelief.

“Did… did I really look that ridiculous just now?”

……

The actual transaction between the Lu-Lu Tribe and the Elven Race proceeded smoothly. The Elves, in truth, paid the goblins little direct compensation. Instead, they requisitioned a significant quantity of the tribe’s precious ore traveling within the convoy. There was, however, a specific exchange: as the Lu-Lu departed, more than twenty of their young tribe members remained with the Elves. These were the hard-won settlement permits approved by the Floating City leadership.

Watching the departing Lu-Lu convoy shrink into the distance, small goblin Didi’s eyes welled up with suppressed wetness. His delicate fingers clutched tightly onto the tough hide of the rhino-cow beneath him.

Rhino-cows were sturdy beasts raised by the Elves. Resembling a mix of Earth’s water buffalo and rhino, known for placid temperaments and great stamina, they were perfect pack animals and mounts. Since none of the prisoners could ride the swift Unicorns, they were placed upon the broad saddles strapped firmly to the backs of these gentle giants.

Mafa Moliya remained close to the Rhino-cow bearing Qin Lun. His gaze seemingly focused straight ahead, a clear, pleasant voice suddenly echoed directly within the young man’s mind.

“Noble Apostle, I hear you have acquired a Soul Mark. Would you permit me a glance?”