Chapter 1696 An Eerie Duo
Sun Hao learned that Half-Elves were a woodland race somewhat resembling the Long-Eared Clan of the Lower Void. However, they lacked the Long-Eared Clan’s characteristic long ears. They possessed sturdier builds but far shorter lifespans than the Long-Eared Clan.
Similar to the Long-Eared Clan, the Half-Elf Clan were innate forest archers. The few tall Half-Elves following Sun Hao could summon a force of five thousand archers.
Over the long course of conflicts, the Dwarf Race and the Half-Elf Clan had forged a steadfast alliance. A crucial reason was that Dwarves served as valiant close-quarters combatants, while Half-Elves excelled as long-range marksmen. Cooperating, they protected the great forest, complementing each other perfectly.
Sun Hao and Gerlane then visited the Half-Elves' territory. Even with Sun Hao’s formidable speed, traversing both the Half-Elves' and Dwarves' realms still consumed over half a year. They encountered numerous peculiar, unique products native to this world and gained many unique insights.
Sun Hao believed this experience through the Mirror Image would surely yield significant rewards upon return.
The great forest remained a relatively tranquil region. While hunting within its bounds, both the Dwarf Race and the Half-Elf Clan maintained orderly farms and pastures. Fighting was infrequent. During Sun Hao and Gerlane’s lengthy stay, only three incidents occurred where Undead Race warriors breached the forest. Patrols of Dwarves discovered and expelled them each time.
Within the forest, Sun Hao was also astonished to encounter sacred unicorns, distant kin of the Soaring Sky Tribe.
In the Lower Void, the Soaring Sky Tribe ranked among the Ten Great Strong Races, surpassing even the Human Clan in might and status. Yet here on the Taoman Continent, unicorns—snow-white creatures with a single horn, resembling fine steeds—represented purity and holiness. Hailed as divine guardian beasts of the great forest, they possessed spirit and considerable intelligence but could not be classified as a distinct race.
The Half-Elves' archives were more comprehensive than the Dwarves'. To Sun Hao’s surprise, their records revealed that on the Taoman Continent, the Human Clan was also a formidable race. Moreover, the archives documented that the Half-Elf Clan was actually a variant lineage resulting from marriages between Humans during their ancient zenith and the graceful Elven Clan then inhabiting the woodlands.
Sun Hao suspected that the so-called Elven Clan of Taoman Continent was likely the Long-Eared Clan of the Lower Void. Evidently, the Long-Eared Clan had employed some method enabling their mass exodus from the Taoman Continent.
On this continent, the Human Clan was also a core force resisting the Undead Race’s invasion.
However, it seemed that over the last ten thousand years, the Undead Race’s strength had steadily increased. The territories of both the Human Clan and other races were shrinking. Previously, lands beyond the great forest belonged to Humans; now, they had become the Semi-Dead Zone.
The Semi-Dead Zone’s defining characteristics included widespread forest die-off, grassland turning sandy, and the continent’s palette shifting from verdant green to ashen gray. The air no longer carried freshness but reeked of decay and decline.
After entering the Middle Void, Sun Hao hadn’t deliberately sought news about the Human Clan. Discovering unexpected knowledge of them in this Lower Realm now brought him an extra spark of enthusiasm. He resolved that, if truly necessary, he would extend aid within his capabilities.
Swiftly consulting the Half-Elves' archives and conversing with their prophet-like Elder Great, Sun Hao grasped the fundamental reason and immediate purpose for the Battle Realm’s opening.
The Battle Realm—specifically, the Taoman Continent—faced a true survival crisis. Potent Undead Race armies, powerful Undead Heroes, and cunning Undead Cultivators were progressively dominating the continent. The native inhabitants could barely withstand them, compelling them to plead for aid from the Upper Realm.
The Upper Realm—more precisely, the Middle Void—granted the Ten Thousand Races access to the Battle Realm battlefield via Mirror Descent, initiating a grand confrontation between the Myriad Races of the Central Void and the Undead Race.
Warriors descended into the Lower Realm via Mirror Image represented powerful reinforcements. If these reinforcements could ultimately expel the Undead Race, the Battle Realm would be truly restored. Taoman Continent would become a flourishing Lower Realm, nurturing many fresh talents for the Middle Void.
Conversely, if the Undead Race managed to annihilate these formidable Mid-Void Cultivator reinforcements, Taoman Continent would likely fall entirely, becoming a major Undead stronghold.
Naturally, the most probable outcome was the Undead Race suffering heavy losses to the potent forces led by the Myriad Races’ Cultivators, though not total eradication. Once Mid-Void Cultivators withdrew, the Undead Race would regroup and renew their struggle for control.
Many Battle Realms endured this exact tug-of-war conflict.
When Mid-Void Cultivators descended en masse with elite forces, their military might peaked. The Undead Race could not completely resist. However, across countless millennia of warfare, the Undead Race’s resilience had become legendary. Formidable Undead Heroes or Cultivators always employed various methods to resurge in the Lower Realm, proving incredibly difficult to permanently eradicate.
Once targeted by the Undead Race, a Lower Realm inevitably fell into an unending cycle of war.
Both the Half-Elf Clan and the Dwarf Race were ancient forest-dwelling lineages of Taoman Continent, having endured multiple Middle Void Battle Realm conflicts. Thus, Sun Hao and Gerlane’s arrival was no mystery.
Their presence profoundly astonished them, however.
Sun Hao bore the secret ancient divine radiance of their races. Strangely, according to their archives, such radiance should only manifest in their primal ancestors. This radiance possessed the power to enhance their combat abilities and deepen their comprehension of cultivation realms.
Legend stated that encountering a Hero radiating this divine light merited admiration and allegiance.
Allegiance was straightforward: utter the shared phrase of "Admiration." If the bearer accepted, a bond formed—a mutually beneficial pact not overly restrictive.
The longer one followed, the more battles joined, the greater the boost from the ancient radiance. Subsequent individual advancement accelerated, and even Ascension to the Upper Realm—breaking free from the Lower Realm’s confines—became possible.
Legend also told of race warriors achieving Hero status while following this radiance, instantly becoming prized assets in the eyes of Upper Realm Cultivators.
Yet, the Half-Elf Elder Great and Dwarf Warriors were utterly baffled. Sun Hao’s ancient divine radiance displayed universal compatibility. Not only could Dwarves declare Admiration, so could the Half-Elf Clan.
This posed a significant problem.
The two races shared no common ancestor. Furthermore, Half-Elves supposedly had no primal ancestor in ancient times; they emerged from intermixing long afterward. How could they also sense and join Sun Hao’s forces through Admiration?
It defied understanding.
Ultimately, it was beneficial. When logic failed, they ceased pondering and knew better than to ask. Sharply observant, they noted Sun Hao’s use of Gerlane as a cover and inferred a cooperative pact between them. Gerlane even consented to their enlistment.
Since Gerlane handled their admissions—and her demeanor proved far more welcoming than Sun Hao’s—they pragmatically feigned ignorance.
Both Dwarf Race and Half-Elf Clan understood Sun Hao and Gerlane’s mission: resisting the Undead Race’s expansion and serving as reinforcements for Taoman Continent.
Yet they were taken aback: Sun Hao and Gerlane descended alone, without a single Warrior accompanying them.
This isolation was unprecedented among arriving Heroes.
In essence, they formed an eerie pair radiating strangeness.
Sun Hao and Gerlane now led two forces totaling over fifteen thousand warriors. Having traversed the great forest, they commanded preliminary combat strength.
After brief consultation, Sun Hao proposed deploying from the forest. They would target the Stalagmite Plains—an Undead stronghold potent enough to matter but not overwhelming—thus joining the Battle Realm conflict.
The Half-Elf Clan and Dwarf Race conferred and endorsed Sun Hao’s strategy. Seven Dwarves and five Half-Elf archers formally followed Sun Hao out of the great forest, marching onto the plains.
Shortly after leaving the forest, they encountered their first Undead patrol. Their numbers were few; their strength, mediocre.
No match whatsoever for this powerful force of Cultivators.
Just as the Dwarves and Half-Elves prepared to attack, Gerlane raised her hand. "Hold! My magnificent reputation precedes me even among the Undead. Let us see if they offer Admiration first."
The Dwarves and Half-Elves exchanged bewildered glances.
Then, they witnessed an astounding scene: the entire Undead Skeleton contingent knelt, pledging Admiration, and joined their battle formation.
Utter, complete confusion reigned.