As Lan An and Yan Yue Qi stepped forward, curious glances rippled through the crowd. Known across Sea Continent as a magnate, Lan An's choice to present his gift last—especially while Bach Hieu Sinh lingered—stirred intrigue. All eyes locked on them, anticipation thick in the air.
Tian Die Dao muttered under her breath, "If Lolo can make that schemer lose face and foil his plot, I'll truly admire you." Her maids—Cheng Bi, Bao Qiao, Le Huan, and Wu San Niang—nodded, their eyes gleaming with expectation.
A Nhi skipped over, tugging Lan An's hand with a giggle. "Hurry, Brother Lan An! Your gift is the one I'm most excited for!"
"It's not for you, little troublemaker," Lan An teased, half-laughing, half-scolding.
"What's Mother's is mine!" A Nhi stuck out her tongue playfully.
The Elf Queen watched, her gaze softening like gentle water. Even in the Elven Queendom, A Nhi rarely bonded so closely with anyone. Bach Hieu Sinh's face darkened, his voice slow and pointed. "The Queen hasn't accepted my gift yet. Isn't it discourteous for you two to interrupt?"
Lan An smiled, clasping his hands calmly. "A birthday gift-giving is merrier with more people, Young Master Bach. You're too rigid. Today's not some grand ceremony."
The crowd nodded silently. The Elf Queen's lofty status had kept the atmosphere solemn, but birthdays should be joyous and relaxed. A spark of intrigue flickered in the Queen's eyes—Lan An's ease in overlooking her status set him apart.
She preferred simplicity, content to celebrate with A Nhi and her Elves. Diplomatic necessities, however, demanded inviting these prominent guests. "Hmph," Bach Hieu Sinh snorted inwardly, but outwardly adopted a gracious tone. "Indeed, the Queen's peerless grace made me overly formal. My respect for her and Elf Island drove my seriousness. I hope Young Master Lan An understands."
Lan An's eyes narrowed. Bach Hieu Sinh's slick words twisted the narrative, painting Lan An as disrespectful. "No matter. Great men don't dwell on petty faults," Yan Yue Qi said, clinging to Lan An's arm with a magnanimous air.
"Pfft, hehe!" A Nhi and Tian Die Dao stifled laughter. Seeing the Moonlight Fairy so sharp-tongued was rare. Even the Elf Queen raised an eyebrow. She knew Yan Yue Qi's fiery past—quick to fight at the slightest offense. Now, she wielded words, subtly jabbing at Bach Hieu Sinh's past ambush on her, a petty act.
"Please, present your gift. I'm curious," Bach Hieu Sinh said, unruffled, redirecting attention. His calm facade hid his cunning, making some wary—those who masked emotions were the most dangerous.
The crowd's focus shifted to Lan An's gift. He gently pulled Yan Yue Qi forward, a delicate, fragrant scent wafting as they neared the Elf Queen. "My fiancée and I offer this humble gift to Your Majesty and Elf Island, hoping it's not beneath you," Lan An said sincerely.
The crowd's eyes widened at "fiancée." A Late Fusion Realm cultivator engaged to a top-ten Golden Ranking beauty? Outrageous. Yet, they fell silent as Lan An raised his hands, palms up, together.
In the Elf Queen's curious gaze, a pure emerald object floated above his hands. Vooom! A phenomenon erupted. Elves looked up, faces etched with awe, as Elf Island transformed.
Spiritual energy surged like a torrent—not just Wood and Wind, but all attributes rushed in. Ancient trees quivered, spirit herbs danced, birds sang, and beasts roared in excitement. Nature seemed alive, brimming with divine wonder.
"What is that?" the crowd gasped, staring at the object in Lan An's hands. Even the Elf Queen's breath quickened, her heart pounding, drawn to it with unprecedented desire. Bach Hieu Sinh's face paled, then flushed, as spiritual energy surged relentlessly. A flicker of unease stirred within him.
"What's that heart?" the Khao Clan Elder rasped, sensing nature's jubilation. Tian Die Dao and her maids stood, faces clouded with wonder. Ji Kha, Dan Vo Hanh, and other powerhouses were equally baffled, unaware of its origin—unlike Sea Palace or Water Heaven Sect's experts.
The object was an emerald heart, glowing faintly, pulsing like a living thing. Each beat resonated with Elf Island's nature, a divine marvel. Yan Yue Qi's eyes gleamed with pride. Though unaware of its function, its aura proved its extraordinariness.
"Brother Lan An, what is it?" A Nhi swallowed, yearning to cradle the heart. A Lian Ya and the Elves nodded, sensing its profound significance for their kind, though unclear how. The Elf Queen took a deep breath, her heartbeat syncing with the emerald heart's rhythm, an uncanny sensation.
Under the crowd's eager gaze, Lan An raised the heart, smiling. "The Heart of Nature, capable of becoming the soul of any natural domain, controlling all within at its master's will, including spiritual energy absorption, regardless of attribute."
Gasps echoed. "Such a heaven-defying thing exists?" they whispered. Lan An shrugged. "A true Heart of Nature is beyond my grasp. This is a Pseudo Heart of Nature, far less potent."
The crowd exhaled, relieved, as Bach Hieu Sinh's fists unclenched. But Lan An continued, "The Pseudo Heart of Nature, when fused with a natural domain, controls 900 miles, manipulating nature and tripling spiritual energy absorption without needing Spirit Stones."
"Preposterous!" Hai Ying Tian snapped, face flushed. "No treasure functions without resources!" The crowd shared his skepticism—controlling 900 miles, nearly Elf Island's entirety, without Spirit Stones? Exaggeration.
"Your claims seem bold, Young Master Lan An. My father, an Eighth-Grade War Array Master, took six months to craft the Wood-Wind Micro Array. Can a mere heart surpass it?" Bach Hieu Sinh scoffed, drawing nods of agreement.
"Hmph, Brother Lan An doesn't lie!" A Nhi huffed, hands on hips. Lan An gave her a gentle nod, ignoring the skeptics, and presented the heart to the Elf Queen. "Elf Island showed kindness to Yue Qi and me. If Your Majesty refuses this, I'd have no face to remain."
The Elf Queen's eyes widened—his words left little room for refusal. Yet, she was curious: was the Pseudo Heart of Nature truly so miraculous? "Drip blood to claim it, and I'll be at ease," Lan An said with a cheeky grin.
She shot him a look—claiming a gift so soon seemed forward. "Mother, claim it! It's Brother's heart!" A Nhi chimed in. A Lian Ya and the Elves urged her with eager eyes, craving a miracle.
"The Pseudo Heart of Nature is gentle, especially suited for nature-bound races like Elves, with no binding issues," Lan An added, edging the heart closer. The Elf Queen nodded, pricking her finger. A crimson drop fell onto the heart.
Ting! Bach Hieu Sinh sweated, praying Lan An was bluffing. The heart blazed, lifting from Lan An's hands to hover before the Queen. Her jade-like eyes lit up, instinctively knowing what to do.
"Go, become nature's soul!" she chanted, waving her hand. The heart let out a joyous hum, soaring skyward. The crowd's jaws dropped as it expanded, casting emerald threads like a heavenly net, enveloping nearly all of Elf Island. The heart and threads faded, merging into the landscape.
The Elf Queen rose into the air, a divine figure above Elf Island, commanding, "Ten Thousand Trees, bow to Young Master Lan An!" Instantly, ancient trees, fragrant herbs, and roadside grass bent toward Lan An.
"Reverse the springs!" she ordered. Streams halted, then flowed backward to their sources, stunning the crowd. "Twin Peaks, part!" Two distant mountains rumbled, splitting to form a clear path. "Amplify spiritual energy here!" Within a ten-mile radius of the banquet, energy surged threefold, thick and vibrant.
"Enhance the herb fields!" Thousands of Elves tending herbs heard her voice, feeling boundless energy flood in, leaving them dazed, as if dreaming. Cheers erupted across Elf Island.
These acts proved Lan An's truth—the Pseudo Heart of Nature made the Elf Queen its supreme ruler. Her every command bent nature, from blades of grass to spiritual energy, with absolute authority. Her dominion rivaled Lan An's control over the Spirit Realm Pearl.
Before this miracle, Bach Hieu Sinh's Wood-Wind Micro Array dimmed, worthless in comparison. The crowd gaped, Dan Vo Hanh and Dan Manh salivating, wishing Pill Valley had such a treasure. Hai Ying Tian paled, Shui Shuang Hua's eyes gleamed with intrigue, and Tian Die Dao's jaw dropped, her maids covering their mouths—the Pseudo Heart of Nature humbled Duo Bao Pavilion's wealth.
"Heaven's Chosen indeed. I must convince Heavenly Secret Palace to ally with him," Ji Kha resolved silently. Bach Hieu Sinh stood frozen, his attendant bracing him. His body trembled—with fear, rage, or shock. His calm facade cracked, bloodshot eyes betraying his turmoil.
He felt Lan An had deliberately humiliated him, presenting this treasure last to make his array a joke. Why not go first? he seethed. Had Lan An started, Bach Hieu Sinh wouldn't have embarrassed himself. Blood surged to his head, but no one spared him a glance, engrossed in the unfolding miracle.
"Mother's amazing! Brother Lan An's amazing!" A Nhi gushed, watching Elf Island transform under her mother's command, gazing at Lan An with awe. A Lian Ya's gaze grew complex, envying Yan Yue Qi's proud smile as she clung to him.
Lan An was pleased, not expecting the Pseudo Heart of Nature's power. It could even suppress invaders by wielding nature's might. "Worthy of the Wood Spirit Clan," he murmured. Per Jin Ni, the Pseudo Heart of Nature was crafted by the Wood Spirit Clan, mimicking the true Heart of Nature. Renowned universe-wide for herb cultivation, they far surpassed the Elves, explaining the heart's potency.
The Elf Queen descended gracefully, smiling at Bach Hieu Sinh. "Young Master Bach, the Wood-Wind Micro Array is precious, and I thank you on behalf of the Elves. However, my duties leave no time to visit Headmaster Bach for maintenance. Please forgive me."
"Pfft!" Bach Hieu Sinh couldn't hold back, spitting blood, his scheme shattered.