251: Chapter 251 The Scramble

"Sorry, messenger. Are you saying you want us to stay in a place like this?"

Talix stepped forward with a grim expression:

"We are apprentice Scholars from the Time Book House, invited by the Leviathan Laboratory to participate in the competition. Is this how your Elf Race treats its guests?"

"Esteemed apprentice Scholar, sir, there's no need to pin labels on me."

The leading elven messenger wore a false smile, deliberately emphasizing the words 'esteemed' and 'apprentice':

"You see, there are only twelve treehouses on this branch. As the host of this competition, it's quite reasonable to allocate ten of them to the candidates from Leviathan Academy, don't you think?"

"As for the remaining two, these treehouses were built by pure maidens of our clan who have severe mysophobia. They don't want their creations tainted by those with unsightly appearances. As their elder, I naturally must honor their wishes."

"Are you saying I'm unsightly?!"

Talix's eyes widened instantly, which looked rather odd paired with his massive head nearly half a meter wide.

Students from these academies, especially the top students, are always heavily influenced by their mentors.

They have adjusted their physical forms through various means to be most suitable for academic research, which naturally doesn't align with conventional aesthetic standards.

"Sorry, sorry, that's not what I meant."

A flicker of disdain flashed in the elven messenger's eyes as he pointed at Zhang Huaiyuan and Fang Qingran beside him:

"What I meant was, aside from this handsome young man and that barely acceptable woman, all of you present are unsightly."

"What did you say!"

"Damn it, shallow elf! How could you possibly comprehend the greatness of our wisdom!"

Instantly, everyone except Zhang Huaiyuan flushed with anger.

Even the Seventh Princess's smile froze on her face.

What did he mean by 'barely acceptable'?

"What? Want to fight?"

The elven messenger's smile remained unchanged, his tone dripping with contempt:

"Indeed, vulgar creatures remain true to their nature even after reading a few more books."

Upon hearing this, even Zhang Huaiyuan felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.

The Elf Race truly lived up to its reputation—their words were too venomous.

"Hah, then I'll be vulgar today!"

Those who came to participate in the competition were the true elites of the academy, proud children of heaven who couldn't tolerate such insults.

One of them immediately tossed out dozens of silver fragments. As they spun, they rapidly enlarged, instantly forming a tightly sealed tower-like structure.

"Exile Tower?"

Zhang Huaiyuan glanced at it and understood.

This was a relatively popular tool in time-based research. Any creature sealed inside would, according to the tower owner's will, spend a period of time in a void devoid of all existence.

In a sense, its lethality was far more terrifying than conventional physical weapons.

"Well done. These knowledge-defiling primitives deserve a lesson."

Talix and the others sneered coldly, showing no intention of stopping it.

Before parting, the mentors had said:

From the moment they entered the "Origin Star Sea," the competition had already begun.

Besides, these elves were so arrogant. If they swallowed their pride, their personal grievances were minor, but tarnishing the academy's reputation was a major issue.

The Exile Tower slowly descended, but the targeted elven messenger showed not a trace of panic. He pulled out a half-broken branch.

This was the Origin Star Sea, inside the World Tree personally planted by the Dominator!

Just as a clash seemed imminent, another flash of teleportation light appeared.

An elven messenger arrived with a group of compassionate-looking preachers.

At the center of these preachers, surrounded and protected, was a stunningly beautiful young woman in white divine robes.

Faint points of light shimmered around her, accentuating her holy aura, yet she held a pitch-black jade skull staff in her hand, creating a contradictory yet harmonious impression.

At her nod of approval, one of the preachers stepped forward with a gentle smile.

"Praise the Holy Light. You are all outstanding individuals. Why let a minor quarrel damage the harmony?"

"Hmm?"

Strangely enough,

despite being a bland, innocuous statement, the previously furious Time Book House group suddenly felt their anger subside.

Even the elven messenger instinctively said:

"You make a good point."

"What a peculiar power."

Through his True Sight, Zhang Huaiyuan could vaguely see that as the other spoke, a special energy accompanied the sound into everyone's ears.

However, that energy didn't seem harmful at all; instead, it helped people calm their minds and focus.

"So these must be the people from the Holy Light Monastery. As expected, they're not to be trifled with."

Zhang Huaiyuan thought to himself.

Meanwhile, after this interruption, the tense atmosphere eased considerably.

The academy member snorted coldly and withdrew the "Exile Tower."

Surprisingly, the elven messenger didn't continue his sarcastic remarks. Instead, he glanced suspiciously at the woman being treated like a star.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, his expression changed, and he was about to say something.

"Messenger, I wonder if our accommodations have been arranged?"

At that moment, a sweet, clear voice rang out.

It was the staff-wielding woman, tilting her head slightly with a smile.

"Saint... Miss Jiang, your residence is over there."

The elven messenger nodded understandingly, pointing to an exquisite treehouse on the branch:

"It is an honor for it to be used by you."

"Elven art is renowned across the myriad realms. Seeing it today truly lives up to its reputation; even a single treehouse is so exquisite. A trivial gift, please accept it."

The staff-wielding woman nodded happily, took out two white feathers, and let them float into the hands of the two elven messengers.

Then she asked again:

"What about them?"

"You need not worry about us."

Several preachers exchanged glances, each finding an open spot and calmly sitting cross-legged on the ground:

"The Saint Lord created all things. In all things of this world—flowers, grass, trees—the wisdom left by the Holy Light is hidden. With devout prayer, the Holy Light will guide us to discover its mysteries."

Hearing this, the two elven messengers' expressions changed slightly, but they said nothing more.

They were arrogant, but not fools.

The Time Book House people were cultured; even if they exchanged a few barbs, any action would be measured.

But these faith-obsessed fanatics, despite their usual gentle demeanor, would fight to the death once their beliefs were involved.

Not to mention they had accepted gifts—these feathers were clearly extraordinary just from their texture...

On the other side, the Time Book House group also frowned.

With these people sitting on the ground like this, if they continued to make a fuss, they would appear lacking in grace.

But staying in tree hollows was definitely not an option.

Setting aside the Leviathan Laboratory as the host, since the Monastery people got one treehouse, to preserve the academy's dignity, the other treehouse must be secured by the academy.

"Let me give it a try."

Just as everyone was in a dilemma, Zhang Huaiyuan suddenly spoke softly and stepped forward.

Hearing this, Talix and the others were slightly taken aback. They hadn't expected the least noticeable person in the team to step up at this moment.

But remembering that elves placed great importance on appearance, they nodded, stepped aside, and whispered a reminder:

"Be careful."

"I understand."

Zhang Huaiyuan hesitantly walked forward, one hand rummaging in his storage device while politely greeting:

"Hello, messenger."

"Hello, handsome human man."

Seeing the newcomer, the elven messenger returned an elegant salute, showing none of his earlier arrogance.

In their oral myths and legends, the great Zerg Dominator, in the form of a human man, married the Elven Empress, leading the Elf Race to the pinnacle of the myriad realms.

Therefore, they held a natural fondness for humans, especially handsome human men.

"Well, I have an impertinent request..."

Zhang Huaiyuan braced himself and spoke, pulling out a half-broken branch.

This was the only thing he had related to the Elf Race. If it didn't work, he had no other options.

"Human, I'm afraid that's not... Hmm? Uncle Mokal's token!"

The elven messenger was about to refuse when he sensed a familiar aura. He immediately gave Zhang Huaiyuan a strange look.

After a long moment, he finally said with a half-smile:

"Fine. Since Uncle Mokal gave you this, if I make things difficult for you, I'll probably be in trouble."

As he spoke, he conjured a bouquet of flowers and handed it over.

"This is the token for the last treehouse. Take it. But it's for your use only, handsome human man."