【 HER MAJESTY THE ALL-DIVINE MOTHER 】

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After accepting the exploration task issued by the Goddess, the ten players descended to the ground.

“Well then… to improve our efficiency, let’s split up. Everyone, communicate and share any new information you find on the group chat as needed, and we’ll choose a meeting point at sunset.”

Li Mu glanced at the sun hanging high in the sky as he spoke.

The rest of the players nodded in agreement.

It was still morning, and there were many hours left until sunset, which is more than enough time to gather a substantial amount of information.

“Also, don’t get carried away. Focus on our mission first,” Li Mu added.

As he spoke, he cast a glance at Demacia, who was looking around eagerly, rubbing his hands together with anticipation, his eyes darting about.

“Be sure not waste time playing around—I’m talking about you, Dema.”

Demacia: “…”

“Brother Mu, am I really that untrustworthy?”

Demacia shot Li Mu a resentful look.

“I’d like to trust you, but your track record says otherwise. If you want to fool around, finish the mission first,” Li Mu replied, shaking his head.

He then looked over everyone’s equipment and reminded them:

“Also, let’s change our outfits first. Our current gear is too conspicuous.”

“Alright, let’s move out.”

With that, the players sprang into action, changing into ordinary clothing.

Since they frequently interacted with NPCs, they carried a wide variety of outfits, including traditional elven robes, human noble attire, and standard mercenary gear.

After changing, they split up and went their separate ways.

༺⟐༻

Li Mu changed into a set of mercenary gear.

After parting ways with the others, he did not immediately enter the city. Instead, he observed the main road outside the city gates for a while.

The city beneath the Tree of Life was bustling with activity, and the gates were crowded with traffic as various magical beast-drawn carriages could be seen constantly coming and going through it.

As for the local NPCs, there was a wide variety of races present. Humans were the most numerous, followed by half-elves, while pure-blooded elves were relatively rare.

Most of the locals wore traditional elven robes, with the garments of elves and half-elves being noticeably more elaborate.

In addition to the carriages, some individuals rode mounts, ranging from tall, fine horses to various magical beasts.

Li Mu even spotted someone riding a unicorn.

The mounts of elves and half-elves were clearly superior to those of other NPCs.

From this, Li Mu realized that elves and half-elves held a distinctly high status in this world. This was evident not only from their clothing and mounts, but also from the attitudes of other races toward them.

Whenever an elf passed by, members of other races would immediately stop and bow in respect.

After observing for a while, Li Mu reconsidered his next actions.

He turned back, removed his mercenary gear, and changed into a traditional elven robe.

It was a “luxury gear edition” he had obtained from the old priest Samuel.

He then took out a dark silver staff engraved with intricate patterns and began to chant softly.

As he chanted, the staff emitted a gentle glow as a silver light gathered before him, gradually forming into a handsome unicorn.

[Magical Beast Mount Summoning]

This was the staff’s inherent spell, allowing the user to summon a magical beast mount formed from mana. It could last for six hours, with a cooldown of one hour.

The staff itself was a divine artifact Li Mu had obtained from the shattered divine kingdom dungeon, and it had taken considerable effort to restore it.

After mounting the conjured unicorn, Li Mu adjusted his attire, then confidently stepped onto the main road, merging into the flow of people as he headed toward the city gates.

As nearby NPCs noticed him, Li Mu keenly sensed a shift in their attitudes.

Humans and members of other races stopped to bow, and even half-elves lowered their heads in respect.

When he approached the city gates, two human guards stationed there had been dozing off. Upon seeing Li Mu and the unicorn beneath him, they instantly snapped to attention, standing upright with a hint of obsequiousness.

Why, this felt…

Very much like driving a top-tier Maybach S into an ordinary residential neighborhood.

Li Mu could not help but think to himself.

At the same time, he shared his observations in the group chat, informing everyone that wearing ornate elven robes and riding a unicorn would lead to “pleasant surprises” so to speak.

Naturally, he received quite a few complaints in response:

“Bro, do you think everyone can just summon a mana conjured mount anywhere like you?”

“Damn rich pro ranker!”

Li Mu: “…”

Pulling his gaze away from the chat interface, Li Mu finally entered the city premises.

Looking around, the gates were massive, at least twenty meters high, constructed from gray stone blocks.

Passing through them, he finally arrived inside.

His view opened up suddenly, revealing a bustling district.

Buildings lined both sides of the street in neat rows, and the main road, paved with white stone, was filled with constant foot traffic.

The architectural style bore clear elven characteristics, yet it lacked some of the elegance and grandeur of traditional elven design. Instead, it incorporated a degree of the opulence typical of human cities. The primary materials were wood and stone, with a color palette dominated by gray-white tones interwoven with warm browns.

The rooftops featured traditional elven spires and domes, while the exteriors were adorned with columns and arcades.

Buildings along the streets appeared particularly orderly and dignified.

The city’s greenery also followed elven traditions and was exceptionally well maintained. Everywhere one looked, there was greenery between the buildings. Trees lining the roads were lush and vibrant, and fountains and gardens could be seen throughout the streets.

“What a beautiful city…”

Li Mu could not help but exclaim.

To be honest, this city was far more attractive than the human cities in Maple Moon State.

Only the elven cities within the Forest of Elves could surpass this place.

Of course, the two differed in style, and it was precisely this contrast, with its sense of exotic charm, that Li Mu, who enjoyed exploring scenery, found particularly appealing.

As he walked along, he took screenshots the entire way, and also activated video recording, already preparing to produce a video for his channel once this whole questline was completed.

Along the way, he continued to observe the city’s local inhabitants.

The population appears to be primarily human, followed by half-elves. Moreover, the proportion of experts is also quite high. Although it does not match that of the Elven Faction, it seems that experts account for more than thirty percent of the population at a glance.

Of these, the majority were half-elves.

In contrast, the number of pure-blooded elves themselves seemed rather small.

However, whenever an elf passed by, they were instantly treated with great respect by others.

This included Li Mu as well.

Throughout his journey, people continuously stopped to bow to him.

In a game centered on virtual reality, even knowing it was all simulated, such experience still felt quite gratifying.

After enjoying the respect of the local NPCs for a while, Li Mu casually approached a passerby to inquire about the location of nearby taverns.

“A tavern? Esteemed Elf… which tavern do you wish to visit? I can guide you there!”

The human resident spoke enthusiastically in fluent Elvish.

Li Mu gave a slight nod and replied:

“Preferably the tavern with the most people, and the best access to underground information.”

The man paused in surprise.

“Underground information?”

After thinking for a moment, he said:

“Esteemed Elf, if you wish to gather information, you might consider visiting the Demon Hunters’ Guild…”

“Ah Sir, you must also be here to participate in the selection for Guardian Knights, correct? There are still three days before the All-Divine Mother’s Trial. If you wish to learn about the trial ruins, the Demon Hunters’ Guild is the most suitable place.”

Selection for Guardian Knights?

Demon Hunters’ Guild?

The All-Divine Mother’s Trial?

And… ruins?

Li Mu’s thoughts stirred.

He quickly seized upon these key terms in the man’s words.

“Where is the Demon Hunters’ Guild?” he asked calmly.

The passerby pointed into the distance.

“Just follow this road straight ahead, Sir. When you reach the end, turn right. The largest building you see will be the headquarters of the Demon Hunters’ Guild.”

“Thank you.”

Li Mu nodded slightly, tossed the man a gold pound, and rode his mana-formed unicorn in the indicated direction.

The passerby instinctively caught the coin and examined it repeatedly, his expression lighting up with surprise.

“A gold coin?”

“Thank you, esteemed Elf!”

༺⟐༻

After passing through another district, Li Mu arrived at the Demon Hunters’ Guild mentioned by the passerby.

It was a seven-story building, standing like a landmark within the city. Its overall style leaned toward elven architecture, constructed from gray-white stone. A finely carved wooden sign hung above, inscribed in neat Elvish script with the words “Demon Hunters’ Guild.”

In front of the guild, various experts came and went. Many were half-elves and powerful humans, and occasionally, elves could also be seen.

A stone monument stood before the entrance, engraved with a single line:

“With our flesh and blood and souls, we forge the sword of the All-Divine Mother and safeguard the peace of Mindel.”

Below the inscription was an explanation of the guild’s founding. After reading it, Li Mu realized that it was an organization established by experts, similar to the mercenary guilds of the world of Seigües.

However, their duties differed.

Rather than typical mercenary work, they primarily assisted the Church of the All-Divine Mother in combating followers of evil gods.

“Followers of evil gods… are they referring to those fish-like monsters?”

Li Mu pondered silently.

After a moment’s thought, and under the surprised gaze of the attendant at the entrance, he dismissed the unicorn formed from mana, then stepped forward and pushed open the door.

Inside, Li Mu entered a grand hall.

Although it was called a hall, it resembled a combination of a tavern and an administrative center. There were counters for issuing missions, as well as a bar and drinking area.

The hall was filled with lots of experts, most of whom were at the Silver-rank, with a smaller number at the Iron-rank. Given Li Mu’s strength, he would be considered above average here.

Elves, half-elves, humans, and various other races were all present.

Most people wore combat gear, making Li Mu’s ornate elven robe stand out as somewhat unusual.

As he entered, the noise in the hall noticeably quieted.

Li Mu keenly observed that many people cast curious glances toward him.

However, upon recognizing his elven appearance, their expressions quickly shifted to respect before they withdrew their gazes.

Only a few elves continued to observe him with interest.

Li Mu noticed that most of them had black hair and black eyes.

It seemed they were the missing members of the Shadowshade Clan.

He thought to himself.

At that moment, Li Mu felt somewhat fortunate that he had chosen black hair and black eyes when creating his character.

After selecting a seat, someone soon approached him. It was a black-haired shadow elf.

“Hey there, sir! You look unfamiliar. Are you also here to participate in the Guardian Knight selection?”

he asked warmly.

Then, turning to a human attendant in the hall, he added:

“Two Mindel ales, please.”

Li Mu nodded calmly, and the elf’s expression immediately brightened.

“That’s wonderful! Do you have any teammates? If not, I would like to recommend myself. My name is Robel, and I am a Silver-ranked warrior.”

Li Mu gently shook his head.

“My apologies, I already have companions.”

“I see… what a pity.”

The elf looked disappointed.

He let out a sigh and added:

“Finding a teammate of the same race is truly difficult. I’ve been searching for days.”

Hearing this, Li Mu’s thoughts stirred slightly.

“Why must it be someone of the same race?”

The elf seemed surprised.

“You don’t know? As the guardian race of Her Majesty the All-Divine Mother, forming a team among our own kind makes it easier to gain recognition within the ruins and receive Her Majesty’s favor. That way, one can obtain great power, advance to the Gold-rank in a single step, and even be chosen as one of Her Majesty’s Guardian Knights!”

He sighed again.

“The world’s mana reserves has been declining continuously. Thus, advancing to higher ranks is becoming more and more difficult. Meanwhile, the followers of the Oceanic Evil God are growing increasingly aggressive. Without the blessing of Her Majesty and becoming a Guardian Knight of the All-Divine Mother, we will find it hard to resist those evil cultist…”

Her Majesty the All-Divine Mother…

This was the second time Li Mu had heard this title.

However, he was certain it did not refer to Evé, the Goddess traveling with them.

Could it be this so-called All-Divine Mother… is the Tree of Life the Goddess had mentioned?

At that moment, the elf’s next words caused Li Mu to frown slightly.

The elf picked up the drink the attendant had just served, drained it in one gulp, then gazed out the window at the bustling crowd and sighed.

“Before we knew it, it has already been a thousand years since our clan came here… When I was young, I used to hear my grandfather tell stories of the past. Alas, in the blink of an eye, I’ve grown older myself.”

“If our ancestors knew that we had finally revived Her Majesty the All-Divine Mother, they would surely feel greatly comforted…”

“It is said that the Church recently received a divine oracle. Her Majesty is only one step away from fully restoring her power. When that day comes, no matter what Oceanic Evil God it is, it will surely be swept away by Her Majesty!”

The elf spoke with visible excitement.

Yet after hearing him, Li Mu fell silent.

—Revived the Goddess?

No…

What they had revived was certainly not the Goddess.

Linking the elf’s words with his own observations, along with the background of their mission and the information the Goddess had shared over the past few days, Li Mu began to form a hypothesis.

Most likely, they were referring to that massive tree the Goddess had called the Tree of Life as this so-called “All-Divine Mother”.

And they had mistaken it for the World Tree.

Moreover, that Tree of Life appeared to possess its own consciousness, and it might even have appropriated the faith that rightfully belonged to the Goddess of Life.

Even so, Li Mu still had doubts.

A thousand years had passed, but just like Lady Aurora to the Azurefrost Clan, the Shadowshade Clan should likewise still have their own demigod guardian to lead them.

Could it be that even their clan guardian were unable to distinguish truth from falsehood?

The elf did not notice the change in Li Mu’s expression.

He simply sighed softly, his tone carrying a trace of sorrow.

“It’s just a pity that Lord Eris, who sacrificed everything to revive Her Majesty, will not live to see that day.”

Lord Eris…?

Li Mu’s gaze shifted slightly.

After Aurora’s return, he had studied elven history extensively, and the name Eris was not unfamiliar to him.

In fact, this lord named Eris was probably one of the eight demigod divine envoys under the Goddess, the guardian of the Shadowshade Clan, and was revered as the Shadow of the Night.

At that moment, a sudden commotion arose not far away.

Li Mu looked over and saw several elves and half-elves engaged in a heated argument.

At the center stood a shadow elf with a gloomy expression, surrounded by angry half-elves.

Noticing Li Mu’s gaze, Robel turned his head to look as well.

After glancing at the arguing crowd, he let out a cold laugh and snorted.

“Ah, It’s that infidel Ruldan again. Geez, hasn’t that bastard caused enough trouble already?”

“I-Infidel?”

Li Mu was slightly taken aback.

“It’s that sullen-faced one arguing with the others. He once had a younger brother who participated in the Guardian Knight selection and was chosen by Her Majesty to become a Guardian Knight.”

“As everyone knows, once selected, each Guardian Knight receives empowerment from Her Majesty’s will, gaining firm conviction and great strength.”

“That is a great honor. Yet that bastard Ruldan claims that Her Majesty manipulated his brother’s mind, turning him into a puppet without self-awareness…”

“What a ridiculous claim! Her Majesty has been fighting against the evil Oceanic God for our sake all this time, and he dares to question the All-Divine Mother’s greatness and the sacrifices of those fallen Guardian Knights!”

“If not for the fact that he is a member of the Shadowshade Clan, that bastard would have been expelled long ago.”

Robel said angrily.

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