Between heaven and earth, a blaze of snow!
The onlookers, including Ella, were blinded by the glare.
The storm of sword energy and fist force swept over them, sending them tumbling and scrambling, frantically clinging to the nearest Titan branches to avoid being blown off the tree.
When the dust settled, everyone looked back at the battlefield.
Eva had fallen, a pool of blood slowly spreading beneath her.
Alan remained upright, his fist thrust skyward, his javelin-like body drenched in blood.
As everyone watched in astonishment...
The man who had defeated the strongest warrior of the Abebe tribe with his bare hands fell straight back.
That final blow had exhausted all his strength.
Eva's guards finally regained their composure.
They quickly stepped forward, surrounding the exhausted Allen.
Countless spears pointed at him.
"Brother—"
Ella cried, rushing towards Allen. She had only taken two steps when she was blocked by a forest of spears.
"Stop!"
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
Everyone's gaze shifted, focused on the pool of blood.
Eva slowly rose from the pool, her full chest heaving violently, her face pale as paper.
She was severely injured, but she managed to stand with a physique and a will of steel.
"Don't kill... that man."
Perhaps because she was so weak, her voice was unusually gentle.
"A truly strong person... deserves respect."
...
Allen ended his meditation, his heart still restless for a long time.
The duel with General Eva brought back memories of his first challenge to the green dragon, Crosier.
He had long anticipated the green dragon's power.
This time, however, he encountered a formidable foe unexpectedly, and the shock he felt was even more profound.
Ella also opened her eyes, her bright gaze fixed on Allen, filled with concern.
She only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming he was safe.
"Brother! Thank you for guiding me in my cultivation!" Ella tugged at his arm, twisting it back and forth. "Just like Mom said, I've gained a lot!"
Alan had also gained a lot.
Back in the mushroom garden, while meditating with Sonia, he had discovered a pattern.
Entering a fellow practitioner's meditation world and helping them achieve perfect meditation not only benefits them, but also allows one to gain a wealth of experience.
This experience, moreover, is invaluable, as it cannot be obtained through one's own ancestral spirit system! Overall, group meditation is more efficient than individual practice.
Helping others also helps oneself, killing two birds with one stone.
For example, General Eva's cultivation is at least at the early fourth stage.
In reality, Alan couldn't possibly commit suicide to challenge a formidable being of this level.
Only in the meditation world, where no matter how suicidal he attempted, he wouldn't actually die, could he give it his all.
Through this battle, Alan measured his own limits and gained a deeper understanding of his own martial arts system.
From this perspective, he should be grateful to Ella for providing him with a broader meditation world.
She led him to participate in the "Flower Field War," giving him the opportunity to challenge powerful bee tribe members like Eva and broadening his horizons.
"Ella, you haven't broken through your bottleneck yet, have you?"
Alan could see that Ella's cultivation was still at the late second stage.
"Although I haven't broken through yet, I'm very close!"
Ella said excitedly.
"When I was cultivating alone, I was slain by Eva the moment we met, without even a chance to struggle."
"I failed so many times that for a long time, I didn't dare to open this ancestral spirit memory, deliberately choosing spirits that were easier to meditate on."
"The result of avoiding it is a growing lack of confidence, and my cultivation hasn't broken through."
Alan empathized with Ella's experience.
He had also encountered similar bottlenecks.
For example, when he challenged the "King of the Mountains," Kroshir, he tried his best but simply couldn't defeat him!
Feeling deeply frustrated, he switched ancestral spirits and vented his anger on those who were vulnerable.
It felt good, but unfortunately, it wasn't beneficial to his cultivation.
Trying to bully the weak won't shake the obsession of losing to the strong; it only reinforces his suspicion that he's a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong.
Alan knew he couldn't let himself fall into such a state of depravity, so he gritted his teeth and went back to take on the tough challenge of the green dragon.
After thirty failures, the best outcome was mutual destruction. Finally, she had broken through her inner demons and felt a deep sense of relief.
For a long time, Ella had experienced a similar situation.
Stuck at General Eva, no matter how hard she struggled, she would still die, which had driven the poor girl to despair.
Now, with his help, Ella had finally broken free.
While she still couldn't defeat Eva, at least her defeat wasn't disgraceful.
After this meditation, Ella not only broke through her inner demons, but also gained something more tangible.
"Brother, I've awakened a bloodline martial art from the Triae Bee Clan!"
"The Phantom Step?" Allen speculated.
Ella smiled and shook her head.
"It's ' Transformed into Silk'!"
" Transformed into Silk isn't bad either. You can fly, and with that twenty-meter Dou Qi silk, remote-controlled weapons, and tangle-and-pull tactics, you can develop a lot of tactics," Allen instructed his junior sister.
"Brother, when can we fight Eva again?" Ella was excited about learning a new martial art, feeling like she was up to the task again.
Alan felt she was getting too excited and needed a little cold water.
"Ella, while you've just broken through your inner demons and are full of energy, I have a suggestion for you."
"Brother, please speak. I'm listening!" Ella rested her hands on her chin, a look of obedience on her face.
"You'd better find another ancestral spirit. At your current level, even with my help, you can't handle Eva," Allen said frankly.
"In a gathering meditation, you're still the protagonist, and your fellow gathering members can only play a supporting role."
"What's the point of me guiding you through the levels if you still can't level up?"
"You've finally overcome your inner demons, so don't fall into the same pit again."
"Gain more practical experience, improve yourself, and it won't be too late to challenge Eva when you're stronger."
Ella was sensible. After being lectured, a look of enlightenment flashed in her eyes.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. I understand!"
"Glad to understand. It's getting late, go back to sleep," Allen said softly.
Ella hesitated, resting her forehead against his chest, purring like a kitten.
Allen couldn't help but laugh. He hugged her and said, "Let me translate for you."
"Wuwu—does that mean I want to sleep with you?"
"Yes!"
"Junior Sister, you're not even an adult yet. It's too early to be thinking about this."
"Big Brother, are you dissatisfied with my developmental status...?"
Ella looked down at her chest, feeling both shy and frustrated.
Alan shook his head and chuckled.
"Your figure is well-proportioned to your body type; an overly large bust would be counter-productive."
"Junior Sister, when you decide to give away or sell something precious, you must carefully consider whether it's your own desire or your mother's wish."
"Are you seeking pleasure for love and pleasure, or are you simply seeking to please the person you admire, even if you're not sure if you truly love them?"
"These matters shouldn't be left to children whose minds and bodies haven't yet matured."
"That's why we have a standard for adulthood. Even if it's not entirely reasonable, it's better than having no standard at all."
"Brother, frankly, I don't fully understand." Ella's eyes were gentle. "But I can sense your compassion for me. I know you treasure me, and that's all."
"In another year and a half, I'll be an adult. Then, I'll have a surprise for you!"
Ella smiled shyly, got up from the bed, and slowly left.
...
Alan and Teacher Sora stayed at Case Manor for the better part of a month.
By the time they left, they had obtained a pioneering permit from Silvermoon Monastery.
This permit meant that the more than 3,000 immigrants from Quint Island had collectively gained legal residency on Silvermoon Island.
They could establish settlements and rebuild their homes in the area circled on the permit.
The Case family had put considerable effort into securing a prime plot of land for the immigrants.
Alan personally inspected it and was very satisfied.
The pioneering site was only three hundred miles from Case Town.
It could be reached in two days by horseback.
This territory, nestled between mountains and water, boasted an undeveloped deepwater port, vast fertile plains, dense jungles, and clear rivers and lakes.
Immigrants from all walks of life, including fishing, agriculture, animal husbandry, commerce, and trade, could find jobs here that suited their skills.
Out of nostalgia for his homeland, Allen named his new home "New Gwent Territory."
The Case family sent some personnel to assist the immigrants in their relocation.
Ella was familiar with the surroundings of New Gwent, so Allen asked his junior sister to serve as his advisor.
Ms. Sora's title of "Young Madam of the Case Family" was no mere formality.
Now in command, she could assign any resources she needed with a simple stroke of her pen, and the family would promptly and uncompromisingly execute them.
After all, the Case family was a long-established family of sorcerers. Though it had declined and could no longer cultivate top-tier experts, it possessed a wealth of talent across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industry, commerce, and trade.
These talented individuals faced few opportunities to expand their businesses within the Case family's territory. Now, recruited by Sora and dispatched to New Quint to participate in the construction project, he was immediately put to good use.
With ample manpower and resources, it took only two weeks to build neat rows of wooden houses.
Wide streets, public restrooms, and sewage ditches were meticulously planned.
The town square, currently a dusty, rubble-covered ground, will soon be leveled and hardened, paved with beautiful, patterned tiles.
Across from the square, a three-story wooden building has been constructed as a temporary town hall.
The trees and shrubs surrounding the square, with a little care and a fence, will become a municipal park.
The fledgling settlement was named New Quint.
On Ms. Sora's recommendation, Alan's father, the highly respected Mr. Amadeus Panthers, was elected New Quint's first mayor.
Alan himself had no intention of openly assuming power. It would be more appropriate for my father to take charge, with me assisting from the side.
Alan never forgot that everything he currently possessed was built on strength.
He was a sorcerer first, and only then could he acquire other titles that symbolized social status.
Without the foundation of a sorcerer's background, fame was nothing but empty talk.
Only by continuous practice and growing stronger could he protect his family and compatriots, and everything he currently possessed.
On this foundation, he would gradually realize his greater ambitions.
Using New Gwent Territory as his foundation, he would establish a powerful sorcerer family.
One day, the name of Panthes would bring glory to the entire sorcerer world!