Chapter 216: ·Nolan’s Plan
Strength reigns supreme—this truth holds everywhere.
The Stag Guards, who had been bristling with hostility moments ago, now stood frozen in place. As they looked at Nolan, who had returned to his human form, their eyes were filled with awe. All of them were at the high to peak Silver tier, with a keen sensitivity to power. What they had felt was no act. The pressure that seeped into the depths of their souls, the instinctive trembling as if facing a natural predator, could not be faked.
He truly possessed the Soul Imprint of a Demon Overlord.
What the human lord had displayed made one thing clear: he had not only destroyed a Demon Overlord, but had completely subdued it. It was nothing short of miraculous.
Realizing this, even the elders felt a lingering chill of fear. If this man had truly been some hidden mastermind, there would have been no need for such schemes—he could have crushed them outright with brute force.
Elder Ironwood’s rugged face flushed a deep purple. His lips moved, but no words came out. He had just accused the man of being a fraud, even questioned whether the Demon Overlord had truly existed. Now, it seemed he was nothing more than a ridiculous clown. Nolan had not been boasting, he had merely stated a truth beyond his comprehension.
As for Nolan’s final, almost playful remark—“I might get angry”—it now carried more weight than any threat.
At this realization, the Wood Elves felt an unexpected sense of relief. A being of such unfathomable strength was willing to reason with them, even offer help. It was the greatest stroke of fortune Forest Home had seen in centuries. And Romina seemed to share a close bond with him. How fortunate indeed.
“Let this pointless suspicion end here.”
Romina stepped forward and stood beside Nolan. Though she had not known him long, having traveled together through the Gap of Ages, her trust in him surpassed all others.
She would never forget the resolute look in his eyes when he chose to face Qroshu’s soul essence within the Gap of Ages. Nor would she forget his unrestrained joy after escaping, when he realized he had not lost years in the spiritual world and still had the chance to save both the kingdom and the Wood Elves.
By the Wood Elves’ philosophy of life, only those who truly cherished existence and sought to protect it could possess such a gaze.
Turning, she swept her gaze across her kin, whose expressions were complicated.
“Nolan is a hero beyond question. And as for Lady Ailindel beside him—you may know her as a hero of the Moon Elves, but what you may not know is that she was one of the ‘Three Saints’ who suppressed the Demon Overlord Qroshu ten thousand years ago.”
Elder Ironwood staggered, nearly losing his footing. Not only was it true, but Ailindel herself had been directly involved. His earlier claim that she had been deceived now seemed unbearably foolish.
Cursing his own stupidity, he quickly bowed and offered a sincere apology. “Lady Ailindel, Lord Nolan, I offer my deepest apologies for my ignorance and foolishness. We Wood Elves have been isolated for too long, ignorant of the outside world, which led us to speak such absurdities. We are not ungrateful for your help.”
Gone was any trace of the hardline conservative elder. He was completely subdued.
The Grand Elder sighed, his dignity slightly shaken, and stepped forward to bring the farce to an end. “That’s enough. It is settled. If even Lady Ailindel recognizes Lord Nolan, what grounds remain for doubt? Sind, what about you?”
All eyes turned to Elder Sind.
The head of the Flourishing Leaves family looked ashen, her expression shifting. Though much of her hostility had faded, a trace of stubbornness remained. After a deep breath, she inclined her head slightly.
“Please forgive me, Lord Nolan. The survival of our people is at stake, and I had to be cautious.”
Her tone had softened, though not entirely.
“Lord Nolan, forgive my offense, but I wish to know your plan.”
Nolan glanced at the elders, whose attitudes had completely reversed, and chose not to pursue the matter further. His objective had already been achieved.
“Since we’ve come this far, I’ll be straightforward.”
He took Ailindel’s hand, guiding her to stand beside him.
“You should already know that the suppression of the Demon Overlord Qroshu relies on the Three-Saint Seal left behind by the sages of the War of Heaven. The seal requires three components: a holy spirit, a sacred artifact, and holy water. The holy spirit is Ailin.” He looked at the Moon Elf, who returned a gentle nod. “The sacred artifact is the legendary armor of the Holy Whitewing race—the Immovable Bulwark. As for the final component—the holy water…”
Nolan raised his other hand, palm upward.
A formless, translucent liquid appeared above it, hovering gently as it shifted into different shapes. Within it, specks of light shimmered like stars, radiating an incomparable purity.
“This is the key to cleansing the corruption of your Foundation of Life.”
At once, every Wood Elf in the hall fixed their gaze on the sphere of water. They could sense the indescribable power within it, their eyes wide with wonder. This human lord was like an endless cascade of revelations, each more astonishing than the last.
“This… this is…” Elder Sind’s breathing quickened as she stared at the water, unable to look away. As the guardian of the Foundation of Life, she felt its extraordinary nature more keenly than anyone.
“It is called the Fountain of Potential,” Nolan said clearly. “It is said to connect to the subplane of water, the Mirror Sea. It is more commonly known as the Sourceless Water. Its greatest function is to awaken and enhance a being’s potential. But its most important property is ‘root purification.’”
His gaze swept across their stunned faces.
“As water without a source, it can remove all filth and corruption at the conceptual level, whether applied to life or to objects. I do not know what has corrupted your Foundation of Life, but I can guarantee that if the Fountain of Potential is integrated into it, not only will it be restored…”
He paused, his tone deepening.
“It will also gain a permanent purifying property, making it forever immune to contamination.”
The hall fell into shocked silence.
The Grand Elder looked between Nolan and the Fountain of Potential, his lips trembling, too overwhelmed to speak. “This… this is the holy water? Lord Nolan… this… this is far too precious!” Unable to maintain his composure, he bowed deeply in a formal human gesture. “On behalf of the Wood Elves, I offer our most sincere gratitude.” This time, it came from the heart.
“We must not delay!” Elder Sind finally tore her gaze away from the water, urgency evident in her voice. “Let us go to the Foundation of Life at once!”
She clapped her hands lightly. Four tall Stag Guards in distinct brown vine armor stepped forward, approaching Nolan from four directions.
With a grateful smile, she said, “Lord Nolan, please entrust the Fountain of Potential to them. They are the most trusted Spring Wardens of the Flourishing Leaves family. With them escorting it, nothing can go wrong. We will make proper use of this gift.”