Five days later, all matters concerning the Neutral Elf City had been resolved by the elves brought by Elf High Priest Shamiel. Under the direction of Naver, the elves from the Elf Alliance—trained to serve as officials in various posts—soon arrived. They quickly restored order to the city; in fact, the public security became even better than it was originally. At the suggestion of Elf Queen An Nobel, the city’s name was changed to Neutral City to commemorate its past.

「Two days later」

Aside from the two Elf Corps left to garrison the city, the remaining three were recalled to Moon City to be rewarded for their merits. The two corps garrisoning Neutral City would be rotated back later to receive their own rewards, though the person presiding over that ceremony would no longer be Zhang Yi.

As Elf High Priest Shamiel, the persona Zhang Yi had assumed, stood high on the walls of Moon City, the Elf Corps stood below. However, compared to the army before the expedition, the aura of this victorious, returning force was far greater. The Elf Corps forged by the Elf Alliance had been somewhat fearful before facing an enemy, but after successfully conquering the Neutral Elf City, their confidence had surged. They now understood that the other elves were no different from them—they, too, would die if killed. Even if there were disparities between them, the full support of the Elf Alliance leveled the playing field.

And this time, Zhang Yi was here to fulfill his promise: the reward of Bloodline Evolution was about to be bestowed. Although the Elf Alliance’s rules forbade the indiscriminate killing of innocents for military merit, these elves had never before had such a fortuitous opportunity. They had desperately sought out any members of the enemy’s Elf Guard Army who dared to resist, killing them to obtain proof of their deeds. If Zhang Yi failed to produce the Bloodline Evolution rewards this time, his prestige would plummet, dragging the prestige of the Elf Alliance down with it.

However, the potions for the Bloodline Evolution rewards were already prepared. Following Zhang Yi’s orders, the Elf Alchemists in the Divine Realm had used the Bloodline Evolution Pool to concoct a hundred doses. After the final count, there were fewer elves who qualified for the reward than expected, but this was perfect. The extra slots could be awarded by Zhang Yi to elves like Rethof, who had been among the first to side with them. This would both demonstrate fairness and secure their loyalty.

Looking down at the Elf Corps standing at attention in military formation, Zhang Yi could see every elf’s eyes gleaming with anticipation. Meanwhile, behind him in Moon City, the ’scrutinizing’ gazes of the Elf Mage Academy’s professors—formerly Elf Elders and Elf Leaders—were fixed on the scene. Zhang Yi decided not to delay any longer. With the aid of a First-Tier Amplification Spell, his voice boomed across Moon City:

"One day to march, one day to besiege—in a total of two days, you conquered the Neutral Elf City! This is not only a testament to our Magic Equipment but also to the merit of you, the Elf Corps!"

Hearing Zhang Yi’s speech, the elves below in Moon City erupted with a mighty cheer and thunderous applause.

The elves who had built Moon City, Green Grass City, and Lake City all came from the small and medium-sized Elf Tribes in the south of Moonlight Forest, with the majority hailing from smaller tribes. Even though these elves knew their lives had improved since the Elf Alliance’s appearance, they had lacked a tangible sense of it. But now, with the battle achievements Zhang Yi spoke of, they had a clear point of comparison.

The commotion from below was caused by these elves, born in small and medium-sized tribes, who couldn’t believe their strength had grown to such an extent. They burst into excited discussion.

"What? After a few years, it turns out we were the strong ones all along!"

"It’s true! The Elf Alliance is this powerful!"

"To think we could take down a Neutral Elf City in just two days! Even when the Moon Elves from the Main City attacked us, it used to take them more than two days!"

Hearing the clamorous discussions below, Zhang Yi wasn’t angered. Instead, he smiled and let them talk. Meanwhile, behind him in Moon City, the Elf Elders who had been so full of disbelief last time said nothing disrespectful, nor did they openly object.

Although some of these Elf Professors appeared calm, others looked absolutely ghastly, but all of them had learned to keep their mouths shut. They had received this news even earlier than the residents of Moon City but had clung to a final shred of hope, refusing to believe it was true. Today, Zhang Yi’s words shattered their illusions. It seems we really won’t have any special privileges anymore. All we can do is honestly teach.

"Silence!" Zhang Yi commanded. "Every word I just said is true. If anyone still doubts it, you can go to the Neutral Elf City in two weeks and see for yourselves. And, as promised before the army set out, anyone who killed ten or more enemy elves in battle would receive one chance at Bloodline Evolution. Is that right?"

"YES!" the voices of countless elves thundered in response.

Upon hearing Zhang Yi bring this up, everyone—from the Elf Corps in front of Moon City, to the elves living behind the walls, and even the Elf Professors of the Mage Academy—held their breath, waiting to see what he would say next.

"Very good!" Zhang Yi continued. "The promise I made with Elf Corps Commander Feiyana was, of course, not a lie. Now, all elves who have slain ten or more of the enemy, step forward from your formation and come before me!"

Thinking of the reward they might soon receive, the Elf Soldiers and Elf Mages beamed with joy. Though their bodies trembled with excitement, they quickly stepped out of their ranks and came before Zhang Yi.

"In addition, those whose names I call may also come forward!" Zhang Yi declared. "Rethof!"

Hearing his own name, Rethof, who had returned with the Elf Corps, was startled. He quickly came to his senses, his face breaking into a wide, joyous grin. He had heard clearly what this reward was! A chance for Bloodline Evolution!

"Stuck!"

"Tang Haosen!"

Zhang Yi continued calling out names. Initially, only about fifty Elf Mages and Elf Soldiers had stepped forward based on their kill counts. But as Zhang Yi named more individuals, the total number quickly reached one hundred.

"You are all individuals who made contributions, great and small, in this battle!" Zhang Yi announced to the group. "Therefore, by our unanimous decision, the one hundred of you shall be granted the opportunity for Bloodline Evolution!"

Hearing Zhang Yi’s definitive words, the hundred elves who had stepped forward, regardless of their former status, now all wore looks of sheer anticipation. After all, he couldn’t possibly go back on his word at the very last step, could he?