Chapter 232: Chapter 207: To Lose Both the Lady and the Army

The Great Elf was waiting at the city gate.

And Gao Neng?

He had long since infiltrated the Dark Night Elf Royal City. He was also waiting, but for the guards protecting the Ancient Elf Tree to leave.

’Why aren’t they leaving yet? Wasn’t it unguarded last time?’ Gao Neng wondered, peering through a small hole to observe the guards outside.

Two High-tier Elves!

Ten mid-tier ones!

A total of twelve guards were standing watch at the entrance to the Ancient Elf Tree, refusing to budge.

Gao Neng couldn’t possibly face them head-on.

So, he had to wait.

After these guards left, he would sneak in, chop it a couple of times, get some Spring of Life, and then he could happily make a run for it.

He hadn’t thought about anything else.

Right now, he had his sights set on the Ancient Elf Tree’s Spring of Life.

Time passed again.

By eight-thirty in the morning, outside the cold pool high up on the Ancient Elf Tree, tens of thousands of Elf Race People had now gathered.

The grand ceremony for the Seventh Princess’s marriage proposals had officially begun.

What a prestigious event.

All the Elf Race People waited to the side.

The proposal delegations and Princes from more than twenty different races were also waiting respectfully. With the backing of their ancestors, they were all determined to win this time.

"Today’s events remind me of a certain human anecdote," a Prince said with a smile.

"What anecdote is that?" a guard immediately asked, playing along.

"There’s a classic human story called ’Romance of the Three Kingdoms.’ It contains quite a few strategies, including a famous one called ’losing the bride and the army too.’"

"Your Highness is truly well-read!"

"Heh, ’know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated,’" the Prince chuckled, his gaze shifting to the massive ancient tree above. "I’m really looking forward to this!"

Just then, Elf Queen Una finally made her entrance.

She wore the same crown and royal robes as last time, but on this occasion, Elf Queen Una’s expression was tinged with frost.

Because, according to the Great Elf’s report, the imposter prince had not arrived yet!

’What should I do?!’

Elf Queen Una felt she had calculated for every possible problem, such as how the Princes would make their proposals and what difficulties they might create. However, the one thing she hadn’t accounted for was whether the imposter prince would even show up.

It wasn’t that she was careless.

Rather, she had instinctively overlooked this problem...

But now that the problem had arisen, the only thing she could do was prepare another treasure as a betrothal gift and find an Elf within the Dark Night Elf Royal City to act as the imposter.

’I hope there’s still time!’ Elf Queen Una could only think, because she really couldn’t wait any longer.

Meanwhile, underground...

Gao Neng was also growing impatient.

He had been waiting for three hours.

These guards hadn’t moved an inch. Forget about getting close to the Ancient Elf Tree; he didn’t even dare to peek his head out. He had to hold his breath and not even breathe too heavily.

It was torture.

’Forget it. With security this tight, I probably won’t be able to get the Spring of Life.’ Gao Neng was a persistent person, but not blindly so.

When it was time to give up, he gave up.

Besides, he hadn’t received some kind of do-or-die mission for this.

He just had to leave, and it would be over!

With that in mind, he prepared to leave.

In fact, he had realized something was off the moment he entered the Elf Royal City. An empty city? This place was heavily guarded, okay?

Still, he had snuck in to see if there were any pleasant surprises.

There weren’t!

In that case, all he could do was go home, wash up, and go to bed.

However, from lying prone for so long, his body had grown a bit stiff and sore...

Gao Neng began to control the Flying Earth Dragon to back away. But as he did, his hand just so happened to brush against a small stone.

CLICK!

An extremely faint sound echoed.

It was impossible to hear without listening intently.

Even Gao Neng himself hadn’t paid much attention to it.

However, the two High-tier Elves guarding the Ancient Elf Tree heard it, even though the sound was faint enough to be ignored.

"How audacious! You dare to come again?!" One of the High-tier Elves was the very one who had failed to catch Gao Neng and Fang Tangtang before. Because of that, he had been on guard against them using the Seventh Princess’s marriage proposal event as a cover to cause more trouble. His nerves were stretched taut, and he wouldn’t let even the slightest sound escape him.

’No way! They heard that?’ Gao Neng was shocked. He never thought a tiny stone could trigger such an earth-shattering, bloody incident.

He had to run!

If he didn’t run and got caught, he’d be a dead man.

Gao Neng immediately started to flee for his life.

And just like last time, he shattered the tunnel with a single punch.

But his opponent seemed to have been prepared.

The moment they heard the noise, they pounced. A very long, very thick, unidentifiable wooden staff appeared in their hand, and they thrust it forward.

BOOM!

The tunnel entrance was blasted open.

Gao Neng was utterly stunned. ’They can do that?!’

"Where do you think you’re running? Die!" With preparation, the High-tier Elf’s speed was absolutely terrifying. After blasting open the tunnel, he charged right in.

Without any hesitation, Gao Neng turned and fled.

Thankfully, the Earth Dragon had evolved.

Otherwise, his speed truly couldn’t compare to the High-tier Elf behind him.

However, he had ultimately underestimated the Elf Race’s preparations this time. Seeing Gao Neng’s incredible speed, the High-tier Elf sent out a signal without hesitation.

"Have the Lizard Race people lay ground nets at all four gates immediately! Catch this tunneler!"

"Yes!"

"You can’t escape, so give up! We knew you were coming. All four gates are now guarded by the Lizard Race. Surrender now, and we might spare your life!"

"..." Gao Neng was speechless.

’A net from heaven to earth!’

’They were actually lying in wait for me all this time?!’

’You think I’ll believe you!’

Gao Neng didn’t quite believe him. He decided to just run for it and see what happened, consequences be damned. He extended his Spiritual Power, constantly probing ahead to check the situation.

Soon, he reached the position of a city gate.

And there, he discovered that there really were members of the Lizard Race underground ahead.

’Son of a bitch! They’re really here!’ Gao Neng was aghast. There really were members of the Lizard Race guarding underground. He was certain now that this marriage proposal ceremony for the Seventh Princess was also a trap to hunt him down.

’What do I do?’

Since the main gate was guarded by the Lizard Race, the other gates must be as well. Moreover, the High-tier Elf was about to catch up from behind. There was no way to retreat now.

’Do I have to fight my way out?!’ Gao Neng felt that was no different from suicide. But soon, he thought of a way. It seemed he could bluff his way out.

That’s right, he was currently the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elves.

Of course he could leave the city!

Who would dare stop him!

Thinking of this, he immediately found an unguarded spot and burrowed out of the ground. Then, he had the Flying Earth Dragon continue fleeing toward another city gate.

As for himself, he sprinted toward the city gate.

’This is the ’lure the tiger away from the mountain’ stratagem!’

"Make way! I am the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race! Open the gate!" Gao Neng shouted as the city gate came into view.

"The Thirteenth Prince?!"

"The Thirteenth Prince, he’s here!"

"..."

The Great Elf, who had been staring out from the city gate with anxious eyes, spotted Gao Neng at a glance. For a moment, he was overcome with a mixture of shock, joy, grief, and indignation.

SWOOSH!

The Great Elf leaped down in an instant.

"Wh-what are you doing? I am the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elves!" Gao Neng’s eyes went wide. ’This Great Elf is so fast!’

He was like a bolt of lightning; Gao Neng couldn’t even react in time.

He wanted to slash out with his blade.

The problem was...

He definitely couldn’t win!

"Time is short, come with me!" The Great Elf completely ignored Gao Neng’s protests. As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed Gao Neng and dashed toward the Ancient Elf Tree.

"..." Gao Neng was speechless again.

’Is this a kidnapping?’

’I’m the esteemed Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race! How dare you treat me so disrespectfully?’

He thought about cursing, but in the end, he didn’t dare say it out loud.

Less than twenty seconds after the Great Elf had grabbed him and started running, a High-tier Elf burst out from underground at the city gate.

"Did any spies just escape? Did you open the gate?!"

"No!" the guards immediately shook their heads.

"Damn it, where did he go?" the High-tier Elf roared in fury.

Then, another Elf’s voice came from underground.

"Chief, there’s another tunnel! It leads to the west gate!"

"The west gate?! Let’s go! Follow me! We’ll definitely kill him today!" Hearing this, the High-tier Elf immediately turned and gave chase in that direction.

As for Gao Neng...

He was currently like a helpless chick.

He was completely bewildered, not because of the Great Elf’s speed, but because he was dumbfounded by the exaggerated scene before him.

’What a huge tree!’ This was the first time Gao Neng had seen the Ancient Elf Tree head-on. It was so thick, so massive, so straight...

It practically pierced the heavens.

But that wasn’t even the main thing. The main thing was that surrounding him were several thousand members of various non-human proposal delegations, as well as spectating Elf Race People.

A sea of people.

There were at least over ten thousand of them.

And he was pushed onto a wooden platform very close to the Ancient Elf Tree. Before him was a cold pool, its surface rippling.

’What a crystal-clear pool!’

Gao Neng marveled again.

Beyond that, he also wanted to marvel at the Elf Queen standing by the pool, who wore a green crown and was draped in black royal robes.

She was a Queen through and through, with the perfect domineering aura.

Mmm...

The best part was that this Queen seemed to be looking right at him. Moreover, a rare smile appeared on her lips, like dewdrops on a winter frost.

"I hadn’t expected the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race to rush here for the marriage proposals as well. Una, on behalf of the Dark Night Elf race, asks Prince ’Jami’ to convey our greetings... to the king of the Wood Elf Race!" Elf Queen Una finished speaking and nodded at Gao Neng.

"What? He’s the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elves?"

"That’s impossible. The Wood Elf Race has never allied with other races, let alone intermarried. How could he possibly be here to propose?"

"Yeah, and he didn’t even bring any guards!"

The gazes of the other Princes instantly focused on Gao Neng.