The unrest in the capital had nothing to do with Zhang Sanfeng. He and his mother were on their way to the Elven Capital.

It was Zhang Sanfeng's first time venturing into the wilderness, and everything felt fresh and exciting to him. There were three thousand guards in total, along with a 200-strong elite guard composed of the Dragon family's personal warriors, eight Gold-level warriors, fifty Silver-level warriors, and the rest were Bronze-level. It was worth noting that Silver-level warriors could typically lead large squads, while some division commanders were only Silver High-ranking warriors. Gold-level warriors were at least division commanders (a division consisted of around 100,000 soldiers, though the number varied depending on the corps). The first few days of travel were easy, as they passed through populated areas. But after ten days, the terrain turned wilder and more desolate, with little more than mountains and wilderness around them. The occasional merchant caravan they encountered consisted of about a thousand people, half of whom were mercenaries. The vastness of the country was evident—its population was sparse. Every time they saw farmland, it meant they were nearing a town, and often they camped by the roadside. It was clear why they had to bring so many people; in these remote, barren places, bandits were sure to appear.

After traveling southeast for about forty days, they arrived in a city called Borazi. Though it was called a city, it was more of a small town—actually the largest settlement for hundreds of miles around. There were no city walls, and the town was the provincial capital of one of the kingdom's border regions. The population was only a few thousand, and the stationed military force numbered fewer than three thousand. Just two hundred miles south of Borazi lay a small town in the Vanna Kingdom, but this distance was covered by the Elven Forest, which was dense and dangerous. This tropical rainforest was home to magical beasts, and only the Elves could live in its heart. The special products of the forest were various magical creatures. A Level-5 beast could be sold for thousands of gold coins, a Level-6 beast could fetch tens of thousands, and a Level-7 beast could sell for hundreds of thousands. Level-8 beasts were priceless, while Level-9 beasts, such as dragons, were considered to be beyond capture. Each magical beast had different grades, from low to high, and this affected their value. Gold-level warriors were approximately on par with a Level-6 beast in terms of fighting ability. Zhang Sanfeng’s father could hold his own against a Level-7 magical beast.

Around the town, there were several other humanoid species. Among them were the barbarian tribes, who possessed berserker skills. Normally, an adult barbarian was as strong as a Silver-level warrior, and after activating their berserk mode, they could rival Gold-level warriors. Unfortunately, their berserk state often left them badly injured, and their lack of distinction between friend and foe meant they were unpredictable and often dangerous. The few exceptional warriors could challenge Earth Dragons through an ancient ritual. If they defeated an Earth Dragon, they could become Earth Dragon Knights. Earth Dragons were Level-6 beasts, two meters tall and six to seven meters long, covered in dark scales. They were incredibly strong and had strong defenses. Light weapons were ineffective against them, and they used their large horns to charge at enemies. Their weight of nearly ten tons made them formidable opponents. However, the number of barbarians was small, with only a few hundred Earth Dragon Knights in existence.

There were also the Winged Humans, who had a population similar to the barbarians. They were known for their proficiency with bows and spears and were born scouts. They also produced many Wind mages, numbering in the thousands.

The Dwarves were numerous, living in caves in the mountains. With a population in the millions, they were renowned for their blacksmithing skills and had strong physical strength. Clad in steel armor and wielding heavy hammers, they were feared as heavy infantry. Their craftsmanship in weapons and armor far exceeded that of humans, and their friendly relations with the Elves made them untouchable by the human kingdoms. Other humanoid races were often oppressed by humans, with the Winged Humans, in particular, being captured as slaves due to their beautiful appearance. In fact, the town openly sold Winged Human slaves. Zhang Sanfeng, however, found himself somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t encountered any, as he would have liked to observe them firsthand.

Currently, there was a 300-strong Elven guard stationed in the town, tasked with protecting Zhang Sanfeng and his mother for the remainder of the journey. He didn’t know when his mother had informed his grandmother about their plans. The others would remain in the town and wait for their return, as the Elven Capital did not permit humans to enter without special permission. Zhang Sanfeng was one of the rare exceptions.

The pair spent two days resting in the town. During this time, Zhang Sanfeng focused on training his radar. When he first revealed it as his first alchemy creation to his family, it caused a stir. For a brief moment, his vanity was satisfied. As for the origins of the crystal ball, it took a lot of persuasion to convince them it was something he had found in the old warehouse at home. While his mother expressed admiration for his talent, she gently criticized him for wasting such a valuable item. His father initially didn’t recognize its worth and remarked, “It’s nice, but it doesn’t seem that useful.” However, when his grandfather observed the crystal ball’s images, he furrowed his brows at his mother’s comment and then exploded, “Shut up! You idiot! How can you not see its value? I’d pay a million gold coins for it!” His grandfather’s last words were clearly meant for his mother.

“Is it really worth that much?” his mother asked.

“Of course, and probably more,” his grandfather replied.

“What’s it useful for?” his father asked, still confused.

“Idiot! It can be used for siege warfare. With it, I’ll know how many people are inside, how much food they have, and where the key defenses are. In field battles, I can instantly see the enemy’s movements and weaknesses. Once I locate their command center, I’ll send your elite troops to destroy it. What battle can’t be won with such intelligence? Isn’t that worth a million gold coins?” his grandfather continued excitedly. “Some even used flying mages for such work, but they couldn’t fly high enough, and magic crossbows easily took them down. Due to the heavy losses of mages, that tactic was eventually abandoned. But now, with this, nobody will waste expensive magic crossbows on a flying mage! By the way, can your hawk fly at night?”

“Of course!” Zhang Sanfeng said proudly. “Although normal hawks can’t, this one has been enhanced with Eagle Eye and magic detection spells. It can see clearly at night, and with magic detection, it can spot enemies hiding in forests or tents! Moreover, it follows my commands perfectly. I can even use it to send messages. The only thing you were wrong about, Grandpa, is the value of the crystal ball. It’s nearly impossible to find another of this size. If it’s too small, the images are blurry, and it won’t work if the soul waves aren’t aligned. This one is an absolute stroke of luck, and it’s probably the only one of its kind on the continent. Considering its potential in battle, how much do you think it’s worth?”

“Heh, not bad. A million gold coins is far too little. A battle involving two armies can cost millions in military expenses. In a deadlock, it’s not uncommon for a few million to be spent. This thing is invaluable, and I don’t even know how much it’s worth. I’d say it’s worth more than a divine artifact,” his grandfather sighed. “We need to keep this a secret. If the Azure Dragon Corps is ever in a war, I’m requisitioning it!”

Since his mother discovered the value of the radar, she had been caring for it obsessively. If it weren’t for Zhang Sanfeng’s insistence, she wouldn’t even let him fly it out. After two days of rest, they continued their journey.

The next group of guards assigned to Zhang Sanfeng and his mother were a unit of 300 Elves, consisting of 200 women and 100 men. Every single one of them was extraordinarily beautiful. The leader of the group was a close friend of Zhang Sanfeng's mother, and he called her Aunt Kailin. The Elves’ equipment was quite unusual. They each carried three items: a magical Elven bow on their backs, a short sword at their waist, and an intricately designed staff.

The Elven bow was crafted from green wood, resembling a branch of a tree, etched with exquisite patterns and magical runes. It radiated a faint magical aura, and from the fluctuations in the aura, it was clear that the bow was enchanted with a variety of elemental magics—earth, wind, water, and fire. The staff was similarly adorned with fine patterns and magical symbols, its powerful aura revealing its extraordinary properties. As for the short swords, Zhang Sanfeng didn’t examine them in detail, but it was clear they too were imbued with magic, likely the work of Dwarven blacksmiths.

The Elves wore vine armor—light and sturdy, yet beautifully crafted, and also enchanted with magic. They were all adorned with numerous magical accessories—necklaces, earrings, rings, at least two per person. Zhang Sanfeng was amazed by the lavish display of wealth. "Are the Elves really this wealthy?" he wondered aloud. "Are they all living in such comfort?"

He asked his mother about it, and she smiled in response. "The Elven mages are numerous, and unlike humans, they don’t have to toil for a living. The Elven Forest is rich in wild fruits and magical beasts, so they have plenty of time and energy to devote to crafting magical items. In addition, the magical cores they harvest from beasts, along with magic crystals, can be traded with the Dwarves, so they never lack materials. That’s why they possess so many magical items. But, of course, not every Elf has so many. These are the queen’s elite guards, so they are given a bit more."

"Then why don’t humans buy magical items from the Elves? Magic items are in high demand in the human world," Zhang Sanfeng asked.

"Because humans can’t enter the Elven Forest," his mother explained. "Whenever an Elf ventures out, they risk being captured by slave traders. That’s why Elven accessories rarely make their way into the human world. It wasn’t until I became a duchess and took over the Dragon family’s trading company that things started to improve. I not only bought their unused jewelry but also sold many human-made goods to them. My people are very grateful."

"What do the Elves like from humans?" Zhang Sanfeng asked curiously.

"They like glass, mirrors, salt, silk, handicrafts, and sweets. I brought quite a few carts of them this time. We should be able to trade for some valuable things."

"Where are they? I don’t see them," Zhang Sanfeng asked.

"They’re in this space ring," his mother replied, pointing to a small, unassuming black ring on her finger.

"Space ring! It must have a large space inside. That’s almost priceless, right?" Zhang Sanfeng exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes," his mother said proudly. "It was part of my dowry from my mother. There are only a few space rings with such a large capacity in the entire continent. Even smaller ones are rare, with only a few dozen on the continent. Each one is worth a fortune."

The journey continued without much conversation. Zhang Sanfeng heard that they would have to travel through the jungle for ten days before reaching their destination. After five days, they arrived at the edge of a swamp in the jungle, where they set up camp in a safe spot before nightfall. They could no longer travel by carriage, so Zhang Sanfeng and his mother shared a ride on a unicorn. He was exhausted and quickly retreated into the tent to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Zhang Sanfeng was suddenly awakened by a powerful aura. His body instinctively reacted, and he quickly sat up in meditation. Focusing his spiritual senses, he discovered that two immensely powerful individuals were engaged in battle deep in the swamp, more than a hundred miles away. Their murderous intent was so strong that it disturbed Zhang Sanfeng, whose connection to the original spirit allowed him to sense such forces, even though it didn’t affect anyone else.

Despite knowing the danger, curiosity got the better of him. He couldn’t resist the temptation to see the battle of these formidable beings with his own eyes. He made up his mind—he would venture into the swamp to witness the fight of these powerful figures!