Bai Ling offered no reply to Moke’s words, instead delivering a frigid statement that sounded eerily familiar to Moke—it was almost identical to what he himself had just said to those mages from the Fire Cloud Empire. The realization struck Moke like a physical blow, and his face flushed crimson with rage. He was incensed by Bai Ling’s dismissive arrogance. After all, he was a Grand Magus, a recognized powerhouse among humanity. His prior restraint had only stemmed from his uncertainty about defeating both Bai Ling and Mo Han. But now that Bai Ling had spoken thus, if he showed no reaction, he might as well abandon any pretense of status on the Dragon Rise Continent. Moreover, he still possessed a trump card he had been reluctant to use until the absolute last moment. Judging by the situation, however, Bai Ling clearly had no intention of letting him off easily.

A cold smirk touched Moke’s lips as he considered this. “It seems the two of you are determined to oppose my Ao Yue Empire. In that case, I see no need for further talk. Will you attack together? Or shall I take you on one at a time?”

Moke’s words held a subtle strategic layer. He knew that individuals of Mo Han and Bai Ling’s caliber generally disdained ganging up on an opponent. Yet, the strength of either one of them likely matched his own. If Mo Han and Bai Ling truly joined forces, his defeat would be certain. Thus, he deliberately provoked them, hoping they would refrain from coordinating their attacks.

Mo Han and Bai Ling immediately grasped the implication of Moke’s speech. Before Mo Han could utter a word,

Bai Ling spoke with open disdain. “Dealing with someone like you is a task I can manage alone. Don't try to goad us with your words. Show me what strength you possess. Don't say I didn't give you the chance.”

Hearing Bai Ling’s retort offered Moke a sliver of relief. As long as Mo Han didn't join Bai Ling, he still held a slim hope of victory in a one-on-one confrontation.

Moke harbored a degree of confidence in a direct match.

Furthermore, Bai Ling looked incredibly young. Even with exceptional magical talent, she couldn't be much older than twenty. Surely, her magical reserves couldn't compare to his, a mage who had dedicated his entire life to cultivation. If he could just drag out the fight until her mana was depleted, his chances of winning would significantly increase.

Yet, for some unknown reason, the gaze of the young man opposite him felt like looking at a corpse. This deeply irritated Moke, but it also sparked an unsettling sense of anxiety, a feeling he couldn't quite rationalize.

Without further hesitation, Moke slowly withdrew a staff from his robes. The staff was entirely crimson, topped with a fist-sized Fire-elemental crystal.

Moke had certainly not deployed this artifact when facing the mages of the Fire Cloud Empire earlier. Evidently, confronting a master of Bai Ling’s caliber demanded his full preparedness. Even Moke’s inherent arrogance conceded to caution when facing such a formidable opponent, hence the appearance of his staff.

As Bai Ling observed the artifact, a flicker of strange recognition crossed her eyes. “Oh? I didn’t expect the Moon-Shattering Staff to be in your hands. No wonder you’re so arrogant. But even with the Moon-Shattering Staff, I suspect you have no idea how to fully unleash its power, do you? It’s merely wasted in your grasp.”

Moke recoiled inwardly, his expression shifting dramatically. He was shocked that Bai Ling could identify his Moon-Shattering Staff with such certainty. This staff was an artifact left over from the Ancient Era, lost for ages. He wouldn't have known its origins or utility had he not discovered a corresponding manual when unearthing the ruins where he found it.

Yet, with a mere glance, Bai Ling named the staff, knew its history, and even recognized that he couldn't fully exploit its capabilities—it was utterly unbelievable. This realization compounded Moke's growing apprehension.

Then, a counter-thought asserted itself: he had no retreat now. Moke had personally experienced the staff’s might. Even if he couldn't utilize its full potential, it was still beyond the defense of any ordinary practitioner. With this staff, Moke felt confident he could challenge a Saint Magus and remain undefeated. And Bai Ling, by all appearances, hadn't reached the level of a Saint Magus. With this certainty, Moke dropped his hesitation and spoke with grim resolve. “Since you say so, this old man will not hold back.”

Immediately, Moke began chanting an incantation. A magical barrier rapidly materialized around him for protection. Though Bai Ling had assured him she wouldn't strike before he made his move, Moke clearly placed no faith in her word. He erected his most potent protective barrier, hoping it would buy him crucial reaction time should any danger arise unexpectedly.

Seeing his actions, Bai Ling merely offered a disdainful smile. “Rest assured. I said I wouldn't strike first, and I won't. Besides, I know a dozen ways to shatter that little barrier you’ve conjured, easily.”

Moke ignored her mocking tone, acutely aware that this was his only chance. Failure here meant Bai Ling would certainly not grant him the time to cast a second spell. Therefore, Moke resolved to stop holding back and unleash his final reliance.

Moke visibly concentrated, his expression grave. Slowly, he raised the staff, and resonant magical incantations began to issue from his lips. Mo Han, standing nearby, heard the chants and grew puzzled, realizing he couldn't decipher a single word of the magic language.

Bai Ling’s expression subtly shifted upon hearing Moke’s recitation. She spoke slowly. “I didn’t expect you to know these Ancient Elven Magics. Truly remarkable.”

While speaking, Bai Ling dared not become complacent. She smoothly drew a staff from her own robes—it was entirely transparent, emitting a soft azure glow. This was the Water Spirit Staff she had used previously.

It was Mo Han’s first clear sight of Bai Ling’s Water Spirit Staff. Although she had used it once before to rescue him from falling into Hades’ clutches, Mo Han had been completely enveloped in thick mist at the time, unable to discern anything external. By the time he regained his senses, Bai Ling had already recalled the staff. Thus, today marked Mo Han’s true first glimpse, and he noted that Bai Ling seemed quite wary of this ancient Elven spell Moke was casting.

The Elves had always been favored children of the gods; they were practically born mages. Especially the magic of the Ancient Elves possessed incomparable destructive power, rumored to be equal to the Dragon Clan’s Draconic Language Magic. In their prime, the Elves were an immensely proud race, far outnumbering their current population, and their influence spanned the entire continent, not confined solely to the Elven Forest. Consequently, they held utter disdain for the other races of the land, especially the Dragons.

This arrogance eventually ignited hostility from the other races toward the Elves. Legend holds that the Human Race and the Dragon Clan eventually allied to wage war against the Elves. Though the Elves were formidable, a single Dragon Clan could keep them at parity, especially since human magical civilization during that era had reached its apex, far surpassing contemporary human capabilities.

Under the joint assault of these two great powers, the Elven Clan suffered catastrophic losses, losing more than half their population. The remaining small fraction retreated to the Elven Forest, the cradle of their race. Seeing the Elves withdraw, the Dragons and Humans ceased their active pursuit, unwilling to prolong the war.

It must be remembered that while the two major races inflicted grievous harm upon the Elves, they too suffered immense casualties. Moreover, the Elven Forest, being their ancestral homeland, was said to conceal countless Elven secrets and elaborate defenses, which severely restricted the strengths of the Humans and Dragons but greatly amplified the Elves’ combat prowess.

After just one attempted incursion into the Elven Forest resulted in heavy losses for the attackers, the Human and Dragon forces finally agreed to cease fighting and enter negotiations. The Elves pledged never to leave the Elven Forest lightly, on the condition that the Humans and Dragons would refrain from further aggression. This arrangement suited the interests of all three parties and thus, an accord was quickly reached, declaring a ceasefire.

However, due to the devastating toll of the war, the Elven Clan’s ranks had been decimated, with countless powerful masters killed or wounded. The entire strength of the Elven civilization plummeted to a nadir. Over time, most of the previously immensely potent Ancient Elven Magic Spells were lost. Presently, only a fraction of these ancient incantations survive, yet even these remnants retain unfathomable power. The fact that this unassuming court mage could utilize Ancient Elven Magic was precisely why Bai Ling was so visibly startled.

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