Ethereal World: Vicious Cannon Fodder's Immortality Road-Chapter 932: Dark Elves, Twilight Desert Town

[Scarlet Continent, Forgotten Domain, Northern Region, Duskhollow Town]

Twilight Desert Town lay hidden in the endless expanse of the Ember Dune Desert, veiled beneath enchantments that dimmed the sun and cloaked the town in eternal twilight. Obsidian and dark sandstone buildings rose from the sands, their surfaces etched with glowing indigo runes that pulsed softly in the dusk.

Silken canopies of black, violet, and silver fluttered above winding alleys, shading markets filled with rare spices, enchanted relics, and shimmering artifacts. Obsidian fountains spilled moon-silver water, while towering Umbral Trees with shadow-black leaves and ghostly azure wisps offered cool refuge amidst the heat.

The air shimmered with ancient magic, carrying scents of dusk-blooming flowers and desert winds heavy with forgotten secrets. Every structure, built from enchanted stone and dark crystal, was designed to withstand sandstorms and time itself. Twilight Desert Town was a sanctuary of shadows and starlight, a place where danger and beauty intertwined.

The immortal residents of Twilight Desert Town moved with an effortless grace, their robes woven from desertweave silk, a rare fabric spun from the threads of sand-gliding moths and infused with spiritual energy. Light as air yet durable as steel, the fabric shimmered subtly, shifting hues with the light. It adapted seamlessly to the desert’s extremes, cooling the body under the midday sun and warming it when the night grew cold.

Their attire flowed like liquid shadow, layered with protective hoods, veils, and sashes embroidered with sigils of warding and longevity. Each garment was both practical and elegant, a harmony of function and artistry.

And then, there were the Dark Elves.

Tall and statuesque, they moved with an otherworldly elegance, their sun-kissed skin gleaming like polished onyx under the desert sky. Their eyes were luminous, pearl-white, glowing faintly like captured starlight. Their hair, the color of ash and smoke, cascaded in untamed waves, carrying an air of quiet mystique.

When Shenlian Yingyue saw them, her thoughts drifted far away. These ethereal beings reminded her of De Lun, Xing Juan, Mo Da, and Xiang Ju who were the slaves she rescued, and the dark-skinned people of the Spiritual Continent, those whom others had called Southern Pot, along with the people from Luminous Moon Palace in Poisonous Valley of the Outer Domain. (Chapter 605)

How were they faring now? she wondered. Had the bigotry lessened, or had time only deepened the divides?

The more she traveled, the more she understood: racism was a poison that infected every world, every era. It festered in the hearts of humans, manifesting in hatred over lineage, or creed.

But she couldn’t wholly judge those who harbored such prejudices. It was something societies around the world struggled with for centuries, and while many made progress, racism still existed in different forms.

The true culprits were the systems, rotten, manipulative structures designed to pit humans against one another. Those in power twisted history, rewrote narratives, and weaponized culture, beauty standard, and religion. They painted villains as heroes and heroes as villains, turning black to white and white to black.

Generations of descendants, raised on these lies, grew to despise one another, and sometimes, even themselves.

How many innocent lives had been lost? How many souls had been shattered, all for battles over gods, origins, or borders?

The world was not black and white. It existed in shades of gray. Right and wrong were merely perspectives, shaped by experience and circumstance.

Yet, in its own way, the universe balanced itself. For every person who hated another for their origins and shells, there were those who loved without condition, who saw beauty in differences, strength in diversity.

She thought of the modern world she had once known. There, credit cards and digital currency dictated wealth, a mere construct of numbers and trust. But in ancient times, such things would have been worthless. Without the concept of banking or virtual finance, plastic cards were nothing but trash, and digital coins were empty illusions.

Conversely, in ancient dynasties, the Imperial Seal was the ultimate symbol of authority. Wars were waged over it, blood was spilled for it. Yet in the modern era, it was just a relic, a museum piece, stripped of its power. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Everything had value only in its rightful time and place.

When Shen Xian had taken her to the Demon Realm, she had seen beings of every imaginable shade, pale as jade, dark as onyx, even hues of emerald and sapphire, like creatures from mortal tales of aliens.

Yet, among demons, prejudice based on appearance was rare. Strength, skill, and abilities determined worth, not the color of one’s skin or the shape of one’s horns. White or black, green or blue, yellow or brown, beauty meant nothing without power.

And in that, she found a strange respect for the Demon Race. They were brutal, yes, but at least they were honest. Their hierarchies were clear, their rules unchanging. No hidden lies. No painted histories.

"What’re you thinking about, Xiao Yueyue?" Xiong Zi Ying’s voice snapped her back to the present.

"Master, do you ever find the world strange?" Shenlian Yingyue’s voice was soft, her expression dreamlike. Since they had to enter Sand Town, the group had been forced to remove their masks. Cloaks were permitted, but concealing their faces was not. As a result, anyone passing by could clearly see their features.

Just as she and her companions marveled at the Dark Elves’ otherworldly beauty, the Dark Elves, in turn, gazed at them with equal fascination.

To Shenlian Yingyue and her group, the Dark Elves possessed an almost hypnotic allure, their luminous skin, their graceful movements, everything about them seemed touched by magic. Yet, unbeknownst to them, the Dark Elves were equally captivated. To the elves, these outsiders bore an ethereal beauty, their snow-pale skin and striking features unlike anything they had seen before. Without a single word exchanged, mutual admiration bloomed silently between them.

"Xiao Yueyue, what’s on your mind?" Xiong Zi Ying asked, his eyes still tracing the elegant lines of Sand Town’s architecture and its immortal inhabitants. The others perked up, curious to hear her thoughts.

"It’s strange how value and roles shift depending on who’s looking," she mused, her gaze drifting across the bustling town. "And isn’t it odd how the world always balances itself so perfectly? Where there’s blessing, disaster lingers nearby. Where love flourishes, hate is never far behind." Her voice was contemplative as she absorbed every detail, the laughter of children, the murmur of merchants, the way the sunlight glinted off the sand-polished stone. She wanted to remember it all, another fleeting yet beautiful moment in life.

Shenlian Yinzhu tightened his grip on her left hand, while Zhiyi held her right just as firmly, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her they were there. The corners of their lips lifted unconsciously. This was their happiness. Whenever she spoke, they listened intently, treasuring every word. Whether they agreed or not didn’t matter, they would never interrupt her thoughts.

"It is strange," Xiong Zi Ying admitted, his smile blooming like a winter plum, delicate yet full of quiet depth. "But perhaps that’s what makes it so mesmerizing. Without the oddities, would life hold half as much wonder and challenging?" His tone was light, yet the meaning beneath was profound.

"You’re right, Master." Shenlian Yingyue nodded, her face brightening with a radiant smile.

Xiao Yun and the others remained serene, as if soaking in the wisdom of the conversation, letting it settle into their hearts like dust upon the sand.