>>147
Gnomes as we know them are entirely unrelated to the previous section of your post. I came across them in relation to elves who reside on the astral. There were real gnomes once on a different planet, but the ones we know are astral copies. They're botsouls made from qi and an intent. Someone created them to be used as slaves incarnated into physical bodies. But the original creator race is since long gone, same as the gnomes. Only the copies remain. The elves are hunting them down and destroying them because the gnomes were programmed to clear trees. This is the only thing they do, they cut down trees and destroy the environment. The way gnomes are seen and described in folklore is mostly a misunderstanding from a lack of knowledge of this complex situation.

However, I'll add something with which your post coincides. I decided to pick up martial arts again after a few months break, this time focusing on manifesting the kind of abilities demonstrated by shaolin monks. I was able to manifest the basic energy of such skills as the wooden club, the blackjack, the iron knee. But when trying for defense I realized "the concrete wall" was the easiest and seeminly most effective ability. When turned outward into offense it becomes the concrete brick.
It is a very simple material as it consist mostly of sand, yet a concrete wall can stop explosive missile weapons. After experimenting with them I had decided to work on manifesting concrete specifically.
Going by this and connecting it with your quote, maybe earth element is simply the easiest to manifest?