Free Web NovelChapter 211: Chapter 210: Sacrifice
No one understood better than the Elder Witch Priest whether or not the ancestors truly chose the next Witch Priest. For this very reason, he also knew that one who was not a Witch Priest could not possibly wield the Ancestral Power.
’How could a body that has never channeled Spirit Charm possibly master its use in an instant?’
When he saw a black, hawk-like demon charge out from the ranks of the Cold Heaven Cliff Demon Race, the Elder Witch Priest’s expression changed slightly. His black robes whipped wildly in the wind, and his long hair flew back.
Logically, it should have been impossible for a non-Witch Priestess among the Demon Race to wield ancestral Spirit Charm. Not only was the price for doing so immense, but more importantly, an ordinary person could not act as a direct conduit!
To bear the Spirit Charm of the ancestors, one had to undergo certain rituals. Just as Flower, who had now reluctantly taken over the duties of the North Snow Tribe’s Witch Priest, could not possibly manifest Spirit Charm with the same intensity he currently wielded. She hadn’t even fully grasped how to use many of the Secret Techniques.
Yet, Black Hawk had done it. He had even summoned a Blizzard of considerable strength, one that made the very sky change color!
"Cold Heaven Cliff’s new Witch Priestess is dead set on destroying North Snow."
The Elder Witch Priest sighed softly and raised his Witch Staff high. Instantly, the Blizzard stalled as if it had struck an invisible membrane. A plane of condensed mist materialized between the North Snow Tribe and Black Hawk, like a vertical partition slicing through heaven and earth, dividing the world into two. On one side, the blizzard and hail raged; on the other, all was tranquil and calm, the fiery onslaught abating.
The ancestors of the Northern Boundary Human Clan were not a single person. The ancestral tablet standing at the very center of the North Snow Tribe’s Altar was carved with the words "Primordial Ascendant."
In the memories passed down through generations of Witch Priests, of the four Human Race ancestors who had sealed the Northern Boundary, the Primordial Ascendant was the leader. He had once subjugated a Demon Emperor!
In terms of the strength of the Main Vein Tribe’s members, the Human Race was perhaps far inferior to the Demon Race. But when it came to heritage, the Demon Race fell slightly short.
As the thought crossed his mind, the Elder Witch Priest’s Witch Staff moved. The tip of the black polearm, part spear and part staff, seemed to dip into water as he swiped it gently through the air, sending out invisible ripples.
VMMMM—
In an instant, the plane wavered and the Blizzard disintegrated. Black Hawk, hovering with wings outstretched, was still shrieking at the sky when the ripple swept over him. His triumphant expression scattered like ashes. In the final moment before his consciousness collapsed, his eyes widened. "This... How is this possible?"
The onlooking Demon Race was terrified by this scene. Only Feng chuckled. Spotting the black blood trickling from the corner of the Elder Witch Priest’s mouth, she called out, "The Witch Priest of the North Snow Tribe is on his last legs! To the brave, I will grant a power no weaker than what Black Hawk just summoned! Slay that man below, and your name will be carved into the third line of the Cold Heaven Stele!"
At her words, the demons also noticed that the Elder Witch Priest’s aura had changed. The overwhelming, sky-crushing pressure had diminished significantly.
’If I could control the power that Black Hawk just wielded, I might actually be able to defeat him.’
’Anyone with eyes could see it. The power Black Hawk controlled was actually immense; he just failed to wield it properly and got himself killed so easily.’
’If it were me up there, the outcome would definitely be different!’
’Besides, those whose names are carved into the Cold Heaven Stele are no ordinary figures. One must have made a major contribution to the Demon Emperor’s heritage at Cold Heaven Cliff. Legend even says that a demon whose name is recorded on the stele has a chance of being revived!’
Realizing this, a One-eyed Snow Owl at the High Tier Demon Beast level suddenly flew out from the formation. He hovered respectfully beside Feng with his head bowed, a glimmer of anticipation in his eye. "Witch Priestess Feng, please grant me your great power!"
He was the leader of the One-eyed Snow Owl clan of Cold Heaven Cliff. Years ago, he had reached the High Tier demon level, equivalent to the Steel Bone Realm of the Human Race. He was one of the strongest demons in Cold Heaven Cliff, a great deal more powerful than Black Hawk.
Reaching his level meant one was virtually at the Peak of the Northern Boundary. In an era without Spirit Charm, the High Tier demon level—or the Human Race’s Steel Bone Realm—was the absolute limit for its native inhabitants.
As for the Chosen Ones who surpassed this Realm, it was because they could resonate with the great heritages and obtain the elusive Spirit Charm.
However, this was unconfirmed. They had never witnessed Spirit Charm with their own eyes before and could only speculate about the unique relationship the Chosen Ones had with the heritages.
And now, the great Celestial Chosen Demon, Feng, who had inherited the position of Witch Priestess, was actually willing to grant a power that only a Witch Priestess should be able to receive! This was, without a doubt, a violation of the Northern Boundary’s rules—it was like an oasis appearing in a desert!
The One-eyed Snow Owl Leader’s spirits soared. He waited for Feng’s blessing, filled with a mixture of humility and yearning. She glanced at him and nodded. "Not bad. Your aptitude is far superior to Black Hawk’s. You’ll be able to control much more Spirit Charm."
With a casual wave of her hand, Feng summoned a great wave of Spirit Charm. It surged from the direction of Cold Heaven Cliff, riding a Gale as it rushed into the owl leader’s body.
An aura even more powerful than Black Hawk’s at his Peak seethed and surged. The hesitant demons were filled with awe and regret. ’Why wasn’t I the one to rush up there first?’
At this moment, even the Elder Witch Priest standing before the North Snow Tribe frowned slightly, his chest heaving with each breath.
’Feng’s methods are beyond anything I could have imagined. She can freely transfer the Spirit Charm that the Demon Emperor Cang left behind in Cold Heaven Cliff to those of demon bloodlines?’
’How is that possible?’
’If that were truly possible, wouldn’t Cold Heaven Cliff have conquered the Northern Boundary long ago?’
The heritage left by every ancient figure was immense. Those few Demon Emperors, and the ancestors of the Human Race, had all left behind what was, to the current Northern Boundary, a veritable ocean of Spirit Charm.
Even the Spirit Charm heritage laid down by the Primordial Ascendant was immeasurable. But regrettably, the restrictions were too great; no single person could possibly borrow all of it.
The role of Witch Priest was passed down from one generation to the next. One had to internalize a vast system of Secret Techniques to be able to unleash terrifying power, drawing upon the ancestral Spirit Charm at the moment of self-sacrifice.
’How could anyone be like Feng, simply calling out names as if taking roll call, and whoever steps forward can manipulate the Spirit Charm left by their ancestors?’
’Even if they’re just Low Level wielders touching Spirit Charm for the first time, a single, casual burst from each of them would require me to expend a comparable amount of my own Spirit Charm to counter.’
The Elder Witch Priest knew full well the terror of Spirit Charm being unleashed so freely. If the thousands of demons before him could all become conduits for their ancestral Spirit Power, then a single burst from each one would mean the end of North Snow!
’It seems this War is even more difficult than I imagined.’
Black blood began to flow steadily from the corner of his mouth, trickling down his chin and dripping onto the barren ground.
By now, the One-eyed Snow Owl had gathered a new storm, a spherical field of airflow swirling around his body. His aura far surpassed Black Hawk’s. Annihilation was imminent for North Snow!
’It’s time for the sacrifice. I’ll hold back all the demons of Cold Heaven Cliff... buy a few days... enough for the people of North Snow to retreat and migrate south...’
With that final thought, the Elder Witch Priest closed his eyes. Standing firm within the storm that had already shattered the Wall, his body transformed into a cocoon of white light, as immovable as a mountain.
In that instant, a white light illuminated the world. He became as dazzling as the rising sun. Feng was the first to react, her face paling as her pupils contracted sharply.
