Free Web NovelChapter 213: Chapter 212: Hearts in Turmoil
The moment Jiang Qiu grasped the Soul Ice Dao Lotus, his soul felt as if it had been plunged into an icy abyss, his entire being sinking into a frigid sea.
A ceaseless stream of Spirit Charm surged from the Soul Ice Dao Lotus and into his body, pushing his Realm to a higher level. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the Full Steel Bone Realm and could now Cast Jade Sinews!
[Soul Ice Dao Lotus Refinement in progress...]
Soon, Jiang Qiu began using the method for Casting Jade Sinews—a technique from the North Sea Palace’s legacy—to forge entirely new Jade Sinews. A vortex swirled within him, carving out an aperture space in the shape of a lotus flower. Upon its completion, it would be able to contain a surging ocean of Spirit Charm!
The so-called Dao Forging Jade Sinews was a method of laying a foundation for the Great Dao itself. Only by mastering Dao Jade Sinews could one access a higher, more profound Dao. This meant there was a sliver of a chance to reach the Realm of their ancient ancestors.
Dao Forging Jade Sinews was the prerequisite for cultivating the Cyan Simurgh Technique, and the Soul Ice Dao Lotus was a supreme-grade material for creating them. The potential was plain to see.
’Dao Forging Jade Sinews are the foundation. With them, cultivating the Cyan Simurgh Technique will be like soaring straight to the heavens...’
An unknown amount of time passed. Frost condensed on Jiang Qiu’s face as he sat with his eyes closed, and ice crystals coated his clothes. The patterns on the Northern Snow Lance gradually lit up, as if being nourished.
Outside, the Leader, Hunt, and the other Warriors had returned from surveying the key areas of the North Snow Tribe, all of them heavily injured.
HUFF... HUFF...
The sleeve of Hunt’s left arm was gone, revealing sharp gashes. His entire arm was dripping with blood, and his tall frame swayed with each breath.
He strode toward the North Snow Tower, his eyes wide and bloodshot like a tiger’s. Blood dripped from the Cold Iron Spear in his right hand. "The foundations of North Snow have been destroyed," he snarled. "Cold Heaven Cliff, West Ice Tribe... you will pay for this."
On the road back to North Snow, some of the smaller tribes had abandoned them, using the excuse that they feared their own people would be attacked by the Demon Race.
Another group that did follow them, upon witnessing the tragic sight, scattered under the pretext of helping search for survivors from the North Snow Race. They never returned.
As for their wounds, they were from a fierce clash with a group of West Ice Tribe Warriors they’d encountered to the west.
The West Ice Tribe had sent their people to the North Snow Tribe’s territory. They were aggressive and full of fury, looting the deserted homes and even attempting to push deeper toward the core in search of the Treasure Vault.
Little was known for certain at the moment. However, it was clear that the Elder Witch Priest had pulled the main Demon Race army from Cold Heaven Cliff into another dimension, sealing them away temporarily. The seal wouldn’t hold for long. After all, the enemy was vast and powerful, and they had a Witch Priestess of unprecedented might on their side.
The other demons from Cold Heaven Cliff who weren’t caught in the seal had been far from the main battle. Only slightly affected, they had set off in pursuit of the fleeing North Snow Tribe parties.
It was unclear where the North Snow Tribe members had fled, or even how many groups they had split into. Their current situation was a complete mystery...
"Has North Snow really been reduced to this?"
Watching Hunt come to a stop before the North Snow Tower, Wall let out a long sigh. He glanced at the buildings and stone streets buried beneath the snow, a wistful look flashing in his eyes.
The North Snow Tribe had enjoyed a long era of prosperity. They were considerably stronger and larger than the South Mountain Tribe, which was also a Main Vein Tribe. But now, it was nothing but deserted ruins.
’When I first returned to the Northern Boundary, I lamented not being sent to the West Ice or North Snow Tribes, ending up in the far inferior South Mountain instead. Now, I actually feel a little lucky.’
’If I were the Chosen One of the North Snow Tribe, returning from the North Sea to this... I’d have to wonder if I had any chance at all of winning the contest.’
’It’s hard to turn the tables all by yourself.’
But that wasn’t his problem. He had insisted that the South Mountain Tribe stay, not leave, for one simple reason: he wanted to see how Hill would handle the situation.
’As far as I’m concerned, winning the contest is impossible. There’s no point in desperately cultivating to get stronger. Even if I went back to the South Mountain Tribe and trained like a madman for three years, I probably still couldn’t match Hill as he is now.’
’I might as well spend the rest of my time in the Northern Boundary just having fun, doing whatever I find interesting. So what if staying here with the South Mountain Tribe makes enemies of both the West Ice Tribe and Cold Heaven Cliff?’
’It doesn’t matter. My soul isn’t even from the South Mountain Tribe. After I die or the contest ends, I’ll leave the Northern Boundary anyway. What does the fate of these tribes have to do with me?’
But even with such a mindset, the moment he saw the true state of North Snow, a desire to retreat still stirred in the depths of his soul.
The group of West Ice Tribe Warriors they’d just encountered had revealed some information: Cold Heaven Cliff’s main army was still within the North Snow Tribe’s territory and could break the seal at any moment.
That was the main army of Cold Heaven Cliff, containing all of their peak fighting power, including the Celestial Chosen Demon who also served as the Witch Priestess, Feng.
When they destroyed North Snow, they had barely lost any demons; their fighting strength was still at its Peak. It would take the full might of an entire Main Vein Tribe to even stand a chance against them.
"Given the situation, do we really need to be here with the North Snow Tribe?"
The Leader of the South Mountain Tribe asked in a low voice, his expression bitter.
Although he was the Leader, the ancestral succession was over. The Chosen One, Wall, now undoubtedly possessed the greatest power in the tribe. His word carried immense weight, and his opinion had to be taken into account.
He had wanted to continue supporting the North Snow Tribe, to wait for them to rise again under Hill’s leadership. But seeing what had become of them, his heart went cold and his hopes plummeted.
’Even their home base is destroyed, and their people have surely fled. Can the North Snow Tribe even be said to exist anymore?’
’Can Hill really revive North Snow all by himself?’
’And for that matter, does he even want to revive it?’
’If we maintain ties with North Snow, our tribe will definitely be implicated. This is becoming very difficult...’
The Leader of the South Mountain Tribe couldn’t understand Wall’s reasoning. But he also knew that Wall didn’t particularly care about the tribe’s development; he was merely fulfilling his duties according to his pact with the Witch Priest.
"Of course it’s necessary," Wall said casually. "Haven’t you noticed? The East Shore Tribe insisted on staying as well."
Wall’s deep, meaningful gaze shifted to Fan, who stood a short distance away.
Of course, the East Shore Tribe had no intention of supporting North Snow. They hadn’t wanted to come here with Hunt and the others in the first place, but their Chosen One, Fan, had insisted, leaving their Leader with no choice.
But since they had come—and had even joined the fight against the scavenging party from the West Ice Tribe—they were most likely stuck in this affair now.
As things stood now, it was as if two Main Vein Tribes had formed an alliance. Even if North Snow was destroyed, the West Ice Tribe would have to be wary of the connection between the South Mountain and East Shore Tribes.
For Cold Heaven Cliff, defeating a Main Vein Tribe might be easy, but completely annihilating one would inevitably come at a great cost.
BOOM—
Suddenly, the sound of tearing space echoed from the west. Thick clouds swirled and gathered overhead as thunder rumbled through them. The sky darkened, as if something was about to break free from its seal.
