Free Web NovelChapter 218: Chapter 217: Take a Gamble
One hundred adult maidens was a number the South Mountain Tribe could only produce in its most bountiful years. After all, the South Mountain Tribe had declined, with a total population of barely thirty thousand.
Normally, the South Mountain Tribe’s annual coming-of-age ceremony also involved inviting various large and small tribes to select maidens for marriage, just as the North Snow Tribe used to do. However, they didn’t invite many, and most marriages were internal. They didn’t have the North Snow Tribe’s rule forbidding internal marriages.
This was why the South Mountain Tribe could barely maintain a balance between their birth and death rates, preventing a situation where they traded away their people until the tribe died out.
Every year, Warriors from the South Mountain Tribe would take wives from the North Snow Tribe, bringing back a fair number of adult maidens. But when the South Mountain Tribe held its own coming-of-age ceremony, the North Snow Tribe would only take a dozen or twenty maidens in return.
This arrangement had been in place for tens of thousands of years, and occasional deviations were no great issue. But now, Wall was offering to send away a hundred maidens in one go?!
Upon hearing this, some of the smaller tribes instinctively turned their gazes toward Wall. They unconsciously sucked in a breath of cold air, their eyes trembling in shock.
But more shocking than the act of sending away maidens was the fact that they were being sent to the North Snow Tribe.
The North Snow Race People who had migrated south were likely doomed. Furthermore, the North Snow Tribe’s Witch Priest was gone, leaving only about a hundred Warriors behind.
Even if they left the North Snow Tribe with seeds to continue their line, their lineage could be extinguished within a few hundred years. They knew all too well how difficult it was to rebuild a tribe from nothing. What’s more, the North Snow Tribe still carried the title of "the former Main Vein Tribe." Instead of hiding, they were rebuilding on their original site. Wasn’t that just courting death?
Once Hill participates in the War of the Chosen and ultimately leaves the Northern Boundary, who will protect this small handful of North Snow Race People?
Their only fate would be to be devoured by those who hate the North Snow, like the Cold Heaven Cliff and the West Ice Tribe...
Jiang Qiu realized this as well. He turned to Hunt. "What do you think?"
"Hill, the spirit of the North Snow Tribe must not be extinguished! We follow you!"
THUD. Hunt slammed his right fist against his left breast, giving a slight nod. His gaze was as sharp as a tiger’s, and the North Snow Warriors beside him mirrored the salute.
’The fate of the clansmen who migrated was unknown, but it was likely grim. Even if they returned, the North Snow Tribe would never be as glorious as it once was.’
’The day Hill leaves the Northern Boundary, it will only be a matter of time before the North Snow lineage is completely severed. From then on, the North Snow Tribe would pass into legend, ceasing to exist.’
’How could he resign himself to that!’
’The North Snow Tribe was the Main Vein Tribe, protected by the Primordial Ascendant! It had enjoyed the longest period of Peak power among the Northern Boundary Human Clan, and had even once served as the sword and shield for all Human Race tribes, guarding the north.’
’Was this a legacy that could be so easily broken?!’
’As long as a single person from the North Snow Tribe still lived, there was no such thing as a future destined for extinction!’
’At least Hill hasn’t left yet! At least the Altar still stands, the North Snow Tower still stands! I, their Leader, am still here! And our hundred-plus Warriors are still here!’
Hunt’s face was deeply flushed, his chin and neck held high. His wide eyes reflected the stalwart figure of Hill, and he looked just like a soldier following his general.
’Seventeen years ago, when he first went to Xiong’s home and saw Hill as a mere infant, he had never treated him as one.’
’Chosen Ones are naturally brilliant, beings descended from the Ancestral Realm. They are destined for greatness, the subjects of countless legends. Naturally, Hunt did not underestimate him.’
’And reality had proven him right. Step by step, Hill had grown to this day, achieving a Realm that Hunt himself could never reach in a lifetime. With his own power, he had even slain the invading Demon Race from Cold Heaven Cliff, as well as the Celestial Chosen Demon who served as their Witch Priestess!’
’The Chosen One who was once a mere infant had now grown to a level worthy of the legends. Only by following him could the flickering flame of the North Snow Tribe hope to find temporary shelter from the blizzard...’
"..."
Meeting Hunt’s fervent gaze, Jiang Qiu’s heart trembled. His eyes swept over the reverent faces of the North Snow Warriors, and his very Soul felt scorched by their heat.
The heavy snows continued to fall, but their blood boiled with passion.
"Fine. I accept the hundred maidens. On behalf of the North Snow Tribe, I thank you and the South Mountain Tribe for your aid. This debt of gratitude will be remembered."
Jiang Qiu and Wall came to an agreement. The Leader of the South Mountain Tribe said no more. The leaders of the smaller tribes exchanged glances, until one of them grit his teeth, raised a fist, and declared, "Lord Hill, our Stone Forest Tribe is also willing to offer thirty maidens!"
At his words, nearly every tribesman’s eyes went wide. Even Jiang Qiu himself gave him a sideways glance. "Are you sure?"
The Stone Forest Tribe had its roots in the South Mountain Tribe, from which it had split off long ago. It was a very small tribe, with a population of only two or three thousand. Because of their weakness, they struggled to form marriage alliances, often having to rely on internal unions, which resulted in a low bloodline purity.
Take their recent trip to the Ancestral Ruins in the North Sea, for example. Their tribe’s supposed peerless genius, the one called Eight, failed to activate even a single mark, placing him dead last by a massive margin.
This was supposedly the most talented member of their tribe, yet at the North Sea Palace, he couldn’t compare to anyone from the other tribes. They were lucky to have survived at all, and only because Hill had slain Gold with thunderous force. Otherwise, he, the Leader, might have seen his hair turn white overnight from worry...
Before the Leader of the Stone Forest Tribe could speak, the Leader of the South Mountain Tribe couldn’t help but challenge him. "Your tribe has relied on our maidens to maintain stability for years. Can you really spare thirty maidens at once? Do you even have that many?"
They were tribes from the same region, after all, and their connections were quite close. He knew the Stone Forest Tribe all too well; "destitute and impoverished" described them perfectly. Maidens who went there often fled back to their home tribes. After all, who could endure starving for nine meals over three days?
The only thing worth mentioning was that the tribe was still alive. Its lineage had been passed down for several thousand years without being broken.
"It’s just the right number, just right! In recent years, our tribe has thirty maidens who have reached the age of sixteen. We were planning to hold a coming-of-age ceremony for all of them after we returned from the North Sea!"
The Stone Forest Leader’s demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, and a light shone in his eyes.
’He knew the Stone Forest Tribe had no future. Surviving in the South Mountain Range, the harshest region of the Northern Boundary, they were no different from Ice-toothed Rats, merely surviving in the cracks.’
’Even their most talented member, Eight, had performed abysmally at the North Sea Palace, which had been a great shock to him. It meant that the Stone Forest Tribe’s standing among the many tribes of the Human Race was as low as ever. He suspected that most tribespeople who rarely left their homes had never even heard of the Stone Forest Tribe.’
’If the Stone Forest Tribe wanted to rise now, they had to seize this chance. Before the War of the Chosen began, they had to bask in the glory of the Chosen One, Hill!’
’The Stone Forest Tribe had failed to produce any strong experts. He estimated they wouldn’t even last until the end of the coming War of the Chosen. Even a tribe as powerful as the North Snow had been reduced to such a sorry state. A disaster was about to befall the Northern Boundary, and this could be the most impactful War of the Chosen in tens of thousands of years...’
