Free Web NovelChapter 227: Chapter 226: The White Mist Disperses, Ascend the Mountain
Three days passed in a flash. At the southern foot of Northern Boundary Mountain stood a stronghold belonging to the Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan. Its towering structures rose one after another, clustered together like a dense forest of spring bamboo shoots.
This was one of the strongholds of the Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan, garrisoned by over a thousand powerful members of the Demon Race. However, most of them were away on patrol or hunting, so the number of demons actually guarding the stronghold was not that large.
Northern Boundary Mountain was immense. Guarding it properly required a great number of Demon Race patrols to prevent members of the Human Race or other Demon Race Tribes from launching a surprise assault up its slopes.
Although the Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan was powerful, even a small stronghold like this one faced annihilation if it encountered a Chosen One, so they had to be especially cautious.
This was especially true today. According to the Great Witch’s instructions, the white mist on Northern Boundary Mountain would soon dissipate again. The Chosen Ones who could sense the summons were likely lying in wait at the foot of the mountain, hidden in unknown corners.
The War for the Chosen was the single greatest event in the Northern Boundary. Each time it occurred, it plunged the world into chaos. The Demon Race Tribes suffered grievous casualties, and even the mighty Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan lost many of its kin.
HUMMM—
Suddenly, a peculiar vibration pulsed from the very bloodline of the strongest High Tier demon in the stronghold. In an instant, the hundreds of demons still on guard stopped what they were doing. They turned, tilted their heads back, and gazed toward Northern Boundary Peak.
An empty echo resounded from the depths of their souls, as if a time-worn elder was issuing a final decree: "My kinsmen, the final War for the Chosen is about to begin. The white mist on Northern Boundary Mountain will start to dissipate in four hours. You must remain on absolute alert. Do not permit a single member of a Foreign Race to set foot on Northern Boundary Mountain.
"Ever since the Northern Boundary was sealed, we have been cut off from the Great Realm, where we once vied for supremacy, for far too long. Life here, devoid of Spirit Charm, has brought us only hardship. The land that rightfully belongs to our Ancestors lies buried beneath deep snow.
"This is not the future we wish to see.
"The Ancestor passed down the Demon Emperor’s decree, guiding our tribe to grow and strengthen. The appearance of [Extreme] has fulfilled his prophecy. The War for the Chosen is nearing its end. In this final battle, someone will at last pluck the Enlightenment Fruit and shatter the seal of the Human Race!
"The Spirit Charm that was rightfully ours, long since lost, will surge back from the distant Outer Realm. All our kinsmen will undergo a great transformation, and we, the descendants of [Kun], shall reclaim our former glory!"
The voice of the Great Witch of the Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan echoed in the hearts of all his kinsmen. Their shared bloodline resonated in that moment. Every demon’s eyes gleamed, as if they were on the verge of a great war that would determine the revival of their people.
The legend of the Great Realm’s shattering was a household tale. They all knew what powerful Great Demons their Ancestors had been and what a rich and bountiful land the Northern Boundary had once been.
All they had to do now was obey the Great Witch’s commands!
As always, the Northern Boundary Mountain Demon Clan held these fervent hopes in their hearts, silently awaiting news from their patrols and watching the white clouds that were gradually gathering and swirling around the mountainside.
Indeed, the dense clouds around the mountainside, already thick enough to obscure the view of the peak, were now swirling. They circled the mountain, pulling in more clouds from the distance. It was like a brewing storm, or a massive whirlpool, slowly drawing up the white mist that had settled at the mountain’s foot.
Just as the legends told, the white mist at the foot of Northern Boundary Mountain began to climb, receding like the tide. It revealed the surface of ice, snow, and shattered rock it had once consumed. A few lone, withered tree trunks, sticking out from the frozen ground like broken toothpicks, also came into view.
This was Northern Boundary Mountain.
"SCREEE—"
Just as the white mist receded one-fifth of the way up the mountain, the sound of furiously beating wings cut through the air from the distance, shattering the thoughts of the High Tier Demon Beast Leader. "Human Race troops sighted! Over a thousand Warriors, and they have a powerful Chosen One with them!"
The Leader turned his head and saw a Warrior from the patrol flying back, his face a mixture of terror and excitement.
He landed on the high tower where the Leader was standing and, in a state of extreme nervousness, reported everything he had witnessed.
He couldn’t believe he was the first to spot the Human Race troops, nor had he ever imagined that his own stronghold would become their target.
After all, the strongholds were spaced far apart. If he was able to spot the human army, it was almost certain they were heading for the mountain path this stronghold was blocking. A feint was out of the question; the distance to any other stronghold was simply too great for the humans to cover in time.
The ascent was also a race against time. They couldn’t afford to waste precious moments on a feint, as that would play right into the Great Witch’s hands and greatly aid the Celestial Chosen Demon, [Extreme], in his own climb to the peak.
However, after listening to the report, the Leader did not immediately relay the information. His expression was stern and his tone serious. "Are you certain that the force you saw is the main army of the Human Race?"
Throughout tens of thousands of years and numerous Wars for the Chosen, they had encountered feints from the Human Race before. In every war, they had to be on their guard.
Moreover, this time the Human Race had not one, but three Chosen Ones. If they decided to use a feint, it would be extremely difficult to see through their strategy.
The Leader’s thoughts were clear: ’I must be cautious. I absolutely cannot be deceived!’
’I must do everything in my power to stop the humans’ strongest Chosen One, [Hill], from climbing the mountain and slow his advance!’
"It’s absolutely the main force," the scout said, his voice firm. "There were seven or eight hundred of them, and the few leading the charge looked exceptionally powerful. The potency of their Qi Blood was easy to sense."
The patrol Warrior was utterly convinced that he had seen the Human Race’s main army.
After all, an army with that many powerful Warriors was equivalent to a major Human Main Vein Tribe on a full-scale campaign. If that wasn’t their main force, it would mean the Human Race had left their homelands completely unguarded.
Furthermore, the leaders projected an astonishingly oppressive aura; it felt as though a single glance from them could have ended his life.
"How far did you say they are from our stronghold now?"
"About thirty miles."
Upon hearing this, the Leader’s brow furrowed. He immediately sent an order through his bloodline connection for all patrols in the vicinity to gather and probe the enemy’s strength.
It wasn’t time to mobilize his entire force yet, nor could he rush to call for reinforcements from other strongholds. The enemy was still at a safe distance. If this truly was the main army, the leaders from the other tribes would have enough time to arrive before his stronghold was completely annihilated.
’Delay the Human Race’s Chosen One for as long as possible!’
Not long after his order went out, the Leader received a reply. His eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You’re not sure if it’s the main force? You don’t even know what weapons the leaders are using?!
"The strongest Chosen One from the North Snow Tribe wields the [Northern Snow Lance]! Even if he weren’t using it, even if he were just swinging a common Cold Iron Spear, you should be able to tell the difference!"
"N-no... that’s not it, Leader. There are two leaders. One uses a sword—it has to be [Fan] from the East Shore Tribe. The other does use a spear, but [Fan] is so overwhelming that the spear wielder hasn’t even had a chance to act!"
