Chapter 176: Chapter 175: Coming-of-Age Ceremony
In the North Snow Tribe, the coming-of-age ceremony determined the course of one’s entire life. Young men who had trained hard would join the Hunting Team or serve in roles like the tribe’s Patrol Team.
During the ceremony, they would undergo an assessment similar to the bloodline test, but this one focused on personal ability rather than innate Talent.
The young men would compete in several events under the watchful eye of the Elder Witch Priest. The most exceptional would join the Hunting Team, while those unsuited for hunting remained in the tribe to do other work and learn skills beneficial to its development.
The young women, in turn, had a similar evaluation. They would dress in their finest and, with the Elder Witch Priest’s blessing, form marriage alliances with young men from other tribes.
On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, it wasn’t just members of the North Snow Tribe who attended. Other tribes also sent emissaries to select marriage partners.
In the Northern Boundary, population was a vital resource. Thus, as soon as a young woman turned sixteen—the age of adulthood in this world—she was expected to shoulder the heavy responsibility of ensuring the tribe’s continuation.
However, since members within a single tribe were often related by blood, it was customary for emissaries from other tribes to select marriage partners during the coming-of-age ceremony.
When other tribes on good terms with the North Snow Tribe held their own ceremonies, North Snow would naturally send its own emissaries to select partners, amounting to a mutual exchange of people...
And this year, Flower had turned sixteen. It was her turn to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony. This was why every time Jiang Qiu returned from hunting this past month, he only saw the tightly shut gate of the courtyard next door, with no sign of the familiar figure. A month before the ceremony, young women had to go into seclusion.
’Time flies. Even Flower is sixteen now.’
Jiang Qiu mused, a flicker of complex emotion in his eyes.
’I’ve already spent thirteen years in the Northern Boundary. In another seven, the competition between the Chosen Ones will begin, yet I’m only just now approaching the Copper Skin Realm.’
[Copper Skin (Cold)]
[98.12/100]
’This pace is naturally much faster than my peers, but my real opponents are the other Chosen Ones, not the natives of the Northern Boundary.’
’Including myself, there are nine known Chosen Ones so far. The Demon Race has the most, with only four among the Human Race tribes. Besides Xibing and North Snow, the other two tribes are relatively small.’
’Among the Human Race, the most formidable is Gold of the West Ice Tribe. Through years of building power, the West Ice Tribe has clearly surpassed North Snow. Many tribes now follow them, including one that also has a Chosen One and contributes a great deal of resources.’
’Gold’s power is immense. He’s said to have awakened a Talent similar to a Blizzard, allowing him to gather the snow within several meters and make it swirl, obscuring all sight!’
’Relying on this Talent, he even holds the record for single-handedly hunting an entire Snow Pattern Deer Herd. The Leader of his tribe trumpeted this achievement far and wide, as if terrified the other races of the Northern Boundary might not know the West Ice Tribe had produced such an incredible Chosen One.’
’I have to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony early and earn the right to enter the Ice Cap Hot Spring. Only then can I grow faster.’ Jiang Qiu’s eyes shone with determination as he clenched his fist, a wisp of warm energy gathering in his palm. ’My Realm is about to reach Copper Skin. It’s time to try Body Tempering in the hot spring.’
The Ice Cap Hot Spring controlled by the tribe possessed the power of Body Tempering and had nurtured countless powerful Warriors for the tribe over the past thousand years.
It was a territory seized by the North Snow Tribe’s previous Chosen One, Food. As the only Ice Cap Hot Spring in the entire Northern Wilderness, it was one of the tribe’s most vital regions.
Since the spring water was far too scalding, only those with exceptionally tough bodies could enter. The most outstanding of the adult men were able to withstand the heat, so access to the spring was added as a reward for the coming-of-age ceremony.
However, the number of available spots was small. The hot spring was primarily used to cultivate the elite Warriors who had already reached the Copper Skin Realm. At most, one spot could be spared.
Only the one who surpassed all other participants in the coming-of-age ceremony could earn the right to soak in the spring. This was an immutable rule of the North Snow Tribe.
After chatting with Uncle Xiong for a while about the coming-of-age ceremony and finishing his meal, the sky quickly darkened. He glanced at the house on the other side of the courtyard wall. It was still brightly lit, with silhouettes moving behind the window.
’In three more days, Flower will be chosen by her new family. It really makes you feel something.’
’Even though this is just a Secret Realm, we’ve lived near each other for thirteen years. It’s only natural to feel a bit melancholy. It’s almost like those years back in the Northwest after I was born.’
’I didn’t have many attachments back then, and they were all gone before I even started high school.’
’I don’t have many now, either. In three days, there’ll be one less.’
’I hope she finds a family she’s happy with.’
Muttering to himself, he pushed the image of the girl’s smiling face from his mind, pulled his door shut, and extinguished the candle.
「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」 The gate to the neighboring courtyard rarely opened; one might only catch a glimpse of Flower’s father in the morning or evening.
But today, he would see Flower again. The area around the Altar was packed with tribespeople. Crowds thronged the streets and alleyways, their white breaths melting the snow that lay on the rooftops.
Amidst cheerful chatter and laughter, everyone was discussing the handsome young men and beautiful young women of the tribe who were coming of age.
The delegations of emissaries from other tribes, led here by Warriors, listened in on the lively conversations.
"I hear your tribe’s Chosen One will also participate in the ceremony?"
A middle-aged emissary in a cotton robe inquired. The North Snow Tribe Warrior assigned to guide him chuckled. "That’s right. Our tribe’s Chosen One is exceptionally gifted. At just thirteen, he could single-handedly kill a full-grown male Snow Patterned Deer. He’s more than met the standards for adulthood..."
"Single-handedly kill a full-grown male Snow Patterned Deer? Wasn’t that the kill the West Ice Tribe stole from him a month ago?"
A jarring voice cut in from the delegation. The guiding Warrior’s brow furrowed. Turning, he spotted a young man beside the middle-aged emissary. He too wore a cotton robe, and his expression was full of swagger.
"Haha, my apologies, my apologies," the middle-aged man said. "Our Young Master from South Mountain rarely visits other tribes. He’s a bit too direct."
The middle-aged man just smiled and waved his hand dismissively. The guiding Warrior’s mouth twitched, and he secretly clenched his fists, but he held his tongue.
’The South Mountain Tribe isn’t what it was ten thousand years ago,’ the Warrior thought, ’and its population and power are far less than North Snow’s. But they’ve endured, and now this generation has produced a Chosen One. We can’t afford to offend them.’
’The East Shore Tribe, which also has a Chosen One, has already allied with the West Ice Tribe. They’re forming an encirclement around us. If we don’t stay on good terms with the South Mountain Tribe, our situation will become even more precarious!’
’It’s just that Ice, the direct heir of the South Mountain Tribe’s Leader, is unbearably arrogant. He has a superior bloodline himself, which only makes him wilder. Only their own tribe’s Chosen One can keep him in check...’
"Young Master, the North Snow Tribe may not be what it once was, but they are still stronger than us. We are in their territory; you must be mindful of your words."
Once the guiding Warrior was out of earshot, the middle-aged man sighed and gave his earnest warning.
Ice lifted his chin and a smirk spread across his face. "The West Ice Tribe has been coveting their territory for ages, and the East Shore Tribe is watching them like a tiger. You really think they’d dare to offend our South Mountain Tribe?
So what if I spoke a little truth and they didn’t like it?
South Mountain had its own days of glory, didn’t it? How did our generation lose its backbone?!"
