Chapter 195: Chapter 194: Chance Encounter
Several days passed. The snowy mountains and ridges gradually seemed to flatten into the horizon. The trees grew more and more sparse until they vanished completely, and a layer of white snow blanketed the world.
Vast sheets of snow fell from the sky like goose down. The North Snow Tribe’s party moved slowly through the thick snow, their Blue-Hoofed Horses like brown worms squirming through a white ocean.
The North Sea lay in the Land of the Far North, a journey of more than a thousand miles. After traveling for nearly half a month, the North Snow Tribe had yet to see any sign of it.
HREEE—
Suddenly, a high-pitched cry carried from the distance. Hunt pulled his reins tight, and the entire party halted in the snow. He tightened his grip on the Cold Iron Spear at his waist, squinting as he peered a thousand meters into the distance. He could faintly make out a crawling, ant-like cluster of color.
"It’s people from another tribe."
Jiang Qiu also turned his head to look, his hand resting on the Northern Snow Lance at his waist.
The tribes of the Human Race were not always united. The conflict between the West Ice Tribe and the North Snow Tribe had been brewing for a long time. If the West Ice Tribe wanted to lead the entire Human Race, they would surely try to suppress the North Snow Tribe.
If they were to encounter people from the North Snow Tribe, a battle would very likely break out on this very spot.
It was normal to encounter other tribes this close to the North Sea.
Besides, that party didn’t look small. They had to be one of the Main Vein Tribes as well.
THUD THUD THUD.
The party over there also slowed to a halt. Someone seemed to turn and look in their direction. The two groups faced each other from a thousand meters apart as the cold wind howled ceaselessly.
"Everyone be careful. Those are people from the West Ice Tribe."
Hunt shouted in a low voice. The entire party’s will to fight suddenly surged. A Blue-Hoofed Horse reared, neighing loudly.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH.
One Cold Iron Spear after another was gripped in hand. A fierce, sharp battle intent began to gather. Jiang Qiu took a deep breath, his left hand clutching the reins tightly while his right hand gripped the Northern Snow Lance.
Although the four Main Vein Tribes had an agreement not to clash at the Ancestral Ruins, times had changed. Who knew what the West Ice Tribe might do?
Besides, they hadn’t even reached the North Sea yet. If something happened here, who would know?
...
CLICK.
A Conical Arrow was nocked on a recurve Great Bow, making a soft sound. A powerfully built, murderous-looking man took aim at the leader, Hunt, a thousand meters away. The muscles on his forearm bulged, unleashing an aura of pure slaughter.
He was none other than War, the leader of the West Ice Tribe. On this journey, he had brought over a hundred of the tribe’s finest warriors, outnumbering the party from North Snow.
’To unite the entire Human Race, we must eliminate the North Snow Tribe—the toughest bone to crack. This point is non-negotiable. Besides, their overall strength is inferior to ours.’
HUMMM—
The thick string was drawn back with his thumb into a full moon, pulled past his chin and stubbled jaw. War aimed the Conical Arrow at the sky above the distant party, calculating the powerful arc it would take to plunge into the opposing leader’s head a thousand meters away.
But just as he was about to release the arrow, a young man’s voice came unhurriedly from the center of the party: "There’s no need to clash with the North Snow Tribe right now."
War glanced back at Gold, who was carrying a Sword Scabbard. The muscles in his right forearm slowly relaxed, and the bowstring gradually eased. He let out a puff of hot white breath. "This is our chance. If everyone from the North Snow Tribe dies here, the Northern Boundary Human Clan will soon be united. We’ll even have one less competitor at the Ancestral Ruins in a few days."
"In the end, only one Chosen One can win. Getting rid of one now is obviously for the best. It will prevent any unforeseen complications after we enter the Ancestral Ruins."
In reality, many tribes were secretly trying to assassinate the Chosen Ones who didn’t belong to them, but they rarely succeeded.
Especially someone like the North Snow Tribe’s Chosen One. At the age of thirteen, just after his coming-of-age ceremony, he had been able to instantly kill a Middle Tier of Demon Race member from Cold Heaven Cliff.
According to the envoys from other tribes who witnessed the ceremony, the North Snow Tribe’s Chosen One, Hill, could shatter ten layers of ice with a single spear thrust!
’That’s no small number. Even if Gold could have done it at the time, he would have had to rely on his Bloodline Talent. If it was purely a matter of strength, it wouldn’t have been so certain...’
"Our numbers aren’t that much greater than the North Snow Tribe’s. It would be impossible to kill them all easily," Gold said, narrowing his azure eyes. Large snowflakes dotted his flowing golden hair. "Besides, the safety of every tribe must be guaranteed on the way to the North Sea. Isn’t that the agreement between you four Main Vein Tribes?"
"..."
War took a deep breath and stared at the Chosen One, Gold, for a long moment before solemnly giving a hand signal. At the signal, the tribal warriors withdrew their swords, spears, and bows.
’Perhaps Gold was right. But if we want to deal a heavy blow to the North Snow Tribe, this is the best chance.’
’When would we ever get a chance like this back near the Ice and Snow Ridge?’
’If we let them return to the North Snow Tribe’s territory, it’ll be impossible. No one in the Northern Boundary can just forcibly destroy a Main Vein Tribe...’
’But since the Chosen One, Gold, has spoken, it won’t be easy to move against the North Snow Tribe. After all, their leader, Hunt, is at the Steel Bone Realm, and his strength isn’t much less than my own.’
’Our so-called numerical advantage isn’t great enough to guarantee a victory with zero losses. If we fight, many powerful warriors are sure to die. That would be a huge blow to the Human Race... What if the Demon Race has an ambush waiting at the North Sea?’
’Who could say for sure?’
’Besides, while I may have the highest Realm in our group, the key to victory or defeat might still lie with the Chosen One, Gold.’
’With his powerful Bloodline Talent, he’s been cultivated with a massive amount of the tribe’s resources. Not only is his Realm approaching the Steel Bone Realm, but he’s also developed his Bloodline Talent to a higher level. Even I would be hesitant to face him in a fight.’
Thinking of this, War tightened his reins and spurred his horse forward. "Continue on."
THUD THUD THUD...
The entire West Ice Tribe party resumed its squirming advance through the deep snow. Gold, who had glanced over from afar, withdrew his gaze. His cold eyes were like a blue moon looking down upon all living things, and in them, Jiang Qiu was merely a small, slightly conspicuous hill.
’He didn’t care about War’s ambitions, nor about the development of the Northern Boundary Human Clan. He didn’t even care if the Demon Race was powerful.’
’He had come to the Northern Boundary for one purpose and one purpose only: to obtain the Enlightenment Fruit and reach the Grandmaster Realm.’
’The threat from the other Chosen Ones?’
’Could they even be considered a threat?’
’Once I enter the Ancestral Ruins, I’ll obtain the ancestor’s legacy and break through to an even higher Realm. Then, when the time comes for the battle of the Chosen, I’ll just need to fulfill my agreement with the West Ice Tribe’s High Priest—eliminate any humans and demons that threaten them, then kill the other nine Chosen Ones. That will be that.’
’When the mists of Northern Boundary Mountain disperse, that will be the day I ascend to its peak.’
’Why worry about gains and losses now?’
As his thoughts reached this point, a gentle breeze stirred before Gold, sweeping the snow from his golden hair. A faint light flickered in his blue pupils as he rode on, positioned in the very center of the West Ice Tribe’s party.
