"Mom, do I have to get married?"
[Flower] walked in the center of the procession as it entered the grounds, her mother beside her carrying a basket. Her voice was not the least bit clear and bright; instead, it sounded muffled, like a stone dropping into a deep well.
Her snow-white face, the focus of many eyes, was fairer than snow itself. Her lively eyes were filled with an innocence unique to a young maiden, yet they were also tinged with a few wisps of turmoil.
Day by day, ti passed, and before she knew it, she had turned sixteen. The girl who once held an egg in both hands now held the two corners of a red robe made from fire-fox fur. She walked through a path cleared of snow, heading toward the procession before the Altar under the watchful gaze of the crowd.
The tail of the robe swayed behind her with each step, her heart swaying with it. Occasionally, she could feel the cold of a snowflake lting on the tip of her nose.
"What girl doesn’t get married?" her mother comforted her. "My daughter is the most beautiful one. At this coming-of-age ceremony, perhaps you can go to the South Mountain Tribe. A Chosen One appeared there, so it’s not a small tribe anymore. You might be able to live a decent life."
The largest tribe to attend this coming-of-age ceremony was South Mountain. This was what the Leader had hoped for, and it was also what many of the young maidens hoped for.
The South Mountain Tribe had once been a great tribe, but it had declined for a ti, its fa sowhat faded. In reality, its foundation was still strong.
The four tribes with the deepest foundations in the Northern Boundary were Xibing, North Snow, South Mountain, and East Shore. Xibing was the most powerful, followed by North Snow. With South Mountain having found a Chosen One again, it was very likely to reclaim its forr glory. Going there was naturally much better than going to a small tribe where life wasn’t even guaranteed.
"Mmm..."
[Flower] nodded, her chin dipping slightly. The light reflecting in her pupils instantly dimd as she slowly swept her gaze over the group of young n from her tribe.
Her eyes t with a certain young man in the crowd. *Thump.* Her steps slowed for half a beat, and the light in her eyes flickered. *Thump.* She took the next step and continued forward.
In her sixteen years, she had rarely interacted with peers from the tribe. This was partly because there weren’t many children on the street where she lived, and partly because she didn’t usually go out.
She had wailed loudly at birth, but her cries weren’t powerful. She wasn’t the type suited to beco a female Warrior who tempered her body for the hunt. Later, she went to the Elder Witch Priest to study tribal history and basic knowledge for a year, after which there was little need for her to leave the house.
At ho, she wove Ice Silkworm Silk, boiled water, cooked als, and swept snow... The days passed just like that, and in the future, she would follow the tribe’s customs and marry a young man from another tribe.
Then, when she was three, Uncle [Xiong] from next door brought back the Chosen One—the Chosen One who, according to legend, could change the fate of the tribe and decide the future of the Northern Boundary.
He didn’t seem like an ordinary baby. That Chosen One never cried or got angry, as if he had no worries at all. He just loved to brandish a spear.
How she wished that Chosen One would grow up, grow up quickly, and lead the tribe to recreate the legends, to usher in a new era of prosperity.
Unfortunately, she had only been with him for thirteen years. Before she could see [Hill] grow into the legendary Chosen One he was said to be, she herself had to leave North Snow for a strange, new tribe.
’There’s nothing wrong with getting married. Every year, many people marry into other tribes, and I’ve never heard any of them complain. The ones who marry into our tribe don’t have bad lives either; they quickly integrate into tribal life.’
’But it’s also aningless. There’s nothing to look forward to.’
’I’d rather watch the Chosen One [Hill] grow up quickly...’
Once all the young n and won had entered the Altar plaza, the envoys from the other tribes lined up neatly to the side. As they all listened to the Elder Witch Priest’s invocation, the coming-of-age ceremony officially began.
Jiang Qiu slowly retracted his gaze, his upper eyelids drooping a fraction lower than usual, his eyes dark and shadowed.
He could naturally tell that [Flower] didn’t really want to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony—or rather, she didn’t want to get married. Though she looked beautiful and lovely, she was actually distracted and absent-minded.
But marriage during the coming-of-age ceremony was an unchanging law of the Northern Boundary, one that had stood for ten thousand years. It wasn’t just North Snow; even Xibing, South Mountain, East Shore, and even the tribes of the Demon Race had such customs. It had beco a tacit rule.
’You allow to choose a bride, and in turn, I allow you to choose from the won of my tribe. It’s mutually beneficial, producing stronger offspring.’
’This is the Northern Boundary.’
Yet Jiang Qiu’s heart was not at peace. His tangled thoughts turned into a stifling turmoil that built up in his chest, and he remained silently sullen.
"Descendants of the North Snow Tribe, you will beco adults after this ceremony! You will lead the tribe to prosperity! You will bring peace to the tribe!"
The Elder Witch Priest spoke with impassioned words, his voice clear and resonant. Though his head was full of white hair, it could not conceal the heroic spirit in his chest.
"Next, the young n of the tribe will compete in a spear-throwing contest! The young man with the greatest strength and ability will earn the right to enter the Ice Cap Hot Spring! This is the tribe’s coming-of-age gift to its most outstanding mber."
"Furthermore, the tribe will provide nurous sets of high-quality armor based on your spear-throwing results. The one with the best result will choose first. There are ten sets in total."
"Those n who do not obtain armor will still receive rewards such as cotton clothes and venison. These are all tokens of recognition from our ancestors and the tribe for your growth. I hope you will all give it your all!"
As his final words fell, the Warriors of the tribe brought out several blocks of solid ice, each as tall as a man’s shoulder. They were arranged a hundred ters away, directly facing the ranks of a thousand young n.
Jiang Qiu raised an eyebrow. He saw that the Copper Skin Realm Warriors carrying the ice had their arms tensed, muscles rippling like mountains. They held their breath, their faces flushed red.
With every block of solid ice that landed, a loud THUD echoed as it hit the ground, forcing the pent-up breath from the Warriors’ chests in a great whoosh.
This wasn’t ordinary ice. Its hardness could rival the Ice Armor of the Ice Armor Bear Clan. A Wooden Spear would be almost useless against it; one had to use an Iron Spear, and with an explosive burst of power.
One could say that stabbing a spear at that solid ice was no different from trying to pierce a great frozen lake—it was incredibly hard!
"Hill, how many do you plan to pierce?"
[Pile] ward up his arms, looking like a fierce tiger unlocking its shoulders. A rolling wave of scorching energy rushed forth as he eagerly awaited his turn.
His rate of improvent was also extrely fast. Other than Jiang Qiu himself, he was likely the closest to the Copper Skin Realm. And since he had also turned sixteen, he was one of the most anticipated participants in this year’s ceremony.
Throwing a spear a hundred ters to pierce solid ice as thick as a man’s waist was not difficult for him.
"We’ll see when I try."
Jiang Qiu squinted, hefting one of the Iron-tipped Spears prepared for the ceremony.
This type of spear had a wooden shaft and an iron tip. Its piercing power was considerable, capable of breaking the ice.
According to the rules of the contest, there would be ten blocks of solid ice a hundred ters away. Whoever pierced the most blocks with their spear would get the best score. In case of a tie, they would compete again until one of them was exhausted.
In past coming-of-age ceremonies, piercing one block of solid ice ant you had the hope of becoming a Warrior. Piercing three ant you were on your way to becoming a formidable Warrior. Piercing five showed imnse potential, with a future possibility of becoming a Hunting Captain.
In the past twelve years, it was rare to see anyone break even five blocks of solid ice.
As for breaking all ten blocks, no one in the past few hundred years had managed to do it at this age and with these resources.
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