This earthquake in winter brought trouble to many tribes, with countless casualties. After the houses collapsed, those who froze or starved to death were more than in previous years.
On October 16th, after properly settling his people, Jiang Xuan couldn't wait to head north to see what had happened there.
"I'll go with you."
Upon learning of Jiang Xuan's intention, the Old Witch imdiately rushed over.
Although the Old Witch was getting older, his curiosity hadn't waned. In fact, it was stronger than before due to the lack of previous constraints from his status.
"Alright, Old Witch, get ready. We'll set off soon."
Jiang Xuan didn't refuse, because the more his strength grew, the stronger he could feel the Old Witch's power, and given the Old Witch's extensive knowledge, he could also provide advice if issues arose.
With the tribe's matters in order, by noon, the prepared Jiang Xuan and Old Witch took off on Purple Eagle Tang Yuan and a giant black eagle, one after the other, leaving the tribe and flying north.
...
Days later, Jiang Xuan and the Old Witch flew to the place where the earthquake was most intense.
Sitting on Tang Yuan's back, Jiang Xuan looked down from high in the air, finding the scene before him shockingly unbelievable.
"Oh my god, how is this possible?"
A colossal rift valley appeared in the land, as if a heavenly blade had ruthlessly split the earth in two.
"Rushing..."
The rift valley was flooded with water, turning it into a river with surging waves.
Jiang Xuan stared blankly at the land, repeatedly murmuring, "Too fast, it's just too fast."
Many years ago, the West Wilderness had a Great Rift Valley that continuously extended inland, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, worsening the climate.
Because the West Wilderness beca uninhabitable, it led to the mass migration of West Wilderness tribes, plunging the entire Primordial Continent into turmoil and bloodshed.
Originally, Jiang Xuan thought that even if the West Wilderness's Great Rift Valley continued splitting, it would be a very long process, unlikely to affect other places in the short term.
Nobody expected the continent's tectonic movent to be so severe that within a few years, the Great Rift Valley penetrated the entire West Wilderness, extending to the Northern Southern Wilderness, and continued advancing toward the Eastern Wilderness.
"At this rate, I'm afraid the Eastern Wilderness will also be in danger."
Jiang Xuan glanced at the Old Witch, and sure enough, found his face very grim, clearly having thought of this.
Both Jiang Xuan and the Old Witch had witnessed the upheaval of the West Wilderness. Those tribes forced to migrate suffered greatly, having to fight for all resources with the tribes they encountered along the way.
If the Great Rift Valley stretched to the Eastern Wilderness, splitting the entire continent in two, the environnt and climate of the Eastern Wilderness would also undergo drastic changes.
By that ti, all the tribes in the Eastern Wilderness would face the sa problems as the West Wilderness tribes.
Could the Eagle Tribe also be forced to migrate elsewhere, like the West Wilderness tribes?
The Old Witch looked at the deep rift valley below, his eyes full of worry.
Although he no longer held the position of Witch, he spent almost his entire life dedicated to the Eagle Tribe, and he couldn't help but be concerned about their fate.
"Let's land first."
The Old Witch spoke with difficulty, his voice sowhat hoarse.
"Screech!"
The giant eagle let out a cry and then dived toward a mountain top beside the rift valley, landing on a large rock.
"Let's go down too."
Jiang Xuan patted Tang Yuan's neck, and Tang Yuan also let out a cry, diving down and landing on the mountain rock near the giant eagle.
The Old Witch and Jiang Xuan dismounted from the birds, standing atop the mountain.
From the vantage point of this mountain, the vastness and depth of the rift valley were even more awe-inspiring, and the occasional tremors from the ground were nerve-wracking.
"Rushing..."
In the rift valley, water from far away and surrounding mountains continued to pour in, with the water level slowly but steadily rising.
It was foreseeable that in due ti, a great river would surely form here, possibly evolving into a strait.
The Old Witch stood beside Jiang Xuan, the cold wind making his beast hide clothing flutter.
The Old Witch gazed at the rift valley for a long ti, finally saying, "I have to go back to the Eastern Wilderness."
His tone was firm, without a hint of hesitation or room for negotiation.
Jiang Xuan was silent for a mont, then asked, "When will you leave?"
"As soon as possible; with the current situation, the Eastern Wilderness will soon beco chaotic, and I need to return to protect my tribe."
"Then... when will you co back?"
The Old Witch shook his head, "I don't know, it depends on the situation."
Jiang Xuan felt deeply reluctant to see the Old Witch leave, as he knew that with this upheaval in the Eastern Wilderness, once the Old Witch returned, he would plunge into a massive whirlpool. Whether he could ensure his survival was a question, let alone returning to the Southern Wilderness.
The Old Witch turned to Jiang Xuan and said, "Before I leave, I have one more request."
"Speak."
"After I leave, please take care of the Great Wilderness Hundred Herbs Map for . If... if I can't co back, let your Vine Tribe's Witch help complete it."
The Great Wilderness Hundred Herbs Map was the Old Witch's only obsession. He originally hoped to complete it in his lifeti, but now it seed that this wish was difficult to realize.
Jiang Xuan said, "You could actually have the giant eagle carry it back to the Eagle Tribe; after all, you've poured so much effort into it."
The Old Witch shook his head, "With leaving, I can't say for sure what the outco will be. Keeping the Great Wilderness Hundred Herbs Map with your Vine Tribe is safer."
"You're right. Alright, I promise you."
Jiang Xuan solemnly nodded, accepting the Old Witch's request.
"With you saying that, I can rest assured."
A slight smile appeared on the Old Witch's face, his mood lightened considerably, for he knew Jiang Xuan and trusted him to be a man of his word.
"Xuan, I have one more request."
"Speak."
"If possible, I'd like to teach what I've seen and learned in your Vine Tribe to the people of the Eagle Tribe. Would you be willing to allow that?"
"Of course, that's no problem."
Jiang Xuan agreed readily, for when the Old Witch asked him, it was out of respect. Once he reached the Eagle Tribe, Jiang Xuan couldn't intervene with what he decided to do, so it was better to be gracious.
Moreover, the Vine Tribe's developnt was astonishingly fast, and Jiang Xuan was confident that even if the Old Witch taught so of the technologies to the Eagle Tribe, they couldn't catch up with the Vine Tribe's developntal pace.
"Thank you." The Old Witch tightly gripped Jiang Xuan's hand, his eyes full of gratitude.
Then the Old Witch said, "Xuan, I am about to leave now, take care."
Jiang Xuan was shocked, "So soon? Don't you have to go back and pack your things?"
The Old Witch shook his head, "I brought all the necessary things with . As for the other items in the bamboo house, consider them gifts to your tribe."
After speaking, the Old Witch turned and climbed onto the giant eagle's back decisively.
"Xuan, you are a good leader. I believe the Vine Tribe will beco stronger under your leadership."
The Old Witch paused, then added, "Bid farewell to Chi Shao and the others for . Once things in the Eastern Wilderness are resolved, if I'm still alive, I will co back to see you all."
Listening to the Old Witch, Jiang Xuan felt incredibly upset. The Old Witch was soone who had helped him greatly since he ca to this world, and he very much disliked the feeling of parting.
"I'm off!"
The Old Witch looked back once more in the direction of the Vine Tribe, then patted the giant eagle. The eagle walked to the edge of the cliff, spread its wings, and leaped down, diving for a short distance before ascending, circling up into the sky, then let out a cry and flew towards the Eastern Wilderness.
"Old Witch, you must co back!"
Jiang Xuan stood atop the mountain, shouting loudly towards the direction where the giant eagle disappeared, waving non-stop, watching as the eagle grew smaller and smaller until it vanished from sight...
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