Chapter 771 Desert Oath
“Great Chieftain… what is that?”
“Sounds like the chieftain of all clans…”
“Isn’t that the same as the Three Gods Messengers?”
Whispers arose from the crowd. At this moment, the chieftain of the Blackwater Clan, who had fallen to fourth place, jumped onto the high platform and loudly questioned, “But you said Roland Wimbledon is the King of the Northern Lands. He is not a Mojin person, so how can he lead the entire desert?”
Here it comes, Ash thought. This was one of the key issues to be faced when incorporating the Far South into Graycastle. Next, it would depend on how Echo responded.
Echo glanced at the other party and asked calmly, “Then, were the Three Gods Messengers who once ruled the desert… all Mojin people?”
Her voice was not loud, but it echoed in everyone’s ears through the transmission of magic. The Blackwater Chieftain was naturally no exception. He couldn’t help but be stunned, “Uh, this…”
“We all know the answer is no,” Echo said, seeing him momentarily speechless. She turned her gaze back to the crowd below, “The Three Gods Messengers are true giants. According to legends, they did not have a consistent appearance. Some had four legs and three hands, and some had many heads. But without a doubt, they were not Mojin people!”
Speaking of which, she suddenly raised her tone a lot, “And the fragments left by the messengers have become the common principles followed by the Mojin sand people—these laws engraved on stone tablets happen to have records about the person who rules the desert. One is to receive the blessing of the Three Gods, and the second is to open up a wide and boundless oasis, so that all clansmen can be far away from hunger, thirst, and death. As long as one of them is achieved, one should become the master of the Far South!”
The discussion suddenly subsided. No one in the Scorching Land would object to the laws left by the Three Gods Messengers. In fact, the Sacred Duel was also a method of power distribution derived from the laws.
“But the Three Gods Messengers did make the desert evergreen,” the Blackwater Chieftain said, unwilling to be ignored. He pointed at Echo and shouted, “Legend has it that this place was originally an oasis thousands of years ago! Can the King of Graycastle you speak of do this? Don’t be blinded by false benefits. What is the difference between having such power and a god!”
“So, as long as he can bring a new oasis to the sand people, you will recognize His Majesty’s qualifications to unify the Far South and serve him as your master, right?” Echo raised the corners of her mouth.
“That’s right. And not only me, I’m afraid other clansmen think the same way!” The Blackwater Chieftain did not mention the first condition at all and tied the opinions of most of the sand people present to himself.
“His Majesty Roland indeed has no way to turn the Far South into a land of greenery, but he is willing to accept us into Graycastle, allowing us to live by the lake and beside the forest, and never again be threatened by drought and sandstorms!” Echo walked to the front of the stage and said word by word, “This is the promise given by His Majesty. He will bring a new oasis—and the vast North is the boundless oasis that will never fade!”
Everyone gasped, almost unable to believe their ears.
Tulam was equally shocked.
So that’s it. This is the real purpose of the Aosha Clan!
This is the meaning of the new oasis and new order that Iron Axe spoke of!
Owning a perpetually green land is the dream of all Mojin people. For those small clans who have no power to compete for Iron Sand City, this temptation is even more unimaginable. Even if the large clans hesitate and are unwilling to see earth-shaking changes in the order of the Far South, they cannot stop the spread of the news—I am afraid that within half a month, this amazing news can be spread throughout the desert by the clansmen from various Silverstream Oases below the stage!
“No, this is simply nonsense, a lie, a deception!” The Blackwater Clan chieftain shouted loudly, “Have you all forgotten the tragedy of the Blackbone Clan and the Sandstone Clan? They ended up being killed and exterminated precisely because they trusted the words of Queen Garcia of the Azurewater! Give you an oasis and water sources? The cunning Northerners would never do that. They will only give you a pond, a patch of land the size of a palm, so that you can fight endlessly as you do in the Far South, and you still have to work for them!”
Tulam sighed almost imperceptibly. If it was before the start of the Sacred Duel, this remark would indeed have a very good deterrent effect, but it is too late to say it now.
Five duels, without a single death. The image of the Aosha Clan’s benevolence has spread throughout the small oasis. With a little guidance, it is not difficult to make everyone form the impression that the Northern King behind Aosha is also benevolent—and a benevolent person will obviously not exploit the sand people like Queen Garcia.
What’s more, the fact that challengers like Blackbone and Sandstone are willing to sell themselves cheaply to Garcia is enough to show the attraction of a place to live. Even if they know it may be a trap, some clansmen will go with a try-it-and-see attitude. If the King of Graycastle sincerely wants to bring the Far South under his jurisdiction, this group of pioneers will inevitably become an example for more clans. Once this start is made, the migration of the entire clan to the north is almost a foregone conclusion.
From creating momentum to attract the attention of many clans, to creating a benevolent image without killing a single person; becoming the head of the clan through the indisputable Sacred Duel, while making the other large clans who have been pardoned unwilling to turn against Aosha in the public eye, these steps have obviously been planned long ago.
He originally thought that he would play a pivotal role in the Aosha Clan’s settlement in Iron Sand City, but it was not until now that he realized that he only provided Aosha with the clansmen they needed, as well as the intelligence of the major clans in Iron Sand City. As for the real plan, he was completely kept in the dark—the other party did not regard settling in Iron Sand City as a big deal at all, and revenge was just a piece of cake. This feeling is a little disappointing to say the least.
But the disappointment was only for a brief moment. Tulam quickly cheered up again. If everything is as the new master said, Aosha will undoubtedly become an existence far beyond the head of the clan. Then, as a member of Aosha, he can obviously obtain great benefits and have a bright future. What is this little disappointment worth?
Sure enough, Echo shook her head gently, “You are wrong, Chieftain, Garcia needs mercenaries, not subjects. This is the biggest difference between her and His Majesty Roland. It is because of this that she picked the stronger Blackbone and Sandstone, but His Majesty is different. He regards all Mojin people as subjects. Therefore, any clan can go to the Graycastle Kingdom, regardless of how many young and strong men the tribe has, and regardless of whether it is strong or not. He does not need the sand people to work for him either—any benevolent king will not sit idly by and watch his people die in vain!”
“But what’s the cost? We always have to pay something, right?” Chieftain Gulz of the Wildfire Clan stood up, “He can’t help the sand people for no reason. I don’t believe that there are gifts in this world that don’t care about returns!” He gritted his teeth, “Tell me, I’m willing to accept it!”
“What His Majesty Roland wants is very simple, it is work,” Echo said frankly, “Like his millions of subjects, work for the kingdom, work for themselves! Receive wages, improve their lives, receive education, raise offspring… This is what he hopes to see.”
“Just… like this?” Gulz couldn’t help but be stunned.
“That’s right, a way to survive without fighting and struggling!” Echo’s tone rose again, “Everyone knows that the Silverstream Oasis is getting smaller and smaller… When I was a child, I could occasionally see traces of oases near the southern end of Endless Cape, but now, the white wasteland in the northwest is constantly expanding, and the oases are turning into sandy soil one after another. Even the small oasis around Iron Sand City is smaller than it used to be. Are the Mojin people always planning to rely on fighting and duels to compete for a place to live, constantly immersing blood in the yellow sand, and finally disappearing in the Far South along with the oasis? Tell me, are you willing to accept such a result!”
“No, Your Excellency!”
“I want to go with you, Lady Silvermoon!”
“Please take me!”
Cheers rang out from the crowd, like waves, spreading from the center of the high platform to the surroundings.
Looking at the beautiful woman on the stage who was the focus of attention of many clans, Iron Axe couldn’t help but kneel on one knee, and tears welled up in his eyes.
This scene had appeared in his dreams countless times, especially on the night Aosha became the challenger. However, when he woke up from the dream, the clan no longer existed, and the princess had become a slave. He originally thought that he would never have the chance to see such a day again.
But now, the scene of his dream realized by Echo is even further. This feeling made his eyes sore, but his heart felt incomparably fulfilled and proud.
Aosha was finally blessed by the Three Gods.
“I know some people still have concerns, but the facts will eventually prove everything,” Echo raised her right hand and said loudly, “Those clans who are willing to go to the southern border of Graycastle with me can now pack their luggage and set off to gather at the small oasis. Later arrivals don’t have to worry either. I will leave people in the oasis to guide any clans who want to go to the Northern Lands to find a livable place. As long as you abide by the laws of Graycastle, you are subjects protected by His Majesty, and Graycastle will always be open to you!”
No one knew who made the first cheer, but it was like a drop of ink falling into water, quickly rippling and rapidly spreading to the entire Scorching Land.
The large clans were still silent, but compared to the others under the high platform, they already seemed insignificant.
For the first time, the voices of tribes from all corners of Silverstream overpowered Iron Sand City.
A crack appeared in the primitive and rigid order.
And a new order is taking shape in the boiling voices.
It looks young and immature, but it exudes endless vitality.
People knelt down, cheering for the new head of the clan, and bowing to the birth of the Great Chieftain—not everyone has the courage to become a pioneer, but there are always some people who will dedicate everything to the evergreen land in their hearts.
On that day, people’s cries echoed endlessly in the Scorching Land.
On that day, the desert had a new master.