Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest

Chapter 61 - 61 30 Danger, Lurking Everywhere

?61: Chapter 30: Danger, Lurking Everywhere 61: Chapter 30: Danger, Lurking Everywhere Shasta was surprised; just by looking at the quality of the gemstone, she knew its worth was extraordinary.

It was pure and flawless, seemingly white, but internally, it emitted a faint blue glow.

These gemstones were themselves of great value.

A certain kind called Red Agate could provide a continuous source of warmth to its wearers, preventing their bodies from stiffening in the endless snow and ice.

Therefore, Red Agate was expensive, and wars had erupted over this miraculous gemstone, not just among pirates but also among the Nobles of the Northern Land.

She had come in a hurry, with no time to find a Red Agate, so she had to come with her body exposed—her clothes and black robe were nearly useless against the harsh environment, completely frozen through, held up only by her spells.

Ice Jade Marrow couldn’t provide heat, but it could reduce the damage from wind and snow to the wearer, maintaining a certain constant temperature.

In some sense, the effect was the same.

“I cannot accept,” Shasta shook her head.

Navaniel said, “Friend, this is a blessing from my grandfather.

We gift Ice Jade Marrow to newborn Frost children to resist the harsh cold.

But for grown Frost people, it loses its purpose, as we have become the tree ourselves.

We hope you can make better use of it.”

Moved, Shasta then accepted the Ice Jade Marrow.

This gemstone could greatly conserve her physical strength and mana for what lay ahead.

Even though she felt guilty towards the Frost people, she did not intend to change her plan because of it.

The giant eagle also received a piece of Ice Jade Marrow; a young Frost person, who took care of feeding the eagle, with an expression of near reverence, tied the Jade Marrow around the eagle’s neck with wooden rope, tucking it into its dense feathers—this was his own Ice Jade Marrow.

Such massive eagles were extremely rare in the North.

At first sight, they were almost mistaken for incarnations of Cloud Tearers.

But whether they were or not, devout faith ensured the eagles were treated with considerable reverence.

Shasta, well-fed and supplied, climbed onto the back of the giant eagle and turned her head to Navaniel, saying, “You must be careful of the Church Court’s Demon Hunting Knights; they are an extremely formidable force.

If you encounter the Black Armored Cavalry, do not confront them directly—please, prioritize your survival over combat.”

Navaniel said, “The spirit of our ancestor reveals to us, we fear nothing!”

Shasta departed on the giant eagle.

Watching her figure become smaller and smaller in the sky, Navaniel withdrew his gaze.

Valia would undoubtedly seek to learn magical knowledge from this Witch named Shasta.

Perhaps human Spellcasters had indeed declined as Shasta had said.

But the fact that the Witches could find this frozen wasteland showed they still possessed heritage and deep-rooted power.

This was much stronger than the fragmented foundations of the Frost people.

A hundred years ago, in a struggle against non-human entities, they were forcibly driven from the Extreme North Icefield, and since then, the great enemy of the Frost people has been unimpeded in the Extreme North Icefield, able to reproduce and hunt freely.

The Frost people, on the other hand, had lost too much.

The older generation of Frost people formed a wall of shadows to ensure the tribe’s evacuation, staying behind alone, with none surviving.

…

The Priest of the Ice Split tribe returned to the camp and went straight into a certain animal-hide tent.

The wind-deflecting deer hide had curled edges due to prolonged use and rustled noisily.

Inside the tent lay a Frost couple on a bed of ice.

“Are you feeling any better?” Navaniel asked.

These two Frost people were Valia’s parents.

When Valia awakened in her dream, she released an astonishing Frost Power that injured her parents’ skin, and also covered the tent with a thin layer of frost.

Especially Valia’s father, Renocika, who, after being woken from the freeze, immediately reached out to touch his daughter, but his entire arm froze over with a thick layer of ice.

No one blamed Valia, not even her parents, who were genuinely excited for her.

They felt that their daughter could one day lead all the Frost people back to that Extreme North Icefield—the homeland that haunted their souls day and night, the one told of by their parents, and their parents’ parents.

Valia’s father said, “Priest Navaniel, I fear this arm may be done for.”

After the ice melted, his arm swelled up like a tumor and despite being treated with ointment, showed no sign of improvement, rather suggesting the onset of frostbite.

Navaniel was astonished and said, “How can that be?

I consulted the eldest of the Ice Split tribe.

He remembered how to heal the frostbites caused by our Frost Power.

It can’t be ineffective!”

Valia’s father solemnly said, “Perhaps the medicinal herbs found in the Northern Land can’t heal the frostbite from the Extreme North Icefield…

Priest Navaniel, cut off my arm, for an arm is not indispensable.

I’m proud of my daughter, because she is the granddaughter of the tribal leader!

If I could, I would gladly give my life for Valia, for she will surely lead us back to our ancestral lands one day!”

Valia’s mother also said, “There isn’t a Frost Power individual who doesn’t cherish the granddaughter of the leader.

Priest Navaniel, cut off Renocika’s arm, and I will tell Valia: This severed limb is Renocika’s honor, for he proved the granddaughter’s mighty strength with his own hands!”

Navaniel had no choice but to comply.

The skin was frostbitten, and relying on the Frost Power individuals’ constitution, one could survive, but the frostbitten arm could not be delayed any longer as the muscles were already frostbitten beyond repair.

Navaniel couldn’t understand.

That Frost Power individual who lived for over a hundred and sixty years had personally confirmed that those medicinal herbs were no different from the herbs of the Extreme North Icefield; the elder tribesman had sworn that the ointment made from them would surely heal the frostbites caused by the Frost Power.

The Frost Power people had the bloodline of the Frost Giants flowing through their veins and had inherited the giants’ strength; they already had resistance and easily dissipated frostbites inflicted by their own kind.

But he did remember the old tribesman’s mutterings—could there be a lapse in memory?

The frostbites caused by Valia were slightly different in detail from those he remembered.

At the same time, Navaniel also recalled something—why did the human Witch come to the Frost Power people to look for her sister?

No…that’s not important!

Valia was undeniably a Frost Power individual!

She was indeed the granddaughter of the tribal leader!

Navaniel thought to himself.

Renocika’s complexion didn’t change after having his arm amputated; the arm had lost sensation long ago.

He said, “When Valia returns, everything will get better.”

He had lost an arm, significantly reducing his vitality.

But he was not even sixty years old, still considered young—he could still be useful in the future and would not be directly discarded.

Renocika’s wife also consoled her husband, “The spirit of the leader will protect our daughter and His granddaughter.”

Navaniel felt something was amiss, a premonition that had slowly arisen after the Witch named Shasta arrived.

And finally, after a moment, he realized where the unease was coming from.

The Frost Power people were always sensitive to the direction of the snow and wind.

Today was supposed to be a north wind, yet it was gradually turning into a south wind.

This abnormal shift in wind direction made Navaniel uneasy.

He felt it was some form of revelation from the spirit of the leader.

The wind grew stronger and stronger, causing the Ice Split tribe’s tents to rustle louder.

Boom!

Eventually, when a massive contrary wind struck, it blew away the deer hide tent above Navaniel’s head.

Without shelter, everything in the tent was exposed to the cruel snow and wind!

Whoosh!

Valia’s mother exclaimed in surprise, “This is really bad weather, but no matter, everything will get better when Valia returns.

The granddaughter of the leader will lead the Frost Power people to a better life.”

Priest Navaniel of the Ice Split tribe had a stern expression.

His exceptionally tall and robust body stood in the cold wind, as upright as a snow tree standing against the wind.

His face, like a rock, was devoid of emotion.

He gazed towards the south, his pale hair flying all about, and yet his silhouette remained still for a long time…