Chapter 158: Purple Agate Tribe
Not only was Black Feather unusable, but even plant summoning was ineffective.
Yet, he could clearly sense the surging power within him—power capable of destroying everything with a mere gesture. However, it seemed hypnotized, and despite Enzo's efforts, he couldn't harness this power anymore.
"Is it caused by that mechanical monster?"
Enzo could only guess like this.
Faced with this situation, Enzo remained calm.
After careful analysis, he determined that the most important thing was to leave this isolated island.
The island was made entirely of rock with no vegetation, only a few weathered boulders, meaning there was no food to be found.
Additionally, he needed to quickly understand the condition affecting him.
This time, Enzo was lucky.
Fortunately, there was a boat appearing on the calm lake.
Enzo waved at the boat repeatedly.And soon a small wooden boat approached. The boat's owner was an old man dressed in tattered linen clothes. He looked at Enzo warily and asked, "Who are you? How did you end up here?"
This was a difficult question to answer.
Enzo didn't try to hide anything and replied, "I came here to investigate something but lost my power temporarily while fighting a monster."
The old man looked surprised and asked, "Are you a supernatural practitioner?"
At this point, a young girl rowing the boat turned around with excitement and said, "Grandpa, he's a supernatural practitioner!"
Hearing this, the old man smiled helplessly.
He invited Enzo onto the boat and introduced himself, saying, "Respected Lord, I am from the Purple Agate Tribe. The tribe members call me old Valencia. This is my granddaughter, little Per."
As soon as Old Valencia finished speaking, Per interjected, "It's just Per, not Little Per."
"Haha." Old Valencia chuckled and said fondly, "I'll remember, Little Per."
Per sighed in resignation, giving up on correcting her grandfather.
Enzo took the opportunity to join the conversation and gathered some information.
Old Valencia and Per were members of the Purple Agate Tribe, a small tribe with just over a hundred members. The tribe only had nine tribe warriors, and aside from the priest, no one else possessed supernatural abilities.
It was a relatively weak tribe.
Additionally, they occupied an island on the edge of Qaidam Lake, with limited resources, which, paradoxically, helped protect the tribe.
However, recently, the Purple Agate Tribe had been busy.
"...The Lord Priest has asked us to catch some rare fish and trade them with the caravans. Once we obtain enough supplies, we can trade again with the exile organization to acquire potions. This way, the Purple Agate Tribe will have its own supernatural practitioner."
Old Valencia said these words with a smile.
Perhaps because the Purple Agate Tribe had always been in a stable situation, Old Valencia, after the initial wariness, relaxed his guard after a few exchanges with Enzo.
Per also took the opportunity to chime in, "I was also looking to buy a piece of pottery."
Per looked at Enzo with curiosity and asked, "Respected Lord, have you ever seen those exquisite potteries? I've talked to people from the caravans, and they said they're from the Crimson Star Tribe in the jungle. They not only have ordinary pottery but also colorful pottery, and even the rumored incredibly valuable glassware…"
Enzo was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to respond.
Should he reveal that he is the priest of the Crimson Star Tribe?
It seemed unlikely that they would believe him if he did.
He decided to give a vague reply, "Yes, I've seen them."
The girl Per continued, "But I've heard from others that the jungle is a barren place, and the tribe members there find it very difficult to survive?"
Per sat on the edge of the boat, her hands resting on the wooden planks, and her pale feet dangling and gently splashing the water. She tilted her head slightly, a look of innocent curiosity on her face.
Her gaze was so pure and soothing that it instantly eased Enzo's worries.
Enzo explained, "What was true in the past may not be true now. As long as you work hard, everything can become better."
Per nodded thoughtfully and murmured, "Is that so…"
After asking these two questions, she seemed to sense Enzo's extensive knowledge and continued to ask more questions, mostly about the Crimson Star Tribe. Answering these questions was easy for Enzo, and it also made him reflect on the progress of his tribe.
In the past, the Crimson Star Tribe was only confined to the jungle.
But now, it had not only emerged from the jungle but also become a source of aspiration for many.
This achievement gave Enzo a small sense of pride.
At that moment, as he relaxed, his mental strength slightly increased.
However, what Enzo did not know was that the Crimson Star Tribe was undergoing significant changes at that very moment.
...
"What's happening?"
"Power! I feel an increase in my power!"
"It's Lord Enzo! I sense Lord Enzo's presence. Lord Enzo has bestowed power upon us!"
"…"
Cheers erupted throughout the Crimson Star Tribe and the entire jungle.
All the tribe members poured out of their homes and workshops, celebrating in the open spaces.
Upon closer inspection, it was noticeable that a small, deep blue flame burned on their foreheads. This flame was purging the impurities from their bodies, tightening their muscles, strengthening their will, and alleviating the fatigue from their long labor.
It was a miracle!
As the leader of the Crimson Star Tribe, Amy intended to ask Enzo about this.
However, unable to find him, she just went to the Potion Hut to seek out Mina.
Mina seemed to understand Amy's concern immediately and answered, "Don't worry, it's a good thing. The tribal fire has been upgraded to Totem Fire."
Yet, Mina was puzzled internally.
"How did Enzo achieve this?"
"Upgrading to Totem Fire shouldn't change the color of the flame. But now the tribal fire has turned deep blue, which is characteristic of the flame of the soul, although it remains essentially Totem Fire."
"That was so strange!That was truly strange!"
"Moreover, Totem Fire cannot advance to the flame of the soul unless it is cultivated by acquiring the flame of the soul from other ancient inheritances."
"Unless the Endless Fire reappears once again."
"But that is even more impossible!"
Mina felt overwhelmed, his mind a whirlwind as if his very soul might explode. Since meeting Enzo, a series of strange events had unfolded.
Forget it! Just forget it!Why bother with the details?
Mina consoled heimself. Noticing that Amy still had questions, he quickly anticipated her concerns and said, "I don't know where Enzo went either. Don't worry. I've never seen that kid come to harm. He'll be fine."
With Mina's reassurance, Amy left the Potion Hut.
However, she was unsettled, not about Enzo but about herself.
She had previously had a premonition of being driven away to a place called Snow Fox Territory, and now this feeling was intensifying, seeming imminent within the next few days.
She was eager to find Enzo.
...
At the Purple Agate Tribe.
As Old Valencia docked the boat, Per immediately jumped off and greeted others on the shore with a smile, who responded warmly.
However, some looked at Enzo with suspicion.
A young man, in particular, approached with hostility and angrily said to Old Valencia, "Old Valencia, what are you doing? You brought a stranger into the tribe! You're putting us in danger. Who knows if he's one of those ruthless plunderers!"
Hearing this, Per snapped, "Fitow, shut up!"
Fitow's arrogance diminished slightly as he forced a smile and said, "Per, I'm not trying to be difficult. This is for the safety of the tribe, after all, your father—"
"Be quiet!" Per shouted angrily, dragging Enzo away.
Fitow glared at the departing pair, his eyes burning with rage.
He cursed inwardly, "Damn it, I'll make you all pay for this!"
Soon, Per brought Enzo back to a rundown wooden house .
She lay on the bed as soon as she went back home, sobbing quietly.
Enzo was at a loss for how to comfort her.
Old Valencia returned and sighed, "Lord Enzo, let Per cry for a while…"
He then began to recount past experiences.
Three years ago, Per's parents met an outsider who persuaded them to leave the Purple Agate Tribe, and they never returned.
Fitow, who had feelings for Per, was rejected by her.
Due to Fitow's strength and his father's position as a tribe warrior, Per's living conditions worsened.
Recently, a caravan from the Crimson Star Tribe alleviated the situation slightly.
The tribe's priest, seeking to gather enough resources, had forbidden internal conflicts and instructed everyone to focus on catching rare fish to exchange for resources.
As Old Valencia finished recounting, a shout came from outside.
"Old Valencia, get out here!"