Chapter 358: But why do you insist that I must die?

Xiao Ningxun and Xiao Ran's eyes were filled with incredulous shock.

Ha Ri Cha Gai stared wide-eyed, his mouth unable to close.

Lu Qi suddenly straightened his body, and Xiao Er's tense shoulders instantly relaxed.

Several people felt relieved, their hearts surging with pity and pride for Tuan Tuan.

The fury and crimson on Jifeng's face receded like a tide.

He stared fixedly at the white deer totem, his Adam's apple rolling violently a few times.

In those eyes always brimming with unrestraint, a near-devout moisture welled up.

Menggen's eyes shone, but his complexion did not change.

Wuren Na's face turned deathly pale, both hands clutching her silk robe tightly.

Bateer's complexion was ashen, his heartbeat nearly stopping.

And on the sacrificial altar, "No! Impossible! This is absolutely impossible……"

The Grand Witch seemed to have had all his bones ripped out; his bone staff clanged and fell onto the stone platform.

That bone staff, originally symbolizing supreme divine authority, looked utterly dim and ridiculous in the flowing golden light.

The face paint on his face was smeared by trickling cold sweat into a blur, red and white mixed, smeared across his features like a clown's.

In his eyes now remained only boundless fear and collapse.

He muttered incoherently: "No! Impossible! How could this be……"

Tuan Tuan's small figure stood at the center of the golden light, utterly holy.

After a moment, the golden light gradually faded, the totem slowly vanished, and the runes on the stone base returned to their former blurred state.

The surroundings fell silent; the herdsmen knelt before Tuan Tuan with sincere devotion.

Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, looking at the ashen-faced Grand Witch: "Grandfather, does this count as a divine sign?"

The Grand Witch was awakened by her words, his lips moving: "It…… of course, it is."

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, asking seriously: "Then why didn't the Eternal Heaven you invited tell you?"

"Eternal Heaven, does it not like you?"

The Grand Witch's mind raced.

"No! I can't just be dragged down like this!"

He looked around, trying to find a reason to save himself.

Suddenly, he fixed his gaze on the bone ring in the stone base's groove, emitting a warm white light—he had it!

The Grand Witch steadied his mind: "Saintess, what just happened truly was a divine sign."

He paused: "But it is not your divine sign; it is this!"

He thrust his hand toward the bone ring: "It is this that brought the divine sign! What does it have to do with you?"

"That is the bone ring given to Tuan Tuan by Granny Cangling!" Ha Ri Cha Gai shouted loudly.

"It is formed from Granny Cangling pulling out her own fingernail and transforming it! How could it not be the Saintess's divine sign!"

"Granny Cangling!" As soon as that name was spoken, the herdsmen believed even more.

"She was the previous generation Grand Witch who blessed the grasslands for many years!"

The Grand Witch's voice trembled as he forced himself: "You've always been with these Central Plains People! You've long been bewitched by them! How can we trust your words?"

"Is that so? Then can my words be trusted?" An old voice sounded.

The crowd followed the sound and saw Granny Cangling appear at the edge of the crowd.

The herdsmen exclaimed in astonishment, quickly making way.

"Granny Cangling! It really is her!"

"She isn't dead!"

Granny Cangling slowly walked to below the sacrificial altar, bowed to Menggen, but ignored Wuren Na.

Wuren Na's face turned dark as iron.

Granny Cangling turned to face all the herdsmen: "The bone ring in the Saintess's hand is exactly the one I gave her!"

"This child is the envoy chosen by the Divine Eagle White Feather."

"Her heart can hear the voices of the grassland's living beings."

"Her kindness can awaken the oldest protection of this land!"

A group stood up in the crowd, namely the Ke Lie Bu tribesmen: "Exactly! All of us Ke Lie Bu have personally witnessed it!"

The Old Chieftain's voice boomed: "Our Ke Lie Bu have generationally worshipped the Divine Eagle White Feather! When the eagle lands, it personally selects the Saintess! We are all witnesses!"

Ha Ri Cha Gai exclaimed excitedly: "Dad! Mom! You're both here!"

Tuan Tuan waved her little hand: "Granny Cangling! You're here too!"

The Grand Witch's complexion, at the moment Granny Cangling appeared, had turned completely ashen like a corpse's.

Granny Cangling proclaimed loudly: "The golden light on this sacrificial altar, the markings of the four great guardian deities, are precisely because the Saintess is connected to the favor of Eternal Heaven!"

She paused: "If anyone still doubts, why not listen to what several other tribes have to say? Ask them whether they recognize this child!"

The moment her words fell.

"We, the Wulan Bu, acknowledge her!"

Again a group stood up; Wulan Bu Chieftain Su He strode out.

He shouted loudly: "If it weren't for the Saintess passing through our Wulan Bu and noticing the poisoned salt bricks, our Wulan Bu's thousand-year-old Crimson Flame horse herd would have long died out!"

"Horse King Red Cloud willingly pledged allegiance, following the Saintess left and right! This grace and virtue, the entire Wulan Bu will never forget! Wherever the Saintess is, that is the direction our Wulan Bu's fine horses neigh!"

"And also us, the E'er Dun Bu!"

A Gu La Chieftain held high the tribal emblem of the wheel track: "The Saintess walked barefoot through the Fire God's path, unharmed!"

This token serves as proof: on the steppe, wherever there are still wagon tracks, the Er Dun tribe will be delivering goods for the Holy Maiden!

The Azure Wolf tribe, swearing by the lives of the whole clan and the Sacred Mountain! We acknowledge!

Chief Hassan, with Wu En and all the tribe members, also stood up.

His eyes brimmed with hot tears: "If the Holy Maiden had not ridden the Wolf King, leading the wolf pack to save my Azure Wolf tribe, we would already be gone from this world!"

The Wolf King even gave her his own wolf cub!

She is the benefactor of my Azure Wolf tribe, and also the master recognized by the entire wolf pack!

We, the Azure Wolf tribe, swear to the Eternal Heaven, vowing to follow the Holy Maiden for generations!

And also us! the Wu Dai tribe!

When those words were spoken, Aersi Leng, standing beside Menggen, couldn't help but feel his heart jump.

Saren? Is that you?

Chief Saren, with his people, stood up: "If the Holy Maiden had not discerned the herb‑induced transformation of the pregnant horse, my Wu Dai tribe would have long lost its livelihood!"

Such gratitude is etched in the hearts of the Wu Dai tribe! Though our Wu Dai tribe consists entirely of women, we still understand loyalty and discern right from wrong! We are by no means inferior to the steppe's men!

Aersi Leng silently stared at Saren, and upon hearing the words, he suddenly lifted his head to look at Tuan Tuan; it turned out the Holy Maiden had indeed once helped Saren's Wu Dai tribe!

The five tribal leaders walked to the Sacrificial Altar and lined up in a single file.

These five tribes: the Keli tribe is the oldest, the Azure Wolf tribe the most mysterious, the Er Dun tribe the most prosperous, the Wu Dai tribe the most unique, and the Wu Lan tribe controls the most divine warhorses.

Standing together, they could shake the foundations of the Royal Court.

Tuan Tuan joyfully spun several times, her little robe fluttering like a blossoming flower: "You all came! How wonderful!"

The five smiled at her, then together bowed to Menggen and Wu Renna, placing a hand on their chests: "Salutations, Great Khan, Da Ha Dun."

Their words, as heavy as a thousand pounds, struck every herder's ears and hearts!

No longer were they ethereal, vague rays of miracles.

But living tribes, genuine stories that actually occurred, and oaths spoken with the fate and dignity of the whole clan!

The crowd boiled over completely!

Keli tribe acknowledges! Wu Lan tribe acknowledges! Er Dun tribe acknowledges! Azure Wolf tribe acknowledges! Wu Dai tribe also acknowledges!

So the Holy Maiden has done so many deeds!

She saved the herd of horses, thwarted a poison plot, walked the fire road, rode the Wolf King, and even helped the women of the Wu Dai tribe!

The Holy Maiden has already bestowed blessings!

Who said the Holy Maiden's bloodline is impure, unable to bless the steppe?

Countless gazes swept toward the trembling figure on the Sacrificial Altar.

There was no longer any awe in those looks.

Only cold scrutiny, naked doubt, and blazing fury remained.

The anger of being deceived, used, and mocked!

The High Shaman leaned on a stone pedestal, feeling as if he stood on the edge of a ten‑thousand‑foot cliff.

He looked at the five leaders beneath the Sacrificial Altar who represented the various powers of the steppe, and at the herders behind them whose expressions had completely changed.

He glanced again at Grandma Cangling's calm yet profound eyes.

Finally, his gaze met Menggen's deep, unfathomable eyes.

It's over.

All the divine authority, the heavenly mandates, the lofty supremacy… are gone.

"I… I…" He sweated like rain, trying to find a final excuse, but found there was nothing to say.

Tuan Tuan looked at the High Shaman, his face ashen and his whole body trembling like a sieve, and asked:

"Grandpa, look, everyone says they accept me."

"Then why do you insist that I die?"