Chapter 243: [Manipulate Corpse]

What is meant by "searching high and low, only to find it without any effort"? This is it.

For the sake of this map, Gao De had traveled from the Duoerbian tribe to the Snuofu Clan and had stayed in the Snuofu Clan camp for a full week, still having no clue.

And now, when Gao De had already given up, Jilie Snuofu, as the Snuofu chief, had just delivered this map into his hands.

Of course, it was not without conditions.

Now it was equivalent to a letter-delivery mission; completing the mission would earn "Northern Realm Map *1, increased favorability with Baruke and Jilie Snuofu."

Four hundred kilometers; at his speed, it would take about 12-15 days... Gao De calculated in his heart and finally nodded.

"Okay, I can help you deliver the news."

Firstly, it was for the sake of this map, and secondly, facing Baruke's pleading gaze, he couldn't bear to refuse.

Not to mention anything else, just the favor of Baruke teaching him 【Wild Agility】 for free was enough for Gao De to agree.

After all, it was just running an errand to deliver a letter, not some arduous task.

Although he couldn't do what Baruke did, risking his own life for a tribe that was a total stranger to him, he was always willing to do what he could.

Baruke took the map from Jilie Snuofu's hand, looked at it carefully, and pointed to a place with his finger, "Right here. If you go here, you will be able to find the branch that our Snow Plain Guardians have established in this area."

Gao De nodded, took the animal skin map, and examined it carefully.

Although the map only recorded a portion of the northern realm and was not exhaustive, many symbols and annotations were made in the recorded areas.

These different symbols and colors marked many important landmarks, including several important tribes, the grazing areas selected by the Snuofu Clan, and so on.

At the same time, on the edge of the map, there were some handwritten notes, marking some places that required special attention.

For example, dangerous areas where powerful earth-vein creatures existed that needed to be bypassed, areas with high frequencies of beast herds, and even some important resource points.

From this, one could see the preciousness of this map; it was important knowledge accumulated by the Snuofu Clan for generations.

If not for the special circumstances, Jilie Snuofu would never have taken it out.

And the location Baruke pointed to was right next to a blue dot marked as a lake on the map.

"I understand," Gao De said straightforwardly: "Then I will prepare to set off now."

He had always been a person with extremely strong execution.

"Wait a moment." Jilie Snuofu called Gao De again.

He walked out of the tent, called a tribesman, gave a few instructions, and after waiting for a while, walked back into the tent with some dried meat.

Jilie Snuofu handed this dried meat to Gao De and then apologized: "You always need to prepare some dry rations for the journey. The tribe has suffered heavy losses this time, and we can only provide this much."

"Thank you." Gao De naturally wouldn't mind anything; as a witness to the beast tide, he knew better than anyone the heavy losses the Snuofu Clan had suffered this time.

Personnel casualties were one aspect, but the death and frightened flight of the reindeer were even more serious.

Because reindeer had always been the most important food source for the Snuofu Clan.

For the people of the northern realm, food often meant life.

Taking the dry rations and the map, Gao De left the Snuofu Clan.

"Can we really trust an outsider?" Jilie Snuofu asked Baruke, who was still lying weak and powerless on the bed, after watching Gao De's figure disappear completely from his sight outside the tent.

"Outsiders are generally treacherous and cunning."

"No, he is not that kind of person," Baruke said with utmost certainty: "He has a kind heart."

After leaving the dilapidated Snuofu camp, Gao De took out the map, first cast 【Direction-Finding Spell】 to confirm the north, then compared it with the map for a simple identification, and headed toward the northeast.

A small figure crawled out of Gao De's pocket.

"Aren't the Snow Plain Guardians supposed to guard the snow plains?" Fu Luo La asked in confusion.

She had also heard Baruke's account just now.

Clearly, she couldn't understand why, as fellow Snow Plain Guardians, one person was inciting a beast tide to slaughter tribes, while another was willing to sacrifice his own life to protect this tribe.

"Many things have good intentions at the beginning, but in the end, they always start to change slowly, because not forgetting the original intention is a very difficult thing." Gao De explained.

"Is it difficult?" Fu Luo La mumbled, "Lady Fu Luo La just wants to plant trees."

"That's why Lady Fu Luo La is wise but appears foolish."

"What does that mean?"

"Praising Lady Fu Luo La for being smart."

"Mage, you are not honest."

Snuofu camp.

Just half a day after Gao De left this place.

A sound like rolling thunder rang out again, and it was approaching from far to near at an extremely fast speed.

As the sound approached and grew louder, the ground began to tremble slightly.

Baruke, who was still lying in the tent resting, opened his eyes abruptly, his expression changing instantly.

"Beast tide!"

Experienced as he was, he instantly heard what this sound represented.

"Silencing!"

The next moment, Baruke blurted out another word.

Beast tides cannot erupt consecutively in a short period of time unless they are artificially manipulated from behind.

If the first man-made beast tide was just to wipe out some northern tribes to obtain the "fresh materials" needed to practice forbidden necromantic spells.

The purpose of this second man-made beast tide, with an interval of less than a day, was clearly not just the former, but it was highly probable that they had discovered his traces and wanted to silence him.

Baruke had thought that the mastermind behind the beast tide would definitely come to check the situation afterward to "collect materials."

But in Baruke's view, once this mastermind discovered that the Snuofu Clan was still there, they would inevitably have to retreat in frustration.

After all, the reason the other party had to use the beast tide to attack the northern tribes was precisely because they were worried that if they acted themselves, it would be easy to expose their identity, right?

Practicing forbidden necromantic spells is a big deal, enough to cause high-circle mages from the Snow Plain Guardians headquarters to take action personally.

Since there is something to fear, then acting should be cautious, just like an assassin's sneak attack; if one strike fails, one should naturally flee a thousand miles away.

This is the most reasonable judgment.

Baruke never expected that the other party would act so crazily and without leaving a way out.

After he dispersed the beast tide, the mastermind's thought was actually to silence him!

A snow wolf beast tide, even larger than the previous wave, surged over, surrounding the Snuofu camp, which had just suffered from the beast tide and was dilapidated, in a tight circle.

The number of these snow wolves was astonishing, almost covering every corner within sight.

Very strangely, these ferocious snow wolves were roaring but did not launch an attack immediately, but only formed a huge encirclement, completely sealing off the Snuofu camp.

All the survivors of the Snuofu Clan had already left their tents, shivering as they looked at these snow wolves, which were showing their ferocious faces, their faces pale, their hearts filled with despair.

Before a beast tide of this scale, even in their prime, they would only face the fate of being completely wiped out, let alone that they had already experienced the heavy damage of the previous wave and were severely weakened.

It was just that the hesitation of these snow wolves gave the Snuofu tribesmen some faint hope.

Perhaps there was still a turning point?

Just then.

The snow wolf pack parted to both sides, and a man wearing a silver-white hooded cloak, with his face hidden in a mask, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes, rode out of the snow wolf pack on a Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf.

The man rode on the back of the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf, looking down at Jilie Snuofu, who was standing at the forefront of the crowd.

Then, he flicked his finger lightly, and a flash of magic power passed, and a virtual portrait floated in the air.

It was exactly Baruke's portrait. "Have you seen this person?"

The man asked in a hoarse voice that seemed to be deliberately altered, his tone carrying an unquestionable and overbearing air.

Jilie Snuofu, feeling his heart jump, took a deep breath, looked at the portrait carefully for two glances, and then nodded: "I have seen him. Previously, our tribe had just been attacked by a beast tide, and it was this person who intervened and saved our tribe."

"Very good." The man nodded with satisfaction, and with a wave of his hand, the portrait disappeared into the air.

He naturally knew that Baruke had intervened; the reason he asked this question was considered his "test" for the Snuofu people.

"Tell me, where is he now?" The man asked coldly.

A tangled expression appeared on Jilie Snuofu's face.

"Hmm?" The man snorted coldly, and the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf beneath him bared its teeth instantly, followed by all the snow wolves baring their teeth, and the heavy breathing of the snow wolves connected into one piece.

The deterrent power of the snow wolves caused the Snuofu people to become restless.

Jilie Snuofu seemed to have made up his mind; he pointed in one direction, "That person went in that direction. I originally wanted to keep him to express my gratitude, but he said he had urgent matters to attend to, so he didn't stay."

"Quite sensible." The man sneered coldly, very satisfied with Jilie Snuofu's answer, and then patted the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf beneath him without warning.

Roar! At his signal, the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf let out a long howl toward the sky.

This long howl was a signal.

The next moment, in the astonished and fearful eyes of all the Snuofu people, the snow wolves showed their ferocious light and pounced on them fiercely.

The Snuofu tribesmen tried to resist, but in front of this overwhelming snow wolf pack, their efforts seemed so insignificant.

The continuous howling of wolves and the screams of people echoed in the camp, and one Snuofu person after another was pounced to the ground.

The snow wolves scrambled to bite, blood and wailing mixed together, forming a scene that was unbearable to look at, the scene chaotic and terrifying.

Baruke, who had no power to resist because of his serious injuries, felt very calm inside when he watched a snow wolf tear open the tent and saw it pouncing toward him with its foul-smelling saliva flowing.

When he heard the screams coming from outside, he had already guessed his own ending.

Even, in just a moment, Baruke thought of many things.

Being able to organize two waves of beast tides of this scale in a short period of time, even among the Snow Plain Guardians, there were very few who could do it; at least he couldn't.

And he was already considered a backbone force among the Snow Plain Guardians.

This means that this mastermind... will be a "high-level" member of the Snow Plain Guardians, a high-circle mage whose strength far exceeds his own.

Thinking of this, a sense of powerlessness welled up in Baruke's heart.

The only thing he felt fortunate about was that Gao De, who was responsible for delivering the letter, had already left half a day ago.

This was his last hope.

On the hill outside the Snuofu camp.

The man who had just been arrogant and dismissive in front of the Snuofu tribesmen was now respectfully reporting the situation to an old man.

"According to the tribe chief's statement, after Baruke killed Aijin, he did not stay in their tribe at all, but headed toward the northwest without stopping."

Aijin was the name of the Golden-Eyed Snow Wolf that Baruke had killed earlier.

"Northwest direction..." The old man's voice was full of a cold and stern flavor: "He should have discovered something and is preparing to report the situation to the headquarters."

"Although even if the headquarters learns about the situation here, it might not necessarily be able to trace it back to me, but being careful is never a mistake."

"Cannot let him take the news back; must find him before that, and then kill him!" The old man said coldly.

"I understand, Elder, rest assured. I understood the specific situation immediately after I discovered that Aijin had an accident, and I reported it to you."

"Now that Baruke has left for less than half a day, he cannot go far at all. I will definitely be able to find his traces before he takes the news back and wipe him out."

"This matter must be done beautifully."

"Rest assured, I will handle it." The man guaranteed.

He hesitated for a moment, and then couldn't help but speak: "Elder, with our current power, we can completely replace them; why be so cautious in doing things?"

The old man looked at the man deeply, and then said: "You are still too young. There are many secrets within the Snow Plain Guardians that you do not know. You only need to know that the Snow Plain Guardians are far more powerful than you think, and their origins are even more extraordinary."

"Not to mention that my great cause has not yet been achieved, even if it were, I would still need the name of the Snow Plain Guardians."

After saying this, he looked from afar at the Snuofu camp that had already been submerged by the snow wolf beast tide, and said nonchalantly: "These remains are left for you."

Upon hearing this, the man hurriedly said respectfully: "Thank you, Elder!"

Although his face was covered by a mask, one could still see the man's joy at this time from his tone.

Half an hour later, the originally noisy Snuofu camp had now become a piece of dead silence.

A row of dilapidated corpses was neatly laid out in the open space in the center of the camp, including the corpse of Chief Jilie Snuofu.

Every corpse was covered with bite marks and scratch marks, the blood had long since coagulated, appearing particularly shocking.

These corpses once belonged to Ice-Born mages; they were the most powerful force in the tribe during their lifetime, but now, they could only lie quietly on the cold snow.

Those ordinary Snuofu people had all become food for the snow wolves; let alone their remains, even their bones had been chewed and swallowed by the greedy snow wolves.

But the Ice-Born mages in the Snuofu tribe had their remains relatively intact under the man's signal.

The man was standing in front of these corpses at this moment, a hint of indescribable evil light revealed in his eyes.

He slowly raised his hand, and a wave of invisible magic power instantly permeated the air.

The next moment, the man pointed his finger, and a gray beam of energy shot out from his hand, submerging into one of the corpses on the ground.

An extremely bizarre scene occurred:

With the injection of the energy beam, the originally still corpse suddenly began to tremble, as if something was squirming under his skin, and the bones made a slight clicking sound.

Soon, the bones in the dead corpse began to separate on their own, as if driven by some invisible force.

The muscles and tendons between the bones withered rapidly, and soon they fell off, leaving only a clean white skeleton.

And this skeleton seemed to have its own will, first the fingers and toes twitched lightly, then the limbs began to bend, and finally, a complete skeleton crawled out from it just like that.

Every bone of the skeleton was trembling, as if it had regained some form of life.

It stood up slowly, and a ghostly green phosphorus fire flickered in its eye sockets.

This phosphorus fire was like the light of the soul guiding its actions.

The joints of the skeleton made a creaking sound, and it stood there motionless, waiting for the next instruction.

Necromancy third-circle spell, one of the forbidden arts.

【Manipulate Corpse】! The man did not care about that skeleton but continued to cast spells.

More energy beams shot out from his hand, submerging into the other corpses one by one.

Each injection of an energy beam would trigger a similar reaction.

Skeletons crawled out of the corpses one after another, as if summoned from the abyss of death.

The appearance of these skeletons broke the surrounding silence, and a suffocating aura permeated the air.

Although the skeletons had lost their flesh and blood, they appeared more active than any living thing at this moment, and inextinguishable jumping flames burned in their eye sockets.

Until all the Ice-Born mage corpses had turned into skeletons, the man stopped casting spells.

He looked around, and a group of skeletons was standing quietly, waiting for his next instruction.

The frames of these skeletons appeared particularly conspicuous in the snow, like heretics in this piece of pure white.

This scene could be said to be very bizarre, enough to make one's scalp tingle.

But looking at this scene, the man nodded with satisfaction.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 244 =====