Chapter 786: Reaching the Oasis

The Camel Peak Shaman finished speaking, took the somewhat wilted wild vegetable handed over by a female beside him, and gave it to Wu Yue.

"This is the wild vegetable we smear on roasted meat; although it smells somewhat unpleasant to the nose, smearing it on the meat makes the meat taste much better."

Wu Yue's eyes shining brightly, she took the plant handed over by the Camel Peak Shaman.

It is slender in shape, growing from a white root, and consists of clusters of gray-green cylindrical leaves.

Up close, it gives off a spicy flavor that is milder than that of scallions and garlic.

This sand onion plant is drought- and salt-tolerant, can stabilize sand and prevent erosion, and is a key plant in desert grassland ecology.

She vaguely recalls that even Meng Province of the country has taken many restrictive measures because tourists have extensively harvested sand onion.

It is said that large-scale, disorderly harvesting has destroyed the stability of the local grassland environment.

She has only ever eaten the pickled version; this is the first time she has seen fresh sand onion itself.

"What is this plant called?"

Seeing her interested expression, the Camel Peak Shaman proudly said, "This is the sand hair vegetable that only grows in our endless desert."

Wu Yue: "Cough cough cough... sand... sofa?"

Almost choking on her own saliva, Wu Yue lowered her head to look at the sand onion in her hand.

Where on earth does this thing look like a sofa?

The Camel Peak Shaman nodded: "It's a wild vegetable that grows in our endless desert and looks like hair, so it's called sand hair vegetable."

"Hehe, this wild vegetable's name is quite pleasant."

Beside her, Yuan Lang saw her twitching mouth and forced smile, and couldn't help but feel amused.

The wild vegetable called sand hair vegetable definitely does not have this name in Yue's hometown.

The Camel Peak Shaman gazed eagerly at Wu Yue, constantly rubbing his hands.

"Shaman Yue, our tribe has also accumulated many gems; shall we bring them over for you to see?"

Being stared at by an old uncle's gleaming little eyes, Wu Yue couldn't swallow the roasted meat in her mouth.

She took a handkerchief, wiped her hands, and smiled, nodding: "You can just call me Shaman Yue."

"The gems of the endless desert are fine; if you want to exchange salt with me, please bring them over to have a look."

It seemed as if all today's preparations were for this very moment.

As her words fell, several tall beastman warriors each shouldered a large hide bag and came to their side.

The Camel Peak Shaman rose, pulled over a bag and opened it; inside were various colored gems like those of the Sand Lizard tribe.

In quantity, it was no less, only more.

Wu Yue inspected the gems one by one, counted out the amount to exchange, and then Yuan Lang dismounted from the cloud-stepping beast's back with an equivalent amount of salt.

The surrounding tribespeople watched eagerly as bag after bag of salt was poured into the hide bags prepared by their tribe.

Each of their eyes turned red.

So much salt, so much snow-white snow-white salt.

The Camel Peak Shaman was wholly delighted.

He stepped forward with cheerful small steps to the hide bag holding the salt, carefully scooped some snow salt into a stone bowl, and handed it to the excited female beside him.

"Use this salt to roast some more meat for Shaman Yue and the Sand Lizard Shaman to eat."

"Everyone line up to take some back, and together taste the legendary snow salt's flavor."

"Oh! Oh! Oh!"

Wu Yue and the Sand Lizard Shaman sat on the hide mat, watching the surrounding Camel Peak tribe's people dance a wild and passionate dance.

The whole tribe was immersed in joy.

It made everyone's mood involuntarily become cheerful.

Everyone rested in the Camel Peak tribe for a day, then set out again.

Wu Yue and Yuan Lang sat together on the back of that camel as before.

The cloud-stepping beast proudly refused the Camel Peak Shaman's suggestion to let the Camel Peak beasts help carry the salt and other items.

Wiggling its buttocks to increase its size, it once again squeezed up beside the camel on which Wu Yue and the two were riding.

Its beady eyes gazed furtively at Wu Yue, then drew a bit closer.

Wu Yue amusedly reached out to pat its big head, and while patting its back, she once again filled the hide bag to the brim.

Feeling the added weight on its back, the cloud-stepping beast felt proud in its heart.

Only such an understanding beast as it could comprehend its master's thoughts.

Hehe, the master will surely like it even more.

The party again trekked through the desert for nearly five days, before them only endless dunes twisting in the cold.

The previously splendid, vast golden hue also gradually turned numb.

Just as Wu Yue, walking with the Camel Peak beast, was about to doze off, a streak of green pierced the sea of gold.

A wind mixed with water vapor brought dampness that slapped against the dry cheeks and lips.

The scene before their eyes instantly came alive.

"The oasis has arrived."

From ahead came the cheers of some tribe's beastfolk, unknown which.

It was as if a mysterious switch had finally been pressed; clear tapping sounds, the rustle of leaves, the tinkling of colliding bead strings, and the lively chatter all burst forth.

The golden sand road that originally seemed endless instantly acquired an endpoint.

"Hahaha, you two old fogeys finally arrived."

"I thought you weren't coming this time."

The enthusiastic greeting rang out at the entrance to the encampment of the oasis tribe ahead.

Sand Lizard Tribe Old Shaman and Hump Shaman jumped off the Hump Beast, quickly walking toward the speaking old man.

"Hahaha, how could we not come? The supplies the tribe needs can be obtained at the trade fair."

The three spirited old men enthusiastically hugged, then vigorously patted each other's arms.

Hump Shaman leaned close to the short-haired old man and whispered, "Old Jiahuo, any good stuff at this trade fair?"

The short-haired shaman nodded: "There is some, but the remainder isn't much. You know, any good things obtained in the tribe must first be supplied to the Great Shaman and the Chieftain."

Speaking, he seemed to think of something, and his face darkened a bit.

"Stay away from that Lao Duwu during this trade fair."

This Lao Dongxi somehow got hold of a tiger beast fur and gave it to the Great Shaman.

The Great Shaman was very pleased and bestowed many good things on him.

This made Lao Duwu extremely pleased.

Lately he's always causing me trouble; these past few days, any tribe that came to the gathering and got close to me has been targeted by that Lao Dongxi.

Sand Lizard Shaman and Hump Shaman exclaimed, "Tiger beast fur? That's a legendary item only the Super Tribe possesses."

Could this Lao Duwu have made connections with the Super Tribe?

The short-haired shaman snorted coldly, "That Lao Dongxi is tight-lipped; I've inquired for a long time but found nothing."

I've been waiting at the entrance these past few days just to warn you.

Exchange the good items early and leave early.

Don't let that Lao Dongxi find a chance to cause you trouble.

Hump Shaman and Sand Lizard Shaman nodded in unison, exchanged a glance, and together looked toward Wu Yue, who was standing beside the Hump Beast and speaking with Yuan Lang.

He tugged at the short-haired shaman's leather armor: "Old Jiahuo, we two have brought a great merit this time."

?? Oh dear, today's update is late.