The fight raged fiercely below Xinzhi City. Although Hodessa had not yet revealed his shamanistic powers, Jissde had already unleashed his full might, yet still posed no threat to Hodessa.
Jissde abruptly changed his tactics, kicking up clouds of dust. Only a small area around Hodessa remained clear, but from the city walls, the swirling dust obscured half of Hodessa's body. Yet, due to Hodessa's sword energy, the dust could not approach him.
Jissde's form, however, had completely vanished into the dust. It was as if an unmatched power lay hidden within, ready to unleash a world-shattering strike at any moment.
Hodessa inwardly sneered. To avoid drawing the attention of the gods, he never used his shamanistic abilities, but that didn't mean he couldn't. However, at this moment, he recalled Lites' family teachings: "The greatest hermit dwells in the marketplace, avoiding conflict."
With this thought, Hodessa's sword stopped abruptly. The dust, which seemed to have lost its restraint, engulfed Hodessa in a hazy, yellow world.
The mayor on the city wall gripped the battlement, his knuckles turning pale from the excessive force. "Will he be alright?"
Zu An, standing beside him, smiled faintly. If one could retreat safely through martial cultivation alone, how could they possibly be defeated? But what did Hodessa intend to do? Did he plan to disappear in the chaos? Thinking this, Zu An's expression grew serious.
A pair of sharp claws emerged from the misty dust, followed by the spotted leopard's head. Its eyes, filled with ferocity, fixed intently on Hodessa.
Hodessa kept his eyes slightly closed, his sword tip pointing diagonally towards the ground.
He could sense that his opponent had revealed its true form. Without the constraints of its human skin, it could unleash power far beyond its physical body.
The massive spotted leopard circled Hodessa, yet dared not pounce.
Though Hodessa remained still, he seemed impenetrable. He even suspected that no matter how he attacked, he would face a fierce counterattack.
As the spotted leopard circled behind Hodessa, Hodessa's eyes snapped open. This minuscule movement instantly stirred their latent energies. Jissde knew that if he didn't attack now, he would lose his advantage.
He lunged towards Hodessa's back with bared teeth and claws, an attack so powerful it seemed capable of tearing through anything. Jissde was confident that even tempered steel would be crushed by this blow.
*Clang!*
With a crisp sound, Jissde felt his sharp claws strike something as hard as iron. Simultaneously, Jissde's sharp teeth bit down fiercely on Hodessa's shoulder, making him feel as if his fangs were about to shatter.
Jissde had never imagined anyone could withstand his claw and bite, yet to his surprise, this slender young man not only endured his attack but also wounded him.
This momentary lapse caused him to lose his footing. He felt as though his head were caught in a vise, followed by an irresistible, immense force emanating from above. He was lifted into the air by this sheer power.
As his body was thrown into the air, the opponent shifted their grip, yanking him down and slamming him hard onto the ground. The impact felt as if his internal organs had been pulverized, and when he opened his eyes, they were filled with stars.
Jissde immediately lost all strength to resist. At this moment, all he wanted was to lie still on the ground, unmoving, his entire body feeling as if it had fallen apart.
A voice, seemingly from a distant horizon, asked, "Do you still wish to be the mayor of Xinzhi?"
The voice was as calm as water, devoid of emotion, but to Jissde, it was like a bolt from the blue. He struggled to turn over and prostrated himself on the ground. "This lowly one dares not! This lowly one dares not! Great deity, spare me! Great deity, spare me!"
Jissde felt the opponent's gaze, as if it had substance, burning into his back like a searing flame.
Hodessa's voice, low and clear, sounded, "Will you not resume human form?"
Jissde did not dare to delay. He quickly resumed his human form, but remained kneeling, prostrate at Hodessa's feet.
The dust in the sky began to dissipate slightly, and from the city walls, Hodessa's slender form could be seen clearly. He looked down upon the fearsome, formidable man, and a cheer erupted from the city walls.
"What did you see just now?"
Jissde blinked, then understood. "What? I saw nothing! Great deity, rest assured! This lowly one would never speak of it!"
Hodessa nodded and turned to walk towards the city walls. A voice seemed to linger in Jissde's ears, "I am no great deity. I am one of the Witch tribe! If you ever step foot in Xinzhi again, you will not leave so easily."
Jissde knelt on the ground, kowtowing like pounding garlic. "Great Shaman, rest assured! Great Shaman, rest assured!"
Dust-covered and crestfallen, Jissde fled back to Jianning, no longer daring to harbor any thoughts of becoming the mayor of Xinzhi. He finally realized how terrifying the Witch tribe was!
Meanwhile, within the Winter Palace.
"Your Majesty..."
A eunuch, holding a scroll in both hands, looked hesitantly at Tyndar, who was signing memorials at his desk.
Tyndar's brush did not stop. He said with displeasure, "What is it? Why the hesitation?"
"The Grand Commander has passed away!"
Tyndar's brush froze on the paper. After a long moment, he slowly put down his brush, took the scroll, and read it carefully.
After a moment of contemplation, he slowly put down the scroll and said, "Draft an imperial edict. The Grand Commander, for his loyalty and valor, and for his repeated achievements in battle, shall be posthumously honored as Loyal and Valiant!"
Tyndar stood up and paced to the window, pushing it open. The sunlight streamed in.
The death of the Grand Commander allowed Tyndar's faction to completely take over the northern war zone. The entire strategic deployment of Winter had been adjusted.
The two men sat down as host and guest. Zu An said slowly, "What does the Clan Leader think of Jissde's rebellion?"
Although Hodessa, located in the northwest, had no direct dealings with these individuals, he had heard of these renowned figures of the northwest. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Jissde is brave but foolish, and extremely arrogant. It is laughable that with his capabilities, he could not stir up much trouble. However, compared to Jace and Kalu'er, he is a figure of ambition.
But these few are outwardly friendly but inwardly estranged. If they could cooperate sincerely, they might achieve something. Otherwise, they are merely scattered sand and not to be feared."
Zu An nodded in agreement. "The Clan Leader's words echo my own thoughts, truly a meeting of minds between heroes! Haha..."
As he spoke, Zu An laughed heartily. The Spectacled King Cobra coiled around his arm seemed to respond to his laughter, stretching its neck.
Hodessa smiled faintly and took a sip of tea.
Zu An ceased his laughter and looked at Hodessa with longing eyes. "In that case, perhaps the Clan Leader and I are not without the possibility of cooperation. If you and I join forces, I guarantee that within Saintiroman, there will be a division of power."
Hodessa's expression remained impassive. "Zu An's kindness is appreciated, but Hodessa cannot comply. As I mentioned before, Hodessa, as a descendant of the Black Feather, dare not transgress the rules set by our ancestors in the slightest. I beg your understanding!"
Zu An laughed. "Ah, don't be so quick to refuse me. Why not listen to my proposal first before making a decision!"
Hearing Zu An speak this way, Hodessa did not press the matter further. Zu An then said, "We can use the name of the three cities to rise up and join forces with them to break Saintiroman. Once the great task is accomplished, we can then deal with the lords of the three cities one by one, and Saintiroman will be entirely in the hands of our Witch tribe. As long as our Witch tribe uses Saintiroman as a base and gathers strength to conquer the world, we can surely restore the glory of the Black Feather!"
As he spoke, his eyes shone with enthusiasm, as if he could already see the prosperous era of the Witch tribe unifying Saintiroman.
But soon, Zu An's gaze fell upon Hodessa. "What does the Clan Leader think?"
Hodessa's thoughts were stirred. Beyond the three cities to the northwest lay the sphere of influence of the Witch tribe. There were five nearby tribes and the distant Barbarian King Seon. Hodessa had no doubt that Zu An possessed the ability to rally the Witch tribes.
If the northwest were united, it could indeed form a significant power.