In the awe-inspiring north wind, a little snowflake flew down and landed on the tip of Amira's wolf cold mist's nose, and felt the residual heat under his old skin, slowly melting into a drop of water.

Winter will come early and cold this year.

Amira's eyes didn't blink, his eyes were still staring at the valley under his feet, and his breathing was not out of rhythm at all, like a clay sculpture with a little vital signs, but just by a little touch on his nose, he could vaguely feel the rhythm and will of heaven and earth contained in this snowflake, he was a shaman, and his life and soul were throbbing with this heaven and earth at any time.

"The first heavy snowfall of the year will be forty-two days away. Not far away, Polio Wolf Xue said lightly. This shaman, who is not yet sixty years old, comes from the Silver Bear tribe, and with his affection for snow and a deeper feeling, he can better understand the deeper meaning behind these snowflakes. Being able to gain the approval of the big wolf at his age and become a wolf shaman can be regarded as a rare genius.

If a genius like him had been in previous years, he would not have generally lived long.

There will always be a blizzard that the whole tribe can't withstand, and the kind of overwhelming snow is dozens of days at a time, and even the desolate beasts will fake their deaths in the underground lair in the hope that the terrifying winter will pass, and then these shamans who are close to the ice and snow elves will stand up and pray for such a blizzard to stop.

Their prayers will be answered, the ice elves will more or less take back the raging cold wave, and many people and beasts on the prairie will get a chance to survive and survive, but the ice elves will also take some of their lives and souls. They won't resist, though. Because they are shamans, their lives and souls have long been dedicated to the great wolf. Dedicated to the elves of heaven and earth, just waiting for the time for them to take it back.

"If it was in previous years. It's going to be a tough winter, and I don't know how many people will die. On the other side, a skeletal shaman said coldly, as if recalling the cold of the blizzard, and tightened his tattered animal skin robe.

"Starting this year, it won't. There was a hint of burning and confidence in Priro Wolf Snow's voice, which was rare among shamans, even if he was still a young shaman.

"yes. No, it won't. The other shamans couldn't help but respond with a rare vigor in their voices.

Amira didn't say anything, but the way he looked at the valley below couldn't help but be more powerful and reverent. The other shamans were the same, and they never took their eyes off anyone as they spoke.

In the valley below is a valley that is not big or small, about 100 zhang square, surrounded by cliffs that are difficult for apes to climb, like a giant stone container. At this moment, more than a dozen pairs of eyes faintly emitting green light were quietly lurking in the shadows at the bottom of the container. That's dozens of wolf cubs.

More than ten days ago, the number of young wolves below was ten times that of now, but in the absence of any food, ninety percent of the young wolves have become food for other survivors. Wolves that can be eligible to be put in here. They are all the strongest, smartest, and bravest cubs born this year in the wolf pack on the grassland, and now the remaining ten or so are undoubtedly the strongest, smartest, and most cunning among them.

And after today. The last one left is the strongest, the smartest, and the most cunning. Everyone here is waiting for that outcome. It can bring all the wolf shamans of the steppe together. Only at this time of year, this ceremony is held.

And this year will be the last year.

The sound of Suoso slowly stretched from the hillside behind him. The wolf shamans didn't care, not even a single one turned back, they still focused their eyes and spirit on the shadows at the bottom of the valley.

A huge scorpion-like giant worm slowly climbed to the top of the mountain. The giant worm's movements were very slight, like a subordinate walking in front of a noble elder, and its huge limbs seemed to be very cautious and careful in choosing each of his places to stay, but even so, he did not dare to really climb to the top of the mountain completely, to the height that only belonged to the wolf shamans, and could only carefully poke up his small half of his body.

"Wise Amira, your son, Chief Anroro wants to see you. Above the head of the giant worm, an old man with only a head whispered in a rustling sound that resembled the chirping of an insect. The old man had no body, and his simple head was covered with carapaces that only insects have, and it looked like a pimple that had inexplicably grown on the top of the giant insect's head. But even the facial features covered by the carapace, as well as the sound like the chirping of insects, all showed respect and obedience. The wolf shamans are the closest servants of the great wolf and the most honorable people recognized by all the tribes, and their status is far from being comparable to that of other shamans.

As if she hadn't heard, Amira Wolf Hanmist was still staring at the bottom of the valley like a wooden sculpture, and the other shamans didn't speak, and the top of the mountain fell silent again. The giant insect did not move, but still crouched on the edge of the hill with all its respectfulness, except for the sound of the wind whirring from time to time.

I don't know how long it took for Amira to say in his dry voice, as if he was going to die at any moment, "I'm waiting for the big wolf here, I can't go to see him, let him go by himself." ”

"Yes. The old man's head on the giant worm respectfully agreed, and the huge worm body turned around and strode down the mountain.

"Wait. Amira spoke suddenly. The giant worm immediately stopped and turned around. It's just that Amira is silent again.

After a while, it was Polio Wolf Snow who spoke slowly: "Amira, the big wolf will come, but there is still about a whole day." I think you can go and meet Anroro. ”

Amira still didn't move, still staring at the valley below like a clay sculpture, only the cold wind blew his long sparse beard around. After a long while, it was still Priro's voice that slowly sounded: "An Lorro is a great warrior, and I have known him thirty years ago. At that time, I had not yet been favored by the Great Wolf, just an ordinary little shaman, and we often led the warriors together to hunt the Fangs Ripper in the tundra, and everyone was impressed by his bravery and strength. Whether as a hunter hunting dangerous beasts, or as a chieftain who leads his clansmen and southerners into battle. He's done well enough for the Silver Bear and the Grizzly Wolf to come strong. He has a huge credit."

"He's a good, great fighter, I think. He was able to get the favor of the big wolf, and he was entitled to let his father go to see him one last time. ”

The silence continued in the wind for a long time, and Amira finally turned around slowly, and walked towards the giant insect with old steps, and the giant insect also turned around, and bowed its body respectfully. Amira's strenuous walk up to the giant worm and sat down cross-legged, and the giant worm immediately took a stride and crawled down the mountain, and the eight of them moved very quickly. The whole body was unusually stable, so that Amira, who was above, didn't feel any shaking at all.

At the foot of the mountain, dozens or hundreds of similar giant insects are circling in a circle, crawling there neatly. Although they are different in appearance and size, some have hideous bone spurs, some are round like balls, some have eight-legged wings, and some are as hundred-legged as centipedes, but the same thing is that they have a person on the top of their heads or on their bodies. Or like Amira's sitting one, with only one head or half a body. These are insect shamans from various tribes, using secret techniques to merge themselves with the giant insects they raise, and maintain the soul power to communicate with the elves of heaven and earth. It has a combat power far beyond that of ordinary warriors, and is the strongest combat power of all tribes, and some even work part-time.

But compared to the wolf shamans who have been recognized by the big wolf. Their status is far inferior, so they can only prostrate at the foot of the mountain and wait quietly.

I saw the giant worm carrying Amira on its back. The surrounding insect shamans hurriedly moved to the side. The giant worm took Amira and walked away into the distance until it was nearly five miles away. Only then can you see rows of tents and stone houses.

Stone houses and tents share the same characteristic, that is, they are thick and rudimentary, stone houses are usually several huge rocks put together, the crevices are plugged with dirt, and the tents are sewn together purely from animal skins, so that the seasoned hunter can clearly identify at a glance which beasts are from.

Surrounded by stone houses and tents, in the center is an altar made of huge stones, and the skulls of countless people, as well as the skulls of wild beasts large and small, are the only decorations, and there is a simple and rugged atmosphere in it. The warriors of the tribe were kneeling towards the valley in the distance to worship and pray. Non-shamans can only stop at this place, for them, beyond that, it is a holy place that can only be entered by the servants of the Great Wolf.

When he saw the giant insect carrying Amira, the warriors in the corner under the altar all bowed down and pushed away, and only the leader stepped out of the crowd, shouting with surprise on his face, "Daddy!"

The giant insect stopped beside this man, leaned down, and Amira, who was above, slowly walked down and walked in front of this man, looked at him and said lightly, "Son, isn't it time to go, why do you still come to see me?"

"I want to see Daddy again. The man bowed his head and replied, he was three heads taller than Amira, and three times as wide as Amira, and could hold at least four or five Amira, like the difference between a bear and a monkey, but he looked down at Amira's eyes with only sincere deference, as if looking at a kind and great giant. He is Amira's son, the chief of the Gray Wolf Tribe, Anroro.

"Hmm. It's not easy to see Daddy before the last wolf hunt. Amira's voice nodded, her cold and lifeless voice adding a little warmth, and his cloudy and indifferent eyes gradually had a father's kindness. "Actually, I want to meet you, kid. ”

"Daddy. The corners of Anluoluo's eyes moistened, and he couldn't help but reach out and wipe them. As a tribal chief, he hadn't felt such a feeling for a long time, and as a fifty-year-old veteran, he almost thought that there would be no such thing as tears in his life.

But Amira's right thing just now is that it is too rare to see her father before the final wolf hunt. Generally speaking, it is the father who looks at his son before the final wolf hunt, and the only person like him who can come to see his father before he sets off is really the only one in decades.

Except for the shaman who served the great wolf and the spirit of heaven and earth, Sidi had no old man, because he had lost his strong body, he could no longer resist the beasts and the bad weather, and he could not obtain his own prey, so he could only become a burden to the rest of the tribe. Tribes don't need to be burdensome, and no one wants to be a burden themselves, so they will give everything they have before the last of their strength is taken away by the years and time.

The group of thirty or forty warriors behind Anroro were all like him, and their faces were already covered with wrinkles. The hair has turned gray and the muscles are beginning to loosen. His strength and body began to weaken, and his body was riddled with injuries from years of fighting. That's all the 50-year-olds out of tens of thousands of people in the neighborhood. They will head north before the first snow begins, hunting as much prey as they can, leaving as much winter food as their people can until they have exhausted their last drop of blood. This is the last wolf hunt, a custom that has been passed down for thousands of years by all the tribes that live in the savannah, and a part of their lives.

"I've lived far too long to see my son go on his final hunt under the great wolf's watch. Amira let out a long sigh, like a blown bellows leaking. Among the Sidi. He was indeed too old. His withered fingers, as old as roots, caressed a string of teeth on his neck, four of which were as large as tiny daggers. "I remember this as a gift to me after you hunted alone for the first time when you were eleven years old, and after you killed the tusked beast. I didn't think this was going to send you one last time. ”

"Daddy, don't worry, I will definitely hunt down the big one and give everyone a full meal!" An Luo Luo slapped his broad chest hard, making a muffled sound of bumping. There are special people who follow behind these old warriors, picking up and harvesting their prey. Of course, if you're lucky, you can collect the corpses for them. But to leave a corpse in the mouths of those beasts, it takes very, very good luck.

Even the words and actions were exactly the same as forty years ago, and Amira's eyes seemed to appear in front of him again. But the figure of the fearless brave young man, unconsciously, the eyes that had been dry for decades were also a little moist.

An Luo Luo sighed again: "But it's a pity that I can't see the return of the big wolf with my own eyes." I can't take everyone to fight the Nanren anymore. With the protection of the big wolf, we will definitely be able to defeat the southerners. Lots and lots of grain and slaves were snatched back. However, there is Mo Yiha who takes over the affairs of the clan, and he is a brave warrior. Also cunning, believing that he would be a competent chieftain. ”

"The big wolf will be back for real soon. Every wolf shaman can feel the breath of the big wolf, and they can all feel the anger of the big wolf. Amira's withered voice brought out some power, which is a common characteristic of all wolf shamans when talking about the big wolf and talking about it. "Those cowardly southerners, taking advantage of their numbers, banded together to completely isolate the great wolf from this world with vile witchcraft. But this will not last long. The witchcraft of the Southerners both banished the Great Wolf and evoked their own demons, causing their empire to collapse. The operation of heaven and earth doomed the great wolf to return with endless anger and completely defeat and enslave the despicable southerners. ”

"Yes, we will be able to defeat those hateful southerners once and for all. They will all be our slaves, sacrifices to the great wolf. Anroro also perked up, his expression was excited, and his voice was like a bell. "With enough Southerner slaves, we will be able to raise more warriors and more giant insects, carve out larger pastures, and hunt more wild beasts. We can also occupy the territory of the Southerners, where it is also very warm in winter, and there are no more terrible snowstorms. They also have a lot of beautiful clothes, good food and wine, and very comfortable houses. The people of the Grey Squirrel and Black Fox tribes have brought us to see and taste, and these should belong to our great warriors!"

"Yes, Anroro, we can enslave the cowardly Southerners. But we must be careful not to let beautiful clothes confuse the eyes of the warriors, and not to let delicious food and wine corrupt the feelings of the warriors. The Grey Squirrel and Black Fox tribes have never been able to give birth to wolf shamans favored by the big wolf, and there are no real warriors, that is, because they are too close to the southerners and have been corrupted too much by the southerners. Even if they can exchange food for other tribes and detect the situation of the southerners, it can't change the fact that they are lowly, and every year there are warriors and women who have been corrupted by the southerners who have their eyes gouged out and turned into slaves and insect food. You must know that only the will of the big wolf is the foundation of our steppe people. ”

"Daddy, thank you for your teachings, your wisdom is the true pride of our tribe. An Luo Luo grinned widely, touched his scalp, and smiled honestly with a little astringency. "But I won't hear it anymore. You must teach Mo Rush as you teach me. ”

Amira's countenance, which had just gained a little life, froze, and slowly fell silent again. That's right, it was the last time he saw the last child he taught.

The big wolf is about to return, and he can defeat the southerners immediately, get a lot of slave food and the southerners' territory, and there is no longer the danger of starvation of the old and weak from lack of food, maybe this last wolf hunting rule can not be so strict but this thought has just given birth to a sign in his mind, and Amira suddenly woke up. What if we don't go on a final wolf hunt? What if we let the warriors' strong bodies grow old and wither, and finally wail weakly in the hospital bed and wait for death? That is a humiliation worse than death. The last wolf hunt is not only a custom cultivated by steppe warriors for thousands of years to survive, but also a manifestation of the will of the big wolf - to fight fearlessly, to prey, to turn every ounce of his life into the wildest roar.

Even death is just an embellishment.

"I will. Get on your way, kid, the big wolf is watching you. Amira patted Anroro's chest, just like she had done forty years ago.

"Hmm. Daddy, I'm leaving. I'll hunt big ones so you can eat well. Anroro nodded, still with that innocent smile, turned and walked to gather the old soldiers, and walked into the distance without looking back. (To be continued......)