It was still too early, and Che had no idea what this Shaman Niu actually liked. Over the past few days he had been gathering and probing for information about Yang Kai, but no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't turn up anything useful. All he knew was that the man had arrived in Frost Snow City a little over a month ago with Yu and taken up residence in the hollow of the Divine Tree. Had he not concocted those miraculous healing medicines and put them up for sale, he would have gone entirely unnoticed.
Someone like this shouldn't languish in obscurity. He should stay in the Frost Snow tribe and let his astonishing brilliance shine.
"Lord Che…" Across from him, Yang Kai grinned, the curve of his lips tinged with mockery. "Is this how the Frost Snow tribe treats its guests?"
Che's expression didn't change. He said, "Since you're here, I take it you understand my intentions. I, this shaman, sincerely invite you to join the Frost Snow tribe. I wonder what your answer is."
Yang Kai replied, "I've felt your sincerity, Lord Che. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
Che's brow creased slightly, clearly displeased by Yang Kai's casual and presumptuous manner. Even if they weren't from the same tribe, a low-grade shaman was supposed to show proper deference when facing a high-grade one. Yet Che had felt not the slightest trace of respect from this Shaman Niu.
Still, he knew he was in the wrong here and couldn't very well accuse the other party of anything. Arranging for someone to secretly learn another's techniques was hardly honorable. Yang Kai had been magnanimous enough to teach openly, and the entire Frost Snow tribe was deeply grateful. Now trying to keep the man as well was pushing their luck a bit far.
"Name any condition you like. Whatever the Frost Snow tribe can provide, I'll agree to it!" Che was unwilling to give up, still hoping to keep Yang Kai and put him to use.
"No amount of gold can buy my willingness!" Yang Kai shook his head slightly, his tone turning grave. "So far, I have no complaints about the Frost Snow tribe. But if Lord Che keeps talking, my impression is liable to change."
"What a pity." Che let out a heavy sigh and raised one hand slightly. "Shaman Niu, I don't want things to reach this point. But since words have failed, I'm afraid I'll have to keep you here for now. I trust that after you've stayed in the palace a while longer, you'll change your opinion of our tribe. As you yourself told Yu, the barbarian tribes are all one family—who better to serve than a neighbor?"
The moment he finished speaking, a bolt of lightning shot from his palm with a sharp crack, hurtling toward Yang Kai. Halfway there, it suddenly burst apart and spread into a net of electricity, catching Yang Kai completely off guard and wrapping him up tight.
Arcs of electricity crackled across his body. Yang Kai was bound up like a dumpling, his hair standing on end.
"Hmm?" Che's brow furrowed. Although that attack hadn't used his full power—it was meant to restrain, not injure—the fact that Yang Kai hadn't so much as flinched after taking that shamanic technique head-on genuinely startled him.
The man was only a high-grade shaman. By all rights, he should have passed out cold. Yet Yang Kai's eyes were perfectly clear, showing not the slightest sign of blacking out.
"Lord Che…" At that moment, Yang Kai spoke up in an unhurried tone. "I don't mean to look down on you, but if I wanted to leave… I'm afraid you couldn't stop me!"
At those words, the electric net enveloping him suddenly shattered under a surge of overwhelming power.
Che's face changed. "A Shaman Master!"
The moment Yang Kai made his move, Che saw through his true level. How had this fellow become a Shaman Master?
When he'd seen him just a few days ago, the man had clearly been only a high-grade shaman. In just a few short days, he had actually broken through the bottleneck of an entire major realm. The jump from Shaman to Shaman Master might not sound like much, but it was a watershed moment in a shaman's career—countless shamans remained stuck at that threshold their entire lives, never advancing another step. Recalling what Yu had revealed earlier, Che's eyes blazed with sudden light.
He had struck gold!
This wasn't just some simple apothecary shaman. The speed at which this Shaman Niu's strength was growing was terrifying. Just over a month ago, he'd been nothing more than a low-grade shaman. A few days ago, he was a high-grade shaman. And now, upon meeting again, he was unmistakably a Shaman Master.
Such rapid advancement clearly meant he enjoyed the favor and blessing of the Barbarian God. Given a little more time, a Great Shaman Master, a Shaman King, even a Shaman Saint would be well within his reach.
The Frost Snow tribe had no Shaman Saint presiding over it—only a scant handful of Shaman Kings—and so it still lagged behind the very top great tribes. But if the Frost Snow tribe could produce one more Shaman Saint, the entire tribe's standing would skyrocket.
No matter what, he could not let this Shaman Niu leave today. He had to keep him here at all costs. Even if it earned his resentment, even if it earned his hatred, he would pay any price to make him one of the Frost Snow tribe. And when that day came when he ascended to the peak of Shaman Saint, it would be the day the Frost Snow tribe shook the world.
Thoughts racing, Che had already made up his decision. His aura surged in rolling waves, arcs of electricity dancing across his skin. He smiled and said, "Shaman Niu, I'm growing more and more impressed with you. Stay and become one of the Frost Snow tribe."
Yang Kai snorted coldly. "I was born of the Southern Barbarian tribe, and I'll die a ghost of the Southern Barbarian tribe. Keeping me here depends on whether you have the ability."
Che was about to say something more when his expression suddenly changed. He thrust a hand forward and condensed a shamanic shield before him. As a Great Shaman Master, years of deep cultivation had brought his mastery of even simple techniques to perfection. He had deployed just the right amount of power—not a fraction too much, not a fraction too little, without the slightest waste.
Such a shield should have been absolutely unbreakable by a freshly advanced Shaman Master.
Confidence filled his heart—but the very next instant, Che's face twisted in shock.
A clear cracking sound reached his ears. The shamanic shield he had just conjured shattered in an instant, and an unremarkable fist was rapidly swelling in his vision.
The shield had been broken!
Che could barely fathom what kind of savage power lay coiled within that seemingly frail body. This sheer brute strength was in no way inferior to the tribe's mightiest warriors even when enhanced with the Bloodlust Art.