Black Hearted Mage

Chapter 162 Statue

On the third day after the earth's fissure was filled, sunlight shone through the thin clouds, bringing a touch of warmth and vitality to the vast land. Filled with curiosity and anticipation, young Caesars followed closely behind the burly Melissa and embarked on a journey to the ogre tribe.

Along the way, they crossed vast grasslands, crossed turbulent streams, and finally arrived at the legendary ogre tribe after many hardships. This mysterious tribe was hidden in the mountains and was filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.

Continuing on, they arrived at a vast col in the western-central Icecap Mountains. The terrain here was vast and open, seemingly a magical wonderland carved out by nature's uncanny hand. The col stretched over thirty miles from north to south and about twenty miles from east to west. Within, endless emerald green wheat fields stretched as far as the eye could see. A gentle breeze rustled the wheat waves, creating a magnificent green ocean.

To the west of the col lies the renowned Frozen Canyon. Covered entirely in a thick blanket of ice and snow, the canyon is crystal clear and radiates a chilling chill. Gusts of bitterly cold wind howl from the north, racing southward through the canyon with a deafening roar like a galloping horse. Even in the sweltering heat of summer, only a small section of the ice melts. Its unique geographical location and climatic conditions make the Frozen Canyon a natural wind outlet and the only gateway to the distant polar ice sheets.

When Caesar first laid eyes on the statue of the legendary greatest shaman in history, he was overwhelmed with awe. According to detailed records in the Magic Tower books, the stone statue towered immensely, exceeding thirty meters in height! Such a magnificent statue was simply breathtaking. Even more astonishing was the fact that it was personally crafted by Caesar's ancestor, the great Raven Rhodes. Unlike ordinary stone sculptures, this one wasn't crafted through traditional stone carving; it was a masterpiece of exquisite alchemical craftsmanship.

With respect for the great shaman, Kaisas walked towards the small square of the Highland Ogre Tribe, holding the Death Staff and wearing the Frost Crown Badge.

This towering statue, weathered by nearly 10,000 years of wind and rain, has become a mottled sight. Its face and armor are blurred, leaving it looking like a single upright pebble. The statue's base is a stone platform over a meter high, and the surface of its boots is polished to a sheen, as if it has been touched countless times.

"Melissa, why are the statue's boots so smooth and shiny?" Caesar asked curiously.

"People in the tribe kiss the statue's boots every day, and it became like this over time!" Melissa replied.

As Kaesus stood beneath the towering, majestic statue, the entire ogre tribe erupted in a commotion. From white-haired, staggering elders to innocent, playful children, they flocked from all directions, surrounding the area in a massive crowd. Most of these ogres had never seen a human before, and they gazed at the strange visitor with curiosity.

In the crowd, an old ogre with a wrinkled face and a hunched body squeezed to the side of Trum with great effort and asked in a trembling voice, "Chief, and Lord Prophet, why did this human suddenly come to our tribe?"

Trum narrowed his eyes slightly, scanning the crowd before him, and then replied in a calm and firm tone: "My fellow tribesmen, this man and I actually share a common ancestor. In a sense, he and we are one family!"

Hearing this, the old ogre's eyes widened, a look of disbelief on his face. He shook his head and muttered, "How is this possible? How could ogres and humans become one family? I've lived so long, and I've never heard of such a thing..."

Although he was full of doubts, he knew that he was facing the tribe's highly respected great shaman and prophet, Trum. Given his status and position, the old ogre did not dare to easily question what he said.

Caesars had already stepped toward the towering statue. He reached out his right hand and touched the massive, sturdy boots at the base of the statue. He wanted to explore, through the feel of his fingertips, what force had protected this statue, which had withstood nearly ten thousand years of wind and rain and yet remained standing. Regardless of the material of the statue, after such a long period of time, common sense would have long since weathered it, turning it to dust and dissipating without a trace. It would be impossible for it to remain as intact as it is now.

Caesars sensed a faint magical energy flowing slowly through the statue's interior. Stone doesn't transmit magical energy, so the statue was made from a special alchemical material. He slowly channeled magical energy into the stone statue, exploring its interior.

At that moment, the surrounding monstrous ogres all revealed expressions of astonishment, each staring up at the massive statue with their mouths agape. Fine powder continuously fell from the statue's surface, drifting through the air like snowflakes. Even more astonishing, however, was the faint glimmer of a mysterious light beneath the flaking powder, as if a powerful force was about to burst forth.

"Caesars, what the hell have you done? You're about to destroy this incredibly precious statue!" Melissa saw this, her hair standing on end, and she roared at the top of her lungs. Furious, she quickly ran forward, extending her strong, powerful hands in an attempt to pull Caesars away from the statue.

Suddenly, a dazzling light burst forth from within the statue, its brightness blazing like the blazing midday sun. This light rapidly expanded, forming a transparent magical shield in the blink of an eye, tightly enveloping Caesars and the entire statue. At the same time, Melissa's outstretched hand unpreparedly touched this incredibly solid magical barrier. With a resounding thud, an invisible force violently repelled her arm, sending her stumbling back several steps before she could regain her footing.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening explosion echoed, and the entire space trembled violently. Within the magical barrier, a cloud of dancing dust instantly filled the air, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.

Time ticked by, and after a long time, everything finally settled. As the dust slowly settled, Caesars, wearing his alchemical protective mask, looked utterly awful. He was now covered head to toe in a thick layer of dust, his once pristine clothes now filthy, like a miner fresh out of a pit. Thankfully, the statue's magical shield had vanished, allowing Caesars to flee the chaos, his face stained and dusty.

"Oh my God, the statue of the ancestor has become new!" A scream suddenly came from the ogre tribe.

The ogres turned their gaze away from Kaesus, as if drawn by an invisible force, and looked at the statue of their ancestors with reverence. Their eyes gleamed with awe and respect, a deep admiration for their ancestors.

Old Trum, unable to contain his inner excitement, knelt on his knees, his body trembling slightly. The wrinkles carved by time on his face now seemed even more profound, and his once cloudy eyes were now filled with burning tears. Following Old Trum's actions, one ogre after another followed suit, kneeling in unison and bowing reverently to the tall and majestic statue.

At this moment, Melissa, who was closest to the statue and about to kneel down in worship, suddenly heard Caesar's voice: "Melissa, is there a spring pool nearby? I have to take a bath quickly, I can't stand it anymore!"

Caesars became covered in dust. Not only were his hair and clothes covered in dust, but even his neck was filled with tiny sand particles, making him feel extremely itchy all over.

Melissa looked at the disheveled Caesar, smiled and said, "The pool is right beside the mountain. There is a clear stream there. Caesar, go quickly!" After getting the answer, Caesar felt as if he had been pardoned and prepared to go to the stream on the mountainside to wash himself thoroughly.

Kaesus couldn't help but look up a few more times. The statue's coating had completely peeled away due to its age. Now, it looked like a brand new statue, and one could clearly sense the ogre's heroic presence. The statue's face was lifelike, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth, revealing a calm and composed demeanor. He wore heavy plate armor, the insignia of the Frost Crown emblazoned on the center of his chest. His left hand gripped a shield, and in his right, he held a one-handed axe, as if ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

In the northern part of the valley flowed a clear stream, over three meters wide. This river, with its relentless flow and incredibly rapid current, seemed like the earth's artery, brimming with vitality and vigor. However, it was surprising that such a fast-flowing river was actually called a creek by Melissa!

The river water is as clear as crystal, and at a glance, you can clearly see the riverbed covered with round, smooth pebbles of various sizes. These pebbles are like works of art carefully carved by nature. Some are as white as mutton fat, some are as black as black jade, and they sparkle charmingly in the sunlight.

Caesars arrived at the river, quickly stripped off his clothes, and strode into the water. However, the moment he entered the water, he felt the powerful force of the current, nearly sweeping him away. Helplessly, he cautiously retreated to the riverbank, sat down, and began to wash himself.

Although the stream appeared crystal clear, it was actually far from shallow. After careful estimation, Caesars concluded it was at least five or six meters deep. He gently placed his dirty clothes on the river's edge, finding several large rocks to press down the collars to prevent them from being swept away by the current. Then, he let the rushing water wash over the clothes freely. This unique and hassle-free method of washing clothes was perhaps only something a "lazy man" like him could have come up with.

To ensure his own safety and avoid being swept away by the rapids, the clever Caesars tightly grasped a heavy rock and slowly sank into the river. The cool, clear water instantly enveloped his body, washing over every inch of his skin and every strand of his hair.

The river water was incredibly clear; even the tiny shrimps at the bottom could be seen clearly. However, the water was incredibly cold; it was freshly melted snow. Soaking in it for a long time created a bone-chilling chill that seemed to penetrate the very bones.

After a quick wash, Kaisas quickly changed into dry clothes and stored the river-washed clothes in his space ring. He looked toward the statue to the south and found that many highland ogres were still kneeling in worship.

Caesar, wearing a magic robe, walked all the way back to the tall statue. Many ogres were crying bitterly, especially old Trum, who was crying the most sadly. They were crying because they could not find the graves of their ancestors.

"Why are you crying? Your ancestor is not dead. He is alive and well now!"

"what!"

Thousands of ogres stared with their eyes wide open, their mouths gaping, shouting in disbelief. Their eyes, filled with confusion and sorrow, all turned to Kaesus, who stood before them.

Trum, tearful, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his rough hands, and asked Caesar in a trembling voice: "Caesar, how is this possible? Who can survive for more than ten thousand years?"

Kaisas took a deep breath and then answered loudly: "The Grand Mage has the ability to live for more than ten thousand years!"

However, Trum immediately shook his head and retorted: "But, Caesar, our ancestor is not a great magician! He is just a shaman!" He also deliberately emphasized the word "shaman".

Caesars nodded, indicating that he understood what Trum said, but then he continued, "Yes, your ancestor was indeed a shaman. But don't forget, it was my ancestor who led your ancestors away from Roland Continent. I'm sure this matter is mentioned in the legends passed down by your tribe. If your ancestor is really dead, why haven't we found his grave?"

Caesar's words flashed like a bolt of lightning across the night sky, instantly leaving many of the elder ogres stunned. They began to diligently recall the ancient legends passed down orally, trying to find some clue to confirm Caesar's words. For a moment, the entire scene fell into an unusual silence, broken only by the occasional sound of heavy breathing.