Chapter 1322: Chapter 1322

Between the lakeside plains of the Wiyot people and the river valley of the Tolowa Tribes are isolated peaks and high mountains over three hundred miles, along with towering and dense redwood forests. This magnificent redwood forest is one of the oldest forests in the world. The ancient giant redwoods grow on the coastal mountains, and giant trees can be seen everywhere, with treetops reaching tens or hundreds of meters into the sky. They seem like elders from the wilderness, calmly overlooking the tranquil sea and the longships rowing across it.

Scholar Mikki stood at the flagship’s railing, gazing up at the giants in the mountain from the East, his eyes full of awe. His gaze fell upon an especially tall and striking ancient redwood, and he murmured in astonishment.

"Chief Divine! Such a tall Divine Tree! It must be the tallest giant tree on all the lands of the world!"

"The Chief Divine blesses us! To have such tall ancient trees! If used as the main trunk, it might be possible to build a giant longship over a hundred meters long!..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro widened his eyes, also gazing up at the Divine Wood appearing along the coast with an incredible expression.

"Ah! The ancient Divine Tree! The Giant God Tree spoken of by the Shaman!"

Seeing the Divine Tree, Cloaked Hunter Le Tian was also surprised. He directly prostrated himself on the deck, sincerely worshiping towards the East. Then, he excitedly spoke to Mikki.

"I’ve heard of this tree! The Giant God Tree is very famous among the Northern Tribes! Beyond it lies the territory of the Tolowa tribes!"

At this moment, the excited trio was unaware that this towering ancient redwood would later be known as the "Hyperion tree," the tallest known tree in the world, standing an astonishing 116 meters tall!

Such height is excessively prominent, visible from dozens of miles away. It thus serves not only as the Divine Tree for the surrounding Indian tribes and a symbol of the ancient forest, but also as a nautical landmark for navigation.

"No, no! I must give it, oh, give it a name!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro, stunned for a moment, suddenly became excited.

"This is an unprecedented Divine Tree! It’s the Chief Divine’s revelation and the blessing of the Chief Divine! We’ll call it... Divine Revelation Tree!"

Hearing such a name, Scholar Mikki pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. He looked at the dusk sky, then instructed the fleet to stop, land on the coast for rest, and joyfully announced to everyone:

"Praise the Chief Divine! This Divine Revelation Tree is an auspicious sign of the blessing from the Chief Divine and a symbol of the Prophecy, which will bless our northward voyage!" Thɪs chapter is updated by novel⁂fire.net

Upon hearing this proclamation and seeing the real Divine Tree, the morale of the entire fleet markedly soared.

"The Chief Divine blesses us! Praise Your Majesty! Safe voyage north!..."

The whole crew rested for a night under the Divine Revelation Tree, feeling the call of the ancient forest. After the morning prayers on the second day, the fleet set off again. The morning light from the East fell on the redwood forest, casting shadows on the deep blue sea, making it feel as if they were sailing through a sea of trees.

"Chief Divine! What a spectacular sailing sight! This must be an auspicious omen!..."

Scholar Mikki, gazing at the sea of trees, prayed for a while, then spoke with a smile.

"Zuwaro, you were right! These tall and sturdy redwood trees indeed make excellent shipbuilding material for building unprecedented large ships!"

"Of course! If the Kingdom has enough manpower in the Northern Land, establishing a shipyard and harvesting these tall redwoods for shipbuilding... we could even create longships two or three times larger than now!"

Exploration Captain Zuwaro, looking far at these redwoods and the ancient and wild coast, had his thoughts drift away and then return.

"It’s a pity! We don’t have that many people here!..."

Scholar Mikki silently nodded. He pondered for a moment and then switched topics with a smile.

"Zuwaro, how did you come up with the idea to fire the cannon-spreading faith at the wedding of the Western Bee Priest?"

"Haha! Mikki, when spreading faith, the more people, the better! I figured before the fleet leaves, it’s at least necessary to leave the Chief Divine’s name! When there’s an opportunity, you must seize it..."

Exploration Captain Zuwaro, grinning, felt proud of his exquisite thought. Then, with some concern, he spoke.

"The upcoming Northern Tribes, it’s unknown how they’ve received the Kingdom Fleet! Don’t forget, the Shaman’s token may not be effective further north. Moreover, some tribes lack a common language..."

Perhaps it was the Divine Tree’s blessing, but Zuwaro’s words seemed enlightened. After the fleet traveled over three hundred miles north from Lake Garden Tribe, they arrived at the Redwood Tribe, the Tolowa tribe closest to the Redwood Forest. However, faced with the sudden appearance of five longships, the Tolowa people of the Redwood Tribe quickly mobilized. Armed with Stone Spears, Hunting Bows, and Javelins, they shouted loudly toward the coast, seemingly ever ready to engage with the fleet.

"Chief Divine! Why are these Tolowa tribes so vigilant? It doesn’t seem easy to get along..."

Scholar Mikki shook his head and looked at the curious and observing Cloaked Hunter.

"Le Tian, has the Cedar Shaman had any dealings with these Tolowa tribes?"

"Hmm... maybe? The Cedar Shaman said he sensed great spirits under the Giant God Tree and even treated some encountered Tolowa Hunters... likely from this tribe! I’ll go ask!"

With that said, Cloaked Hunter Le Tian jumped ashore, holding up the Cedar Shaman’s wood carving, shouting a few phrases reminiscent of a shaman’s spell. The Tolowa Hunters hesitated for a moment before a burly Hunter emerged. He carefully examined the wood carving for a moment, then with an excited expression, shouted loudly.

"Co’is! Tsił’ii hewon! Friends! Welcome-worthy people!"

"Tuowu! Are you sure they are friends from the South?"

Hearing the shout from the burly Hunter, another middle-aged man wearing a Deer Antler Hat stepped forward, cautiously asking.

"Not our enemies? Not people summoned by the Leaf Grass Tribe?"

"Great Chieftain! I’m sure! This is the Cedar Shaman’s wood carving from the South, they must be from the Shaman’s tribe! Over ten years ago, the Cedar Shaman went to the Redwood Sacred Land, and there treated the tribe’s hunters and even cured my persistent ailment!"

Saying this, Hunter Tuowu’s expression was filled with excitement. He had been unable to have children before but drank the herbal tea given by the Shaman for a month upon returning to his tribe, immediately seeing a miraculous effect. Later, he often hoped to find the Cedar Shaman again, even visiting southern tribes to get more herbal tea... but unfortunately, he never encountered him again.

"People of the Cedar Shaman..."

Wearing the Deer Antler Hat, Great Chieftain pondered for a moment, carefully observing the attire of the fleet guards before finally nodding his head.

"Since they have no relation with the Leaf Grass Tribe, they are not enemies! Tuowu, you know the language of the Southern Tribes, so you must speak with them!"

"Our Redwood Tribe welcomes friends, especially those who can fight alongside us! But if secretly collaborating with the Leaf Grass Tribe to plot against the tribe’s village, hunting grounds, and fields, it shall be not to die!..."

After hearing this, Hunter Tuowu nodded heavily. He followed Cloaked Hunter Le Tian and boarded the longship he’d never seen before, using Maidu, which is in the same language family as Miwock, to speak solemnly.

"Friends from the Cedar Shaman’s tribe in the South! The earlier hostility was just a misunderstanding! Our Redwood Tribe has been fighting against the northern enemy, the Leaf Grass Tribe, these past few years. It’s a tough battle requiring constant vigilance!..."

"You’ve come from the Redwood Sacred Land in the South on longships to trade with us? Or do you wish to join us and fight the evil Leaf Grass Tribe in the North together?"