415 Competing for Hegemony?

"Celestial Water Spark? What is that?" Leon asked with surprise. 

"The Celestial Water Spark is a celestial object, filled with an unfathomable amount of power. Don't ask me where it came from, though. I don't know much about that. Maybe the Dark family—Ahem, I mean maybe Chief Valencia knows more about this."

After Leon turned to face Chief Valencia, she pondered for a moment before deciding there was no need to keep such a secret.

"It's no big secret, really. The Celestial Water Spark was, as you would expect, it was found underground, a long time ago when our predecessors decided to pioneer in the Infertile Plains for a new place to live, away from the cold winters of the Northern Snowlands." Chief Valencia said.

"I see." Leon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 

He was filled with doubts about this Celestial Water Spark. Anything with 'Celestial' in its name cannot possibly be ordinary.

"So, this celestial object has always been hidden underground since its discovery? No one tried to take it away? Not even once?"

"Hahaha, in history, people naturally have. Who wouldn't want to get their hands on a celestial object with the power to produce an unlimited amount of water? Whoever wields it gets to control the fate of all humans living on the Infertile Plains."

"However, it is not that easy. People fought for it, but they could not even get close to touching it when the victor tried reaching for it. After all, celestial objects are capable of changing the surrounding environment itself. The Water Veins weren't naturally formed by nature, but due to the high-pressured water from the Celestial Water Spark drilling its way through the earth." 

After listening to Chief Valencia's talk of the celestial object, Leon vaguely started to guess what the Celestial Water Spark was.

To be able to change its surrounding environment implies that the Celestial Water Spark contained an extreme power of law. Furthermore, it had 'Celestial' in its name. This cannot be a mere coincidence.

After knowing that Transcendents leave behind Transcendent Crystals after their deaths, Leon had wondered what Celestials would have left behind.

At this moment, he might have found his answer. 

"Seems like this Celestial Water Spark is very amazing, huh? But who decided that its power was inexhaustible? How was this determined?" Leon asked.

"This…"

Chief Valencia was rendered speechless by Leon's question. She had no way to prove her answer's authenticity, even if she could provide one for Leonhardt.

Seeing Chief Valencia was silent, Leon asks, "Does the Great Ironhawk Tribe guard the Celestial Water Spark?"

"No, but the Black Warbear Tribe next to the Great Ironhawk Tribe does." Master Woodrow answered for Chief Valencia.

"The Black Warbear Tribe? How strong are they?"

"Strong, very strong! As a tribe with five living Battle Kings, they are among the strongest tribes within the Infertile Plains and can be considered a ruling tribe."

"Hmm… that is to say that if the Black Warbear Tribe to the Great Ironhawk Tribe, they would obey it?" Leon asked an important question.

"Oh?" Master Woodrow furrowed his brows and asked back, "Do you think the Black Warbear Tribe ordered the Great Ironhawk Tribe to destroy our Water Veins?" 

"I cannot be sure, but think of it this way. Suppose the Celestial Water Spark is truly running out of power, and the Water Veins of tribes situated outside of the central region are all destroyed. Who do you think will be the biggest beneficiary in this ordeal?" 

Chief Valencia and Master Woodrow immediately felt heavy as they pondered in silence with a solemn expression. 

"If all the Water Veins are cut off, only the one situated closest to the Celestial Water Spark will still have access to water at its source," Leon added.

"Do you believe the celestial object is truly running out of power, Little Brother Leonhardt? Just give me your honest opinion. Whatever you say, I will take it as the truth." Master Woodrow said, placing great trust in Leon. He was the first to deny Leon's claim but also the first to support his guesses. It was quite ironic. 

Leon shook his head and said, "I honestly don't know unless we can obtain more vital information. However, I cannot think of another reason why the Great Ironhawk Tribe would risking starting a war with multiple tribes to destroy the Water Veins. They are strong, but not strong enough to take on the combined might of seven—Well, six other tribes now."

"…Not unless they have the backing of the Black Warbear Tribe." Master Woodrow said thoughtfully.

"Exactly my point."

At that moment, Chief Valencia suddenly spoke, "Let us say that the Celestial Water Spark is running out of celestial power to produce more water. Even if the Black Warbear Tribe is destroying the Water Veins to enjoy more water for themselves, they are not so strong that they can cover the entire Infertile Plains with one hand. If they are unwilling to share their water, they will only be destroyed under everyone's fury."

"Yes, I have also thought about this point. However, what if their goal were never to destroy other tribes and save more water for themselves, but to gather everyone for something else entirely?" 

"You mean…?" 

"No matter how much water is saved, it will still be gone once the Celestial Water Spark runs out of power eventually."

The one who suddenly said this was Darlene. 

Chief Valencia and Master Woodrow turned their gazes to focus on her, causing Darlene to feel slightly embarrassed and fidget nervously. Perhaps, it was not her place to interrupt their serious conversation.

Leon reached out his hand towards her, causing her to cower slightly and shut her eyes. However, the expected hit did not arrive. Instead, she felt a hand pat her on the head and gently caressed her.

She reopened her eyes to Leon's warm expression. All the apprehension and extraneous thoughts that she might have overstepped her boundaries were immediately washed away in that instance.

"Yes, it's exactly as Darlene has said. No matter how much water is saved, it will all be gone eventually." Leon continued the topic and said, "So, why not give it all away to buy everyone's loyalty and achieve hegemony under the Black Warbear Tribe?"

Hegemony!

The word immediately gave everyone goosebumps and made their blood boil with excitement.

However, their minds were shortly brought to reality upon further thought. Only the strongest tribe can become a hegemon. The Darkmoon Tribe was far from this level.

Chief Valencia frowned and said, "If the Black Warbear Tribe wants to achieve hegemony, it still won't be easy. The Holy Sunfire Tribe, Mighty Whitewolf Tribe, and Divine Tortoise Tribe will not agree to their hegemony without a fight."

"Those tribes are…?"

"They are also ruling tribes with five living Battle Kings."

The corners of Leon's lips shortly twitched after Chief Valencia answered his question. 

The Infertile Plains did not seem like they had a lot of Battle Kings when looking at each tribe individually, but there is actually quite a number of them when pooled together.

"It seems like the fight for hegemony will be quite ferocious in the near future… In any case, all of these are just hypothetic guesses. However, The Great Ironhawk Tribe trying to destroy our Water Vein was real. What will you do about this, Chief Valencia?" Leon asked.

Darlene and Master Woodrow both turned to face Chief Valencia, awaiting her decision. Whether she wants war or not, her decision will affect the entire Darkmoon Tribe.

Chief Valencia tapped her foot in thought for some time before she stated, "We will not take any action against the Great Ironhawk Tribe for now. I'm going to summon the other tribes in the alliance to a summit to discuss what we talked about today."

"Understood."

Leon nodded.

Chief Valencia made a wise choice.

If the Celestial Water Spark dries up in the future, the Infertile Plains will become inhabitable with the absence of water. A large-scale migration will occur, and a fierce war for territory will be fought in the new land.

The local power would not allow such a large-scale migration of people to take over their territory without fighting. 

Leon did not know how strong the regional powers outside of the Infertile Plains were, but he can expect the battle to be a giant bloodbath.

The Darkmoon Tribe might not be able to survive this. 

Of course, another option could be opened to them if he decides to build a large Teleportation Array and bring them over to the Human Domain.

'I wonder how much time the Infertile Plains have…' He silently pondered.