Ultragene Warlord

e.
Isn ’t that so? ”

Li Feng nodded.
”I suppose that ’s reasonable. ”

The golden mammoth continued, ”Of course, the primary reason is that you ’ve conveyed your feelings to me through your swordsmanship. ”

That…
was a very wuxia-flavored answer.

Li Feng strode forward, lifted the golden mammoth, and slung him around his shoulders.

The golden mammoth suddenly requested, ”Can you haul me on your back in a different position? This is how you ’d carry me to the herd if I were your prey! ”

”You ’re rather demanding, aren ’t you? ” In the end, Li Feng didn ’t adjust how the mammoth was slung on his back.

Although the draconians had provided Li Feng with some information about the mammoth lands, this was the first time Li Feng had witnessed it for himself.

There were eight volcanoes in the region, with the one in the middle being the largest.
The other seven surrounded the central volcano in a rough ring.
All eight volcanos were active, and smoke trailed out of their craters.
They warmed up the mammoths that gathered around them.

The golden mammoth explained, ”Because of the warmer climate around the volcanoes, there are more prey in the region. ”

The lifeforms of this frozen world had unwillingly adapted to the cold; they preferred slightly warmer climates.
Of course, that didn ’t mean that they wanted the climate of the equator rather than of the North Pole, but rather that they sought spots of warmth—exactly like the volcanoes would provide.

The nearby volcanoes meant that the ground around the mammoths wasn ’t frozen, and was far more convenient and comfortable than the rest of the land. 

The genetic lifeforms tended to be active in the vicinity of the volcano.
None approached the volcanoes directly given the presence of the mammoth herd and the fact that they wanted warmth, not extreme heat. 

As more genetic lifeforms gathered around the volcanoes, so too did their predators.
Thanks to the large numbers of lifeforms around, there were plenty of lifeforms for the mammoths to hunt.
No longer did they have to wander hundreds of kilometers away or hunt on precarious terrain like a frozen river.

The mammoths even tried to grow plants and vegetables in order to add variety and essential nutrients to their diet, in the same way that housecats would sometimes consume weeds and wild grass to deal with the accumulated fat in their stomach.

In the past, the mammoths had had to trade for such precious supplies, but now, they could even grow their own sustenance.

Li Feng ’s eyesight was very developed, and he could see pillars of flame from afar, which rose and fell in sync with a pulse from the ground.

The golden mammoth explained, ”We craft and forge our weapons from the earth ’s fire.
Although we learned how to forge weapons from humans, it was far too expensive for us to maintain other types of forges in this weather.
Our wise ancestors were the ones who thought of this idea. ”

Li Feng rolled his eyes.
”And then, the intelligence and wisdom amassed throughout generations of hard work—your herdleader destroyed it all! ”

The golden mammoth ’s face turned downcast.
”I won ’t judge the herdleader for his actions.
Although he had truly grown too arrogant by his demise, he has contributed greatly to the clan himself.
His accomplishments shouldn ’t be judged by our contemporaries, but rather by our descendants. ”

Li Feng contemplated, ”A wise leader making a terrible mistake near the end of his life? I can ’t help but feel a sense of deja vu… ”

The mammoth lands were divided into an inner and an outer sanctuary.
The inner sanctuary consisted of mud houses, along with a simple wall formed from bricks of ice.
The outer sanctuary had igloos.

Li Feng asked, ”What separates these two regions? ”

”The warriors live on the outskirts, while the women, children, and elderly live within. ”

”Oh? It looks like your herd is surprisingly harmonious. ” Li Feng was a little shocked that the warriors who fought on behalf of the herd were willing to sleep in such icy quarters.

The golden mammoth peered at him strangely.
”You don ’t think we would separate our community into serfs and lords, do you? ”

”Don ’t your warriors mind? ” Didn ’t they think that shedding blood for the clan made them deserve better treatment?

The golden mammoth shook his head.
”This frozen world is a worse place to live in than the draconian world, than wherever you humans live.
The threat of frightening beasts lies all around us.
I freely admit that.
It ’s precisely because we need to protect our herd that we warriors have to fight, to guard, to defend.
All mammoths, once they come of age, become warriors that contribute to the safety of the tribe. ”

The mammoths thought this a natural progression of life, but Li Feng somewhat pitied the mammoths for not having even the right to decide their own fate.

Peering carefully at Li Feng, the golden mammoth added, ”You pity us? We disagree.
Only a few talented mammoths are willing to become smiths for the tribe, and only because the herdleader forced them to.
We never have enough smiths, since being a warrior is a matter of peerless honor. ”

Li Feng sighed.
”It ’s clear that your herdleader was excellent at brainwashing the entire herd. ”