(4) The Great Emperor and the Girl
The Great Wilderness remained unchanged.
The former Thunderclap Tribe had, with the support of the Blood Crow Clan, become the largest tribe in the Northern Wilderness.
Today was the day Lei Ming, chief of the Thunderclap Tribe, would be ennobled.
For thirteen years, the Thunderclap Tribe had been utterly loyal to the Blood Crow Clan. At last, the Blood Crow Clan had bestowed upon them the title of King of the Northern Wilderness.
It was the highest honor.
The Thunderclap Tribe was festooned with lanterns and decorations, and people from every tribe had arrived.
The Blood Crow Tribe had sent ten young men, and the Thunderclap Tribe had presented them with hundreds of beautiful women.
Then one of the young men took a crown woven from Blood Crow feathers and placed it on Lei Ming's head.
Below, many tribal chiefs watched with envy in their eyes.
A few chiefs, however, looked on coldly.
"Thank you, Father Clan. From this day forward, Lei Ming will serve you with even greater devotion, fight for you, and defend the Northern Wilderness for you!"
A heroic ruler of his generation, Lei Ming, chief of the Thunderclap Tribe, knelt obsequiously before a young man.
The young man held the crown, about to place it on Lei Ming's head.
But just then, cries of alarm suddenly rang out from outside.
"Disaster! There's a fire!"
"Fires have broken out all over the tribe!"
The shouts cut sharply through the joyous atmosphere.
"My lord, please continue..."
But Lei Ming paid them no heed.
At that moment, all he cared about was the crown!
The young man who was to crown him nodded indifferently as well.
But just then, several enormous fireballs were hurled into the hall, and flames burst open!
"What's