Chapter 78: Unyielding
Chapter 78: Unyielding
This time coming back to the Great World, Gao Jing only spent a day and a night in the wild.
In the afternoon of the second day, he rode the Giant Rhinoceros Beast back to Shan Yue Village.
At the village fort’s big gate, Gao Jing did not see Shan Guoer.
“You’re looking for Little Guoer?”
Just as Gao Jing was looking around, a Shan Yue Giant holding a huge stone ball walked over.
He said in a deep, muffled voice, “She isn’t here.”
Gao Jing wasn’t surprised.
The little girl obviously didn’t expect him back so soon.
He bowed on the beast’s back towards the other, “Hello, Brother Shan Tai.”
This burly Giant was Shan Tai, the strongest Totem Warrior in the Shan Yue Tribe.
Because their sizes were hugely different, communication was inconvenient.
So up until now, although Gao Jing had built a friendly relationship with the Shan Yue Tribe, those he really dealt with numbered very few, just the Elder Shaman, Shan Guoer, and a couple of others.
Yet this didn’t stop Gao Jing from admiring this Giant before him.
Shan Tai was only twenty-nine this year, but already a high-tier Totem Warrior with strong hopes of advancing to Great Totem Warrior.
He securely held the position as second in command within the Shan Yue Tribe, his prestige second only to the Elder Shaman.
And Shan Tai had five wives!
So far, however, Shan Tai only had two children.
When not out hunting, he usually played ball on the Training Ground in front of the village fort.
Gao Jing was not afraid of this powerful Giant Warrior.
Because the people of the Shan Yue Tribe were all very simple and honest, Shan Tai included.
“I’ll take you up.”
Shan Tai dropped the stone ball and reached out his huge hand to Gao Jing.
“Thank you.”
Gao Jing knew that being too polite would only confuse this Giant.
So he jumped onto Shan Tai’s giant palm.
This was also a sign of trust.
Shan Tai lifted his hand and placed Gao Jing on his shoulder. After making sure Gao Jing was seated securely, he strode off towards the mountain trail.
His pace was much faster than Shan Guoer.
One step covered four or five stone steps easily. In no time, they reached the Elder Shaman’s dwelling.
“Thank you!”
Gao Jing leaped down from Shan Tai’s shoulder, instantly dropping over ten meters.
He landed steadily on the ground.
Shan Tai didn’t leave. He lowered his head and asked, “I hear you are going to become a Totem Warrior?”
“Yes.”
Gao Jing looked up and answered, “I’ve had the Primordial Totem inked. I’ve come back to ask the Shaman Chief to help me advance.”
“Hmm.”
Shan Tai nodded, “After you succeed in advancing, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come ask me.”
“Thank you.”
Gao Jing expressed his gratitude for the goodwill again, “I will.”
“No need to be polite.”
Shan Tai’s mouth stretched, revealing a smile, “You brought precious salt to our tribe.”
Gao Jing flushed with embarrassment, “It was only natural.”
Gao Jing bringing salt to the Shan Yue Tribe was just a trade. Yet the Giants had given him unimaginable rewards!
Moreover, this time, to achieve transcendence as quickly as possible, he hadn’t first gone to gather Power of Faith.
So he hadn’t brought much salt back.
Thinking about it, he felt a bit ashamed!
“Gao Jing!”
Just then, a wooden door ahead opened, and Shan Guoer poked her head out from inside.
She spotted Gao Jing standing on the ground instantly.
Surprised and delighted, she said, “You’re back?”
Gao Jing grinned, “Yes, I’m back!”
Shan Tai turned to leave, “You guys talk then. I’ll be going.” He left straightforwardly and quickly.
Shan Guoer gleefully pulled Gao Jing inside the wooden house and led him to the Elder Shaman.
“Grandpa! Gao Jing is back!”
The Elder Shaman looked a little surprised, “You finished the Titan Totem?”
Gao Jing immediately took off his jacket and the vest beneath, revealing the tattoo on his back to show him.
The Elder Shaman lowered his head, squinted his eyes, and examined it carefully for a while.
Then he nodded and said, “Very good. The skills of your folk are quite outstanding. No problems at all.”
Gao Jing couldn’t resist asking, “So, can I advance now?”
“Of course.”
The Elder Shaman smiled slightly, “Right away!”
Yes!
Gao Jing pumped his fist excitedly.
He had poured endless sweat and effort into this moment! He had also waited a long time for it!
Naturally, he was extremely excited.
The Elder Shaman brought over a thick wooden board and placed it on the table.
This round, dark brown board was about four meters in diameter, covered densely with countless mysterious runes. The markings were packed so tightly it was dizzying to look at.
At the edges of the board were embedded five glowing white gemstones.
Each gem was about the size of a fist.
But their shapes weren all regular or uniform.
“Stand here.”
The Elder Shaman pointed to the center of the board and said, “You don’t need to put the clothes back on.”
“Alright.”
Gao Jing immediately dropped the clothes in his hands and strode onto the sigil board.
Following the Elder Shaman’s instructions, he stood right in the center of the sigil board.
Gao Jing felt this sigil board beneath his feet was very likely prepared specifically for him by the Elder Shaman.
And it was made ahead of time.
Otherwise, if meant for a Giant Warrior, it wouldn’t be this size, only this big.
“I will now awaken the Totemic Power for you…”
The Elder Shaman waited for Gao Jing to stand steady, then solemnly declared: “But succeeding in your ascension depends on your willpower.”
“Only those who pass the trial gain true power!”
Gao Jing nodded firmly.
He gripped the Bronze Anchor hanging on his chest. Strangely, his heart felt completely calm now.
The Elder Shaman waited a moment.
Then he extended the index finger of his right hand and pressed it down on one of the white gemstones embedded in the sigil board.
He gently rubbed it a few times.
The gemstone instantly erupted with dazzling light!
It was like a button. The moment it was pressed, the entire sigil board activated.
The other five gemstones, along with the intricate sigil lines carved onto the board’s surface, rapidly lit up. Columns of white light shot upwards.
Completely surrounding Gao Jing!
Instantly, Gao Jing felt his vision fill with blinding white. He couldn’t see anything clearly.
He certainly couldn’t see the Titan Totem tattoo on his back swiftly turning a bright, crimson red.
So vivid it looked like blood was about to drip!
The next second, Gao Jing couldn’t suppress a low groan.
His back felt like it was being pressed with a massive piece of red-hot branding iron. Severe pain pierced ruthlessly through his skin.
Seeping into his flesh and bones!
Gao Jing hadn’t forgotten the Elder Shaman’s warning. He gritted his teeth and endured it anyway.
If this was the necessary trial to awaken the Totemic Power.
Then he could absolutely withstand it!
Bring it on!!
However, the pain in his body lasted only a moment.
Then vanished completely.
Just as Gao Jing was puzzling over this, the scene before him changed dramatically.
Gao Jing found himself standing within a completely unfamiliar world.
Beneath his feet stretched endless, vast earth. Above, a boundless sky.
Boom~
A deep roar reached Gao Jing’s ears from far away. It seemed to come from ancient wilderness, filled with immense desolation.
Immediately after, a white figure appeared within his line of sight.
It was unmistakably an elephant!
Treading with heavy steps, the elephant moved towards Gao Jing.
Its size grew larger and larger, its height kept increasing, its enormous body blotting out the sky.
Faced with this colossal elephant, Gao Jing felt incredibly small!
The elephant stared at Gao Jing, looking down upon him like an ant. Its eyes were utterly cold.
Imposing infinite pressure upon Gao Jing.
At this moment, Gao Jing desperately wanted to turn and run.
Instinctive fear made him tremble uncontrollably. He lowered his head.
Yet, a voice in his mind told Gao Jing.
He absolutely must not flee.
He absolutely must not yield!
Never!!
Suddenly, he clenched his fists tightly and forcefully raised his head again.
He glared directly into the elephant’s eyes.
The heat of his blood and his fighting spirit ignited instantly throughout his whole body!
The pupils in both of Gao Jing’s eyes simultaneously narrowed vertically.
Crimson like fire!
ROAR~
It roared like thunder.
Shaking heaven and earth!