Chapter 112: A New Home, A New Start
Chapter 112: A New Home, A New Start
Autumn had truly come.
It seemed that overnight, the temperature had plummeted.
Everyone felt autumn’s bleakness spreading.
In the mountains and forests near Shan Yue Village, large swaths of trees were dyed the color of the sunset’s afterglow.
It looked incredibly beautiful.
Meanwhile, the Savage Oxen and Horned Sheep roaming the Wilderness were rapidly disappearing.
They were migrating south in large herds towards warmer lands.
But the Shan Yue Tribe could not follow these Wild Beasts away, even though they were a primary food source.
Under these circumstances, stockpiling supplies for winter became the village fort’s most critical task.
Some time ago, the unexpected incident involving Outcasts that Gao Jing and Shan Guoer encountered had created a considerable disturbance within the tribe.
Shan Tai led a squad of elite Totem Warriors, scouring the surrounding areas.
They found no signs of a large invading group of Outcasts.
The previous incident seemed to have been just bad luck.
As time passed, the tension in the hearts of the Shan Yue Giants gradually eased.
Apart from maintaining necessary vigilance and defenses, the daily tasks of hunting and gathering had resumed.
Everyone worked hard, racing against time.
They needed to prepare enough food and medicinal herbs before the first snowfall.
During this period, Gao Jing had been staying within the village fort.
He practiced the Ten Thousand Beasts Combat Art, tempered his body, refined his Totemic Power, and solidified his supernatural foundation!
From Totem Warrior to Great Totem Warrior, initial-rank, high-rank to peak-rank.
It was a step-by-step climb.
There were no shortcuts.
Rapid cultivation progress wasn’t necessarily a good thing.
It easily left behind too many hidden flaws.
Under the guidance of the eledr shaman and Shan Tai, Gao Jing focused his mind and diligently honed himself.
Although his cultivation rank hadn’t advanced, his mastery of supernatural power had reached a new level!
His actual combat ability had made quite significant progress!
“Gao Jing!”
A call from the direction of the wooden houses made Gao Jing stop his training.
Gao Jing stood atop a giant boulder.
He wore only black high-elasticity shorts.
The shorts were stretched tight over his expanded frame, his powerful muscles sharply defined, radiating sheer strength.
He exhaled a long breath of stale air.
Gao Jing drew the Totemic Power coursing through his body back into the Crimson Python Rune.
The Titan Totem glowing faintly on his back quietly faded beneath his skin.
His enlarged body swiftly returned to its normal size.
While zealously practicing the Ten Thousand Beasts Combat Art and refining his Totemic Power, Gao Jing never neglected his training of the Titan Totem.
According to the elder shaman, Primordial Totems were equals; none were inherently superior to others.
The strength and might a Primordial Totem could unleash depended entirely on the bearer’s own talent and effort.
The very same totem,
on two people with identical overall strength, might produce vastly different results!
Although the elder shaman initially hadn’t held much hope for the Titan Totem, Gao Jing had chosen it.
He was committed to cultivating it to its very limit.
He passionately yearned to one day transform into a true Giant, wielding unimaginable power!
It wouldn’t be easy.
In fact, it was a challenge of immense difficulty.
When he had first received the Titan Totem, activating its power could enlarge Gao Jing to a height of 2.5 meters.
Now, his strength and cultivation had seen considerable progress.
Yet, the increase in his giant form was minimal.
Gains in size were entirely disproportionate to gains in power!
But Gao Jing felt not the slightest bit discouraged.
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step; the longest march is completed step by step.
Even if he only grew one millimeter taller each day,
it was worth putting in a hundred percent effort!
He picked up a towel from the ground and wiped the sweat from his body.
Gao Jing pulled on his outer robe.
He leaped down from the giant boulder.
Landing steadily on a wooden walkway below.
The start of this newly built walkway was beside a mountain stream linked to the deep pool.
It passed by the giant boulder, leading to a wooden house at the edge of the forest.
That was Gao Jing’s new home.
He was now fully accepted as a true member of Shan Yue Village Fort, welcomed into the hearts of all the Giants.
The elder shaman generously gifted the land nestled deepest within the valley.
As Gao Jing’s home within the village fort.
As for rent or similar matters, this shaman chief never even mentioned it.
Moreover, at least half the tribe members had taken part in building Gao Jing’s new house.
This enabled it to be completed with astonishing speed.
The Shan Yue Giants had good reason to feel gratitude and repay Gao Jing.
Not only had he brought precious coarse salt to the tribe, but he had also brought joy to the children.
Every child in the village had tasted his candy.
When the house was being built, these little rascals all eagerly came to help.
Walking along the long walkway, Gao Jing soon arrived at the largest wooden house.
His new home consisted of one large and two smaller wooden buildings.
The outermost and largest house served as the living and dining room; behind it were the other two: one a living quarter with a study, and the other housing a bathroom and kitchen.
The design of the house was completed by Gao Jing himself, referencing the style of a country villa.
Though he didn’t know much about architecture.
Even without personal experience, he had general knowledge.
He simply sketched the rough outline with charcoal on animal hide, then gave it to the old giant Shan Teng, who was responsible for building.
Then told the latter his requirements.
The combined villa finally built basically met Gao Jing’s needs.
And it used extravagantly tough materials.
Additionally, a small wooden hut stood separately outside the villa.
Reserved for housing a generator later.
Actually, Gao Jing could put the purchased generator in anytime to charge the Bronze Anchor.
The problem was he couldn’t explain where it came from!
He could only wait until next time.
“Gao Jing!”
He had just entered the house.
Shan Guoer shouted: “Come and eat!”
A steaming earthenware pot, along with one large and one small clay bowl, sat on the dining table.
The air was filled with a strong herbal scent.
The little girl knelt on the wooden stool, scooping chunks of beast meat and herbal broth from the pot with a wooden ladle.
She filled Gao Jing’s small bowl first.
To the brim.
Gao Jing jumped onto the high table and smiled: “That’s enough, don’t spill it.”
Shan Guoer brought him meals morning and night every day now, practicing martial arts together with him.
She also slept here at night.
The two were almost like real family.
A new beginning in the new home.
Woof woof!
Smelling the meat, Ah Huang wagged his tail by the table, looking up eagerly at the little girl dividing the meat.
This fellow had grown quite a bit.
Not as cute as before, but looked more formidable like a mountain guard dog.
He would surely become a loyal and excellent hunting dog in the future!
“Don’t be impatient.”
Shan Guoer hadn’t forgotten him.
After filling a whole bowl with herbal stew for Gao Jing, she fished out a chunk of cooked beast meat and tossed it to Ah Huang.
Ah Huang wolfed it down immediately.
Not at all afraid of burning his mouth.
Gao Jing sat down and began eating the meat and drinking the broth in big mouthfuls.
Every single meal included the thick herbal stew.
He had long grown tired of its taste.
But it was essential nourishments for tempering his body and refining Totemic Power. He had to force it down even if he vomited.
Otherwise, his body couldn’t support his daily expenditure.
After vomiting multiple times,
he got used to it.
“Gao Jing.”
Shan Guoer suddenly asked: “Where’s Nine Apertures gone? Why haven’t I seen it?”
Nine Apertures was the name Gao Jing gave to the Earth Spirit Cat Soul.
Gao Jing hadn’t let the little creature out for a while.
Because the Gangpo Stone where it resided was consumed too quickly.
Last time he returned to the Primary World, he only thought about finding a way to counter the Sin Giant.
He hadn’t considered this matter at all.
He found it hard to explain properly to the little girl, so he made up an excuse: “It needs to rest for some time.”
“Huh?”
Shan Guoer pouted: “How long does it need?”
She liked Nine Apertures a lot.
Though to her, it was only the size of a speck.
But it was super adorable!
“Soon.”
Gao Jing figured it was about time for him to return to the Primary World again.
On one hand, he needed to continue purchasing Coarse Salt for the Shan Yue Tribe, to meet their needs throughout the winter.
Additionally, there were several things to deal with back in the Primary World too.
Considering the threat of the Outcasts was gone, Gao Jing thought returning should be fine.
Right then, a giant appeared at the door.
It was Shan Tai.
The Totem Warrior asked gravely: “Gao Jing, we’re hunting the Sabertooth Tiger tomorrow. Will you join us?”
Hunt the Sabertooth Tiger?
Gao Jing’s eyes brightened instantly. He stood up and answered without hesitation: “Yes!”
He had long heard tales of the Sabertooth Tiger.
Now knowing he could join—or well, observe—the hunt,
this was an opportunity he absolutely couldn’t miss!
Across the table, Shan Guoer blinked.
She seemed to want to say something, but swallowed her words back down.
And obediently continued eating her meat.