Chapter 187: Legacy Stone
Chapter 187: Legacy Stone
Nearly all shamans of the Great Wilderness began as warriors or Totem Warriors.
A shaman’s cultivation and spellcasting always consumed some vital source. Although medicines or treasures could replenish this loss, the accumulated toll on the body remained a heavy burden over time.
Without a strong physique, it was hard for a shaman to persist along the Path of Transcendence.
Normally, those with dual Bloodline Essence started their path as Totem Warriors.
Take Old Shaman Shan Yan for example. He possessed Bloodline Essence of “Earth” and “Spirit.” Before becoming a shaman, he was a High-tier Totem Warrior!
Those with only “Spirit” Bloodline Essence needed, at minimum, to complete the final step of Body Tempering and Bone Refining.
Gao Jing possessed “Fire” and “Spirit” Bloodline Essence. Now he had advanced to become a High-tier Totem Warrior, meeting the full requirements to progress towards becoming a shaman.
In other words, Gao Jing had laid a solid foundation for his mage path!
“But your martial art talent is too strong…”
Old Shaman Shan Yan sighed deeply. “Even among the descendants of the ancient Nine Clans, few have had talent as formidable or remarkable as yours.”
Precisely because of this, he gave Gao Jing two choices.
The first was a normal transition: starting his cultivation as a Witchcraft Scholar immediately, sprinting wholeheartedly towards becoming a full Shaman.
Excellent martial talent didn’t guarantee brilliant shaman talent. Few possessed both. Many powerful talented warriors, upon becoming shamans, just became ordinary.
The second choice was for Gao Jing to delay pursuing the shaman path. Instead, he should continue walking the warrior’s cultivation road.
Advance to become a Great Totem Warrior: Novice, High-Rank, until High-Rank Totem Grand Warrior.
Only after reaching the peak of the Totem Warrior path should he learn the knowledge of shamans and cultivate shamanic spells!
The first choice saved a lot of time because advancement slows down greatly after becoming a Great Totem Warrior.
Within a thousand-mile radius, among dozens of Giant tribes, there was only one High-Rank Totem Grand Warrior.
That was Qinghe City Lord Qing Kui!
This powerful Giant only achieved his final breakthrough at the age of fifty-five.
Without accidents or extraordinary encounters, his cultivation level would remain at High-Rank Totem Grand Warrior for life.
He basically had no chance of stepping into Legend.
Even so, it was a level countless Great Wilderness warriors hoped for but couldn’t reach!
Gao Jing’s martial talent was surely stronger than Qing Kui’s.
But it was hard to say how long he would need to advance to High-Rank Totem Grand Warrior.
“Could I transition to becoming a shaman after advancing to Novice Totem Great Warrior?”
Gao Jing asked curiously at this point.
The old shaman rejected it without hesitation: “It’s best not to do that!”
Because the most crucial step in becoming a Great Totem Warrior was Beast Spirit Fusion.
During the early stages of Beast Spirit Fusion, it would clash with spell cultivation.
This conflict at the root of power could have very severe consequences. Lightly, it could cause a cultivation drop; heavily, it could cost one’s life!
Even if one luckily resolved the power conflict, it would damage their foundation.
A complete loss outweighing any gain.
Shan Yan back then had the full capability to break through and become a Great Totem Warrior. But he transitioned to become a shaman while still a High-tier Totem Warrior.
It was precisely for this reason.
Only when a Great Totem Warrior had completely integrated the Beast Spirit into their bloodline, deriving their own divine abilities, would there be no power conflict when cultivating shamanic magic.
It might even provide a positive boost!
“Shamans who transition after becoming High-Rank Totem Grand Warriors are the strongest Battle Shamans,”
Old Shaman Shan Yan told Gao Jing. “This is the best choice if you enjoy battle!”
Shamans of the Great Wilderness fell into three main types: Battle Shamans, Sage Shamans, and Artificer Shamans.
Battle Shamans, as the name suggested, were the best at fighting. They could deftly weave Combat Techniques and shamanic arts to defeat enemies.
Wearing heavy armor, staff in the left hand, Battle Axe in the right – this was the signature look of a Battle Shaman.
Battle Shamans cultivated both physique and spirit, though individuals prioritized based on their own circumstances.
Generally, if fists and axes could solve the problem, spells stayed sheathed.
Bringing out both staff and Battle Axe considerably increased their “persuasive power.”
Sage Shamans specialized solely in spirit and spells. They were relatively more “peaceful.” Fighting and killing weren’t usually their thing; holing up in academies or Sorcerer Towers for closed-door cultivation or research was their daily life.
Of course, some Sage Shamans did like combat and adventure.
Such shamans just tended not to live long.
As for Artificer Shamans, they were often called Refining Masters.
They were casters skilled at forging Witch Artifacts and potions, crafting Rune Arrays and Talisman Placards. Sometimes termed Refining Masters.
Things like snow salt, usually only consumed by nobility, were refined from Salt Stone by Artificer Shamans. Shell Coins were also their handiwork. Metal weapons capable of harming Monster Beasts similarly relied on a Refining Master’s abilities.
These three types of shamans formed the complete system of shamanic practitioners in the Great Wilderness. They were the most core and vital pillars of human strength!
Naturally, the lines between Battle Shaman, Sage Shaman, and Artificer Shaman weren’t absolute. It was common for a Battle Shaman to transition into a Sage Shaman or Artificer Shaman.
Some shamans even bore dual identities as both Sage Shamans and Artificer Shamans.
“I was once a Battle Shaman,”
Shan Yan said with a chuckle. “Later, I got old and lacked the strength for hands-on battles. You could say I’m a Sage Shaman now.”
Gao Jing nodded.
The old shaman before him truly looked ancient, seemingly frail enough to be blown over by a breeze.
But thinking him weak would be a huge mistake.
Shan Yan rarely acted not because he couldn’t, but to conserve his vital source, prolonging his life to better guard the tribe.
When he finally acted… the monkeys in the mountains were still clutching rocks and wailing!
“I want to continue my martial art cultivation!”
Gao Jing didn’t ponder long before stating his choice.
Neither Sage Shaman nor Artificer Shaman suited him, nor were they paths he desired.
“Hmm.”
Shan Yan wasn’t surprised. Battle Shaman was naturally Gao Jing’s best option.
He paused thoughtfully, seeming to make a vital decision, his expression turning deeply solemn.
The old shaman grabbed his Staff, unscrewed the head, and tipped out a stone onto the table in front of Gao Jing.
The stone resembled crystal – transparent, flawless, and clear.
Its surface was clearly polished, shimmering with intense light, appearing incredibly beautiful.
It measured forty to fifty centimeters long, about twenty centimeters wide.
Hmm?
Perplexed, Gao Jing looked at Shan Yan.
Though unsure of this stone’s origin, the old shaman’s grave expression signaled its importance.
“This is a Legacy Stone,”
Shan Yan stated solemnly. “It seals the sole inherited secret art of our Shan Yue Tribe.”
“The Shan Yue Refining Spirit Art!”
So-called inherited secret arts actually fell within the realms of shamanic arts and spells.
But bearing such a name required meeting several conditions.
First, they must have a history of inheritance exceeding a thousand years. Second, they were secret techniques passed only via Legacy Stones.
Legacy Stones were coalesced by a Grand Shaman using their own mental power. They contained the Grand Shaman’s entire understanding and experience of the secret art.
Creating one consumed immense mental energy. A single Grand Shaman could only form a few in a lifetime. Like seeds of hope, they were exceedingly precious treasures!
This Legacy Stone Shan Yan offered Gao Jing came from a previous Shan Yue Tribe Shaman Chief.
That Shaman Chief had left behind three Legacy Stones sealing the Shan Yue Refining Spirit Art.
Shan Yan himself had used one.
One he intended for Shan Guoer when she grew up.
And then this one now before Gao Jing.
“This is too precious!”
Gao Jing finally grasped why Shan Yan’s manner was so grave. A sense of unworthiness washed over him.
“Besides Shan Guoer,”
Shan Yan shook his head. “No one in the tribe is better suited than you to learn the Shan Yue Refining Spirit Art. If accepting it troubles you, simply return one stone when you become a Grand Shaman.”
If that was the case, Gao Jing could accept it wholeheartedly.
He respectfully bowed to the old shaman and said with utter gravity: “Shaman Chief, once I achieve Grand Shaman status, I vow to return two Legacy Stones to the tribe!”
The moment he finished speaking, Gao Jing instantly felt something intangible settle upon him!