Chapter 48: Accidental Discovery
Chapter 48: Accidental Discovery
After learning he was a genius in cultivating combat techniques, Gao Jing didn’t slack off in the slightest; in fact, he trained even harder.
He was already twenty-six years old.
By the standards of the Great Wilderness Giants, he was long past the optimal age to start learning martial arts.
It was precisely because of this that Gao Jing was determined to claw back time.
He longed to become truly strong, and becoming a Totem Witch was his most important goal.
Reaching the Bone Refining stage was merely the…
… second step of a long journey.
It was far too early to relax.
Over the next three days, Gao Jing worked tirelessly at Ten-Mile Slope, mastering the final five combat forms in one continuous effort.
It went smoothly, almost divinely aided!
On the fourth day, when Gao Jing performed all thirty-six combat forms of the _Records of the Great Wilderness Combat_ from start to finish for the first time, he clearly felt the tremor reverberating through every inch of his bones.
This feeling was incredibly strange.
It was a bit like driving a car without shock absorbers over a stony riverbed.
His head felt numb from the shaking.
But after the sore, itchy, numb, and slightly painful bone vibrations, came a relaxing comfort that spread all over, top to bottom.
Keep training, keep feeling great!
Additionally, after stepping into the Bone Refining stage, besides the meat medicine that replenished his vitality, he now ate huge chunks of greasy bone marrow with every meal.
He didn’t know which beast bones this marrow came from, but it tasted worse than beast meat.
Yet its nourishing effect was much stronger!
Gao Jing had thought this routine of solely focused, arduous cultivation would continue until he successfully ignited his bloodline.
But then, on the sixth morning after speaking with the Elder Shaman, he suddenly sensed something off.
Gao Jing immediately pulled out the Bronze Anchor hanging around his neck.
One glance left him stunned!
After this transmission to the Great World, four Silver Scales had remained on the bronze anchor.
Now there were three.
In that single moment just now, one piece had vanished.
Damn it!!!
Gao Jing’s feelings at that moment were hard to describe; he felt like he could vomit blood.
This was seriously frustrating.
He had never imagined the Bronze Anchor’s Silver Scales could be consumed without actually triggering a transmission!
This was clearly linked to the length of his stay in the Great World.
Unless he was mistaken, this should be his thirty-first day in the Great World.
That meant staying here for one month cost one Silver Scale!
Gao Jing couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
All his plans were shattered now.
Originally, Gao Jing intended to return to the Primary World only after igniting his bloodline and awakening Totemic Power.
But at his current level, Gao Jing was completely unsure he could advance to Totem Warrior before the last Silver Scale vanished.
Even with his great natural talent, it was impossible.
He had to go back.
Since he had already mastered all thirty-six combat forms of the _Records of the Great Wilderness Combat_, Gao Jing could continue his training back in the Primary World without issue.
This was also his safeguard against disaster.
He couldn’t be certain his guess was one hundred percent correct. What if another Silver Scale disappeared in a few days?
That would be disastrous!
Of course, Gao Jing couldn’t just leave immediately either.
He needed to properly prepare before leaving.
“Gao Jing!”
Just then, Shan Guoer jumped onto the large boulder where he was, holding a large fish.
She grinned at him: “Shall we have grilled fish for lunch?”
The daily requirement to eat meat medicine to replenish vitality didn’t mean he couldn’t eat other things.
Fish schools lived in the deep pool below the Great Waterfall, and often, some fish would swim down the mountain stream.
This wasn’t the first time Shan Guoer caught fish in the stream.
Because Gao Jing had learned all the combat forms, the little girl was no longer his training teacher. She frequently hung out near the mountain stream catching fish and snails while he practiced.
“Hmm.”
Gao Jing nodded and said: “Shan Guoer, I need to go back now.”
Shan Guoer paused, blinking: “Go back now?”
After all, for the past month, Gao Jing trained every day until the sun went down.
Without fail, even in wind and rain!
“I’m planning to go back home in a couple of days,” he clarified.
Looking into her innocent, guileless eyes, Gao Jing felt an inexplicable sadness stir inside him: “My own home.”
If he ultimately couldn’t find a way to recharge the Bronze Anchor, his time spending with the little girl would be severely limited.
“Home?”
Shan Guoer’s eyes immediately lit up: “Will you bring Peanut Brittle back when you come again?”
The two hundred pieces of candy Gao Jing had brought her this time were all gone.
Not all eaten by her; she had shared many with her little playmates in the tribe over time.
The little girl didn’t know Gao Jing likely had only one more chance to return to the Great World. She missed the sweet taste of the Peanut Brittle intensely; talking about it made her subconsciously lick her lips.
She looked very eager indeed.
“Will do!”
Gao Jing nodded without hesitation: “I will bring back more candy.”
If he truly could only return once more, he’d free up much of his Storage Space to bring Shan Guoer presents!
“That’s wonderful!”
Shan Guoer immediately cheered, dropping the big fish she held and holding her hand out to Gao Jing.
Crooking her little finger.
This ‘pinky promise’ tradition was one Gao Jing himself had taught her.
She was afraid he might go back on his word.
Gao Jing chuckled, wrapping his pinky around her tiny finger and giving it a small shake.
“Alright!”
Shan Guoer was very happy: “I will wait for you to return!”
For her, parting from Gao Jing represented the beginning of an exciting anticipation.
So she didn’t feel sad at all.
This unexpected turn of events had robbed Gao Jing of any motivation to continue practicing.
He asked the little girl to take him back to the wooden house area.
There, he found the Elder Shaman.
“Shaman Chief.”
Gao Jing bowed respectfully: “I plan to return the day after tomorrow.”
“Hmm.”
The Elder Shaman wasn’t surprised: “Do you still need timber this time?”
“Yes.”
Gao Jing nodded: “Additionally, I’d like some more meat medicine and bone marrow, if that’s alright?”
“Of course, that’s fine.”
The Elder Shaman smiled gently: “I will arrange for someone to prepare you some cured meat, medicinal herbs, and treated bones. I’ll also give you the recipe so you can boil the concoction yourself after taking it back.”
“That’s fantastic!”
Gao Jing was overjoyed: “For this trade, should I bring more salt back?”
With the materials and recipe, he could absolutely cultivate all the way to the blood-ignition stage in the Primary World!
The next time he came, he could directly attempt to awaken his Totemic Power.
Even if he never became a Totem Witch, he could at least become a Totem Warrior and gain some ability to protect himself.
“That will suffice.”
The Elder Shaman spoke and then drew a talisman placard from the pouch at his waist and offered it: “This is a Protective Talisman I made for you.”
“Unless it faces an attack exceeding its rank, it should guard you for a time in moments of peril.”
The mountain-aged giant seemed a touch apologetic: “My abilities and materials are limited; this is all I could craft for you.”
Gao Jing received it solemnly with both hands: “Thank you!”
Though Gao Jing was no Shaman and didn’t understand much about Totem Talismans,
He felt absolutely certain this Protective Talisman was a priceless treasure.
It could save his life at a critical moment!
Moreover, Gao Jing believed its protective effect must be immensely potent.
Because its original purpose was surely to shield and defend Giants – perhaps even Superhumans among them.
Back in the Primary World, it might even withstand a missile strike.
The profound kindness from the giant felt heavy, as weighty as the very Totem Talisman he now held.