Chapter 95: Shan Tai’s Guidance
Chapter 95: Shan Tai’s Guidance
When the two moons representing luck and misfortune rose high into the night sky, Shan Yue Village’s great square buzzed with noise.
Hundreds of Shan Yue Giants gathered around a roaring bonfire, sharing a rich feast.
Tonight’s main dish, as usual, was roasted Savage Ox.
This strong, plump Wild Beast was personally hunted by Shan Tai, the mightiest Totem Warrior of the Shan Yue Tribe.
But unlike past feasts, this ox roast was slathered with sauce mixed heavily with Coarse Salt.
This way, every member of the tribe could savor a truly fresh and salty taste!
And according to the Elder Shaman, the big problem that plagued the tribe was now completely solved.
They would say goodbye to the bitter Salt Stones!
No longer would they need to risk their lives hunting dangerous beasts to trade for the costly Salt Stones.
When Shan Yan announced this news, many elders of the tribe shed tears.
Some in their lifetimes had never tasted such good salt.
Others had loved ones who lost their lives hunting Sabertooth Tigers.
The Sabertooth Tiger was the fiercest Wild Beast, its power nearing that of the lowest-level Monster Beast.
Because these fierce animals moved in packs, even with the tribe’s few Totem Warriors, trapping them was very hard.
It required cooperation from most ordinary warriors.
Casualties were just a normal part of it.
By tradition, before any merchants arrived at the Village Fort, Shan Yue Tribe’s key fighters like Shan Tai would go all out, deep into the grasslands, to encircle entire Sabertooth Tiger packs.
They would trade the tigers’ hides with merchant caravans for Salt Stones.
A single fine-quality Sabertooth Tiger hide could only buy one Salt Stone!
If the hunting party returned unharmed, all were happy.
But any loss was a heavy blow to the tribe.
The greater the loss, the heavier the blow!
But now things were better.
Gao Jing had brought back hundreds of tons of Coarse Salt. That dangerous tiger hunt was now canceled!
For a tribe like Shan Yue with just over seven hundred people, every single warrior was incredibly precious!
“Brother Gao Jing.”
Shan Tai strode directly to face Gao Jing.
He crouched down, lifting a huge bowl full of Mountain Ape Wine with both hands.
He brought it before Gao Jing.
The strongest warrior of the Shan Yue Tribe said solemnly, “Thank you for bringing us so much good salt!”
Gao Jing, seated on the large stone stool, hastily raised his wine bowl. “No need for thanks! This is what I should do!”
His words were sincere, not the slightest bit fake.
His “salt delivery fee” back home was worth billions. Hundreds of tons of coarse salt were nothing in comparison.
Not to mention, he’d found the Path of Transcendence through this!
Two wine bowls of vastly different sizes tapped together gently.
Shan Tai held his bowl and drained it in one go!
Gao Jing also finished his.
Since becoming a Totem Warrior, his tolerance for Mountain Ape Wine had greatly increased.
He wouldn’t collapse so easily after a few more bowls.
Shan Tai wiped the wine foam from his lips and nodded at Gao Jing.
He stood up, returning to his companions in the centre. Raising both arms high, he shouted loudly, “Wuha!”
“Wuha!”
Over a hundred fierce tribe warriors shouted back in unison. Their earth-shaking cheers instantly echoed throughout the valley.
Accompanying it, was the deep, thunderous beat of war drums.
A vibrant, primal celebration had begun!
Gao Jing still got very drunk.
There really was no choice.
Shan Tai started the round, then other Totem Warriors approached him one after another to propose toasts.
How could he refuse?
Even if it meant drinking until he passed out, he had to accept. Refusing would be an insult to those offering the toast!
These strong, simple-hearted Shan Yue Warriors didn’t just fully accept Gao Jing.
They treated him as a true friend.
Almost as if he were family!
Brother Gao Jing.
That was what they called him now.
This sincere friendship was deeply meaningful, completely bridging the gap between their races.
Boundlessly precious!
The next morning.
Gao Jing awoke inside the bird’s nest.
Because he was shaken awake.
He’d been dreaming of a massive earthquake.
Opening his eyes, he saw Shan Guoer’s round face. “Gao Jing! Get up now!”
“Huh…”
Gao Jing was still a bit dazed. “What’s up?”
“Brother Shan Tai is waiting for you outside.”
The little girl said. “Today, he’ll be guiding your warrior practice!”
Ah!
Hearing this, Gao Jing’s spirits instantly lifted. He leaped straight out of the nest. “Alright!”
For the previous period, back in the Primary World, he’d relied solely on the “Primer of Totems” for his initial training as a Junior Totem Warrior.
This martial manual, concerning the techniques of the Ten Thousand Beasts Combat Art, was indeed very detailed.
But during self-study, Gao Jing had still encountered some puzzled questions.
He badly needed someone to offer answers.
Shan Tai was a High-tier Totem Warrior, the strongest warrior in the Shan Yue Tribe.
His martial talent was second only to Shan Guoer’s.
His breakthrough to Great Totem Warrior was merely a matter of time.
With guidance from this outstandingly gifted Giant, Gao Jing’s training could surely avoid many detours.
He readied himself at max speed.
Then, seated on Shan Guoer’s shoulder, he left the room.
Shan Tai was indeed waiting outside.
This Totem Warrior wasted no words, leading Gao Jing and Shan Guoer straight to the Great Waterfall.
First, he personally demonstrated the Twelve Stances of the Ten Thousand Beasts Combat Art for Gao Jing.
Even standing quite a distance away, the combined power and aura Shan Tai radiated during his practice sent intense shockwaves through Gao Jing!
This aura felt capable of shattering mountains, capable of blocking the waterfall flow. It was utterly impossible to imagine the sheer power contained within.
After his demonstration, Shan Tai sat on the large rock.
He began explaining the cultivation insights for a Junior Totem Warrior to Gao Jing.
He also answered Gao Jing’s questions.
Truly, a Junior Totem Warrior was mainly about refining, adapting to, and accumulating Totemic Power.
Only when a Junior Totem Warrior could fully control his own strength and had stored enough Totemic Power to break through his bottleneck, could he then inscribe a second totem upon his body.
The Essence Totem!
Gaining and successfully activating this new totem marked the ascent to Advanced-rank Totem Warrior.
Combat prowess easily doubled!
In theory, one Advanced-rank Totem Warrior could defeat four or five Junior Totem Warriors.
Within the Shan Yue Tribe, there were only four such warriors.
Then followed more cultivation and accumulation, until the inscription of a third Essence Totem, coalescing into Battle Armor.
That was what defined High-tier Totem Warriors like Shan Tai!
A High-tier Totem Warrior possessed ten times the combat strength of an Advanced-rank Totem Warrior!!
As for the Great Totem Warrior tier above that, Shan Tai didn’t discuss it.
He hadn’t reached that level himself.
But Shan Tai specifically demonstrated for Gao Jing the signature combat techniques of both Advanced-rank and High-tier Totem Warriors.
Battle Qi Empowerment and Battle Qi Armor Manifestation!
Battle Qi Empowerment involved channeling Totemic Power within the body to empower any part of the user.
Or the weapon they wielded.
Thereby greatly boosting the power of Combat Technique attacks.
As for Battle Qi Armor Manifestation, it meant covering the entire body in condensed Totemic Power to form protective armor.
Doubling defense!
Only by mastering these two key combat arts could a Totem Warrior truly establish his foothold in the Great Wilderness.