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Translator: Silavin
Time passed. They conversed. One side teached and the other, questioned. Before they knew it, the sun had once again set.
Inside the huge Teepee, a small fire pit was lit, providing the brightness needed for illumination.
*Cough cough cough…* The Shaman coughed violently, hand covering his mouth. When he lowered his hand after the coughing fit, there was blood on his palm.
“Shaman, please rest.” Su Bai tried to persuade him.
Today, he had been learning about the basics of being a Shaman and some other basic knowledge. He had advised the Shaman to rest seven or eight times already, but the other party was unwilling.
“Alright, I’ve taught what needs to be taught. The rest is up to you.” The Shaman shook his head and casually wiped the blood on his palm onto his animal hide clothing.
He raised his head and shouted to the outside of the Teepee, “Yan Jiao, are the preparations for the Inheritance Ceremony ready?”
“They are ready,” Yan Jiao announced in a low voice.
“Then let’s begin the Shaman Inheritance Ceremony.” The Shaman hurriedly called out, afraid he wouldn’t be able to hold on if they didn’t start soon.
“Yes.” Yan Jiao respectfully responded.
The Teepee door flap was lifted. Yan Jiao and Cang Shi stepped in. The two bowed to the Shaman, each supporting one of the Shaman’s arms as they walked out of the Teepee.
Su Bai got up and followed, rubbing his thighs as he walked. Sitting for too long had made his legs numb.
Exiting the Teepee, he found the Tribe had undergone some changes. Originally there were some small Teepees in front of the huge one, but now they had all been dismantled. They cleared out a space of dozens of metres wide. In the centre was a six metres wide, over one metre tall, wooden platform.
Around the platform stood ten strong men. They were the Totem Warriors of the Hunting Team. Each wore fierce attire. Some had huge Ferocious Beast Skulls on their heads; some had brilliant feathers inserted in their hair; some wore necklaces of Ferocious Beast Fangs around their necks…
Further out were the Tribe’s people – the elderly, youths and the women. They all looked worriedly at that aged figure, some already shedding tears.
The Shaman was supported onto the platform, standing there, trembling. He waved at Su Bai below.
“Hurry and get up here.”
Yan Hua appeared out of nowhere and urged in a hoarse voice, “Don’t make the Shaman wait too long for you. He’s already very tired.”
“En…” Su Bai quickly climbed onto the platform and stood before the Shaman.
“Child, sit down.”
“Everyone, I have found a new Shaman for the Flame Dragon Tribe.” The Shaman weakly raised his hand and turned to face the people below the platform. At this moment, his aged voice was full of energy, “It’s been sixty-three years. I’m tired now. It’s time to let a new Shaman guide everyone.”
“…” Su Bai pursed his lips, understanding the Shaman’s good intentions. This was paving the way for him, letting the Tribe’s people accept him, an outsider.
*Cough cough…* The Shaman coughed. He could not help but bend over and heavily pant. He suddenly waved his hand to stop the people who wanted to rush onto the platform.
He wiped the corner of his mouth with his animal hide sleeve and hoarsely called out, “Begin the Inheritance Ceremony.”
“Yes!” The Totem Warriors lifted their heads and roared out in sorrow.
“Yes!” The Tribe’s people all cried out sorrowfully.
“Hah!!!” The Totem Warriors gave a low shout in unison. Totem Marks on them all lit up. Red patterns glowed, covering their entire chest, abdomen and back.
“Child, these are Totem Warriors. They can fight against the Ferocious Beasts. Each move, they can exert the strength of an ox, and can casually crush wild beasts to death with their hands.”
The Shaman was still explaining even at this time, “Totem Warriors are divided into Low, Mid and High Grade. Each grade is further split into four Minor Stages of Early, Mid, Late and Peak.”
“The Totem Warriors of our Tribe are all Low Grade Totem Warriors. To distinguish their strength, look at the position of their Totem Marks. As long as the Totem Mark hasn’t spread to their hands and feet, they are Low Grade Totem Warriors. If the Totem Mark has spread to even their neck and cheeks, they are High Grade Totem Warriors.”
“As for whether there are even more formidable Totem Warriors above High Grade, the Ancestors have no records of this. In my life, I’ve also never seen a High Grade Totem Warrior.” When the Shaman said this, his words were full of melancholy.
“Shaman, that’s enough. Please rest.” Su Bai said hoarsely. In this one day’s time, he had been completely moved by the old man’s spirit and persistence.
“Don’t worry. There’s just one last step to complete and I can rest.” The Shaman seemed to be reminiscing about something and smiled with warmth that could move mountains.
“Hah!!!” The Totem Warriors shouted again and they all began to perform a strange dance. Spreading their hands, taking big strides, bending their waist, lifting their feet and stomping forcefully. They would swing their hands up as they danced around the platform.
“…” Su Bai watched the Totem Warriors’ dance and noticed a pattern. It was as if they were depicting something, like the dance of some unknown Ferocious Beast.
“Present the blood!” The Shaman suddenly shouted.
“Hah!” The Totem Warriors gave a third low shout. At the exact same time, they all drew the stone knives at their waists. In one motion, they slashed their palms, blood immediately welling out.
“Begin the Inheritance Ceremony!” The Shaman shouted again.
The Totem Warriors waved their bleeding hands towards the platform, as if saluting, all seeming to bid farewell.
“Ancestors protect us!” The Shaman’s whole body emitted a green light. The Totem Warriors’ blood scattered in the air as though they were attracted by an unknown force, converging towards the Shaman.
As the blood entered the green light, it immediately underwent a tremendous change. The green light instantly turned fiery red, swaying like flames in the wind.
More and more blood gathered. The Shaman’s complexion grew increasingly pale, his usually spirited eyes turning dull. Blood slowly flowed from the corners of his mouth.
“TOTEM APPEAR!” The Shaman roared.
As his words fell, the Shaman’s forehead emitted a white light, as if something was drilling out. It was a string of marvellous characters, forming a creature that was like a Dragon but not a Dragon, like a Snake but not a Snake.
Su Bai recognized what those characters were – clearly Shaman Scripture. That illusory creature was the Flame Dragon Totem.
The Flame Dragon Totem formed from Shaman Scripture entered the fiery red light surrounding the Shaman, swimming around the Shaman’s body as if a Dragon had entered the sea.
*Cough cough…* The Shaman coughed violently, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood, staining his white beard red.
“Shaman!” Su Bai was about to get up but was pressed down by the Shaman’s hand.
“Don’t move. There’s just one last step.” The Shaman weakly shook his head.
He raised his hand and grabbed at the Shaman Scripture Flame Dragon Totem. The red light enveloping his body rapidly shrank, automatically converging in his palm, finally forming a thumb-sized orb of light.
“This is the Shaman Inheritance. The truth of Shaman Scriptures, and the secret of the Totem are all inside.” The Shaman grasped the orb of light with difficulty, slowly bringing it towards Su Bai’s forehead.
“I’m leaving the Flame Dragon Tribe to you.”
This was the last thing Su Bai heard before he fainted.
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