Feast

Night fell.

The Silver Moon and Blood Moon rose into the sky together, casting their radiance across the boundless earth.

These two moons, symbols of fortune and calamity, had silently accompanied the Great World for countless millions of years.

Leaving behind innumerable tales of love and slaughter among mankind.

Moonlight flowed like water, shining equally upon the Mountain Stronghold in the valley.

On the great square inside the stockade walls, bonfires had been piled high, their blazing flames illuminating every direction.

They also lit up one dark-red face after another!

The bonfire in the center was the largest. A Barbarian Bull, stripped of its hide, had been mounted above it.

Enduring the searing heat of the flames.

Two burly Mountain Giants worked together, constantly turning the spit to ensure the beef was heated evenly.

The air was thick with the scent of firewood and roasting meat.

More than seven hundred members of the Mountain Tribe had gathered here, their laughter and cheers unceasing.

For these Giants, such a feast was rare.

Normally, one was held only during festivals or when merchant caravans arrived.

Gao Jing had lived in the stronghold for some time before, yet this was also his first time taking part.

And this tribal feast had been held precisely for him!

"People of the Mountain Tribe..."

Old Wizard Shan Yan's voice rang out across the square, reaching every ear with crystal clarity.

The Mountain Giants immediately fell silent.

Everyone watched the old Wizard as he came before the great bonfire, their gazes filled with respect.

The tribe's leader!

Holding a wooden staff, the old Wizard swept his gaze across the crowd and said in a deep voice, "At tonight's tribal gathering, we welcome the return of a friend."

Standing beside him, Shan Guo'er raised both arms and held Gao Jing, standing atop her palms, high overhead!

In truth, Gao Jing had refused this kind of public "display."

It was humiliating, wasn't it?

But it was part of the tribal feast ritual. What could he do when he was a "little person"?

Gazes from all around converged upon Gao Jing.

Some were curious, some astonished, and some doubtful.

Gao Jing's existence was no secret to the Mountain Tribe.

Nearly every villager knew that Shan Hu had picked up an "Ancient Remnant Person" while hunting outside.

Many had also seen Shan Guo'er carrying him around the stronghold on her back.

They simply did not know why the old Wizard had convened the tribal gathering with such solemnity.

To welcome Gao Jing's return!

"Our friend is named Gao Jing. He is an Ancient Remnant Race member from the Abyss."

The old Wizard continued, "I want to tell everyone that Lord Gao Jing has brought the most precious salt to our tribe."

As he spoke, he raised the clay jar in his left hand. "A whole jar of the finest salt!"

"Uha!"

The Mountain Giants immediately erupted in earth-shaking cheers.

Quite a few pounded their chests with their fists, excitement and joy shining from their bronze-colored faces.

To all Great Wilderness Tribes surviving in the wilds, salt was the most vital substance of life.

Without salt for a long time, even the fiercest warrior would become a feeble weakling with legs like noodles.

To trade for Saltstone from merchant caravans, the tribal warriors had to risk tremendous danger hunting savage Wild Beasts.

So although Gao Jing looked so small and weak, he had brought precious salt to the Mountain Tribe.

That made him a friend of the tribe!

Giants had never been stingy with their wholehearted sincerity toward friends.

The gazes they turned upon Gao Jing now held a little more heartfelt gratitude and goodwill.

Gao Jing answered with a smile.

Yet inwardly, he was deeply puzzled, and a little depressed as well.

Because the Copper Anchor had shown no reaction whatsoever.

The Mountain Giants' gratitude had not brought even a shred of Faith Power to the Copper Anchor!

That was rather strange.

Could it be that the Copper Anchor could not absorb Faith Power in the Great World? Or was it because he was not a native inhabitant?

Gao Jing could not figure it out no matter how he racked his brains.

It felt like he had lost a hundred million!

He could not help touching the Copper Anchor hanging close against his chest.

The old Wizard set down the clay jar and waved his wooden staff. "Let the celebration begin, my people!"

"Uha!"

Cheers rose together with the booming thump-thump-thump of war drums!

Several elderly Giants sat cross-legged on the ground, rhythmically striking the great beast-hide drums before them with their skinny hands.

Teams of powerful Giant warriors stepped forward and began dancing around the bonfire.

They stamped to the fierce drumbeats and sang ancient ballads, driving the atmosphere in the square to its peak.

Gao Jing sat beside the old Wizard with Shan Guo'er, enjoying the Giants' songs and dances.

Their dance was steeped in primal charm. Their movements were forceful and fierce: glaring, sticking out their tongues, slapping their limbs, displaying the warriors' powerful physiques and their fearlessness and courage in battle.

In Gao Jing's eyes, these Giants were like moving mountains, towering and indestructible!

Their song was ancient and majestic, as though it had come from the distant barbaric ages.

Gao Jing could barely understand the general meaning of its lyrics.

The Giants sang to commemorate the ancestors of the Great Wilderness Humans who had stolen fire and hunted, praising their valor.

At the same time, they prayed for their ancestors' protection!

Without realizing it, Gao Jing was moved by the scene before him and the song.

He clapped his hands and stamped his feet in time with the war drums, an indescribable feeling growing within his heart.

Making his blood gradually boil!

Only when a Giant village woman in hemp clothes approached did Gao Jing come back to himself.

The woman held a huge clay basin in both hands and respectfully set it before the old Wizard.

The basin contained a sauce made from who knew what, giving off a heavy pickled fragrance.

The old Wizard reached into the clay jar beside him, grabbed a large handful of coarse salt, and scattered it into the basin.

The Giant village woman carefully lifted the basin again and delivered it to the tribal warriors responsible for the roasting.

The warriors stirred it a few times with bristle brushes, then evenly brushed the salted sauce over the bull's body.

The beef roasting over the charcoal became even more tempting!

After a while, another Giant warrior used a long bone dagger to slice off piece after piece of fragrant roasted meat.

The choicest, fattiest portions were served first to the old Wizard and Gao Jing.

But the old Wizard did not eat his own portion. Instead, he handed it to Shan Guo'er.

He rubbed the little girl's head and said lovingly, "You eat first."

"Mm."

Shan Guo'er, who had long been drooling with anticipation, grabbed the roasted meat and impatiently stuffed it into her mouth.

Ssssss~ Too hot!

"It's so delicious!"

Seeing her wolfing it down, even Gao Jing could not help swallowing.

He drew the dagger he carried with him and cut off a slice of the roasted meat set before him.

Mmm!

The beef had been roasted to perfection. Its outer layer was crisp and fragrant without being burnt or bitter, while the meat within overflowed with rich juices.

Gao Jing opened his mouth and took a huge bite.

Two different textures and flavors collided and melded upon his tongue. The intense freshness made his taste buds burst into bloom, instantly awakening humanity's most primal craving for meat!

The sauce spread over the outer layer of the roast had wonderfully removed the beef's gaminess and added a fragrance similar to fruitwood.

Its only shortcoming was that there was a little too little salt.

That was easy to fix. He reached into his pocket—or rather, his storage space—and pulled out a salt shaker.

He sprinkled some over the meat.

With salt added, the roasted meat tasted even better.

Gao Jing ate at least two pounds in one go, feeling incomparably satisfied.

At that moment, the old Wizard opened a round jar.

"Come, taste our Mountain Ape Wine."

He scooped out some wine with a wooden ladle and poured it into the wooden bowl specially prepared for Gao Jing.

The bowl's mouth was more than half a meter across, comparable to the largest serving basin.

That single ladleful contained at least several pounds of wine.

The liquor was a clear jade-green, with tiny ant-like lees floating upon it. A rich fruity fragrance rushed into his nose!

Gao Jing was not much of a drinker, but even he found his appetite stirred by the scent.

The little girl beside him stared at it longingly, biting her finger with a greedy look.

But she was clearly not old enough to drink yet.

Gao Jing lifted the wooden bowl with both hands and brought it to his lips for a taste.

The wine was sweet and refreshing, with an excellent texture. Its fruit flavor was mellow and richly layered. Though the lees detracted from it a little, it left a lingering fragrance on his lips and teeth after he drank, giving him the sensation that he was about to float up and fly away.

"Fine wine!"

He could not help praising it, then took another large swallow.

The more he drank, the more fragrant it became, leaving an endless aftertaste!

And so, with fragrant roasted meat and freely flowing crisp Fruit Wine, Gao Jing gradually became a little tipsy.

His entire body relaxed completely.

By the end, he did not even know when he had drunk himself unconscious!