Don't Celebrate Too Soon

The sharp edge of the dagger lightly pressed against the ring finger of his left hand.

He could cut down at any moment.

Gao Jing's hand holding the dagger trembled slightly.

He had gone to great lengths to earn the Mountain Giants' trust for precisely an opportunity like this.

If the test showed that he had no aptitude at all...

Gao Jing knew that he would be very, very disappointed.

No amount of money could make up for that disappointment!

Taking a deep breath, Gao Jing suddenly smiled. "Wizard Chief, will one drop of my blood be enough?"

A Giant's drop of blood and his own drop of blood were entirely different matters.

The old Wizard remained impassive. "Perhaps it will be enough."

Perhaps...

Gao Jing gritted his teeth and forcefully sliced open his fingertip.

The cold-glinting dagger blade cut through his skin, and bright red blood immediately seeped out.

In the blink of an eye, it gathered into a drop and fell.

It landed precisely in the center of the rune tablet.

The wound on Gao Jing's finger closed up afterward, and no more blood flowed.

An ordinary person would never experience something like this.

But Gao Jing was already used to it. His attention was fixed on the rune tablet.

Nervous. Expectant!

The instant the blood fell into the groove, the wooden rune tablet absorbed it completely.

Not the slightest trace remained.

As though a drop of water had fallen into the desert.

But in the next instant, brilliant light suddenly shone through the surface of the wooden tablet!

One rune line after another lit up.

A fiery crimson sphere of light leaped out and hovered quietly above the rune tablet.

Then, the rune tablet "spat out" another milky-white sphere of light.

The two equally sized but differently colored spheres drew toward each other, spinning rapidly around one another.

In the blink of an eye, they merged together.

They actually formed a pattern resembling a taiji symbol!

Before Gao Jing could see it clearly, the newly merged sphere transformed into specks of starlight and vanished.

What did that mean?

Gao Jing could not help looking up at the old Wizard.

The old Wizard was staring at the rune tablet as well.

His gaze was complicated.

There was shock, confusion, and a trace of sudden realization!

"Your bloodline..."

The old Mountain Giant said in a deep voice, "Possesses the Source Essence of 'fire' and 'spirit'!"

Dual Source Essence!

Gao Jing instantly felt as though a huge pie had fallen from the sky and smashed into him.

Overwhelming joy surged through his entire body.

Even his soul trembled.

All of his nervousness and anticipation from moments ago turned into joy and excitement!

That was wonderful!!!

If the old Wizard had not been present, Gao Jing would definitely have shouted aloud on the spot to vent the excitement in his heart.

Tap, tap!

The old Wizard tapped his pipe against the wooden table.

He poured a basin of cold water over Gao Jing's overheated excitement. "Don't celebrate too soon. As far as I know, even if you Abyss Remnants possess suitable aptitude, your chances of cultivating into a Wizard are far lower."

Gao Jing calmed down a little. "Whether I can succeed or not, I'm deeply grateful for your help!"

Even if there were only a one-percent chance, he was willing to put in one hundred percent effort!

Perhaps he would fail. Perhaps the price would be enormous.

Gao Jing had no regrets!

"This road will not be easy..."

The old Wizard hesitated, seemingly wanting to say more. After a moment, he said, "First become a qualified warrior."

What?

Gao Jing immediately felt as though he had won a Mercedes-Benz grand prize, only to receive a Benben as the prize.

He was a man who wanted to become a Totem Wizard.

What the hell was a qualified warrior?

I want to be a mage lord!!

"Although you possess the Source Essence of 'spirit'..."

The old Wizard easily saw through Gao Jing's thoughts.

He explained seriously, "A Wizard's cultivation comes at the cost of consuming Life Origin Force. Without a powerful body, your lifespan will be greatly shortened."

According to the old Wizard, most Wizards among the Great Wilderness Humans completed their advancement by following the path from ordinary warrior to Totem Warrior, then to Wizard.

Even those who possessed only the Source Essence of 'spirit' had to first forge themselves a strong physique.

Otherwise, they would inevitably die young!

Before Shan Yan became a Wizard, he had been a High-Rank Totem Warrior.

Otherwise, he would never have lived to this day.

Gao Jing's problem was that Wizards had their Source Essence tested in childhood, then underwent corresponding cultivation.

He had already missed the best period for warrior training.

He was practically becoming old cured meat.

"But among us Great Wilderness Humans, quite a few people have also become Totem Warriors only after reaching adulthood."

The old Wizard comforted him. "So you still have a chance."

Gao Jing nodded firmly.

Such a small blow was nowhere near enough to shake his confidence or determination!

"Wait here."

The old Wizard left the wooden cabin room.

The old Mountain Giant soon returned.

He had also brought Gao Jing a new book—the Great Wilderness Battle Record!

This beast-hide tome was considerably thicker than the Chronicle of the Great Wilderness, and the four large characters on its cover were wildly flamboyant, their sharpness impossible to conceal.

Gao Jing's somewhat disappointed heart immediately lifted again.

Looking on the bright side—

Even if he ultimately could not advance into a Totem Wizard, becoming a Totem Warrior would still make the price entirely worthwhile.

Totem Warriors were extraordinary beings as well!

Gao Jing could not help reaching out to press his hand against the cover of the Great Wilderness Battle Record, a restless urge stirring within him.

His fingers touched the beast hide's distinctive rough texture, and the tome felt utterly high-class.

It was as though it were some legendary divine martial arts manual.

Nine Yang Divine Skill, Tathagata Palm, Heaven-Shifting Great Skill, Six Meridian Divine Sword, Pick-Up Manual...

"I'll give you this martial tome."

The old Wizard revealed a kindly smile. "Back then, I bought five copies in the City of Ten Thousand Kings. Altogether, they cost me only fifteen Shell Coins."

Gao Jing: "..."

So they had been bought wholesale!

Gao Jing remembered that the old Wizard had once told him that when he had first traveled to the City of Ten Thousand Kings, he had been swindled. He had spent thirty Shell Coins on a copy of the Chronicle of the Great Wilderness that was worth only two Shell Coins.

He had presumably learned his lesson when wholesaling the Great Wilderness Battle Record and made a worthwhile deal.

That was why he was smiling so happily!

Gao Jing silently mocked him in his heart, but he still bowed in thanks. "Thank you for your generosity."

Mocking aside, his gratitude toward the old Wizard was entirely sincere.

He had definitely incurred a great debt of gratitude.

"It is nothing."

The old Wizard waved his hand. "It is best to have someone guide you in studying the Great Wilderness Battle Record."

"I am too old to serve as your instructor, so starting tomorrow, let..."

"Shan Guo'er teach you."

Huh?

Gao Jing stared in utter disbelief. "No way?"

An instructor was a teacher, a mentor who imparted knowledge and taught one's craft.

Gao Jing had assumed that if the old Wizard could not teach him, then a tribal warrior like Shan Tai would be responsible for guiding him.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected it to be Shan Guo'er!

Was this some kind of joke?

The old Wizard smiled. "There is no one in our tribe younger than Shan Guo'er who has studied the Great Wilderness Battle Record."

Gao Jing was speechless.

He could only express his gratitude once more.

Just imagining the little girl guiding him in martial arts practice made his head spin.