It seemed unable to withstand James Walker’s bow; if the full ritual were completed, it was as if this totem would collapse. This bizarre scene made James Walker gasp—at this moment, all his previous doubts vanished from his mind. It was definitely not an illusion!

Moreover, the instant a crack appeared on the totem, it was as if murmurs echoed in his mind. That murmuring voice made James Walker’s eyes fill with wild joy—this was exactly what he had dreamed of: the cultivation method for the Blood Condensation stage of the barbarian arts!

The art of barbarian cultivation could not be passed down by word of mouth; the only way was through the totem’s inheritance. The existence of a totem was extremely important to a tribe, as it concerned its survival and continuation.

After the murmuring voice faded, James Walker’s body also disappeared from the world inside the totem and reappeared in the Wushan tribe. As soon as he appeared, he immediately saw all the tribespeople around him, including Grandpa, looking up at the sky. His heart stirred, and he looked up as well.

The massive vortex was still spinning, a muffled buzzing echoing.

“James Walker, come to my side.” Grandpa’s voice sounded in James Walker’s ear. James Walker felt uneasy; he vaguely sensed that the anomaly in the sky was related to the fragment on his neck, but he dared not speak of it. Anxious, he walked toward Grandpa and stood behind him.

Not long after, the anomaly in the sky gradually dissipated and slowly returned to normal. No one asked James Walker whether his worship had succeeded—after all, if no light was emitted, it meant failure.

Only after the sky returned to normal did the remaining Lasu proceed with their worship. When it was all over, this time, two children were found to possess the barbarian body at the age of sixteen.

These two children were taken away by Grandpa and would become important members of the tribe, receiving some experience in barbarian cultivation.

As for the other Lasu, they left in disappointment. James Walker remained silent all the way, but his heart pounded ever faster. He wanted to tell Grandpa everything, but he vaguely felt the matter was too significant—especially the fact that a crack had appeared in the totem.

Hesitating, James Walker walked toward his own hut.

Wearing a coarse linen robe, Grandpa glanced at James Walker’s back from a distance, a trace of doubt on his face.

Hurrying back to his hut, James Walker sat on the wooden bed, lowered his head, and looked at the irregular black fragment on his chest, his eyes filled with confusion. After a while, he was about to take off the pendant from his neck, but hesitated. He got up and pushed the wooden frame to block the door, so that if anyone came in, he would have time to prepare.

After finishing all this, he sat down again, took the stone fragment in his hand, and examined it carefully.

“What exactly is this stone fragment… It was found by Little Grace, probably because the wind was too strong that day, blowing up some decayed leaves and exposing this thing, which Little Grace picked up…” James Walker’s heart pounded faster and faster. He vaguely felt he had obtained some unknown treasure.

“Even the totem developed a crack in its presence… I wonder where Little Grace picked it up, and if there are any more…” James Walker licked his lips, his eyes showing excitement.

“I originally didn’t have a barbarian body and couldn’t receive the inheritance of barbarian cultivation, but this thing has now given me a cultivation method!” James Walker took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and focused all his attention on the stone fragment.

He didn’t know how much time had passed. Unconsciously, drowsiness overtook him. Clutching the fragment, he collapsed onto the wooden bed and fell asleep.

At this moment, the fragment gradually emitted a faint, flickering glow—very weak.

Volume One: If Only Life Were as It Was at First Sight

Chapter 5: Dream

“Brother…”

“Brother…”

A soft, frail voice, carrying a special emotion, echoed in James Walker’s dream.

“Brother… can you hear me… brother…”

“Brother… I’m waiting for you…” The voice was weary, as if eternally muttering and calling there, growing weaker and weaker, slowly fading away in the murmurs.

As the voice faded, the James Walker in the dream seemed to feel a piercing pain, as if something most important was drifting away with that voice. This feeling made him suddenly wake up.

James Walker felt a chill all over, drenched in sweat, his face pale. He looked around, breathing rapidly, and the familiar surroundings gradually calmed his mind.

It was already deep night outside. In the distance, the cries of birds and beasts could be faintly heard. Other than that, all was silent. James Walker sat quietly on the wooden bed, staring at the fragment in his hand, his expression gradually becoming hesitant.

“That dream just now was so strange… And I clearly wasn’t sleepy before, but while examining this fragment, I unknowingly fell asleep… That dream… that voice…” James Walker’s face showed confusion. He rarely dreamed, and had never had a dream like that before—especially the woman’s voice, which, for some reason, seemed very familiar.

“All of this must be related to this thing!” James Walker lowered his head and, by the moonlight, carefully examined the fragment in his hand, frowning.

“What exactly is this thing…” After hesitating for a moment, he simply bit his fingertip. According to the description on the animal hide scroll, most treasures between heaven and earth could only be activated by dripping one’s own blood on them.