Hearing Grant say this, Ethan Brooks immediately picked up the conversation: “The totem requires sacrifices, or it will wither away. That’s why the tribe’s strength needs to be united—this is the guidance the totem has given me. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the tribe to produce totem warriors.”

To become a totem warrior, one must invoke the totem, thereby outlining the divine totem patterns, which then allows them to absorb the energy that drifts between heaven and earth.

The completeness of one’s visualization of the totem also determines their future martial achievements. Likewise, the strength or decline of the tribal totem affects how many totem warriors can be born.

Looking into Grant’s clouded eyes, Ethan Brooks felt he needed to add more fuel to the fire, and continued, “According to the totem’s guidance, if the tribe cannot obtain precious blood sacrifices, then at most two years from now, the totem will completely wither, and by then, the entire tribe will collapse.”

“The chieftain speaks the truth!”

At that moment, a strong, wild scent of blood rushed into the cave—it was Reed, returning with the hunting party, still spattered with blood.

“It’s the chief.”

Ethan Brooks rubbed his brow and said weakly.

“Yes, chieftain.”

“That’s right. If we still can’t awaken the totem, at most a year from now, the totem will completely wither.”

Seeing Reed’s gaze turn to Grant, Ethan Brooks felt a bit frustrated—hey, I’m the tribe leader, aren’t I?

“The totem has given me guidance, telling me to unite the tribe and use the strength of the whole tribe to awaken the totem.”

Without hesitation, he immediately asserted his presence.

With the well-digging incident as precedent, Reed did not question his words, and turned his gaze to him.

Ethan Brooks’s eyes remained on Grant. In his heart, he was as clear as a mirror—without Grant’s support, his position as chief was nothing but a puppet.

“The chieftain has received the totem’s guidance. The great totem will lead us to strength!”

At that moment, Ethan Brooks wanted nothing more than to hug the old man and give him a kiss—Grant was just too adorable. If he wants to call me chieftain, so be it. It’s just a title; as the tribe leader, I don’t mind at all.

Chapter 6: Acting Big, Aren’t You

“Grant!”

“Grant! Grant! Grant!”

As the golden crow dipped behind the western mountains outside the cave, chaos erupted in the valley. The panicked shouts of the tribespeople drew the attention of Ethan Brooks and the others.

The female warrior Wade had totem patterns on her right cheek glowing with a bright blue light. She carried a woman slightly smaller than herself on her back, blood streaming down.

“Grant, on our way back from gathering wild yams, we were attacked by a tusked armored beast. Blake was seriously injured.”

Wade set the woman down. The scent of blood filled the cave. Ethan Brooks saw a gaping, bloody hole in Blake’s right abdomen, with her internal organs exposed. Due to massive blood loss, Blake’s face was pale and she had already fallen unconscious.

The wound had been pierced by the tusks of the armored beast—a ferocious creature, shaped like a wild ox, covered in scales, with tusks as sharp as knives.

Grant came to Blake’s side, holding his large hand about a fist’s distance above her body, chanting under his breath. Twisted, snake-like patterns appeared on his face.

A mysterious power formed in his hand and merged into Blake’s wound. The bloody gash began to slowly heal, the bleeding stopped, and her breathing gradually stabilized.

After finishing, Grant seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He shakily got up and found a piece of beast hide inscribed with mysterious patterns from deep in the cave, pressing it onto Blake’s wound.

“The hemp forest isn’t far from the tribe. How could a tusked armored beast appear there?”

Seeing the tribespeople carry Blake away, Reed couldn’t help but ask.

Wade was also covered in wounds from the earlier fight, and still felt lingering fear. She shook her head and said, “It must have run out from deep in the mountains.”

“These creatures are social animals. It’s rare for one to appear alone. Even a full-grown tusked armored beast would make a Stone-Splitting Realm totem warrior avoid it. Could it be that a whole herd has come near the tribe?”

Reed frowned, his expression turning grim.

Ethan Brooks sat by the fire, calming his mind. The bloody scene just now had unsettled him, but he quickly hid it, so Reed and Wade didn’t notice.

Wade couldn’t be sure about Reed’s guess either. The tribe had been gathering wild yams in the hemp forest for many years, and this was the first time a tusked armored beast had appeared.

“Let’s go take a look. There must be a reason for the appearance of a tusked armored beast.”

After listening to the two totem warriors’ discussion, Ethan Brooks felt he couldn’t just stay in the tribe. If he wanted to secure his position as chief, he still needed to work hard.

“Chieftain.”

Ethan Brooks’s words made Reed hesitate.

“I am the leader of the tribe. If my people are in danger outside, how can I hide in the tribe?”

His words immediately made Reed and Wade’s eyes light up.

Ethan Brooks stood up, bowed to Grant, and said, “Grant, please rest well.”

With that, he was the first to leave the cave. Reed and Wade looked at Grant, saw that Grant had closed his eyes as if asleep, exchanged a glance, and quickly followed Ethan Brooks.

The hemp forest wasn’t far from the tribe. After leaving the valley and winding around two bends in the mountain path, they arrived. The vegetation here was low, and wild yams grew everywhere.

Wild yams.