Chapter 23 – Changes (1/2)

Translated by Sunyancai

Shao Xuan’s joining in the middle was merely a small episode of this year’s ceremony, even though it was obviously different from other ceremonies. However, even if people in the tribe had their own guesses at heart, their most concerning thing now was still about the awakening kids around the fire pit.

Sai was extremely thrilled as he carefully experienced the obvious changes in his body, and the totemic patterns which appeared on his arms. But naturally, he also noticed that someone suddenly joined them out of the blue. Sai slightly turned his head to take a look, only to find out that it was Shao Xuan, covered in a ball of fire.

It was a small world where enemies often crossed each other’s path.

Isn’t that fellow still too young? He is only supposed to be ten years old after today’s Snow Festival. Why is he here?

Seeing Shao Xuan standing right next to himself, who was two years younger, Sai’s heart rate raced up apprehensively. Every time when Sai thought about having been beaten up by Shao Xuan and the others in the cave before winter, he would get quite angry. In fact, he was quite excited when he was chosen by the Shaman this year. He planned to bring back some ferocious beast when he went on a mission with his new hunting team after awakening his totemic power, and then take its body to the entrance of orphan cave, so those little bastards would be able to see his game closely, especially Shao Xuan. But now, what was happening?

Shao Xuan also noticed that he was standing right next to Sai, the minute he was tossed here. However, now he had no interest in dealing with him.

Before, he could only observe the fire pit from afar, and now Shao Xuan finally was able to feel the tribal fire pit closely. He felt like he was surrounded by a sea of fire, but with no feeling of burning. All that he felt was warmth, and the warmth had driven away all the coldness left in his body by the winter.

The totemic pattern on the kids standing around the fire pit appeared to be fiery red. It became like that after the flames had entered their bodies, they awakened the strength that was hidden within their flesh. And the process was clearly more restrained.

However, Shao Xuan’s changes were much fiercer.

The fire which originally gathered on his head now had spread down to his body. Shao Xuan’s eyesight was filled with fire, the only thing he was not sure of, was whether it was the fire on his head, or the fire flown over from the fire pit.

Shao Xuan felt some pain in his brain, and also his body temperature rose up, with heat gathering at his glabella, and then spreading to his forehead, face, neck, torso, and limbs…

Earlier, he took off his animal skin coat in order to put out the fire, and then left it there without putting it back on. So now, Shao Xuan was only wearing a sleeveless sweater made from animal skin. The totemic patterns appeared on his arms together with the spreading heat, they could be seen quite clearly.

The flames and sparks flowing from the fire pit became denser as time went by, and the flame inside the fire pit had a trend of spreading out. Everyone in the tribe was busy praying, so Shao Xuan covered in fire stood out less.

The dancing flames in the fire pit grew more and more violent. The fire pit now was no longer that large crater with a small fire that Shao Xuan saw at first. Now the whole fire pit was like a big volcano, waiting to erupt. However, it was not dreadful like before, but people felt the urge to worship when seeing the fire pit like that.

The Shaman’s singing had reached the third stage, and at the final syllable, the Shaman raised up his arms and suddenly moved away his hand. The gray and white animal skin cloak instantly got flooded by the spreading-out flames.

Third Flame of the fire pit – Spreading Flame!

The flames in the fire pit had just a gentle change, but now the flames no longer flew out, instead the fire poured out like lava and instantly flooded everyone at the ceremony, and then without stopping, it went towards the mountain foot area.

Near the mountain foot area, Caesar, who was left in the cave because of the ritual ceremony, stared at the entrance of the cave with growling sounds coming from his throat.

Outside the cave, it was covered by fire.

The quickly spreading flames covered the whole mountain, but didn’t burn any straw or tree. It seemed that the flame was not lethal at all, but Caesar hiding in the cave feared it a lot. If possible, he would literally dig down under the ground and hide there.

And, the night swallows which had already retreated to the edge of residential area, reluctantly flew up and went further away seeing that approaching fire.

The Shaman was standing beside the fire pit, with a serious-look all the time. However, now, he finally showed a joyful smile. There was no need to look down the mountain, yet he could already feel where the flames had reached.