Chapter 24: Totem Duel

The two nodded, ceasing their casual chatter and moving straight into the match.

The little white fox, relying on its far superior speed and under Charles’s mental control, began darting in circles around its opponent. Seizing upon the slightest opening, it leapt at its adversary the instant its back was turned.

Yet, though the opponent seemed clumsy, it was as if an eye had grown on its back—a green arm instantly blocked the fox’s path, while another swung toward it. The little white fox twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the blow, and even used the opponent’s other arm as a springboard to vault over its head.

With a sharp cry, it unleashed a rare psychic ability—a strange, invisible pulse radiated out, instantly enveloping its foe. The Green Orb Grass froze for a split second. Seizing the moment, the white fox flashed forward, transforming into a blur, attacking at nearly twice its previous speed.

Unfortunately, its opponent was ready. The two arms withdrew just in time, blocking the fox’s claws and binding it tightly around the waist. Then, a pale green dust scattered from the Green Orb Grass’s arms. The white fox inhaled and was swiftly overcome by dizziness, collapsing to the ground in defeat.

“All right, come back, Little Green!” Rice Cake called out delightedly, as the Green Orb Grass scurried to her side. Charles hurried over, scooping up Firefly in his arms and breathing a sigh of relief upon finding its breathing steady.

“Don’t worry, the powder Little Green released is only hypnotic, not poisonous. Plus, a nibble of Little Green’s leaf will help it recover quickly,” Rice Cake explained, taking a small green leaf from her pocket. Charles accepted it, pried open the fox’s mouth, and squeezed the juice in.

A short while later, the little white fox opened its eyes, soon regaining its mobility.

“Your main totem is still at its juvenile stage and cannot yet display its full strength. You’ll need to combine your knowledge in various ways and cultivate it deeply,” Niu Keliang approached, launching into an impromptu lecture.

“To possess psychic abilities at level one—this little white fox has extraordinary potential. But remember this: every totem harbors the potential for super-evolution, though in some it is so faint as to be nearly untraceable.”

“Indeed, no matter how gifted a totem, it’s still weak until it has truly grown,” Charles nodded in understanding. That mirror, after all, had shown only one of countless possible futures—there was no guarantee the little white fox wouldn’t perish prematurely.

“A juvenile totem is little more than an auxiliary, only marginally stronger than an ordinary creature. It could even be slain by a martial artist. To be precise, right now your strength is on par with an average school-level fighter. Encounter a real powerhouse, and your life could be in grave danger,” Niu Keliang cautioned again, worried Charles might grow arrogant after acquiring his new abilities.

“I’ll be careful to hide my strength,” Charles replied solemnly.

This world brimmed with both danger and wonder—he felt a strong urge to explore, to see what lay beyond.

“In fact, the main totems chosen by those with a lineage of Spirit Masters are carefully bred over generations, far surpassing ordinary creatures from the start,” Rice Cake said, taking a small piece of rice cake from her green cloth pouch and munching contentedly.

Niu Keliang glanced at her before continuing, “For example, the Green Orb Grass she owns—I found it in a secret place. It was cultivated by an ancient family of Spirit Masters and has an exceptional chance of evolving.”

“So, Spirit Masters selectively refine and optimize their main totems, strengthening their hereditary lines and choosing the best. Is that the right way to understand it?” Charles smiled.

“Exactly. For instance, my main totem is a breed of bull even more fearsome than the Sabretooth Bull—called the Panli Wild Bull. After generations of breeding, it can easily defeat tigers or bears of the same size. Its strength is close to that of a general-level martial artist,” Niu Keliang said, looking at Charles with a trace of hope. “Now, for the last time: will you be my student?”

Little Rice Cake was his adopted child, attuned to plant totems, and unable to inherit his skills. After years of wandering, he had grown weary of battle, otherwise he would not have chosen to live in seclusion in this small town.

Charles was silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I will repay your kindness in the future, but I cannot join you now.”

“I could even give you a rune factory up front, to be repaid when you have the means. And with enough resources, the Panli Wild Bull could easily reach ultimate form. In the future—” Niu Keliang saw the resolve in Charles’s eyes and stopped mid-sentence. “Never mind, your choice is yours to make.”

“My apologies,” Charles said, a note of regret in his voice.

The Panli Wild Bull was an excellent choice for a main totem, hailing as it did from a family once graced by a divine beast. Yet that lineage was entangled with the myriad causes and effects of the Eastern Continent, and Charles instinctively wished to avoid such entanglements.

That dreadful power had annihilated the family, forcing its last survivor to flee west and thus escape death. In the future, however, he would again be hunted by them—and only in the face of mortal danger would the Bull Demon super-evolve into a divine beast.

What’s more, once a main totem was chosen, it could not be changed for at least three years, or the Spirit Master would suffer grievous spiritual backlash. Others might have accepted the offer without hesitation, swapping the frail white fox for the Panli Wild Bull.

But Charles knew what the future held. Three years? In three months, new crises would break out; within a year, a world war would erupt—time was running out.

When that war began, countless Spirit Masters would fall. Without sufficient strength, he would be crushed like an insect.

After parting ways with the others, Charles glanced at the sky, then set out on foot toward the research facility in the northwest corner of town.

“It’s time for the tenth experiment. I must master this as soon as possible, so that in the future... I can use it on myself!”

...

Pale yellow light illuminated the dim underground space, casting a faint glow over the young man’s face as he stood by the laboratory table.

Before him, the corpse of a monkey floated in preservative fluid, giving him the look of a mad scientist from a horror film.

“All scientists are madmen... and I’m sinking deeper into it myself. The thrill of unraveling the mysteries of all things is irresistible,” Charles murmured.

Above the corpse, the inherited genetic factors shimmered like a river of stars, and his eyes blazed with their brilliance...