Chapter 1197, The Number of Awakenings Has Doubled!

Translator: Silavin

 

The elaborate and lengthy Totem Awakening Ceremony was finally over.

 

Su Bai was truly exhausted. The number of awakenings this year was greater than in years past, so naturally the Shaman Power consumed was far more.

 

He had only now understood that the number of Totem Warriors awakened was actually connected to the strength of his own Shaman Power.

 

Previously he had assumed it depended entirely on the natural aptitude of the individuals. It had not occurred to him that his own Shaman Power would play a part too.

 

Simply put, it was a little like a plant that ought to grow very well, but had been left unwatered for so long that it had slowly begun to lag behind.

 

There was a feeling of being unable to keep pace. Fortunately, Su Bai had held on through it all. Otherwise, some Warriors truly would have been unable to awaken this time.

 

“Shaman, please have a bowl of chicken broth and rest. You look completely exhausted.” Yu Ying said with concern.

 

Before the Totem Awakening Ceremony had even begun, Yu Ying had already started simmering a wild chicken broth.

 

Her thinking was that the Shaman would be able to drink it the moment he returned from the ceremony. Last year, Su Bai had also looked very worn out after holding the Totem Awakening Ceremony.

 

Yu Ying had taken note of every small detail like this and had made many preparations before this year’s Totem Awakening Ceremony even began.

 

“Alright. This is something I ought to do for the Tribe. It only comes around once a year. I do need to improve my own abilities though.” Su Bai laughed a little ruefully.

 

He thought to himself that had he not held on just now, he would have let down the hopes of many people.

 

Quite a few of them had already been poised to receive the flames given off by the bonfires, but the flames had suddenly gone out.

 

Many of those people had thought at first that they simply lacked the aptitude. But then the flames had suddenly reignited, only to almost immediately go out again.

 

This back and forth happened several times before Su Bai understood the exact cause. It was not that those people lacked aptitude. It was that his own Shaman Power had momentarily been unable to keep up.

 

Of course, none of this was visible to the people involved. Only some of the more seasoned Totem Warriors could tell what was happening.

 

Yan Jiao, Sha Hong, and Shan Qiu, among others, naturally knew what had occurred. Everyone’s heart had been gripped by a heavy stone.

 

But in the end, watching all the Warriors who had the aptitude successfully awaken, they had each exhaled in relief.

 

And indeed, these few had just come to the Yong’an Building to offer their regards and had only left a short while ago.

 

“Shaman is truly amazing. Three hundred Totem Warriors awakened at once. This is a number that we have never seen before.” Sha Lan earnestly said.

 

She did not like to see him doubt himself. It was an extraordinary feat. However strong another Tribe’s Shaman might be, a hundred awakenings at most was basically the ceiling. Hoping for more Totem Warriors beyond that was wishful thinking.

 

Yet at last year’s Totem Awakening Ceremony, Su Bai had already broken past a hundred. And this year he had surged directly past three hundred. It was a staggering figure.

 

“You’re right. The count of Totem Warriors alone was over a hundred. The remaining three hundred were all Warrior Trainees. These numbers are truly astonishing. All the other Tribes put together probably don’t add up to even a fraction of what we have.”

 

Yan Hua equally disliked seeing him feel like he had fallen short. It was precisely because he was so extraordinary that this kind of thinking was even more ridiculous.

 

Before this, the total count of Totem Warriors and Warrior Trainees in the Flame Dragon Tribe had been only four to five hundred. And even that number had been built up over many years.

 

Not to mention, this large number of Totem Warriors from other Tribes had joined along the way. So, the number awakened at this year’s Totem Awakening Ceremony was truly remarkable.

 

“You are both exaggerating. My expectation going in was five hundred. This number is actually somewhat below what I had in mind.”

 

Su Bai drank down a full bowl of chicken broth and continued, “Moreover, at the end my Shaman Power was running short. Had it been a little more, the number might have gone even higher.”

 

“Shaman, please don’t say such things. My Father and I and the others all watched. Those few dozen who were on the verge of awakening at the end did awaken in the end. Had you not used a little more Shaman Power at the last moment, they likely would not have been able to.” Yan Hua shook her head firmly and continued, “Beyond those few, there was really no one else. We were watching carefully. As for those who did not succeed in awakening, we can at least treat them as soldiers and develop them from there.”

 

Last year’s Totem Awakening Ceremony had left Su Bai nearly falling into unconsciousness after his Shaman Power was spent, but he had barely managed to hold on.

 

This time, because the amount consumed was greater, he had briefly fallen asleep for over half an hour. It was precisely for this reason that Su Bai felt the most self-reproach. He kept thinking that had he held on a little longer, he might have been able to awaken a few more people.

 

“On this point, I can say with certainty, I was also watching the reactions of everyone else nearby. Regrettably, those who were not chosen simply lacked the aptitude. That is just how it works.” Sha Lan added.

 

During the half hour that Su Bai lay unconscious, she had been genuinely frightened. She even cried.

 

She had even reached the point of thinking she would rather the Totem Awakening Ceremony not exist at all, and that the Flame Dragon Tribe need not grow so strong, so long as the Shaman was alright.

 

Even now, the rims of Sha Lan’s elegant blue eyes were still a little red. It was plain she had been crying for quite a long time.

 

“Alright. I understand. Starting from this year, I will work seriously on strengthening my own Shaman Power. I aim to push that number even higher next year. How does that sound?” Su Bai said, warmth in his voice, gently ruffling the other’s head.

 

Then he reached out and pulled Yan Hua and Yu Ying over as well, looking at them each with the same fond gaze.

 

Su Bai did not want any of them to worry so much. But he felt really touched.

 

“Shaman is already extraordinary. I am certain next year’s numbers will be even higher.” Yan Hua nodded vigorously, a flush of scarlet spreading across her face.

 

“Shaman, would you like some more chicken broth?” Yu Ying’s every thought was for the Shaman’s wellbeing.

 

“We believe in you!” Sha Lan gave her cat ears a little shake.

 

“Oh, right. Among the Totem Warriors awakened this time, were there people from other Tribes?” Su Bai asked.

 

After all, in the period just passed, quite a number of people from other Tribes had joined, along with no small number of Wanderers.

 

He wanted to work out the proportions, so as to calculate more precisely whether the people of the Flame Dragon Tribe had a higher rate of awakening because their standard of living had improved.

 

“That hasn’t been tallied yet, but the Chieftain has already sent someone to begin compiling the numbers. You’ll have the data shortly.” Sha Lan said softly.

 

“Good. Then let us eat something proper today.” Su Bai laughed, open and easy.

 

“Great!” The girls all broke into bright, happy smiles.