Prime Originator

Gradually, the large crowd eventually reached the northern gates of the Crimsonfog Tribe.

"Welcome back, Venerable Shaman!" the sentries greeted on the wall after spotting the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman among the leading figures in the crowd.

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman raised his head to gaze at the sentries directly before he hollered clearly, "Where is Chief Blacktooth? Tell him to come out and see me!"

"Chief Blacktooth?"

The sentries repeated softly with an odd look without complying with the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman's demand immediately.

Rather, they gazed back at the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman oddly and asked, "What does the Venerable Shaman want Chief Blacktooth for?"

"To make a high-level announcement and pass down an order that may conflict with the tribe's sole interest but of benefit to the rest of the humans living on the Infertile Plains."

Disgruntled as he may be, the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman answered the sentries' simply inquiry, nonetheless.

However, after they received the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman's answer, they slowly shook their heads.

"I'm afraid that Chief Blacktooth does not have enough authority to make any tribe-related decisions, Venerable Shaman," one of the sentry answered.

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman immediately frowned before he asked, "Why?"

"Because…" the sentries glanced at the crowd of Battle Masters carefully before he continued explaining, "Chief Blacktooth is no longer the chief of our tribe."

"He already lost his position shortly after returning the other day, Venerable Shaman. The number of Great Warriors and Battle Masters that were just waiting to challenge him was quite frightening."

"I see…"

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman was taken aback but did not find it to be a surprising result, given the person's underhanded trick in assuming the position.

"Well, that's to be expected. So Blacktooth must have been beaten up badly, right?"

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman chuckled slightly with amusement, unconcerned with the silent and judgemental gazes of the Battle Masters behind his back.

However, the sentry shook his head again and said, "No, Venerable Shaman. Blacktooth forfeited the challenge before the battle could even be hosted in the battle arena. He did not try to defend his position at all."

"I see…" the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman's lips twitched.

Blacktooth could be considered wise and self-aware to know that he did not have any chance in keeping his chief position for long. Still, it was shameful to admit defeat before even fighting to defend it.

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman shook his head ruefully before he shortly ordered with a soft sigh, "Haiz, never mind. Open the gates."

"But these people.." the sentry hesitated as he glanced at the 700-odd Battle Masters outside their tribe's walls.

"They're all Battle Masters from the Central Region, coming to participate in the secret realm. So you do not need to worry about them. We will not be staying for long, an hour at most before we are on our way."

"Understood, Venerable Shaman."

The sentries eventually complied after receiving the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman's assurance.

Sometime later, everyone entered the Crimsonfog Tribe and tended to their own businesses, browsing the marketplace, haggling with the shop vendors, buying supplies, and making other preparations for the dangerous trip to the secret realm.

'I should concoct some Fasting Pills during this time…' Leon mused.

He did not know how long this trip to the secret realm will take, but if there is no way of procuring food inside the secret realm, his Fasting Pills will play a pivotal role in survival.

However, before Leon could separate from the crowd and find a quiet courtyard with Duna, Aria, and Darlene, the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman sought him out.

"Please wait a moment, Young Master Leonhardt. If Young Master Leonhardt is not too busy, there is something this old man would like to request of you."

"Sure. What do you need, senior?" Leon paused for a moment before he quickly agreed to help.

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman had provided him with substantial information about the Eternal Night Secret Realm, the Shaman King and its Successor, the Starfall event, and even other related histories of the Infertile Plains.

It would be ungrateful of him to refuse without hearing what the senior had to request of him at the very least.

After a brief talk, Leon quickly learned that the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman wanted him to treat Chief Baskara, the previous and legitimate chief of the Crimsonfog Tribe.

The mind was a delicate and complicated field that Leon was not completely confident in. As such, he did not make any promises.

"I don't mind having a look first, senior."

"Thank you, Young Master Leonhardt."

Shortly after the One-Eyed Venerable Shaman brought Leon towards Venerable Shaman Daal's abode, where Baskara was being cared for, the topic of Liches and Battle King-level undeads' attack on the tribe was repeatedly brought up on the way.

Duna, Aria, and Darlene all listened in on the story before Duna's interest quickly turned into disdain.

"What a useless Blackwind Tribe. They couldn't even defend against the Bone Calamity on their end and even left hidden disasters for other tribes. What's the point of keeping their Battle Kings' corpses? They should have just destroyed them all," Duna commented cynically.

"These Battle Kings were considered the ancestors of the Blackwind Tribe. Therefore, such an act of destroying their ancestors' bodies is regarded sacrilegious to the Blackwind Tribesmen—even if it is the most rational choice to make."

The One-Eyed Venerable Shaman smiled wryly at Duna's blatant disregard for the Blackwind Tribe's moral values.

"Humans have always been emotional creatures," Leon interjected before adding, "More often than not, we act, not on rational choices, but emotional ones even if we fully knew they aren't the best choices to make."

"And this is why humans always lose. They are impulsive, greedy, and selfish. It's a wonder that the human race has not died out yet, given the brutal living conditions this world has to offer!" Duna said spitefully.

"You can only speak for the majority. There is also a minority group that differs from these traits. How else do exceptional people stand out from the mass?" Leon scratched his cheek wryly before he added, "Not to mention we breed like rabbits..."