C23 The Price of Impulsiveness

Although these wild beasts had been domesticated for some time, their primal instincts seemed to grow stronger rather than diminish. After enduring over ten days of starvation, the sight of humans excited them more than anything else. Thus, if you mistakenly regard these wild animals as mere pets raised by humans, you'll end up like this unfortunate child, cast out of Awakening Valley by a high-ranking warrior with a look of profound regret in his eyes. This signified that he was fated never to become a warrior of his tribe. Even if he were to awaken again in the coming years, he would never be welcomed into the ranks of warriors.

The cost of such rashness was too great for anyone but a fool to bear.

Jiekui, who had previously been eager to rush forward, now fell silent. His gaze at Yuan Ge carried a new depth of respect. Initially, it was admiration, but now it had evolved into complete conviction. Although Jiekui didn't understand how Yuan Ge knew all this, he was certain that by sticking with him through the upcoming trials, his awakening was all but guaranteed. With this thought, Jiekui felt his blood surge with renewed fervor, and he gripped his stone spear even tighter.

When the failed child was thrown before his parents, he appeared to the onlookers like a leaf falling from a tree, drifting to the ground and then forgotten as their attention returned to the valley. Naturally, all eyes were drawn to Yuan Ge and his companions. Their stillness seemed more intriguing than the thrilling duels in the forest, and some spectators were already speculating when they would take action.

The most talked about were Jiewu and Jieheng, standing behind the high priest. These two were the most formidable in the tribe after Jieyang, each with a distinctive presence. Jiewu was robust, with short hair and a dark complexion, while Jieheng was compact and agile, with long hair and pale skin. They stood out no matter where they were.

They had witnessed the Awakening Ceremony numerous times, and the process was almost always the same. Thirty children would enter, and about twenty would be carried out, leaving only ten to achieve the Awakening. Initially, they had come merely as spectators to the Awakening Trial. However, upon observing the actions of Yuan Ge and his group, their perspectives underwent a complete transformation.

Jiewu's perspective was quite direct. Yuan Ge and the other children's strategy of waiting for the right moment to strike was entirely consistent with a warrior's standards. Jieheng, on the other hand, had a different take on the matter. With a faint smile, he remarked, "Tiger, I believe you've got it wrong this time!"

"I'm eager to hear your reasoning!" Jiemeng, currently an Intermediate Stage Two Warrior, was second only to Jieyang in strength within the tribe. Though he seldom joined in the tribe's hunts, his voice carried the most weight in conflicts with other tribes. If this were a tribal war, the beasts in the woods would be replaced by warriors from rival tribes. The children who had charged in earlier would likely have been devoured by now. This was a harsh lesson learned through bloodshed, an experience etched into their lives. So, when he observed Yuan Ge and the others' actions, his mind was instantly transported back to those brutal battlefields.

Jiemeng didn't fully take Jieheng's words to heart. After all, how could someone who had never engaged in tribal warfare truly comprehend the underlying reasons? Jieheng had indeed never been part of such conflicts. This man, who appeared to be in his thirties, might not have Jiewu's weathered calm, but he radiated intelligence. As a fellow Intermediate Stage Two Warrior, he viewed the actions of Yuan Ge and the others quite differently.

Jieheng's outlook was more far-sighted. He calmly stated, "A warrior's awakening requires the full activation of the body's potential. Thus, the prime opportunity for awakening is when the beasts are at their most ferocious. If these individuals don't take action soon, they might miss their chance!"

Jieheng's observations were thorough. For the Awakening Trial, the tribe had released about fifty wild beasts into Awakening Valley to ensure each child had the opportunity to face a beast. However, it now seemed this plan might not hold up. The beasts varied in combat strength; those less formidable would flee upon encountering stronger adversaries. They sought food but feared becoming prey themselves. With that in mind, nearly a third of the beasts had already settled down for a deep slumber on the ground.

The remaining beasts faced a grim fate: death at the hands of the children. If a child succeeded in awakening, they would be slain, and if they failed, the high-level warriors tasked with protection would kill them. Consequently, Yuan Ge and his peers were virtually out of contention. Confronted with beasts that had practically no combat ability, the notion of awakening, let alone tapping into their latent potential, was a distant dream.

Jie'ao, upon overhearing the conversation, decided to chime in. He tended to agree with Jieheng, especially when it came to disliking Yuan Ge—anyone who shared that sentiment was a friend in his eyes.

Jiewu, on the other hand, harbored a deep-seated belief in his own perspective. If you were to question the source of his unwavering confidence, it would undoubtedly be Yuan Ge's gaze. From the moment the Awakening Ceremony commenced, Yuan Ge had been fixated on the forest's every stir. With each clash between a child and a beast, his eyes sparkled with thrill, as if he himself were in the midst of battle. Jiemeng was even more convinced that Yuan Ge had already devised a flawless strategic system in his mind, ready to showcase his remarkable talent at the first sign of an offensive opportunity. This talent was the inherent sharpness, composure, and boldness that defined a true warrior!

Yet, Yuan Ge was oblivious to the high regard in which he was held. His mind was preoccupied with a singular concern: devising an escape plan for his upcoming encounter with a wild beast. Awakening Valley resembled a natural soccer field, flanked by hills and centered around the forest. He now grasped the reason why some teams were utterly decimated by their adversaries—it wasn't a matter of weakness, but rather the overwhelming strength of the opposition.