Surviving in the Beast World with a System

"Since I can’t rapidly increase my own strength in a short amount of time, we’ll strengthen the tribe’s military might instead."

At that moment, Wu Yue finally saw the makings of a General in Yuan Lang. She could exchange for things like bows and arrows from the System Mall, but their origins would be difficult to explain.

The excuse of getting them from a Super Tribe’s witch could be used once, but any more than that and people would start to get suspicious.

"What’s your rank now?"

Wu Yue looked at the handsome Beastman Warrior beside her.

Yuan Lang smiled at her. "Silver Rank 7."

Wu Yue gasped, staring in disbelief at the lean, muscular Beastman beside her. "How did you advance so quickly?"

"There’s no shortage of Crystal Cores when hunting in the deep forest. Plus, fighting powerful Fierce Beasts rapidly tempers the body. After that, all you need are Crystal Cores to advance."

The Beastman’s eyes were deep, but he didn’t tell Wu Yue how much pain he had to endure to temper his body so quickly.

From Rank 7 to Rank 9, at Yuan Lang’s rate of progress, it would likely only take him a few months to get there.

"Then you’ll be able to break through to a Gold rank Beastman Warrior by next year."

Hearing this, the smile on Yuan Lang’s face faded. "We need a Totem Pole."

Wu Yue froze. "A Totem Pole?"

Tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, Yuan Lang nodded. "A Beastman needs the blessing of their tribe’s Totem Pole to break through to become a Golden Rank Warrior, but only a Great Witch can create one.

"If an ordinary tribe needs a blessing, they must either travel to a tribe that has a Great Witch or invite a Great Witch to come and carve a Totem Pole for them."

Wu Yue’s lip twitched. ’Why does that sound so far-fetched?’

"So, since our tribe doesn’t have a Totem Pole, you can’t advance to become Gold rank Beastman Warriors?"

Yuan Lang nodded with a smile. "In theory, yes."

’Well, now,’ Wu Yue thought, looking at Yuan Lang with a grin. ’So this guy doesn’t really buy into that whole Totem Pole blessing thing either.’

As she stared at him with her luminous eyes, Yuan Lang’s own gaze deepened. He took a heavy breath and looked toward the city wall ahead. "From what Father and the others say about the Totem Pole’s blessing, I feel it’s more like an infusion of a Great Witch’s witch power.

"Perhaps breaking through to a Gold rank Beastman Warrior is so difficult that it requires external assistance."

"Our tribe doesn’t have a Great Witch. Does that mean your strength will be capped just before Gold Rank?"

"The Wizards of our four tribes already have a hard time improving, let alone becoming a legendary Great Witch."

Wu Yue frowned. ’The Wizards damaged their foundations fighting the Fierce Beast Tide in the past, so now...’

She looked up at Yuan Lang. "We can’t just keep waiting. We managed to scare off the Kuma Tribe with those things this time, but they aren’t the only tribe on this continent.

"After this winter, let’s set out on a journey. Bring the Beastman Warriors from your squad.

"If I can break through and become a Great Witch, we’ll return and give our blessing to the tribe’s Beastman Warriors. If I can’t..."

A determined glint flashed in her eyes. ’...we’ll find a way to fake the blessing.’

Yuan Lang’s eyes gleamed. He reached out and ruffled the little female’s hair. "Yes, it’s about time we ventured out."

Neither of them mentioned their plan to leave after the winter to anyone else.

The next day, a frantic Uncle Dashi arrived in Wu Yue’s courtyard with his son, hauling two large, round stones.

"Wuyue, take a look! Is this the thing you were talking about?"

Uncle Dashi’s face was filled with pride, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

When he’d been boasting earlier, he hadn’t looked closely at the diagram Wuyue had drawn. Only when he started actually making it did he realize how truly difficult it was.

Uncle Dashi’s shout finally jogged Wuyue’s memory about the item she had asked him to make before the migration.

She gulped down the last mouthful of stew in her bowl, set it down, and rushed outside.

Seeing the father and son pair in her courtyard, she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She pointed to a stone platform in the corner of the yard. "You can just put it over there."

She said, guiding the two as they assembled it.

A moment later, Uncle Dashi looked at the contraption made of two stones and scratched his head in confusion. "Wu Yue, isn’t this chair a bit too high?"

Hearing that, Wu Yue burst out laughing. "Uncle, it’s not for sitting on. It’s called a stone mill, and it’s for preparing food."