Chapter 7: Is It Possible to Refuse? The Real World Finally Opens Up to You...
As if understanding his words, the lowest slit of the ghostly mask floating above the crack slowly closed, curving gently to both sides, revealing a faint smile.
In the next moment, purple flames flickered.
Game over.
...
Amidst the dizzying whirl, he found himself back in the bare-walled hut.
This time, Lin Zhao instinctively selected “Continue Simulation,” then fell into deep thought.
In the last simulation, he had charged like a foolish knight tilting at windmills—brave and fearless, yes, but when the ghost mask had curled its lips into a smile, he had felt mocked.
Hmm, the gap between them was too great; his level needed more training.
Stretching lazily, he clenched his fists and struck his chest firmly. Wait for me—we will meet again.
By the time he stepped out the door, morning had come. He gazed at the fiery red sun in the sky, feeling the gentle warmth of its light, and closed his eyes to savor the moment.
As expected, he still preferred the village sun. Wherever it had gone, whatever strange place he had encountered was no comparison.
With a sigh, he skillfully summoned his hybrid beast and set off to scout the enemy.
The beast galloped out of the village. The guard instinctively tried to stop it but only felt a gust rush past; not only did he fail to stop it, but he also heard the voice of young Zhao beside his ear: “I’m going on patrol for a bit, I’ll be back soon. Thanks for eating breakfast for me!”
The guard stared in shock toward the direction the beast had vanished. Only then did he realize he was touching his pocket—and to his dismay, the meat jerky, along with the pocket itself, had been stolen in that brief encounter by the youth.
“Am I really this weak?” The guard’s heart shattered. “I can’t even beat a fledgling shaman who just fused souls??”
...
Pulling out the last clean, juicy honey peach from his pocket, Lin Zhao walked to the clear riverbank. Amid the swaying reeds, he reined in his horse and stared into the distance at the drifting ghost mask, frowning slightly.
He had seen that mask over a hundred times now, but this time, he felt its direction was off—as if it was farther away than before.
After watching for a while and seeing no sign of it approaching, Lin Zhao turned his horse and headed back to the tribe.
At the village entrance stood the same guard, who hadn’t spoken yet when Lin Zhao took the initiative: “Thanks. This pocket was sewn by the girl you like—I know. Here, take it back!”
Lin Zhao forcibly reclaimed his stolen breakfast pocket, threw it back, then bent down skillfully to dodge the guard’s grab, looping the pocket back around the guard’s neck like a lasso. Proud of his accuracy for a moment, he then dashed toward the old shaman’s hut.
The guard was left standing there, nostrils flaring with anger.
“Grandpa Shaman, something’s wrong,” Lin Zhao burst through the window into the hut anxiously. “I encountered the Celestial Envoy!”
The old shaman was shocked. “Zhao, what did you say?”
Lin Zhao’s eyes showed urgency. “Last night I had a sudden dream. A celestial envoy, covered in blood, said he had encountered a great calamity. That calamity is already near our village. He told me to warn you to evacuate immediately. He also gave me his soul beast and shamanic power as proof—this is his token, so you would believe me.”
He produced a shamanic talisman carved from a decayed beast bone, split in two by shamanic power damage. It was broken, ruined beyond use no matter how rare it once was...
But the old shaman’s expression changed drastically. He snatched the shattered pendant and rubbed it between his withered palms, growing increasingly solemn.
“Celestial Envoy’s Talisman? This is the most important proof. If this is broken, that envoy must be in grave danger...”
He then checked the totem on Lin Zhao’s body seriously. “The technique is from the June Celestial Envoy lineage. Your shaman power is indeed abundant. It seems it’s true!”
---
Just as he was about to say more, Lin Zhao suddenly remembered and interrupted urgently: “Also, the envoy in the dream told me not to stay behind as a rear guard, and to inform the Shaman Nation as quickly as possible.”
The old shaman paused, then nodded decisively—he was indeed preparing to stay behind.
“Fine, then that’s what we’ll do!”
He immediately summoned the villagers to gather their belongings and prepare to depart at once.
“I’ll help!” Lin Zhao turned like the wind and rushed to the guard’s house at the village entrance. “Stop looking around. Your most important cloak was taken by that girl for mending.”
The confused guard hadn’t even started searching yet.
Lin Zhao rushed out again, helping a woman who was frantically collecting precious nightglow grass. His speed astonished her.
Then, he went outside and dragged a hiding child from the animal pen, along with a vine whip, and tossed him to his father who was desperately searching.
The child’s loud cries followed immediately.
...
After the chaotic bustle, in less than half an hour, with confused expressions from the tribe, Lin Zhao led them out of the village.
The old shaman watched his practiced movements, frowning slightly, hesitating to speak, but finally shaking his head.
Ah, Zhao, you’ve never been a compliant child.
---
Because there were ordinary people without shamanic power among them, their pace was slow. Lin Zhao walked beside the old shaman, holding his horse’s reins. It was the first time he had seen the old shaman’s totem beast.
Surprisingly, the shaman’s totem was not an animal but two saplings, only two feet tall, intertwined and growing together. Their leaves were broad like mulberry leaves. They were planted in a clay pot, held carefully in the shaman’s arms.
“Doesn’t the totem get tattooed onto the skin?” Lin Zhao asked, curious.
The old shaman looked at the two seedlings and gently stroked their leaves. “It is tattooed, but not on my body. Instead, I have tattooed a strand of my own divine soul onto them. Simply put, I am their totem.”
“Isn’t that reversing the natural order?” Lin Zhao was astonished. “Why do it this way?”
The old shaman smiled. “Zhao, a shaman communicates with heaven and earth. We cannot only take without giving. I have nourished these two divine tree seeds with my shamanic power for decades. When they grow, they will attract divine beasts like the Golden Crow, the Bifang, and the Roc to dwell here. Then, even the youth of the tribe who merely brush against their aura will benefit immensely.”
Lin Zhao was moved by the old shaman’s care but couldn’t see anything extraordinary about the fragile young trees.
With the old shaman’s guidance, Lin Zhao hoped to find the path to the Shaman Nation.
Yet the moment he saw the purple sun, he knew he was mistaken.
Led by the old shaman, they reached that unknown place faster than before—barren and deathly silent. He took a deep breath and looked around. The lively people he knew had all turned into animated skeletons.
The only comfort was that, although the old shaman had instantly aged further, his body emanating the aura of imminent death, he was still alive—still breathing—and had not become bones.
“Grandpa Shaman! What’s going on?” Lin Zhao grabbed his hand and poured shamanic power into his body.
Still, the old man’s appearance visibly withered, as if any moment he would crumble into a pile of bones like the rest.
The old shaman’s tranquil gaze looked somewhat dazed. He stared blankly at the surroundings before being roused by Lin Zhao’s call.
---
He reached out a skeletal finger and pressed it gently against Lin Zhao’s warm cheek, wearing a faintly bewildered expression as he lightly pinched the youth’s face.
“This isn’t a dream... Celestial Envoy blesses us, I have finally waited...”
“Grandpa Shaman, stop reminiscing! What’s going on? Tell me quickly!” Lin Zhao anxiously shook his hand free. It was no time for riddles; they needed to save themselves and everyone else!
At that moment, the temperature around them rose sharply, but a chill ran through their souls.
A ghostly mask appeared, and upon seeing Lin Zhao, it curled its lips into a slightly absurd smile.
Almost simultaneously, Lin Zhao felt purple flames burning across his body...
Was he going back again? Damn it!
Suddenly, a hand pressed on his shoulder, and the flames seemed to suffocate, instantly snuffed out.
The old shaman turned, looking puzzled at the ghost mask. He raised his shaman’s staff, and a golden giant bird soared skyward. But instead of charging at the mask like before, it turned and grasped Lin Zhao’s hand solemnly.
“I’ve remembered everything. Zhao, you must defeat it, then take the divine tree seeds and leave this cursed realm. Find the Shaman God and the Shaman Nation. Also, bring your hut—it will protect you...”
Lin Zhao looked at the ghost mask drawing nearer and pointed at himself in disbelief: “Defeat it? Now? Me?”
The old shaman laughed. “You can! I live to wait for your coming. Because I am your totem!”
His body suddenly ignited with countless golden flames, like a burning sun transforming into a massive three-legged fiery bird. Just as Lin Zhao had seen many times in simulations, this time the fiery bird did not charge the ghost mask but hovered above, guarding their safety.
The ghost mask slowly approached, seemingly studying the massive totem.
“Zhao,” the old shaman’s voice was gentle, “I’m leaving now.”
Lin Zhao nodded. “Don’t worry.”
I’ll come back for you!
The old shaman chuckled and shook his head. “Child, sorry I didn’t tell you from the start—all this isn’t real. It’s just a dream... the one I’ve longed for.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes widened.
No, Grandpa, maybe you should reconsider what you’re saying.
The old shaman offered no further explanation but stared at the ghost mask, then suddenly flicked his staff. The golden crow emitted a fierce cry, soared high, then dived through a raging vortex, striking Lin Zhao’s body.
At that instant, Lin Zhao swore loudly.
The pain was real—this fire truly burned! Unlike before, which lasted only seconds, this fire seemed to burn in his very soul, making him unable to lose consciousness or simply start a new round.
No, Grandpa? Father! Know who’s friend or foe! You’re burning me!
You’ve turned me to ashes!!!
...
The next moment, the world spun again, and Lin Zhao found himself back in the bare-walled hut.
Congratulations, you have completed the 102nd simulation.
Evaluation: The real world has finally opened a crack for you.