I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 66 - 37: Let’s Go Big—Become the Top Dog Above the Three Tribes
Upper Huang Race Territory.
Cang Li and Ape-Frog both felt drowsy rising within them. By the time they became alert, they found their bodies numb and unable to muster strength.
"Not good!"
The two of them each had the same thought and then fell in succession.
Though they were elders, they were just like everyone else, sharing in the communal meals.
Not only did they eat, but they ate more than others and even got to eat first.
Throughout the Upper Huang Race Territory, the sound of snoring was everywhere. Mafei Powder was a type of witch medicine that induced sleep.
It wasn’t painful or itchy, just fatigue; even if one felt anything, it just seemed like they were exhausted at first.
Seeing the sleeping figures scattered all around, Huo Chang did not feel pleased.
Instead, he felt this matter was becoming increasingly tangled.
Acquiring the Cultivation Technique from the Upper Huang Division was true, but the subsequent issues just kept coming one after another.
"Quickly search for anything that can confirm their identities."
Soon, they unearthed several bone beads.
"Ape Mountain, Cyan Bird."
After inspecting the uncovered items, Huo Chang confirmed their identities.
He verified that no one from the Upper Lake Division was present.
He thought of the rumors he had heard at the Ruins Market, about the Upper Lake Division discovering a fortuitous opportunity in the mountains.
These two divisions had come seeking that opportunity.
"Aqing, take the cooks away from here, wake them up and interrogate them, find out the reason for their journey northwards, and cover your faces to impersonate the Upper Lake Division."
"Amu, come with me."
Aqing and company quickly carried those who had fallen asleep by the large cauldron towards the eastern valley.
Pointing at the two elders on the ground, Huo Chang instructed, "Aqiang, if anyone starts to wake up, pour them some, and make sure these two get extra doses."
However, Huo Chang’s words were unnecessary; until dawn, no one showed any signs of waking up.
Huo Qiang circled around with a water bag again and again, unable to feed anything at all.
At dawn, Huo Qingg returned.
"Clan Leader, we’ve questioned them. They’re here to find the Upper Lake Division.
They say the Upper Lake intercepted the Upper Huang Division’s armors, recognizing the Lingyu Tribe Witch Rune on them. The Upper Lake Race Leader led people into the mountains to find the Lingyu Tribe’s leftover opportunity.
Since the Upper Lake Race Leader had not returned to the tribe for a long time, these two divisions suspected that the Upper Lake Division had found a great opportunity, so they hurried into the mountains to search."
"Return to the tribe and inform Acan of what happened here."
Huo Qingg nodded, heading towards the clan division.
Along the way, he met the returning Huo Hou, with one heading back to the clan division and the other heading to Upper Huang.
On the second day at noon.
Huo Shan carried Shen Can tirelessly over mountains and ridges, finally reaching the Upper Huang Division.
Then, Huo Shan flopped onto a rock beside him, limbs spread wide, unwilling to move an inch.
Being a packhorse for the first time was truly exhausting.
There was no choice; he was the only one in the tribe who could deliver Acan at the fastest speed.
"Acan, your witch medicine is really effective; they’ve been asleep for a day and night with no signs of waking."
Shen Can nodded, "Clan Leader, are there really no people from the Upper Lake Division among them?"
"Yes, the three divisions are not as harmonious as imagined."
Saying this, Huo Chang drew Shen Can aside a bit.
"Acan, we previously as fishermen wiped out the Upper Lake Division clan soldiers; now, if we also eliminate these people, it’d be equivalent to offending the three major divisions simultaneously.
I’ve had several people cross-check and question each other; the Cyan Bird Division has thirteen Celestial Vein Martial Artists, including one mid-stage, while the Ape Mountain Division has eleven with two mid-stage.
If you add the Upper Lake Division, it’s nearly forty Celestial Veins, too many."
Huo Chang did not regret his previous decision.
Hesitation at that time would have meant missing an opportunity instead.
"They also confessed, over the years, several tribes have been successively wiped out, clan divisions burned to the ground, similar in situation to the Upper Huang."
Upper Huang was burned by the Blazing Flame Tribe, but if the Blazing Flame had not acted at that time, it’s likely the Upper Lake would have done the same.
The Blood Witch definitely wouldn’t leave behind such an obvious flaw as a field of corpses.
"We can’t let this group return."
Huo Chang had already considered this before taking action.
Seeing the serious expression on Huo Chang’s face, Shen Can also understood Huo Chang’s concerns.
A single Upper Lake Division was enough to cause worries within the tribe, and now with two more divisions involved, the Blazing Flame would directly be on a path to destruction.
"Clan Leader, this is also why I came; I think we can stir things up a bit more. Instead of eliminating them, why not make them help our Blazing Flame Tribe?"
Shen Can’s words left Huo Chang at a loss.
Help, how could they help?
"The Upper Lake Division set their sights on the Lingyu Tribe Witch Weapons. These two divisions followed closely, essentially fearing the Upper Lake Division would gain too much of the Lingyu Tribe’s assets."
"What do some Witch Weapons count for, just give them Witchcraft."
Saying this, Shen Can asked, "Clan Leader, did you inquire about the witchcraft cultivation status of each division?"
"I’ll have people ask right away."
Huo Chang called Huo Muu to work.
"Acan, are you really going to give them witchcraft?"
"It’s not me, it’s Lingyu."
Shen Can didn’t hide anything, "Ever since the Clan Leader arranged for Huo Hou to go back to report news, I’ve been thinking.
After dealing with this batch of people, perhaps there will be more continuously coming. We have a weak foundation and cannot sustain for long.
Moreover, this method of killing everywhere is not a long-term plan. Once it becomes a habit, there will be a day when we provoke something we shouldn’t."
"But, how can we represent Lingyu?"
"The sky is high and Lingyu is far away, why can’t we represent them."
Shen Can spoke, "Besides, we didn’t deceive them. We do have real Lingyu tribe members."
Huo Chang immediately thought of Jifu.
"This guy is too dangerous."
"I’ve made minor breakthroughs in witchcraft, now I’m on the same level as Jifu, and even stronger."
Huo Chang was shocked, Acan turned out to be a witch cultivation genius.
Before long, Huo Muu returned.
"Clan Leader, Ancestral Temple Keeper, after asking separately, their tribe has witchcraft, but it’s not comprehensive, only Tier One Wizards, leaning towards witch doctor type."
"Clan Leader, if the Upper Lingyu Division takes a liking to you, would you be tempted?"
"Do it."
After listening to Shen Can’s plan in detail, Huo Chang made an immediate decision.
The plan, simply put, was to be the father above the three divisions.
They are the strongest tribes in the nearby area. If resources can be provided to Blazing Flame, then Blazing Flame’s five-year plan will surely take off.
"Let them sleep a few more days, I need to make arrangements."
...
Clan Division, cave of detention.
Jifu lay on the ground like a dead dog, he tried several times to roll up water mist and escape, but Shen Can kicked him back each time.
"I’m in a wounded state."
Jifu lay lifelessly on the ground.
He thought the opportunity to escape would come, but unexpectedly the small division wizard he looked down upon turned Tier Two.
The water arrows rained from his hands, even in his peak state, he couldn’t cast witchcraft instantly.
Let alone him, even the Tier Three Wizards in the tribe didn’t have this ability.
"Do you want to die or live?"
Although there was determination to kill Jifu in his heart, now was not the time, they still needed Jifu to cooperate in staging a play.
"I want to live."
Jifu replied bluntly, he understood Shen Can had become a Tier Two Wizard, his value was gone.
If he wasn’t obedient, it would be disgraceful.
"Good, transform into Lingyu."
"I’m still missing a Lingyu under my seat."
"How dare you belittle the mighty Lingyu!"
Jifu was furious, then his body was kicked flying, crashing heavily against the rock wall and falling down.
"I’m belittling you."
"Poof!" Jifu spat out blood, got momentarily angry.
...
Southwest of the Great Marsh, inside a water-surrounded mountain cave, witch talismans were carved all over the rock walls, with water vapor gently flowing.
Every short interval in the cave, there stood martial artists in Lingyu Pattern Armor, carrying witch blades, and wearing Lingyu Pattern Iron Masks.
The spacious cave had a pool, inside which swam a ’Lingyu’ with a human face and fish body.
By the waterside, Shen Can wore a simple hemp robe, a copper Lingyu Pattern Mask on his face, and was feeding fish to the Lingyu in the pool.
Beside him, Huo Shan was also wearing witch armor, an iron mask covering his face, staring at the two sleeping figures ahead.
"Spit some water to wake them up."
In the pool, Jifu obediently opened his mouth, and water splashed onto the sleeping Cang Li and Ape-Frog.
The water carried a sting, awakening the two from sleep.
"I heard you were looking for me?"
The awakened Ape-Frog and Cang Li felt a piercing headache, instinctively rolled on the ground, taking on a defensive posture upon hearing the voice.
At this moment, they finally saw the scene before them.
A figure stood with their back to them, playing with the fish in the pool.
On either side, rows of martial artists in Lingyu Pattern Witch Armor stood.
Their gazes fell into the pool.
Immediately, they held their breath.
Human-faced fish body!
This fish?
Lingyu!
