I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 85 - 52: Five-Year Plan Nears Completion, Sending Jifu on His Way (Part 3)
Without asking why, Huo Chang agreed.
"Acan, you called me over for something?"
Shen Can took out the Witch Pouch, and in front of everyone, brought out the copperware and Witch Artifacts from inside.
Seeing the human bone-made devices, several people became solemn.
"These are what the Alien Race from the Upper Lake Tribe stole."
Huo Chang examined the human bone Witch Artifacts carefully, while Huo Xian and Huo Yuo lightly wiped them.
"Acan, burn them, and let them rest in peace."
After a long time, Huo Chang spoke.
"Burn them." Huo Xian also nodded in agreement.
"But let’s sketch these human bone Witch Artifacts, annotate them into a book, and circulate it within the clan. Our clan has been transitioning to Martial Dao for the past two years; there are some things they should know."
"Your idea is good, Uncle. We can also compile information about the surrounding tribes, Wild Beast species, Disaster Beasts, etc., into a book.
Just in time, I have many Beast Hide Scrolls I brought back from the Upper Lake Tribe, with much richer content than our tribe has."
When Huo Chang went to battle this time with the Cyan Bird and Ape Mountain tribe leaders, he noticed that their knowledge far exceeded his own.
This wasn’t because he didn’t work hard, but because Blazing Flame was secluded in the mountains and forests, with limited knowledge.
If even he, as the Clan Leader, was like this, let alone the clanspeople.
Shen Can nodded, acknowledging that this was akin to a literacy campaign.
"I also have a batch of scrolls seized from the Xiaoyang Race, containing even more comprehensive content.
I’ll oversee the editing, and the compilation task will be assigned to the Witch Hall. If people are insufficient, choose young people from the clan, those who learn quickly, as assistants."
Blazing Flame’s foundation is weak and needs improvement in all aspects.
Vision is something that should indeed be enhanced.
So far, Blazing Flame still has the demeanor of a small tribe, and the reforms should include vision along with the Martial Dao and Witchcraft Path.
The more one sees, the more confidence they have.
While Shen Can and Huo Chang were speaking, Huo Xian and Huo Yuo continued examining the copperware.
"The Alien Race erased our race’s inscriptions on our Sacrificial Ritual Objects and engraved their own achievements, making this old man feel stuffy inside."
There were a lot of copperware, a total of seventeen pieces.
It seemed to be a complete set.
But the shape and the carvings show different crafting techniques, resembling a collection from various tribes.
"... covering the Human Race tribe at Xiang Mountain, capturing ninety thousand human slaves sacrificing to the tomb..."
Each copper artifact recorded a different event, representing the destruction of a tribe.
...
"Clan Leader, I called you over because of these copper artifacts."
Shen Can pointed to the copper artifacts and said, "How about using these copper artifacts as our Sacrificial Artifacts?"
"Are these copper artifacts suitable as materials?"
Huo Chang caressed the cold copperware, feeling no difference from the copperware used for his clan’s sacrifices.
At most, in terms of shape, crafting, size, and other techniques, they’re better than Blazing Flame’s.
"Didn’t you say before that special mineral materials were needed?"
"It doesn’t matter if the mountain isn’t high, or if the artifact isn’t made of special material, I was led astray by that dog Jifu before."
Then, Shen Can walked toward the outside of the Ancestral Temple, and Huo Chang followed suit.
As they walked and talked, Shen Can briefly explained the matter of Sacrificial Residual Spirits.
To guide back the human Residual Spirits harmed by the Xiaoyang Race, thus completing the missing link of Sacrificial Artifacts needed for the tribe’s advancement.
"Guiding the Residual Spirits of predecessors must be challenging."
Huo Chang mused, "Not to mention Yongyi, there’s so many small tribes around us lacking sacrifice, and year after year, none have guided the Residual Spirits of sages."
"We used to think our ancestors hadn’t manifested, but it turns out the power of the ancestors also has its limits!"
Shen Can nodded, "Relying on luck alone, it’s likely we won’t be able to guide the Residual Spirits for decades. We must give it a try."
Huo Chang stroked his beard and nodded, "Indeed, I know my own strength. Even if I can enter the Ancestral Temple, I couldn’t protect the tribe if danger occurs."
"Every Ancestral Temple of the Human Race tribes has a Divine Tablet of wordless sages. If we could guide back the scattered human Residual Spirits, it would be mutually beneficial for our tribe."
"The predecessors served the tribe and should enjoy the sacrifices."
"Guiding Residual Spirits requires moving south into Xiaoyang Race Territory, so we must prepare adequately."
"We’ve endured for three hundred years without Sacrificial Artifacts, a few more years won’t hurt."
Saying this, Huo Chang pointed southwest along the wetland line from the Clan Mountain.
"Acan, look."
"More than a dozen vassal gathering points are farming, mining, forging for us. The planting season has arrived, and soon the coast will be filled with waves of wheat and the fragrance of rice."
"Three years ago, when we formulated the five-year plan, we didn’t envision such a scene."
"Now we even have leads on the Sacrificial Artifacts, with the Witch Hall cultivating Witchcraft, and the Martial Hall practicing Martial Arts. These are scenes I didn’t dare to dream of before."
"Apart from the Sacrificial Artifacts, we’ve exceeded our planned targets from back then."
"Didn’t you say before that you’d make medicine balls to enhance cultivation? Give me a few more when the time comes, so I can improve my strength and enjoy these good times for a few more years!"
The mountain breeze brushed their faces, and Huo Chang was in high spirits.
Acan was too.
...
Near dusk, the two returned to the Ancestral Temple and drank together until the night grew deep.
They discussed the matter of Young Master Lingyu; it’s time to finish it after more than two years.
Returning to his residence, Shen Can sat cross-legged on the bed.
[Lifespan: 2785]
Although he’s been outside these days, he spent the past two years hunting Water Beasts in the Great Marsh.
[You invested fifty years of lifespan to deduce the best combination of Witch Medicines for enhancing cultivation, including muscle and bone grass, earth origin grass, etc.]
Soon, Shen Can emerged from the deduction.
It turns out, without worrying about toxicity, without needing refining, and just aiming to fully utilize the power of Witch Medicine with the simplest combinations, the deduction isn’t that difficult.
Back then, he was deeply repelled by Master Huo Xian’s medicine balls.
Unexpectedly, within a few years, he had become like Huo Xian.
"What’s wrong with medicine balls? Other tribes desire them but can’t even get them."
It’s not that he doesn’t study them thoroughly, it’s just that Witch Doctoring needs to be figured out bit by bit. With that effort, the clanspeople would be sick of eating medicine balls.
Moreover, where is there a medicine without any toxins? Martial Artists have self-cleansing abilities too.
Depending on their level, taking one every three days or every seven days is better than none.
First, have something to eat, then improve it while consuming, so neither power enhancement nor development is delayed.
Let the disciples handle these tasks; Shen Can just needs to offer guidance.
Otherwise, how will they manage independently in the future?
Shen Can wrote down the simple combination from the deduction and went to the Witch Hall to hand the recipe to his disciples.
"Study it carefully and show me the finished product."
After saying that, Shen Can turned and left.
During dinner at the Ancestral Temple, Shen Can heard Huo Xian say that Clan Leader Huo Chang left the tribe early in the morning to oversee the vassal gathering places.
It’s the season for sowing and planting, and he will inspect each settlement.
Being Clan Leader, he not only fights externally but also manages many internal affairs.
...
Half a year later.
Waterside Cave.
"Here again to fool those fools?"
In the pool, Jifu looked around, "Why aren’t you wearing that mask of yours? Ready to confront those big fools..."
Before finishing, Jifu noticed something amiss.
The water in the pool surged, transforming into a water column that lashed towards Shen Can.
Shen Can raised his hand and broke the water column with a fingertip.
"You... spare me!"
Jifu’s eyes filled with horror, unable to act a second time before his life’s destiny was grasped.
"I intended to give you a chance to live, yet you tried to kill me."
"You..."
"Spare my life, I’ll acknowledge you as my master, I have a big secret about the Lingyu Tribe!"
"I’ll exchange my life with a secret!"
Jifu shouted in panic, sensing death approaching.
"My homeland of the Lingyu Tribe is in the Great Marsh, I... I know..."
